Rules Committee forwards multiple commission nominees, including Lauren Post and Christopher Simi, to full Board

The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted May 23 to forward several commission nominations to the full Board with positive recommendations.

Chair Aaron Peskin said the panel would consider appointments required by Proposition B to form a new Department of Public Works structure and moved to send the nominees to the Board for hearing. The committee recommended forwarding Fadi Zabi for Public Works seat No. 5, the Controller’s nominee Lauren Post for a Public Works seat, and Christopher Simi for the Sanitation and Streets Commission. The committee also forwarded Norm Lin’s application to the SOMA Community Stabilization Fund Community Advisory Committee with a positive recommendation.

Lauren Post, Controller Ben Rosenfield’s nominee to the Public Works Commission, told the committee she has worked in municipal finance and bond structuring and said she hopes to “improve both the department’s culture and its systems and processes for carrying out its mandate.” Post cited experience overseeing capital project budgets and said she will focus on ensuring projects are delivered on time and that operations and maintenance follow project completion.

Christopher Simi, introduced by Chair Peskin as a current BART budget director, described his background in public-sector budgeting and audits and said those skills would help the new Sanitation and Streets Commission oversee fiscal and contract matters. Applicant Fadi Zabi summarized local business and nonprofit experience and said he looks forward to adding value to Department of Public Works work.

The committee recorded roll-call votes on motions to amend language and recommend items; Supervisors Connie Chan, Rafael Mandelmann and Chair Peskin each voted “aye” and the motions passed without objection. Chair Peskin noted one nominee, Lynn Newhouse Seagull, was absent for a medical procedure and item 2 was continued to a later hearing for consideration.

The committee also invited nominees to be available at the full Board hearing if other supervisors have questions. The full Board is scheduled to consider committee reports and nominations at its upcoming session.