proactive preservation issues in the city and developing programs that will be a benefit to residents and visitors of san francisco. i take my role on the historic preservation commission seriously and would be honored if you would approve my apartment for a second term. supervisor campos: thank you. before we continue, i would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the presence of two individuals. former supervisor amos brown and leslie katz. it is great to see two former members of the board. i just wanted to welcome them to the committee. thank you to them for being here. colleagues, any questions? is there any public comment on items one and two? given that we have a large turnout, to make sure that we do not lose a quorum, we will limit

public, to two minutes per person. >> i am the executive director of the san francisco housing action coalition. i came before you when andrew wolfram was nominated the first time. i thought he would be an excellent addition to the historic preservation commission. by virtue of his background, training, work experience, we think he is an excellent member of the commission and he carefully balances something of key interest to us, which is what role does historic preservation play in a growing city? we think he has nailed it. he is open, accessible, a stellar member of the commission. i strongly urge you to appoint him. thank you. supervisor campos: next speaker.

>> supervisors, i am supporting the reappointment of andrew wolfram. i have known him for many years and i am impressed by his knowledge as an historic architect. supervisor campos: thank you. next speaker. >> hello, supervisors. i just wanted to speak in reference to andrew wolfram and other commissioners. one thing i would like to know -- having gone to my first historic preservation and joint planning commission meeting -- there is talk about historic preservation within the realm of the commission but there is a big discussion missing about equity. i would like to know how our historic preservation commissioners are talking about how rich to low income communities of color, low

english speakers. it was pretty clear that that needed to be part of the discussion. there is talk that the historic preservation commission could be a forum where people could walk in to nominate new historic districts around town. i want to make sure there is out rich so that we protect communities of low income earners, color, a limited english speakers, so that there are options. i would like to know where the commissioners stand. certainly, for the other commissioners, the approach for moving equity through the historic preservation commission. supervisor campos: thank you. next speaker please. >> mike beuhler, on behalf of

san francisco architectural heritage. i just want to support the appointment of andrew wolfram. having attended each and every one of the commission meetings over the past several months, i find commissioner andrew wolfram to be one of the most thoughtful and engaging commission is we have had. thank you. supervisor campos: thank you. next speaker. >> howard wong. the san francisco historical consortium supports the reappointment of andrew wolfram. he was confirmed by the board previously and that it went through a process where we looked at his qualifications. certainly, he had demonstrated the qualifications and expertise during his tenure. his projects as a preservation architect are quite wordy and commendable. supervisor campos: thank you.

next speaker. >> gigi platt. i am here to speak to the reappointment of the commissioner as well. he has added a great dimension to the commission. he brings a dimension that is especially of knowledge of the more modern architectural styles and movements. he is also an extraordinarily close reader and picks up on things that others may not. it is unfortunate that all of these positions have only been filled for a year-and-a-half and we are going through this again. thank you. supervisor campos: thank you. nec's speaker please. -- next speaker please. >> peter warfield. library users association. we have had contact with the historical preservation commission when a number of libraries were considered for

landmarking. i do not want to speak about the specifics of this appointment as opposed to the others. i actually support the san francisco preservation consortium's position but want to say, that should you consider what was discussed at the beginning of this meeting -- the whole question of putting off a decision -- i think that would be extremely appropriate, not just in general, for the reason we are talking about, but also because these appointments, i believe, have had relatively little time to be reviewed by preservationists and others, whether or not the ultimate outcome would be support or not. i do intend to speak against one of the appointments from the mayor, which presents an issue

of qualifications, and it is not this one. so in this case, i would urge you, as with the other items, to postpone action, as was discussed earlier. supervisor campos: thank you. is there any other member of the public that would like to speak on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. supervisor alioto-pier? supervisor alioto-pier: i would like to make a motion to move forward item one and table item two with recommendations. supervisor campos: we have a motion. for the reasons articulated earlier, even though i would be supportive of his appointment, reappointment, i am not prepared to move on that, at this point. supervisor eric mar. supervisor mar: i am just

thinking, should we vote on the motion before making comments? supervisor campos: yes. 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