Rules committee amends, continues Peskin charter measure to create commission streamlining task force

Board President Peskin presented a first‑draft charter amendment July 1 to create a commission streamlining task force that would review, recommend and help implement changes to the city’s appointive boards and commissions.

Peskin told the Rules Committee the measure seeks “commission reform done right,” combining public input, expertise from constitutional officers and a finite review period. He proposed technical edits — including convening the task force by Feb. 1, 2025, and a 24‑month sunset — and cited a recent civil grand jury report, Commission Impossible, as supporting the need for a systemwide evaluation. “All of this work is done in public and then ultimately the voters will decide,” Peskin said, arguing the measure preserves transparency while targeting inefficiency.

The measure drew a wide range of public comment. Several speakers backed the proposal and urged reform of what they called an excessive number of commissions; John Monson and Niall Murphy, co‑authors of the Commission Impossible report, said they were generally supportive and recommended a permanent oversight function to avoid future “commission creep.” Other speakers opposed Peskin’s approach, saying it could empower unelected bodies or fail to guarantee a net reduction in commissions. Donna Hurwitz, who said she supports the citizen initiative from Together SF, described concerns about outside funding and called Peskin’s description of that measure “misleading.” One public commenter characterized the proposal as creating “more layers, more layers” of bureaucracy.

Supervisors questioned whether the task force could effectively introduce ordinances and whether it could circumvent the Board’s role; Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson clarified the draft allows the task force to introduce ordinances to the Board for consideration but does not give the task force the unilateral power to place charter amendments on the ballot. Supervisor Asha Safai requested further conversations about the language that would permit the task force to introduce legislative proposals and the composition of seats appointed by the mayor, the Board and cabinet officers.

Chair Supervisor Hillary Ronan said there was broad agreement that San Francisco has too many commissions but emphasized the importance of a careful review rather than an arbitrary cap. Ronan offered to cosponsor Peskin’s amendments. She moved to introduce the amendments as presented by President Peskin and to continue the item to the call of the chair; the clerk conducted a roll call. Vice Chair Shamann Walton voted “Aye,” Supervisor Safai voted “Aye,” and Chair Ronan voted “Aye.” The motion to amend and continue passed without objection.

The committee did not adopt final charter language; next steps are additional drafting and follow‑up review at the chair’s discretion before the measure advances to the full Board or the ballot process.