Mirkarimi's Power Grab

 

Is Rec and Park shakeup plan heading to the ballot?

Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi will introduce a proposed ballot measure today that would loosen the mayor's grip over the Recreation and Park Department.

Under his plan, the mayor no longer would have sole appointing authority over the department's oversight commission. Instead, the mayor would get three picks, the Board of Supervisors would get three picks and a seventh member would be selected jointly by the mayor and the president of the Board of Supervisors.

In addition, the proposal would allow commission decisions to be appealed to the city's Board of Appeals.

Mirkarimi's proposal comes after the Recreation and Park Commission joined the Planning Commission and voted in favor of a controversial condo project at 555 Washington St. that would have cast shadows on nearby parkland. The Board of Supervisors ultimately overturned the project.

Faced with having to close a mounting budget deficit, the commission also has signed off on revenue-generating measures, some of which have faced public opposition.

Mirkarimi said the intent of his proposal is to ''foster greater harmony'' between the municipal government's executive and legislative branches. In addition, he said, the proposed changes would ''create a giant step toward democratizing the city's rec and park system.''

With today being the deadline to introduce ballot measures, look for at least one other power-sharing proposal to be unveiled.

Some supervisors are seeking more influence over the Municipal Transportation Agency and are looking to change the governance structure with split appointments. The mayor now nominates all seven directors to the transportation commission, although the supervisors can reject the picks. City voters rejected a similar idea in 2005. The new proposed charter amendment, which was still being crafted late Monday, is expected to be significantly broader in scope.

 Original Chronicle story...

Posted by Steve Sinai