San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting – January 22, 2024: Appointments to Controller, Food Security Task Force, Elections Commission, and SFMTA Board
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San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting – January 22, 2024
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, chaired by Supervisor Hillary Ronin with Vice Chair Supervisor Shamann Walton and Supervisor Ahsha Safai, met on January 22, 2024, at approximately 10:15 a.m. (listed as 18:15 UTC) to consider four mayoral appointments: the Controller, two seats on the Food Security Task Force, one seat on the Elections Commission, and one seat on the Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) Board of Directors. All items were advanced to the full Board with positive recommendations after unanimous votes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Food Security Task Force: One speaker, a person experiencing homelessness, thanked the committee for prioritizing food security and stressed the need for stricter food safety standards at pantries serving the homeless population.
- Elections Commission: Multiple speakers supported Kelly Wong’s candidacy:
- Finn Palomero (Dolores Street Community Services) praised Wong’s commitment to democratic processes and uplifting immigrant communities.
- Vincent Pan (Chinese for Affirmative Action) highlighted Wong’s work in immigrant rights and noted that CAA would implement firewalls to ensure she does not engage in campaign election activities, in compliance with commission rules.
- Wendy Aaudubon (Urban Habitat) emphasized the importance of language justice and representation for non-citizens, referencing the 2016 Prop N allowing non-citizens to vote in school board elections (upheld by appellate court in August).
- Kevin Williams, a resident, supported Wong as a bright, moral, and ethical person.
- Another speaker (Brent Turner) urged the incoming commissioner to be well-versed in open-source election software, citing potential cost savings and national security benefits.
- SFMTA Board: Several speakers endorsed Janet Tarlov:
- Paul Terry (small business advisor) praised Tarlov’s broad business perspective from running Canyon Market.
- Flo Kelly (Stop Poverty Tows coalition) appreciated Tarlov’s empathy toward low-income residents facing fines and towing.
- Seth Brenzel (resident) noted Tarlov’s collaborative work with merchants and citywide perspective through the Council of District Merchants Associations.
- A Small Business Commission member highlighted Tarlov’s thoughtful, diplomatic approach.
- Another long-time acquaintance emphasized Tarlov’s integrity and care for all stakeholders.
Discussion Items
1. Mayoral Appointment of Greg Wagner as Controller (File 240033)
- Chair Ronin introduced the item, expressing strong support for Wagner, noting his 17 years in city financial management (as Mayor’s Budget Director and CFO/COO of the Department of Public Health). She stated he maintains the trust of everyone and called his nomination a “perfect choice.”
- Wagner thanked the committee and emphasized his commitment to independence, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration. He acknowledged a challenging financial period with an $800 million projected deficit over two years, driven by 40 million square feet of vacant downtown office space, slow recovery of hotel/sales taxes, and property tax devaluation. He outlined priorities: using the controller’s office to analyze the structural deficit, improve contract administration with nonprofits (including consistent COLAs and streamlined monitoring), and continue robust auditing.
- Supervisor Walton asked how Wagner would handle decisions contrary to the appointing authority. Wagner replied that independence is guided by the City Charter, which requires both independent judgment and collaboration with the Mayor’s Office and Board.
- Supervisor Safai discussed the need for expanded auditing of departments like Public Health and Homeless Supportive Housing (referring to a recent ballot measure he led). Safai also emphasized the controller’s role as an arbiter providing data and recommendations. Wagner agreed to meet regularly with board members and use the city performance unit to analyze service consolidation and vacant positions.
- Outgoing Controller Ben Rosenfield praised Wagner as an honest broker with a belief in government’s ability to do good, citing his problem-solving approach.
- Public comment: None.
- Amendment and vote: Chair Ronin offered an amendment to clarify the term start date (“the latter of the effective date of this motion or the resignation of Controller Ben Rosenfield”) and to delete the word “rejects” throughout. The amendment passed unanimously. The committee then voted unanimously to send the amended appointment to the full Board as a committee report with positive recommendation.
2. Appointments to the Food Security Task Force (File 231186)
- Two applicants for two seats (Seats 18 and 19):
- Hannah Grant (Associate Director of Nutrition Services, Meals on Wheels of San Francisco) stated she is a registered dietitian and emphasized food security as essential for health equity. She said the task force’s biennial report should use data and personal stories to demonstrate the importance of food security services.
- Laura Jones (Program Manager, Leah’s Pantry) described her work with CalFresh Healthy Living and the Department of Disability and Aging to conduct needs assessments and engage older adults and adults with disabilities. She highlighted the negative impact of the end of COVID-era food supports, noting longer lines at food banks.
- Public comment: One speaker thanked the committee and urged stricter processes for food handling.
- Vote: A motion to recommend Hannah Grant for Seat 18 and Laura Jones for Seat 19 was passed unanimously.
3. Appointment to the Elections Commission (File 240013) – Term ending January 1, 2029
- Two applicants for one seat:
- Ruth Cowitz (product manager in tech) said she would bring data analytics and stakeholder management skills. She had hosted a polling station in her garage in 2022. She emphasized accessibility but deferred to commissioners for specific outreach ideas.
- Kelly Wong (immigrant rights community advocate at Chinese for Affirmative Action, CAA) is a non-citizen from Hong Kong. She has hosted in-language workshops and a Cantonese podcast to explain voting rights. She stated her commitment to increasing voter participation among immigrant communities, promoting culturally competent language access, and collaborating with trusted organizations. She noted she had spoken with the Elections Commission President, Director, and several commissioners, and would serve on the community input subcommittee.
- Public comment: Five speakers (details above) supported Kelly Wong. One speaker also urged the commission to consider open-source voting systems.
- Vote: Supervisor Safai moved to appoint Kelly Wong, noting the critical need for representation of immigrant communities with language barriers. Chair Ronin thanked Ruth Cowitz and promised to find another way for her to serve. The motion passed unanimously.
4. Mayoral Appointment of Janet Tarlov to SFMTA Board (File 231254) – Term ending March 1, 2024
- Janet Tarlov (co-founder of Canyon Market in Glen Park, former president of Glen Park Merchants Association, and vice president of Council of District Merchants Associations) described her 16 years running a grocery store employing 100 staff, serving 1,700 customers daily, and dealing with parking, loading, and construction issues. She said she supports safe, reliable, clean, and affordable transit and wants to improve community outreach, particularly to merchants.
- Questions:
- Supervisor Walton asked about vehicularly housed residents (people living in cars/RVs). Tarlov expressed empathy and said agencies must collaborate to provide secure parking with sanitation and power.
- On fare increases, Tarlov said revenue is critical but affordability must be preserved for low-income, disabled, senior, and student riders; she would work to avoid fare hikes without service cuts.
- On poverty tows, Tarlov admitted she was unfamiliar with the term but after explanation agreed that towing is a drastic step and fines can be burdensome. She promised to study existing policies to ease burdens.
- Supervisor Safai asked about her use of public transit. Tarlov said she primarily bikes but recently has been riding Muni more (took the M line to the hearing). She noted she was pleasantly surprised by cleanliness and operator professionalism.
- Safai raised the issue of SFMTA’s poor outreach to merchants. Tarlov acknowledged that as a business owner she experienced inadequate outreach and would prioritize improving communication, including a direct liaison per supervisorial district. She confirmed that outreach is her top priority.
- Chair Ronin asked about Vision Zero. Tarlov said safety is paramount; she supports infrastructure changes like speed humps, bulb-outs, and daylighting, even if unpopular. She called pedestrian and cyclist deaths heartbreaking.
- Public comment: Four speakers (Paul Terry, Flo Kelly, Seth Brenzel, a Small Business Commissioner, and another) all endorsed Tarlov for her integrity, empathy, and business perspective.
- Vote: The committee approved an amendment to delete “rejects” and passed the appointment unanimously as a committee report.
Key Outcomes
- Greg Wagner appointment as Controller – Approved unanimously (amended to clarify effective date and remove “rejects”). Term: 10 years from effective date. Recommended to full Board as committee report.
- Food Security Task Force – Hannah Grant (Seat 18) and Laura Jones (Seat 19) appointed unanimously.
- Elections Commission – Kelly Wong appointed unanimously for a term ending January 1, 2029.
- SFMTA Board – Janet Tarlov appointed unanimously (amended to remove “rejects”). Term ending March 1, 2024. Recommended to full Board as committee report.
- All items are scheduled to appear on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda on January 30, 2024.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. This is the January 22nd to 2023 rules committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronin, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by committee vice chair Supervisor Walton, and we'll soon be joined by Supervisor Safai. Our clerk is Victor Young, and I'd like to thank Corwin Cooley at SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes. Public comment will be taken on each item on the agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR dot Y-O-U-N-G at SFgov.org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and included as part of the file. You may also send written comment via US mail to our office at City Hall 1, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Documents to be included as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk. Items acted upon today will appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of January 30th, 2024, unless otherwise noted. Thank you. Can you please call item number one? Yes, item number one is a motion approving rejecting the mayor's appointment of Greg Wagner as the controller for the city and county of San Francisco for a 10-year term pursuant to Charter Section 3.105. Thank you so much. And before we hear from Mr. Wagner, I just wanted to start out by saying that when we got notice that our extraordinary controller Ben Rosenfeld is going to leave his post in February. Because Ben, you really have kept us going. Have maintained the trust of everyone that I know. I don't know a single person who does not respect and trust you. And really are often the adult in the room figuring out how to solve problems with no political agendas underlying your judgment, but just the best interest of the city and the people of San Francisco. And so I thought, how are we going to survive without you? And the pit in my stomach remained until the mayor, brilliantly, chose to nominate Greg Wagner. And I breathed a sigh of relief because I've been working with you, Mr. Wagner, since I started as a legislative aide for the past 14 years in the city. At the time you were budget directoring for then mayor, now governor Gavin Newsom. And when I started this job, you know, it was during an era, I mean, I guess that hasn't changed, but there was a lot of you know friction between the board and and mayor Newsom at the time. And I just remember being sort of in a battle position, you know, towards everything. I was also brand new, um young a lot younger, and um uh you know came from the world of being an activist, and so I was kind of you know addressing my job this way. And so I expected to be sort of in battle with you during the budget process, and it was totally the opposite. You were just the biggest pleasure to work with. You were so knowledgeable about everything. You never played games, you were straight and honest and brilliant and helpful. And when you then move to the Department of Public Health, a department that I work with probably more than any other department in the city, um, you just continued to come up uh very similarly to uh controller Rosenfeld with just the good ideas to solve the problems uh really for the people. So I just could not be more excited about your nomination. I want to thank Mayor Breed uh for this perfect choice as far as I'm concerned, and um just say that uh I now have faith that our city will continue uh to be in good hands because you're willing uh to take this leadership position, and I have no doubt we'll uh which will be approved by the board of supervisors. And just say that I now have faith that our city will continue to be in good hands because you're willing to take this leadership position, and I have no doubt we'll uh which will be approved by the Board of Supervisors. So with that, and Les you want to make any opening statements, please. Mr. Wagner, join us. Thank you so much, uh, Chair Ronan, uh Supervisor Walton.
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