residents in those areas with jobs that will enable them to stay in san francisco is critical to that. >> the important thing that i see here at caminos is it helps the low income community, it helps the women who wouldn't have this opportunity otherwise. >> the workers with more education in san francisco are more likely to be able to working that knowledge sector. where they are going to need that familiarity with the internet, they are going to find value with it and use it and be productive with it every day. and half of the city's population that's in the other boat is disconnected from all that potential prosperity. >> we really need to promote content and provide applications that are really relevant to people's lives here. so a lot of the inspiration, especially among the immigrant community, we see is communications with people from their home country but we as much want to use the internet as a tool for people to connect within the local san francisco community. >> i think it's our job as public educators to give them

this access and give them this opportunity to see that their efforts are being appreciated beyond their immediate reach. >> you have to blend this idea of community network with computer equipment with training and with support. we can pull all that together, then we've got it. >> it's as much about social and economic justice -- in fact it's more about social and economic justice than justst >> good afternoon, everyone. ok. good afternoon, everyone. welcome to the special meeting of the rules committee.

i am chairing that committee this afternoon. to my left, we have supervisor farrell and sean elsbernd. we have staff covering the meeting today. we wanted to take a moment and think the staff. >> the item on our agenda today is the committee report on january 25. supervisor kim: can you call items one and two? >> the historic preservation commission for a four-year term. he motion rejecting the nomination to the historic preservation commission ending december 31, 2014. supervisor kim: candidates will

have an opportunity to come out and introduce themselves and speak about their application and qualifications. think you for your service the past couple of years. >> one of the things that makes san francisco a really special place is our historic neighborhoods and buildings. her hood is one of the things that draws visitors here and is the vital importance to its residents. i am honored to be part of protecting that heritage for the past year-and-a-half, and i am honored to be nominated for a second term. i leave historic preservation projects. i was the project architect for the renovation of san francisco.

my background has given me a detailed understanding of the technical complexities and challenges that must be addressed in carrying out successful preservation projects. from how to achieve structural and seismic upgrades to sustainable principles and sustainability. i have been involved for many years in a nonprofit organization focused on the recognition and preservation of the important works of the modern movement i have been involved as an advocate as well as recognizing some of the lesser-knowns historic buildings. i think it is important that the historic preservation commission have a balanced approach to preserve important landmarks and recognizing that success will preservation allows for change as well as the city lives in the gross. -- and grows.

i have also tried to be very proactive in our approach to preservation. this pro-active approach has included renovations, a planning code, working with the planning department so that when properties are in this city, they understand the history. developers understand what is important about those properties. it helps the whole process of development in the city. looking for ways to educate the public about the positive role that historic preservation can have. i look forward to continue the pro-active approach to develop educational and interpretation

programs that would benefit residents and visitors. i take the role very seriously. supervisor kim: any questions? i would like to open it up for public comment. >> i and the executive director of the san francisco housing coalition. we are an 85-member organization that speaks for smart growth transit-oriented development. i was here to speak in favor of him the full time of -- the first time up and we've not

regretted it. to advance historic preservation but recognize that it is one of many policies that have to be addressed as well. he has a superb background for this position and i hope you would approve it without any delay. supervisor kim: any other public comment? >> howard wong. we support and your for reappointment. he has worked -- andrew for reappointment. he has been a professional architect for many decades. as well as the past president to preserve the mid century modernist buildings. the professional achievements.

thank you. supervisor kim: if you would like to speak for public comment, light up in the aisles so i can get a sense. >> he is a close reader, he pays careful attention and his appreciation for the modern environment is also important. supervisor kim: i will be closing public comment. this item is closed.

there is a motion to recommend iitem 1 and table item 2. these items are closed. thank you for your service and your willingness to serve again. items 3 and 4? >> the appointment to the historic preservation commission ending december 31, 2014. rejecting the nomination for appointment of richard johnson. supervisor kim: i would like to call forward the candidates. thank you. >> i am the immediate past president of the san francisco

museum and historical society. i was a director of the predecessor organization. i like to be of board of directors of the current organization. at the last hearing, before a differently constituted committee, i describe the number of my activities including the participation of about five years of programs devoted to the history of san francisco and the bay area both as a speaker and an organizer and as a facilitator. i said at that time that as a result of those activities, it would be between 50 and 75

people that had become interested in history. i had meant to say that i had introduced to between 50 and 75 people. the meeting last time focused on the question of whether or not i was qualified under the charter provision 4.135. an historian meeting the secretary of interior's professional qualifications with specialized training and or a demonstrable experience of bay history. the 3 supervisors that were on the committee, each candle said that i was qualified.

supervisor mar said i met the qualifications. and supervisor alioto-pier said i was, in her opinion, qualified. the discussion focused on who is an historian. webster's says a student writer of history. the american heritage dictionary, a writer, student, horse color of history -- or scholar of history. because i have spent 20 years studying history, presenting programs, facilitating it, being in charge of the organization.

they raised approximately $28 million to save and preserve it. it is an organization that has put on innumerable programs about the community and about history. i am involved with programs now in anticipation of the seventy fifth anniversary of the golden gate international exposition. i think i have demonstrated my interest and ability and capacity. i look forward to being approved for this position.

i hope you will prove me. i will keep the seat warm. i will be very happy to answer questions. supervisor kim: questions? i have a few questions. thank you for your willingness to serve in your enthusiasm for the hpc. since you will be one of the new members, about your vision for affordable housing? >> there is a gentleman here last time that seemed to focus on that. there are a couple of concepts that have to be balanced. one is that san francisco is made up of lots of different groups of people with lots of different backgrounds have lots of different aspirations.

whatever we do, we are trying to preserve the culture and the past that has brought us to where we are. part of the past has been the ability to grow and the ability for people to come here frequently without very much and make something of themselves. preservationists have not only have to keep the architectural details in mind, but the heart and soul of the city. it is a difficult concept to do things that, and the name of preserving things as they are now, keeps people from participating fully in the city. you can't participate fully if

[unintelligible] it is not always considered, but it is vitally important. supervisor kim: at this time, i will open up for public comment. it will be held full of those who are in support speak first and those in opposition speak after word if you can organize yourselves that way. three minutes. >> i speak to you today in my capacity as the executive director of the san francisco museum and historical society. thank you for this opportunity to speak to you. i have worked with rich johns

for 4 years. i speak to you in support of his nomination. he has had a passion and commitment to the preservation of san francisco. starting with his own family story dating back to 1843 when his four other -- forefather immigrated. she sheered and inspired them with his knowledge of san francisco, major events, cultural parks, architecture. his contributions are significant. it enables many people to get

together. one was the transformation of the panorama of. it was a newsletter we comnvertd highlighted, and shared stories. he oversaw the significant transformation of our programming. in 2009, our theme was about neighborhoods. and not just having lectures, but combining them with hawks -- walks. the other was a recognition of people and organizations.

finally and most importantly, he is an inhaler of history. he transformed the historical society. he looked at the needs of the building but also preserving that as a national historic landmark. through of the time i have worked with him, he actively familiarize themselves with history and gets involved. he does not rely solely on his knowledge, the creative processes. [chime] let me say it is my opinion that you will get an historian who is not focused his efforts on documenting and publishing history, but as a developer of history making san francisco history relevant, and gauging,

and tangible. -- engaging and tangible. >> i want to speak in favor of the nomination. i spent a bowl of my life dealing with san francisco history. i was on the historic preservation commission back in the 1960's. i am the founder of the easy a historical society. i want to say that in the 20 years that i have known rich john's, i placed him in the pantheon of individuals who are not academic historians but have tremendous knowledge and passion for san francisco history.

his involvement with the san francisco or historical society has been extraordinarily important. he has also delved into various aspects of the city. he stands very much in the great tradition of non-academic historians. people like oscar lewis and so forth. i feel very strongly that he is not only qualified, but fulfills the criteria mentioned in the charter. >> welcome to our two new

members of the board. i'm ellen schumer, i'm chair of the city hall preservation advisory commission. richard and i have known each other a very long time. when i was sitting at my desk, i started to go through a copy of the dictionary. it said, scholar. with richard johns, we have a scholar with an incredible passion for san francisco. it is very hard to work in the city of san francisco and look at what truly needs to be preserved in an ongoing manner. he has had years of experience,

and adjust the amount of time he has spent would truly make you a scholar of san francisco history. >> it is great to see you. i have known richard for 15 years. i have worked with him with the first husband of the brown administration. richard was everywhere and i think he had the true reached to a lot of different communities. it will make him a very accessible member of the historic preservation commission. he has made himself accessible and i think she is a living historian ha, someone looking to make the history and county of san francisco and other aspects

of our history more accessible. he is qualified to do this. i sat in on the hearing when this nomination was previously considered. chair campos acknowledged that the ultimate experience he brings is qualifying period and those who are objecting really need -- brains is qualifyiings . those who are objecting really need to change the statute. >> we are architect specializing in historic preservation. i am here to support the nomination of richard johns. i have known him since i school

and particularly as president of the san francisco museum and historical society. our firm has been part of the design team working for the city of san francisco that is to be housed in the old united states meanint. i know his interest and commitment go back much further than that. he would be a worthy addition, and i hope you will act on his behalf. the seat that he is nominated for, the question is left open whether it should go to a historian and a larger sense, or the historian in the professional sense.

his tenure on the museum in addition to the other experience should qualify him in the broader sense. thank you. >> i have been in the historian's seat for the last year-and-a-half and wanted to share my experience with you. as to why there are particular requirements, the hpc deals with a very specific type of expertise. there is a position for a generalist, but other seats are reserved for specifics. why would we need a historian?

to local, state, and federal governments, these designations can lead to significant amount of money that can renovate are maintain or restore buildings. these buildings represent our past and our future. the possibilities for business in the future. in order to convince those with higher levels of recognition, we have to have expertise in a broader area. we have to have knowledge and not just about what is unique in san francisco, but how it falls into larger categories like state history, ethnic history, racial history, the variety of different kinds. professional historians are

trained in historical method which means that the many ways that people have let at history overtime and how we represented the past, it is a knowledge -- they are constantly writing and exposing to other people's commentary. you have a constant dialogue about the meaning of what those historical facts are. we need someone who can draw on all of the best practices to develop all the kinds of stories that we have and the points of view that we have. it is an effort to understand the many ways the people

interpreter who did what and what does it mean today? not just what is known about san francisco. but to interpret that. thank you for your interest. we hope he will appoint someone who is qualified according to the charter. >> are we ready to start the opposition. ? i am not speaking in an official capacity. i have gotten to know the current holder of the position