February 8, 2021 IRC meeting

Chair Kennelly called the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.



Present: Chair Kennelly, Vice Chair Paz, Commissioners Enssani (left at 5:04 p.m.), Fujii, Gaime, Khojasteh (5:15 p.m.), Monge, Radwan, Rahimi (left at 5:03 p.m.), Wang (5:36 p.m.)



Not Present: Commissioners Ricarte (excused), Ruiz (excused).



OCEIA Staff Present: Director Pon, Commission Clerk Shore, Administrative Programs Coordinator Alvarez, Operations and Grants Administrator Chan, Deputy Director Whipple.

This item was heard out of order.



Angela from the UCSF School of Pharmacy discussed language access at retail pharmacies and called for greater availability of phone or video interpretation services as well as translation of labels.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

Commissioner Gaime motioned to approve the minutes from the January 11, 2021 Full Commission meeting. Commissioner Enssani seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously by the eight Commissioners present.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

Director Pon stated that OCEIA staff have received one nomination for Chair (Celine Kennelly) and two nominations for Vice Chair (Mario Paz and Nima Rahimi). She asked Commissioners if they would like to make any other nominations from the floor. Commissioners made no further nominations. Director Pon asked the nominees if they accepted their nominations. Chair Kennelly and Vice Chair Paz accepted, and Commissioner Rahimi respectfully declined. Through roll call votes, Chair Kennelly and Vice Chair Paz were elected unanimously by the eight Commissioners present.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

a. Adoption of Language Access Ordinance Quarterly Complaint Report

Director Pon provided an overview of the Language Access Ordinance quarterly complaint report. Vice Chair Paz motioned to adopt the report and Commissioner Enssani seconded the motion. The report was adopted unanimously.



b. Adoption of Language Access Ordinance Annual Report

Director Pon and Chair Kennelly thanked OCEIA staff for their work on the Language Access Ordinance annual report. Commissioner Monge motioned to adopt the annual report and Commissioner Enssani seconded the motion. The report was adopted unanimously.

(Information/Discussion/Action)

Chair Kennelly welcomed Commissioners to the strategic planning retreat and led Commissioners in a warm-up exercise. Director Pon provided an overview of the goals of the retreat, the tools the Commission can use to take action, and examples of actions the Commission has taken to impact local policy. Vice Chair Paz reviewed the results of the Commissioners’ pre-retreat survey, which identified immigration reform and the COVID-19 recovery as key priorities for the year. Director Pon and Deputy Director Whipple asked Commissioners to identify actionable items they would like to accomplish this year and which Commissioners will lead them.



Commissioners noted the importance of language access in the COVID-19 emergency and recovery, and discussed holding a special hearing on language access and convening a task force to develop recommendations. Commissioner Monge volunteered to help lead the task force, and Commissioner Rahimi volunteered to assist him. Commissioners discussed advocacy and programmatic efforts to support immigration reform. Chair Kennelly noted the importance of continuing racial equity work and Commissioner Khojasteh and Director Pon provided an update on the Racial Equity Working Group. Commissioners agreed to continue to partner with the local USCIS office. Director Pon will invite a USCIS representative to an upcoming Commission meeting. Chair Kennelly thanked OCEIA staff and Commissioners.

a. Director’s Updates

Director Pon deferred this item to the next meeting.



b. Form 700 Compliance

Commissioners must submit their Form 700 (Statement of Economic Interest) by April 1, 2021.



c. IRC Reappointment Hearings

The Rules Committee’s appointment hearing for the Immigrant Rights Commission is scheduled for February 22, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Chair Kennelly adjourned the meeting at 5:54 p.m.