San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - January 23, 2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 10:15 AM. The meeting covered consent items, several ordinances and resolutions, committee appointments, a special commendation, and public testimony on the proposed closure of the Fillmore Safeway store. The board approved the mayor's appointment of Greg Wagner as Controller and debated the appointment of Janet Tarlov to the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously approved minutes from December 5 and 12, 2023.
• Passed ordinances and resolutions on consent, including:
  • Authorization of American Registry for Internet Numbers agreements (Item 4)
  • Grants for the District Attorney (Items 6-7): $2,050,000 for organized retail theft prosecution and $1,200,000 for the Safety and Justice Challenge
  • Waiver of competitive bidding for organized retail theft grant procurement (Item 8)
  • Grants for Building Inspection (Item 9, $100,000), Children, Youth & Families (Item 10, $1,000,000), Public Library (Item 12, $375,000), and others
  • Adoption of a fixed two-year budget cycle (Item 13)
  • Amendment to Treasure Island Master Lease with the U.S. Navy (Item 14)
  • Grant for Juvenile Probation (Item 15, $360,570) and for domestic violence program (Item 16, $305,850.45)

Discussion Items

• Item 17: Emergency Declaration – Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital – Resolution to approve emergency repairs to chiller, boiler, and cooling tower with costs exceeding $250,000 (estimated $47 million). Supervisor Chan flagged the lack of a not-to-exceed amount and announced future amendments to Administrative Code Section 6.6. Passed same house, same call.
• Item 18: Existing Building Code – Supplemental Inspections for Tall Buildings – Ordinance requiring buildings 15+ stories to conduct inspections of windows and exterior glass every five years, prompted by window failures during a 2023 windstorm. Passed first reading.
• Item 19: Conditional Property Exchange Agreement – Kensington Way LLC – Resolution authorizing exchange of vacant land on Edgehill Mountain for city property near Moraga and Noriega avenues. Passed unanimously.
• Item 20: Planning Code – Landmark Designation – Westwood Park Entrance Gateways and Pillars – Ordinance sponsored by Supervisor Melgar to landmark historic entrance structures. Debate included discussion of racist restrictive covenants removed by the homeowners association. Roll call: 10 ayes, 1 no (Supervisor Preston). Passed first reading.
• Item 21: Health Code – Regulating Medical Specimen Test Collection Sites – Ordinance making violations a misdemeanor and public health nuisance. Unanimously passed first reading.
• Item 22: Support for SOMA Pilipinas Gateway Cultural Marker – Resolution continued one week due to administrative error.
• Items 23-24: Liquor License Transfers – Two resolutions approving license transfer to 690 Sacramento Street and issuance to 177 Eddy Street. Adopted unanimously.
• Item 25: Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code – Form 700 Filers – Ordinance clarifying conflict-of-interest filing requirements. Passed first reading.
• Item 30: Settlement of Claims – SFPUC Water Pipeline Break – Ordinance authorizing settlements up to $7 million aggregate for the September 10, 2023 pipeline break at Fillmore and Green streets. Passed first reading.
• Item 31: Mayoral Appointment – Municipal Transportation Agency Board – Janet Tarlov – Supervisor Preston opposed, citing lack of transit expertise; others supported her small business perspective. Roll call: 10 ayes, 1 no (Supervisor Preston). Appointment approved.
• Item 32: Mayoral Appointment – Controller – Greg Wagner – Unanimously approved (11-0) to a 10-year term. Wagner pledged honesty, integrity, and data-driven decision-making.

Public Comments & Testimony

• ADA Accommodation Speaker (public comment before minutes) praised the board's ceasefire resolution on Gaza and thanked Supervisor Preston.
• General Public Comment (after introductions) included over 20 speakers. Several speakers urged the board to keep the Fillmore Safeway open: residents, community leaders, and representatives from Japan Town and the Fillmore United Alliance spoke about the critical need for the grocery store, especially for seniors, disabled, and low-income families. Many thanked Supervisor Preston for his resolution and urged passage. Reverend Amos Brown stressed historical discrimination and the need for community involvement. Other speakers: library advocates requested restored evening hours; an individual raised concerns about the Public Utilities Commission and alleged surveillance; a speaker criticized the city's handling of Laguna Honda Hospital; a speaker identified as an unhoused journalist expressed frustration with blight.
• Public Hearing on 2395 Sacramento Street (Items 26-29) – No speakers; item continued to February 6, 2024, at the parties' request.

Special Order

• 2:30 PM – Commendation for Dr. Hallie Hammer – Recognized for 30 years of service to the Department of Public Health, including leadership in ambulatory care, behavioral health, and COVID-19 response. Dr. Hammer and Director Colfax spoke.

Key Outcomes

• Approved appointment of Greg Wagner as Controller (11-0).
• Approved appointment of Janet Tarlov to MTA Board (10-1).
• Passed ordinance requiring supplemental inspections for tall buildings (Item 18).
• Passed landmark designation for Westwood Park gateways (Item 20, 10-1).
• Passed medical specimen test collection site regulations (Item 21).
• Continued SOMA Pilipinas cultural marker to January 30, 2024.
• Continued hearing on 2395 Sacramento Street to February 6, 2024.
• Adopted Resolution Urging Safeway to Reverse Closure of Fillmore Store (Item 35, as amended) – Unanimously adopted; amendment noted Safeway's announcement to extend closure from March 2024 to January 2025.
• Supervisor Preston announced intention to introduce the Neighborhood Grocery Protection Act requiring six months' notice and community engagement for grocery store closures.
• Supervisor Stephanie announced plans for legislation banning algorithmic rent-fixing software, a hearing on SB 43 implementation, and a review of contractor labor practices.
• Supervisor Mandelman sent a letter of inquiry to City College trustees regarding governance concerns and the chancellor's departure.
• Meeting adjourned in memory of several individuals, including Dexter Scott King, Joan Holden, Jim Hurley, Ruben Winkler, Richard Darnell May, Eddie Lee Cottrell, Dejan Milojević, Richard Perina, and Joshua Coffey.