SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION

MINUTES

Wednesday, February 14, 2007, 5:30 p.m.

Commissioners Present: (14)

Heidi Simonson Bob Lee Alan Hiromura Charles Molnar Irwin Joseph Dee O’Brien Francesca Raphael Steve Robbins

Linda Starn Patrick Meehan Scott MacDonald Laura S-Gallardo

Todd Mayer Joanna Goodman Kathleen Loughlin JoAnn Allen

Commissioners Excused:

Charles Molnar Patrick Meehan Larry Biggam

Commissioners Unexcused:

Others Present:

Candace Atkins, Family Court Services Julie Schneider, SCPD

Kathy Agnone, CPVAW Janet Seminerio, WCS-DdM

1. Call to Order.

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

2. Roll Call: Introduction of Members.

Each Commissioner introduced him/herself. 12 members were present at Introductions, 2 more arrived later.

3. Additions or Deletions to Agenda.

None.

4. Approval of January Minutes.

Linda Starn corrected Barbara Rice’s affiliation stating that she is not with Dominican Hospital. Scott MacDonald requested clarification on volunteering with Law Enforcement protocol subcommittee (confirmed). The Minutes were approved by motion with a unanimous vote. (O’Brien/MacDonald). Tabled: November Minutes approval – Secretary not present, and Minutes not available this meeting.

5. Oral Communications from the Community.

Kathy Agnone from CPVAW indicated that Bob Campbell would be the appointee to the DVC from CPVAW and would be present next meeting. Gillian Greensite’s appointment expired.

6. Old Business.

A. Julie Schneider indicated the Bylaws review would soon be complete. Next meeting she will report again. Simonson will assist if necessary, in the review.

7. New Business

A. Subcommittee Reports:

1. By-Laws Taskforce

See Old business.

2. Education Subcommittee

As reported in January, Bob Lee indicated that he and Kristi Clements did a presentation at Planned Parenthood. He will find out when the next Education subcommittee meeting will be.

3. Report of Batterer’s Programs Subcommittee

Scott MacDonald indicated he would request Alto or Pac Treatment present at our next meeting.

4. Report to the Community Subcommittee

Alan Hiromura provided two handouts to Commissioners, the DV Questionnaire Final Statistics, Version 5, and Draft Outline Report to the Community. He would like to have the Commission as a whole discuss the data. The general consensus was that the expertise of the individuals on the Commission will help in shedding light on the discrepancies or differences in the statistical results. This will also assist the editors of the report in drafting explanations of the data for the report. Linda Starn indicated that every year she has worked on this Report, that small group work on each segment is ok, but that the Commission as a whole really needs to develop and understand the data better. MacDonald agreed that each entity reporting should look at trends and utilize the Commission discussions to analyze trends. The Report explanations therefore can assist agencies to improve quality.

Hiromura requested feedback on the handouts by Wednesday at noon, February 27. He highlighted a “discrepancy” in the CPS numbers, which are different from law enforcements in terms of children witnesses to DV. There was a lively discussion of this topic. Some issues include each LE agencies crimes matrix, how the crime is reported or charged, what officers in the field are able to do or who they are able to find, and follow up calls by LE.

MacDonald moved that we discuss two sections of the Report data each of the next meetings, and invite other participants as necessary for that area of discussion. The six total areas of discussion to include DA, Advocacy, LE, CPS, Civil Courts, and Batterer’s Programs/Probation.

Motion seconded by ?

Discussion, and Motion passed by unanimous vote. We will discuss civil courts and advocacy next meeting. Bob Lee will invite Sylvia Nieto, Victim Services, and Simonson will invite Steve Carlton, Civil courts.

5. Executive Committee

A. Death Review.

Chair Simonson reported that five members/others of the DVC attended Death Review Training put on by AG’s office in Alameda. The training was very informative and it was a successful training. It focused on teen domestic violence death and relationships and the differences with adult DV death/relationships. The training served as a starting point for training some members on the ongoing committee (DV Death Review). This subcommittee needs the Sheriff or DA to indicate when it is timely to begin review.

JoAnn Allen indicated that Teen Court Program is a good opportunity to impact Teens in our County.

There was discussion about how school administrators handle teen domestic violence on campus. (Allen, Simonson, O’Brien).

B. Medical Protocol.

Linda Starn indicated that Robin Helty, an emergency room nurse is available to participate on this Committee (Dominican). Simonson requested a chair for the subcommittee. The s-c will review the older protocol and update it’s laws and recommendations. Joanna Goodman and Kathleen Laughlin volunteer to co-chair the committee. Robbins indicated that Mario Sulay will also be available to be a member.

C. DV Law Enforcement Protocol.

Julie Schneider, Chair of the s-c will call a meeting to break it down into sections for review.

8. Announcements.

Terms of Office: there are several Commissioner’s terms expiring in April. We do not have a meeting in April, and appointments will need to be ready for May. We will need to hold elections as well. Simonson requested members review the handout on Terms of Office, and contact the Board for reappointment or new appointments. O’Brien indicated that as to the vacancies, she has been attempting to recruit other members.

9. Adjournment.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.