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Rules committee amends and forwards two Commission on the Environment nominations after scrutiny of applicant’s prior participation
Summary
The committee heard testimony for Austin Hunter’s appointment and Sarah Ching Ting Wan’s reappointment to the Commission on the Environment, received dozens of public supporters for Hunter, probed his SFPUC Citizens Advisory Committee attendance and CEQA views, then amended language in both files and forwarded them to the full board with recommendations.
The Rules Committee on June 7 considered two mayoral nominations to the Commission on the Environment and voted to forward both items, as amended, to the full Board of Supervisors.
Austin Hunter introduced himself and described a background in public policy, environmental justice and community outreach, saying his priorities would include ensuring environmental justice commitments are acted on and that department plans move from intent to implementation. He noted prior service on the SFPUC Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) and related subcommittees. The record shows a discrepancy raised by supervisors about the number of CAC meetings Hunter attended; the committee discussed why he had resigned his CAC seat and whether that seat remained vacant.
Dozens of callers voiced support for Hunter, including neighborhood and environmental groups and former colleagues who praised his community outreach, equity focus and policy experience. One caller asked whether Hunter’s involvement with YIMBY‑aligned groups meant he opposed CEQA; Hunter replied he supports CEQA and said it protects communities and will be an integral part of climate and housing planning.
Chair Peskin proposed a set of technical edits spanning both appointment files — removing retirement‑board references and editing language such as deleting the words “approving” or “rejecting” in titles and consistent wording within the files — and moving the items to the full board with the committee’s recommended amendments. The motion to amend and forward the items passed with Supervisor Mandelmann excused for the remainder of the calendar.
