This charter amendment aimed to change how appointments are made to various city commissions by splitting the authority between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors, and to define the City Administrator's oversight functions. The proposal was ultimately rejected and did not pass.
Charter Amendment (Third Draft) to amend the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco to 1) split the power to make appointments to the following bodies between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors: Airport Commission, Arts Commission, Asian Art Commission, Civil Service Commission, Commission on the Environment, Commission on the Status of Women, Disability and Aging Services Commission, Fire Commission, Health Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Human Rights Commission, Human Services Commission, Juvenile Probation Commission, Library Commission, Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors, Public Utilities Commission, Recreation and Park Commission, and War Memorial and Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees; subject Mayoral appointments to those bodies and to the Building Inspection Commission and the Small Business Commission to approval by the Board of Supervisors; provide that the appropriate appointing authority (Mayor or Board of Supervisors, as applicable) may initiate removal of commissioners; and specify that the terms of members of the Asian Art Commission, Building Inspection Commission, Civil Service Commission, and Fine Arts Museums Board of Trustees shall be for four years; and 2) specify the types of functions that the City Administrator may oversee; require that any agencies under the City Administrator be designated by ordinance; authorize the City Administrator to review City programs and services, and employment practices, and to make recommendations to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and departments based on those reviews; prohibit the Mayor from placing functions under the City Administrator without authorization by ordinance; and authorize the City Administrator to recommend removal of any department head to the Mayor or a commission, and require the Mayor or commission to act on the recommendation within 30 days; at an election to be held on June 7, 2022.
How it got here
The Charter Amendment originated from a proposal to enhance checks and balances in the appointment of city commissions by splitting authority between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors received and assigned the proposed Charter Amendment to the Rules Committee for review.
The Rules Committee amended the proposed Charter Amendment to clarify the appointment processes and functions of the City Administrator.
The Rules Committee further amended the Charter Amendment, refining the language and provisions regarding appointments and oversight.
The Rules Committee made additional amendments to the Charter Amendment, preparing it for the upcoming election.
The proposed Charter Amendment was tabled by the Rules Committee, halting further progress.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record
