1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Debbie Mesloh called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm.

The President welcomed new Commissioner Shokooh Miry and invited her to speak. Commissioner Miry said that she was excited to be appointed to the Commission and that she looks forward to working with all the other Commissioners and joining the community that is connected with the Commission and Department. President Mesloh thanked Commissioner Sonia Melara, whose Commission term expired earlier in the month, for sharing her knowledge and expertise on Commission procedures and specifically for sharing her long-term knowledge on the Commission and Department’s work. On behalf of the Commission, President Mesloh wished Commissioner Melara the best in her future projects.

President Mesloh amended the agenda to reflect the addition of Commissioner Shokooh Miry by adding her name to the Commission roster and to the list of members present at the top of page one.

Action: To approve amended agenda.

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Zwart)

No Public Comment.

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

No changes to the minutes.

Action: To approve the minutes from February 27, 2019.

m/s/c(Soo/Shorter/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Zwart)

No Public Comment.

3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

President Mesloh informed the Commission that Director Emily Murase was on vacation and that Associate Director Carol Sacco was acting as Department head and presenting on the Director’s report.

Ms. Sacco thanked President Mesloh and stated that she would be happy to answer any questions related to the Director’s report. She introduced the Department’s Public Policy Fellows: Adaeze Eze, Kyoko Peterson, and Diana McCaffrey, who went to New York City to attend and participate in the United Nation’s Commission on the Status of Women conference (UN CSW). The Fellows gave a brief presentation on the UN CSW events they participated in and the experiences that had the greatest impact on them.

Public Comment:

1. Beverly Upton, Executive Director Domestic Violence Consortium, expressed appreciation and thanks on behalf of the Family Violence Council leadership who attended the UN CSW conference to Dr. Murase, the Fellows, Department, Commission, and the Friends of the Commission for their support and organization of the trip and the panels. She said that it was an affirming experience and it helped put the domestic violence work in perspective and reminded them that it is international work.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Zwart)

1. Resolution Recognizing Ann O’Leary in Honor of Women’s History Month

On behalf of the Commission, President Mesloh recognized Ann O’Leary for Women’s History Month. President Mesloh said that Ms. O’Leary demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving women and girls for over 20 years in her career in local, state, and national government. President Mesloh reported that after graduating from Stanford and Berkeley, Ms. O’Leary served San Francisco as a deputy city attorney, and that she also served as a liaison between Hillary Clinton’s office and President Clinton’s policy staff, where she advocated for an executive order to ban federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and led the development of policies focusing on families and children. President Mesloh further reported that Ms. O’Leary has championed policies to support women and families, such as expanded child care, paid leave and sick days, equal pay, and early childhood education and now as Governor Gavin Newsom’s Chief of Staff, she continues to create policies that advance women, girls, and families throughout California.

Ms. O’Leary thanked the Commission. She said that she always tries to apply an equity lens to her work and encouraged everyone else to do so as well. She reported that Governor Newsom’s staff consists of 70% women.

The Commissioners individually thanked Ms. O’Leary for her work and leadership.

Public Comment:

1. Joyce Newstat, Founder and CEO of Rocket Science Associates thanked the Commission for honoring Ms. O’Leary, and she thanked Ms. O’Leary for her leadership and actions supporting women and families.

 

 

5. NEW BUSINESS

1. Domestic Violence Survivors Program: Home Free

Sunny Schwartz, Co-founder and Board member of Five Keys Schools and Programs, and Sheila Von Driska, owner of White Space gave a presentation on the Home Free project. Ms. Schwartz reported that the Home Free residents will be domestic violence survivors who are being paroled after serving 20 to 40 years in prison for convictions related to the self-defense killing of their partners who were abusing them. She said that Assemblywoman Fiona Ma brought attention to this population of women and sponsored legislation that now allows domestic violence survivors to submit their previous abuse as part of their cases. Ms. Schwartz said that 100 women are soon expected to be exiting the California prison system and these women will need housing and support. Ms. Von Driska displayed a poster from a current public awareness campaign on the program that is on display in MTA busses and bus shelters that seeks to raise awareness and tell the stories of the Home Free participants.

Commissioners applauded the efforts of the Home Free program.

No Public Comment.

2. Results of the Schwab Financial Literacy Survey

Commissioner Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz presented the findings of the Schwab 2018 Young Adult Financial Literacy Survey of young women and men and their differences in financial management. Commissioner Schwab-Pomerantz spoke on the importance of starting financial literacy education as early as possible and for parents to teach their children with a gender equity lens.

Commissioners thanked Commissioner Schwab-Pomerantz for her presentation and discussed the value and benefits of financial education starting at an early age.

No Public Comment.

6. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

7. CLOSED SESSION

1. Public comment on all matters pertaining to Item VII, Closed Session, including public comment on vote whether to hold Item VII in Closed Session.

No Public Comment.

2. Vote on whether to hold Item VII in Closed Session (San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10).

Action: Vote to hold Item VII in Closed Session.

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Zwart)

C.      Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957(b) and San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.10(b):

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION: Director Emily M. Murase, PhD.

D.     Open Session

1. Report on any action taken in Closed Session as specified in California Government Code Section 54957.1(a)(5) and San Francisco Administrative Code section 67.12(b)(4). 

Action: No Action Taken.

2. Vote on whether to publicly disclose any or all of the information discussed in the closed session under San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).

Action: No Action Taken.

8. ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Soo asked that the following two items be considered for future meeting topics:

1. City College Funding
2. SalesForce’s involvement in BackPage.

Action: To adjourn the meeting.

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Zwart)

Meeting Adjourned at 7:13 pm