The San Francisco Building Inspection Commission and the Department of Building Inspection were created by voter referendum in 1994. The Building Inspection Commission was designed to provide representation for the various communities, which interact with the Building Department. The Building Inspection Commission recommends candidates to serve as the director of DBI, sets policy, hears various appeals on issues leading up to the issuance of building permits, sits as the Abatement Appeals Board to hear appeals of Director's Orders of Abatement, and provides a public forum through their monthly meetings.