appeal before it goes up, and allowing one person to unilaterally delay a project by months. i wonder if you have any comments of any past or future appeals? >> thank you for the question. i believe the system should be streamlined at one point, and checks and balances be made. unfortunately that is a current policy of the the ministration. i work with the process that would be less intimidating for people to be involved with. >> more logistical questions. are you prepared to spend the time commitment that is required, they often engage in lengthy hearings for a number of reasons? >> prior to the nomination or after the nomination i look into what the time constraints

were. i've spoken to other commissioners not only in this commission but another commission. i am comfortable with the time involved. a lot of the issues that come before the borderland issues; that is really what i am most comfortable and familiar with. i'm comfortable with the timeframe. >> have you attended a meeting of the board of appeals? >> yes. >> my question is more on process. you talk about how the process can be intimidating, images a second language individuals not used to coming before the board can be intimidated. how do you plan to incorporate feedback into your decision process? >> if they are before the trying to present the case? is that a question? >> uh huh. >> first i have to finish is your primary language. i have been on the other side of it. sometimes people have a hard

time to get the message across. as commissioners you have a good idea what they're trying to get accomplished. you can't evidently speak regarding the case but you can help them regarding procedure and somewhat hold her hand little bit and ease that burden so that it is fair for both parties. >> thank you. that's all the questions from the rules committee. i this time will open up this for public comment, you have two minutes, item number one. please sign up. >> sue hester. two minutes? >> yes. >> the city attorney did not find a lot of law because this would be a violation of the charter before the charter was changed.

when the charter was change in the seventies it prohibited anyone who represented the client from being on a city body. attorneys, real estate persons, anyone whose offices of clients. it was part of the charter. i don't know why it was eliminated in the current charter but there have never been - and i am very familiar with the planning commission, the rec park commission, the board of appeals, there has never been anybody on any body that deals with permits who has clients or whose office has clients. brings up the concert of interest issues. i know it was an absolute prohibition in the old charter, it was a charter amendment

highly contentious in the 70s. prevented a lot of people, like myself, or developers' attorneys. they're not in any commissions, periiod. because of the opportunity that has to deal with apartments is the commissioner, or have someone else in your office deal with the commission. i will shut up. the city attorney does not have a record because there is not. >> supervisor weiner. >> you are referring to realtors and attorneys as well? >> i was. he was originated because --

routinely appeared before commission. >> are you expressing the view that realtors should not be serving? >> yes. >> attorneys as well? >> absolutely. >> did you oppose rafael - ? he was a very good member of the board of appeals. >> did they have any candidates in san francisco? he was in oakland. you are not allowed to practice in san francisco. >> it is inaccurate to say that land use attorney said not been on the board of appeals. >> i was not aware of it if he was practicing san francisco; i would've raise the same objection.

>> good afternoon supervisors, my name is dick allen and i had no idea i would be here today yesterday. it was a chance e-mail that i got, that got my attention to the item in the rod & gun club. my curiosity got the best of me and i went through your agenda today. there it was. number one. daryl honda. he is a neighbor of mine. i have known him for at least eight or nine years. i think daryl honda brings a unique skill set that would allow him to be very helpful as a member of the board of appeals. as i said, we are neighbors. we share an alley between 15th and 16th avenue. we have been meeting this alley for a number of years.

in the beginning our conversations were about children, schools, the city parks, pools and lake merced. my experience of having served on the planning commission, and i recognize -- having served in those days, our conversations switch to life issues, and dr, discretionary review. it is apparent to me that darryl has a passion for san francisco; is well-trained to sort out conflicting facts. his personality and commitment to teamwork will be a big plus for our city. please approve darryl's nomination to the board of appeals. thank you.

>> supervisor kim: thank you. >> my name is sabrina g. shin, san francisco native. in chinatown i am an elder. i am on the board of chinatown's committee development; and i in the business partner of darryl honda. the only see him on committee meetings and i get the rest of them. i have been working with darryl for several years. i work in three things in a partner: us you work as hard as i do? does he have personal integrity? is he smart? he meets all three criteria. he is a number one win-win problem solver. in the board of appeals there will be any winners and losers

of the losers will not feel as bad when they get the message from darryl. he has an incredible ability to read people, both said and not said, and intuitively can connect with people. he listens with compassion. and with heart. and ultimately delivers a message that will be clear but with kindness. another thing, as realtors we are challenge with integrity issues everyday. it happens and open houses, in offers, from colleagues. working with him i can say 100 percent that i trust them with both my life, my real estate dealings, and ultimately with all my clients. i fully endorse my colleague, darryl honda really doesn't answer an e-mail let me know and i will get on them. >> supervisor kim: public comment is now closed.

(gavel) we have an appointment before us. we have to make a motion to amend before we follow this to the board, either a motion to approve or reject. supervisor weiner. >> i would like to make a motion to approve, to amend. approving the appointment and forwarding the board with recommendation. and i will say, i pointed this out in a question to ms. hester, the idea that it is somehow appropriate for somehow who is in the plan use world to serve in the land use commission, if someone wants to take that up they can but it is not accurate to suggest this is an anomaly. i did bring up an example of the board of appeals, if one

looks at, there is a member of the planning commission now who is in the land use world and has clients, an appointee of our board president. if you look at the historic preservation commission, maybe not everybody but the bulk of the people on the commission are in the land use world and have clients. these are all professionals who do their best to act with complete integrity of these commissions. conflict of interest are always present for any public official and we are all very careful about that, and we recuse ourselves when necessary. i had the opportunity to meet with mr. honda and i have heard very good things about him. he seems very committed to san francisco, understands the issues and would be a valuable

member of the board of appeals. i support the nomination. >> supervisor kim: we have a motion approving the mayor's appointment of mr. honda the board of appeals. one of the most important qualities is someone who can listen; that was brought up by our last speaker. it is important to have someone who has spent time in multiple sectors. the community offers that place; you have a background as a realtor, that it is owner; it is hard to quantify or qualify the ability to listen. i think that is something our neighbors want to see as we

come up with issues that are emotional. is also great to have another san francisco native on the board of appeals as well. i'm happy to support the motion. we do have a motion to amend. we can do that without opposition. (gavel). we have a motion to move the item forward to the full board. it won't be heard until the first tuesday in december; i urge you to reach out to the board of supervisors as well. it will be helpful to sit down with the city attorney about any other kind of potential conflicts that may arise and you can think about this in advance. we have a motion that we can do that without opposition. thank you. (gavel) call item number two. >> (reading) >> supervisor kim:

this appointee is nominated but our supervisor in district 8, tim doherty, this is a reappointment. supervisor wiener? >> i think earlier this year i nominated tim dougherty to the bicycle committee and he was confirmed; he is highly qualified and an active member of the advisory committee. he fill the remainder of the term. he is up for a full new term. it did not receive confirmation of the hearing until early this week and he's actually in los angeles at a bicycle related conference. he has done a great job on the advisory committee and i would like to forward to the board subject of the public comment. >> supervisor kim: you like to

speak, please step up. seeing none, public comment is now closed. normally it is approximate list committee to have the individual speak but a)this is a reappointment, and second, is a nomination of the supervisor and the supervisor is here on his behalf. we have a motion, tim doherty, seat 8. we have a motion we can do that without a position. (gavel) please call item number three. >> (reading) >> supervisor kim: we did hear this item already at the november 1 meeting. and number of applicants could not make it. we want to give them an opportunity to come forward today. if you have spoken to the rules committee, the houses change. i did state that you would not

have to come back on the rules committee today if you have already spoken. i did want to give an opportunity to those who were not able to make it; i know that we have one new applicant here. for these seats. i will first call leo madrid, our newest application. the format is the same; speak briefly about your background as it relates to this appointment and what you would be interested in pursuing and prioritizing. >> i joined the military out of high school, served in the u.s. navy for 10 years. my last duty station was nas alameda across the bay; it was one of the last commands. as a young sailor and visited

san francisco. i live in san francisco for 15 of the last 20 years, and until early this year i did not have any idea that that world war ii building had anything to do with the veterans committee. to me it was always the art center, and i thought the veterans name was more ceremonial than anything else. early this year began volunteering full-time there at the veterans building, and became an integral member of the american legion. i am the eight district historian, and appointed commander of post 36. the president of the veterans affairs commission, eddie

ramirez, i had similar training in organizational development and strategic planning. i attended most, not all, of the veterans affairs commission meeting this year. i videotaped several for historical reasons. one of the things that i see the commission can really use is an element of team strategic planning. the veterans community itself is very fragmented. i am a member of the american legion, veterans for peace, and amvet, and none of them work together. many times and have an internecine community where the veterans work against the best interest of the group rather than towards it. i kind of already and doing the job. i attend the meetings. i will continue to attend the meetings in support of the veterans affair commission in any way possible. to the biggest problems plaguing both the san francisco community and the veterans

community is homelessness and suicide prevention problems. yesterday at approximately 2 p.m., at veteran walking to the veterans building, very distraught. his face in the present in the veterans building on a number of different occasions. yesterday he opened up his wrist, and bled out all over the hallway in the veterans building. to me this is a travesty. the believe in the community where this happens. the veterans building has over 30,000 square feet of space allocated towards veterans uses, for the most part it is empty. there is a milestone in front of us, the building will be closing down four two year seismic renovation; during that time the american legion we relegate the temporary headquarters.

with the building opens up we are still faced with a similar problem. i will make it a priority of mine to help establish suicide and homelessness prevention programs that dovetail with the va efforts. right now the city is overtaxed. i read somewhere that 25 million dollars are spent on veteran alcohol issues. i dedicated nearly my full-time. i sacrifice my own direction as an entrepreneur, our livelihood and hopefully help revitalize his community or be part of the solution and i will continue to do that.

i know there are a lot of great candidates. is not this appointship, maybe next time we'll see me again. >> supervisor kim: thank you. i see no questions from colleagues. thank you. i did let our applicants know that did not speak last week, i welcome them to not attend again given they already spoke, but if you are here and want to speak to the new committee members i invite you to do so. emily burnett. david adams. mary -- john gallagher. michael -- we did have two individuals that would through their applications.

i'm sorry one applicant. creighton reed already let us know that he could not make it. he was also not here at the last meeting. you have two minutes. >> good afternoon supervisors. i'm wallace levin. i am a longtime member of the veterans affairs commission. i feel it would be in the best interest of the city and county of san francisco and the veterans affairs commission if for the first time in the almost 30 year history of the commission that an attorney veteran, veteran staff member of the county veterans service

office, and a city college student veteran be appointed to the commission. michael -- is a veteran and still reserves in the navy reserve as a jag officer. john gallagher was a marine. and a san francisco county veterans service office. leo burnett was in the navy an is an officer in the city college. 1500 are now attending classes at the city college. he would bring a direct contact with these veterans. all three are young and would bring much-needed knowledge, experience and expertise to the veterans affairs commission. with the addition of these outstanding candidates, the veterans affairs commission

will be much more able to move forward our mandate to act in the best interest of veterans. thank you. >> supervisor kim: thank you very much. >> good afternoon committee members. i am steven - secretary of veterans affairs commission, here to speak essentially to underline the same three recommendations made by commissioner levin a moment ago. these three candidates if you mentioned bring unique capabilities and qualifications to the veterans affairs commission. as an attorney, michael mafey [sounds like] has worked with the incarcerated veterans a lot in san mateo jail and so on. one of the initiatives that we have taken in the past year, i

continue to press for, is the establishment of the veterans court in the city of seven cisco such as they have in san diego and other places. their very successful. michael is a tremendous resource to help make this a reality. he will be very helpful on the commission. john gallagher, he has contact with hundreds and hundreds of veterans and the city who seek services through the va and the state of california, and brings a unique perspective. and his young gentleman, lee burnett is a great resource because of his connections with the universities and so on. there is another seat that will be opening up; i'm sure the committee is aware of it, it is not open now. because of his resignation. some of the other qualified

candidates will have opportunity in the future. >> supervisor kim: thank you for being here again. >> my name is dottie -- i am in the seven cisco affairs commission, also work in the oakland center. i have nothing else to say because they took out all of the words from my mouth. michael -- and lee burnett, would be perfect additions to the commission. >> supervisor kim: thank you commissioner. >> thank you. my name is john -- and member of the veterans affairs commission. i was appointed in january, 2007, by the board of supervisors and endeavor to honor that appointment and attended every single meeting of the veterans affairs commission. i appreciate - one of the reasons i wanted to come before

you - was to thank you. in the last two years we have seen more diverse education than ever before. no longer is a chair and white person. i look forward to the day when we have a president that is female, and that is coming. for the first time we have four women's veterans and we have the women's caucus and the commission. there are a number of issues that we have to address as veterans. i want to thank you first and foremost for the last two years of these appointments of new blood and i want to talk him half of michael mafey. i apologize for the casual attire, but i need to be a walking billboard of the sacrifices made by our veterans. michael mafey has seen 70+

veterans who are incarcerated and need help. we need a veterans court. the other applicant like to speak on behalf of is lee barnett. i think these two would be great additions. it is also with a sad heart, because i have come to speak on behalf of other applicants, but i need to speak against an appointment, leo madrid. >> you can finish a sentence. >> -- riddled with deception, hidden agendas. he accuses one group of indirectly being responsible for hundreds of thousands of

veteran suicides and attempts. this gentleman is a loose cannon. >> supervisor kim: are there any other public comment on this item? seeing none public comment is closed. (gavel) i want to thank all of the commissions and the veterans affairs commission that came today. i do want to acknowledge that we do have four women on the veterans affairs commission. that's great. we lost one. with this new seed that is opening, i hope that we can recruit more women as well. commissioner guy? i like to see the balance come up again.