roll-call on the motion. [roll call] 8 two ayes, one no. supervisor alioto-pier: i'll -- supervisor mar: i look forward to supporting the renomination of mr. andrew wolfram. it is clear that by his work is stellar an amazing. i think that his work on the historic preservation commission has been viewed as fall full and fair and i look forward to supporting his renomination at a future time and i will be supportive of continuing this item along with the other nominees the mayor before word -- put forward. supervisor campos: thank you. i look forward to this reappointment but not at this

particular time for the reasons previously stated. supervisor alioto-pier: if i might make another motion to rescind my vote and continue this item. supervisor campos: if we can continue that to the call of the chair? taken without objection. supervisor alioto-pier: continue that item to the call of the chair. supervisor campos: if we can continue that item without objection. please call item no. 2. >> item #3, i believe. supervisor campos: sorry, items #3 and 4. >> item #3. motion approving the mayor's nomination for appointment of richard johns to the historical preservation commission, seat no. 4, for a four-year term ending december 31, 2014. item #4.

motion rejecting the mayor's nomination for appointment of richard johns to the historical preservation commission, seat no. 4, for a four-year term ending december 31, 2014. supervisor campos: thank you. mr. johns, good morning. welcome to the rules committee. happy new year to you. >> and to all of you. supervisor campos: please speak into the microphone. >> got it? thank you. i thought the best way to do this would be the focus on section 4.135 of the charter, describing seat number four as to be occupied by a historian meeting the professional qualifications of the secretary of the interior with specialized training, and this is important, demonstrable experience in north american bay area history.

you can determine my qualifications based on what i have done. beginning with the controversy over preserving the cross on mount davidson. life -- i first investigated that cross, its history, the predecessor, the rule in the community that those crosses provide. i did that in order to raise money for the preservation of the cross. the first things the owners want to know is why should i. i also did it to convince the museum and city of san francisco, of which i was a director at the time, and the american jewish committee, of which i was the director, why should be on board with saving across. the next historical experience that i had started 10 years ago with preserving the old mill.

taking a building built in 1874 in and making it suitable for modern use. i started researching the history before i asked people to give $90 million. i researched the building and its uses and functions so that the region so that i could give to hours of the old man. which i have done dozens of times -- the old mmint. which i have done dozens of times. i found original correspondence from the time, procuring it for the san francisco museum and historical society. in that study of the history of the building and the way that it functions dobli, i began to appe

the historic standards from the basis of someone who must apply them to see that the building did conform and did have a future. when it came to san francisco music, which i have collected over 150 songs, i researched the history of jazz in san francisco. and that i hired 10 musicians, singers in the string quartet of the oakland symphony, and produced this cd. if you take exhibits, i would be happy. [laughter] i have extra copies, although not with me. [laughter] the point is i have distributed over 3500 of these. i have gone on the radio to talk about the history of san francisco music. i have presented a program at

the san francisco musical society monthly series. i have presented speeches and presentations to the concordia archivist. -- archives. i have written one article about it in one of the society's publications, "panorama." for five years i have missed very few of these meetings. i have led several of them. i have participated as someone who keeps the discussion going. i have helped to select topics and helped define historians to speak at those meetings. so, i have personally seduced 50-75 people who formerly thought they were only casually interested in history and have now become members, promoters,

and supporters of the dissemination of the history of the city and county of san francisco and bay area. last year the bastard company asked me to organize the -- wilkes-bashford company asked me to make history on silver. i got the kneedenise hale whoser got an enormous trophy in the district. those of you that know her know that she does not allow her silver out of the house without a grilling the recipient on what you know about silver, what you know about the earthquake, but you know about my mother-in-law, but you know about the fire department. we know -- we not only had that

silver, but the lucky baldwin silver said. -- set. we had an enormous amount of interest in the fine craftsmanship of san francisco silver before the 1920's. we are coming up on two significant anniversaries. the 75th was the golden gate international composition, the counterpart to the world's fair, and the of international exposition of 2015. i have started to prepare festivals to celebrate these two terribly important activities. i have shared my passion with the history -- passion for history with the city, the

county, museums, historical societies. that interest and passion is reflected in my continuing direction to the board of directors. one of the early members of the predecessor commission, charles craftia, had intended to be here today. he could not be because he was out of town. he sent a letter that i think has been transmitted to the entire rules committee. i will not read the letter, but he did say that from temperament and training i have excellent judgment that will match my love for san francisco with architecture and common sense approach to historical preservation. two decades of this kind of passion. not years of writing papers but 20 years of promoting history

with thousands of members and others. promoting programs about san francisco history, preserving history, and studying history. are there any question? supervisor campos: first of all, you get credit for using the word seduced. i do not think that has ever been used that a rules committee before. i have a couple of questions and that i would like to turn it over to my colleagues. supervisors? do you want to? supervisor mar: let me just say that i've known richard for many years and i am here to speak to his character and qualifications as someone who has worked so diligently to make history accessible from a preservation standpoint to preserve san francisco's history. it has been a difficult role

with temporary facilities that have existed in the cannery. richard has also played an important part in public life. while he has not talked about his law practice i would like to say a little bit about your work to complement your work in historic preservation and making history accessible. his spouse was mayer brown's chief of staff. i dare say that richard has frequent flier miles in connection with more communities and more offices i have ever had in a partner that works at city hall. i think that he would do a lot to reflect what josh brought up, what all communities have -- needs and interests reflected in historic preservation. can you talk for a moment about your practice?

>> yes. my practice is primarily but not exclusively business litigation. at one time i did a great deal more transactional work. for many years i have, while the tannery was owned by the martin family, i represented the cannery. the reason that is of interest to what we are doing here today is because that was one of the first projects in the united states which repurchased an old building. which gave a new life. when the martin family engaged me to represent it as a kind of general counsel, one of the first things that they told me was to take a walk around the building. our realm the development. to look at the thomas church garden and the other things that the martins father had preserved.

he wanted me to be aware that although it was a commercial establishment, it was one that was going to honor what had gone before. when the cannery started negotiating with the monte -- del monte to name the block after it, we had extensive discussions with them in which i was instructed to make clear that they were being invited back because of its strong connections to the history of san francisco. i have not represented developers which whiish to decimate the landscape. primarily i have represented a property owners that want to comply with decent and responsible management of their

properties. my primary focus has always been on commercial litigation. which, by the way, i think would be helpful in my role as a commissioner here. i am used to reading, thinking about, interpreting and applying statutes and ordnances. supervisor mar: thank you. i have just one question, if i may. again, the fact that you have supervisor dufty sitting in to say something about you speaks very highly of you end is something that i value. one question that has been raised with respect to this appointment was whether or not it was made for the right seat or not. this is an appointment for seat four. under the legislation a person must be a historian meeting the

secretary of the interiors professional qualification standards for history. there are other seats where i think the fit would be without question. c five, which is a historic preservation professional or professional in the field such as law, land use committee planning. i am wondering if he can talk about whether or not you would meet the qualifications for seat four. by looking at the secretary of the interiors standard for guideline history. i am wondering if you could talk about whether or not you believe you meet those standards. >> yes. focusing on that first, which is one of the two standards. a bachelor's degree in history

or closely related fields. i believe that i do. i believe that my undergraduate degree in english with a history of elizabethan theater qualifies for that. and then it says plus one of the following. two years in experience of research, writing, teaching your interpretation or other demonstrable professional activity for an academic institution, agency, museum more so forth. -- museum for so forth. i believe that i have established my credentials in that area. under the language of the charter it says that under the secretary for with demonstrable experience in north american are bay area history, i believe that the decades i have been involved in the history of the city of san francisco is a

demonstrable experience in bay area history. i was reading from section 4.135, qualification no. 3. supervisor campos: thank you. that was helpful. supervisors democrats supervisor alioto-pier: -- supervisors? supervisor alioto-pier: i wanted to ask the city attorney to approach. the question of the appropriateness of the seat seems to be the crux around this particular appointment. i agree with mr. johns. both or one or the other, the second characteristic is demonstrate all -- the billeted demonstrate this experience, which he has clearly shown he fits that specific qualification. >> through the chair, mr. johns

has explained exactly what the charter says in terms of requirements for this seat. it is up to the committee to decide whether his qualifications meet that standard. it is within your discretion to make that decision. supervisor alioto-pier: ok. supervisor campos: anything else? supervisor mar? supervisor mar: thank you for your service and telling us about the history of the work you have done for the city. not just for the cross on mount davidson but for the historical work as well. i wanted to say that my interpretation of seat no. 4, i look at it as a way to the best and most easily qualified person that has at least two years of full-time experience in teaching, writing, with a

demonstrable professional and historical agency has almost critical for a position like this. i know that you meet the qualifications based on the and/or of that definition. i was looking at the secretary of history's qualifications as well. i know that there are many people that have great qualifications and i do not in any while -- in any way want to diminish your great experience and work but i do see that there are others. for example, mr. attorney, with his books on urban development transportation, women's history labor and workers in san francisco as well as the development of the presidio and san francisco as a metropolis. that research quality to me as far as historic preservation commission makes sure that development is balanced in the

city. as well as a knowledge in the important historical events that you mentioned in your comments. i am just thinking that i want to see someone on seat no. 4 that has significant research and historic experience laid out in the definition. i think that your qualifications are great but i think that there are others with better qualifications. i will do my best to listen to what my colleagues say but i think that another -- i would like to see other nominees that have historic preservation qualifications. especially in research as well. i will simply state that for the record. thank you. supervisor campos: let's open this up to public comment. if there is any member of the public comment that would like to speak? we have been joined by

supervisor brown. welcome back. >> mr. chairman. members of the rules committee. my name is brown. as you have reference, former member of this board of supervisors. i also shared this committee. i rose today to speak generically that i am appalled to witness what is happening here. this rules committee was designated to thavet with due diligence to get the facts on the qualifications of persons who are nominated from this city to serve on various

commissions. this is the people's work. this is not the work of a committee. and it appears to me that what we are doing, instead of preserving our great traditions, we are tearing belem what has been established -- we are tearing down what has been established. this is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. the people came today to witness your acting on the qualifications of persons who have been nominated. [applause] and not for you to play partisan politics. a game of wrangling with a particular mayor.

mayors come and go. you and i come and go. [tone] i would hope that this day you would search your hard, and evaluate your motives, and raise the question -- and live for the people or for partisan politics? -- am i for the people or partisan politics? supervisor campos: thank you, a supervisor. >> your job is to get on with it the work of the city and not play partisan politics. [applause] supervisor campos: next speaker, please. >> good morning, supervisors. before i was elected to my current position as the mayor of a small town in [unintelligible] county, i managed the cannery

for 30 years as i lived in san francisco. i am here today to support the appointment of richard johns to the historic preservation commission. i have the pleasure of knowing and working with richard johns for nearly two decades. we met shortly after the museum for the city of san francisco was formed. we serve on the board for many years. mr. johns was selected because of his knowledge and background of the bay area in california history. we worked together on numerous endeavors, including fund- raising building organization and preserving landmarks like the mount davidson cross and historical waterfront peers and businesses. mr. johns has always been a committed, hard-working and affect a board member, officer,

and leader. mr. johns has an enduring passion, as you have heard, and appreciation for san francisco history and preservation of historical assets. he has a polished, keen legal mind that is balanced with a sharp wit, a sense of humor, and common sense. all of them useful attributes when interpreting the national park standards of rehabilitation and other documents that the historic preservation commission will use as a basis for its decisions. most importantly, he appreciates the honor and responsibilities of public service. particularly when it comes to preserving treasures for future generations. [tone] i believe he will be an outstanding commissioner. supervisor campos: thank you very much. next speaker, please.

>> good morning, supervisors. happy new year. in the chair of the city hall preservation advisory commission and i am here to speak on behalf of richard johns, who has practiced the art of seduction in -- on almost in the historic " realm. i have known him for many years. i remember going to the cannery and watching movies there. one of my fondest memories is the building he has worked so very hard to keep open to some degree. that is the mint of san francisco. as a small child i sallows stairs and a an ice-cream cone in 1946 -- as a small child i sat on the stairs and eight to an ice-cream cone in 1946. that is my personal memory.

richard has an incredible passion and incredible love of this city. and also the things that make san francisco so very special. i am looking forward to the day when his dream comes true of opening up the san francisco mint as the san francisco museum. i speak on his behalf because i think he will lend so much to this city with his work on the commission. thank you. supervisor campos: supervisor dufty m. love >> i am so pleased that you came here to be a witness today. what you have done to give a face to city hall for thousands of workers and young people. there are days that i show up in jeans and tennis sneakers, but

you are elegant and reflect the city so well every day you are here. you are a treasure for san francisco. thank you. >> thank you very much. i remember when we were across the street at the war memorial veterans building hoping that this building would be open on time. it was and it is truly a remarkable experience to work in this building and work with all of the people i have been fortunate to meet, to know, and have become my friends. supervisor dufty: you are remarkable. supervisor campos: indeed. watching you speak to young people and the look on your face when they talk about the history of this building -- and the look on their face when you talk about the history of this building. >> that is truly like passion and a passion that a former mayor allowed me to put into action. a passion that i share with mr.

john. he is my neighbor and he does call me on the phone to ask me questions about the history of san francisco. the advantage i have is that i am slightly older than him. [laughter] supervisor campos: next speaker. >> good morning, supervisors. i am the principal at page and turnball. i am here to support the nomination of richard johns to the historic preservation commission. i have known him for a number of years. particularly as the president of the historical society between 2006 and 2010. our firm has been part of a design team working on the museum for the city of san francisco to be housed