Rules Committee adopts, then forwards, DCYF oversight and advisory-committee ordinance following Prop C

The Rules Committee considered an ordinance to implement Prop C’s trailing legislation and establish an Oversight and Advisory Committee and a Service Provider Working Group for the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF). Presenters said the ordinance translates the charter amendment approved by voters and adds membership detail, transparency and reporting language intended to guide allocations from the Children's Fund.

Beth Robinson and other staff described the ordinance as built after more than two years of town halls, stakeholder meetings and coalition input; presenters and community speakers said the ordinance includes seats for early-childhood experts and for parents and youth, and mandates budget transparency. Supervisor Yee and others cited the strong voter support for Prop C (more than 70 percent) as the mandate behind the ordinance.

Public commenters representing youth, early-care providers and community coalitions — including Chelsea Boylard (Coleman Advocates), Sandy Blackman (Children's Council), and others — urged that the oversight committee include members with expertise in 0-to-5 services and said the body needs to be action-oriented, transparent and grounded in community expertise.

Supervisors proposed and adopted technical amendments (for example, clarifications on charter-section citations, bylaws for the service-provider working group, and optional public hearings on mayoral appointees), which were accepted with no objection. A motion to adopt Item 5 as amended passed and the committee forwarded the ordinance with a positive recommendation to the full Board.

Maria Su (DCYF Director) welcomed the oversight committee and said the department looks forward to working with a new, active council.