The Name Game: Onward, Council Members!

As San Francisco settles into our usual slightly colder version of summer, I am reminded of the proverb, “The only constant in life is change.” This month that saying seems particularly appropriate.

A few weeks ago, the recommendations of the Commission Streamlining Task Force officially took effect for commissions and public bodies established through San Francisco's Municipal Code. For the Animal Commission, these changes represent some of the most significant in our 53-year history.

But before I unpack those changes – and what our public body will look like going forward – I want to provide a little background. 

As longtime readers of this column know, the Commission Streamlining Task Force was created following the passage of Proposition E, approved by San Francisco voters in the November 2024 election. This proposition required the city to appoint a task force charged with making recommendations about ways to modify, combine, or eliminate each of the city’s boards and commissions in an effort to improve city government.

The Commission Streamlining Task Force's final report identified 152 city commissions and advisory bodies, of which 115 were active, and recommended reducing that number to a total of 87. Initially, the Animal Commission was among the bodies being considered for elimination, but after community members showed up in force to speak out on our behalf, the task force decided otherwise. 

Over the course of 26 meetings, the task force received approximately 1,300 verbal and written public comments about the entities in their charge. Of those, roughly 200 comments - over 15% - were in support of the Animal Commission. In fact, we received more public support than any other commission or advisory body, which we believe is the major reason we have been allowed to carry on with this important work. 

Ch-ch-ch-changes

The most important change is we are no longer called a commission; since we are an advisory body, we will now be called a council. That means that instead of being known as the Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, our official name is now the Animal Advisory Council. (As someone who has worked for years to change our group’s name, this is a very welcome change. After all, no one wants to be part of a group that has the word “control” in it, and the old name definitely did not reflect who or what we are.)

I realize it will take some time getting used to it, but let’s say it out loud together: Animal Advisory Council! It’s got a nice ring to it, yes?

Another important change involves Seat 7 on our council. Since the creation of our public body, that seat has been reserved as a veterinarian-only seat, meaning only someone who practices veterinary medicine in San Francisco could apply for that position. As you can imagine, given most vets’ busy schedules, this has been a historically difficult seat to fill. But now, although there is still a preference for a vet, anyone with an interest in animals may apply to serve in Seat 7.

Additional changes are similar to those required for other advisory councils, including reporting requirements, which are now due annually rather than quarterly, and term limits. The new term limits are not retroactive, however, so those of us currently serving will start with a clean slate, time-wise. 

What Hasn’t Changed

It’s important to remember that while the Animal Advisory Council has a new name, our purpose remains the same. That means listening to our community and ensuring that animal-related concerns have a place in San Francisco's public conversation. Change should never come at the expense of public participation. 

While members of the council are grateful to be able to continue our work, we recognize that a number of other bodies that helped elevate community voices will not be moving forward due to the task force’s recommendations. This is a major loss to our city and worth acknowledging. We thank these volunteers for their service and hope they will find other ways to contribute to our civic life. 

What’s Ahead

At our first meeting this month as the new Animal Advisory Council, members will review our transition from commission to council and what to expect in the coming months. We’ll also discuss follow-up concerns and hear updates about issues from previous meetings, including the artificial grass proposal for Crocker Amazon Park, efforts surrounding mandatory spay and neuter legislation, and continuing developments involving giant pandas and the San Francisco Zoo. 

Again, while a new name may appear on our website and on our agenda, our mission remains the same. As the Animal Advisory Council begins this next chapter, we look forward to seeing what the future brings - and we especially look forward to never seeing the word “control” in our name again.

See you at City Hall!

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The next meeting of the Animal Advisory Council will be held at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, July 9, in Room 408 at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102. Information concerning remote access to meetings is on our website (agendas for upcoming meetings are published within 72 hours prior to that meeting).

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Please be aware that the views and opinions expressed in this column are those of Council Member Torres and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the Animal Advisory Council.