San Francisco County Municipal Code § 5.1 General Provisions

For all purposes in this Chapter 5, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below: “Advisory Body” shall mean a multimember body, whether permanent or temporary, and regardless of name or composition, established by the Charter, by ordinance or resolution, by state or federal law, or by the initiative of another body so established, that does not have legal authority to exercise the sovereign powers of the City by making binding decisions on behalf of the City. “Commission” shall mean a multimember body, whether permanent or temporary, and regardless of name or composition, established by the Charter, by ordinance, by resolution adopted by the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors, or by state or federal law, that has authority to exercise the sovereign powers of the City by making binding decisions on behalf of the City. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-1 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; Ord. 44-11, File No. 101480, App. 3/ 10/2011; amended and redesignated as Sec. 5.4-1 by Ord. 99- 26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, in this Chapter 5, or in another section of the Municipal Code, the following provisions shall apply to members of any Commission: (a) Members shall serve four-year terms. No person may serve as an appointed member of the same body for more than three terms. (b) A part of a term that exceeds two years shall count as a full term; a part of a term that is two years or less shall not. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the current term of any person serving on a Commission on January 1, 2027, shall count as a full term if the person serves more than two years of that term. (c) Terms completed on or before December 31, 2026 shall not count as a term for the purpose of the lifetime term limit in this Section 5.1-2. (d) This Section 5.1-2 shall not apply to a person serving in an ex officio capacity or serving in a seat designated for a City employee or officer. (e) Any person subject to this Section 5.1-2 who is serving a term that is shorter or longer than four years on January 1, 2027 may complete that term, and all subsequent terms for the seat will be four years, as provided in subsection (a). (f) All four-year terms in effect on January 1, 2027 will continue. Commissions that have no established terms on January 1, 2027, and Commissions for which a majority of the seats expire in the same year, shall draw lots by no later than April 1, 2027 to establish staggered terms. (g) Unless otherwise provided in this Chapter or in another section of the Municipal Code, members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and may be removed by their appointing authority without cause. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-2 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; redesignated as Sec. 5.4-2 by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Unless otherwise provided in the Charter or in this Chapter 5, each policy body designated as a Commission in this Chapter or in another section of the Municipal Code shall: (a) Formulate, evaluate and approve goals, objectives, plans, and programs and set policies consistent with the overall objectives of the City, as established by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors; (b) After public hearing, approve applicable departmental budgets or any budget modifications or fund transfers requiring the approval of the Board of Supervisors, subject to the Mayor’s final authority to initiate, prepare, and submit the annual proposed budget and the Board of Supervisors’ authority under Charter Section 9.103; and (c) Exercise such other powers and duties as shall be prescribed by ordinance. In furtherance of the discharge of its responsibilities, each Commission may: (d) Recommend to the Mayor for submission to the Board of Supervisors rates, fees and similar charges coming within their respective jurisdictions; (e) Conduct investigations into any aspect of governmental operations within its jurisdiction through the power of inquiry, and make recommendations to the Mayor or the Board of Supervisors; and (f) Hold hearings and take testimony. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-3 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; amended by Ord. 26-09, File No. 081511, App. 2/13/2009; Ord. 44-11, File No. 101480, App. 3/10/2011; Ord. 83-14, File No. 140141, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014; Ord. 31-17, File No. 161348, App. 2/10/2017, Eff. 3/12/2017; Ord. 116-18, File No. 180081, App. 5/17/2018, Eff. 6/17/2018; Ord. 55-20, File No. 200085, App. 4/3/2020, Eff. 5/4/2020; Ord. 54-23, File No. 221245, App. 4/21/2023, Eff. 5/22/2023; amended and redesignated as Sec. 5.4-3 by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, in this Chapter 5, or in another section of the Municipal Code, the following provisions shall apply to members of any Advisory Body:

(a) Members shall serve three-year terms. No person may serve as an appointed member of the same body for more than four terms. (b) A part of a term that exceeds 18 months shall count as a full term; a part of a term that is 18 months or less shall not. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the current term of any person serving on an Advisory Body on January 1, 2027, shall count as a full term if the person serves more than 18 months of that term. (c) Terms completed on or before December 31, 2026, shall not count as a term for the purpose of the lifetime term limit in this Section 5.1-4. (d) This Section shall not apply to a person serving in an ex officio capacity or serving in a seat designated for a City employee or officer. (e) Any person subject to this Section 5.1-4 who is serving a term that is shorter or longer than three years on January 1, 2027 may complete that term, and all subsequent terms for the seat will be three years, as provided in subsection (a). (f) All three-year terms in effect on January 1, 2027 will continue. Advisory Bodies that have no established terms on January 1, 2027, and Advisory Bodies for which a majority of the seats expire in the same year, shall draw lots by no later than April 1, 2027 to establish staggered terms. (g) Unless otherwise provided in this Chapter, members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and may be removed by their appointing authority without cause. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-4 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; amended by Ord. 44-11, File No. 101480, App. 3/10/2011; Ord. 83-14, File No. 140141, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014; Ord. 84-14, File No. 140260, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014; Ord. 276-18, File No. 180913, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 269-19, File No. 190499, App. 11/21/2019, Eff. 12/22/2019; Ord. 6-24, File No. 231081, App. 1/19/2024, Eff. 2/19/2024; amended and redesignated as Sec. 5.4-4 by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter 5 or in another section of the Municipal Code, the tenure of a member of any Commission or Advisory Body shall terminate no later than 60 days after the expiration of the member’s term, unless the member is reappointed. A member may not serve as a hold-over member of a Commission or Advisory Body for more than 60 days after the expiration of their term. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-5 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; repealed by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Members of Commissions and Advisory Bodies shall receive no compensation from the City unless (1) expressly provided in the Charter or authorized by ordinance, (2) compensation is authorized in an annual or supplemental appropriation ordinance under Article IX of the Charter, (3) compensation is authorized under Section 8A.106 of the Charter, or (4) the member is a City employee acting in the scope of their employment. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026) (Former Sec. 5.1-6 added by Ord. 215-08, File No. 080564, App. 9/19/2008; amended by Ord. 44-11, File No. 101480, App. 3/10/2011; Ord. 83-14, File No. 140141, App. 6/13/2014, Eff. 7/13/2014; Ord. 31-17, File No. 161348, App. 2/10/2017, Eff. 3/12/2017; Ord. 276-18, File No. 180913, App. 11/20/2018, Eff. 12/21/2018; Ord. 6-24, File No. 231081, App. 1/19/2024, Eff. 2/19/2024; amended and redesignated as Sec. 5.4-5 by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

All City departments, Commissions, and agencies shall cooperate with any Commission or Advisory Body established in the Charter, in this Chapter 5, or in another section of the Municipal Code in exercising its legal powers and duties. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

Any member of an Advisory Body who fails to attend at least three meetings of the Advisory Body in a 12-month period without the express approval of the Advisory Body at or before each missed meeting shall be deemed to have resigned from the Advisory Body ten days after the third unapproved absence. The Advisory Body shall promptly inform the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and the member’s appointing authority of the resignation. This Section shall not apply to a person serving in an ex officio capacity or serving in a seat designated for a City employee or officer. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

MUNICIPAL CODE. This Chapter 5 is intended to be the primary repository for all Advisory Bodies and Commissions except those established in the Charter. Other bodies in the Municipal Code include: (a) Assessment Appeals Board; (b) Disaster Council; (c) Film Commission; (d) Human Rights Commission; (e) In-Home Supportive Services Public Authority Governing Body; (f) Interdepartmental Staff Council on Traffic and Transportation; (g) Permit Prioritization Task Force; (h) Refuse Rate Board; (i) Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board; and (j) Sunshine Ordinance Task Force. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)

The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors shall maintain a public record of all Commissions and Advisory Bodies and their seat terms, term limits, and seat qualifications of all members. The Clerk of the Board shall prepare and update this record based on information provided to the Clerk of the Board by the appointing authorities for those members and the department responsible for providing administrative support for the Commission or Advisory Body. Any entity creating a new Commission or Advisory Body shall notify the Clerk of the Board in writing within five business days of the body’s creation. All appointing authorities and departments responsible for providing administrative support shall notify the Clerk of the Board in writing of the appointment, resignation, or removal of a member of a Commission or Advisory Board within five business days of each such appointment, resignation, or removal. If the Clerk of the Board establishes an electronic format to track the information described in this Section 5.1-10, all entities creating a new body, appointing authorities, and departments responsible for providing administrative support shall provide information through that electronic format to the extent required by the Clerk of Board within a timeframe prescribed by the Clerk of the Board. The Clerk of the Board shall establish an oversight process under which a committee of the Board of Supervisors shall ensure the requirements of this Section 5.1-10 are met on a continual basis. (Added by Ord. 99-26, File No. 260217, App. 5/29/2026, Eff. 6/29/2026)