Planning commissioners schedule officer election after debate over succession rules

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 5–2 on Sept. 12 to add a public election of officers to next week’s agenda after a legal briefing and public comment about the rules for succession when an elected president leaves.

The commission’s deputy city attorney told commissioners that “the commission rules provide that upon resignation or unavailability of the president ... the vice president will, as an interim officer, take the place of president,” but that the rules are ambiguous about whether an interim should serve the remainder of a term or only until the next election. The attorney said Robert’s Rules apply where the commission’s rules are silent and outlined two options the commission could take: hold elections for president (and, if needed, vice president) now, or elect only a vice president while the interim president remains in office.

Commissioner Brown moved to schedule an election next week; he said the public should be able to weigh in and that if commissioners later decide not to proceed, they could simply confirm the current status quo. “I would move to have the election for president next week,” Brown said. The motion was seconded and amended to explicitly read as an action to elect officers so the commission could fill either or both seats depending on results.

Several members of the public urged postponement or greater notice, saying the issue should be plainly on the posted agenda. One commenter said voting on officers without public notice “is a slap in the face of the public.” Commissioners clarified the motion schedules an election for the next meeting rather than conducting an immediate vote.

On the roll call the motion passed 5–2, with Commissioners Williams and Chair Moore voting no. The commission’s action adds the officer election to the agenda for the Sept. 19 meeting so the vote may be held with public notice and opportunity for comment.