San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee Meeting – Monday, January 30, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee convened at 10:15 AM on January 30, 2023, under Chair Aaron Peskin, Vice Chair Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, and Supervisor Connie Chan. The committee considered five appointment motions, an ordinance prohibiting preemptive resignation letters from city commissioners, and the Sheriff's Department's military equipment policy under AB 481.

Consent Calendar

None. All agenda items received full discussion or public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 2 (Resignations Ordinance): Six callers spoke via telephone and one in person.

• Michael Roupe (District 9 resident), representing the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club's anti-corruption caucus, expressed support for the ordinance.
• Wesley Saber (senior policy manager for Glide) stated the organization strongly supports the ordinance, arguing preemptive resignation letters undermine independent decision-making and erode public trust.
• Tab Buckner spoke in strong support, calling the practice contrary to accountability.
• Brent Turner, speaking for the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Club's anti-corruption caucus, expressed full support, citing the mayor's tactics as corrupting.
• Chris Arvin, a former city commissioner, said the ordinance is absolutely necessary for basic ethics.
• Edward Hernandez (District 11 resident, tech workers coalition) supported the ordinance, arguing it is needed to prevent undue influence over commissioners.
• Alan Burrodell dissented, supporting Supervisor Mandelman's view that the board should look inward rather than restrict mayoral authority.
• David Pilpel suggested additional amendments to cover bodies created by resolution and to harmonize the ordinance with the online appointments database.

Item 1 (AB 481 Sheriff's Equipment Policy): Three callers spoke via telephone and one in person.

• Arthur Koch (District 9 resident, San Francisco Friends Meeting/Quakers) supported the policy but raised concerns about the use of submachine guns and chemical launchers in jails, and advocated for a private right of action and decommissioning of automatic assault weapons.
• Regina Smeed (District 2 resident) praised the collaborative process and recommended using resources from the Othering and Belonging Institute.
• John Lindsay Poland (American Friends Service Committee) recognized the Sheriff's Office engagement but expressed real concern about the continued authorization of submachine guns (MP5s) with few restrictions, proposing decommissioning or adding deployment limitations.

Discussion Items

Item 2 – Administrative Code – Resignations from City Boards and Commissions (File 221270): Supervisor Dean Preston, primary sponsor, introduced the ordinance in response to revelations that the mayor had requested undated resignation letters from police commissioners. He argued it protects commissioners from undue influence and circumvention of charter removal procedures. Supervisor Mandelman expressed a different view, stating he is not deeply offended by the practice and believes mayoral authority in public safety is important; he declined to support the ordinance. Chair Peskin shared a personal experience on the Coastal Commission and supported the ordinance. The committee voted 2‑1 (Chan and Peskin aye, Mandelman no) to send the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.

Item 1 – Administrative Code – Funding, Acquisition, and Use of Certain Sheriff’s Department Equipment (File 221062): Chair Peskin praised the Sheriff’s Department for a collaborative process with the American Friends Service Committee. He introduced several non‑substantive amendments: updating recitals on page 2, shifting the annual reporting deadline to December 13 (aligning with the Police Department’s policy), and requiring a public meeting before the Sheriff’s oversight body. The Sheriff’s Office (represented by Ronnie Singh) accepted the amendments and noted willingness to revisit equipment policies next year. The committee approved the amendments and then sent the amended item to the full board with unanimous positive recommendation.

Items 3‑6 – Appointments to External Bodies: The committee considered and amended appointment motions:

• Item 3 (Golden Gate Bridge District): amended to correct term end date from 2023 to 2025.
• Item 5 (Association of Bay Area Governments): initially introduced for Supervisor Hillary Ronen, but a last‑minute substitution for Supervisor Myrna Melgar was made after a recess; the item was continued to the next rules committee meeting on January 31.
• Items 4 (California State Association of Counties alternate) and 6 (Local Agency Formation Commission) were approved as submitted. A roll‑call vote passed items 3, 4, and 6 as committee reports for the full board on January 31.
• Item 7 (Local Agency Formation Commission alternate for Supervisor Connie Chan): after excusing Supervisor Chan from the meeting due to conflict of interest (she was the appointee), the committee voted to send it with recommendation to the full board.

Key Outcomes

• Item 2 (Resignations Ordinance): Passed committee on a 2‑1 vote (Chan and Peskin aye, Mandelman no) and forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration on January 31, 2023.
• Item 1 (AB 481 Sheriff’s Equipment Policy): Committee adopted non‑substantive amendments and unanimously forwarded the ordinance and policy to the full board with a positive recommendation. The policy will be subject to annual review by December 13.
• Appointments: Items 3, 4, and 6 were approved as committee reports for the full board. Item 5 was continued to the next rules committee meeting (January 31, 2023) after substituting Supervisor Melgar for Supervisor Ronen. Item 7 was approved as a committee report after excusing Supervisor Chan.