>> good afternoon, welcome to the rules meeting for thursday, february 17th. today, i would like to acknowledge john and caroline. are there any announcements?

>> yes, at the items recommended today will go out to the full board on tuesday, march 4th. >> can you call item number 1? >> adam number one commotion appointed supervisor campos for a term ending february fourth, 2015. is to any public comment? and public comment is closed. can we send this forward with a recommendation? without objection. madam car, please call item number 2. >> motion appointing supervisor marc, a term ending november 28th, 2011, to the california state association of county board and directors. >> is there any discussion regarding this item? is to any public comment on this item? public comment is closed.

can we send this forward with recommendation? without objection. madame clerk, please call item number 3. >> item number3 is a motion concerning the employment of lesley cast to the port commission. >> can we please have miss katz come forward? thank you so much for being here. please introduce yourself to the committee. >> i am leslie katz and i am very honored to be here before you. hopefully, i will be able to serve on the port commission. i would like to welcome supervisor's kim and farrell. i am pleased that you are here

and i wish you good luck. this is a tremendous opportunity for such an extraordinary city. supervisor elsbern, thank you for your service. i know that you are the elder statesmen here. thank you for taking on that role. [laughter] i did not say old. as you know, i have been a member of the board of supervisors in the past and i am committed to public service. i love san francisco and i am pleased to have an opportunity to serve the city in a new capacity. the port of san francisco presents one of the greatest opportunities but also a number of very difficult issues coming forward over the next several years. we have been awarded the america's cup races which will be held here which according to

estimates will bring over 9000 potential jobs and a billion dollars in economic impact to the city. with that, there's a tremendous responsibility to make sure that we handle those responsibilities well and we review land use issues very carefully. we need to figure out how to serve the people of san francisco as well as those coming for the race. also ensuring the prosperity of the day and the waterfront. -- of the bay and the waterfront. we have appeared 70 and some of the programs that are coming up there. -- we have pier 70 and some of the programs. i am looking forward to reviewing the issues that come before the board and to continue a tradition when i was on the

board of supervisors which is to have an open door and to listen to all parties. i try not to come into an issue with my mind made up. i will serve the people and listen to the issues that come forward and then make decisions going forward. as a former member of the board of supervisors, i would be a good liaison to the current board of supervisors. i would be very honored to serve the city and county of san francisco in this role. thank you very much. >> are there any comments or questions? seeing none, we will move forward with public comment. good to see you former supervisor dufty. >> thank you so much. thank you, supervisors. i want to continue my support for supervisor katz to serve on

the board. she has distinguished herself as being a thoughtful supervisor food went deeply into the issues at a time when technology was really booming in san francisco. she was the go to supervisor that people work with and looks to for leadership around those issues. she helped to make san francisco the capital that it is for technology. she will do a great job. she has had tremendous integrity, intellect, i know she will do great. i think that she will bring a valued perspective. i want to briefly say that i know people are here from throughout the bridge district. i would want to say that i think that -- would make a great bridge district director. thank you very much.

i am with the asian legal foundation and i'm here to speak on behalf of former supervisor katz. this is a critical time for the port. as was mentioned, the billion dollar impact world cup is coming but not just that kind of attraction. we also have the priceless san francisco giants at home at the port. we need a vision for the future for the port. there is the pacific rim economy growing. we also need a story of the port, which is one of our greatest assets. supervisor katz has the experience in bringing things forward. in business, not just big business of bringing together big business and small business.

she has the connections from many years building connections in san francisco. she has years of activism, leadership. she has the full spectrum of experience to deal with the complex and complicated issues that will become the -- that will come before the board. she can bring the kind of stickle together to come to agreement and to improve our city of san francisco. i would just like to thank the committee for considering her and i encourage you to support her nomination. thank you. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i have had the good fortune of working for the city since 1980. i am proud to say that. i have had to give fortune to know leslie katz.

i work for the san francisco sheriff's department and one of my charges was to provide programs for prisoners. she saw the need of incarcerated people as a community that has been forgotten and has single- handedly gotten programs that were responsible. after that, without any support, quite frankly, from the city, we were looking at a program for violent offenders. leslie katz, i knew no other official that listened to us. she came into the jail and she spent an entire day talking to the offenders, talking to the staff, the program staff. she got her colleagues to

understand the public safety issue as well as the humanitarian issue. i live in district 6 as well where this port situation is. the america's cup and all of the exciting revitalization happening. i know that she is a consensus builder, she does not choke on ideology but she is a leader with a backbone who will work with so many diverse communities. i have seen it in my experience in the sheriff's department and as a resident of district 6. personally and professionally, i see no other person as quick as her and i urge you to have her on this board for everyone's sake. there will be many communities benefited by her leadership. thank you. >> thank you.

my name is reverend townshend. i am here representing the san francisco naacp. dr. brown is out of the state right now. i am kind of glad because i get to come to this. there are some people that you come to testify for that you are glad to do and then there are those that you are excited to do. former supervisor katz is one of those. i have known more for a while -- i have known her for a while. we served on the democratic

committee. i quit to list my own life. i was are twisted to continue as the alternate to dr. brown. you have heard heard great qualities. -- my arm was twisted to continue as the alternate to dr. brown. she is not so locked into ideology that you cannot change her mind. sometimes, we get into a situation where sometimes our officials are locked into such a philosophical and gold that they cannot hear anything outside of that. -- such a philosophical bend that they cannot hear anything outside of that. to have someone on the board that cares about san francisco and who will listen to and talk about things like the yacht race that no one has talked about. i still have not heard how the

jobs will work out for san franciscans. how will these contracting opportunities work out for us? i have not heard anything about that. i know that she will deal with that and she will listen and she will care. you could not do yourself better than to support former supervisor katz. do it quickly and let's get moving. thank you very much. >> good afternoon. in the 1990's, it was my privilege to work with leslie on the domestic partner ordinance that required companies that did business with san francisco to mirror our san francisco policies and values. it was that kind of visionary work that she understood --

undertook. we take this for granted today. i know that the visionary leadership she has has exhibited all throughout the years will serve her very well. not only hurt, but of the entire city of san francisco will benefit. -- not only her, but the entire city. she will make sure that the city grows in a sustainable and smart way for all of san francisco, not just for specific business interests. as a member of the democratic club board of directors, i also urge you to consider diversity in making your vote. we need qualified competent diverse members of the public to serve on our commissions in leadership roles and i don't think that we could get a better nominee before you than leslie

katz. i urge you to support the nomination. thank you. >> could afternoon. -- good afternoon. the blame the chair of -- democratic club, an organization that is nearing its 40th anniversary. we work on the issues of lgbt rights and concerns. also the promotion of our community members to be part of our city. over the years, over the nearly 40 years, we have worked within our community to bring about those who could serve in the public world. leslie katz is someone that we

have been very proud of having been in a former supervisor and serving in all of the activities that she does. on my behalf, i would like to encourage you to consider her and moved her confirmation forward. thank you. -- move her confirmation forward. >> good afternoon. i am a tenant of the port, and member of the central waterfront advisory group. we are down to three port commissioners right now out of fines. slie on the port. thank you. >> good afternoon. i am the acting chair of the

ricon point citizens advisory committee. i am also a member of the jewish community relations counsel. i am speaking as an individual and not in my capacity with those organizations. i have worked on the port- related matters through the south beach redevelopment project for the past 10 years and i know how it portraitist to have informed members on the port commission because we have worked with the commission frequently. -- i know how important it is to have informed the members on the port commission. we are excited to be working with the commission because piers 30 and 32 will be unimportant part of the america's cup process. i have known her for a number of

years. i know her to be thoughtful. i have known her to be a strong supporter of important issues. she will be a reasonable voice for all that is important to us in san francisco. she is a good person and i think that she will serve the city well. i hope that you will consider that when you consider your vote for her on the port commission. >> is there any other public comment? public comment is closed. colleagues, is there any other further comments or questions? seeing none, can i get a motion? >> second. >> without objection. >> the motion to confirm leslie katz is forwarded with

recommendation. >> item number4, hearing to consider four members, terms ending january 31st, 2013, to the golden gate bridge, highway, and transportation district. there are four people -- there are four seats and five applicants. >> can we take them in order t? >> my name is janet riley and i have been on the board of directors for the past 8 years. in december, i was elected president of that board which brings an 80-year presidency. -- two-year presidency.

there will be a celebration at the gate will be a part of. there is a celebration of mate, 2012. i am the head of the planning committee for that celebration. -- there is a celebration in may, 2012. there is also the america's cup. hopefully the bridge will play a significant role. so, it is important that we have representation as a president from san francisco. besides the celebrations, these have been difficult years in the bridge. in 2009, we had a deficit. we have close to this to $89 million because we have created a fantastic plan. a financial stability plan. as long as we continue on that plan, we will close the deficit in a few years, which would be quite remarkable. we are working on a median barrier.

we will finally have a barrier in the middle of the bridge so we can avoid any had done collisions. that should be done in 2012. we have approved a suicide barrier which this board over the past 40 years has been talking about. we have decided that we would put a suicide barrier on the bridge. we have to go and find $45 billion to fund that barrier but i'm committed to that. we got 100 new buses at the bridge. we are trying to become more green and more claim which is important and everything we do in our ferry system. -- we are trying to become more green and more clean. i hope that i can continue my public service. thank you. >> thank you very much. colleagues, are there any

questions for the candidates? >> actually, i have a few. do you support charging pedestrians and cyclists a toll to cross the bridge? >> i do not. i have not seen a plan where it would make a significant amount of money. the goodwill it would destroy it is not worth the money. >> with a lot of that plans to improve the bridge such as the suicide barrier, the middle median, which is great, and the seismic retrofit, do you have plans to include more people, particularly from our to said vanished committees, to take advantage of the jobs? -- particularly from our disadvantaged communities, to take advantage of the jobs? >> we have expanded the way that

we post our job listings. this is to all surrounding counties. there will be lots of opportunities for people to participate in the 75th anniversary. >> thank you. >> next, we have lynne newhouse segal. >> good afternoon, supervisors. i stand before you today to respectfully request to the opportunity to continue my activism and leadership on the golden gate bridge highway and transportation district and serve as your eyes, ears, and force there. i have a record of 36 years of accessibility, government service, activism on the most

important and contentious issues. i ask questions and demand transparency. because i am fiercely independent, i build coalitions and get results when no one else has. i've distributed a list to you of some of my supporters. i was elected in december 2nd a vice president of the bridge district board by my colleagues. i am line to be president. in an organization like the bridge board which is governed by seniority, that is very important. i have been able to get to know my colleagues and forge relationships based on trust. as you have heard from the director, we have made a lot of strides on the suicide deterrent, other issues. now, we are facing major issues

of automation and funding cuts. first amendment expression, congestion pricing, visitors' centers, and every model of the ferry building. we were bringing the moral component of saving lives to our discussions. prior to my joining the board, the mental health aspects were in discussion. i brought neighborhood and community input to the table. by initiating meetings between leaders and regional transportation officials and four city officials. at our board members, i was the only one to show my colleagues to wait that and will drive construction would impact san francisco neighborhoods. i am the only one who regularly watches -- walks the bridges and

trails that lead up to it. they rely on me to share my experience as one of the many pedestrians on the bridge. i have experienced in land use, parts, transportation issues. i have an appreciation of the complex world with the transportation agency and a custodian of a landmark open space. i have working relationships with many of the public officials with whom we work. i was one of only two directors consistently speaking against commercialization of the bridge. i attended meetings and facilitated dialogue between british officials and the community resulting in a unanimous vote against the proposed sponsorship program and preserving the bridges iconic status. -- i attended the meetings and facilitated dialogue between various officials