MINUTES

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

6:00 P.M.

1800 Oakdale Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94124

1.0               Call to Order
Commission President Bobbrie Brown called the Wednesday, September 28, 2005 meeting to order at 6:20 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.

Commissioner Brown read the Sunshine Ordinance aloud.
 

             1.2            Roll Call

Commissioners Present: Brown; Fuentes; Kennedy; Parker; Jones, Person and Sampson

Staff Present: John Roddy, Deputy City Attorney; Annette Price, SECF Comm.-Sect

             1.3                    Consent Calendar

(a)           RESOLUTION (SECFC-2005-40) Be it resolved that the minutes of the Southeast Community Facility Commission meeting of Thursday, September 28, 2005, be approved as submitted.

2.0               Public Comment
Ms. Espanola Jackson voiced her opposition and concern regarding a proposed ordinance Establishing a Visitation Valley Community Facilities and Infrastructure Fee and Fund sponsored by Supervisor Sophie Maxwell. Mr. Louis Garrett, Site Administrator for Community Scholars of Success gave a brief overview of the Community Scholars of Success (CSOS) program. Ms. Micky Dante, Director of S.F. County Schools expressed her appreciation to the Commission for listening to some of the concerns expressed by CSOS staff.

Commissioner Brown thanked Mr. Garrett for the brief overview and asked that he schedule with staff a follow-up date to discuss the CSOS program.  Ms. Fia Carlos-Valentino clarified that the original request from CSOS was for additional space. Ms. Judy Rosenfell echoed Ms. Valentino’s concerns. Mr. Sam Ripley voiced concern about the lack of employment for minority residents on the 3^rd Street light rail project.
 

3.0               Communications:
Director Moses reported the following correspondence as having been sent and/or received: Letter of appreciation to Superintendent Ackerman; Outline of Proposal for Juvenile Court from Mr. William Siffermann; Chief Probation Officer; Fast Track Home School Completion Program.

4.0               Presentations:
Mr. Phillip Day, Chancellor of City College of San Francisco thanked the Commission for having the opportunity to present. He asked that Dean Hunnicutt start off the presentation by updating the Commission on the happenings at Southeast and he would conclude with an update on some of the larger issues.

Ms. Veronica Hunnicutt, Dean of CCSF Southeast Campus reported all is well at the Southeast campus and listed the following educational/job-training programs offered at Southeast: On-ramp/  Bridge to Biotech program, unit coordinator, front-end office operations, job development, certified nursing assistants program, ESL/GED programs. Dean Hunnicutt also reported that the Working Adults Degree (WAD) Program will be added to the Southeast sector in the Visitation Valley district.

Dean Hunnicutt reported that CCSF Southeast Campus also has new MOU partnerships with several non-profits as well as with city agencies, Mayor’s Office of Community Development. Dean Hunnicutt stated this past summer the Southeast campus was fortunate enough to host the “Yes” Program at Southeast, a summer program for youth ages 15 to 18 sponsored by the Southeast campus in conjunction with S.F. Parks Trust, and S.F. Rec & Park. The program offered personal development, sewing, music, art, computer, physical fitness, and theater arts classes.
Dean Hunnicutt also reported that Southeast has the Hekima program funded through the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for youth ages 18 to 24 providing mentoring assistance, tutoring, life skills, etc. Dean Hunnicutt concluded by reporting that the stem cell and biotech initiative at City College of San Francisco is in its initial stage. She continued that there will be no stem cell programs at the Southeast campus since the program is very expensive; however, Southeast will eventually have advanced programs beyond the entry level classes in biotech. 

Chancellor Philip Day elaborated that CCSF has been fortunate enough to get a grant for $875,000 to help initiate a certificate-training program in the stem cell research arena and in future the Southeast and Mission campuses will focus on general classrooms associated with science that doesn’t necessarily require hands-on laboratory work. The Chancellor echoed Dean Hunnicutt’s statement that City College of San Francisco is still six months away from beginning a curriculum, going through the final approval, and implementing that curriculum at different locations. Chancellor Day stated Southeast and Evans campuses are also working in partnership with Mayor Newsom’s City Build initiative, job training opportunities in the construction trade field.

Chancellor Day reminded that significant budget cuts took place in the ’02 through ’04 cycle, which caused CCSF to reduce class schedule. Now that the budget has improved, classes that were removed are being added back to the schedule and $1 million has been allocated toward new classes this fiscal year. Chancellor Day stated CCSF’s major challenge is the facility at Southeast. Referring to a packet earlier distributed, Chancellor Day gave a brief overview of the bond initiatives, Phase I & II and stated that Southeast is budgeted to receive $300,000, which will go toward renovation/remodeling of the facility.

Commissioner Brown thanked both Dean Hunnicutt and Chancellor day for their presentation and opened the floor for questions.

Commissioner Person remarked that stem cell research is a very ambitious project. Chancellor Day responded that CCSF will focus more on the lower level laboratory assistant or allied person, and not the actual research. Commissioner Person asked of African Americans who are pursuing AA or AS degrees, how many have been successful in going onto a four year college and completing their degree and of that number how many of those individuals have been African American males. Chancellor Day responded that although he did not have those stats right now, he would be more than happy to provide them later. He elaborated that there are different levels of transfer and stated that it is impossible right now for a student to earn an AS degree at Southeast as Southeast doesn’t have all the necessary classes needed.  Chancellor Day went on to explain that the University of California is not a transfer friendly institution unless a student is a 5-start candidate. He continued CCSF has taken the lead to establish the National Articulation Transfer Network with a focus on bringing all historical black colleges/universities on board offering bachelor programs so that CCSF graduates with a GPA of 2.5 who have satisfied GE requirements can transfer to historical black colleges.

Commissioner Fuentes asked if the monies being spent for renovation will have an effect on student fees? And also what effect has the increase of fees had on students of color? Chancellor Day responded whatever the shift in the city is seems to mirror the CCSF student population. He continued that the African American population has decreased; however the Hispanic population has jumped up over the last 5 years to 19 percent. Chancellor Day stated there is no relationship in terms of finance with the issue of student fees and facility renovation. Day explained that the most neediest of students are typically exempted by the state by what’s called the Board of Governor’s tuition fee waivers.

Commissioner Parker piggybacking on Commissioner Person’ comments regarding African American males in college stated that the lack of African American males in school is not an institutional problem, the problem begins long before that. Dr. Day stated that Henry Augustine has a program he sponsored in partnership with SFSU, which focuses almost exclusively on African American males in the African Achievement Program. Dean Hunnicutt interjected that with regard to African American males, the Hekima program targets a younger age group, 10-15, which brings more African American males into the system.

Director Moses commented that although Dean Hunnicutt is doing a fabulous job with respect to outreach efforts, additional help is needed. He asked whether money could be set aside specifically for recruitment of African American males. Chancellor Day responded that by partnering with the Commission and the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, there will possibly be some opportunity to request additional funding to hire additional personnel specifically for outreach.

Ms. Espanola Jackson remarked that the Commission, school district, and community must get innovative and come up with a plan to get funds from S.F. Redevelopment and the PUC. Ms. Rosemary commented that a student body from the Community College board should be established to hold workshops for Southeast students. Mr. Sam Murray commented about the disability program at City College of San Francisco, internships, and outreach efforts. Ms. Marlene Walker commented about the biotechnology program at Southeast and the $300,000 funds that City College will receive for facility renovation.

Commissioner Brown thanked the community for sharing their experience and thanked both Dean Hunnicutt and Chancellor Day for bringing the information and news to the Commission. Referring to the CSOS program, Chancellor Day added that the college pledges their full cooperation and support with the Commission’s recommendation.

Commissioner Brown took the agenda out of order to accommodate Chancellor Day’s schedule and asked that Commissioner Kennedy proceed with her report.

6.0                 SECFC FACILITIES COMMITTEE REPORT:
Commissioner Kennedy reminded the Commission that the subtenant, Community Scholars of Success (CSOS) was given a 6-month probationary period which ended in June of 2005. The Facility Committee met yesterday on 9/27/05 and made the following recommendation to the full Commission: (1) Extend the probation of Community Scholars of Success program for an additional three months; (2) That a letter be sent to Superintendent Arlene Ackerman requesting that staff training be provided to all CSOS instructors on how to manage troubled youth and/or that instructors who are already trained in handling troubled youth be sent to teach CSOS students; (3) That a letter go out to the San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong requesting that a School Resource Officer (SRO) be placed at Southeast on a full-time basis to provide security with copies to Chancellor Day/Supt. Ackerman; (4) That a meeting be scheduled which includes members of the Commission, Ms. Espanola Jackson, City College staff, SFUSD staff, Community Scholars of Success staff, SFPD staff to address behavioral issues surrounding some CSOS students and possible remedies.

Other suggestions were: (1) That a metal detector and/or handheld security wand be placed at the main entrance of the Southeast facility and that SFUSD personnel be stationed at the main entrance to monitor for safety; (2) Mandatory that all CSOS security staff wear uniforms; (3) Mandatory that all CSOS students wear I.D. badges; (4) That CSOS class schedules be staggered for security purposes.

Commissioner Brown opened the floor to the public. Ms. Espanola Jackson asked that the Commission consider extending the probationary period for 6 months instead of three months.

MOTION: Moved by Kennedy, seconded by Parker to accept Commissioner Kennedy’s report. Motion passed unanimously to accept report as presented (7-0).

5.0               Director’s Report
Director Moses gave update that the roofing project is now in progress, which has caused complaints from tenants due to the smell. Also, there have been ADA issues arising with the operation of the electric gate but staff is working with the EEO office to resolve the problem.

MOTION: Moved by Kennedy, seconded by Fuentes to accept the Director’s Report. Motion passed unanimously to accept report as presented (7-0).

7.0               Introduction of New Business By Commissioners:
Commissioner Brown appointed a Candlestick Cove committee to look into the issue of the Ordinance Establishing a Visitation Valley Community Facilities and Infrastructure Fee and Fund sponsored by Supv. Maxwell. Committee members are Ms. Espanola Jackson and Commissioner Parker. Commissioner Kennedy suggested that the committee also confer with Supv. Maxwell since Supv. Maxwell sponsored the ordinance. Commissioner Brown asked that Commissioner Fuentes and Commissioner Sampson do follow-up with Mr. William Siffermann, Chief Probation Officer with regard to the juvenile court proposal.

8.0               Public Comment:
Ms. Jackson commented on the fact that many BVHP residents on Westpoint and Middlepoint Road are being evicted and requested that the Commission look into it. Ms. Jackson also informed that the S.F. Housing Authority is refusing to give a lease to the Boys and Girls club on Kiska Rd. Commissioner Brown directed staff to contact Director Rhorer to schedule a presentation date.

9.0               Announcements:
Commissioner Kennedy announced that demolition of 15 homes has already taken place and trucking will be underway early next week.

10.0               Adjournment
Commissioner Brown adjourned the SECF Commission meeting at 8:03 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
         _____________________

Commission Secretary