San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – June 25, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – June 25, 2024
The Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on June 25, 2024, starting at 10:15 a.m. The meeting included a consent calendar, unfinished business (interim budget), new business (various ordinances and resolutions), special orders (commendations and a state-required Beilenson hearing on medical service reductions), roll call introductions, general public comment, and adoption of items without committee reference.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1-7 were approved as routine, except Item 5 (vending requirements) which was severed by Supervisor Safai. He introduced a non-substantive amendment to restore language urging vendors to remove items, which was accepted. The ordinance then passed on first reading as amended.
- The remaining consent items (1-4, 6, 7) passed unanimously.
Commendations (Special Order 2:30 p.m.)
- Supervisor Stephanie honored Ava Bauer Farbersh, retiring chief district engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, for her leadership on seismic retrofit, movable median barrier, and suicide deterrent net.
- Supervisor Peskin honored Todd Reedstrom, Deputy Controller, for 25 years of service, including work on rainy day reserves, Healthy San Francisco, and COVID-19 response. An imperative resolution declared July 1, 2024 as Deputy Controller Todd Reedstrom Day.
- Supervisor Dorsey honored Doreen Horsman, branch manager at SF Public Library, for creating the Read to Recovery program, which provides free recovery literature. The program was expanded to all 27 library branches via legislation passed on first reading.
- Supervisor Mandelman honored Friends of Harvey Milk Plaza for their advocacy to transform the plaza, noting $25 million in the proposed Healthy, Safe, and Vibrant SF bond for construction.
- Supervisor Walton honored Dr. Temetrius Rice Mitchell, retiring educator with 37 years in SFUSD, for her service in Bayview Hunters Point and leadership in educational equity.
Beilenson Hearing – Reduction of Medical Services (Special Order 3:00 p.m.)
- Presentation: Dr. Grant Colfax (DPH Director) and Jenny Lewey (COO) outlined proposed cuts to meet budget targets: a 5% reduction ($10M) in community-based organization (CBO) contracts in FY2025-26, affecting behavioral health ($7.3M), population health ($1.5M), and ambulatory services ($1.1M). Also, a $2.7M shift of sugary drink tax (SDDT) funds to HSA for food security, eliminating oral health task forces ($450,000) and cutting healthy community grants. Street Violence Intervention Program (SVIP) faced a $2.5M reduction, with $2.1M shifted to DCYF for school-based crisis intervention.
- Supervisor Questions & Concerns:
- Supervisor Preston asked how cuts were determined; no public process. He noted the SDDT shift cuts policy advocacy, not just food distribution.
- Supervisor Safai questioned the timing and lack of community engagement, especially on behavioral health cuts during the overdose crisis.
- Supervisor Walton criticized the lack of planning for outreach services and the impact on Southeast neighborhoods.
- Supervisor Chan (Budget Chair) emphasized these are year-two cuts and will be revisited in January 2025.
- Public Comment: Over 30 speakers opposed the cuts, representing CBOs providing health education, oral health, food access, youth services, Pacific Islander health, violence prevention, and behavioral health. Many urged restoration of SDDT funds and criticized the lack of transparency. Speakers from Glide, SOMCAN, Horizons Unlimited, TNDC, and others testified to the impact on vulnerable communities.
Discussion Items
- Deforestation of Police Department and Sheriff’s Department (Item 10): Ordinance passed to transfer $6.87M for overtime in police and sheriff departments.
- Polk Street Legacy Business Exception (Item 12): Known as “Bob’s Donuts Notice Act,” passed to allow storefront mergers for legacy restaurants.
- Landmark Tree Designation (Item 13): Designated a coast redwood at 4 Montclair Terrace as a landmark tree.
- Commemorative Street Name – Dr. Howard Thurman Way (Item 14): Adopted.
- Liquor Licenses (Items 15-18): Four resolutions approved for Embarc Wines, Great Star Theater, Zevi Cafe and Bistro, and August Hall.
- Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District Report (Item 19): Adopted.
- Library Read to Recovery Program (Item 20): Passed on first reading.
- Repeal of Deemed Approved Off-Sale Alcohol Nuisance Ordinance (Item 21): Passed after Supervisor Stephanie explained it relieves small businesses of duplicative fees.
- Airport Surveillance Policy (Item 22): Passed.
- Appointments/Reappointments (Items 23-27): Approved for Building Inspection, Port Commission, Planning Commission, Public Works Commission (Lauren Post, Gerald Turner, Fady Zoubi).
- Settlement of Unlitigated Claims (Item 29): Approved to receive $441,521 from U.S. HHS.
- Budget & Appropriation Items (Items 8-9): Interim budget and salary ordinances for FY2024-26 passed on final reading.
- Justice for Renters Act Resolution (Item 32): Continued to July 2, 2024 at Supervisor Preston’s request.
- Reparations Proposals Resolution (Item 33): Amended (removing stray 'd') and adopted.
- Final Map No. 11099 (Item 34): Approved.
- Imperative Resolution – Todd Reedstrom Day: Adopted.
- Roll Call Introductions:
- Supervisor Mandelman introduced ordinance to landmark Gilbert Baker’s Rainbow Flag at Harvey Milk Plaza.
- Supervisor Peskin introduced "Workforce Housing and Affordable Middle-Income Financing Package" (WHAMMY) to issue project revenue bonds for middle-income housing, and a special use district for 100% affordable housing in Chinatown.
- Supervisor Preston reported that the Market Match program was fully restored in the state budget through 2027, and introduced a follow-up letter of inquiry on SFPD’s plans to acquire police robot dogs and other military equipment.
- Supervisor Safai introduced a plan to reduce transfer tax for rental housing built with union pension funds and requiring 12% on-site affordable units.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Items 1-4, 6-7 passed; Item 5 passed as amended.
- Beilenson Hearing: Filed; the board will consider the budget with potential restorations.
- Budget Motion: Budget Chair Chan announced a motion to restore several programs with one-time funding, including SDDT programs, community ambassadors, workforce development, emergency rental assistance, DCYF programs, and SRO outreach. The motion will be considered in Budget Committee on June 26.
- Votes: All actions above were unanimous unless noted. Item 32 was continued to July 2. Item 33 passed as amended 10-0 (Safai absent). Item 34 passed 10-0.
- Adjournment: In memory of Martin Labaugh (Supervisor Melgar), Narcy David (Supervisor Peskin), and Roseanne Harris (Supervisor Safai).
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the June 25th, 2024 regular board meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan not present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ringardio. Engario present, Supervisor Mandelman, Mandelman not present, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present, Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston. Preston present, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan present, Supervisor Safaye. Safaye not present. Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie present and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that 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 Ramatushalone 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. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, do we have any communications? Yes, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes you to the board's legislative chamber here 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. Submit your public comment in writing by sending an email to BOS at SFgov.org or by using the Postal Service. Address the letter to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlitt Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Today we will have interpreters for Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino with us from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. To make a reasonable accommodation request under the Americans with Disability Act or to request language assistance. Please contact the clerk's office at least two business days in advance by calling 415-554-5184. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Colleagues, is there a motion to approve the May 21st, 2024 minutes made by Supervisor Mandelman, seconded by Supervisor Preston? On that motion made and seconded, Madam Clerk, a roll call, please. On the minute, Supervisor Rengario. Aye. Engario I, Supervisor Mandelman. Melgar, I, Supervisor Peskin. Aye. Peskin I, Supervisor Preston.
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