San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – March 26, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – March 26, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 10:15 AM in City Hall. The meeting included a veto override, adoption of numerous ordinances and resolutions, special commendations, and public comment. Key actions included overriding the mayor's veto on density controls in three historic districts, passing a resolution prioritizing municipal affairs, and honoring community members.
Consent Calendar
- Item 2 (Potrero Power Station development agreement amendment) – finally passed 11-0.
- Item 3 (900 Kearny Street Special Use District) – finally passed unanimously.
- Item 4 (Planning code amendments for various districts and uses) – finally passed unanimously.
- Item 5 (Homeward Bound Program for homeless individuals) – finally passed unanimously.
- Items 6-7 (Appropriations and small business fee waivers) – passed on first reading.
- Item 8 (Assessor-Recorder fees) – passed on first reading.
- Items 9-14 (Grants, lease, loan, and Pier 70 infrastructure items) – adopted or passed on first reading unanimously.
- Item 15 (Commemorative street name “Sean Monterrosa Boulevard”) – adopted unanimously.
- Item 16 (Mayoral appointment to Entertainment Commission) – approved.
- Items 17-18 (Committee reports on homeless services and tobacco paraphernalia) – adopted/passed.
- Items 23, 25-29 (Resolutions on Wu death investigation, grocery store in Tenderloin, Nowruz, etc.) – adopted 11-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Several speakers urged the board to pass Item 23 (resolution on the death of Yanfang Wu), calling for transparency and accountability from SFPD and the District Attorney’s office. Speakers included a retired judge (Judge Singh), community advocates from Chinese for Affirmative Action, and others. They expressed concern over the handling of the case and the lack of culturally competent victim services.
- A speaker supported Item 24 (full-service grocery store in the Tenderloin), noting the need for affordable fresh food in the area.
- Floyd Rollins, president of San Francisco Firefighters Local 798, thanked Supervisors Peskin, Safai, and Chan for introducing legislation to replace PFAS-laden turnout gear, citing over 300 firefighter cancer deaths since 2006.
- A member of the public raised concerns about the “Sherlock” system used by the Human Services Agency, alleging it interferes with personal decision-making.
- One speaker used profane language to criticize public comment procedures and expressed support for trans rights.
- Henry Durr and others spoke in support of investigating Mrs. Wu’s death, referencing past consent decrees for bilingual police officers.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Veto Override – Density Controls in Historic Districts): President Peskin explained that the legislation reinstated density limits in the Northeast Waterfront, Jackson Square, and Jackson Square Extension historic districts, which had inadvertently allowed 270-foot towers under state law. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the ordinance. Supervisor Safai criticized the mayor’s veto as inconsistent and political. Supervisor Dorsey opposed the override, arguing it sets a dangerous precedent against housing. Supervisor Mandelman supported the override, noting the unanimous Planning Commission support and the small geographic area affected. The board voted 8-3 to override the veto (Supervisors Engardio, Melgar, and Dorsey dissenting).
- Item 21 (Resolution Prioritizing Municipal Affairs): Supervisor Engardio introduced the resolution to encourage the board to focus on local issues over matters outside city jurisdiction. After amendments were adopted, Supervisor Ronan spoke against it, fearing it would be misused to criticize political speech. Supervisor Preston argued the resolution was unnecessary and would be used as “clickbait” to relitigate the ceasefire resolution. The resolution passed 10-1, with Supervisor Ronan voting no.
- Special Orders – Commendations:
- Pierce’s Pledge: Supervisors Stephanie honored Leslie Hugh and Cody Doherty for their work on gun storage advocacy after the murder of Hugh’s 9-year-old son. They described founding Pierce’s Pledge and creating a national firearm storage map.
- Dorothy May Asbury: Supervisor Walton recognized the 102-year-old for her life and contributions.
- Dr. John Brown: Supervisor Mandelman commended the retiring EMS medical director for 28 years of service.
- San Francisco Women’s 100×1 Mile Relay Team: Supervisor Melgar presented a commendation for setting a Guinness World Record (9 hours, 18 minutes, 32 seconds) and raising over $5,000 for Girls on the Run.
Key Outcomes
- Veto Override (Item 1): The ordinance was approved over the mayor’s veto by a vote of 8-3, with Supervisors Engardio, Melgar, and Dorsey voting no.
- Resolution Prioritizing Municipal Affairs (Item 21): Adopted 10-1 after amendments, with Supervisor Ronan dissenting.
- Other Legislation: All consent calendar items and adoption without reference items (21-29) were passed, many unanimously.
- New Introductions: Supervisors announced upcoming legislation, including a resolution to initiate landmarking of the Gilbert Baker rainbow flag at Harvey Milk Plaza (Supervisor Mandelman), a resolution and budget analyst request on traffic safety (Supervisor Melgar), a PFAS ban in firefighter turnouts (Supervisor Peskin), and a resolution urging the Housing Authority to use the Faircloth-to-RAD program for 3,668 new affordable units (Supervisor Preston).
- Public Comment on Item 23: The board received extensive testimony urging approval of the resolution on Yanfang Wu’s death; the resolution was later adopted 11-0 as part of the consent calendar.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the March 26, 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. Present. Engardeo present, Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar. Present. Millgar 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. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatush Aloney, 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 Ramatushaloni community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Colleagues, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. Madam Clerk, do we have any communications or announcements? Yes, Mr. President, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes all interested persons to attend this meeting here in the board's legislative chamber in City Hall, second floor, room 250, or you may watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WW.sfgovtv.org. To submit your public comment in writing, send to the email address, BOS at SFGov.org or via U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlitt Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. To make a reasonable accommodation request under the Americans with Disability Act or to request a language assistance interpreter, please contact the clerk's office at least two business days in advance by calling 415 5545184. And additionally, the clerk's office is in receipt of a communication from the office of the mayor dated March 14th, 2024. This is the mayor's communication of a veto of file number 231079, the ordinance to reinstate density limits in certain districts in San Francisco. This is item number one on the board's agenda. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Why don't you read that item? Item one, this is an ordinance to amend the planning code to modify density limits in the Northeast Waterfront Historic District, the Jackson Square Historic District, and the Jackson Square Historic District Extension, except for projects in those areas using the commercial to residential adaptive reuse program to affirm the CEQA determination and to make the appropriate findings. And so, Mr. President, just for a little guidance for the public, uh, if a board member wants to vote in favor of overriding the mayor's veto and approve the ordinance over the mayor's veto, uh the vote should say aye. If you want to vote against overriding the mayor's veto and disapprove the ordinance, vote no.
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