HIV Health Services Planning Council
Infrastructure & Policy Draft Minutes
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
25 Van Ness Ave., Room 330A
5:30-7:00 p.m.

Committee Members: George Simmons, Ayisha Benham, Charles Siron
Other Council Members: Mjay Sanders, Laura Thomas, Margot Antonetty
Council Support: Jack Newby, Leah Crask, Kari Orvik
Others Present: Russ Zellers (HIV Health Services), Raymond Banks

1. Introductions

2. Review/Approve Agenda
CM Siron asked to discuss the committee meeting time under Item 6.
Russ Zellers asked to have a discussion clarifying the Council’s unfunds policy under Item 6.

3. Review/Approve Minutes
The minutes for the September 1, 2004 meeting were reviewed.

4. Announcements

5. Public Comment

6. Steering Committee Update
The Steering Committee discussed proposals for funding scenarios to be brought to the full Council meeting. They also discussed a proposal to make Prevention with Positives a standing committee, and began discussion about a Council strategic work plan.

The I and P Committee proposed to meet from 4:30-6:00 pm on the first Wednesday of each month.

Russ Zellers asked the I and P Committee to clarify the revised policy on distributing unobligated unfunds this year.
CM Thomas stated that the Planning Council should decide from the unobligated funds how much money goes into 3 categories:
1. Program infrastructure and support
Normally the category would receive the same percentage of the unobligated funds as they would of the total award for the year. Within that structure, providers then send in proposals to bid on that money.
2. Program enhancement and stabilization
Normally these funds go to cover any proposed cuts from HRSA. Examples in the past have been vouchers for transportation, food, direct emergency financial assistance.
3. System development and evaluation
These funds would go to Planning Council projects needed to evaluate the system of care, such as needs assessment, the 5 year plan, etc.
Russ Zellers stated that he did not know the amount, and currently there were $0 unobligated.
CM Thomas stated that the original intent of the revised procedure was to have a way to share any leftover money with providers, but it was unlikely that there will be enough money to go through categories 1,2, and 3 by priority sub-category order. If there are no unobligated funds, part 1 is off the table.
Russ Zellers stated that the current timeline for reporting unobligated funds is unrealistic, as the AIDS office will not know how much money they would have left over by August or September.
CM Simmons phrased a recommendation to the AIDS office, that will first go to Steering and then to the full Council, which stated:
Any unspent or rollover funds from this fiscal year go directly to categories number 2 and 3.

Russ Zellers stated that the service categories should be specified at Steering, and should be types of service categories that are easy to spend money in.

7. Amendment to the Bylaws- VOTE
The Committee discussed an amendment to the Bylaws to include the Planning Council Director in the Conflict of Interest code of conduct.
The Committee recommended that Jack Newby, Director of Planning Council Support, make revisions to the Conflict of Interest Code of Conduct and bring them to Steering to be voted on.
After Steering, the amendment proposal will then be put on the agenda for a vote at the January 2005 Council meeting, in order to give sufficient notice for the by-law change.

8. Concern from OIG Report- Length of Stay
The Committee discussed the concerns voiced by the auditors in the OIG report regarding length of stay in SF housing programs.
CM Antonetty emphasized the need for the Council to form a task force dedicated to working on the issues identified by the OIG audit, which stated that the SF EMA provided housing services beyond a reasonable time limit.
Russ Zellers added that if the City faced another audit focusing on housing, it could create an audit exception for millions of dollars. The task force would work on creating a policy for DPH and the mayor that makes a recommendation that is both good for clients and protects the city.
CM Antonetty stated that housing has been a problem in San Francisco, especially because people have nowhere else to go. The OIG would like to see time limits created on transitional housing, using 18 months as an example.
CM Simmons stated the need to have a larger discussion about HIV housing in San Francisco and how to maximize beds.
CM Simmons suggested that the group could also present a compelling case for why San Francisco does not transition people.
Russ Zellers stated that by keeping people permanently in transitional housing, the slots were not being opened up for those on the waiting list to move into transitional housing.
CM Antonetty stated that the homeless populations would merely be switched.
CM Sanders made a motion to form an ad hoc committee regarding housing, following the model of the formation of the COE model, whose objectives will be to:
• determine optimal use of existing housing resources
• develop new length of stay policy
• advocate within existing housing efforts for HIV housing to be a part of broader housing initiatives
The group will include providers, consumers, and funders (from the Redevelopment agency, DPH and the Planning Council), and the housing authority.

The motion was approved, and will be forwarded to Steering.

Russ Zellers stated that people can apply to be in group, and administrative support would be needed.
Jack Newby stated that he was in the process of revising the Council Support budget, and could offer administrative support for minute-taking once a month until February.
Russ Zellers stated that a consultant for the group could be paid for with a one-time money request.
The Committee changed their recommendation regarding un funds policy to include category 3, in addition to category 2.

9. Develop Conflict of Interest Policy
This item was postponed until the next Committee meeting.

10. Review Committee Co-chair Job Descriptions-VOTE
The Committee reviewed the Committee Co-chair job description developed at the last meeting and voted to on forward the document to the Steering.


11. Development of Committee Work Plan
This item was postponed until the next meeting.

12. Open Committee Co-chair Nominations- VOTE
The Committee nominated CM Benham and CM Pugh for Committee Co-chairs. CM Benham accepted the nomination. Cm Pugh was not present to accept the nomination.

13. Next meeting date & agenda items

The meeting adjourned at 7:10pm.

Meeting minutes are considered to be in DRAFT form until reviewed and approved by Council attendees.

Home | Community Outreach & Advocacy Committee | Policy & Evaluation Committee | Evaluation Committee
Membership Committee | Planning Committee | Steering Committee