LAFCO appoints interim administrative officer, directs counsel to explore options after City proposes cutting executive officer post

The Local Agency Formation Commission on July 20 adopted a resolution appointing the Clerk of the Board as interim administrative officer and directed legal counsel to explore short- and long-term options to replace or cover the executive officer role after the Board of Supervisors' budget committee recommended eliminating the city-staffed executive officer position.

Unidentified legal counsel told commissioners the Board of Supervisors had passed a first reading to eliminate the City position, and that a second reading and the mayor’s signature would be required for that change to take effect. Counsel outlined options for LAFCO including maintaining the status quo if the City reverses course; negotiating with another public entity to provide staff; issuing an RFP to contract for executive officer services; running an RFP to identify an individual contractor; and a short-term sole-source appointment as a temporary bridge. A sixth option discussed was hiring an employee while contracting out human-resources functions so the person could receive benefits.

Angela Calvillo, Clerk of the Board, told the commission her office could provide administrative support, said she would not seek separate pay for taking on interim duties, and provided an estimate that current fiscal-year support for similar services totaled about $43,000. "Essentially, you would be making me the interim administrative officer for LAFCO," Calvillo said, adding that her office would bill hours for the clerk assigned to LAFCO meetings and cover IT, payroll and risk-management support through existing City systems.

Commissioner Pollock moved that counsel explore issuance of a request for proposals for executive officer services, a sole-source short-term option, partnering with another public entity, and the employment-with-contracted-HR option; Commissioner Ronan seconded the direction. The commission then moved to adopt the redlined resolution appointing the interim administrative officer, incorporating language directing general counsel to work with the Clerk if the Board of Supervisors does not approve the Clerk serving. The resolution was adopted as amended and passed without objection.

Public commenters, including Eric Brooks of San Francisco Clean Energy Advocates, urged caution about immediately terminating the executive officer role so institutional knowledge—particularly on Clean Power SF—would not be lost and asked the commission to consider interim measures that preserve expertise.