SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

 

Wednesday, November 9, 5:30 p.m.

 

Commissioners Present:

 

                   JoAnn Allen           Francesca Raphael          Kathleen Loughlin

                   Heidi Simonson      Steve Robbins                           Kristie Clemens

                   Linda Starn            Celia Organista                JoAnna Goodman

                   Scott MacDonald    Alan Hiromura                           Melissa Berrenge

                   Larry Biggam                   Jackie Grubelnik              Charles Molnar

Dee O'Brien           Irwin Joseph                    Mary Simoni

D.A. Bob Lee        

 

Commissioners Excused:

 

                   Gillian Greensite     Patrick Meehan      Jewel Roberts

                  

Commissioners Unexcused:

 

                                      Linda Byrum

                                                                  

Others Present:

 

Jennifer Pike, SCDAO     Julie Schneider                                  

 

1.                  Call to Order.

 

Chair Simonson called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.

 

2.                  Introduction of Members.

 

Each Commissioner introduced him/herself and introductions of attendees from Women's Crisis Support~Defensa de Mujeres and the District Attorney's Office were made.

 

3.          Additions/Deletions to Agenda.

 

No additions or deletions were made.

 

 

4.         Introduction of Guest Speakers.

 

Judge Kathleen Akao and Judge Heather Morse were introduced by DA Lee to speak to the commission and the community on the new Domestic Violence Court Calendar.

 

Judge Akao summarized Santa Cruz County's court system by explaining   that there are five felony courtrooms and two misdemeanor courtrooms and the felony judges have their own trial calendar.  If trial cases do not resolve they go to Master Calendar.  Judge Stevens currently handles the domestic violence calendar in Superior Court.  Over a fourteen-week period, half of the domestic violence cases are being continued, most of which are misdemeanors or time not waived cases.  In order to adjudicate these cases it is important that one judge hear each case from beginning to end.  Judge Akao has volunteered for the DV court assignment and believes that having a DV court will help expedite the cases.  Domestic Violence is being addressed in south county courtrooms also.  However, they anticipate that three more courts will be added next year and are looking at how to provide a dedicated DV court.  For the time being, they are considering holding DV court twice a week in Watsonville that would include staff and probation.  There are details that still need to be ironed out but stated that she looked forward to working with Probation, law enforcement and the DAO to discuss them. 

 

District Attorney Lee agreed that no court is perfect, however, he is extremely happy with the Court's decision.   Every case is important and the idea is to dedicate a court to do the best possible job.

 

The floor was open to questions by Chair Simonson and Commissioner Joseph responded to how Superior Court and Family Law Court work together to see that all Temporary Restraining Orders and Emergency Protective Orders.  Each Family Law case is cross-referenced with the Superior Court Criminal case, CPS or Conservatorship cases to see that all Orders are honored.  Judge Akao addressed the question on dependency.  The court provides a service, such as supervised visitation, to families where a child has been mishandled, unless, of course, the child has been abused.  Once the Juvenile Court takes over it takes precedence over all other courts.  Judge Akao

 

5.                  Oral Communications from the Community.

 

Community members made no questions or communications.

 

6.          Consideration and Approval of Previous Minutes.

 

Alan Hiromura made a motion to approve the October Minutes.  JoAnn Allen seconded the motion and the Minutes were approved.

 

7.                  Old Business.

 

A.        DV Statistics Update

This topic was moved to Item 8.A.

 

B.        Attorney General's Task Force Response

DA Lee stated that the Attorney General's Office came out with the summary on how DV Response is within the country.  Although they stated that most participants were failing, Santa Cruz is doing better than most.  He suggested that each Commissioner read the document so that it can be discussed at the Retreat.

 

C.        Approval of Annual 2003 DV Commission Report

Alan Hiromura made a motion to approve the report.  Celia Organista seconded the motion and the report will be forwarded to Terry Dorsey along with a copy of the Minutes.

 

D.        Approval of Annual 2004 DV Commission Report

Linda Starn made a motion to approve the report.  Steve Robbins seconded the motion and the report will be forwarded to Terry Dorsey along with a copy of the Minutes.

 

E.        DV Awards Agenda

Discussions were held with regards to a 2005 ceremony and past award ceremonies.  Sheriff Robbins suggested having the ceremony in January or February 2006 at the Horticulture Center in Freedom.  Cabrillo College is booked for the holidays and they do not allow food.  The Posse House requires a down payment for insurance purposes.   The commissioners discussed planning a retreat in early 2006 and, due to time constraints, not have an award ceremony this year.  Chair Simonson suggested that this topic be moved to the April Agenda to be addressed after elections.  Alan Hiromura made a motion to defer this topic to next year and have the subcommittee meet in April to discuss it.  Mary Simoni seconded the motion.

 

8.                  New Business

 

A.        Report to the Community 2005 Funding.

Alan Hiromura reported that funding is needed for the 2005 Report to the Community.  He suggested several approaches such as soliciting, agency's can request additional money for the report or have the report roll into the CAP report like the United Way does.  Discussions were held and it was determined that the subcommittee would meet to discuss this.

 

B.        Subcommittee Reports

Alan Hiromura reported that in 2002 a questionnaire was developed at the retreat for law enforcement agencies so that they may gather and provide statistical domestic violence information easier.  Data was collected from 2003, 2004 and now in 2005.  He is hoping to get the information out in 2006.  All agencies collect this data throughout the county, as it is mandated by the State, which must be provided to the Board of Supervisors.

 

9.                  Announcement from Commissioners

 

Discussions were held with regards to a Retreat.  Chair Simonson reported that the subcommittee met and discussed costs for a facilitator.  It appears that a facilitator would cost upwards of $3000.  Several facilities have rooms available some of which are free.  The agenda would consist of the commissioners' ideas on what the DVC should accomplish but narrowed down and structured by the facilitator. A motion was made, and passed, to have a facilitator for a daylong retreat and the Executive Committee would seek funding and a date.

 

10.             Adjournment.

 

                        The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.