Employment Advisory Committee Meetings
EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE
MINUTES
October 5, 2006
1. Call to Order/ Roll Call
The meeting was called to order at 1:30p.m. A quorum was present.
Members Present
Commissioner Faye Woo Lee, Molly Baier, Rich Bondoc, Jerry Jones, John Crowley, Patrick Regan, Norma Tecson, John Weber, Ronnie Rhoe, Ken Stram
Members Absent
Commissioner Carlota del Portillo, Suzanne Korey, Adrian Trujillo
Staff Present
Linda Chin, Mary Gin Starkweather
Guests
Emily Murase, Executive Director of the Commission on the Status of Women; Jennifer Baker, Policy Assistant, Commission on the Status of Women; Juno Duenas, Executive Director, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities; Daisy Ambia, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities; Martha Zamora, Aftercare Coordinator, Independent Living Skills Program; Kimberly Wicoff, Manager, Community Investment & Outcomes; and Dwayne Jones, Director, Community Investment & Outcomes.
2. Adoption of Agenda
Rich Bondoc moved to adopt the September 7, 2006 agenda. Molly Baier seconded on the condition that the committee proceed according to the stated time schedule and the motion was carried unanimously.
3. Adoption of September 7, 2006 Minutes
Rich Bondoc moved to adopt the September 7, 2006 minutes. Patrick Regan seconded. Molly noted a correction to be made. The following is to be added under item 8: “John Weber was concerned and inquired why the Southeast Center in the Bay View Hunter’s Point Community where unemployment is amongst the highest, and does not have a full service One Stop Center.” Jerry Jones moved to adopt the amended September 7, 2006 minutes. Molly Baier seconded as amended and the motion was carried unanimously.
4. Public Comment for items not on the Agenda
None
5. Commissioner Report
None
6. Staff Report
None
7. Old Business:
Emily Murase presented the proposed draft legislation of the Labor Conditions for the Exotic Dancers that was adopted by the Commission on the Status of Women in June 2006. Ms. Murase provided an overview of the key information on labor conditions of exotic dancers. There were mainly two key concerns expressed during the Public Testimony. The proposed legislation was created with input from the City Attorney, and the police.
The proposed legislation modernizes the regulation and permitting of live entertainment businesses for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and welfare of exotic dancers, and the public. The legislation sets up a permitting scheme for all businesses which regularly feature live exotic dancing. Among other requirements, this permitting scheme enables agencies of the City and County of San Francisco, including the Entertainment Commission, the San Francisco Police Department, the Office of Labor Standards, and the Commission on the Status of Women, to monitor live adult entertainment club for compliance.
Ms. Murase informed the committee members that the proposed legislation is not yet finalized. The committee decided not to act on this issue until the final version of the legislation is finalized and completed. There was discussion with questions and answers.
8. New Business:
John Weber, Coordinator, Improving Transition Outcome Project - presented information on the Interagency Council called Improving Transition Outcomes Project (ITOP) with focus toward Youth & Disability, Youth & Employment and Youth in Transition. The ITOP Interagency Council is a collaborative effort of the Support for Families of Children with Disabilities and the Jewish Vocational Service with support for Families serving as the lead fiscal agency. The Mission of ITOP is to improve services and outcomes for youth ages 14-24 with disabilities in making the successful and seamless transition towards maximum self-sufficiency and independent living. The ITOP Council consists of parents, community, agencies and their perspective, and youth and their perspective as to what is working, not working, and what is recommended. The ITOP Interagency Council seeks to build a strong professional collaboration that includes the school district, public agencies, non-profit agencies, families, youth and employers.
There are four members from the ITOP Interagency Council appointed on the Mayor’s transitional committee, and one member appointed to the Youth Commission. ITOP has also made an impact on developing a dialogue in assisting San Francisco collect data on youth in transition issues.
John Weber introduced the following to speak on the outcomes and services of ITOP: Juno Duenas, Executive Director of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, also a parent; Daisy Ambia, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities, also a youth; and Martha Zamora, Independent Living Skills Program.
Juno Duenas, Executive Director of Support for Families of Children with Disabilities presented an overview of the ITOP strategies, what is working, not working, and recommendations for improvement. Ms. Duenas, also parent of a child who is a wheelchair user, stated that ITOP brings the community together, including families, youth, agencies, and departments to address concerns, and identify and prioritize solutions.
Daisy Ambia, Support for Families of Children with Disabilities presented her experience as a youth and a person with multiple sclerosis living in San Francisco and how ITOP has made a major impact improving the qualify of her life. Ms. Ambia moved to San Francisco in January 2005 and was referred to ITOP by her social worker. She stated that her experience in another city before the move to San Francisco, had limited resources, and limited support for youth with disabilities as compared with San Francisco.
Martha Zamora, Independent Living Skills program presented information on how the ITOP Interagency Council is able to make the needs of youth in transition heard and addressed. There is currently no tracking system to track youth with disabilities. That question of having a disability is not even asked in her agency. Therefore, being a representative on the Council can ensure coordination and cooperation among departments. Also to ensure that City departments track disability issues.
Mary Gin Starkweather asked the following question: For youth with disabilities in transition seeking employment, has the agency looked into companies with strong health plans?
Ms. Zamora stated that it was a difficult issue to balance SSI funds and Medi-Cal in terms of employment.
Dwayne Jones, Director of Community Investment & Outcomes and Kimberly Wicoff, Deputy Director of Community Investment & Outcomes presented an overview on the Communities of Opportunity (COO), and provided the committee members with a packet of information. COO is a covenant between the City of San Francisco and residents in long-neglected communities such as the southeast sector due to more than forty years of underinvestment. The initiative is to implement real change to support transformation in four specific areas in southeast San Francisco by the year 2010. The four specific areas in San Francisco are the following corners: Fitzgerald & Griffith, Sunnydale & Santos, Middle Point & West Point, and Oakdale & Griffith.
COO is working closely with people in the community, along with government, and community leaders to create change. Mr. Jones stated that the Community of Opportunities initiative has a very strategic approach. This initiative actually uses the City’s data from all departments to improve coordination of services.
There was active discussion with questions and answers.
9) Calendar Matters
The next meeting will be held:
Date: Thursday, November 2, 2006
Time: 1:30 to 3:30 PM
Place: HRC Offices
25 Van Ness Avenue, 8th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94102
10) Adjournment
John Weber moved and Norma Tecson seconded to adjourn at 3:35pm. It carried unanimously.