A special meeting of the Human Services Commission was held on Thursday, February 5, 2004, in the Ronald H. Born Auditorium at 170 Otis Street, San Francisco.

MEMBERS PRESENT

CLEMETINE CLARKE President

BRIAN GAINES, Vice President

ANITA MARTINEZ

JANE MORRISON

GEORGE YAMASAKI, JR.

OTHERS PRESENT

The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Mayor – City and County of San Francisco

Trent Rhorer, Executive Director – Department of Human Services

Louise Rainey, Secretary – Human Services Commission

Sally Kipper, Deputy Director

Janice Anderson-Santos, Deputy Director

James Buick, Deputy Director

Jennifer Williams, Deputy City Attorney

Other department staff and interested citizens

ROLL CALL

President Clarke called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m. noting that the Commission was present.     

AGENDA

On motion by Commissioner Yamasaki, seconded and carried, the Commission adopted the agenda as posted.     

MAYOR ADDRESSES THE COMMISSION

Mayor Newsom furnished an assessment of San Francisco’s Fiscal Year 2004-2005 budget shortfall and urged a thoughtful and creative deliberation.

Discussion followed and Mayor Newsom responded to questions from the assembly.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005

BUDGET

Phil Arnold, Director of Planning and Budget, presented the Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Budget proposal.

Judith Baker, with South of Market Child Care and San Francisco Child Care Providers Association, spoke in support of the Wages + Program as an program essential to quality child care.

Jay, speaking on behalf of Sally Large with Friends of St. Francis Child Care, spoke in support of the Wages + Program.

Caroline Vance, with SF Cares Program, testified relative to the Contingency Reduction Plan urging continued support of this  program.

Jeff Kositsky, with Community Housing Partnership, urged continued support of the Supportive Housing.

Ruth Julian, a In Home Support Services recipient, thanked the Commission for these services which make it possible for her to remain in her home.

Francisco Herrera, with Mission Community Council, spoke in support of the Wages + and Support Services for the elderly.

Marie Jobling, with Planning for Elders, spoke in opposition to proposed In Home Support Services funding cuts.

Vera Haile, with the In Home Support Services Task Force, spoke in support of the program and urged continued support.

Luis Calderon, with the In Home Support Services Public Authority, spoke in opposition to proposed In Home Support Services cuts.

Donna Cahill, with Holy Family Day Home, spoke in support of the Wages + Program and urged continued support.

Santos Zamora, with Homecare Providers SEIU Local 250, spoke in opposition to the proposed In Home Support Services cuts.

Claudia Arevala, with Homecare Providers SEIU Local 250, urged continued support of the living wage for home care workers.

Ean Au Wu and Shao Hung Chow, a homecare provider and a consumer, testified in opposition to the proposed In Home Support Services cuts.

Debra Howell, with PECC, spoke in support of the In Home Support Services Share of Cost Pilot Program and urged continue support.

Susan Shelton, with Visitation Valley Community Center Children’s Programs, spoke in opposition to the cuts proposed to the Wages + Program.

Nora Murphy, with Planning for Elders, read a letter from consumer Ivana Kirola urging the Commission’s continued support of the In Home Support Services Program.

Mel Beetle, with Senior Action Network – Homeless Senior Task Force, spoke in opposition to the proposed cuts to In Home Support Services.

Jason read a letter from consumer Caren Cummins, urging continued support of the In Home Support Services Program.

Donna Calame, with the In Home Support Services Public Authority, spoke in support of the In Home Support Services Program.

Joe Wilson, with Coleman Advocates, spoke in opposition to proposed child care cuts.

Chester Palesoo, with Asian Pacific Islanders Family Resource Network, urged continued support of services for children and families.

Karl Kramer, with San Francisco Living Wage Coalition, expressed concerns related to proposed cuts to wages for child care and In Home Support Service workers.

Abbi Conrsolle, with the Health Care Action Team, urged continued support of In Home Support Services for seniors and people with disabilities.

Mikhail Romanol, a In Home Support Service Provider, urged continued support of these services.

ACTION

On motion by Vice President Gaines, seconded and carried, the Commission approved the Department of Human Services Budget Base Reduction Plan.

PUBLIC COMMENT

President Clarke’s call for public comment did not yield a response.    

ADJOURN

President Clarke’s adjourned the meeting at 11:40 a.m.