Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pedestrian Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rules Committee forwards overhaul of Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee membership to full Board
Summary
The Rules Committee voted to send an ordinance to the full Board that would reduce PSAC membership, add an attendance-resignation rule, and create a sunset date, after PSAC chair Becky Hogue and community members said the current size and vacancy rate prevent the committee from achieving quorum.
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 13 to forward to the full Board an ordinance that would change membership requirements for the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee and establish a sunset date for the panel.
Becky Hogue, chair of the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee, told the committee that PSAC has managed only one meeting with a quorum this year and that the current membership rules make it difficult for the volunteer board to function. "We have to have at least 12 people," Hogue said, and with many seats unfilled or duplicative she said PSAC cannot pass resolutions or move projects forward.
Why it matters: PSAC advises city agencies on pedestrian safety projects tied to Vision Zero, the citywide program aimed at eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries. Members and advocates told supervisors that reducing redundant seats and tightening attendance rules would allow the committee to meet more reliably and provide actionable recommendations to agencies.
During public comment Kevin Stahl, PSAC vice chair, urged supervisors to reduce the committee’s 23 seats and ensure appointees can commit to monthly meetings so PSAC can pass resolutions and support Vision Zero work. "We need to reduce these number of seats," Stahl said, arguing that some appointments are duplicative and one person can fill overlapping roles.
Long-serving member Howard Strassner told the committee that trimming non-supervisor appointments to a smaller set of seats (he described roughly six typical non-supervisor roles) would produce a predictable quorum. "We can go on and do our business and advise you and advise the MTA and get the city safer and better for pedestrians," he said.
The motion to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation was made by Supervisor Malia Cohen and carried without objection. The committee record shows the item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Oct. 25, 2016, unless otherwise noted.
Next steps: The ordinance will be scheduled for consideration by the full Board of Supervisors; the committee’s action was a recommendation rather than a final adoption.
