Rules committee approves code cleanup, creates select committee to track federal policy changes

The Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Feb. 8 approved a set of changes to the board’s rules of order that organizers described as primarily code cleanup and one new body to monitor federal policy.

Connor Johnston, staff to Board President London Breed, told the committee the package removes an obsolete joint city-and-school district select committee, reassigns traffic-and-parking responsibilities to the Land Use and Transportation Committee, and adds a "Budget and Finance Select Committee on Federal Policy Changes" intended to investigate potential federal funding and policy shifts and coordinate city response.

"The idea is that the board will take seriously its obligation to understand what may change with respect to federal funding and federal policy," Johnston said, describing President Breed’s interest in creating a standing forum to work with city departments and stakeholders.

Supervisor Norman Yee asked how the select committee’s findings would be integrated with the standing Budget and Finance Committee. Johnston said the proposal names the same chair for the select and the primary Budget & Finance Committee so the select committee can report back and the two bodies can coordinate agendas and reports.

Committee members moved and approved the item to send a positive recommendation to the full board with no public opposition recorded at the committee meeting.

What happens next: The rules changes will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors on the February board agenda. If adopted there, the new select committee will begin scheduling hearings to assess federal actions that could affect city budgets and programs.