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Meeting Information



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MINUTES

Thursday, March 10, 2005

6:00 P.M.

1800 Oakdale Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94124

 

1.0               Call to Order
Commission President Bobbrie Brown called the Thursday, March 10, 2005 meeting to order at 6:17 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.

 

The Commission Secretary read the Sunshine Ordinance aloud.

 

1.2               Roll Call

Commissioners Present: Brown; Fuentes; Jones; Kennedy; Larkin; Sampson
Commissioner Ronald Person arrived at 7:00 o’clock.

Staff Present: John Roddy, Deputy City Attorney; Toye Moses, Executive Director SECFC; Annette Price, Comm.-Sect

The Southeast Community Facility Commission presented an engraved plaque to Comm. Larkin in acknowledgement of his service to the community. On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, the SECF Commission also presented Commissioner Larkin with a Certificate of Honor in celebration of his hard work and dedication to the Bayview Hunters Point Community.     

1.3               Consent Calendar

(a)    RESOLUTION (SECFC-2005-29) Be it resolved that the minutes of the Southeast Community Facility Commission meeting of Wednesday, February 23, 2005 be approved as submitted (passed unanimously).

2.0               Public Comment
Mr. Francisco De Costa of Environmental Justice Advocacy commented on qualify of life standards in the Bayview Hunters Point community and how the siting of combustible turbines would release more toxin into the environment causing further detriment to BVHP residents.

3.0               Communications:
Dr. Moses reported that the following correspondence has been mailed: Letters to Lennar Industries, Tony Winnicker/Bill Keaney, SFPUC, Gaynell Armstrong, SFRA, Dr. Mitchell Katz, and Mayor Gavin Newsom.

President Brown introduced and welcomed Mr. Tony Winnicker and Mr. Eric Sandler of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and asked that they step forward to present on the proposed water/sewer rate increase for 2006/2007 fiscal year.



4.0               Presentation:

-           Mr. Tony Winnicker, Director of Communications SFPUC began with a power point slide
presentation and announced that on March 22, 2005 the SFPUC will go before their
Commission to introduce a proposal that will restructure how SFPUC charges San Francisco ratepayers. Mr. Winnicker explained that for the last eight years there has been a voter-imposed rate freeze. However in 2002, voters approved Prop A and E which allows the issuance of bonds to fund upgrades to the Hetch Hetchy water system. Bonds will be issued in January ‘06 and the proposed rate increase will create those bonds.

Mr. Winnicker reported that repairs at a cost of $3.25 million will address the cleaning of sewer lines. Additionally the biggest element of the proposal will be the rebuild of the Hetch Hetchy water system, $150 million proposal over the next 5 years that will address sewer improvements preventing flooding and significantly cutting down on odors. Also the Waste Water Master Plan will be launched this spring, which will look at how waste might be disbursed in a more equitable manner (85% being treated at the Southeast plant).

Mr. Eric Sandler, Director of Finance reported on water/sewer rates, how bills will be calculated, what customers can expect, and what the customer can do to reduce their bill. Mr. Sandler reported that rates will increase by 15% during the first year and another 15% the following year. Mr. Sandler spoke of the Community Assistance Program (CAP), a low-income affordability program available to qualifying customers and listed the following number for more information about the program (415) 551-3000.

Comm. Larkin commended the PUC for the rate reduction and/or discount but suggested that they explore other methods to reduce the bill further for low-income families. Comm. Jones asked what method would the PUC use to make low-income families aware of the discounts available? Mr. Winnicker stated currently the PUC is holding 40 community neighborhood presentations. In addition, a mail-out will take place explaining the proposal in detail.
 
Ms. Walker-Simon, Dept. of Child Support Services asked what criteria will be used for the CAP program? Mr. Sandler explained the guidelines are identical to eligibility guidelines that PG&E uses for its Care program, 175% of federal poverty guideline adjusted annually. Ms. Toni Battle requested that SFPUC consider including BVHP homeowners who operate businesses out of their home in the CAP program.

Comm. Brown thanked Mr. Winnicker and Mr. Sandler for their thorough presentation and encouraged community members to pick up copies of the brochures/pamphlets. She then asked that Ms. Karen Roye step forward and present.

-           Ms. Karen Roye, Director of Child Support Services thanked the Commission for the invitation to present. Ms. Roye began by discussing new legislation for the child support program. She explained that the program is transitioning to a “family first model” with a series of initiatives designed to put families first. Ms. Roye reported upcoming key legislation will allow the Department to forgive what parents owe to welfare. She reported that statistics indicate that the Bayview Hunters Point community has a caseload of over 5000 with the majority representing single female households.

Ms. Roye reported that the DCSS will coordinate an upcoming employer’s conference to educate employers on the child support process. Ms. Roye listed the available programs that DCSS is sponsoring in collaboration with other city agencies, specifically the Enhanced Parental Collaboration Program (EPIC), a program that extends outreach to the community by assisting with legal paperwork, retrieval of driver’s license, reduction of court orders, etc., and the Non-custodial Parent Employment Training (NET), a program for previously incarcerated parents that allows the child support payments to be halted for a period of time while the parent transitions back into society. “Keep your Freedom, Keep your Dreams” is another program in the works which will educate teenagers who are non-parents on the reality of parenthood. Ms. Roye concluded by inviting the Commission to give feedback and asked that they work together to provide the best service to the community.

Comm. Person asked what role does DCSS play when grandparents are the caregivers? Assuming grandparents are the custodial parents, Ms. Roye stated that DCSS would support the grandparents. Comm. Person asked what the male/female ratio is of households in the BVHP. Ms. Roye stated more than 90% are headed by a female-headed home. Comm. Sampson asked when would the new legislation go into effect? Ms. Roye stated there will be change in legislation over the next year. Comm. Sampson stated many people complain that they can never reach the DCSS office. Ms. Roye listed the following number for anyone who needs assistance: (415) 356-2919. Comm. Kennedy voiced concern that the courts tend to favor the women regardless of whether the father is involved in the child’s life stating some fathers are prevented from seeing their children. Ms. Roye stated she is developing a bridge between DCSS and the Dept of Social Services. She stated she would address that concern with the director. Comm. Brown asked whether the business hours for DCSS could be staggered so that working parents would have access without being absent from work? Ms. Roye stated that is something she is looking into. Mr. Damone Hale commented on the built-in incentive in reducing child support service. Comm. Brown congratulated Ms. Roye on her new appointment and offered the assistance of the Commission in future.

-           Mr. Yomi Agunbiade, Acting General Manager of Department of Recreation & Park began by listing upcoming events and reporting on service improvements, accomplishments, and capital improvement projects. He reported that a $30,000 “Team Up For Youth” grant will fund the new girls athletic program (ages 8 to 13) in several BVHP facilities. Mr. Agunbiade reported that Rec & Park provides approximately 33 programs targeted specifically for young girls and 29 programs specifically targeted for young boys.

Mr. Agunbiade announced several upcoming events, one specifically that will take place at Monster Park in which Rec & Park will host EPCON for Youth in Hunters Point, a special craft theme entertainment that is free to the community which will take place on March 26th, 2005.

Mr. Agunbiade concluded by speaking of the accomplishments and successes of Rec & Park with the establishment of youth late night basketball leagues, the garden projects, Back to School events, Hunters Point Annual Hunted House, and Winter Wonderland.

Comm. Kennedy asked whether Rec & Park would be responsible for new development of parks and open space at the BVHP Shipyard? Mr. Agunbiade responded ultimately some of the parks would possibly be turned over to Rec & Park in the future. Comm. Person asked for the stats of Rec & Park employees who reside in the 94124 area? Mr. Agunbiade stated he did not have those numbers but would be happy to provide that information at a later date. Comm. Person asked whether Rec & Park participate in tours to black colleges? Mr. Agunbiade responded that Rec & Park either provide field trips to those colleges or brings the colleges to the facility. Comm. Sampson asked whether Rec & Park provide transportation for children? Mr. Agunbiade responded that many organizations partner with Rec & Park and part of their program is to ensure that the kids arrive and leave safely. Comm. Fuentes asked what program is the girls program modeled after and whether the program has any other facets to it such as dance, art & crafts? Mr. Agunbiade stated specifically as to the grant for the young girls program, it comes out of a Titled 9 issue for college sports where there weren’t enough college sports slots for women. So it’s basically the same framework. Dir. Moses asked what could be done to encourage young people and families from the BVHP area to use the Camp Mather facility and the Martin Luther King Pool? Mr. Agunbiade responded the issue is visibility and getting information out that it’s available. Mr. Agunbiade agreed to make sure there is a Rec & Park presence at the Southeast facility to ensure outreach is taking place. Regarding the tiny tot programs sponsored by Rec & Park, Comm. Brown asked why fees are involved at the nicer neighborhoods but there is no fee involved in the not-so-nice neighborhoods? Mr. Agunbiade responded that the fees are sort of historical and staff is in the process of looking at those fees to standardize them.

Mr. Coleman, BVHP resident suggested that Rec & Park partner with the Dept. of Public Health and Mental Health Services to design a program for prevention/rehabilitation for adults between the ages of 19 to 55. Mr. Demone Hale commented on the value of Rec & Park.

5.0               Director’s Report
This agenda item was held over to the next meeting because of the lateness of the hours.
 

6.0               New Business:
This agenda item was held over to the next meeting because of the lateness of the hours

11.0               Old & Ongoing Business:
This agenda item was held over to the next meeting because of the lateness of the hours.

8.0               Introduction of New Business by Commissioners
This agenda item was held over to the next meeting because of the lateness of the hours.
 

9.0               Public Comment
  There was no public comment at this time.

10.0               Announcements:
Comm. Jones announced that Mayor Newsom will be at Dr. Charles Drew College Preparatory Academy this coming Saturday between 10:00 and 10:30 a.m. for a tree planting ceremony with 2nd and 3rd grader students.

11.0               Adjournment
Comm. Brown adjourned the SECF Commission meeting at 8:34 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

         _____________________

Commission Secretary