San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - November 7, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on November 7, 2023, with nine members present (Supervisors Melgar and Ronen excused). The meeting covered a wide range of items including settlements, a $300 million affordable housing bond, charter amendments, emergency declarations, and extensive public comment from city workers. Key votes and decisions are detailed below.

Consent Calendar

• Settlements (Items 1-3): Approved three lawsuit settlements: Katy Sullivan ($207,500, employment dispute), Twilio Inc. ($18,000,000, telephone user tax refund), and Adam Smith et al. ($130,401.66, expedited conversion program fee). Passed unanimously.
• Community Policing Strategy (Item 4): Ordinance requiring the Chief of Police to adopt a foot and bike patrol strategy passed unanimously.
• Airport Bus Purchase (Item 7): Authorized purchase of up to 14 used compressed natural gas transit buses from Phoenix for not to exceed $350,000. Passed.
• Administrative Fees (Item 10): Increased fees for reproduction and notary services by Department of Administrative Services. Passed.
• Lease, Grants, Contracts (Items 12-15): Approved lease at 2789-25th Street ($0 base rent, 27 years), grant from Friends of Jackson Park ($12,440,735 for playground renovation), contract for radiation detection badges ($420,000), and retroactive contract amendment with Western States Oil ($35,450,000). All passed.
• Emergency Declarations (Items 16-17): Adopted two emergency declarations for Trocadero Clubhouse repairs ($1,850,000) and winter storm debris removal ($2,100,000). Supervisor Chan noted the department failed to submit resolutions within 60 days but committed to correcting the protocol. Adopted despite being referred without recommendation.
• Shelter Contract (Item 18): Approved amendment with Five Keys Schools and Programs for 685 Ellis Shelter, not to exceed $27,296,994, extending term to June 30, 2026. Passed.
• Safe Swab Ordinance (Item 19 original): Passed on first reading. Ordinance regulating medical specimen collection sites, establishing hygiene, privacy, and penalty standards. Supervisor Preston noted the ordinance was needed after questionable COVID-19 testing tents appeared. He duplicated the file to add amendments (outlawing payment for tests) and sent the duplicate to committee. Original passed unanimously.
• Liquor License Transfer (Item 20): Approved transfer for Fig & Thistle at 313 Ivy Street. Passed.
• Grand Jury Report (Item 21): Adopted resolution responding to civil grand jury report on small business support. Passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• DPW Street Inspectors (multiple speakers): A group of inspectors from the Bureau of Street Use and Mapping testified against the street vendor enforcement program. They reported being assigned to impound stolen goods from unpermitted vendors, facing verbal abuse, threats of violence (including weapons brandished, racial slurs, and death threats), and psychological trauma. Several speakers described being punched, threatened with gang members, and having to wear stab-proof vests. They argued the task is law enforcement, not their job, and called for the board to reassign this duty to police or create a specialized unit. Speakers included Teresa McNamara, Alistair Jones, Ferdi Huri, and others. They also expressed lack of support from management. President Peskin responded that state law (SB 946) removed criminal enforcement options, tying the city's hands.
• Veterans Alley Supporters: Amos Gregory, co-founder of the Veterans Alley Mural Project, spoke in support of Supervisor Preston's resolution to rename Shannon Alley to Veterans Alley. He described the project as a safe space for veterans to express themselves through art, and noted a sister project in Tijuana.
• Ady Barkan Tribute: A former supervisor (unidentified by name) spoke in memory of Ady Barkan, a health care activist who died at age 39 from ALS. Barkan co-founded the nonprofit Be a Hero and advocated for Medicare for All. The speaker noted his influence on local progressives and his work for universal health care.
• Other Speakers: Comments also addressed surveillance at SFO, remote public comment (request to restore), and a commenter supporting the Veterans Alley name change.

Discussion Items

• Item 5: Charter Amendment on SFMTA Budget Approval (Mayoral Authority): Supervisor Safai introduced a charter amendment to require the mayor to affirmatively approve (or disapprove) certain SFMTA proposals (fare increases, parking meter rates, hours/days) as part of the budget. He noted the mayor appoints all five SFMTA commissioners. After discussion, the board adopted amendments: changing