Committee Members Present: Wilfredo Ortiz (co-chair); Devin Anderson (co-chair);
Ken Pearce; Wade Flores
Committee Members Absent: Darnell Durio, Robert Oropeza (leave of absence);
Kim Pickens
Other Council Members Present: None
Others Present: Dean Goodwin
Council Support Present: Richard Bargetto; Skot Jonz
1. Welcome & Introductions
Co-Chair Ortiz called the meeting to order.
2. Review/Approve Agenda
Committee reviewed that agenda and it was approved by consensus.
3. Review/Approve Minutes
Committee reviewed the minutes from October 12, 2005 and November 9, 2005.
There were no objections or corrections and the minutes were approved by
consensus.
4. Announcements
No announcements.
5. Public Comment
No public comment.
6. Steering Committee Update
CM Siron provided an update on the latest activities and discussions of the
Steering Committee.
7. Status of COA Committee
Committee discussed the status of membership on the COA Committee and reviewed
actions of the Membership Committee to address attendance concerns.
CM Pearce announced details regarding Membership Committee decision to move him temporarily to this committee for quorum purposes. Committee discussed the status of other members. CM Flores has officially joined COA as his home committee. It was discussed that several of the new Council Members may be directed to this committee. Committee also discussed that Membership Committee has temporarily suspended CM Durio until there is more clarity on his whereabouts and whether he has (un)officially resigned from the Council. Regarding CM Pickens there is no information regarding her intentions, but Council Support is investigating the matter and will follow-up with Committee.
Committee expressed thanks to CM Pearce for his efforts to assist the COA Committee with its attendance issues.
8. SRO Report
CM Siron provided the SRO Report. He explained that it stands for Single-Room-Occupancy
Task Force that deals with issues not in compliance with City ordinances.
He attended the October SRO Meeting. No meeting in November because of dealing
with Kartina refugees. Beginning January 2006, the SRO Task Force will meet
every other month. CM Siron reviewed the work being done with regard to the
sprinkler issue in SRO hotels. CM Siron will make available the latest report
to those who are interested. CM Siron provided some background on the issue
regarding mailboxes, and the lack thereof, at SROs.
Committee discussed and asked questions of CM Siron regarding the SRO Task
Force.
CM Ortiz asked about the scope of influence, and what is the role of the Council,
and why does CM Siron need to report to this committee.
CM Siron provided a little history. The CARE Council became aware that there
was no representation for people living in SROs, and at the time most of these
residents were unaware of the Advocacy Project. The CARE Council desired more
visibility around City Agencies, and sought a seat on the SRO Task Force that
is spearheaded by the City Supervisors.
CM Pearce added that clarification.
CM Ortiz requested further information on who is representing whom.
Residents of SRO with HIV who have complaints are referred to the Advocacy
Project.
CM Siron indicated that he has asked for information regarding statistics of
how many people with HIV are living in SROs.
CM Pearce suggested to officially request these numbers regarding how many
people with HIV are living in SROs.
Richard Bargetto clarified that a community forum provided information on the
condition of people living in SROs who asked the Council what was going to
be done about it. He followed up that there are no CARE dollars used for SROs.
When Richard receives a complaint, the SRO has their own grievance procedures.
Dean Goodwin stated that there may be some CARE dollars going to SROs but not
a significant amount.
CM Anderson asked if it is possible to ask for this information.
Committee officially asked for CM Siron to obtain this information about the
number of people living in SROs, as well as how much CARE dollars go to this.
CM Siron agreed to follow up on this and report back to Committee in January
or when he has the information available.
Committee discussed how this relates to the Housing Work Group and its work for developing a policy for temporary or short-term housing being housed (sometimes with CARE dollars) for extended periods of time.
9. Prevention with Positives Report
CM Pearce presented a brief history of the PWP Committee. He indicated that
this was a first step of collaboration between the two Councils (Planning
and Prevention). He explained that the report spells out how Prevention should
put out its message of prevention to the HIV-positive population in a wholistic
manner.
Council Support indicated that this will be an agenda item at the Steering
Committee Retreat in January.
Co-Chair Anderson reported that he has joined HPPC and can be available to
join the PWP Committee and deliver the monthly report if necessary.
Committee discussed.
10. HOPWA Loan Committee Report
CM DiCrocco was not available to provide a HOPWA Loan Committee Report.
Co-Chair Ortiz indicated that CM DiCrocco is working full time and may not
be available. Co-Chair Ortiz to follow-up at the Full Council meeting next
week to determine if CM Thomas or CM DiCrocco could forward the report to Council
Support
ACTION: Council Support to follow-up with CM Thomas regarding her availability to give a presentation to COA Committee and a mechanism for reporting to committee.
11. Advocacy Project Report
The Committee will receive the monthly report from the Consumer Rights Advocacy
Project.
Richard Bargetto provided the monthly report from the Consumer Rights Advocacy
Project. He discussed how there was an issue with regard to reporting agency
names in his report and this is in conflict with the Council policy of not
being agency-specific. He explained that originally the PWP Caucus had asked
for this information, and he is able to prepare the report in anyway this committee
prefers. He explained the position of the Council Director. Benign issues can
disclose the agency, but other matters regarding sexual harassment or similar
cases should not disclose the agency.
CM Anderson responded that he prefers to have the agency name, but there is
a problem with perception.
Richard indicated that these are simply accusations, and that could unduly
harm the image of an agency.
CM Pearce suggested that the year-end report from the Advocacy Project could
identify certain agencies that have numerous grievances.
Committee discussed the need to be sure that the Council is not violating any
HRSA requirements by disclosing agency names. Red-button issues can be the
exception.
Committee discussed whether this policy was violating any Council bylaws.
Committee advised Richard to continue preparing his monthly Advocacy Project
report as he has been doing.
Committee discussed how to develop more detailed contract language and work
with the AIDS Office that could give the Advocate more authority to pursue
resolution of grievances.
Committee discussed that all CARE-funded agencies must post their grievance
policy and procedures and provide a copy of this to all new clients upon intake
and make it available to clients upon request.
CM Flores asked when COA Committee gets involved.
Committee discussed that the first step should be to follow the agency grievance
policy, approach the Advocacy Project, then the COA Committee, then the Full
Council, rather than going to the Full Council at the beginning.
Committee discussed how to make these grievance forms universal throughout
the EMA, and CM Flores agreed to pursue attempting to get Marin County agencies
to adopt similar forms.
ACTION: COA Committee requests for Richard to follow up with Council Director to ensure that there are no bylaws or policy violations with regard to disclosing agency names in the monthly Advocacy Project Report.
12. Community Meeting in the Bayview District
Committee reviewed and discussed the Bayview Community Meeting. Co-Chair Ortiz
indicated that this was the strongest of the Community Meetings and believes
it worked out well. He would like to set up future meetings using this same
model.
Committee discussed where to go next and what months to meet in which communities.
CM Anderson suggested having more community meetings in the Bayview.
CM Pearce added that it would be helpful to have more accurate information
on the statistics of the number of HIV-positive clients in the Bayview, and
also get information about how the CoEs are operating.
Committee discussed that it would be helpful to have more accurate information
from Reggie and the AIDS Office.
CM Pearce suggested having Community Meetings in March, July, and November.
At that time more data will be in about the CoEs.
ACTION: Council Support to identify specific dates for these months and prepare a schedule. November 8 will be Bayview. Another in the Tenderloin – Wednesday March 8. The Committee will decide a community to target for the July 12 meeting.
Committee asked to have presentations of data prior to the Bayview Meeting.
Committee discussed hitting the young people or youth groups in the July meeting.
Committee agreed to work with Council Support to identify a location to meet
in the Tenderloin for the March Community Meeting.
13. COA Committee Policies & Procedures -VOTE
Committee will review policies and procedures reviewed by I&P and consider
approval of the revised polices and whether to forward to Steering for a review.
Committee discussed that these policies are being reviewed by I&P and will
be returned to COA in January and then on to Steering.
14. Next Meeting Date and Agenda Items
Wednesday, January 11, 2006 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Committee co-chairs will identify
potential agenda items.
Agenda items:
Discussion of Community Forums, developing two.
Update on the March 8 community Meeting
Update on HOWPA Loan Committee
Update on Committee members.
15. Adjourned
Co-Chair Ortiz adjourned the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Mission Statement: To ensure that the voice of the community and consumers
are part of the work of the Council. The committee will ensure that consumers
and other community members have the opportunity to give input to the Council,
be educated on the issues that affect the HIV/AIDS community, and are empowered
to be a voice for the needs of the HIV/AIDS community that can affect positive
change and ensure public policies that enhance the lives of people living
with HIV/AIDS.
Note: Agenda items are subject to change, postponement, or removal. Meeting
agendas are considered to be in DRAFT form until reviewed and approved by
Committee attendees
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