San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - December 12, 2023

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its last regular meeting of the calendar year on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 2:15 PM in City Hall. The meeting included the Mayor's appearance before the board, recognition of commendations, a hearing on a tentative parcel map appeal, approval of a $39.5 million budget adjustment for the Department of Public Health, passage of a housing production ordinance, and public comment on a ceasefire resolution for Gaza. All 11 supervisors were present except Supervisor Preston for the vote on item 3.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of meeting minutes from November 7, 2023 (unanimous).
• Items 2 through 9 on consent were approved as a block, with the exception of item 3 (severed by Supervisor Safai).
• Items 14 through 28 (grants, contracts, and resolutions) were approved on the consent agenda without objection.
• Items 30 and 31: Appointments to Assessment Appeals Boards No. 1 and No. 2 (Stephen Wasserman, Richard Lee, Elizabeth Miller) were approved.
• Items 36 through 47 (committee reports, including historical property contracts, a lease for a temporary shelter at 2177 Jerrold Avenue, and amendments to the Planning Code) were approved on first reading.
• Items 50 through 52 (adoption without committee reference: consolidation of March 5, 2024 elections, final maps for Parkmerced and 988 Harrison Street) were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• The board heard a special ADA accommodation public comment from a representative of Disability Activism SF, who criticized Mayor Breed's homelessness policies and expressed support for Supervisor Dean Preston and a ceasefire in Gaza.
• During general public comment, multiple speakers urged the board to pass a ceasefire resolution immediately, citing the ongoing loss of life in Gaza. Speakers highlighted that over 3,000 Palestinians had been killed in the prior week, 90% of the population displaced, and 25,000 children orphaned since October.
• One speaker criticized the board's decision to send the ceasefire resolution to committee, calling it a delay that allows continued violence.
• A speaker identified as a candidate for District 3 supervisor criticized the board for worsening public safety conditions and called for more police, removing tents, and addressing drug dealing.
• Several speakers offered tributes to community leaders, including Ronald Colthurst and Arnold Woods.
• A speaker raised concerns about alleged false diagnoses in surveillance software.

Special Order 2:00 PM – Mayor's Appearance Before the Board

• Mayor London Breed delivered opening remarks highlighting that since 2018 the city has helped over 13,000 households exit homelessness, with 2022 being the largest year for such placements. She stated that San Francisco is delivering more housing than any other Bay Area county and that homeless outreach teams brought 1,500 people into shelter so far in 2023, though 63% of those encountered refused shelter. She cited specific examples from the previous week and linked street conditions to fentanyl addiction.
• Supervisor Chan asked about public safety and homelessness in District 1 (Richmond), after the murder of a shop clerk. Mayor Breed responded that police staffing has increased, and that retired police ambassadors are already patrolling Clement Street. She also mentioned grants for license plate readers and surveillance technology, but noted a four-week delay in implementing the policy due to lack of support from the Budget Committee. Supervisor Chan defended the legislative process and said she is a partner.
• Supervisor Safai asked about the Ocean View Library project, stating that the community has chosen the Brotherhood Way and Orizaba location after years of planning and that over $30 million is reserved. He said the administration has stalled the transfer. Mayor Breed replied that the community is divided, there is not enough funding, and the project's cost has quadrupled. She offered to instead proceed with a rehabilitation of the existing library.

Special Order 2:30 PM – Recognition of Commendations

• The board honored Linda Jarrell, retiring Director of the Department of Technology (DT), for her 40 years of public service, including modernizing city infrastructure and expanding broadband access to 15,000 affordable housing units. She was praised by President Peskin and City Administrator Carmen Chu.
• The board recognized the Lincoln High School Mustangs football team for winning the 99th Turkey Day game and their fourth section title in five years.
• The board honored POW Crago, outgoing Executive Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI), for his work on trans-inclusive policies, housing subsidies, and a universal basic income pilot. Supervisor Mandelman, City Administrator Chu, and other supervisors expressed gratitude.
• The board recognized Maestra Lidia Candila Chan, Executive Director of Asociación Mayab, for her leadership serving the indigenous Mayan community.
• The board recognized Safe Passage on its 15th anniversary, a community-led program in the Tenderloin that helps children navigate to and from school. Supervisor Preston noted the program covers 15 city blocks and serves over 200 kids daily.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – De-Appropriation and Appropriation of $39,500,000 for DPH Overtime: Supervisor Safai expressed dismay that funds intended to hire nurses and medical technicians were being reallocated to overtime, calling it a sign of mismanagement by the mayor. He stated he would vote for it but felt his hands were tied. The ordinance passed 10 ayes, 0 noes (Supervisor Preston absent).
• Items 32-35 – Hearing on Tentative Parcel Map Appeal (1365-1371 York Street): Supervisor Ronen requested a continuance to January 30, 2024, which was seconded by Supervisor Walton and approved without objection.
• Item 11 – Fire Code: Lithium-Ion Batteries in Powered Mobility Devices: Supervisor Preston introduced amendments requested by Lime and deferred further amendments to address e-bike concerns. The item was re-referred to the Land Use and Transportation Committee for January.
• Item 12 – Planning and Subdivision Codes Amendment for Housing Production: This ordinance, referred without recommendation from the Land Use Committee, was passed on first reading with 9 ayes and 2 noes (Supervisors Peskin and Chan).
• Item 13 – Acceptance of $15.3 Million Grant for Organized Retail Theft Prevention: Supervisor Safai highlighted the three-year collaborative effort to secure the grant. The ordinance passed unanimously.

Roll Call for Introductions

• Supervisor Mandelman introduced in memoriam for John Bear and Dr. Jerome Gold Goldstein.
• Supervisor Preston introduced a request for a hearing on regulating AI-generated content in local election campaigns, citing concerns about deepfakes and misinformation.
• Supervisor Ronen introduced a resolution for retroactive approval of an agreement with Fidelity National Information Service for the Alemany Farmers Market EBT program.
• Supervisor Walton introduced an in memoriam for Ronald Colthurst, a community activist and co-founder of the Harriet Tubman Democratic Club.
• Supervisor Chan (joined by Supervisor Engardio) introduced an in memoriam for Arnold Marcus Woods, a founder of the Western Neighborhoods Project and historian of western San Francisco.

Key Outcomes

• The $39.5 million budget adjustment for DPH overtime was passed (10-0-1).
• The housing production ordinance was passed on first reading (9-2).
• The York Street parcel map appeal was continued to January 30, 2024.
• The lithium-ion battery fire code was amended and re-referred to committee.
• The board adopted a resolution honoring Safe Passage on its 15th anniversary.
• Multiple commemorative resolutions were passed for retiring and departing city employees and community leaders.
• All other consent and committee report items were approved without objection or with unanimous votes.
• The meeting was adjourned in memory of Jerry Goldstein, John Bear, Jack Bourbon, Arnold Woods, and Ronald Colthurst.