All right, good morning, everybody, and welcome to the July 2026 rules committee meeting.

I am your chair, Supervisor Shimon Walton.

I'm joined by Vice Chair Steven Sherrow and soon to be joined by President Rafael Mandelman.

Today's clerk is Victor Young, and I want to thank Jamie Eshevery with SFGov TV for making sure that this meeting is televised and available to the public.

Mr.

Clerk, do you have any announcements this morning?

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 them speak.

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

Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at B I C T O R dot Y O U N G at SFgov.org.

If you submit public comment by email, it will be included as part of the file.

Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices.

Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the board of supervisors agenda of July 13th unless otherwise stated.

That completes my initial announcements.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Clerk.

Would you please call item number one?

Yes.

Before I do that, I just uh items past today will appear not on July 13th, but July 14th, which is a Tuesday.

My apologies.

Uh first item on the agenda.

Item number one is ordinance amending the administrative code to create the Chestnut Street Entertainment Zone on Chestnut Street from Divisadero Street to Fillmore Street, Steiner Street from Chestnut Street to Lombard, Pierce Street from Chestnut Street to Lumbart Street, and Scott Street from Chestnut Street to Lumbart Street, and affirming the planning department's determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Thank you so much.

And we will of course pass this item on to Supervisor Cheryl.

Thank you, Chair Walton, for scheduling this item today.

Um, you know, I think we've seen the success of entertainment zones around the city.

Um just this past weekend, uh, the Fillmore Jazz Festival, which had estimated 30,000 people on Saturday, which is pretty amazing and was great yesterday.

Um uh it was the first entertainment zone event on Fillmore, which is really exciting.

Um Union Street, we've also seen some smaller entertainment zone events, and I think what stands out to me about this is about the flexibility for merchants, about giving optionality to our small businesses and and helping you know boost our neighborhood corridors.

So I think it's important to keep building on these successes, keep uh the momentum going to boost our local economy, and that's why I'm moving forward this new entertainment zone on Chestnut Street uh to help them organize more activations uh in the near future.

Um today I've got some minor cleanup amendments at the request of the city attorney.

Um, as you may remember, colleagues recently we passed uh street closure streamlining ordinance to better enable street permitting.

Um so now we need to update our entertainment zones to properly reflect um the updated cross-references to the transportation code.

So um the amendments that uh were circulated to your offices earlier this morning that I just handed out uh on paper, um, they go through each entertainment zone subsection in administrative code 94B and changes the transportation code division one reference from section 6.6 or 6.16 to Article 6.

Um, do you have any questions on those amendments, colleagues?

Thank you so much, Russia.

And I don't have a question on your amendment, but I do have a question for the city attorney.

Uh, just in terms of previous entertainment zones.

How does this amendment play out for those?

Deputy City Attorney Brad Rusty.

The amendments that Supervisor Sherrill is proposing would correct the citations to all the previously approved entertainment zones and the ordinances that are still there are some I think still pending and on their way here.

We'll fix those in committee when they come.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh, great.

Um, don't thank me.

Thank my staff Lorenzo Rosas and the city attorney who uh did a lot of the hard work, Brad.

Thank you and your team for that.

Um so I'd like to move to amend the file as I circulated and described, um, and then move to send the amended file to the full board of supervisors with a positive recommendation as a committee report.

And we will take that motion, of course, after we go to public comment.

Yes, members of the public wishes to 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 would like to part public comment on this matter?

There are no speakers.

Thank you.

Seeing no speakers' public comment is now closed.

Mr.

Clerk on the motion to amend and send the amended file to the full board as a committee report with recommendation.

Yes.

On that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Cheryl, aye.

Member Manelman.

Aye.

Manelman aye.

Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Recommended as amended as a committee report.

Thank you so much.

Motion carries.

Mr.

Clerk, please call item number two.

Item number two is a motion approving or rejecting the mayor's nomination for the reappointment of Azelina Usoppi for the Sanitation and Streets Commission.

Term ending July 1st, 2030.

Thank you so much.

And we will now hear from Azalina.

And you have a couple of minutes just to tell us about why you want to continue to serve and thank you for being here this morning.

Good morning, Chair Walton, Supervisor Cheryl, and Supervisor Mendelman.

Thank you for the opportunity to be here today.

I want to begin by thanking Mayor Louri for his confidence in me and for the opportunity to continue serving on a sanitation and street commission.

It has been an honor.

San Francisco has been my home for the last 25 years.

It was the very first city I came to when I arrived in the United States.

I built my life here, raised my children here, and built a business that has allowed me to share my culture with the people from around the world.

For me, San Francisco is much more than the place where I live.

It is the city that gave my family a future.

Currently I have a business in the tenderloin, and my family has built our life in Bayview.

Living and working in different neighborhoods has shown me just how much people care about the communities they call home.

I've met neighbors, business owners, volunteers, and city employees who show up every day because they believe San Francisco is worth caring for.

As a restaurant owner, I know my guest experience starts long before they sit down for dinner.

It starts with a walk down the block.

The feeling of the neighborhood and whether people feel welcome.

The same is true for residents.

Clean, safe, welcoming streets make a difference in every day's life.

Serving on this commission has given me an even deeper appreciation for the people who do this work every day.

I've had the opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the challenges our city faces.

It has reminded me that progress comes from working collectively and listening to the people who know their neighborhoods best.

Street have always been where people gather, where communities connect, and where cultures are shared.

That perspective has stayed with me throughout my life.

If confirmed, I will continue to serve with gratitude.

Listen carefully and do my best to represent the people of San Francisco.

Serving on this commission is one small way I can give back to the city that has that has given my family so much.

Thank you for your time and your considerations.

Thank you so much, Commissioner.

And I don't see any questions or comments from colleagues.

So Mr.

Clerk, let's go to public comment on item number two.

Yes, members of the public, we should speak on this item.

Should I enough to 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 commenters.

Thank you.

Seeing no one here to speak on public comment.

Public comment is now closed.

Mr.

Clerk, would you?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I would like to make a motion to strike rejecting and amend to replace with approving and send this to the full board with recommendation.

Yes, on that motion.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Cheryl, I, Member Manelman.

Aye.

Madam and I.

Chair Walton.

I.

Walton.

Aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Mr.

Clerk, would you call items three through five together?

Yes, item number three is a motion approving or rejecting the mayor's nomination for the appointment of Rich Lee to the port commission term ending May 1st, 2030.

Item number four is a motion approve and rejecting the mayor's nomination for the appointment of Vanessa Harding Harding to the Port Commission term ending May 1st, 2030.

Item number five is motion approving rejecting the mayor's nomination for the reappointment of William Adams to the port commission term ending May 1st, 2030.

Thank you so much.

And I appreciate everyone being here this morning, and we'll call up individuals as they appear on the agenda.

So we will start with Rich Lee.

Good morning, uh Chair Walton, Supervisor Benjamin and Supervisor Sherrill.

You can pull the mic up to Chair.

There you go.

Tell us why you want to serve and about yourself.

I uh I uh was born in San Francisco.

I had to move away because I um could we couldn't, my parents couldn't afford living here, and uh found my way back.

I could not afford working in San Francisco, excuse me, w uh living in San Francisco the first three years, but I planted my fag flag in Mission Bay, started a small business, and uh slowly blossomed over the years.

I commuted from San Jose for three years straight, uh, seven days a week um before being able to afford a place to live in San Francisco.

It is home to me.

Uh I'm glad I'm back.

I operate five other cafes and opening my sixth one um in a week.

Um it is it is home to me.

Um what I do on a regular basis is um you know I manage employees, I manage my small businesses.

I was able to find a way to build in San Francisco even though there were financial troubles.

Uh and I think I can shed some light and give some guidance to people if they're willing to listen.

Uh I did try before to do my own meetups and try to educate other small business owners on how to build a successful business.

Uh each time I did a meetup, there were a lot of um salespeople trying to sell stuff.

Uh I wanted to be in a role where uh people can trust me and be able to talk to me about business.

Um something that is very important to me is the waterfront.

Um, like I said, I started my business in the waterfront.

I live in the Mission Bay.

Uh I lived in the dog patch.

Um I uh still have my t-shirt that says look what happened to me in San Francisco with my face photoshopped on to um on a chosenegger's body.

Um that used to be a time where where San Francisco uh the port was so magical to me.

Uh and I I know that there's a lot to be done.

I know that there's um a lot of small businesses that that um the port makes money on is um primarily of small businesses, and I like to be uh in a position where I can I can help.

Thank you so much and I see Supervisor Melleman on the roster.

Thank you, Chair Walton.

Um I want to congratulate Mr.

Lee.

Um I uh am a fan.

Uh I've gotten to know Rich.

Um in part because he he has a cafe uh in my district, and I've seen the trials and tribulations um that have happened at that location.

It's he's definitely had like the story of a lot of small business owners in San Francisco with broken windows and challenging street conditions, and um has persevered through all of that, and I know the folks uh and near set who live uh or are getting coffees or his fine fine foods at 17th and church.

Appreciate that.

Um, and then I, you know, I he has uh his location here uh in the PUC building, which I think some of us probably take advantage of.

Um so uh I think definitely is he's keenly aware of the challenges facing small business owners who um have narrow margins and uh do crazy things because you know they have a dream and are willing to um put off uh plans for all sorts of things.

I'm glad he finally was able to have a kid, and I want congratulations on that.

But uh yeah, I um I'm a fan of Richley's.

Thank you, President Mendelman.

I do have a question, uh, Mr.

Lee.

The port property is very vast and runs um all the way to the southeastern part of the city.

What do you think we can do to make sure that the port thrives?

I think there's uh a lot to be done.

Um, and I think um I actually spend the last month just really studying what uh you know, researching about the port.

I know that a lot of funding usually drifts up north, uh, and I do think that um it should be you know it's the it there's a lot of hidden potential um that especially on the southern waterfront.

There's a lot of untapped uh potential, I think, and all of SF, especially any of the up all along the port from Fisherman's Wharf all the way down to Heron's Head.

Um as a business operator myself, I want to make sure that all my cafes, all my my businesses are um equally treated with love, and I don't not neglecting any part of my business.

Um, I feel like I can share some perspective on making sure that the money isn't focused on one area um up north.

Um that's how I I feel obviously I haven't been in this position before, but I'd like to be able to um make better educated um responses in the future, thank you.

I don't see anyone else on the roster, Mr.

Clerk.

Would you please call for public comment?

Uh would you like to call the other two applicants?

Oh, my apologies.

I did we did call all items together.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Lee.

Um, I do believe that uh Vanessa is not here, so we will call up Mr.

Williams Adams.

Good morning.

Uh Chairman Walton, Vice Chair Sherrill, President Menderman, I'm Willie Adams.

Um I've been on the port commission since 2012.

I was the former international president of the international longshore and warehouse union.

I represent labor and one of the most powerful unions in the world.

And when you asked the question recently about what do you bring to the port, it's such a it's made up of so many different areas.

At one time we had over 30 million tours that would come to San Francisco, then COVID hit.

We also have to remember we have cruise ships that come in.

Pure 27, James R.

Herman, who was the second president of the union that I was a member of, and I was the seventh, was named after Jimmy Herman.

And we would like to build that up to over a million passengers a year.

We have to think about the three million tourists a year and people that ride the ferries daily, that human cargo that we have to deal with.

Also, we are multi-service port.

We just did working on the renovation of Fisherman's Warth.

We're seeing what's happening with the ferry building.

And you asked about the southern waterfront.

The southern waterfront definitely needs the love and needs the attention, as the whole waterfront does.

And let's talk about something that I think is very important that we all have on our minds right now.

The first seawall was 1867.

And now we're talking about another seawall.

This seawall is over 100 years old.

Our second seawall started in 1879 and we finished it in 1916.

So we definitely need the historical upgrades.

And what's even more about the Port of San Francisco is the historical property, the historical piers.

And when the port was formed April 24th, 1863, it was because of the gold rush.

And we needed the finger piers so San Francisco could thrive.

And then we have to think about 1898, the iconic opening of the San Francisco ferry building.

And then, of course, we want to talk about 1969, the Burton Act.

And I happen to serve on the Port Commission with the late John Burton, and he was a mentor.

And we want to talk about the skyline and we want to talk about the changes because as president of the IOW, I got to go to 80 ports throughout the world, and 29 ports on the West Coast.

The Port of San Francisco is so different than a port of Oakland, which has containers and cargo, or LA Long Beach, San Diego, Stockton, Sacramento.

San Francisco has its own vision.

It's unique.

It's a boutique port.

And we have to work around that and strengthen that and continue to make that shine.

I look at it as a rebirth of the cool, the things that we're doing at the port of uh San Francisco, what we're building, affordable housing, the Giants project, and over the 500 leases that we have to see.

So as a commissioner, you have to have a grasp of that.

And I've engaged myself in that.

And it's funny, every time that I'm reappointed, and I know you guys get this.

What are you running for, Commissioner Adams?

Mohammed Ali said it best.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth.

I'm not running for anything.

It's an honor and a privilege to serve as a commissioner.

And you don't need a title to have honor, have integrity.

People follow people that have conviction.

And that has been my conviction.

I live in that area.

I walk on the embarkadero for the last 23 years.

I understand it.

I vibe with that.

And we have a new mayor, board of supervisors.

Things have changed.

I have seen a lot of changes since 2012.

Change is good.

Change is healthy.

And we need to continue to transform ourselves to see how our city is going to look.

People have wrote this city off during COVID and after COVID.

We've come back, and as they Winston Churchill said it best, when you're going through hell, you keep going.

Well, that's what we've done.

And people now have confidence.

People are seeing us again.

Is that shining light and that beacon of light?

So I would like to continue to serve.

I am the senior commissioner on the commission.

I understand it.

I've been through it, four mayors, but I have a passion.

Also, the seawalls is very important to me because of the younger generation.

We have to do this, and we have to act now.

We have a responsibility for future and the younger generation of San Francisco.

And one other thing.

I can vote on everything.

I have no conflicts of interest.

I have never had to recuse myself on the vote.

Sometimes people have to recuse themselves.

I have no interest, any special interest, my interests or the people of San Francisco.

And thank you for letting me be in the house today of the people.

Thank you so much, Commissioner.

And with that, Supervisor Cheryl.

Um I just want to thank both of the individuals here today.

I know that one of the uh nominees or however we say it is not here, but um I just I think it was very interesting how both of you spoke about it.

I represent a lot of the northern waterfront, though very little of the port, as it turns out in District 2.

Um, but the clarity that you two have, the the different experience that you two have, and I think both of you mentioned the Southern Waterfront, which is incredibly important also, and I just want to thank you for mentioning the seawall.

Um, but both of you thank you for your interest in interest in serving.

I know you got a lot going on in your personal lives.

Um, I know Rich, your professional life because I've benefit from it on a regular basis.

Um, but just thank you both very, very much.

Thank you so much, Vice Chair Shiro.

And with that, Mr.

Clerk, we will go to public on all three items.

Yes, members of the public wish to comment on these items.

Should I speak at this time?

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

Are there any members of the public who would like to provide comment on these three items?

Please approach the podium.

Good morning.

Um, I've had the opportunity to get to know Rich through my time working at his company SPRO, where I'm currently working as the general manager.

I wholeheartedly support Rich's appointment to the San Francisco Port Commission.

And throughout the time that I've known him, he's consistently demonstrated integrity, fairness, and the ability to communicate thoughtfully with people from diverse perspectives.

As a small business owner who cares deeply about San Francisco, I believe he understands the importance of supporting local businesses while also making balanced decisions to support the broader community.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And I don't see any other speakers, so public comment is now closed.

Thank you so much, and thank you for being present.

Um President Mandelman.

I want to thank um both Mr.

Lee uh and commission and Commissioner Adams for uh their willingness to serve or continue serving.

Um, and I would like to make a motion uh for three and five that we uh strike um uh rejecting from both, and that we forward Rich Lee for item three and uh William Adams for item five to the full board with positive recommendation as committee reports, and we continue item four to the call of the chair, and continue item four.

Uh yes, on the motion to amend item three and five to uh recommend the applicant and to recommend those items three and five as amended as committee report and to continue item number four to the call of the chair.

On that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Cheryl aye.

Member Manelman, aye.

Mannelman aye, Chair Walton, aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Mr.

Clerk, do we have any further business this morning?

That completes the agenda for today.

Thank you.

We are adjourned.

Um,