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Committee advances several charter reform items for full Board consideration

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee · June 5, 2008
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Members advanced multiple charter amendments to the full Board for consideration, including removing a two-aide cap for supervisors, a proposal to make the city treasurer an appointed position, and a first-draft to create a Public Works Commission; supervisors and stakeholders debated timing and stakeholder outreach.

The Rules Committee heard several charter-amendment proposals from Supervisor McGoldrick aimed at institutional reform.

One proposal would remove a city-charter cap that limits supervisors to two legislative aides; McGoldrick said the cap is inconsistent with other offices and hampers service. Former staff, union representatives and civic participants urged further outreach to Local 21 and other stakeholders before placing the measure on a ballot; the committee continued that item to the call of the chair for further work.

A separate first-draft would change the City Treasurer from an elected office to an appointed one with qualifications and a 10-year term. The Comptroller’s office provided a brief fiscal note saying the City might see minor election-cost savings; supervisors were split on whether the policy should be sent to voters. The committee forwarded the treasurer amendment to the full Board without recommendation so all supervisors could weigh in.

A third charter proposal would create a Public Works Commission to provide oversight, performance measurement and public engagement for the Department of Public Works. DPW Director Ed Ryskin said he was open to discussion but noted the department already has oversight through the City Administrator and the Board; supporters argued the 2007 audit revealed systemic issues that citizen oversight could help address. Critics warned a commission might slow operational responsiveness. The committee forwarded the item to the full Board without recommendation.

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