Good morning, everyone, and welcome to our July 13th, 2026 rules committee meeting.

I'm your chair, Supervisor Shaman Walton.

I'm joined by President Mandelman and soon to be joined by Vice Chair Stephen Sherrill.

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

Mr.

Clerk, do we 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 like to speak on your right.

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

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

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

You may also send your written comments via US 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.

Items act upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of July 21st, unless otherwise stated.

That completes my initial announcements.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Clerk.

Let's take uh this agenda out of order and call item number two, please.

Item number two is a hearing to consider appointing two members terms ending November 30th, 2026 to the ballot simplification council.

Thank you so much.

And we have a packed agenda this morning.

And so what I'm gonna do is always call up individuals in order that they appear, and please take about a minute and a half to tell us why you want to serve and your purpose.

And so first I am going to call for Ben Landau Taylor.

Good morning.

One moment, my apologies.

Thank you.

Yeah, I have a lot of experience with taking complex issues in social science, in investigative journalism, in civics, in history, and then writing them up for a public audience and taking the often very complicated issues and presenting them in a way that people who are non-specialists can understand.

And I think I'd be doing a good job of taking a lot of the very complex civic issues that get uh that show up on the ballot and putting them in understandable and neutral language.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Next, we have Betty Packard.

Good morning.

Many of you know because I've been chairing this committee for several years.

Um you have my resume.

I've been a journalist for 60 years, and uh I've been very proud of the job that the that the committee has done.

I've worked very hard to make sure that we've been extremely non-biased, that we presented legit uh literature and um uh uh voter handbook that gives the public an unbiased look and a look that can be understood on an eighth grade level.

I've made many enemies in this in this building between lawyers and uh department heads and even supervisors because we've not actually taken their verbiage and and put it in as they wanted it in, but we've taken the language, determined that it's such that the average person can look at it and say, yes, I'll vote yes or no, I'll vote no.

And uh that's been my crux.

When I I've spent the last month, last two months now, really, on the scheduling and the room reservations and stuff without even knowing that I'm gonna be on the committee.

So I uh I appreciate the honor that this city has given me by uh handling this uh this task, and I hope that I get to continue.

Thank you so much.

Uh please remember that we refrain from loud applause in here because we want to make sure we hear the next person or what's coming next.

You can definitely do hand motions if you want to support someone.

Next we have Michelle Anderson.

I did receive information that Ms.

Ms.

Anderson is unable to attend today's meeting and she would like to withdraw her application.

Thank you.

Pamela Troy.

My name is Pamela Troy.

I have served on this committee in 2024.

My background, I've lived in San Francisco since uh for well over 30 years, and my background as a writer includes um writing articles and writing computer documentation.

I have for much of my life uh dedicated it to writing, making even obscure subjects understandable to the average person.

And it is something I'm somewhat passionate about.

I have long had an interest in civic affairs, and um I consider it very important that ballots be worded in a manner that is unconfusing, to the point, and completely unbiased.

I would consider it an honor to serve on this committee and look forward to working with City Hall if you will possibly accept me as a candidate.

Thank you so much.

And next we will call up Ruth Grace Wong.

Hello, I'm Ruth Grace Wong.

I served on the ballot simplification committee since 2024.

I brought to the committee my experience as a freelance technical writer as well as a Wikipedia editor, which uses a similar deliberative collaborative writing process.

Um I respectfully request the Board of Supervisors appoint me to ensure the council has diversity in age, race, and both professional and lived experience.

The first ballot committees uh ballot simplification committee session I joined, somebody said we don't have to define the word pension, do we?

And I had to raise my hand because before I joined the committee, I didn't know anybody who had a pension.

On the committee, I was the only parent whose kids are still kids.

I was the only cyclist.

I was probably the only one paying market rate rent.

My appointment would strengthen the council's ability to make ballot measures digestible for all San Franciscans.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And uh first of all, I just want to thank everyone uh who decided to put in the application.

Obviously, we only have two seats, uh, and we have five applicants.

So I just want everyone to know that we appreciate your willingness to serve.

If for some reason you're not chosen at this time, please continue to put in applications because we love when we have a pool of qualified people that we can choose from.

And again, we have more seats, excuse me, more people than seats.

So appreciate each one of you.

I don't see any questions or comments from colleagues, so we are going to call for public comment on item number two.

Yes, members of the public wish to speak on this item, she'll line up to speak at this time.

Each speaker will be allowed two minutes.

There'll be a soft chime when you have 30 seconds left and a louder time when your time has expired.

And if you wish to speak, please line up to the right or left.

Thank you so much.

Hi, I'm Kate Degalau Pierce, co-president of the League of Women Voters of San Francisco, a grassroots nonpartisan nonprofit that empowers voters and defends free and fair elections in our city.

And I'm here to speak in support of Ruth Grace Wong's nomination to the ballot simplification council.

She has served capably and ably on ballot simplification since 2024.

She's able to understand and distill the legal text of sometimes complicated ballot measures into something that you and I can easily understand.

Additionally, she brings much needed diversity to this community committee.

She can see what might confuse people who are newer to the city and make sure that they understand what they are voting for or against.

I hope you will appoint her.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Are there any other commenters on this matter?

There are no additional speakers.

Thank you, seeing no additional speakers.

Public comment is now closed.

Mr.

Clerk, I would like to make a motion to send Betty Peckard's name forward for seat one and Ruth Grace Wong for seat two to the full board with recommendation.

Would you like to send that as a committee report?

Yes, as a committee report.

My apologies.

Yes, Betty Packard, seat one, Ruth Grace Wong, seat two.

Recommend it as a committee report on that motion.

On that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Cheryl Aye.

Member Mandelman.

Aye.

Mandelman I.

Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton, aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations and again thank everyone for their submission.

I would now like to call item number three, Mr.

Clerk.

Yes, item number three is a motion ordering submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 3rd, 2026 and ordinance to many of the administrative code to create a fund to receive and expend monies appropriated and any gifts, grants or donations to be used to expand access to the affordable nutritious food for city residents.

Thank you so much.

And we have Supervisor Makmood with us here this morning.

And Supervisor, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair Walton, for hearing this item this morning.

Today we're considering the Affordable Grocery Fund, which is one piece of the broader affordable groceries act.

At a time when grocery prices continue to rise and neighborhoods across San Francisco have lost grocery stores and pharmacies.

The city needs more tools to make fresh food affordable and accessible.

This measure creates one of those tools.

It establishes the fund structure needed to help bring affordable grocery options back to neighborhoods that have been left behind.

This fund is a vehicle.

It creates a place for philanthropic dollars and mayoral or budget board budget allocations to be directed towards affordable grocery stores.

Once resourced, it could help existing corner stores stock and sell more fresh healthy food, resurrecting the healthy retail SF program that was successful in districts five and ten before it was unfunded.

It could support nonprofit and worker-owned grocery models with grants from the city, supporting models like what's going on to open later this year with Sunnydale and Byrite.

Or it could help a new grocery operator start up and help activate vacant commercial spaces by partnering with grocery operators committed to keeping those prices affordable.

This is about building the mechanism for investment in neighborhood commercial corridors in food security and in affordability for working families, seniors, and anyone struggling with the rising cost of everyday necessities.

The city has built dedicated funding structures for housing, for transportation, and for small business because we know those investments strengthen our neighborhoods.

Food access deserves that same level of commitment.

The Affordable Grocery Fund gives San Francisco and its philanthropic partners a proactive mechanism to support grocery stores that are willing to serve communities rather than simply reacting after neighborhoods have already become food deserts.

I know there are different perspectives on other portions of the Affordable Groceries Act, but today's item is about establishing the tool that will expand access to affordable groceries and give the city and others the ability to invest in food access where it's needed most.

Before we vote, I'd like to make a small technical amendment on page three, line 13, updating the affordability condition to include food and grocery products offered at no cost or at a lower markup and offered consistently to all residents.

I appreciate the Marin Food Bank for providing us these suggestions to address the diversity of food access options that are available and so that this fund can support them, as well as to acknowledge that large chain corporations have abused dynamic pricing to actually discriminate with prices with constituents.

And we will ensure that this fund does not support such practices.

I respectfully ask for your support so this measure can continue moving through the legislative process and be continued to the rules committee agenda next Monday, July 20th.

Happy to answer any questions.

Thank you so much.

Supervisor Mahmood.

President Mandelman.

Thank you, Chair Walton, and uh thank you, Supervisor Mahmood, for the presentation.

Um I have one big I mean, I I um very much support uh the intent of this legislation.

Um I appreciate the fact that it has a provision that it can be amended by a majority of the board of supervisors.

Um we have spent a lot of time over the last year talking about uh uh what happens and measures go on the ballot and um and then do not have capacity to adapt over time, and you've addressed that.

But there is sort of a more basic fundamental question of why does this need to be on the ballot in the first place?

Sure.

Thank you for the question.

Um two reasons.

One, if you'll notice in the legislation, um, we have language that says that we want to give voters the opportunity to express that their intent is that this measure um uh be able to leverage the funds from the uh complementary tax.

So this ballot measure has that language in there.

It's a non-binding intent, but it allows the voters to express their intent that the tax funds be from the abandoned pharmacy grocery stocks be allocated to this fund.

Second, is that we feel that in this moment this is supposed to be presented as a package with the other measure that we have proposed as part of the affordable groceries act, and so having them be presented together in the ballot at the same time presents the comprehensive narrative that voters should be able to make their decision on.

Um and third, it's about giving voters the opportunity to make their mandate clear that this is what they want, um, and not just something that the board of supervisors is requesting, and voter choice is important this time.

Um, but that is that is the reasoning for why we're proceeding this way.

That is fine.

Thank you so much.

And I just want to say one, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor to this item.

Uh definitely agree with Supervisor Mahmood that it should be about the voters giving them the choice to decide, but also making sure that we do have a dedicated funding source, especially since other sources have sunset it.

So thank you so much, Supervisor Mahmood, for bringing this forward.

Don't see other statements or questions from colleagues, so we will go to public comment.

Yes, members of the public who wish 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 comment on this matter?

There are no speakers.

Thank you, CNN.

Speaker's public comment is now closed.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Um thank you, Chair Walton.

Um, I know Supervisor Machmood, I don't know if you want to touch on any of the amendments you were looking at to circulate there or on this item.

Further, I already spoke about them.

Yep, if you want to you don't want to touch further.

Yep, great.

Excellent.

Sorry, that was unclear.

Um, just want to thank you for bringing this forward um for working so hard on this.

Um I was just at the produce market this morning, which is the reason I was running a little late actually.

Um, and I think what is unquestionably clear is that there are many communities in this city who desperately need more access to fresh produce uh to healthy foods at an affordable rate.

Um so anyway, I would like to move uh to amend the file as circulated by Supervisor Mahmood um and then move uh to continue the amended item uh for one week to the rules committee meeting on July 20th, 2026.

Thank you so much, Vice Chair Sherrill.

On that motion, Mr.

Clerk.

Yes, on that motion to I accept the amendment and to recommend uh continue the matter as amended to July 20th, 2026.

On that motion.

Vice Vice Chair Cheryl.

Sheryl, aye, member Mandelman.

Aye, Mandelman Aye, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Thank you, Supervisor Mahmood.

Mr.

Clerk, let's go back to item number one.

Yes, item number one.

It's a hearing to consider appointing six members for one-year terms to the fire code technical advisory council.

Thank you so much.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Um, Chair Walton, thank you.

Thank you for scheduling this.

Um, and to all the applicants who've raised their hand who are here today, thank you.

Um, thank you very much for being willing to serve the city.

Um, this subject is obviously one that is not without controversy.

Um it has not been without an inordinate amount of emotional stress based on real financial realities, and I think it's been a learning lesson for many of us in the city about how important it is to ensure that um solutions are targeted at problems and that the connection between the proposed solution and the potential problem is very, very clear and very, very direct.

Um in working through this, I think many of us have seen what can happen if residents aren't centered in the conversation from the very beginning, in the middle, and at the end.

And I am very optimistic that this TAC is going to come up with some real solutions to potential problems that will keep people safer, but will also keep people safer in the homes that they have today.

In the conversation about affordable housing, in many ways, the most affordable house that one has is the house that they already have.

And so we need to make sure that we marry solutions that are reasonable and accessible and affordable with potential problems, and that we ensure that the statistical significance of those problems also matches the potential solutions.

So I just want to thank everyone here for their work.

Obviously, the work will continue.

By no means is today a final win, but it is a step forward in the right direction, even though I know that many of you here and many of you watching do not consider this victory at all.

And I think that is a reasonable point of view.

Um, and so I think this is about the next step in the work and moving forward towards a better solution, even if it's not a perfect solution today.

Um with that, um, Chair Walton, again, I want to just say uh thank you, and I want to thank all of you who are here today.

Thank you so much, Vice Chair Sherrow.

Uh, as you know, we have six seats, ten applicants.

I will go in order of how everyone appears on the agenda if that's all right with you.

Yeah.

That works.

All right.

So we will call up and please come up and speak for about a minute and a half, two minutes about why you want to serve and your purpose.

And first we have James Edlin.

You can leave it there.

I'll come pick it up.

Thank you.

Good morning, supervisors.

My name is Jim Edlin.

I am a homeowner, resident, and board member of the 150 unit 15-story condominium building built in 1963 by Joseph Eichler at 66 Cleary Court in the city, a building affected by the sprinkler mandate.

My own technical expertise is in computers and the internet.

Now you may wonder why someone whose technical expertise is in computers rather than say fire safety or building construction is applying for this particular council.

Well, it may prove to be relevant.

For example, one of my letters of support is from a company that makes ceiling-mounted AI-controlled smart fire extinguishers that they say can supplant pipe sprinklers.

But the primary relevant expertise I have for this council's context is as a co-founder of two successful businesses, plus a second career in the nonprofit world, and that is a keen eye for cost benefit analysis that I believe will be crucial to the work of this council.

I have previously shared with Supervisor Cheryl that my belief is that what was needed was not purely a technical analysis council, but a feasibility analysis council, one that can evaluate financial, logistical, and human concerns, as well as technical.

If named to the council, that is the perspective I will bring to its proceedings.

The council already seems likely to include members who can hold forth at length on fire safety and building construction matters.

And I hope it will have access to outside experts as well.

Me, I'm Mr.

Feasibility, and I humbly suggest that's a role that's needed in this council.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have John Obanion.

Good morning.

Thank you for your time today.

My name is John O'Banion, and I live at 1201 California Street with my wife Pamela of 51 years, who was born in San Francisco.

We are definitely committed to this community.

We are shareholders in 1201 California.

I have served on the board of directors, I've served as the treasurer, and I've also served as chair of the finance committee.

I'm applying for a position on TAC because I believe that my experience and expertise can help the board move forward with a recommendation that is rational and based on common sense.

The ordinance establishing TAC charges TAC with identifying and defining certain terms and alternatives to various fire protection techniques.

I have over 50 years of experience that I believe will assist TAC with developing recommendations that will make sense to the board.

I'm a registered professional engineer by the state of California.

I'm also an attorney licensed to practice in California and the District of Columbia.

I'm a registered patent attorney practicing before the United States patent trademark office.

I spent 15 years in the utility industry in progressively advancing positions as an assistant engineer, associate engineer, senior engineer, supervising engineer, and eventually department manager.

In my utility tenure, I negotiated contracts, I designed infrastructure, I evaluated projects, and I represented public utilities and negotiations with private utilities to construct the California Oregon Transmission Project, which is a transmission line that brings surplus power from the Northwest to California.

I've testified before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and I've interpreted utility contracts in many instances.

I currently practice as an attorney in a firm that I founded 36 years ago.

My practice focuses on protecting intellectual property through patents, trade secret, and other intellectual property protection.

In my practice, I work almost exclusively with federal government agencies, interpreting, defining, and working with regulations, codes, and rules.

I'm the former chair of the State Bar of California's intellectual property section.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Mark Puchalski.

And please forgive me if I mispronounce your last name.

No, that's fine.

Thank you so much.

And good morning.

My name is Mark Walski, and I uh I'm the director of facilities for TNDC.

So I have a building stock of anywhere from 126 years old to tomorrow.

I have 38 years experience in facilities operations and maintenance.

And one of the accomplishments that I have, and I carried the tools and I've trained people on how to use the tools.

But one of the accomplishments we had recently at TNDC was we were able to reduce our kitchen fires by 75% by employing new technologies within our buildings.

We're expanding upon that technology to reduce fire uh risk within our buildings even greater.

So with this with this initiative, I see a lot of opportunities for us to compromise to work on different solutions, different technologies that we can bring forth to help buy us some time so we can then find the funding that's required.

I believe in sprinkler systems.

I believe that they are a valuable life-saving technology.

I've seen them at work plenty of times in my boundings.

And uh and I'd like to see us find a way to compromise to help these tenants realize that without the financial stresses that they're currently under.

So thank you so much for your consideration, and I would be honored to be part of this technical advisory council.

I also served on the SFE Technical Advisory Council for the electrification mandates.

So a little bit of experience in this area.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Next we have Robert Eaton.

Excuse the uniform, it's a work day for me, so I'm heading off after this.

My name is Robert Eaton.

I'm a resident of 1201, California.

I'm retired division fire chief from the city of Alameda County.

I'm also a working fire inspector too from the city of San Rafael.

I hope to.

And there are also alternatives to getting the codes done and life safety is uh achieved.

My hope is to help the council achieve recommendations that improve life safety, but also recognize the real issues with feasibility and logistics.

This is going to, if it goes through us, it's imposed.

It's going to uh financially hurt a lot of people and displace a lot of people as I understand how it's going now.

So I just hope to have a little bit of common sense and practical knowledge uh with the council, and I'd like to thank you for your time.

Thank you so much.

Next we have Gail Geary.

Good morning.

My name is Gail Geary, and I'm applying for seat number two on the Technical Advisory Council.

I have I am here because tenants in my building thought I was best qualified to represent them on this council.

My husband and I rent at Washington Tower, which is the building at 2190 Washington Street.

We moved back to San Francisco after a short stint in Sonoma where we were evacuated three times due to fires.

So I understand the dangers of fires, uncontrolled fires, and I also understand the cost and emotional harm of displacement from my home.

I'm a retired partner from an ad agency where I was responsible for strategic planning.

I led a team of researchers where we analyze data and information to come to the best solutions for our clients.

I am very capable of examining information and data and getting to the bottom of what needs to be done.

I'm not afraid of asking questions that I don't understand when I don't understand something.

And I have dealt with people with differing points of view and have been able to bring people together.

Five homes that I have lived in over time, and I became HOA president and work closely with residents and the property management company in one of the condos I owned.

My goals are to be part of a team that determines the best path forward in the sprinkler mandate to collect and examine data to determine how much how widespread the mandate should reach.

With the sprinkler mandate, I firmly believe that we need to fully understand the impact on property owners and renters.

And we owe it to all involved to thoroughly examine alternative solutions to live safely in our homes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next we have Catherine Miller.

Good morning.

I'm Catherine Miller, but I go by Ann.

I'm president of the HOA board at Fontana.

We're 136 units.

And our residents are mostly retired living on fixed incomes, and the majority have been in these homes for over 25 years.

They include teachers from the SFSD and local community colleges, firefighters, health care workers, and former employees of the city.

I understand the finances of association.

Our board creates the annual operating budget and the annual fundings for reserve account and maintains the buildings as well.

Associations walk a fine line when setting HOA payments.

Operating costs are skyrocketing, buildings are aging, and the many unfounded and unplanned city mandates we have to plan, we have to do for seniors on fixed incomes or younger owners who penciled out a home they can finally afford an upset of that balance, and people will be forced to move.

I understand how these buildings are constructed and potential risks.

I actually was looking at the cameras, trying to put the flex tubing through the units through the concrete and steel to be able to meet the mandate, and it wasn't possible and had to come up with alternatives.

I have been part of the executive committee on the coalition representing homeowners that are affected in the sprinkler mandate.

The coalition has made sure that our voices have finally been heard.

You've seen us at meetings, more than 400 at Fort Mason, over 400 here at the committee meetings.

And at this committee meeting for rules, I think there were over 200 people as well.

They want to be heard.

Thank you so much.

And we are hoping that a sound and sensible solution can be found.

Thank you.

Next we have Neil Bardeck.

Thank you so much.

Christopher Ingram.

Good morning, Chair, and uh members of the board.

Thank you for the opportunity and consideration for my appointment to the uh technical advisory committee.

Uh I am a licensed fire sprinkler contractor.

I'm the owner and CEO of Ingram Fire Protection.

We design and build fire sprinkler systems throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

I've personally completed over 40 projects in San Francisco through Department of Building Inspection and working in hand with San Francisco Fire Department.

I care deeply about San Francisco and I as a graduate of the University of San Francisco.

I'm also a fifth-generation San Franciscan, and I have an enormous amount of family here and have deep roots in the city.

I have a strong working relationship with San Francisco Fire Department, and uh have worked closely with them on numerous projects throughout the years in a successful manner.

This is a highly, highly technical undertaking, this project, and I want to commend that the board for putting together a technical advisory committee.

It is exceedingly complex.

I've done two full bid analysis, one for Fontana and another building already, and uh done a thorough dive, and it's a very technical but solvable issue.

So I'm gonna be bringing to the TAC uh a contractor's perspective, but also a balanced perspective with focus on the costs that and the very significant issues associated with that for the homeowners.

I'm formerly a condo owner and understand the uh issues associated with the cost and finding a balanced solution.

So thank you for your consideration for the board.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve.

Thank you.

Next we have Brandon Bracamante.

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee.

My name is Brandon Brock Monte, and I have been a sprinkler federal for more than 25 years working in the field installing, inspecting, and servicing fire protection systems throughout the Bay Area.

Thank you for my con thank you for the consideration to the appointment of the high-rise fire safety technical advisory committee.

Throughout my career, I've seen firsthand the difference a properly designed and maintained fire sprinkler system can make.

These systems save lives, protect firefighters, reduce property loss, and give people precious time to escape during emergency.

That is why this work has always meant so much to me.

Today I have the privilege of representing hundreds of sprinkler fitters throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

I work every day with contractors, developers, building owners, public agencies, inspectors, apprentices, and the skilled men and women who install and maintain these life safety systems.

That experience has given me a practical understanding of both the technical side of our industry and the importance of collaboration to successfully deliver projects that protect the public.

If appointed, I will bring a practical field experience, a collaborative approach, and a commitment to working alongside my fellow committee members to help the city make informed decisions that are technically sound, practical to implement, and focused on protecting the people of San Francisco.

It would be an honor to serve on the technical advisory committee and contribute to this important work.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and opportunity to be here today.

Thank you.

And next we have Linus Stempouzis.

And again, please forgive me if I mispronounce any of your name.

No worries.

And we certainly have our own issues outside of the realm of the sprinkler mandate.

So I'm very well aware of what's going on in our building and try to navigate the technical solutions to those.

A lot of people don't realize that perhaps three to five percent, and that's being generous of the effort that architects undertake, is really involved with design.

The rest of it is developing budgets, navigating extensive regulatory issues and requirements, and that piece and that piece of the pie grows, it seems annually, so there's more energy toward that, and then the technical development of buildings.

All that leads to a need for managing the process, and that's certainly an area that I gravitated toward.

Professionally, I've uh been involved with the design phases of projects early on in my career, which gravitated toward management.

And more recently, toward in the last 20 25 years before I retired, I got certified as an Osh pod inspector for hospital projects.

And those buildings have a lot of regulatory issues.

And I've worked very closely with the state fire marshal's office in uh resolving technical issues in the field in the installation of fire life safety systems that includes sprinklers.

Um, I'm glad that the committee is saw fit to include an architect on the uh committee, and I look forward to working with everyone collaboratively as I have throughout my whole career to come up with a good solution.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And I believe we have heard from everyone who submitted or who is present this morning.

I want to appreciate again everyone who did submit to serve.

Uh obviously we appreciate it, and again, there may be other ways to serve if you are not chosen today, as we have more applicants than we do seats.

And with that, public comment, Mr.

Clerk.

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

Each speaker be allowed two minutes.

If you'd like to speak on this matter, you can line up at this time.

Uh, there does not appear to be any speakers on this matter.

Thank you.

Seeing no public comment.

Public comment is closed.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Thank you, Chair Walton.

And again, thank you for everybody coming out here today, both the applicants and those uh who have come to advocate for their people of choice, shall we say.

Um there are more applicants than there are seats.

Um I want to thank everybody who's who's come forward, and especially those of you who who may end up not uh getting uh moved forward.

Thank you for still being willing.

Um, and I know you all will continue to stay um to stay involved.

Uh this has you know been extremely hard to pick among a group of very qualified um and dedicated applicants, but um we really tried to work in there and interview everybody, and so um, Chair Walton.

I'm gonna make a motion on five of the seats, and then on the six seats, I'm gonna move to continue it.

Um looks like we had one great applicant, but it was really late relatively late, and there was a desire for a little more time to just interview and have that conversation.

Not an indication of that applicant's great qualifications, more just because it's a late application.

Um, so with that, I'd like to make a motion to move forward.

Robert Eaton for seat one, Gail Geary for seat two, Catherine Ann Miller for seat three, Christopher Ingram with a residency waiver for seat four, and Brandon Bracamante with a residency waiver for seat five.

Uh, and I also move that we can continue the appointment of seat six to the call of the chair to allow for more conversation with the applicant.

Thank you so much.

All the net?

Yes, on the motion to appoint Robert Eaton, seat one, uh Gail Gary to see two, Catherine Miller to seat three, Christopher Ingram to seat four, and Brandon Marcomanti to seat five, uh seat four and five with reddency waivers on that motion.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye, Cheryl Aye.

Member Manelman.

Aye.

Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you so much.

Motion carries.

Thank you so much to everybody here in attendance and who came to speak this morning.

Mr.

Clerk, please call our next item, which is item number four.

Actually, please call items number four through seven together.

Yes.

Item number four is a motion to approve and rejecting the mayor's nomination for the reappointment of Paul Wolfort to the public works commission for a term ending July 2nd, 2030.

Item number five is a motion approving rejecting the mayor's nomination for the reappointment of Lieutenant Leonard Poggio to the entertainment commission term ending July 1st, 2030.

Item number six is a motion approving rejecting the mayor's appointment of James Papus to the redevelopment successor agency oversight board term ending January 24, 2030.

Item number seven is a motion approving rejecting the mayor's nomination for the appointment of Vanessa Hartkin to the Port Commission term ending May 1st, 2030.

Thank you so much.

First, we will call up Paul Wolford.

Good morning, supervisors.

Nice to see you.

I'm Paul Woolford, a licensed architect and uh and one of the practice leaders for HOK, which is an architecture and engineering firm here in the city and county of San Francisco.

I've been a longtime resident.

It has been my honor to have been of service to the city and county in different ways, beginning on task forces and then serving on the arts commission and currently serving on the Public Works Commission.

I've been appointed by Mayor's Newsom, Mayor's Lee, Mayor's Breed, and now Mayor Lurie.

So I'm here to put my nomination, my name and nomination forward, and thank you for your attention to that.

Thank you so much.

Next, we will call up Lieutenant Leonard Paggio.

Chair Walton, Vice Chair Sheryl, Board President Mandelman.

My name is Leonard Poggio.

I want to first begin by expressing my sincere thanks to the mayor for having the confidence and trust in renominating me for the entertainment commission's law enforcement representative seat.

I also want to express my sincere hope that I can again receive this committee's approval as part of this important nomination process.

I was fortunate to first be appointed to the entertainment commission in April of 2024.

During this time, I have focused on ensuring San Francisco maintains a safe, vibrant, and thriving entertainment industry.

I truly feel this industry is what makes San Francisco a world-class destination and believe that strong public safety is truly essential.

I have deep roots in the city of San Francisco where I am born, raised, and currently living.

I am a product of the San Francisco Public School system.

I am a homeowner in the Twin Peaks neighborhood where I live with my wife and two young children.

I have over 24 years of sworn service with the San Roscoe Police Department and am currently assigned as a patrol lieutenant with Northern Police Station.

Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to serve in many diverse assignments and am serving the department also as a certified Spanish interpreter.

My assignments have included serving as a footbeat officer and motorized patrol officer, a sergeant, now a lieutenant throughout the city of San Francisco.

Thank you again for your consideration, as I would be truly honored to continue serving in this role.

Thank you so much, Lieutenant.

And now we have James Papas.

I'm here, so you can consider my nomination to the OCI Oversight Board, the redevelopment successor agency for the seat to be filled by an IFPTE union member.

In fact, my first planning job when I was in grad school was at the Oakland Community Economic Development Agency in the year that redevelopment was ended.

So that was an interesting view into that process.

And in my work in nonprofit advocacy on affordable housing funding and policy, I was working with many cities and counties around the state as they were trying to fund uh find new strategies to fund affordable housing.

For example, here in San Francisco, we created the Housing Trust Fund in 2012 and passed our first general obligation bond on affordable housing 2015.

Currently, in my work at the planning department, I continue to see how OCI's commitments and tools to fund affordable housing are an important part of how we meet our affordable housing needs and deliver other important infrastructure.

So I'm happy to help support the work of OCI and delivering housing infrastructure and other investments.

And I'm happy to serve on the Oversight Board if selected.

Thank you for considering me, and I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you so much.

And we have Vanessa Hardigan.

Good morning.

Chair Walton, Vice Chair Cheryl, and Supervisor Mendelman.

I'm Vanessa Hardigan.

I am very honored to be considered for the Port Commission.

I wanted to give you a little bit of my background and also walk through some of the reasons why I'm interested in serving.

I started my career managing large-scale institutional client portfolios at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.

Since then, I've carried the same discipline into serving as CFO at Blue X Trade, which is a logistics technology company, and scaling startup ventures like Muse.

I bring that same discipline to governance as trustee and treasurer at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, where I helped the organization rebuild financial resilience after COVID.

And through board service with the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation, which funds scholarships for underrepresentative students, as well as the Stanford Latino Alumni Association board.

What draws me to the port is the scale of the challenge.

The port faces a state of good repair shortfall alongside urgent seismic and sea level rise risk, which is the kind of high stakes financial and strategic problems I've spent my career on.

I love the city, and I want to help protect the stretch of land for every San Franciscan.

Equity has also been a through line in my work.

The port's own strategic plan names equity as a core pillar.

And I'm especially drawn to broadening access to the southern waterfront, the Bayview Hunters Point and Islay Creek, which have historically had the least access to the waterfront.

I do not see equity and fiscal discipline as competing priorities done right.

They're the same investment.

If confirmed, I want to help strengthen the port's long-term planning with the same financial rigor I've applied throughout my career, including helping bridge the funding gap while keeping equity embedded in every decision.

I've been a mission district resident for over 20 years.

I've raised my family here, and I care deeply about the city.

Thank you for your time, and I'm happy to take any questions.

Thank you so much.

And just one quick statement and question.

I had an opportunity to attend an internship program graduation on Thursday, where the port is actually providing internship for members to go into local 261 and work on the port.

And the internship also provides jobs.

And so I'm just wondering how excited you are about opportunities like that, and if that is something that you already have heard about that is happening with the port.

Um I have not heard about it, and I'm very excited.

I think, again, the more access we have, which includes being able to help train and to help provide work opportunities in addition to just the physical access and you know actually also being able to provide economic opportunities, I think is so essential.

And the more that we can do that and make our city open to as many people as possible, including young folks, which is the future, is something I'm would be very excited in.

Part of my passions been mentorship and also being able to help young folks either get into banking positions or help them as they graduate.

That's part of the work I've done in the Sanford Latino Alumni Association.

So again, that's something that I think I would love to learn more about and see how I could help help in any way, quite frankly.

Thank you so much.

And with that, I don't see.

Uh Vice Chair Shire.

I just not for you, unfortunately, but I just wanted to thank Lieutenant Poggio, a very valued member of Northern Station uh for stepping up once again, so uh especially to you, and I guess to Captain McCormick for letting you, you know, moonlight.

But seriously, thanks for being here.

Thank you, Vice Chair Sherrow, and thank you to all of our uh appointed individuals.

I don't see any other questions or statements from my colleagues.

So, Mr.

Clerk, let's go to public comment.

Yes, members of the public who wish to speak on these items should line up to speak at this time by the windows.

Each speaker be allowed two minutes.

Morning, supervisors.

Uh, I'm Brandon Scale.

I'm uh speaking to you in support of Leonard Poggio's nomination to the uh entertainment commission.

I serve as investment director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, though today I speak to you as a private citizen uh and not as a representative of the university.

I was born and raised in the Sunset District, where I still live.

I've known Leonard since we were in first grade at Jefferson Elementary School.

He has always been intelligent, hardworking, generous with his time, driven and accomplished.

He has conducted himself with humility and is guided by a strong moral compass.

Leonard is widely respected by his peers and is someone people often turn to for thoughtful counsel on community matters.

He is a dedicated and caring father who coaches his two young children and their teammates in sports.

He is a leader who understands the importance of listening and considering different points of view.

I'm inspired by his willingness to continue serving on the commission, bringing the perspective of his vast and varied life experience to the role of its law enforcement representative.

I strongly encourage you to support Leonard's nomination for another term on the entertainment commission.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any other members of the public for public comment?

If you would like me to comment, please line up at this time.

Good morning, Chair Walton, Vice Chair Sherrill, Supervisor Bandleman.

I have this wonderful speech here that I was going to read that I practiced this morning.

I promise I practiced it over and over.

I'm here to support the appointment of Vanessa Hardigan to the port commission.

But I'm going to spare you this wonderful speech and just tell you that in answer to your question, um, Chair Walton, when you asked uh Vanessa Hardigan about how she felt about the about her experience and her how excited she would be about supporting jobs, children.

I can tell you, having known her for 10 years, that she will she she does that.

She will do that.

She has a heart of gold, but she's also brilliant, and she will engage in what you what you suggest, the the idea of supporting the community and family.

I witnessed this over the ten years since I've noticed since Little League, you know, being the little league field years ago.

And she is she's extraordinary, and and the city will be lucky, and the waterfront will be the communities will be lucky, lucky to have her.

My name is Mark Parcella.

I'm a uh resident of San Francisco for many years.

Thank you so much for for having us and listening to us.

Good morning, Chair Walton, Vice Chair Sheryl, Supervisor Mandelman, Clerks, and Community members.

I'm my name is Regan Pritzker, and I'm a San Francisco resident.

Vanessa Hardigan and I have been friends for over 30 years since our days together as undergraduates, and it is an honor to speak on her behalf today.

In all that time, what stood out most is her character, her work ethic, her professionalism, and the fact that whatever she takes on, she commits to fully and sees all the way through.

She has an integrity that is an inspiration to me and to all who know her.

Vanessa's an excellent communicator.

She's clear, direct, and someone people trust.

She has a servant leader's heart, and she genuinely cares about the community and about people, and it shows in how she leads.

That discipline comes from real experience.

As you've heard, she built her career in institutional finance at firms like Bank of America, and then went on to found and scale her own ventures.

But honestly, what I would want this committee to know is simple.

Everything Vanessa participates in is made better by her dedicated involvement, and I hope you will confirm her to the Port Authority.

Thank you so much.

Good morning.

I'd like to add one more glowing support of Vanessa.

My name is Sean O'Malley, and I'm a San Francisco resident.

I've known Vanessa Hardigan for many years.

I was her CO at Blue X, which was a trade and logistics fintech company where she served as CFO.

Vanessa is thoughtful, highly capable, and an extremely collaborative leader.

We work closely together on fundraising strategy, product development, and I saw firsthand how she has extremely sound judgment, integrity, and the ability to perform under extreme pressures.

Our company worked directly with ocean carriers building electronic booking platforms and financial financing freight transactions.

Through our work, Vanessa developed a practical understanding of maritime commerce and the businesses that depend on it.

I also know Vanessa through the Stanford Latino Alumni Association, where she serves as the board.

She has a genuine commitment to equity, access, and to public service.

I strongly support and confirm Vanessa Hardigan to the Port of the Commission.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any additional speakers?

There are no additional speakers at this time.

Thank you.

Seeing no additional speakers, public comment is now closed.

And Mr.

Clerk, I will take each item separately in terms of a motion, and I would like to make a motion to for item four to wait a minute, I'm on the wrong agenda, my apologies.

Accepting for Paul Wolfort.

Um to move forward for public works commission.

Yes, on that recommend on that motion to recommend as amended.

Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Cheryl.

Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations.

Mr.

Clerk, I'd like to make the same motion for item number five to remove rejecting, replace with accepting for Lieutenant Leonard Paggio and move forward with recommendation.

Yes, on that motion.

Aye.

Aye.

Walton aye, that motion passes without objection.

Thank you so much.

Congratulations.

And Mr.

Clerk, I would like to for item six move recommendation to amend and strike rejecting and replaced with approving and move forward the name of James Poppers for the redevelopment successor agency oversight board.

Yes, on that motion, Vice Chair Cheryl.

Aye.

Sheryl.

I member Madeline.

Aye.

I chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton.

Aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you so much.

And for item number seven for the port commission, I would like to make a motion to amend and strike rejecting, replaced with approving, and move forward to the full board with recommendation.

Yes, on that motion to for item seven to recommend.

As amended.

Cheryl.

Aye.

Member Mannelman.

Aye.

Madam Aye, Chair Walton.

Aye.

Walton aye.

That motion passes without objection.

Thank you.

Motion carries.

Congratulations, and I want to thank everyone who is willing to serve here today and congratulations on your appointments.

Mr.

Clerk, do we have any more business this morning?

That completes the agenda for today.

Thank you so much.

We are adjourned.