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Rules Committee backs adding high‑speed rail to Transbay board, debates who appoints the city seat
Summary
The Rules Committee voted to concur with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority’s request to add the California High‑Speed Rail Authority as a member and amended the resolution so the Board of Supervisors — not the mayor — will appoint the additional city director; the measure was forwarded to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Oct. 18 agreed to a resolution concurring with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority’s recommendation to add the California High‑Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) as a new member of the TJPA board and amended the measure so the Board of Supervisors would appoint the additional city director and alternate, rather than the mayor.
The change was presented by sponsor staff as a technical fix to maintain balance on the TJPA board after adding CHSRA. A sponsor’s representative said the CHSRA is “a key partner” for phase 2 of the Transbay program and urged the committee to avoid further delays so appointees could coordinate.
The amendment prompted process concerns from Chair Asha Safai, who said she had learned of the change within an hour and asked that the item be continued for more discussion. “I have a problem with the level of communication on this item,” Safai said, arguing that it involved a shift in executive versus board authority and warranted more conversation before action.
Deputy City Attorney John Gibner told the committee the question was a policy call for the board and that there was “not a legal requirement that you have today” to decide the matter. TJPA staff said the appointment was not “critically essential” to do that day but argued that “the sooner the better,” because high‑speed rail would bring “strategic leadership and voice” to the TJPA board.
Supervisor Pier moved to amend the resolution to strike references to the mayor and substitute the Board of Supervisors, saying supervisors hear constituents most directly and that the additional supervisorial appointee would ensure balanced city representation. The committee approved the amendment on the record and then voted to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation. During roll call the clerk recorded Member Feuer as aye, Member Yee as aye and Chair Safai as no; the motion passed and the item will appear on the Board agenda on Oct. 24.
Public commenters urged the committee to act quickly so the Transbay program would not be delayed; one speaker stressed voter intent cited in Prop H (1999) that anticipated high‑speed rail at the Transbay Transit Center. Deputy City Attorney Gibner recommended that, if the Board wants limits on who can fill the seat (for example only a supervisor or a city official), the resolution should state those restrictions explicitly.
The committee’s action is a recommendation to the full Board; any final change in the Joint Powers Agreement or bylaws and formal appointments will be acted on by the Board of Supervisors or, where applicable, require execution by the mayor or other officials.
