SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSION

 

Ken Edwards Center

1527 4th Street  

Santa Monica, CA

Monday, December 12, 2005

7:00 P.M.

 

The special Social Services Commission Meeting was held at the above named place and time. 

 

MINUTES

 

  1. Call to Order: The Monday, December 12, 2005 special Social Services Commission Meeting was called to order by Commissioner Perliter at 7:00 pm.

 

  1. Roll Call 

 

                        Present:                    Commissioner Perliter

Commissioner Sampson

Commissioner Barish

Commissioner Christensen

Commissioner Crimmins

Commissioner Gunn

Commissioner Huizar

 

Absent:                     Commissioner Bravo

 

Also Present:          Richard Bloom, Councilmember

                                                            Kevin McKeown, Councilmember

Setareh Yavari, City Liaison

                                                            Julia Brown, Analyst

 

  1. Approval of Minutes:  Motion by Commissioner Crimmins, seconded by Commissioner Huizar, to adopt the minutes of the regular November 28, 2005 meeting.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

  1. Public Input: A member of the public, Randy Walburger, read a statement regarding the Annual Review of the City’s Coordinated Plan for Homeless Services.

 

Kelly Hayes-Raitt, Vice Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women, wished the Commission a happy holiday season.

 

  1. Formation of a Relocation Appeals Board:  Tina Rodriguez, Redevelopment Administrator, reported on a request by Council for the appointment of a Social Services Commissioner to the newly created Relocation Appeals Board.  Commissioner Huizar volunteered for the position with the support of the Commission.

 

  1. Committee Reports

 

    1. Youth:  The Committee will contact the Santa Monica College (SMC) and the City job fair-planning groups to learn more about opportunities to participate.  The Committee hopes to hold a workshop at the SMC event, scheduled for late February.

 

    1. Self-Study:  On an ongoing basis, staff will provide a task and request list for the Commission at future meetings.

 

  1. Old Business

 

    1. FY 2005-06 Social Services Commission Budget:  On an ongoing basis, staff will provide an updated budget to the Commission at future meetings.

 

    1. Attendance: Staff reported that letters to absent Commissioners requesting they recommit to the Commission were sent out.

 

    1. Commission Vision:  The Commission discussed several items pertaining to the Commission Vision including:

·        The retention and growth of an economically and ethnically diverse community who are able to rent and own property in Santa Monica,

·        A stable job and housing market that allows workers in Santa Monica to live in Santa Monica,

·        Community work that links people who live north of Wilshire with people who live south of Wilshire,

·        The City addressing the issues created by homeless people, and

·        The housing of all homeless people

 

Commissioner Sampson advised the Commission to think more globally about the role of schools, the role of government, and the role of a good citizen.

 

    1. Follow-up:  Staff reported the following in response to requests by Commissioners:

·        The showers in Memorial Park were closed by Open Space Management to gauge more appropriate uses and to contribute to a City effort to link emergency homeless services to social service agencies including case management.

·        The portable toilets for use by day laborers are being sited.

·        The project at 415 PCH is estimated to be complete in 2008.  Overall capacity has not yet been determined, but the site will feature 208 parking spaces and a banquet facility for 200 persons.

·        Community response to the Grand Opening of Virginia Avenue Park was overwhelmingly positive.

 

 

  1. New Business

 

    1. Smoke-free Apartments: A member of the public, Beth Miller, spoke about her personal difficulties with smokers in her apartment building.

 

A member of the public, Willow Evans, spoke about her personal difficulties with smokers in her apartment building.

 

A member of the public, Esther Schiller, distributed information regarding a proposed ordinance supporting smoke-free apartment designation and requested the Commission support the ordinance.

 

Discussion regarding the matter ensued; the item was tabled to the January 23, 2006 meeting in order to allow further review of the materials and consideration of unintended consequences of such an ordinance.

 

    1. City Budget Process:  The Commission reviewed the recently released Information Item regarding funds allocated to homeless services and the 2005-06 City Youth Budget.  Commissioners will review a draft budget-priorities recommendation letter to Council at the January 23, 2006 meeting.

 

    1. Emergent Issues: No emergent issues were noted.

 

  1. Announcements/Staff Updates:  Motion by Commissioner Huizar, seconded by Commissioner Crimmins, to move item 9 to follow item 8A.  The motion carried by voice vote.

 

Councilmember Bloom announced that he has accepted a position as the Executive Director of a nonprofit family law agency located in downtown Los Angeles.

 

Staff announced the hiring of the new Human Services Division Senior Administrative Analyst, Danielle Noble.

 

  1. Adjournment:  Motion by Commissioner Gunn, seconded by Commissioner Christensen, to adjourn the special Social Services Commission meeting at 9:05 p.m. The motion carried by voice vote.

 

Approve:                                                                    Attest:

 

 

_________________________________          ________________________________

Chuck Perliter                                                            Julia Brown

Chair                                                                           Human Services Division