Rules Committee recommends six candidates for Shelter Monitoring Committee after extensive interviews

The Rules Committee on Jan. 12 interviewed applicants for six vacancies on the Shelter Monitoring Committee and recommended six nominees to the full Board of Supervisors.

Staff described the committee’s duties as frequent on‑site inspections — often at night — across some 20–21 shelter sites. ‘‘The committee members do site inspections. So they go out at night, typically after 6 p.m., and spend a couple hours at the different … there’s 20 to 21 different shelters,’’ said Jeff Lisonbee, shelter monitoring committee staff. He said committee members should average about one visit per week and that the panel especially values bilingual Spanish speakers.

Chair Tang recommended the following candidates for the six seats: Katrina Hall (seat 1), Loretta Gaines (seat 2), Nicholas Kimura (seat 3), Lauren Khan (seat 4), Leslie Bilbrough (seat 5) and Tracy Watson (seat 6). The committee debated a couple of differences in preferred candidates but moved the list by consensus.

Applicant highlights: Katrina Hall said she is a single parent, disabled, and a former shelter resident who has participated in policy work including shelter bed utilization and training manuals and said she is the only Black woman currently on the committee. Jonathan Blackman of the Salvation Army emphasized referral experience and Spanish language ability. Lauren Khan described compliance, auditing and monitoring experience and stressed the need for dignified shelters. Several public speakers, including representatives from Supervisor Breed’s office and community nonprofits, strongly endorsed Khan and other candidates.

Next steps: the clerk will place the nominations on the Board agenda for formal appointment.