Item 1.0 Call to Order.
The meeting was called to order at 6:11 pm.
Commissionersin Attendance:
Maria Theresa Viramontes-Campbell, Dr. Michael Zwerdling, VioletSmith,
Dr. Paula Moten-Tolson, Supervisor John Gioia for SupervisorGayle Uilkema,
Dr. William Walker, Tony Coln
Alternatesin Attendance:
SusanWittenberg, Ronda Garcia, Carol Weadon, Pat Stroh
Item 3.0 Consent Items.
The Commission voted to approvethe minutes.
Item 3.2 - Ready, Set, Readgrants for family literacy in the amount of
$ 112,468.33 have been accepted for funding and will be awarded at the
kick-off event November 1, 2001 for Family Literacy Month.
A motion was made and seconded toapprove the Ready, Set, Read grants in the amount of $ 112,468.33.
The Commission voted andapproved the stated motion.
Item 4.0 Committee and ProgramUpdates.
Item 4.1 -Program Implementation and Evaluation Committee.
a) General Committee Update
CommissionerMoten-Tolson informed the Commission that the committee met and discussedaction items as listed below.
b) Community Clusters Process Map
Commissionersthen directed Brenda Blasingame to discuss with the urban or Bay AreaCommissions the idea of hiring a lobbyist.They also directed her to request a speaker at a future Commissionmeeting to present legislative and state budget issues facing Prop 10.
c) Family Friendly Grants Process for Planning to Implementation
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
Consider the followingrecommendation: To approve $89,321 infunding to the Child Abuse Council for administration and distribution of theNew Parents Kit and the expansion of the Baby Bag throughout the county
Brenda Blasingame gave thefollowing report:
The State Commission Chair RobReiner has agreed to allow Contra Costa to use the existing baby bags inconjunction with the Kit for New Parents.
Parent groups have informed staffthat certain materials are more appropriate for mothers to receive prenatallyand certain materials are more appropriate for mothers to receive once theirchild is born. The recommendation ofstaff is to have the Kit for New Parents box distributed to mothers prenatally,and would include videos provided by the State. The remaining information from the Kit for New Parents would beincluded in the Baby Bag to be distributed to mothers once their child isborn.
While the initial estimated cost ofthis project was $60,000 the proposed plan and budget submitted by the ChildAbuse Prevention Council is for $89,321.The recommendation of the Program and Evaluation Committee is to fundthe entire amount of $89,321.
The proposed plan and budgetsubmitted by the Child Abuse Prevention Council includes one full time employeeto manage both the prenatal distribution of the Kit for New Parents and theBaby Bag distribution, and provide storage of materials.
A motion was made and seconded toapprove $ 89,321 in funding to the Child Abuse Prevention Council foradministration and distribution of the New Parents Kit and the expansion of theBaby Bag throughout the county.
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
e) Tobacco Cessation
Consider the following recommendation:
Sean Casey gave the followingreport:
A consultant was hired to manageinformation gathering and hold key informant interviews around the countyregarding reducing tobacco use and long-term success of the Commissionsinvestments in tobacco cessation.Contra Costa is one of the few Commissions in the state that is fundingtobacco cessation. Based upon what waslearned through the information gathering, the recommendation of staff is tofund the four proposals as stated above.
A motion was made and seconded toapprove $ 390,000 in funding to:
1) Women and Infant Childrens Program (WIC) (up to $120,000) for tobaccocessation for perinatal women; 2) CCKIDS ($50,000) for Perinatal Tobacco Trainingfor providers; 3) Family and Maternal Child Health (FMCH) (up to $120,000) fora Family Tobacco Prevention Coordinator to coordinate and develop collaborativeefforts countywide targeted at families with very young children; 4) Providefunding for tobacco prevention at the local community level as a requirementfor FRLC in the community clusters.
Commissioner Walker recused himselfdue to a conflict of interest regarding the Family and Maternal Child Health(FMCH) proposal.
Commissioner Coln stated that heis the Director of Community Services Department of Contra Costa County and hasno conflict of interest.
Alternate Stroh stated that she isemployed in the Community Services Department of Contra Costa County and has noconflict of interest.
Alternated Gioia stated that he isa member of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and has no conflict ofinterest.
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
Public Comment.
Alternate Gioia stated that heappreciates the Commission holding its meetings around various areas of thecounty.
Cheryl Maier, Teenage ResourceCenter, thanked the Commission for approving a Parent Education and Supportgrant to the Teenage Resource Center.
Item 4.2 - AdHoc Operations Committee.
a) Presentation and Discussion of Role of AlternateCommissioners and Guiding Principles
Consultant DavidBarkan gave a presentation to the Commission regarding the work of the Ad HocOperations Committee since the Commissioner Retreat.
The Commission helda discussion regarding the document entitled Role of Alternate Commissionersand requested the following changes be made:
Under the heading entitled Role,the below will now read as follows:
Full Participation in Commission Activities (except asnoted)
May chair and serve on ad hoc and advisory committees
The Commission helda discussion regarding the document entitled Guiding Principles and Practiceand requested the following changes be made:
Under the headingentitled In conducting our business we will aspire to the following, thebelow will now read as follows:
4. In all our actions work on behalf of the entire community inthe best interest of children and families.
Under the headingentitled We put these principles into practice by doing the following, thebelow will now read as follows:
2. Before a decision is made have sufficient discussion with thegoal of being in agreement when the final vote is taken.
4. In the role of Commission member leave your agency hat atthe door but bring your expertise and knowledge base to the table as it relatesto the Commissions mission.
In addition, the following will beadded to this section:
6. Commissioners will be relied upon to accurately portray theCommissions viewpoint to the public.
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
CommissionZwerdling reminded the Commission that while the document states that Alternatesmay not serve as members of the Executive Committee or the Finance andInvestment Committee, it does not preclude Alternates and Commissioners fromattending meetings and giving input.
Brenda Blasingamefurther stated that the acceptance of these documents means that the Commissionwill need to revisit the Bylaws and make changes to them.
The Commission thenheld a discussion regarding the document entitled Issues for Furtherdiscussion.
Alternate Gioiainformed the Commission that each member of the Board of Supervisors appoints aCommissioner and an Alternate from their district and the nomination isprecluded by the total Board of Supervisors.He requested Commission staff inform the Board of Supervisors as to thebackgrounds of the current Commissioners in order to assist the Board in makingdecisions regarding accurate representation for future vacancies on theCommission.
Item 4.3 -Updateon Ready, Set, Read / Family Literacy Month activities.
Tracy Irwin gavethe following report:
November has beendeclared Ready Set Read month. Inaddition to grants the Commission has awarded, staff has several events plannedfor the month. The Ready, Set, ReadCampaign Kick-off will take place November 1, 2001 at 7 pm at CambridgeElementary School in Concord. SenatorTom Torlakson will be onsite to read a story to the children.
Item 4.4 -Nominating Committee.
a) Discussion and approval of interim Chair and Vice Chair
Consider thefollowing recommendation: To approvethe nomination of John Cullen as Interim Chair and Paula Moten-Tolson asInterim Vice Chair until the next general officer election in January 2002.
Alternate Garciainformed the Commission that the above stated recommendation is for an interimbasis only. The Nominating Committeewill meet again and bring forth a slate of officer positions to the Commissionin January 2002.
A motion was madeand seconded to approve the nomination of John Cullen as Interim Chair andPaula Moten-Tolson as Interim Vice Chair until the next general officerelection in January 2002.
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
Item 4.5 -Commission Events Calendar.
The Commissionreceived the most recent events calendar.
Item 5.0 New Business.
Item 5.1 -Executive Directors Report.
a) State Advisory Committee on Diversity:
Considerthe following recommendation: Toofficially support the vision statement and Equity Principles that have beendeveloped by the State Advisory Committee on Diversity
Brenda Blasingamegave the following report:
Included in theCommission packets is a report regarding the State Commissions AdvisoryCommittee on Diversity. There is a lotof work that still needs to be done around diversity and equity issues, butthese principles are a good start.
CommissionerViramontes-Campbell thanked Brenda Blasingame for her participation and work onthe development of the equity principals and vision statement.
Commissioner Smithstated that during the Commissioner Retreat in San Diego many people spokeabout the good things taking place in Contra Costa and that is a credit to thework that Brenda Blasingame is doing.
A motion was madeand seconded to officially support the vision statement and Equity Principlesthat have been developed by the State Advisory Committee on Diversity.
TheCommission voted and approved the stated motion.
Item 6.0 Communications.
Nocommunications were received.
Item 7.0 Adjourn.
The meetingadjourned at 8:10 p.m.