San Francisco Board of Supervisors Meeting – November 28, 2023
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – November 28, 2023
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, beginning at approximately 2:15 p.m. The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including a contentious charter amendment on minimum police staffing, a transfer tax exemption for affordable housing, several land use and housing items, and commendations for community leaders. The board voted 6-5 to place the police staffing charter amendment on the March 2024 ballot, and unanimously approved the transfer tax exemption. A major housing streamlining ordinance was continued for one week.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1–17 were approved unanimously on a single roll call. These included settlements and unlitigated claims totaling over $2.9 million, a Vision Zero project appropriation, a non-profit arts education special use district, and approval of airport surveillance technology policies.
Special Orders – Commendations (2:30 p.m.)
- In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Providers Day: Supervisor Chan recognized the city’s 26,000 IHSS providers, declaring November 28, 2023 as IHSS Provider Day. Several providers spoke about the importance of their work and urged stable funding.
- Martha Ryan – Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP): Supervisor Ronan honored Martha Ryan, founder and executive director emeritus of HPP, which has served over 100,000 families in 34 years. Ryan and new executive director Shalina Eskridge spoke about the need for family housing.
- Joe Martinez – Mission Child Care Consortium: Supervisor Safai honored Joe Martinez, who led Mission Child Care for 46 years, building it into the largest private child care facility in San Francisco (serving 220 children). Martinez credited the board and Mayor Ed Lee for helping the consortium purchase its building.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Speakers addressed a variety of topics: concerns about the APEC security perimeter’s impact on small businesses, complaints about police deployment and transphobia, calls for rent control, and praise for the city’s homeless services. One speaker urged the board to investigate the dangers of voice technology. Another speaker, a city employee, warned that DPW workers are burnt out and that overtime is not a solution to staffing shortages.
Discussion Items
- Item 18 – Charter Amendment: Minimum Police Department Staffing and Funding (Unfinished Business): The board debated a charter amendment that would set a minimum number of sworn officers and create a fund for hiring bonuses, but only if voters first pass a tax measure generating sufficient revenue. Supervisor Safai, the sponsor of the amended version, argued the measure ensures fiscal responsibility and a dedicated funding source. Supervisor Engardio opposed, calling it “aspirational” and “messy,” noting it does not immediately fund police. Supervisor Ronan criticized the amendment as tying future revenue to police funding, potentially diverting money from other public safety needs. Supervisor Dorsey, the original author, said the measure was “hijacked” and now serves as a “cop tax scheme.” Supervisor Preston argued the police department is already fully funded but cannot recruit enough officers, and that the real issue is deployment. Supervisor Stefani supported sending the measure to voters, saying it gives them a chance to express their desire for more police. The vote was 6-5 to submit the charter amendment to the March 2024 ballot.
- Item 19 – Transfer Tax Exemption for Affordable Housing (New Business): The board unanimously approved an ordinance broadening the exemption from increased transfer tax rates for certain rent-restricted affordable housing transfers, making it retroactive to January 1, 2017, and extending it through December 31, 2030.
- Items 20–26 (New Business – Grants, Leases, Bonds): The board approved several resolutions authorizing: a $3.9 million state grant for the Buchanan Mall Project, three port leases (Recology, Anderson Enterprises, Mission Rock parcels), $10 million in bonds for Treasure Island infrastructure, a $26.6 million loan amendment for Sunnydale HOPE SF, and $17 million in special tax bonds for Treasure Island Improvement Area No. 2. All passed without objection.
- Item 32 – Housing Production Streamlining (Committee Reports): This ordinance, aimed at complying with state housing law, was continued for one week (to December 5, 2023) after Supervisor Mandelman requested time to add an amendment addressing “monster homes.” The committee had received a corrective action letter from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) 45 minutes before the meeting. The board voted 11-0 to continue the item.
Key Outcomes
- Charter Amendment on Police Staffing (Item 18): Passed 6-5 (Safai, Melgar, Peskin, Stefani, Walton, Chan in favor; Dorsey, Engardio, Mandelman, Preston, Ronan opposed). The measure will appear on the March 2024 ballot.
- Transfer Tax Exemption (Item 19): Approved 11-0.
- Housing Streamlining Ordinance (Item 32): Continued to December 5, 2023, by a 11-0 vote.
- IHSS Providers Day Resolution: Adopted unanimously.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned in memory of Marcelino Marshall Espinoza, grandfather of Supervisor Peskin’s chief of staff.
Meeting Transcript
Are we on the president? Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting for today, Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Madam Clerk, could you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ingardio. Engario present, Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present, Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston. Preston present, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan present, Supervisor Safai. Safai present, Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie present and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatushalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramatushaloni have never ceded, lost nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatu Saloni community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. Colleagues, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States and to the Republic for which it stands. Madam Clerk, do we have any communications? Yes, briefly, Mr. President. The board welcomes all persons interested in this meeting to attend in person here in the legislative chamber, room 250, second floor in City Hall. This meeting is airing live on SFGOV TV's Channel 26, or you may view the live stream at WWW.sfgovtv.org. As an alternative to being present, you may submit your public comment in writing by email to BOS at SFGOV.org or send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, City Hall, Room 244 in San Francisco, California 94102. If you need to request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disability Act, or you need to request language assistance, you need to contact the clerk's office at least 48 business hours in advance of the meeting by calling 415-554-5184. Our office will make every effort to accommodate all requests. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Colleagues, do we have a motion to approve the minutes of October 17th and October 24th, 2023? Motion made by Supervisor Walton, seconded by Supervisor Mandelman on that motion made and seconded. Madam Clerk, a roll call, please. On the minute, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey, I, Supervisor Engardio. Engardio I, Supervisor Mandelman. Aye. Mandelman, I, Supervisor Melgar. Preston, I, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan, I, Supervisor Safaye.
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