San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - October 17, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, to consider a wide-ranging agenda including budget reform for nonprofit contracts, implementation of the voter-approved Empty Homes Tax, amendments to shelter and homeless service contracts, and a controversial change to remote public comment rules. The board also recognized community members with commendations and introduced several new resolutions.

Consent Calendar

• Lawsuit Settlements (Items 1-11): Unanimously approved 11 settlements totaling $3,649,280.01, covering claims against the city.
• Routine Items (Items 13, 15-41, 43-45): Passed without discussion on a single “same house, same call” vote each. These included the Police Department salary ordinance (Item 13), airport concession leases and contracts, property leases, grants, health services amendments, liquor license transfers, code amendments (Items 29-32, 36-38), appointments, and homeless service grant amendments (Items 43-45).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Domestic Violence Awareness: Beverly Upton of the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium spoke in support of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, noting that 20,000 people call community-based organizations about domestic violence annually. She urged continued efforts to reduce domestic violence homicides, which have decreased from 15-16 per year to zero in some years.
• Other Speakers: Comments covered homelessness, police response, international issues, and personal experiences. Several speakers delivered offensive or hateful remarks, which later influenced the board's discussion on remote public comment.

Discussion Items

Budget and Nonprofit Contracting Reform (Item 12)

Supervisor Hillary Ronen presented a resolution requiring city departments to include cost-of-living adjustments in multi-year contracts with nonprofit organizations, ending the practice of last-minute budget negotiations. The ordinance passed on first reading.

Empty Homes Tax Implementation (Item 14)

Supervisor Dean Preston presented the implementing ordinance for the voter-approved Empty Homes Tax (Proposition M, Nov. 2022, 55% approval). The tax applies to buildings of three or more units vacant for more than half the year, with exceptions, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The ordinance passed on first reading.

Homeless Shelter Contract Performance (Items 42-44)

The Budget and Legislative Analyst raised concerns about the Cova Hotel non-congregate shelter operated by Episcopal Community Services (ECS), citing a “complete failure” to meet operational and programmatic requirements, including lack of staff training, service referrals, and wellness checks. The board approved a 10-month extension through August 2024, with a commitment to monitor performance during the budget process. Supervisor Ronan noted that a new site manager had been hired and improvements were beginning.

Remote Public Comment Rules Change (Item 46)

• Proponent (Supervisor Peskin): Moved to end remote public comment except for legally required disability accommodations, citing a pattern of racist and anti-Semitic comments from anonymous remote participants. He expressed openness to future alternatives like state law changes.
• Opponents (Supervisors Preston, Engardio, Melgar): Argued remote comment is vital for working people, parents, seniors, and caregivers. They suggested alternatives such as a time delay or requiring registration, rather than eliminating the option entirely.
• Supporters (Supervisor Walton, others): Contended the change would not harm people with disabilities or seniors and was needed to prevent outside interference and hateful speech.
• Vote: 8-3 in favor (Peskin, Ronan, Safai, Stephanie, Walton, Chan, Dorsey, Mandelman for; Preston, Engardio, Melgar against). The motion carried.

Commendations (Special Order 2:30 p.m.)

• Andrea Carla Michaels (“Pizza Lady”): Recognized for distributing unsold pizzas to unhoused neighbors in the Lower Polk/Tenderloin area and for operating a citizen lost-and-found service. She credited rent control for enabling her volunteer work.
• Carl Nolte: Honored for over 60 years of journalism at the San Francisco Chronicle. The board declared October 18, 2023 as “Carl Nolte Day.”

Key Outcomes

• Passed on first reading: Budget reform ordinance (Item 12), Police Department salary ordinance (Item 13), Empty Homes Tax implementation (Item 14), affordable housing lease delegation (Item 29), park road closure (Item 30), firearms drawing prohibition (Item 31), opioid antagonist requirement (Item 32), contractor debarment (Item 36), surveillance technology policy (Item 37), and Labor and Employment Code (Item 38).
• Adopted resolutions: All consent calendar settlements (11 items); airport contracts and leases (Items 15-20); property lease (Item 21); grants (Items 22-24, 26-28); health services amendment (Item 25); CalRecycle grants authorization (Item 27); gun violence victim support (Item 33); liquor license transfers (Items 34-35); committee reports including homeless shelter amendments (Items 42-45).
• Approved appointments: Maxine Anderson to the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force; Brenda Kwee McNulty and Aimee Brown to the Treasury Oversight Committee.
• Approved rules change: Remote public comment eliminated (except for disability accommodation) effective after the meeting (Item 46).
• Introduced legislation: Resolutions on stolen vehicle ticketing and Marina Harbor project (Supervisor Safai in collaboration with President Peskin); SOMA Pilipinas Gateway arch (Supervisor Dorsey); cannabis event permit extension through 2026 (Supervisor Mandelman); joint plan for inhabited RVs at Lake Merced (Supervisor Melgar).
• Adjourned in memory: Tyrrell Porter Sr. (by Supervisor Walton) and Charles “Chuck” Feeney (by President Peskin).