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Rules Committee advances four charter amendments, including proposal for independent historic preservation commission
Summary
At a special meeting, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee forwarded four charter amendment items to the full Board: an independent historic preservation commission, music-and-culture sustainability policy, clarified powers for a Commission on the Environment, and a Clean Energy Act; items 2 and 3 were recommended, item 4 was forwarded without recommendation.
At a special meeting, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee moved four charter amendment items to the full Board, including a proposal to create an independent historic preservation commission.
Supervisor Paskett, the item sponsor, said the historic-preservation measure had evolved since its May introduction and reflected compromise work with the Planning Department, the Planning Commission and mayoral staff. “I appreciate your patience as this piece of legislation has evolved since its introduction in May,” he said, and asked the committee to forward the amendment to the full Board with a recommendation. He thanked Supervisor Amiano for co-sponsorship and invited other supervisors to add their names.
Alex Bail of San Francisco Architectural Heritage spoke during public comment in support of the historic-preservation charter amendment and said the group had submitted a letter backing the revisions. “San Francisco Architectural Heritage strongly supports the latest revisions to the proposed charter amendment from Supervisor Peskin, creating an independent historic preservation commission,” Bail said, and added that the organization planned to promote public awareness ahead of the November vote.
After public comment, an unnamed committee member moved to forward the historic-preservation amendment to the full Board with recommendation; the chair asked if there was any objection and, with none stated, the item was reported out as the committee’s order.
The clerk then read three additional charter items introduced by Supervisor Ross Mercurini: Item 2 would add a section to promote music and culture and establish a process to review and possibly revise city codes and incorporate those principles into the general plan; Item 3 would amend charter language to clarify the Commission on the Environment’s authority to consider environmental justice and sustainability and to assist city representatives to regional bodies; Item 4, described as the San Francisco Clean Energy Act, included multiple amendments aimed at accelerating a shift from fossil fuels to clean energy, directing the Public Utilities Commission to analyze reliable, affordable clean electricity options for customers, and establishing an independent ratepayer advocate.
The chair noted that each of the three items had already received two public hearings and opened a public-comment window; no speakers for items 2–4 were recorded. An unnamed committee member moved to forward Items 2 and 3 with a committee recommendation and to forward Item 4 without recommendation. The chair again asked for objections; none were raised and the motions were recorded as the committee report.
All four items were forwarded to the full Board for further consideration; the committee meeting then adjourned. The full Board will receive the committee report and consider the measures on a future agenda.
