SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

 

Wednesday, September 14, 5:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Commissioners Present:

 

                   D.A. Bob Lee                   Francesca Raphael          Kathleen Loughlin

                   Patrick Meehan      Heidi Simonson                Jewel Roberts

                   Linda Starn            Celia Organista                Gillian Greensite

                   Scott MacDonald    Mary Simoni                    Dee O'Brien

                   Kristie Clemens      Jackie Grubelnik              Charles Molnar

                   Melissa Berrenge   JoAnn Allen                     Linda Byrum

         

Commissioners Excused:

 

                   Alan Hiromura                  Judge Thomas Kelly

                  

Commissioners Unexcused:

 

                   Larry Biggam

                            

Others Present:

 

Jennifer Pike, SCDAO                         Jim McMillin, PD

Julie Schneider, SCPD                        Commissioner Irwin Joseph

Phil Wowak, SCSO

 

1.                  Call to Order.

 

Chair Lee called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

 

2.                  Introduction of Members.

 

Each Commissioner introduced him/herself and welcomed Kristie Clemens, new Commissioners Patrick Meehan and Jackie Grubelnik.

 

3.          Introduction of Guest Speakers.

 

No guest speakers were scheduled.

 

4.          Consideration and Approval of Previous Minutes.

 

A motion was made by Linda Starn, seconded by Mary Simoni, to approve the June Minutes.  A motion was made by Dee O'Brien, seconded by Mary Simoni, to approve the March Minutes.  The minutes were approved. 

 

5.                  Additions and deletions to Agenda.

 

+  A, New Business, A.G. Task Force

+  B, New Business, DV Awareness Month

 

6.                  Oral Communications from the Community.

 

No communications by the community were made.

 

7.                  Old Business For Further Discussion.

 

A.        DV Statistics Update

Alan Hiromura was not in attendance so Chair Lee moved this topic to October's agenda.  Alan Hiromura and Linda Starn to provide statistics.

 

B.        Combining Memberships

Francesca Raphael stated that she was confused about where Sutter Hospital fits into the membership.  A motion was made in the March Minutes to consolidate the hospital with the Community Clinic Coalition and to add another small clinic to fill the seat.  However, they have a new representative, Joanne Goodman.  A motion was made by Celia Organista, seconded by Dee O'Brien, and passed, to keep Sutter Hospital a single and sole representative and not to consolidate it. 

 

The March Minutes also reflected a motion to remove the Women's Commission position from the membership.   A motion to change that decision was made by Celia Organista, seconded by Dee O'Brien, and passed, to keep the Women's Commission membership position. 

 

C.        Elections

Chair Lee suggested a change in the Chair membership from an elected position to a non-elected position.  Heidi Simonson stated that she feels that an elected official is better as their face is seen more in the community.  After discussion, nominees and votes voted Heidi Simonson as Chair and JoAnn Allen as Vice-Chair.  Members of the Executive Committee are Bob Lee, Jewell Roberts, Dee O'Brien and Mary Simoni.

 

D.        DV Center

Discussions were held with regards to the goal of the Commission.  Chair Lee believes that victims deserve more and reiterated his idea of a "one stop shop".  This type of service would help victims by providing medical help, mental health, social services, advocates and much more.  He stated that this would bring community partners together.   Francesca Raphael stated that the one stop shop is broader than the Commission and she needed clarity of how much the Commission can actually do as the Commission reports to the Board of Supervisors.

 

            E.        Teen Violence

JoAnn Allen has a group coming in to the schools to do a program on Teen Dating Violence.  There are three types of dating violence in schools right now.  This group will focus on teen and relationship violence in school, help with the development of policies and help to implement them (not all violence is identifiable as the symptoms are hard to diagnose).  A four-week study was performed and most principles and teachers did not recognize the signs.  There is an enormous amount of violence and the normality of it is very scary.  There is a high rate of pregnancies from forced sex, statutory rape and blackmail.  Perpetrators are sent to youth services and anger management.   There is a culture of violence between the sexes and gangs.  Chair Lee requested that Linda Perez come to the next meeting so that she may pro vide more information.

 

8.                  New Business.

 

A.        Attorney General's Task Force On Criminal Justice Response to Domestic Violence.

This topic has been moved to next months meeting.  A comparison will be made with the DV statistics provided by Alan Hiromura and Linda Starn.

 

B.        DV Awareness Month

Chair Lee asked that each commissioner provide him with their organization's agenda for celebration of DV Awareness Month for presentation to the media. 

 

9.                  Announcement from Commissioners.

 

Dee O'Brien announced that Kristi Clemens would replace Jennifer Rose.  Irwin Joseph will act as Court Liaison in place of Thomas Kelly.  Francesca Raphael asked that nametags be made and distributed for each Commissioner.  Julie Schneider will contact Debra Abbot to see if she is interested in becoming the GBLT Commissioner.

 

10.             Adjournment.

 

                        The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.