Commission Meeting Minutes March 25, 2025

Commissioners Present:
First District: Howard Sapper (Officer-at-Large)*, Daniel H. Sohn
Second District: Nichole Warwick (Vice Chair)
Third District: Katrina Phillips (Chair), Liz Cruz Reyes (Officer-at-Large)
Fourth District: Cecilia Sofranko
Fifth District: Nick Thayer, Susan Hirsch

Commissioners Absent:
First District: Maria Barakat (Leave of Absence)
Fourth District: Irmina Benson
Fifth District: Lyndsey Burcina
*Commissioner Sapper attended via Zoom per AB2449 late. He arrived late at approximately at5:35pm and left early at approximately at 6:58pm.

Meeting held virtually and in person.

I. Call To Order – Mission Statement – Roll Call – Phillips
Meeting called to order by Chair Phillips at 5:32PM. Roll call taken by Staff.

II.Youth Commission Educational Project Presentation
The Youth Commission presented on their four ad hocs and projects.
•Fentanyl Awareness
This ad hoc plans on hosting an event at the Arlene Center to educate the youth offentanyl.
•Immigration & Education
This ad hoc is focusing on bringing forth a resolution that would assure SonomaCounty students and parents of their right to education, without discrimination.
•Gaza
This ad hoc is promoting awareness and fundraising for victims of Human RightsViolations in Gaza.
•Food security
This ad hoc is working with restaurants to haul food to VOICES Youth Program-Supports foster, probation, and homeless youth access to services in Sonoma County.

III.Consent Items- Phillips
1.Approval of the January 28, 2025 meeting minutes
Motion to approve the January 28, 2025 meeting minutes. No Public Comment.
Motion: Commissioner Sofranko
Second: Commissioner Thayer 
 Ayes: 6 Noes: 0 Absent:3 Abstained: 2

Commissioner Barakat (Leave of Absence), Benson and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Hirsch abstained as she was recently appointed to the Commission. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motion passed.

IV. Openings and Appointments – Phillips
1. Staff performed Commissioner Hirsch’s oath of office.
2. Chair Phillips announced two (2) opening in the Second District, one (1) opening in the Third District and one (1) in the Fourth District.

V. Public Comment on Non-Agendized Items- Phillips
No Public Comment.

VI. Officers report and Administrative Updates.
Officers and Staff to discuss administrative-related matters including, but not limited to, field trip ideas and speaker coordination.
1. Staff reminded everyone to use their allocated funds because the fiscal year ends June 30th.
2. Commissioner Cruz Reyes announced different tabling events opportunities: Santa Rosa Pride, Juneteenth, Social Justice on April 18th from 9-2, Cinco de Mayo, and Earth Day on April 20th was added by Commissioner Thayer.

VII. Ad Hoc Committee and Project Committee Updates
1. Youth Commission Project attended a Petaluma High School Club meeting and discovered that the focus of the students was on Gaza, ice and immigration, freedom of speech, and the right to bear arms.
2. Sonoma County Visibility Project is seeking a new program manager to lead the project. In the 5-year period, the most reporting occurs from 12pm-6pm and in October. The library and in the jail are the two most mentioned locations.

VIII. Regular Calendar
1. Commissioner Service Acknowledgement
Chair Phillips read the resolution honoring Isabel Lopez for her years of service on the Commission on Human Rights. Motion to approve the resolution as written. No Public Comment.
Motion: Commissioner Sohn 
Second: Commissioner Sofranko 
Ayes: 5 Noes: 0 Absent:4 Abstained: 2

Commissioner Barakat (Leave of Absence), Benson and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Sapper left early. Commissioner Thayer abstained. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motion passed.

2. Pledge Invitation
John Trombetta and Monica with Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) seek support from the Commission to ratify a pledge “Protect and Resist to Stand Up for Human Rights” on behalf of all Sonoma County constituents who value human rights. The Commission voiced their concern about the language of the pledge and how the way it’s written, it doesn’t align with the Commission’s mission. The Commission agreed to not ratify the pledge instead individual Commissioners can do so representing themselves. No action was taken.

3. Immigration and Sanctuary Support
Commissioner Cruz Reyes read the draft of the talking points. Recommendation in editing “we stand” to “we reference.” The Commission discussed and agreed on the talking points and suggested to release the talking points as a statement. Two motions were taken.
1. Motion to approve the talking points for commissioners to use when talking on immigration and sanctuary support.
No Public Comment
Motion: Commissioner Sohn 
Second: Commissioner Sofranko 
Ayes: 6 Noes: 0 Absent:4 Abstained: 1

Commissioner Barakat (Leave of Absence), Benson and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Sapper left early. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motion passed.

2. Motion to release a statement of the talking points.
No Public Comment
Motion: Commissioner Warwick 
Second: Commissioner Cruz Reyes 
Ayes: 6 Noes: 0 Absent:4 Abstained: 1

Commissioner Barakat (Leave of Absence), Benson and Burcina were absent. Commissioner Sapper left early. Chair Phillips abstained as Chair. Motion passed.

IX. Additional Agenda Items for the Next Commission Meeting – Phillips
No items were mentioned.

X. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:49 p.m.