Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the September 15th, 2025 Rules Committee meeting.

I am your chair, Supervisor Shimon Walton.

I'm joined by Supervisor Cheryl and soon to be joined by President Mendelman.

Today's clerk is Victor Young, and we have Eugene Labadia with SFGov TV that will make sure that this meeting is broadcast, broadcasted on SFGov TV so that the public will be able to know how we conduct city business today.

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.

Alternative, you may submit public comment in writing, either of the following ways.

Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR.yo N G at SFgov.org.

If you submit public comment via email, it'll be included as part of the file.

You may also send your written comments via US mail to our office in City Hall when Dr.

Carl didn't be good with 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 of September 23rd, 2025, unless otherwise stated.

That completes my initial announcements.

Thank you so much.

Please call item number one.

Yes, item number one is a motion appointing Crystal Hawkins, residency requirement waived.

Term ending March 19, 2028 to the Childcare Planning Advisory Council.

Thank you so much.

And of course, this is something my office was happy to do, and I believe Crystal is here.

So please come up and tell us why you want to serve.

Good morning.

My name is Crystal Hawkins.

I'm a licensed clinical social worker with close to two decades of mental health services.

I wonder if that's like our neighborhood, South Central LA.

And once I moved to the Bay, I realized that it very much so was, with a lot of community family history, but also being under-resourced and underserved.

So as my time with the San Francisco Unified School District, I believe a lot with the work of the council is doing that we are aligning policy.

We know policy informs funding, but how can we inform that policy to ensure that the children and the families in the community we serve are getting the equitable much-needed services they are?

I don't have children of my own, so it's an honor to do this work in partnership, not only with teachers who serve children and families, but also families who come with a cultural knowledge of funds as what's best for their babies as a result of the school district's ongoing significant disproportionality sanction over referral, suspension of expulsion of black students.

Eight years ago, I developed the Shoe Strings Children's Center, California's only social emotional and sensory integration program in the state of California in a school district.

And I'm proud to say that our program has been disrupting significant disproportionality, disrupting the preschool to prison pipeline, disrupting over-referring, over-identifying, and expulsion of black students followed by Latinx students.

So my hope is that I get the opportunity to do this work in partnership with CPAC so we can ensure that each and every family have exactly what they need to thrive.

Thank you, Ms.

Hawkins.

And I don't see any questions or statements by colleagues, so we will call for public comment on this item.

Yes, members of the public who wish to speak on this item should line up to speak at this time.

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Are there any members of the public who'd like to speak on this matter?

There are no additional speakers.

Thank you.

Seeing no speakers.

Public comment is now closed.

And again, I just want to thank Ms.

Hawkins for being willing to bring her talents, her skill set uh to work on our our CPAC.

The work is very important, and we need someone, of course, with the qualifications, but also the dedication and commitment to achieving success for our young people here in San Francisco.

So with that, I will make a motion to move this item for our item forward with recommendation with the residency waiver required.

Yes, on that motion.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Cheryl, I, Member Mannerman.

Aye.

Madam and I, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton I that motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations and thank you.

Mr.

Clerk, please call item number two.

Item number two is the ordinance amending the administrative code to create the Union Street Entertainment Zone on Union Street between Gulf and Steiner Streets and on Filmworth Street between Union and Greenwich and affirming the planning department's documentation.

Determination under the California Environmental Equality Act.

Thank you.

Vice Chair Sherrow.

Thank you, Chair Walton.

Um this uh has been a community driven process, and I'm extremely grateful for the merchants on Union Street, uh both the Union Street Merchants Association, but also individual merchants who um have stepped up to to speak out about this, one of whom Teddy Kramer is here with us today.

Um, you know, every business on the block has expressed the need for more activity, for more foot traffic, and there is a clear economic boost, social boost, vibrancy booth boost from uh the increased activity that that entertainment zones can bring.

Um over the last several months we've heard concerns about entertainment zones, concerns and conflations with the idea of permanent street closures.

These are two very different things.

At the same time, I think it's important to recognize that some concerns related to trash management around entertainment zones are important, and that's why I think I really appreciate the community's input in the management plan and ensuring that we have waste management plans for each entertainment zone activity and for permanent events.

And so I just really want to thank members of um the community for for weighing in for uh members of Union Street Merchants Association and for other business owners today.

Uh so thank you all to the community for for making this possible.

Thank you, Vice Chair Sherrow.

And seeing no other comments from colleagues, Mr.

Clerk, please call for public comment on item number.

Yes, members of the public who wish to speak on this item, should like to speak at this time.

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Good morning, supervisors.

Um, my name is Teddy Kramer.

I am a business owner on Union Street as well as a member of the Union Street Association, which is our uh local business league slash merchant association.

Um I am an enormous supporter of entertainment zones, not just in our neighborhood, but all across the city.

We have done over one year worth of outreach with all merchants across Union Street as well as neighborhood groups such as the Golden Gate Valley Association, Pacific Heights Neighbors Association, the Calhallo Association, about uh having an entertainment zone uh on Union Street.

We've got overwhelming support where they understand this is about economic activity, activation, but at the same time taking responsibility for our corridor.

In order for entertainment zones to succeed, the entire neighborhood has to succeed, and that's why we're partnering with organizations like Refuse Refuge who are going to partner with us during entertainment zones to ensuring that the neighborhood is clean, partnering with um all the neighborhood groups so that they are aware about changes to uh with street closures related to things with the SFMTA, potential loss of parking during these short periods.

Um but ultimately this is a net positive for our community because it's about economic revitalization of our neighborhood.

We've seen the success of Front Street, we've seen success with the night markets, we need it on Union Street, we want it on Union Street, and we appreciate any support you can put behind this so that we can make Union Street thriving again.

Thanks so much.

Thank you.

Are there any additional speakers for this matter?

There are no additional speakers.

Thank you.

Seeing no additional speakers.

Public comment is now closed.

And I'd like to make a motion to move item two to the full board with recommendation.

Yes, on that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl, Cheryl Aye, Member Manelman.

Aye.

Madam and I, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walt and aye, that motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Please call item number three.

Yes, item number three is a motion approving and rejecting President Raphael Maneman's nomination for the reappointment of Elizabeth Alexander Tut to the building inspection committee term ending July 1st, 2027.

There is a request that this matter be sent out as a committee report.

Thank you so much.

President Mandelman.

Thank you, Chair Walton.

Um, I am and have been happy to nominate uh Elizabeth Alexander Tutt for reappointment.

Everything that I've heard about her service on the commission has been good.

She uh has decades of experience in the mission in labor, in tenant work.

She uh I think is is very familiar with how the department works with some of the most vulnerable communities and people in San Francisco, and I think all of that is good.

And um, so I would like to see her continue to serve, and I hope this committee will agree.

Thank you so much, President Mandelman, and let's hear from Elizabeth Alexander Tutt.

That was very kind.

Thank you for your words, President Mandelman.

Good morning, Chair Walton, Supervisor Cheryl, and again, President Walton.

My name's Elizabeth Alexander Toots, and I have been on the BIC for seven years.

I'm before you today to um for your consideration in my reappointment.

Um, as a former tenant organizer, I have uh an actually out of DBI's own program, the Code Enforcement and Outreach Program.

I worked with the most vulnerable tenants in the city in the apartment buildings and the tenderloin in the mission district and um in the SROs.

And I know how important that the enforcement of our housing code is.

So when we think of the building code, most people think about the important role that we play in moving permits and obviously in promoting development.

Um, but there's we also enforce the housing code, and that's the code that says that you have to have hot water, that you have to have heat, and the health and well-being of our tenant population, which is the majority of San Francisco, and especially our most vulnerable residents residents, really depends on the enforcement of these rules, and they only get enforced when people care about them.

We have an amazing housing division, and we have great community partners.

Um I've worked uh and thank you for your support during the budget process.

We've worked to secure the funding for the community partners that help us enforce these rules.

Um, I've been and you know, the I'm a I'm an S proud San Francisco Unified School District Mother, and I know how important the ability to have cooking in there in the SROs to have habitable you know situations for your children.

Um, the work we do is so important for our elderly for most vulnerable populations.

Um, I've also been the board president for the last two years, and I'd like to speak a little bit about that.

It's a little bit beyond the scope of just tenants, and that's really in we were able to in on ethics and upholding the good ethics.

We were able to get work with the department to implement all of the controllers' ethics um recommendations, and we continue, especially with the purchase, and we're looking forward to the new um database system to even have more controls and kind of more insight into some of the elements of concern the department, and we've really worked together with the um DBI leadership to turn around the um the culture within the department, and then um I don't this isn't on, so I don't want to go over my two minutes.

Am I okay?

Yes, you are.

Okay, thank you.

Um, and so I I want to just you know also say that one of the most important things while I'm in the tenancy, it's so important that this department works really well and that we are um efficient and that we are meeting the deadlines that you guys set for us and in terms of getting our permits turned around in terms of um making things very smooth and working with other city departments, and that's something I think we're all continuing to work for work towards, and I'm grateful for um much of the legislation that has come from this body and from the mayor's office in order to improve our systems and our structures.

And I'm available for any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Seeing no comments from colleagues, Mr.

Clerk, please call for public comment.

Yes, members of the public who speak on this item.

Should I speak at this time?

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Are there any members of the public who like to comment on this matter?

There are no additional speakers.

Thank you.

Seeing those speakers, public comment is now closed.

And I would just like to follow up on President Mandelman's comments and just say I 100% stand by his comments and have had the opportunity to do the same and appoint and appoint uh Ms.

Alexander T.

So I appreciate this appointment.

Excited about her continued willingness to serve and look forward to continuing to work together.

With that said, I'd like to make a motion to approve this appointment and remove rejecting.

Uh yes.

And so send to the full board as a committee report.

Thank you.

Yes, on the motion to amend the motion to approve the appointment and to recommend it as amended as a committee report on that motion.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Cheryl, I, Member Manelman.

Hi.

Madeline, I, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton Aye.

The motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

And now, Mr.

Clerk, would you please call item number four?

Item number four is an ordinance amening.

Approving amendments to the rules and regulation for the neighborhood beautification and graffiti cleanup fund.

Thank you so much.

And I believe we have Robin Takayama here from the city administrator's office.

Welcome.

Yes.

Good morning, Chair Walton and Supervisor Cheryl and Mandelman.

This revision is a minor administrative update to the community challenge grants program rules and regulations.

Under the current rules and regs approved by the board earlier this summer, applicants must have two years of operating history to be eligible.

However, we've seen that an organization's age doesn't necessarily reflect readiness to manage public funds.

So this change would allow organizations with less than two years of operating history to qualify if they can demonstrate equivalent capacity as defined by the CCG administering staff.

We want to shift the focus from an arbitrary number of years in operation to more relevant criteria such as financial health.

In this year's RFP, that includes having at least 25% of the grant request available as cash assets.

So this change maintain strong oversight while expanding access to newer organizations that are ready to do this work.

I'm happy to answer any questions if you have any.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you.

To you and to Supervisor Sauter for this legislation, which seems um reasonable and appropriate and correct to me.

I have a question about a phenomena I have started to hear about with the community challenge grants.

I don't think it's necessarily new, but um I'm hearing from some of my constituents that the way this program is actually working in practice for some organizations is you know the community the sort of um uh neighborhood-based scrappy collection of neighbors applies for funds to do something nice in the neighborhood and gets the grant, but because this money comes in as reimbursement, someone from the neighborhood ends up writing the 20,000 dollars or 25 thousand dollars or thirty thousand dollars and then getting reimbursed.

Um, I don't know how widespread this is and how much the community challenge grant program relies on that, but it strikes me as not great because you know, these are community groups.

It could probably create a fair amount of disparity because I don't know that every, you know, motley correct collection of neighbors who are interested in doing something in the neighborhood is gonna have someone around who's able to front you know tens of thousands of dollars and then get reimbursed.

I'm just curious what your office is kind of thinking about that.

Is this an issue?

So, this is separate from what's before you, but I'm happy to talk about how the program runs.

And I can't say that I've seen that.

So, um, yes, our program runs as a reimbursement process.

Um, there are fiscal sponsors, and that relationship between how the fiscal sponsor reimbursed the project is a relationship that is determined separate from CCG.

It really depends on that MOU between the grantee, which is the fiscal sponsor and the subcontractor.

Um, so what I see is a reimbursement to the fiscal sponsor, and I see itemized expenses that have been paid that I then reimburse to the fiscal sponsor.

Which is why a parks alliance is so kind of important in this equation or some entity that has ideally not Parks Alliance, but but somebody, some entity that has pockets that are deep enough to float these collections of of um of well-intentioned, although maybe not rich neighbors, all right.

Well, thank you for that diversion and um uh this seems good.

I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor to this item.

Thank you, President Madeline.

And just want to remind folks that these grants are not extremely large comparative to resources that the city expands in other ways to um Vice Chair Sherrill.

Um I'd also like to be added as a co-sponsor, please, and uh echo um President Mandelman's concerns and and comments.

Thank you.

And seeing no one else on the roster, we will go to public comment on this item.

Uh my apologies.

I didn't catch the last comment by uh uh supervisor Cheryl.

Oh, I um I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Yes, and I just echo um President Mandel Mandelman's uh comments and and kind of concerns on the larger um equity implications of the larger program that again don't necessarily speak directly to this.

Thank you.

I will add you as a co-sponsor.

Members of the public who wish to speak on this item should line up to speak at this time.

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Are there any speakers in the room who would like to comment on this matter?

There are no speakers at this time.

Thank you.

See no speakers.

Public comment is now closed.

And I'd like to make a motion to move this item forward to the full board with recommendations.

On that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Cheryl I.

Member Madelman, Madam Aye, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Mr.

Clerk, please call it number five.

Yes, item number five is a motion reappointing supervisor Rafael Maneman, term ending December 1st, 2026, to the California State Association of Counties.

I think I'd like to move to excuse Supervisor Mandelman from this item.

Yes, on the motion to excuse.

Cheryl, I, Member Manaman.

Madam in excuse, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Well tonight, that motion passes.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Mr.

Clerk, would you call for public comment on this item, please?

Yes.

Members of the public who wish to speak on this item should line up to speak at this time.

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Are there any speakers for this matter?

There are no speakers on this matter.

Thank you.

Seeing no speakers, public comment is now closed.

And I'd like to make a motion to move item five forward to the full board with recommendation.

Yes, on that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Cheryl.

Aye.

Member Madaman, excuse Chair Walton.

Aye.

Well tonight that motion passes without objection.

Motion carries.

Mr.

Clerk, please call item number six.

Yes, item number six is a motion appointing supervisor Shaman Walton to the committee on city workforce alignment for an indefinite term.

I'd like to move to excuse Chair Walton from this matter.

Yes, on the motion to excuse uh Chair Walton for this item.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

I Cheryl.

I member Madaman.

Aye.

Madam and I walton excuse.

Motion carries.

Uh Mr.

Clerk, would you please call for public comment?

Yes, members of the public who wish to speak on this item should line up to speak at this time.

Are there any members of the public who wish to speak on this matter?

There are no speakers.

Seeing no speakers, public comment is closed.

And I would like to move to send this matter to the full board with positive recommendation.

Yes, on that motion to recommend.

Motion carries.