Rules Committee forwards multiple commission nominations, including SFPUC and Mental Health SF working-group appointments

The Rules Committee on May 9 forwarded a slate of commission and working-group nominations to the full Board of Supervisors, recording unanimous committee recommendations for nominees to the new Sanitation and Streets Commission, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the Mental Health SF Implementation Working Group.

For the new Sanitation and Streets Commission, the committee forwarded Tom Harrison for seat 4 (term to July 1, 2024) and Kim Hartwig Schulman for seat 5 (term to July 1, 2026). Harrison, a former Rec & Park commissioner and long-time city gardener and union representative, described decades of experience in parks and field operations. Mark Leeson of Teamsters Local 665 called in to voice labor support for Harrison. Hartwig Schulman, who has worked with community benefit districts and Larkin Street Youth Services, told the committee she favors a "data-driven approach" to streamline operations and increase transparency.

The committee also forwarded Mayor-nominated Ike Kwon (appearing remotely) to the Sanitation and Streets Commission after public support from a caller; Kwon said his prior commission experience and project-management background would help in standing up the new department and selecting an executive director.

On the SFPUC nomination, the committee considered Julia Prochnick, who described roughly 20 years in energy and environmental policy including roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation and the Natural Resources Defense Council; she also announced her new role as executive director of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council. Public commenters voiced both support (including Dave Steindorff, representing hydropower and recreation stakeholders) and concern: one caller asked whether Prochnick’s new position creating long-duration energy storage ties could create conflicts with SFPUC work or Clean Power SF contracts. Prochnick said she did not personally see conflicts given the international focus of the new role and pledged to consult lawyers if any potential conflicts arose. The committee amended the draft resolution (removing the word "rejecting") and then voted to forward the nomination with a positive recommendation.

Finally, the committee advanced reappointments and appointments to the Mental Health SF Implementation Working Group, forwarding Amy Wong (seat 1), Andrea Salinas (seat 7; not present) and Sarah Short (seat 11). Applicants highlighted the IWG’s mandate to advise the Mental Health Board and Department of Public Health on design and implementation; public commenters including Mary Kate (Compass Family Services) and Kristen Evans urged continued representation from supportive-housing and behavioral-health advocates.

All motions described above were forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors by roll call votes recorded as aye from Supervisor Connie Chan, Vice Chair Rafael Mandelman and Chair Aaron Peskin.