Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Animal Welfare topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rules Committee appoints six to Commission of Animal Control and Welfare
Summary
The Rules Committee interviewed 10 applicants and voted unanimously to recommend six appointments to the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare; appointees will be forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on April 21 moved to appoint six people to the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, after hearing brief remarks from 10 candidates.
Chair Supervisor Shamone Walton moved that the committee recommend Michael Reed, Irina Osanor, Mikaela Garfinkel, Nicholas Chapman, Dana Sherwood and Michael Angelo Torres for six open seats; the committee voted unanimously to send those names to the full Board of Supervisors. Vice Chair Sherrill and President Mandelmann voted “aye” alongside Chair Walton.
The committee held a set of two-minute remarks from applicants. Dana Sherwood described over 20 years as a San Francisco resident and said much of her career has been "in the animal field," including roughly a decade as a zookeeper at the San Francisco Zoo and about four years as an animal control officer. Emily Guzzardi, who identified herself as a hospital chaplain at UCSF, said she has been volunteering with animal-advocacy groups and is interested in live-animal market issues. Ashley Hoffman said she will attend law school this fall and is pursuing study in animal law. Lana Lee described her background in data science and volunteer work with the nonprofit Compassionate Bay. Mikaela Garfinkel said she currently serves on the commission and recently was appointed secretary. Michael Angelo Torres said he has served on the commission since 2019 and said he has experience as a community organizer and in caring for senior animals.
The item description on the agenda said the committee was to consider appointing two members to terms ending April 30, 2026, and four members to terms ending April 30, 2027. The committee chair noted there were 10 applicants for six seats and that appointed candidates will be reported on the Board of Supervisors agenda on April 29, 2025.
No members of the public spoke during the public-comment period for this item. After candidate remarks, Chair Walton said she would "move that we appoint" the six named applicants; the motion passed without objection and will be transmitted to the full board for final confirmation.
The commission advises the city on animal-control operations and animal-welfare policy and routinely interacts with San Francisco Animal Care and Control and other city departments. The newly recommended appointments will proceed to the full Board of Supervisors for final action on the board agenda scheduled for April 29, 2025.
