Supervisors rename Emergency Communications department, debate whether deputy titles affect state/federal relations

San Francisco — The Board of Supervisors on Sept. 26, 2006 approved an ordinance to rename the city's Department of Emergency Communications as the Department of Emergency Management, establish divisions for emergency communications and emergency services and set qualifications for the department's director and deputy directors.

The measure passed after supervisors and department staff discussed concerns that downgrading titles for certain positions could hinder the city's interactions with state and federal emergency-management entities.

Supervisor Ellsberg opened the discussion by acknowledging recent scrutiny of the Office of Emergency Services and praising the department's staff. “We have a lot of dedicated public servants over there,” Ellsberg said, adding that the board “very much respects all the good work that they've done.”

Pam Katz, identified in the meeting as deputy director of the emergency communications department, spoke in place of the department's director, Laura Phillips, who was absent for a family emergency. Katz said Phillips had written a letter delivered to the board that morning stating she could not support the provision that would change certain positions from director to deputy director. Katz summarized Phillips's objection: the department’s leadership believed retaining the “director” title for the heads of emergency communications and emergency services was important because “those agencies would be expecting to meet with directors, not deputy directors.”

An attendee identified as Riser Paskin urged supervisors to approve the ordinance without amendments, arguing the city needs “a very bright, clear chain of command” and minimum qualifications for the head of the emergency communications function.

A representative from the mayor's office, identified as Mister Crawford, said the mayor’s office supported the legislation overall “because much of this is already in practice,” but that the mayor's office shared the ECD director's concerns about the specific title provision.

The board proceeded under “same house, same call,” and the measure passed as read. The ordinance amends the administrative code to rename the department, create internal divisions, and set qualification standards for the director and deputy directors.

Implementation steps and any further personnel-title decisions will be handled by the mayor’s office and the department, consistent with city charter authority and the ordinance language.