SF Rules Committee Meeting on Planning Appointment and Homeward Bound Program (March 11, 2024)
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SF Rules Committee Meeting on Planning Appointment and Homeward Bound Program (March 11, 2024)
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee convened on Monday, March 11, 2024. Acting Chair Supervisor Walton presided, joined by committee members Supervisors Safai and Preston (substituting for Chair Ronan). The committee reviewed the presidential appointment of Gilbert Williams to the Planning Commission and legislation to codify the city's Homeward Bound program for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Public Comments & Testimony
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Appointment of Gilbert Williams (Planning Commission): Multiple community leaders and organizations spoke in strong support of the nomination.
- Tere (Poder) voiced support, highlighting Williams' community-centered problem-solving approach.
- Matias Mormina (Chinatown CDC) endorsed him as a strategic listener and thinker who values diverse experiences.
- Raina Teyo (Poder) emphasized his commitment to building the leadership of others.
- Charlie Shamus (Council of Community Housing Organizations) offered his highest recommendation, praising Williams' integrity, principled advocacy for working-class and BIPOC communities, and work on equitable development.
- Timothy Reif (Carpenters Local 22) noted that Williams' hands-on experience as a trained carpenter is an asset for achieving the city's housing goals.
- A former Supervisor underscored Williams' role in ensuring that the voices of working-class communities in the southern neighborhoods are represented in planning.
- Gabriel Medina (La Raza Community Resource Center) highlighted Williams' firsthand experience with foreclosure and his long track record of fighting displacement.
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Homeward Bound Program (Administrative Code): No members of the public provided testimony on this item.
Discussion Items
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Presidential Appointment of Gilbert Williams to the Planning Commission (File 240171): Nominee Gilbert Williams presented his background. Born and raised in San Francisco, he is a union carpenter who lost his home to foreclosure in 2010, an experience that led him to become a community leader advocating for affordable housing and against displacement. He has worked on the first 100% affordable housing projects in District 11 in 20 years and participated in the Excelsior Outer Mission Neighborhood Strategy. Supervisor Preston praised his longtime advocacy. Supervisor Safai questioned Williams on the city's Housing Element goals of 82,000 units, including 46,000 affordable units. Williams identified the need for state and federal funding as critical, expressed caution regarding the impacts of upzoning on small businesses and existing residents, and committed to listening to community voices in his decision-making.
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Homeward Bound Program Legislation (File 231226): Supervisor Safai, the legislation's sponsor, presented an ordinance to establish a permanent Homeward Bound program in the Administrative Code. The program, launched in 2004-2005, served over 11,000 people through 2018-2019 before its utilization declined significantly. It reunites unhoused individuals with family or support networks in destinations elsewhere, typically costing less than $200 per person. The legislation aims to restore the program's prominence, add oversight and accountability, and expand eligibility to include individuals at risk of homelessness or those in permanent supportive housing. Safai introduced amendments to enact this expansion.
Key Outcomes
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Planning Commission Appointment: The committee unanimously voted to approve the nomination of Gilbert Williams for the Planning Commission seat vacated by Commissioner Gabriela Ruiz. The appointment will be sent to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report for the March 19, 2024, meeting. (Vote: 3-0, Preston, Safai, Walton).
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Homeward Bound Program: The committee unanimously approved Supervisor Safai's amendments to expand the program's eligibility. Following the amendment, the committee voted to continue the item to the March 18, 2024, Rules Committee meeting to allow for further review of program statistics by the Human Services Agency (HSA) and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH). (Vote: 3-0).
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to our March 11th, 2024 Rules Committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Walton. Today you're acting chair for this meeting, and I'm joined by committee members Supervisor Safai and Supervisor Preston, who is substituting for Chair Ronan. Our clerk is Victor Young, and I would like to thank Kalina Mendoza at SFGov TV for being here and broadcasting today's meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, public comment will be taken on each item on this 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 in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR.yo UNG 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 your written comments via U.S. mail to our office in City Hall, one 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 are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda on March 19th, 2024, unless otherwise stated. That completes my initial announcements. Thank you, Mr. Clerk, and I'd like to make a motion to excuse Supervisor Ronan from today's meeting. Yes, on the motion to excuse Supervisor Ronin from today's meeting. On that motion, Supervisor Preston. Aye. Preston I Supervisor Safai. Aye. Safai aye. Vice Chair Walton. Aye. Walton Aye, the motion passes without objection. Thank you. Would you please call item number one? Yes. Item number one is motion approving rejecting the president of the Board of Supervisors, Aaron Peskins, nomination of Gilbert Williams to the planning commission term ending July 1st, 2026. I just like to note that uh there is uh the intent to schedule this matter as a committee report for tomorrow's Board of Supervisors meeting. Thank you so much, Mr. Clerk. And now we will hear from the nominee for appointment, Mr. Gilbert Williams. And you have two minutes, sir. Two minutes? Yes, sir. Thank you. Good morning, Board of Super uh Board of Supervisors Rules Committee, Vice Chair Walton, Supervisor Preston, and my district supervisor Safai. My name is Gilbert Williams. I've been appointed to the San Francisco Planning Commission seat number three to complete the term of Commissioner Gabriel Gabriela Ruiz. I would like to publicly thank Commissioner Ruiz for her service to our city and recognize her commitment to community. We both share a love of our city and understand the value of listening and lifting up marginalized voices. It would be an honor to continue her work. I understand that the beauty of our cities and the diversity of our residents and protecting and enhancing this cultural richness is something all San Franciscans should work towards.
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