San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - March 12, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - March 12, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, beginning with roll call, approval of previous minutes, and a consent agenda. Mayor London Breed appeared for a special order policy discussion on family homelessness. The board then considered and voted on numerous ordinances, resolutions, and motions, including housing policy, bond refunding, land use, and committee reports. Several supervisors introduced new business, and public comment was heard on a variety of topics. The meeting also featured commendations for the Cuban chargé d'affaires and a Treasure Island community organization, and adjourned in memory of Maurilio Leon.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 through 5 were approved unanimously without objection as routine business.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chris Ward Klein raised concerns about unauthorized access controls in the city's "Sherlock" data system used by human service agencies, urging the board to correct access control issues.
- Jordan Pranan spoke against Proposition F, arguing it would harm homeless individuals and force queer recipients into religious treatment programs.
- Jim McPhee addressed public corruption and fraud in city services.
- Megan Smith requested that the ceiling be protected as part of the Sacred Heart Parish Complex landmark designation.
- Beverly Epton, representing the San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium, expressed support for item 28 (Supporting California Assembly Bill 1956 on victim services funding), noting the importance of federal VOCA funds.
- Other speakers discussed education reform, technology, and quality-of-life issues.
Discussion Items
- Mayor London Breed's Special Order (2:00 p.m.): Mayor Breed stated the city faces a growing number of families experiencing homelessness. She noted that San Francisco currently provides 337 units of family shelter and transitional housing and over 2,300 units of family housing in the homeless response system. She emphasized the need to balance newcomer demand with existing needs, highlighted increased case management, asylum legal support, and a pilot hosted housing program, and called for collaboration.
- Item 7 – Forgivable Loan for First-Time Homebuyers Program: Ordinance establishing a loan program for low-, moderate-, and middle-income first-time homebuyers. The measure passed 9-1, with Supervisor Peskin voting no.
- Items 8 & 9 – Potrero Bus Yard Project: Two ordinances to amend the General Plan and create the Potrero Yard Special Use District. Both passed unanimously (10 ayes).
- Items 10 & 11 – Refunding General Obligation Bonds: Authorized approximately $645 million in refunding bonds. Approved without objection.
- Items 12–14 – Grants and Property Exchange: Resolutions to accept grants (HealthySteps, Predictive Analytics) and amend a property exchange agreement for a fire station. Approved without objection.
- Item 15 – Sacred Heart Parish Complex Landmark: Ordinance designating the complex as a landmark. Passed on first reading.
- Item 16 – Conditional Use Waiver for Unauthorized Units: Ordinance waiving conditional use authorization for removal of unauthorized units under certain criteria. Passed on first reading.
- Item 17 – Legacy Business Assistance Program: Ordinance creating the program. Passed on first reading.
- Item 18 – Appointments to Immigrant Rights Commission: Motion to appoint six members, approved without objection.
- Item 19 – Tolling Agreement with Chevron: Committee report on a retroactive tolling agreement for oil well plugging and remediation. Approved.
- Item 20 – Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance: State-mandated ADU controls were amended to conform to state law. Supervisor Peskin expressed frustration that state law prevents rent control on ADUs created through the state program. The measure passed without objection after discussion.
- Item 21 – Planning Commission Appointment: Motion to approve Gilbert Williams to the Planning Commission, term ending July 1, 2026. Approved.
- New Business Introductions:
- Supervisor Dorsey: Hearing request on SFPD staffing to reach full deployment in three years.
- Supervisor Engardio: Resolution to prioritize municipal issues over non-local resolutions.
- Supervisor Mandelman: Hearing on implementation of the "Place for All" homelessness strategy, citing a 37% reduction in tents but a steady unsheltered population (4,189 in 2023 vs. 4,144 in 2022).
- Supervisor Peskin: Resolution urging the CPUC to deny AT&T's request to be relieved of carrier-of-last-obligation; also adjourned meeting in memory of Maurilio Leon, former CEO of Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation.
- Supervisor Safai: Resolution urging the Department of Homeless Supportive Housing to prioritize families with children on the streets and create a transparent dashboard.
Key Outcomes
- Item 7 (Forgivable Loan Program) passed 9-1 (Peskin opposed).
- Items 8-9 (Potrero Yard) passed 10-0.
- Item 10-11 (Bond refunding) approved without objection.
- Item 15 (Sacred Heart landmark) passed on first reading.
- Item 16 (Unauthorized unit waiver) passed on first reading.
- Item 17 (Legacy Business Assistance) passed on first reading.
- Item 18 (Immigrant Rights Commission appointments) approved.
- Item 20 (ADU ordinance) approved as a committee report without objection.
- Item 21 (Gilbert Williams to Planning Commission) approved.
- Items 24, 25, 27, and 28 (resolutions on Equal Pay Day, ethnic journalism, wastewater drug testing, and victim services funding) adopted 10-0 after Supervisor Melgar severed item 26 for separate consideration.
- Item 26 (Lucille Cuttler Day resolution) adopted without objection after brief remarks.
- New business introductions were submitted for committee referral or future action.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the March 12th, 2024 meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ingardio. Engardeo present, Supervisor Mandelman, Mandelman not present, Supervisor Melgar. Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present, Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston. Preston present, Supervisor Ronan. Rosen excuse me, Ronan not present, Supervisor Safai. Present. Safai present, Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie present and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Colleagues, can we have a motion to excuse Supervisor Ronin made by Supervisor Walton, seconded by Supervisor Melgar, and we will take that without objection. Supervisor Ronan is excused. 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 Ramatushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. Colleagues, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Colleagues, is there a motion to approve the February 6th, 2024 board minutes made by Supervisor Mandelman, seconded by Supervisor Walton? On that motion made and seconded. Madam Clerk, a roll call, please. On the minutes, Supervisor Chan. Chan I, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey I, Supervisor Ringardio, Ingardeo I, Supervisor Mandelman. Aye. Mendelman, I, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar, I, Supervisor Peskin. Aye. Peskin I, Supervisor Preston. Preston, I, Supervisor Safai. Aye. Safai I, Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie, I, and Supervisor Walton. Walton, I. There are 10 ayes. The motion is approved or is approved or will be approved after public comment as presented. Madam Clerk, do you have any communications? Yes, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes all interested persons to attend this meeting here in the Board's legislative chamber within City Hall, second floor, room 250, or you may watch the proceeding on SFGov TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WWW.sfgovtv.org to submit your public comment and writing, send to the email address bos at sfgov.org, or via U.S.
openpublica.com