San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – March 19, 2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at 10:15 AM for a regular meeting. The board considered a substantial consent calendar, heard public testimony, debated several legislative items, recognized community groups and individuals, and voted on a variety of ordinances and resolutions. Notable actions included codifying the Homeward Bound program, approving a major dispatch system contract, and passing resolutions on electric vehicle charging and a grocery store for the Tenderloin. The meeting was adjourned in memory of three community members.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes Approval: The February 13, 2024 meeting minutes were approved on a 10-0 roll call vote.
• Unfinished Business Items (Items 1-5): The following were adopted unanimously without discussion:
  • Appropriation of $644,675,000 from refunding general obligation bonds (Item 1).
  • Amendments to various codes to clarify ministerial approval for accessory dwelling units (Item 2).
  • Landmark designation for the Sacred Heart Parish complex (Item 3).
  • Waiving conditional use authorization for removal of unauthorized units in single-family homes (Item 4).
  • Creation of the Legacy Business Assistance Program (Item 5).
• Items 6-7 (Potrero Power Station): Ordinance to amend the development agreement and resolution approving the infrastructure financing plan for Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District No. 1 were passed on first reading and adopted, respectively. Supervisor Safai added as co-sponsor.
• Items 8-9 (Computer-Aided Dispatch Contracts): Resolutions approving amendments to contracts with Motorola Solutions (up to $44,845,036, extended through 2038) and CentralSquare Technologies (up to $8,364,557, extended through 2027) were adopted.
• Item 10: Grant amendment for Self-Help for the Elderly home-delivered meal program, not to exceed $11,515,405, was adopted.
• Items 11-14: Annual reports for four Community Benefit Districts (Yerba Buena, Japantown, North of Market/Tenderloin, The East Cut) for FY2021-2022 were received and approved.
• Item 15: Agreement for the Excelsior Community Benefit District management was approved.
• Item 16: Planning code amendments regarding heights, signage, cannabis dispensaries, and inclusionary housing were passed on first reading.
• Item 17: Creation of the 900 Kearny Street Special Use District was passed on first reading.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Speaker 1: Warned about addictive effects of cell phones and called for a new education system and local farmers to teach food growing.
• Speaker 2: Submitted an FBI report alleging credential misuse by city agencies (Human Services Agency, SFMTA) and identified a compromised bus stop at McAllister and Van Ness, claiming it enables signal bouncing leading to traffic collisions and overdoses.
• Speaker 3 (Jordan Pryor): Expressed anger over the West Portal traffic death of a family; criticized Supervisor Engardio’s resolution on municipal affairs as “dumb” and called for a ceasefire resolution; supported Supervisor Preston’s grocery store resolution and suggested municipally owned supermarkets; opposed Proposition 10-to-1; wished happy Women’s History Month.
• Speaker 4 (Leslie De Thayandier): Supported Supervisor Peskin’s resolution urging the CPUC to deny AT&T’s request to relinquish landline obligations, citing reliability of copper landlines over VoIP in emergencies.
• Speaker 5 (John Nakhi): Alleged crimes by public employees at Laguna Honda Hospital and UCSF Medical Center, requesting investigation.
• Speaker 6 (Cammy Blackstone, AT&T): Opposed the resolution, stating AT&T would continue traditional service for existing customers, that no residential customers in San Francisco lack alternatives, and that AT&T would remain in the Lifeline program.
• Speaker 7: Sang a hymn and spoke about religious prophecy.
• Speaker 8 (Salah Hakuya Chandler): Called for wisdom and understanding, offered condolences for the West Portal family, and congratulated awardees.
• Speaker 9 (Peter Warfield, Library Users Association): Criticized the Library Commission’s new strategic plan and mission statement for omitting mentions of books, reading, and free/equal access, and noted branch closures at 8 PM instead of 9 PM.
• Speaker 10 (Sabanor): Requested an audit of Coritas Management Corporation at 1066 Mission Street.
• Speaker 11 (Captain Maggie Hallahan): Raised concerns about the National Park Service closing the Sea Scout base ramp at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, noting the base has 100 youth, and questioned property transfers.

Discussion Items

• Homeward Bound Program (Item 18): Supervisor Safai presented the ordinance to codify the Homeward Bound program, which reunifies homeless individuals with family in their hometowns. The program served 11,000 people from 2005 to 2019 but declined to just over 300 last year. The ordinance expands eligibility to those in shelters and permanent supportive housing, requires annual reporting, and sets a two-year time limit for participation. The ordinance passed on first reading.
• Electric Vehicle Curbside Charging (Introduced by Supervisor Mandelman): Supervisor Mandelman introduced a resolution supporting the development of San Francisco’s first publicly accessible EV curbside charging program. The initiative includes a citywide assessment, stakeholder engagement, and a pilot program expected to begin next year. Currently there are about 1,000 public chargers; the goal is 5,000.
• Grocery Store for Tenderloin (Introduced by Supervisor Preston): Supervisor Preston introduced a resolution calling for a full-service grocery store in the Tenderloin, which has not had one in decades. The resolution cites multiple community surveys and reports from 2007 to 2023, and directs city departments to report back within 60 days on past efforts, potential sites, and an attraction plan.
• COPA Expansion (Introduced by Supervisor Peskin): Supervisor Peskin introduced legislation expanding the Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) to include deeds in lieu of foreclosure, allowing qualified nonprofit housing providers to make first offers on multifamily properties at risk of foreclosure, using state funding for affordable housing acquisition.
• Resolution on Police Video Release (Introduced by Supervisor Peskin): Supervisor Peskin, with Supervisors Walton and Chan, introduced a resolution urging the SFPD and District Attorney to release video and investigation details in the death of Yan Fang Wu, a monolingual Chinese senior, to build community trust and transparency.
• Special Order 2:30 PM – Commendations: The board recognized several groups and individuals:
  • San Francisco City Guides: Volunteer-led walking tours, 300 guides, 70 tours, 35,000 participants in 2023. Recognized by President Peskin.
  • Lincoln High School Championship Teams: Boys’ varsity basketball, girls’ varsity basketball, and wrestling teams won San Francisco Section Championships. Recognized by Supervisor Engardio.
  • Friends of Lakeside Village: Transformed an underutilized parking lot into a community space (Lakeside Landing) with tables, garden, stage, and events. Recognized by Supervisor Melgar.
  • Dr. Nineveh Caligari: Co-founder of 826 Valencia and Teacher Salary Project, former CEO of Enterprise for Youth. Recognized by Supervisor Mandelman for her work in literacy, teacher pay, and youth internships.
  • Zainab Amiri: Organizer of Persian New Year (Noruz) events for families, highlighting cultural heritage and public schools. Recognized by Supervisor Safai in celebration of Noruz and Women’s History Month.

Key Outcomes

• Votes and Adoption: Nearly all items on the agenda were passed unanimously, either on first reading or as final passage. No roll call votes were recorded except for the minutes and the continuance of item 21.
• Item 18 (Homeward Bound): Ordinance passed on first reading (no roll call needed).
• Item 21 (Board Policy Prioritizing Municipal Affairs): Supervisor Engardio’s resolution was continued to the next meeting (March 26, 2024) by a 10-0 vote.
• Item 23 (AT&T Carrier of Last Resort): Supervisor Engardio recused himself. The resolution was amended to require conditions (transition plan and alternate carrier) and then adopted as amended.
• Directives: The resolution on the Tenderloin grocery store (introduced) will be referred to committee; the EV charging resolution was introduced and will be placed on the calendar. The COPA expansion and the police video resolution were introduced and will be referred.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:30 PM in memory of Diego Oliveira, Matilda Oliveira, Joaquin Oliveira (victims of the West Portal traffic accident), Mark Lawrence Wilder, and Richard James Isom (Baldhead Rick).