SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION

 

MINUTES

 

Wednesday, January 12, 2005, 5:30 p.m.

 

Commissioners Present:

 

                Don Allegri               Lynn Harrison          D.A. Bob Lee          

                Gillian Greensite      Dee O'Brien              Heidi Simonson

                Charles Molnar        Larry Biggam           Judge Thomas Kelly

                Linda Starn              Steve Robbins Francesca Raphael

                Michelle Finch         Melissa Berrenge     Donna Lind                             

Commissioners Excused:

 

                Alan Hiramura          Linda Byrum            JoAnne Allen

                Mary Simoni            Celia Organista

               

Others Present:

 

        Jennifer Pike - SCDAO                     Julie Schneider

       

1.              Call to Order.

Chair Lee called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.

 

2.              Introduction of Members.

Commissioners introduced themselves.

 

3.      Introduction of Guest Speakers.

Irene van der Zande, co-founder of nonprofit agency Kid Power, Teen Power, Full Power, addressed the commission about a possible endorsement.  Ms. van der Zande explained that the program was designed to teach personal safety skills to individuals in a way that is simple and effective.  Domestic violence safety is taught by re-enacting situations and then suggesting different ways to learn from them. A variety of workshops have been developed appropriate to the ages and life situations of class participants.  They recently received a grant with Blue Shield so now they can offer classes in Santa Cruz County.  Recent classes have been coordinated through Donna Lind at the Scotts Valley Community Center, which will begin next month.  A class generally lasts two hours long with a two-hour follow up class. 

 

Heidi Simonson asked for clarification for the interest in the DV Commission.  Ms. van der Zande feels that an endorsement by the DVC would benefit all parties.  Partnering to train educators, childcare providers, business leaders, etc., as they did in the Silicon Valley last November, offers more visibility and more domestic violence awareness. 

 

4.      Consideration and Approval of Previous Minutes.

Previous minutes were not available to approve. 

 

5.              Additions and deletions to Agenda.

Added under New Business, Item C. DV Statistics

Added under New Business, Item D. Celia's Resignation

 

6.              Oral Communications from the Community.

No communications from the community were made.

 

7.              Old Business For Further Discussion.

 

A.    DV Commission Membership Update

Chair Lee addressed the problem with commission vacancies.  The following agencies have not had represented for quite some time:

 

Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center;

Watsonville Community Hospital;

Community Clinic Coalition;

Latino Community; and the

Women's Commission.

 

The following commissioners have resigned creating additional vacancies:

 

Amy Christie, representative for the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Sonya Drottar, representative for Women's Crisis Support; and

Celia Organista, representative for Women's Crisis Support/Defensa de Mujeres. 

 

Discussions were held with regard to consolidating some vacancies and how to go about filling them.  Heidi Simonson suggested merging the two Women's Crisis Support representative positions into one and having that position filled by Joanne De Los Reyes.  Linda Starn agreed to research how to combine the hospital representative positions into one position.  Chair Lee expressed the importance of filling the Latino Community vacancy.  Dee O'Brien and Michelle Finch agreed that Tony Campos might be interested and would follow up on it.  Chair Lee will seek candidates for the Community Clinic Coalition.  Melissa Berrenge suggested that Jody Harvey at Simply Your Best been considered as a representative as she works with both men and women batterers.  A recommendation was made to recruit Patricia Gilbertson for the Advocacy seat.

 

Discussions were held with regard to adding a position for the business community members and it was suggested approaching someone from the Aptos Chamber.  Donna Lind agreed to contact a former pastor to aide in preparing a letter to various religious leaders and their interest in rotating a possible commission position.  Adding a representative from Family Matters and from UCSC was also discussed.

 

Francesca Raphael recommended that the commission approach the Board of Supervisors for permission to amend the By-Laws so that the commission can consolidate vacancies and/or add new positions from the religious or business community.

 

A motion was passed to approach the Board of Supervisors to recommend reducing the commission membership. 

 

A motion was passed to reduce the Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center representative position to clinic status.

 

B.    DV Commission Replacement of Rotating Commissioners

Discussions were held with regard to the Survivor membership.  Chair Lee stated that other survivor's have taken interest in being on the commission so perhaps the By-Laws should be reviewed and the length of the terms are revisited at the next meeting.  

 

C.    DV Award Ceremony in November

Discussions were held with regard to last year's ceremony.  Mixed emotions were shared with respect to the location and exposure.  A motion was passed to form a subcommittee to work exclusively on the banquet ceremony.  The subcommittee will consist of Tom Kelly, Melissa Berrenge, Bob Lee, Donna Lind and Charles Molnar.

 

8.              New Business.

 

A.    Kid Power, Teen Power, Full Power

A motion was passed to discuss endorsement at the next DVC meeting after reviewing the By-Laws.  The motion for endorsement, if consistent with the By-Laws, was rejected.

 

 

B.    SCCDVC 2004 Report to the Community

Discussions were held with regard to funding for the SCCDVC 2004 Report to the Community.  Chair Lee advised that, according to Alan Hiromura's email, $1,000 is needed to produce 250 copies of the report or $500 for 100 copies.  Due to the lack of funding, Melissa Berrenge suggested that the report be placed on the website and individuals can print it as needed.  A motion was passed to place this issue on the February agenda for further discussion.

 

C.    DV Statistics

Donna Lind gave a brief presentation on the DV 2004 Annual Report.  Upon review, statistics showed a 15% decrease in DV reports to law enforcement but an increase in people contacting advocacy groups.   This indicates that, through awareness raised within the County, more people are taking steps to protect themselves before the situation becomes violent.  Statistics for temporary restraining orders were not available so this item has been moved to the February agenda for further discussion.

 

D.    Celia's Resignation

        This item has been moved to the February agenda for further discussion.

 

9.              Announcement from Commissioners.

 

10.        Adjournment.

                        The meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m.