SRO Minutes 06-18-15.pdf

SRO TASK FORCE 

Meeting Minutes June 18, 2015 
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM 
1650 Mission Street, Room 431 

Members Present: Rosemary Bosque (DBI); Bruce Burge (SRO Operator); Angela Chu (Chinatown SRO Collaborative); Dan Jordan 
(Tenant Representative); Raúl Fernández-Berriozábal (SRO Families United Collaborative); Johnson Ojo (DPH-Environmental Health Services); 
Sam Patel (SRO Operator); Wolfgang Stuwe (DPH-Housing and Urban Development); Pratibha Tekkey (Central City SRO Collaborative); Scott 
Walton (Human Services Agency); Amelia Rudburg (Non-Profit SRO Operator/Manager); Nicolette Alexander (Tenant Representative) 

Excused Absences: Yvonne Mére (City Attorney’s Office) 

Guests: Chirog Bhakta (Mission SRO Collaborative); Go Funai (American Red Cross) 

Minutes: Nicole Rossini (DBI-HIS) 

1. Call to Order: 

The meeting was called to order at 9:02 a.m. 

2. Roll Call/Determination of Quorum: 

There was a quorum. 

3. Approval of Meeting Minutes for June 19, 2014 

The approval of the May 21, 2015 meeting minutes were tabled until the next meeting. 

Public Comment: 

None 

4. Administrative Announcements: 

Rosemary Bosque stated that she had no administrative announcements. 

Pratibha Tekkey announced that the Central City SRO Collaborative had hired a new staff member. 

Public Comment: 

None 

5. American Red Cross Presentation: Smoke Alarms and Fire Preparedness Campaign 

Go Funai stated the American Red Cross (ARC) had formed a citywide alliance with collaboratives and the San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) to address home fire safety. The ARC responded to seventy (70) residential fires in San Francisco in 2014, and began a national campaign to provide free smoke 

alarms for residences. The smoke alarms installed comply with California code, and contain a sealed ten (10) year battery. The ARC started this campaign in October 2014, it is estimated that thirteen (13) lives have been saved by the installed smoke alarms. 

Nicolette Alexander asked if the devices were combination smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms. 

Go Funai stated that ARC provides the smoke alarms only, and they are not combined carbon monoxide alarms. 

Wolfgang Stuwe asked how SRO owners could obtain smoke detectors for the whole building. 

Go Funai stated that ARC was given hundreds of smoke alarms, and is willing to perform site visits to provide to educate the residents about the smoke alarm ARC provides. 

Wolfgang Stuwe asked if there was a number SRO Operators should call. 

Go Funai stated they could contact him using the phone number on his business card, (510) 507-1954. 

Angela Chu asked if they had begun the program in San Francisco. 

Go Funai stated that the ARC had begun installing smoke detectors in San Francisco, but had not installed any in SROs. 

Rosemary Bosque explained that the hush feature on the new alarms is useful because this allows the resident to air out smoke without disabling the device. She asked Sam Patel if the program would be helpful to the SRO operators. 

Sam Patel stated smoke detectors are required to be hardwired, and the devices provided by ARC are battery powered. 

Bruce Burge stated the smoke detectors he has installed have carbon monoxide detectors built in, and are hardwired with a battery backup. 

Rosemary Bosque stated that each added bedroom in a residence requires a smoke detector. She stated the ARC may be helpful to assist with fire safety, and single family and two family dwellings when battery devices are required. 

Go Funai stated the ARC can also assist with emergency evacuation plans, how to make an emergency kit, and educate on how to be safe in case of a home fire. 

Public Comment: 

None 

6. Discussion on Proposed Directory of SRO Services 

Rosemary Bosque stated that due to scheduling she was unable to meet with Yvonne Meré and Scott Walton to work on the introduction of the Directory of SRO Services. 

Scott Walton suggested that the Mayor’s Office of Disability be added for residents with disabilities. Scott Walton further stated that the introduction should instruct the tenants of the master lease buildings for Human Services Agency (HSA) and Department of Public Health (DPH) to contact the contractors of the building with complaints rather than the respective city agencies. 

Angela Chu stated that the formatting could be changed to make the connections easier to read. 

Nicolette Alexander asked why hoarding/cluttering was separated as a safety issue since it has mental health components, and is grouped with the hotel visitors policy. She suggested hoarding be moved closer to mental health resources. 

Dan Jordan remarked that the police department has not been enforcing the Hotel Visitor Policy. 

Rosemary Bosque stated that the police department is the enforcement agency, and this issue can be addressed when the Task Force invites the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to discuss the Hotel Visitor Policy. 

Sam Patel suggested Glide Memorial Church be added for food services. 

Scott Walton suggested the addition of Free Eats chart to the food services listing, as well as, Glide Memorial Church. 

Public Comment: 

None 

7. Report from SRO Collaboratives 

Pratibha Tekkey introduced the Central City Collaboratives new staff member, Rio Scarf, to the Task Force members. 

Raúl Fernández-Berriozábal stated the SRO Families United Collaborative scheduled a second training for the Peer Organizers on June 25 to address cultural competency. On Saturday, June 20, the collaborative would be hosting “Families Appreciation Day” to recognize families, and foster unity among the four 

neighborhoods served by the collaborative. The Street Sheet issued by the Coalition on Homelessness asked Task Force members to submit articles homeless or poverty related issues. Any member who is interested can contact the Street Sheet Editor, Bob Offer-Westort. 

Public comment: 

None 

8. Prioritization of Future Meetings 

Rosemary Bosque stated that the Directory of Services would be on the agenda for the July meeting. She stated that Delene Wolfe would be speaking about the Visitor Policy in August. 

Scott Walton and Wolfgang Stuwe both stated that they would not be attending the July meeting. 

Public Comment: 

None 

General Public Comment 

None 

Adjournment 

The meeting adjourned at 9:33 a.m.