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Rules Committee recommends two nominees for Urban Forestry Council
Summary
The Rules Committee recommended Malcolm Hillen for the education seat and Megan Sutherland for a utility-specialist seat on the Urban Forestry Council, moving both nominations to the full Board with recommendation after candidate presentations and public praise for Hillen's teaching.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on April 7 recommended two nominees for the Urban Forestry Council and forwarded both to the full Board with recommendation.
Malcolm Hillen presented his qualifications for Seat 1, citing long service on the Urban Forestry Council since 2007, leadership of the Landmark Tree Committee, teaching horticulture at City College of San Francisco and practical arborist experience. Hillen said his International Society of Arboriculture certification has lapsed because he has not completed required continuing education. "I relish drawing on this depth and breadth of experience in the service of the Urban Forestry Council," he said.
Bonnie Ora Shirk, an incumbent applicant, described more than three decades of environmental education and nonprofit work, including establishing community urban farms and planting hundreds of native trees across San Francisco neighborhoods. Shirk said she lost a prior seat after missing a meeting but expressed interest in returning to the council.
Megan Sutherland, who applied for Seat 3, described her credentials as a certified arborist and utility specialist who contracts with PG&E and audits PG&E's vegetation management program to ensure safe clearances and reduce fire risk. "I audit PG&E's vegetation management program, and I make sure that they're actually doing a good job," she said.
A City College student, Joe Maliga, offered public comment praising Hillen's teaching: "He’s inspirational. He is very knowledgeable." Committee members discussed qualifications and, without objection, moved Hillen for Seat 1 and Sutherland for Seat 3 forward to the full Board with recommendation.
The committee's action was a procedural recommendation; final appointments will be decided by the full Board at a later date.
