>> good morning, and today is thursday, may 14th, 2015. welcome to the rules committee of the san francisco board of supervisors. my name is john avalos the chair of the committee, and joined to my right by vice chair supervisor tang and supervisor cohen and we are also joined by supervisor mar who has legislation here today. and the clerk of the committee is lisa, and madam clerk do we have any announcements?

>> yes, make sure that silence all cell phones and electronic devices completed speaker carts and documents should be submitted, will appear on the june second agenda, unless others stated. >> sfgtv staff, working jim smith and jessy larson, thank you for injure work. and madam clerk. >> item one, ordinance amending the campaign and governmental conduct code by adding section 1.160, to impose disclosure requirements on committees that support a person for the city elective office who has not qualified as a candidate. >> this comes at the request of the ethics commission that has seen and heard and had concerns about a draft committee in 2011 urging at that time, interim to

run for mayor that year. and it was showing that they are actually, and that committee was raising funds and actually doing work, but there was no report or requirement for that group coming together. so we want to make sure that the other commission, weighed in on and they did, and in that year on whether this was an appropriate approach, given our campaign finance laws at the local and state level, and they have actually come forward with the recommendations for us and mr. st. croix the director of the ethics commission is here to talk about that and the legislation before us. >> >> good morning and, >> welcome. >> supervisors. >> john st. croix representing the ethics commission and as the chair stated in 2011 were there actually two committees that were raising and spending

the money with the express purpose to get ed lee to run for mayor, because the person did not qualify for a candidate the law did not anticipate that we would northbound that situation, although the purpose was to get one person to run the net effect of spending all of this money promoting the qualities of that candidate was to influence the voters and if people are running and raising money they have the right to know. and so we created this working with chair avalos this legislation to define draft committee and to regulate them as any other committee. under the legislation, a committee that receives the contributions or makes extend turs to support the election of a person who has not qualified as a candidate will have the same obligations for the

committee that received the contributions or makes expenditures the draft committee must register as a committee and file reports disclosing contributions and expenditures during the set time periods just as the other committees that support the candidates and i think that is fairly straight forward and i can answer any questions that you might have. >> thank you and i appreciate yor work on this and i think that what we are doing is aligning what is the spirit of the law with the letter of the law and i think that the spirit of the law would, want to make sure that such committees or draft committees would be following the proper filing requirements and in fact it was kind of a surprise that that was not the case and it was just bas the laws had not quite clarified what the represent was between the committee and the draft recruitment function and so thank you for your work on this and i don't see any questions from the committee

and it seems straight forward and we can go out to public comment. >> thank you, chair avalos, and members of the committee, i am larry bush and i am here for the friends of the ethics and this was approved in 2012 and it has been endorsed by 7 former ethics commissioners and by the task, and the recent chair of the san francisco civil grand jury and, all of the members of the ethics committee of the civil grand jury, as well as by such the people as the former chair of the common cause here in san francisco. and other people who are supportive of transparency in government, and this is a modest, but an important step, and it is modest in that unlike candidate committee theres is no cap on the amount of the contributions that can be given. and there is no restriction on who can make a contribution.

so there is a lot of latitude for the people to organize and be behind a candidate, and as it is not restrictive in that sense but it does provide the public with information on who it is that previeding the funding for us and how that funding is being spent, i urge, the committee to approve this and for it to go to the board, thank you. >> thank you very much. >> mr. bush? thank you. >> i am bob plant hold with the history of work and good government having served on both the ethics and sunshine task force i also support this and i am one of those from the ethics commissioners who endorse this. i want to bring up that we heard mr. st. croix talk about these draft run so and orun committees or attempt to influence the voters and i think that it is for those reasons that we ought to know who is behind this. and the fact that it was not contemplated to not address and gives you an opportunity now to address it, so that in the future, if there is a run katie

run or run. mali. a run, committee and people will know who is helping to support those people and i want to make it very personal that this was the first and it was a successful attempt to get higher visibility for the purpose other people may use that same tactic and therefore i think that it is important that it be monitored and regulated aleft handing these simple lines and i want to point out something else that you heard, this was passed some years ago. and again, that urks me as having had idle for whatever reason and i want to bring up the concept, in current or future budget decisions, something not before this committee, but, there would be benefit to be having a commission secretary who could handle these administrative pass-through correspondence matters in the 90s when i was on the task force with david pilpal and we tried to have a committee secretary shared by

the two, that was rejected, later on we tried for half time when i was chair of the ethics commission and, that failed. this is an example i think to consider for the future, thank you. >> okay. thank you. >> your last comment, i am seeing the context of our legislation. but they are not actually not related necessarily. >> next speaker please? >> washington, and i always make my announcement because i am in the retirement stage of an activity but changing over to an entrepreneur, but i am very interested and supportive of this legislation. and of any kind of government oversight, and let me just say, case in point, i just left the committee meeting of the tap where you get your permits and this was not my first time but going there there, no minutes kept and no recording of the public testimony and i think that is a violation of that ordinance there and i am supportive of anything that put

the strict government oversight and now let me give an example of the conduct of government and right now kie say this, we have the mayor, and he has the campaign office set in the western edition of all places and i can say that. >> yeah. >> keep, and --. >> the governmental conduct, and i mean the governmental conduct and i assume is a conflict of interest and i could say that and you guys can't say that, i am the public and i can say that i am not talking and i am just saying that we have the mayor's office in my community. and reelection and i think that is really unfair, if we cannot talk to this mayor here, and campaigning in there where he cames in the troops in the fillmore in 2011 and he visited five black businesses and all of them were closed and how is that showing that the mayor if he really scares come to a bright area of the fillmore and not to answer what is going on in our community. but i am all about, and i am supporting this, but i am here to speak on some other things, thank you very much, sir.

my name is ace, and i am on the case. >> thank you there washington and any other member of the public that would like to comment? >> seeing none we will close public comment. >> and i want to thank mr. john st. croix and his staff and this commission for bringing this legislation forward and i know that it is later than we expected to come forward but i think that it is appropriate that we are doing it at this time and so the colleagues i would like to urge your support and i am hoping to have a motion to support. >> all right. >> through the chair? >> yes. >> thank you. >> and through the chair i am happy to support this and i think that it is something that i appreciate, but the ethics commission to bringing to our attention and supervisor avalos for sponsoring it and i would lake to make a motion to send it forward with a positive recommendation to the full board. >> that is seconded by cohen and we will take that without objection, thank you. >> thank you. >> next item. >> item two is an ordinance amending the health code to extend the sunset date of the

food security task force by three years. >> okay. >> supervisor mar. >> yeah, thank you, chair avalos and committee members. i wanted to say that it is likely that hundreds of thousands of residents, either wake up in the morning or go to bed hungry. i think that the budget and analyst has identified that a quarter of san francisco population is at risk for food insecurety or hunger. and because of the incredible work of the 10-year-old task force, in our city, the food security task force we are much more aware of the huge needs that there are, and especially for the senior and people with disabilities and the children and families that are in need of food and security. i wanted to say that in 2005 when the food security task force was created, by the board of supervisors the charge was to create a city wide plan that would address the food security for all of our neighborhoods and all of our people in the

city and since we reauthorized the task force three years ago they have continued to do incredible work for our city, to and even rec mepding that the board of supervisors pass a resolution, last year, that we committed ourselves and our city to dramatically, reduce or to end the hunger and the food insecurety by 2020 and it is a huge task and i know that for the ten years of work, all of the community based organizations from just about every neighborhood that that is a task that this amazing task force has led the charge on with the grassroots groups from throughout the neighborhood and in 2013, the task force published its assessment of the food security in san francisco and later that year in 2000, and in december after the report was released we approved that resolution, and it was ending the hunger by 2020 in our city and with our concrete steps and ending the food insecurety and the hunger in

san francisco. and the budget processes will be moving forward and we are continuing on that work, but also, thinking out of the box and creating better coordination between the departments as well and i think that the break through in the city funding last year and thanks to terri lee, and the food security task force, the tender loin task force as well and we committed an unprecedent $$4 million more and will ease the pain of kids that go to bed hungry and the seniors that don't have breakfast and we are considering an ordinance that reauthorizes the task force for july of 2018 and it will help us continue the community based on this task force. and bringing awareness up in the city but also, advising the board and the mayor's office as well. and i think that what we started three years ago, with the great work, and there is much more that needs to be done, and i wanted to also say that so many of the community based groups that have been working whether it is from the

bay view to the sunset to the richmond that they deserve tremendous credit for their work. and the task forces is incredible important for the city and we have a couple of amendments thanks to john our city attorney and i wanted to just say that i have the language that may already be in front of you. also, it is page 2, line 15 to 22, and adding language regarding number of attendance requirements and adding language requiring the task force to meet at least once every four months and i think that those are added in and they are not subnative according to the city attorney and i would ask if the chair of the food security task force and the director of the policy and advocacy for the san francisco morine food task would like to make the comments. >> thank you, supervisor mar and supervisor and thank you for those words about the task force imented to make a couple of points about the fact that

the food security task force is a model that works, the amendment around the attendance is a place to start, it has no problem with the participation and representation and we have no quorum issues and in fact, mostly the room is packed, 278 is packed on the monthly meeting and both by the members of the task force and also the members of the public and our organizations that are in the members but are a part of this broad, effort in the city, to address the food security. and secondly, i think that the keeping, and there is such an emphasis on the impact on the cross discipline work and i think that the task force represents the best of some of that work and we have the representation from the city departments and the school district and non-profit organizations that are really in the business of those, funding and organizing programs and delivering services and at the timing that gives, all of us, and then by extension, all

of you, a really broad and a keep understanding of what the food security landscape looks like in san francisco. and then finally, i wanted to say, that i think that we are getting results and supervisor mar spoke about the assessments or the report that we put together, and our ability to elevate the issue and to really both broaden and deepthen understanding of the different components of the food security and how we can work together to achieve the food security by 2020 and i also want to say that i have had the opportunity over the past couple of years to speak outside of san francisco about this model. and through those experiences i have really even been more proud of the work that we are doing and because this model of bringing the city, representatives and the non-profit represents together to come up with credible numbers and important, on the ground stories really has been a real strength of this task force and this model and we have been able to outsource that in other communities in the state and the country have looked to us to see what we are

doing and if we might replicate this and it is something that is working and i appreciate your support for extending it for the next three years and i will take any questions. >> yes. supervisor cohen. >> no questions, i just wanted to ask to be added as a sponsor. this is a task force that is really important. and it has been doing a considerable amount of work. and across the city, but particularly in the south east neighborhoods. and terri, you are phenomenal and you are just your commitment is just unparalleled and wonderful to have you part of the community and i wish that we could duplicate and you have a couple more of of you. but, just wanted to publicly acknowledge your leadership and also the leaders that are part of the task force or part of cefa and the south east food access network. and there are other non-profit organizations the food bank, and the meals on wheels and there are so many different

entris that are out there that are working to bring the food to all kinds of people. and it is funny, sad, that we live in such a wealthy community of san francisco, that there are still people that do not have access to quality food or quality water. as well as housing but we are not talking about housing. but food. that means a lot of work for us to do colleagues on the front. but the, and i am just delighted that the food security task force will remain intact for a few more years and we can look forward and also, i want to recognize just the commitment that the task force has demonstrated to the southeastern neighborhoods in helping us get a grocery store and helping us with the liquor stores and into the bastians of healthy food and greenry and this is all of a collective effort on behalf of the community and i just want to say thank you.

>> supervisor tang. >> thank you, i want to echo that and i think that last year when you brought your task force report and recommendations to us and it was very eye opening and we ended up being very inspired by some of the information presented to us and include ited in the sunset district, blueprint and i really want to take the further action on all of the things that we learned from you and so really thank you and it is an example of how you bring us valuable information. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> thank you, for all of your work. >> let's go on to the public comment and any member of the public that would like to comment. come forward. >> seeing none, we will close public comment. >> and we will have this live before us. >> all right. >> through the chair, i would like to make a motion to first adopt the amendments that supervisor mar mention and then after that send the ordinance with a positive recommendation to the full board. >> okay. >> and we will take that without objection. congratulations. >> okay, next item please?

>> item three, ordinance amending the administrative code to reauthorize a san francisco sentencing commission and revice its sunset date. >> thank you, good morning, colleagues. thank you for hearing this item today. and the ordinance spearheaded by i would spearheaded this ordinance with the district attorney, and george and in partnership with the retired chief, we knowy still of the adult probation department and our colleagues, supervisor weiner and the legislation before us would reauthorize the sentencing commission and revise its sunset date, to the december, 31 of 2017 and the purpose of this sentencing commission is just to remind everyone is to encourage the development of the criminal sentencing strategies, that reduce, recidivism and prioritize safety and protection and emphasize fairness and best practices and utilize the san francisco

criminal justice resources. now, over the course of the last two years of sentencing commission and the staff by the office of district attorney heard expert testimony on a wide array of topics related to sentencing and has produced three reports, with the local and state recommendations. and now, some examples, of the subject matter can havered by the sentencing commission includes, effective and appropriate intersvensing strategis for young adult and the opportunitis for drug, law reform and the san francisco, sentencing trends and the key factors that reduce and the key factors that reduce recidivism and i would like to take a moment just to emphasize that san francisco in many regards serves as a leader in the criminal justice, innovation and while also, acknowledging the leads to evaluate the current practice $to insure that we are making the best decisions that we can to serve the public safety.

and colleagues, before you you have received the clean up amendments to the legislation at the request of the clerk and the simply clarify the membership attendance requirements, also she is here to speak on the activists and the successes of the sentencing commission, and so i would like to if you would like, after the presentation, i can read into the record, a brief description of the amendments, thank you. >> why dent you go ahead, tara. >> thank you, supervisor cohen and avalos and taningsinger, and thank you in particular supervisor cohen for your introduction of leadership on this issue and i am honored to represent the district attorney, and the members of the sentencing commission. he sends his regrets for not being able to attend today.

and i would like to use his words of if we are thoughtful, on our response, to crime and set the right consequences for those responsible, we would preserve the safety of our communities and that is really the spirit of the san francisco sentencing commission and it was developed to assess, and implement the change to the local strategies and also recognizing there are some constraints in the latitude of the current law and so there may be recommendations that will have to be made to the state as well and that is why three reports include the recommendations that are locally directed and then also, at the state. and since the inception, the sentencing commission has held ten hearings including the subject matter, and briefed by supervisor cohen and the victim services, and and in the latitude of the current law is available to us in deversion opportunities for the folks that have the contact with the criminal justice system and that expert testimony was to

use to develop, nine recommendations, and the included legislative change and so reducing certain, felony crimes to misdemeanor and then also, we repeatedly are recommending that there be a state level, sentencing commission, and part the reason that we are, and we are advocating for the reauthorization for the san francisco sentencing commission, is because the state has yet to take up that responsibility. >> and recommendations for the local strategies include, practical investments and to support our work and so these are simply, reviewing our data on a regular basis, who are we sending to state prison and who is in custody and in supervision and the people who are having contact with the criminal justice system and the consequences associated with

their conduct. also we sent a delegation of representatives from san francisco to seattle to look at the law enforcement and the diversion program and to look at the earlist possible, point of intervention to divert the individuals and into the treatment resources and limit having them go for the traditional crim gnat justice system and also, key recommendations was the creation of a specialty youth court and this was currently under way and we are working with the courts and the public defenders and the bar to develop a local, youth court and it was actually will be one of few that will exist in the country and we are fortunate to receive the funding from the bureau of the state and community, correction to support those planning and implementation effort and this work would not be possible without partnerships and we are not funded in any way from the city and ways in the small portion of my staff time and so we really have to lefage the partnership and so we use those, and experts in the area

of sentencing and the partnerships with the research firms and these include the council and the governments and the justice center, and the urban institute and the national council of criminal delinquency and we are able to get the support from the open foundation to conduct the staff research support and also working with our other sister bodies within the city of san francisco and like the reentry council and the justice, reeninvestment initiative and as you know the sentencing commission is schedule to sunset on june first and then in the state level and sentencing commission, we recommend that we continue until december 31st of 2017, and we are really excited to continue this great work and inform, and practices both locally and on the state level, and i am happy to answer any questions that you may have generally or about the non-subtanive changes and the next meeting of the sentencing commission is schedule for june

the tenth, from ten to 12 in room 305 and any member of the public who are interested in looking at previous minutes or in the materials from the sentencing commission, those are all available on the district attorney website, and the sentencing commission page. thank you. >> thank you. >> do you, or just curious, if there are other, you know, there is, is there, is there a desire to have a state wide body that does not exist and so we are continuing this commission in the meantime but there are other bodys like this elsewhere in the state of california? >> actually there are not any local sentencing commission to my knowledge that exist anywhere else in the united states and we are the first of its kind, local sentencing commission, and there are 21 states, that have state level sentencing commissions. >> and so, without the other

similar bodies elsewhere and in other county in the state of california who are your partners around the state? that you are working with to help, look at changing state law. >> yeah, so, we are working with a little hoover commission and we presented testimony before the little hoover commission in the fall of 2012 and again in the spring of 2013. and they have been on the state level, spear heading the efforts and associated with the creating the state level sentencing commission and we are also, working with the senate and assembly and also the governor's office and to reinforce the value of a state level sentencing commission. >> great, thank you. >> supervisor cohen. >> thank you, i wanted to give a brief description of the amendments for the folks that are listening at homes and for those that don't have the legislation in front of them and on page 3, lines 12 through 13 we have added the language that indicate that the me