San Mateo County Youth Commission
San Mateo County Board Chambers
400 County Center, Redwood City
September 22nd, 2011
6:15pm – 8:15pm
MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Chair Han and Semelman called the meeting to order at 6:15PM
a. Welcome
b. Check-In/Icebreaker – “What are you looking forward to most this year”
Present: Amerian, Amistad, Anvar, Avila, Chee, Chien, Collart-Musselman,
Cortez, Han, Jack, Lam, Landeros-Gomez, Lau, Semelman, Sukhovitsky,
Sukkestad, Yen
Abstain: Cruz, Erskine, Livingston, Murphy, Ngai, Quintanilla
Absent: Chen, Tsiplakos
2. Approval and Adoption of Agenda
Unanimously approved
3. Approval of Minutes
a. May 2011
Unanimously approved
4. Public Comment
Lan Theo Nguyen spoke to the Commission on the Grand Boulevard Initiative, a
project that will revamp the El Camino strip through the entire San Mateo County
down to Santa Clara County. The Initiative is seeking youth to provide their
perspective, as it will be the youth will eventually inherit the strip.
5. Presentation/Training –
“County Legislative Process Training” Connie Juarez- Diroll, County Legislative
Coordinator, County Manager’s Office
Connie Jaurez-Diroll is from the County office of intergovernmental and public affairs,
which promote policies which are good for the county and advise the Board of
Supervisors on their impacts. Connie introduced the 2011 State Legislative Session
Program, which outlines all the different areas that the county supports. Before
anything goes to the Board, it has to go to one of the standing committees (Criminal
Justice, Environmental Committee, Housing, Health, and Human Services, Legislative,
Finance and Operations). The Legislative Committee sits Supervisor Pine and Horsley.
Groups and individuals can bring various bills to the legislative committee, and request
that they support, or oppose and declare why. These then go to the Board of
Supervisors. It is this committee level where Boards and Commissions can bring ideas,
as they are always looking for new legislation ideas! The document outlines policies
that are important to use. For example, taking money away from vital services the
county would oppose. A large issue right now is realignment, where it was too much
money for state prison, so now inmates are being sent to county jail instead. Therefore,
our county jail is full, we need services, and this is a big challenge. The county would
support legislation for communal living in urban areas, where there is room to walk
around, etc. This is not a complete document, it is always changing. The Youth
Commission could work with YC Staff to come up with ideas such as supporting a bill,
or coming up with their own bill idea. SMC also has representatives in Sacramento, and
if the bill is coming from youth – it is even better! These representatives work with
county staff to promote the interests of SMC and our organizations in Sacramento.
However, we are not always successful. For example, Connie provided an sample state
bill which was sponsored by Leland Yee, that youth should where helmets in show
sports, and if they did not, it would carry a criminal penalty. After all of the houses
passed it, the Governor vetoed it, stating that the parents should enforce these things –
not the government. The other document which Connie brought with her was the
Children, Youth, and Family Budget 2010, which showed the vision areas, and five
outcome areas, including a health, livable, collaborative community. The Youth
Commission is featured in this!
BREAK
6. Energizer -
Simon Says led by Commissioner Amerian.
7. Chair’s Report
a. Project Happiness
Chairs Semelman and Han introduced Project Happiness, and their request that
the Youth Commission sponsor a showing of the film, with the intent of showing
it at the Youth Conference. The Commission agreed that it should be an action
item for October.
b. Designation of Food Person
Due to budget cuts, food will no longer be supplied by YC Staff (except for
special occasions), so YCs are now going to rotate with who brings the food for
the group. Commissioner Quintanilla volunteered for the Workgroup meeting,
and Commissioner Amistad volunteered for the Public meeting.
c. Reminder of the election of the secretary
The Chairs reminded the YC that at the Oct Public Meeting, there will be
nominations and elections of the Secretaries. If a YC plans to run, please prepare
a short 1 min speech.
d. New intern
The YC is now looking for an intern, who will directly oversee the Policy Track
and assist with the Adolescent Report. YC Staff updated the YC that an initial
interview was going to take place the next day with a possible candidate.
8. Action Items
a. Red Nose Day
Commissioner Chee announced the San Mateo County Laughathon – and event
she founded and is directing. It is based on the U.K.’s Red Nose Day. It will be on
Sat Oct 22nd, from 2-6PM at the Central Peninsula Church in Foster City. The
event will feature three different performances: an improv battle between
Hillsdale and Aragon High Schools ($10), a professional improv company BATS
($15), and two stand up comedians ($12). 100% of the proceeds will go towards
the Samaritan House, which feed the hungry – which are 70,000 people in San
Mateo County. Commissioner Chee needs volunteers for the day of the event, and
if you volunteer you can see the show for free! Commissioner Chee requested that
the YC endorse the event.
Commission Action: M/S Chee/Chien to endorse the SMC Laughathon.
Motion Carried 25-0.
b. Friday Night Live
Fahad Quarsi from the Youth Leadership Institute presented on Friday Night
Live, and requested that the Youth Commission become a chapter. The Key
strategy that YLI focuses on it Environmental Prevention, which is creating safer,
healthier, places to live. California FNL Partnership is in 56/58 counties, and
develops the skills to transform a county. The SMC County FNL Chapter is made
up of Adult Allies (such as the YC Staff), 20 Chapters, and Yo!Mateo. Fahad
explained that what it meant to be an FNL Chapter is that you would be a partner,
and receive trainings, specifically two free trainings, evaluation tools, invites to
events and networking, and partnerships between coalitions.
Commission Action: M/S Semelman/Amistad for the Youth Commission to
become a Chapter of FNL.
Motion Carried 25-0.
c. Election of Social Media Chair
YC Staff explained that in order to have the SMCYC Facebook page, an
additional admin is needed to oversee it. The person who volunteers to do it, must
read the County’s Handbook on Social Media. Commissioner Sukhovitsky
volunteered.
d. Papers Film Showing
Postponed until the Immigrant Youth Subcommittee meets again.
e. Bylaws
Commissioner Semelman presented the Procedural Rules for the Youth
Commission to review, amend as necessary, and approve. Various Commissioners
presented minor alterations due to grammatical errors.
Commission Action: M/S Amerian/Erskine to approve the proposed Procedural
Rules for the San Mateo County Youth Commission.
Motion Carried 25-0.
f. Stipend Allocation
YC Staff brought to the Commission the $3,000 that is typically allocated to the
Youth Commissioners as stipends at the end of the year. Due to a lack of funding
for projects, the Executive Board decided to allocate it instead to either: split
between project funding and YC SWAG, or entirely allocated towards projects
and whatever is left over at the end of the year could go towards SWAG, party,
etc. After much discussion, the group decided to split the $3,000; however, allot
more towards the project funding than SWAG. The Exec Board will meet to
discuss and return to the Youth Commission in Oct with a new proposal.
g. Supervisorial District Meetings
YC Staff brought up the idea discussed at the end of last year, to have meetings
between the Supervisor and the Youth Commissioners who directly reside in the
district in which the Supervisor oversees to discuss local youth issues.
Commission Action: M/S Amistad/Amerian to implement meetings between
individual Supervisors and their respective Youth Commissioners.
Motion Carried 25-0.
h. Workplan
Commissioner Semelman moved the Action Item to the Oct Workgroup meeting
as there was no enough time to discuss fully.
9. Staff Report
YC Staff announced the two county events that are happening on Thursday Sept. 29th.
Youth are welcome to attend, but unfortunately they both are during the school hours.
The entire Youth Commission is invited to the FNL Open House on the evening of Thurs.
Sept 29th. The Youth Commission was also invited to lead a table at the World Café
discussion at the event.
Due to a scheduling conflict with Sup. Groom, the swearing in ceremony has been moved
to Jan. 26th. YC Staff requested that all YCs be sure to notify their families.
Due to the Board of Supervisors Chambers being renovated in Oct, the Oct public
meeting will be held in Belmont. The Workgroup meeting will still remain in the usual
location.
YC Staff reminded the Youth Commission to email in their photos for the website, and to
sign the form in their binders.
10. Subcommittee Reports
a. Policy Track
Commission Ngai announced that the Policy Track had decided to do the
Adolescent Report at their project.
b. Procedural
Commissioner Cortez updated the Youth Commission that there had been a
closed session just before the public meeting.
c. Immigrant Youth
Commissioner Cortez requested that they subcommittee meet directly after the
public meeting.
11. Liaison to Boards, Commission, and Community Initiative Reports
a. CCAT/Child Abuse Prevention Council
Commissioner Sukkestad brought up the Gun Prevention Summit.
b. Commission on Aging
Commission Lam briefly updated the Youth Commission on the CoA’s
discussions surrounding Medical for low income individuals.
c. Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission
Commissioner Landeros-Gomez discussed how the JJDPC talked about the
mental health issues for youth in juvenile hall, when they end up going back to the
same environment that they came from in the beginning.
d. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery Commission
Commissioner Quintanilla updated the YC on the ATOD presentation at the
MHSARC, and that the Child and Youth Subcommittee defined its goals and
objectives for the year.
e. Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council
Commissioner Murphy spoke on PMAC discussions surrounding the water
system and subsequent flooding. Additionally, they were discussing painting the
fire hydrants.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.