Rules Committee advances several commission appointments, tables some contested nominations

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Jan. 20 advanced a series of mayoral nominations to city advisory bodies and commissions and sent committee reports on several items to the full Board, while tabling contested rejections after extended public comment.

Chair Jane Kim convened the special meeting and instructed the clerk that most items would be forwarded to the full Board as committee reports on Jan. 25. On items 1 and 2, the clerk read competing motions: one to approve a reappointment and one to reject it. After candidate testimony and public comment in support, Supervisor Sean Ellsburn moved to recommend approval of item 1 and to table item 2; the motion was seconded and carried without objection, and the committee issued a committee report forwarding the reappointment.

The committee followed the same procedure on other commission nominations. Item 5 (reappointment of Carl Haas to the Historic Preservation Commission) was moved forward with a committee report and item 6 (a rejection motion) was tabled. Item 7, confirming appointments to the Relocation Appeals Board (Harry Kim and Herb Cohen), was moved forward with a committee report after supporters praised both nominees' experience with neighborhood concerns and small-business issues.

Item 8 — a nomination to the City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission — was also advanced after the nominee described work as a licensed contractor and community leader and commission members voiced support. Items 9 and 10, concerning an appointment to the Commission on the Environment (Jason Elliott), drew public testimony in favor but were continued to the next Rules Committee meeting at the chair's request.

The committee recorded motions and committee reports on each advanced nomination; where objections were raised in public comment the clerk and chair repeatedly framed the action as a committee report to the full Board rather than a final confirmation. Chair Jane Kim thanked members of the public for their testimony and closed the meeting after the remaining items were addressed.

Actions at a glance - Item 1: Motion to approve reappointment (committee report forwarded). - Item 2: Motion to reject same reappointment (tabled). - Item 3: Motion to approve Richard Johns (see separate coverage on debate over Prop J qualifications). - Item 4: Motion to reject Richard Johns (tabled). - Item 5: Motion to approve reappointment of Carl Haas (committee report forwarded); Item 6 (rejection) tabled. - Item 7: Confirmations of Harry Kim and Herb Cohen to the Relocation Appeals Board (committee report forwarded). - Item 8: Confirmation to City Hall Preservation Advisory Commission advanced for committee report. - Items 9–10: Jason Elliott appointment continued to the next Rules Committee meeting.

Next steps The committee forwarded several items to the full Board as committee reports, where final confirmation will be decided. Items that were tabled will remain unresolved until a future meeting or until the mayor submits alternative nominees.