Rules Committee advances appointments to library, lead-hazard, planning and property appeals panels

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee on Thursday held hearings and advanced a slate of appointments to several advisory and appeals panels, moving nominees forward for the Bay Area Library and Information System Advisory Board, the Lead Hazard Reduction Citizens Advisory Committee, the Western SOMA Citizens Planning Task Force and Assessment Appeals Boards Nos. 1 and 2.

Ross Mercarimi, chair of the Rules Committee, opened the session and introduced the first item: a single-seat vacancy on the Bay Area Library and Information System Advisory Board. Applicant Nora Dolly introduced herself as San Francisco’s representative and said she sought a second term. City Librarian Luis Herrera spoke in support, saying Dolly had represented San Francisco well and “has been nominated to chair the committee, if she is appointed to this second term.” The committee moved the appointment forward with a recommendation.

On Item 2, an appointment to the Lead Hazard Reduction Citizens Advisory Committee, the applicant identified on the agenda as Miss Milgar told supervisors she had served about a year on the committee, replacing a former deputy director, and described the panel’s work to craft legislation and recommendations to address lead hazards to children. She said the group had focused on construction-related hazards and still needed to address inspections of existing housing.

Robert “Bob” Ryan spoke for appointment to the Western SOMA Citizens Planning Task Force, saying he helped organize a neighborhood association and would serve as an informational conduit for residents. The committee moved his nomination forward.

The committee devoted substantial time to appointments for Assessment Appeals Board No. 1. Multiple applicants described their qualifications: Alec Lambie discussed the board’s role adjudicating large downtown valuations; Louisa (also spelled Luisa in parts of the record) Mendoza and others outlined experience in real estate and property valuation; Lawrence Lee described prior service and his work as the California Probate Referee for San Francisco County; and David Wilbur and Gordon Huseby recounted past cases and concerns about valuation methodologies. Wilbur warned that capitalization-rate assumptions can materially change valuations, saying, “A 1% change from, say, 8% to 7% might add $10,000,000 to a downtown high rise.”

Dawn Duran, the Assessment Appeals Board administrator, explained board composition and procedures, saying each panel is made up of three members drawn from five regular members and three alternates; she described the board’s rotation and settlement processes. Diane Robinson, a current member of Board No. 1, urged reappointment of Alec Lambie.

After discussion, supervisors signaled agreement on a slate for Board No. 1 that included reappointing Alec Lambie and selecting Lawrence Lee, Hayes (Hayes) Miles and David Wilbur (roles noted as either regular or alternate in the record). For Assessment Appeals Board No. 2, supervisors proposed and moved a slate to reappoint or appoint Louisa Mendoza (seat 1), John McGarry (seat 5), Donna Crowder (seat 6) and Art Tom (seat 7). The committee completed the items listed on its agenda and closed the hearing.

What happens next: the Rules Committee advanced the nominees with recommendations; the transcript records the committee’s motions and agreement but does not include roll-call vote tallies for the nominations. Where the transcript used alternate spellings (for example, “Nora Dolly” and “Nora Dowley” appear in separate segments, and “Louisa”/“Luisa” appear in different places), that variation is noted in committee discussion and public comment in the record.