COMMISSION MEETING INFORMATION

• HRC Bylaws
• Commission Meetings
• 2010 Meeting Schedule
• Agendas and Minutes from Past Meetings
• Commission Secretary
• Notice of Commission Hearing Policies and Procedures

HRC BYLAWS

Please find a copy of the Human Rights Commission's bylaws below: 

• HRC Bylaws (PDF)

COMMISSION MEETINGS

The Human Rights Commission meets twice monthly, on the second and fourth Thursday of every month, at 4:30 p.m., normally in City Hall, Room 416 (Fourth Floor), 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, unless otherwise posted.

2010 MEETING SCHEDULE

AGENDAS AND MINUTES

COMMISSION SECRETARY

For more information about Human Rights Commission meetings or for an agenda packet prior to a meeting, please contact the Commission Secretary, Janel Wong, at Janel.Wong@sfgov.org or at 415.252.2532.

NOTICE OF COMMISSION HEARING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Meeting Procedures

The Human Rights Commission considers resolutions and actions, most of which have been the subject of hearings before the standing committees of the HRC at which members of the public are urged to testify. HRC procedures do not permit: 1) persons in the audience to vocally express support or opposition to statements by Commissioners or by other persons testifying; 2) ringing and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices, (violators may be removed from the meeting room.); and 3) signs to be brought into the meeting or displayed in the room. Citizens are encouraged to testify at HRC meetings and to write letters to the HRC and to its members at: 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 800, San Francisco, CA 94102. Requests for language translation at a meeting must be received no later than noon the Friday before the meeting.

Speaking Before the Human Rights Commission

Speaker cards are encouraged, but not required. The Commission will take public comment on all items not appearing on the agenda at the beginning of each meeting at the time the item is heard and prior to the Commission taking any action on the item. The Commission will take public comment on matters not on the Agenda, but within the jurisdiction of the Commission during the "Public Comment on Items Not on the Agenda" portion of the regular meeting. Maximum time will be three (3) minutes.

The following conduct rules are designated to ensure an open, fair and orderly process for public meetings of the HRC:
1. Please address your comments to the Commission and not to others in the room or audience.
2. Please adhere to our time limit of three (3) minutes. Exceptions may be requested by the Chair.
3. Please speak directly to the agenda/subject being discussed.
4. Please follow the order of speakers as determined by the Chair.
5. Please refrain from making distracting noises, clapping, cheering, jeering, etc.
6. The HRC respects the diversity of our Citys residents. We strongly encourage speakers to refrain from encouraging in personal attacks, using foul language, social or ethnic slurs, etc.

Testimony may be discontinued if these rules are not followed.

Disability Access

The Regular Commission Meeting is in City Hall, Room 416, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place. The meeting room is wheelchair accessible. The closest accessible BART Station is Civic Center, three blocks from City Hall. Accessible MUNI lines serving this location are: #47 Van Ness, and the #71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line to Market and Van Ness and the Metro stations at Van Ness and Market and at Civic Center. For more information about MUNI accessible services, call 923-6142. There is accessible parking in the vicinity of City Hall at Civic Center Plaza and adjacent to Davies Hall and the War Memorial Complex. The following services are available when requests are made by noon of the Friday before the meeting. This advance notice will help ensure availability: American Sign Language interpreters, use of a reader during a meeting, assistive listening device, or large print copy of agenda or minutes in alternative formats. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities can be made available. Following a meeting, meeting proceedings can be made available in alternative formats. To make arrangements or for information, contact Janel Wong, 252-2538,252-2550 (TDD), or at janel.wong@sfgov.org . In order to accommodate persons with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical based products.

Know Your Rights Underthe Sunshine Ordinance

Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review. For information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Donna Hall by mail to Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco CA 94102, by phone at (415) 554-7724, by fax at (415) 554-5784 or by email at Donna.Hall@sfgov.org.  Citizens may obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance by contacting Ms. Hall or by printing Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code on the Internet, at http://www.sfgov.org/sunshine.htm

Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code Sec. 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site www.sfgov.org/ethics.