San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting - May 15, 2023
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San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting - May 15, 2023
This meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee, chaired by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, convened on Monday, May 15, 2023, at 10:00 AM. The committee considered three appointments: Dennis Herrera to the Regional Water System Financing Authority, Robert Vergara to the Historic Preservation Commission, and the reappointment of Ovava Afuamango to the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board. All three appointments were forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 2 (Vergara): One in-person speaker expressed strong support for Robert Vergara's appointment, praising his knowledge of San Francisco history.
- Item 3 (Afuamango): One remote caller endorsed the candidate, also praising the Sheriff's Department's history and the success of a school program in the jail.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Appointment of Dennis Herrera to the Regional Water System Financing Authority – Chair Dorsey provided background on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) serving 2.6 million customers and the authority created by Senate Bill 1870 in 2002. The resolution reappoints SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera for a four-year term ending June 30, 2027. No questions or public comment were received. The committee voted to recommend approval.
- Item 2: Appointment of Robert Vergara to the Historic Preservation Commission – Mr. Vergara, a 41-year history teacher at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and a lifelong San Franciscan, introduced himself. No committee questions. One public comment supported him. The committee voted to amend the motion to strike language rejecting the nomination and to recommend approval.
- Item 3: Hearing on Appointment to the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board – The committee heard from Ovava Afuamango, who is seeking reappointment to Seat 1 (term ending March 1, 2027). She noted the board is in the middle of hiring an inspector general. Vice Chair Walton highlighted the board's creation via Proposition D in 2020 and noted an upcoming report at the Budget and Appropriations Committee. The committee voted to forward her name with a positive recommendation. No action was taken on Seat 3.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Motion to send to full board with positive recommendation passed 2-0 (Supervisor Safai absent).
- Item 2: Motion to approve (as amended) passed 2-0 (Supervisor Safai absent).
- Item 3: Motion to forward Ovava Afuamango's appointment to the full board passed unanimously (3-0).
- All items are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on May 23, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will come to order. Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Monday, May 15th, 2023 meeting of the Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Matt Dorsey, Chair of this committee, and I'm joined today by my colleague, Vice Chair Shimon Walton. And shortly, uh Committee Member Asha Safai will be joining us as well. On behalf of my colleagues, I want to express our gratitude to our committee clerk, Mr. Victor Young, and thanks also to the team at SFGov TV for facilitating and broadcasting today's meeting. In particular, our producer today, Matthew Ignau. Uh Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, the Board of Supervisors and his committees are now convening hybrid meetings to allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. Public comment will take we'll be taken on each item on this agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line. The public comment call in number is streaming across the screen. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up to speak. And those on the telephone should dial star three to be added to the speaker line. If you are on the telephone, please remember to turn down your TV and other listening devices. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR dot Y O U N G at SFGov.org. You may also send them via U.S. mail to our office at City Hall, one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors Agenda on May 23rd, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Would you please call item number one? Yes, item number one is a resolution reappointing Dennis Herrera as director of the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority for a four-year term commencing July 1st, 2023 through June 30th, 2027. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Um colleagues, this is a fairly pro forma item, but before we take public comment and proceed to a vote, I want to give a little bit of background information that was provided by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The SFPUC provides drinking water to 2.6 million customers in the Bay Area, including retail customers in San Francisco as well as wholesale customers in Alameda, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties, which are represented by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency. Senate Bill 1870, and that was sponsored by then Senator Jackie Spear in 2002, created the Regional Water System Financing Authority when the PUC was beginning the water system improvement program as a way to collaborate with their wholesale partners on financing decisions related to the region's water system. The financing authority is a regional organization to raise money if needed to help improve the San Francisco Bay Area Regional Water System. The state legislation requires the Board of Supervisors to appoint a member to the Board of Directors of the Regional Water System Financing Authority. That appointee has historically been the general manager of the SFPUC on April 19th, 2022, by resolution number 153-22. The Board of Supervisors appointed SFPUC General Manager Dennis Herrera to the seat to serve the remainder of the unexpired prior four-year term ending June 30th, 2023. This resolution would appoint Mr. Herrera to a full four-year term ending June 30th, 2027. I don't see any questions or comments from colleagues. Seeing nothing on the roster, Mr. Clerk, let's open this up to public comment. Yes, members of the public who wish to speak on this item and are joining us in person should line them to speak at this time. For those listening remotely, please call on the public call-in line. Please press star three to enter the speaker line. For those already in the queue, please continue the weight on the system indicate you have been unmuted. And that'll be your cue to begin your comment. Uh, there being no persons in the room. I will double check. Uh, we have nobody on the public call-in line.
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