San Francisco Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting - July 18, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, starting at 2:00 PM with all 11 supervisors present. The meeting included a special appearance by Mayor London Breed, approval of a comprehensive two-year budget, numerous legislative items, public testimony, and introduction of new business.

Consent Calendar

• Items 2–36 (Budget Package): Approved on first reading with a 10–1 vote (Supervisor Preston dissenting). The package included the Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for FY 2023–2025, the Annual Salary Ordinance, and several related ordinances and resolutions. Key components: raising minimum compensation for nonprofit city contractors to $23/hour by January 2026; increasing DBI building inspection fees by 15%; waiving first-year fees for certain new small businesses; authorizing up to $1.1 billion in wastewater revenue bonds; and approving grants for the Downtown Welcome Ambassador Program ($21.4 million) and Mid-Market/Tenderloin Community-Based Safety Program ($61.1 million). An amendment to Item 19 (opting out of state law requiring supporter/opponent names on ballot statements) was adopted, making the opt-out temporary and subject to annual board approval. The budget restored $75 million in direct services for vulnerable residents.
• Item 37 (Polk Street Health Services): Unanimously passed to permit ground-floor health services on Polk Street.
• Item 38 (Sentencing Commission Sunset): Unanimously passed to extend sunset to June 30, 2026.
• Items 41–45 (Telecom Pole Licenses): Unanimously approved master license agreements with Verizon, Mobilitie, Extenet, Crown Castle, and AT&T for installing equipment on SFMTA and SFPUC poles, each over $1 million in revenue.
• Items 56–58 (Port Waterfront Plan): Unanimously passed ordinances updating the General Plan, zoning map, and planning code for the Port of San Francisco Waterfront Plan.
• Items 72–76 (Land Use & Housing): Unanimously passed including: building code streamlining for site permits (aiming to reduce review time by 6–18 months); landmark designation for Parkside Branch Library; downtown commercial-to-residential conversion; temporary awning amnesty program; and rent ordinance protections for tenant-occupied units receiving tax credits.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Taxi Medallion Holders (multiple speakers): Expressed frustration with the collapse of the medallion system, pleading for relief from debts incurred when purchasing medallions for $250,000, which are now worthless due to competition from Uber/Lyft. Over 400 medallions have been foreclosed. Speakers noted that drivers work 16–18 hour days and some have died waiting at the airport.
• Evelyn Ingold (SF Taxi Workers Alliance): Urged the board to act on the medallion crisis, noting that the first foreclosure occurred in 2016 and the problem has been ignored.
• Matt Sutter, Mahamdeev Sharma, Roberto Marquez, and others: Supported the medallion holders' requests for a buyback or debt relief.
• Art Farrow, Chauncey Robinson, Vic Williams, and other probation staff: Spoke in recognition of Probation Services Week (July 16–22), highlighting community engagement, fatherhood programs, and the importance of reducing recidivism.
• Charles Pitts: Raised concerns about Urban Alchemy workers, showing a video of a worker with a machete and another in a ski mask. Asked for accountability measures.
• Dmitry Yakushkin (therapist): Requested an apology or acknowledgment regarding the police response at a recent skating event where 81 children were arrested; noted most charges were dropped.
• Chris Ward Klein: Alleged misuse of surveillance technology by city officials and called for removal of those involved.
• Honest Charlie Bodkin (attempted to speak on food bank funding): Cut off by the clerk as the budget had already had public comment.
• David Pilpel (call-in): Requested Item 85 (support for SB 532) be sent to committee for further discussion on bridge toll impacts.
• Cloney Chin (call-in): Thanked Supervisor Walton and urged preservation of Anchor Brewing Company.

Discussion Items

• Mayor's Appearance (2:00 PM Special Order): Mayor Breed delivered remarks on downtown recovery, proposing that the city and other agencies use their real estate strategically, including a possible UC campus downtown and a soccer stadium. She urged the board to "think bigger and bolder" and avoid roadblocks.
• Budget Debate (Items 2–36): Budget Chair Chan and multiple supervisors praised the collaborative process that restored $75 million in services. Supervisor Preston voted no, citing defunding of social housing ($20 million from the Housing Stability Fund) and a $62 million increase to the SFPD budget (to nearly $800 million). He noted racial disparities in policing and called the police increase "unconditional."
• Item 72 (Site Permit Streamlining): Supervisor Safai explained the reform would reduce permit wait times (currently 627 days for multifamily, 861 days for single-family) by 6–18 months.
• Item 76 (Rent Ordinance): Supervisor Preston's legislation to prevent displacement in buildings receiving low-income housing tax credits was passed.
• Item 82 (Homelessness Oversight Commission Appointment): Supervisor Preston moved to continue the appointment of Dena Aslanian-Williams for one week after concerns about her social media posts and ties to the SF Realtor Association. Several supervisors supported a continuance to allow more vetting; the motion passed.
• New Business Introductions: Supervisor Walton introduced a resolution urging city contractors who profited from slavery to make voluntary contributions to a reparations fund. He also introduced a resolution supporting efforts to preserve Anchor Brewing Company and a letter of inquiry on bank closures in District 10. Supervisor Dorsey introduced a resolution declaring July 28–29 "Taylor Swift Weekend" to promote tourism. Supervisor Melgar introduced a hearing request on the Ocean Avenue Association and a budget analyst report on the economic contributions of Central American immigrants.

Key Outcomes

• Budget (Items 2–36): Passed on first reading 10–1. The budget includes $75 million in restored services, increased minimum compensation for contractors, and various fee adjustments.
• Item 19 Amendment: Adopted to make the ballot statement opt-out temporary, subject to annual board approval.
• Item 85 (SB 532 Support): Sent to committee for further discussion (Supervisor Waltons request).
• Item 82 (Homelessness Oversight Appointment): Continued to July 25, 2023.
• All other items on the consent agenda and committee reports were approved unanimously unless otherwise noted.
• Adoption Without Committee Reference: Items 86–90 approved unanimously; Item 85 severed to committee.