Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Task Force - June 19, 2014 - Meeting Minutes
SRO TASK FORCE
Meeting Minutes June 19, 2014
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); Dr. Johnson Ojo (DPH); Sam Patel (SRO Operator); Wolfgang Stuwe (DPH Housing & Urban Health; DPH); Pratibha Tekkey (Central City SRO Collaborative); Josh Vining (Mission SRO Collaborative); Scott Walton (HSA), Amelia Rudburg (Non-profit SRO Operator/Manager).
Excused Absences: Yvonne Mere (City Attorney’s Office)
Guests: Matt Luton (DBI-HIS)
Minutes: Nicole Rossini (DBI-HIS)
1. Call to Order
Rosemary Bosque called meeting to order at 9:09A.M.
2. Roll Call/ Determination of Quorum
There was a quorum.
3. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Rosemary Bosque asked if there were any questions of corrections March 20, 2014 minutes.
Scott Walton stated there were corrections to minutes to his statements regarding elevators
Rosemary asked if there was a motion to approve the minutes with correction.
There was a motion to approve the minutes by Scott Walton. The motion was seconded by Wolfgang Stuwe, Angela Chu and Pratibha Tekkey, The minutes were approved unanimously with corrections
Rosemary stated that the goal was to get minutes to members for review prior to monthly meetings. Staff shortage has precluded this from happening.
Rosemary Bosque asked if there were any corrections to the April 17, 2014 minutes.
Amelia Rudberg stated that she was present at the meeting and not unexcused absence.
Sam Patel made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Pratibha Tekkey seconded. The minutes were approved unanimously with corrections.
4. Administrative Announcements
Rosemary Bosque discussed attendance indicating that there was no quorum at the May 15, 2014 Task Force meeting. She stated that it should be easier to obtain a quorum now that most of the Task
Force vacancies have been filled. Rosemary circulated the draft attendance log to the members to review for accurateness .
Rosemary Bosque announced that DBI’s SRO Elevator Workgroup first public meeting occurred on June 12, 2014 and that DBI made some preliminary recommendations. She stated that DBI was conducting a detailed audit of all elevators within SROs that included whether the hotel operator had maintenance agreements. Rosemary further stated an attendant at the meeting requested that DBI identify those SROs wit elevators which receive public funding. Some of the preliminary recommendations included working more closely with the Cal/OSHA elevator unit and having discussions with PG & E to minimize wait times in obtaining new electrical service that is part of an elevator upgrade or replacement.
She also stated that Sam Patel suggested that the audit gather more information regarding the existing elevator doors i.e., manual and automatic etc. , and that the ultimate goal was to give final recommendations to Director Hui. She indicated that this item would be put on the agenda of a subsequent meeting to disseminate further information.
Scott Walton asked if someone from the Mayor’s office attended.
Rosemary Bosque stated that Carla Johnson of the Mayor’s Office of Disability attended and recommended that the city look at a possible local regulation regarding maintenance agreements . These agreements are typically not required by Cal/OSHA except when the hotel operator opts for a two year inspection program.
Sam Patel stated that at the DBI SRO Work Group Meeting he suggested that a possible alternative was to add a new elevator alongside the old elevator.
Rosemary Bosque stated that there needed to be more flexibility about replacement regarding shaft size so that guest rooms are not lost.
Dr. Johnson Ojo discussed the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) mandate to determine food needs in SROs. DPH has identified needs. There needs to be an improvement of food security, nutrition, cooking, setting priorities for food security. DPH will work closely with SROs to help with food distribution
5. Update by Matthew Luton on Hoarding & Cluttering Pilot Program
Rosemary Bosque introduced Housing Inspector Matt Luton who gave a updated report on the Hoarding & Cluttering pilot program that is a collaboration between the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), the Human Services Agency (HSA )Department on Aging an adult Services (DAAS) with assistance from the Department of Public Health (DPH).
Matt Luton the program goals are early intervention and tenancy preservation, the process of which is replicating a model successfully used in Boston. They are beginning with Adult Protective Services (APS) clients for the initial sampling.
Nicolette Alexander asked how long has the program been in place in Boston.
Matt Luton stated it has been in place several years.
Nicolette Alexander asked if it was a general public program.
Matt Luton stated that it was a general program not specific to SRO tenants.
Angela Chu asked how the program is set up.
Matt Luton stated it is small sample of hoarding and cluttering APS clients who are willing to make changes. They have tried to individualize the program.
Rosemary Bosque stated the model is based upon a specific set of criteria rather than subjective determinations. several agencies are involved because of their respective disciplines.
Pratibha Tekkey asked how long the process was.
Matt Luton said that there are time frames for specific benchmark s.
Wolfgang Stuwe asked how large the sample is. And how will the community have access if it continues.
Matt Luton stated APS has the sample size. He is not aware how many there are participating.
Rosemary Bosque stated that confidentiality issues preclude discussion of participants.
Wolfgang Stuwe asked how it will be accessible.
Matt Luton stated that if the program is successful then it will become available to the community at large.
Rosemary Bosque stated that, if the Boston model does not work, DBI will continue to work with other agencies to grow the program to be responsive to hoarding & cluttering issues surrounding code enforcement.
Dr. Johnson Ojo complimented DBI for taking a leadership role on this issue. He stated that the Director of Public Health, recognized there was a need to work with SRO tenants on this issue, and assigned a social worker to be a liaison between DPH and APS.
Rosemary Bosque commended Dr. Johnson Ojo for his support. There are confidentiality and mental health issues that DBI inspectors are not trained to deal with.
Public Comment:
None
6. Reports from SRO Collaboratives
Pratibha Tekkey of the Central City SRO Collaborative stated that there would be a public hearing on the SRO elevator issue before a Board of Supervisor’s Subcommittee on Monday June 23, 2014 called by Supervisor Kim.
Pratibha reported that Central City received a bed bug laundry fund from Supervisor Kim to aid SRO residents in room and personal belonging preparations for bed bug abatement. She also reported that a program was initiated through assistance with the Kipower agency to provide women who live in SROs with self-defense classes to minimize risk of harm.
Wolfgang Stuwe asked what the laundry fund was.
Pratibha Tekkey stated that the residents have to apply to the Collaborative to ensure funds are being used correctly.
Josh Vining of the Mission SRO Collaborative stated that in order for treatments to be effective to have the laundry must be out of the SRO unit giving the tenant twenty-four to forty-eight hours to prepare.
Scott Walton stated that DPH established the treatment protocol. Active treatment is required by a Notice of Violation(NOV) issued by DPH. He suggested information regarding the laundry fund be included in the NOV.
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated that this was a good suggestion, in that a flyer could be developed to hand out to the hotel operators at the time the NOV is issued.
Josh Vining stated that he believed the information was on DPH’s Environmental Health website
Rosemary Bosque stated that DBI would include the flyer as part of the issuance of Housing Code NOVs.
Dan Jordan stated that in his experience SRO management does not typically comply with the DPH bed bug treatment protocols.
Rosemary Bosque asked about the requirement by DPH in terms of enforcement.
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated that these incidents need to be reported to DPH so that they can inspect, investigate and enforce the protocols.
Scott Walton stated that SRO tenants can call 311 to report bed bug infestations that will be responded to by DPH.
Wolfgang Stuwe stated Environmental Health will perform reinspections, and check to ensure that Licensed Pest Control Operators are following the proper pest control treatment.
Angela Chu of the Chinatown SRO Collaborative stated that Raul Fernandez-Berriozabal could not attend the SRO Task Force meeting due to training, and that he had submitted an application to fill the SRO Families Untied Collaobrative vacancy. She also wanted to emphasize importance of a laundry fund. In assisting residents in dealing with bed bug infestations.
Pratibha Tekkey stated that $29,000 was currently in the fund.
Scott Walton asked if there was already a renewal of funds for the new fiscal year
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated $50,000 was allocated when another program started about 4 to 5 years ago.
Public comment:
None
7. Prioritization of Future Meeting Topics
Rosemary Bosque asked if DPH’s Community Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) should be invited to a future meeting and asked Dr. Ojo for a contact person.
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated that Dr. Edwin Baten is the Supervisor. Dr. Ojo indicated that this agency can speak to mental health issues, substance abuse and whether an individual should be hospitalized to stabilize their condition, and whether a California Welfare & Institutions Code, Section 5150 (5150) involuntary psychiatric hold should be issued.
Scott Walton stated that 5150s are not readily issued, and that clients are not held very long. The basic criteria is whether the individual is a possible danger to them self or others.
Scott Walton suggested having it would be useful to have In-Home Support Services(IHSS) attend an SRO Task Force meeting to explain the services they provide and who qualifies for the services .
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated that Paula Jones from DPH would be a good speaker for a future meeting
Nicolette Alexander requested to have some speakers attend to address physical health and mobility issues that would facilitate social interaction given the spatial confinement in SROs.
Angela Chu expressed concern about families. Children come home from school and are confined to their rooms. She stated she would like some after school programs extended to SRO tenants. Parks and Recreation has waived fees for public housing residents. She would like to see if this could be applied to SRO tenants.
Amelia Rudberg stated that they just completed a pilot program with the Department of Workforce Development. They conducted a survey of community spaces, that resulted in six sessions of art and cooking classes.
Dr. Johnson Ojo stated that the health education section has outreach programs. He stated will check on it and report back.
Wolfgang suggested a food bank be invited to explain their services at a future meeting.
8. General Public Comment
None
9. Adjournment
10:27AM.
