Committee Members Present: Devin Anderson (co-chair); Wade Flores
Committee Members Absent: Wilfredo Ortiz (co-chair; excused); Robert Oropeza
(LOA); Darnell Durio; Kim Pickens
Other Council Members Present: Dorothy Kleffner; Billie-Jean Kanios
Others Present: Enrique Asis
Council Support Present: Richard Bargetto, Skot Jonz
1. Welcome & Introductions
Co-Chair Anderson called the meeting to order and those present introduced
themselves.
2. Review/Approve Agenda
Without a quorum the agenda was not approved, however the meeting proceeded
with the agenda as-is.
3. Review/Approve Minutes
Without a quorum, the minutes from December 14, 2005 were not approved. These
minutes will be reviewed at the February committee meeting.
4. Announcements
No announcements.
5. Public Comment
No public comment.
6. Steering Committee Update
Co-Chair Anderson and CM Kanios reviewed the latest activities of the Steering
Committee.
7. Status of COA Committee
Co-Chair Anderson began the conversation with pointing out that there is not
quorum and that this committee has some issues with attendance. Co-Chair Anderson
inquired with CM Kleffner regarding the appropriateness of contacting new Council
Members regarding joining this committee. Committee discussed the status of
membership on the COA Committee and reviewed actions of the Membership Committee
to address attendance concerns. Committee discussed how HPPC deals with similar
issues.
8. SRO Report
CM Siron was not present. He provided a message to Council Support that there
was nothing to report.
9. Prevention with Positives Report
CM Kanios provided a PWP Report. She discussed that the working group should
be a committee and that is what she is advocating for, along with collaboration
with Prevention Council. She discussed the latest decisions regarding report
backs among all these committees. She is seeing changes happen quickly and
very excited. This issue is going to the Steering Committee Retreat. Chair
from CARE side will sit on new committee, because up until now HPPC has been
doing all the work and CARE has been riding in the backseat. As a CARE body,
this Council needs to take a more active role deciding how prevention looks
in the EMA.
CM Kanios added that the ambiguity of whether PWP is a working group or a committee
needs to be clarified.
10. HOPWA Loan Committee Report
Council Support provided a report-back from CM Thomas who indicated that she
is unavailable to provide the HOPWA Loan Committee report due to a conflict
with her Board Meetings. She is willing to provide a written report. However,
the Committee discussed that the meeting date and/or time may change for
the COA Committee which would resolve this conflict.
The report was that the last HOPWA meeting approved two contracts for HOPWA
funded services. For both of them the current agency will continue to provide
the service, so there will be no changes in HOPWA services.
11. Advocacy Project Report
Richard Bargetto distributed the latest Advocacy Project Report for Committee
review. Richard followed up on the committee request regarding the issue
of noting the agency name in the reports. If it is a service-related issue
the agency name can be listed. If it is a personnel or staff grievance, then
the agency name will not be listed.
Additionally, this committee holds four meetings in the public and two community forums. Jack Newby had informed Richard that he wishes for this committee to be judicious in food expenses for these meetings and forums (i.e., $300-400 for forums, and $100-200 for community meetings).
Committee discussed whether there will be vouchers provided for the community
forums. No firm decision was made.
CM Kanios suggested a spaghetti feed type dinner that will bring down costs.
She also suggested Food Runners that provide food for non-profits at no cost.
Co-Chair Anderson indicated that this will be discussed in greater detail next
month.
Richard concluded that things started out very busy this year with the Advocacy
Project.
CM Flores indicated that in Marin County there is no grievance process for
addressing the problems with the grievance policy. He elaborated by detailing
his experience with attempting to determine the exact process. He suggested
that it needs to work out where everyone benefits. He implied that clients
are not aware of getting in contact with the Advocacy Project. Richard supported
this by indicating that he himself had problems obtaining the grievance policy.
He suggested that literacy issues, fear of retaliation, and other matters only
add to the difficulty.
CM Flores and CM Kleffner elaborated on issues with regard to the Marin County food bank, especially with regard to retaliation toward clients who speak out or complain.
Co-Chair Anderson suggested making Advocacy Project brochures available to Marin County food bank clients.
Co-Chair Anderson discussed the matter regarding that Richard is a mediator and there is some discussion about getting the AIDS Office to provide Richard with more authority to actually do something about resolving grievances. Richard suggested that the contract language be amended to reflect the actual role of the Consumer Advocate.
Richard reviewed the annual monitoring of agencies to confirm that they have their grievance procedures conspicuously posted, and elaborated on the difficulty of ensuring that all 60-some agencies are in compliance.
CM Kanios added that her agency appreciates having a neutral mediator at the table to resolve grievance issues.
CM Flores stated that he would like to see everything, including grievance procedures, to be consistent throughout the EMA.
CM Kleffner indicated that she would like to receive the monthly Advocacy Project reports to be available for herself and other interested parties in Marin County.
Co-Chair Anderson indicated that he would bring this issue up at the next Steering Committee meeting.
12. COA Committee Policies & Procedures –VOTE
Without a quorum, these policies were not voted on. Since the changes were only minor grammatical changes implemented by members of I&P Committee, this committee agreed to go ahead and forward the policies above to I&P for approval and forwarding to Steering.
• Community Outreach and Advocacy Committee Statement of Values
•
Consumer Input and Development of Community Fora
•
Provider Input
•
Community Outreach and Advocacy Committee
•
Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
Other DRAFT policies that COA Committee needs to draft and finalize include:
•
Policy Regarding Advocacy Project Report
•
Policy Regarding Supplemental Reports to Community Outreach and Advocacy Committee
Committee agreed that the drafts of these two policies were a good start and they will be returned to COA Committee in February for further revision and vote.
ACTION: Council Support to add these two policies to February COA agenda.
•
Policy Regarding Advocacy Project Report
•
Policy Regarding Supplemental Reports to Community Outreach and Advocacy Committee
13. Discussion of Community Forums.
Co-Chair Anderson indicated that TARC has been approved as a location for the
March Community Meeting, however there was discussion regarding moving the
time up to begin at 4:30 or earlier.
Committee discussed ideas for the July 12 Community meeting and community to
target.
CM Kanios suggested the senior citizen community, the aged. She suggested New
Leaf.
Committee will firm up details at upcoming committee meetings regarding the
meeting in July.
ACTION: ADD TO FEB AGENDA DISCUSSION OF JULY 12 COMMUNITY MEETING, and OK TO
CHANGE TIME FOR MARCH 8. GO AHEAD AND SET TIME 3:30-5:30 p.m. at TARC. COUNCIL
SUPPORT TO PREPARE FLYERS AND BEGIN TO DISTRIBUTE PENDING APPROVAL FROM COA
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS.
Co-Chair Anderson reviewed and discussed the difference between Community Forums
and Community meetings, and encouraged everyone to remain clear about the difference.
Dates for the forums have not yet been set.
14. Next Meeting Date and Agenda Items
Wednesday, February 8, 2005 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Committee co-chairs will identify
potential agenda items.
Committee agreed that the following items will be on next month’s agenda:
-Discussion of Community Meeting for March 8.
-Discussion of Community Meeting for July 12.
-Review and revision of policies for Advocacy Project Report and Supplemental
Reports
-Discussion of Community Forums, locations, and issues.
-Notice as a VOTE whether to change meeting date and time
-Review and approval of December AND January minutes
15. Adjourned
Co-Chair Anderson adjourned the meeting at 6:45 p.m.
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