San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - July 25, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, beginning at approximately 2:15 PM. The meeting included approval of the FY 2023-2025 city budget, extensive discussion on development impact fee reductions and inclusionary housing policy, and a debate on police command staffing levels. The board also adopted numerous routine items, made appointments, and heard public testimony on language access, taxi medallions, and other community concerns.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 through 16 were approved as a consent agenda without objection. These included routine ordinances such as the Seal Rock Inn occupancy fee waiver, gross receipts tax rate postponement, development agreement for 98 Franklin Street, hotel agreements for Adante, Monarch, and Cova hotels (totaling over $51 million), zoning changes for 98 Franklin Street height increase, building code streamlining, Port of San Francisco waterfront plan updates, landmark designation for Parkside Branch Library, commercial-to-residential adaptive reuse, awning amnesty, and government-regulated rents.
• Item 17 (Health Service System plans and contribution rates for 2024) was finally passed with nine votes required.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Multiple speakers from the Language Access Network (including Chinese for Affirmative Action, Filipino Community Center, Arab Resource & Organizing Center, PODER, and others) urged support for Supervisor Walton's amendments to strengthen the Language Access Ordinance. They cited barriers to healthcare, police services, and housing due to lack of interpretation, especially for non-threshold language communities. Testimony emphasized that language access is a life-or-death issue.
• Taxi medallion holders spoke about financial hardship, loss of conventions, and competition with Uber. One speaker criticized the city for not providing pandemic relief and said cab drivers are working people who need support.
• A speaker raised concerns about the city's commitment to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, noting that one in four San Franciscans face hunger and SNAP benefits were reduced.
• Several callers paid tribute to the late Joyce Juan Manalo, a Filipino arts leader, and noted her contributions to Bindlestiff Studio and the SOMA Pilipinas cultural district.

Discussion Items

• Budget Approval (Items 18-41): The board approved the city's two-year budget (FY 2023-2024 and 2024-2025) on final reading by a vote of 10-1, with Supervisor Preston dissenting. The budget includes appropriations of over $1.1 billion for wastewater capital improvements, $332 million for water revenue bonds, and $124 million for Hetch Hetchy capital, among others. Item 19 (Annual Salary Ordinance) was duplicated for later amendment consideration.
• Our City Our Home Fund Reallocation (Item 42): An ordinance to reallocate $16.36 million from the homelessness gross receipts tax to prevent homelessness was passed 11-0.
• Development Impact Fee Reductions and Inclusionary Housing (Items 66-67): After extensive debate, these ordinances passed 10-1 (Supervisor Preston voting no). The legislation reduces inclusionary housing requirements and impact fees until November 2026 to stimulate housing production. Supporters argued it was a temporary, data-driven stimulus; opponents argued it would reduce affordable housing without proven benefit.
• Police Command Staff Amendment (Item 19 - ASO): President Peskin proposed an amendment to reduce the police department command staff from two assistant chiefs to one and from eight commanders to five, adding 7-8 rank-and-file officers. After Chief Bill Scott defended the current structure as necessary for modern policing and transparency, the board decided to continue the conversation. Supervisor Chan moved to send the issue to committee for September review, and the duplicated file was unduplicated with amendments to be introduced separately.
• Language Access Ordinance Amendments (Introduced by Supervisor Walton): Supervisor Walton introduced amendments to strengthen the Language Access Ordinance, including clarification of interpretation vs. translation, expanding coverage to digital services, requiring quarterly complaint reporting, and emphasizing department budget responsibility for language services. Public comment overwhelmingly supported the amendments.
• Other Introductions: Supervisor Melgar introduced legislation to include early educators in educator housing eligibility and a first-time homebuyer loan forgiveness program. Supervisor Ronan introduced a resolution recognizing August 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day and requested a hearing on criminalization of substance use disorder. Supervisor Safai introduced microtrenching for high-speed internet, a street naming for Elsie Tinelli, and a resolution commemorating Bruce Lee. Supervisor Walton introduced resolutions on Anchor Brewing legacy, reparations contributions, and social media violence enforcement.

Key Outcomes

• FY 2023-2025 Budget Approved: Final passage 10-1. Mayor expected to sign July 26.
• Development Impact Fee Reductions Passed (Items 66-67): 10-1 vote. Inclusionary housing percentage and fees reduced for three years.
• Our City Our Home Reallocation Passed (Item 42): 11-0.
• Appointments Approved: Dena Aslanian-Williams to Homelessness Oversight Commission (unanimous); Dori Caminong, Ben Bleiman, Cynthia Wang to Entertainment Commission (unanimous); Dominica Henderson to MTA Board (11-0); Saul Sugarman and David Pilpel to Sunshine Task Force (7-4).
• Police Command Staff Amendment Deferred: President Peskin will introduce a separate ASO amendment to be heard in committee in September.
• Resolutions Adopted: Items 77-84 including support for Anchor Brewing workers (amended), reparations contributions (amended), social media violence prevention, and others.
• Meeting Adjourned in Memory of: Wilma V. Dawson Gardner, Chester Hartman, Joyce Juan Manalo, William Harden, Charlie Marsteller, and Tony Bennett.