San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – July 23, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting – July 23, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, starting at 10:15 AM. The meeting included a consent agenda, unfinished business items (Stonestown development, city budget, charter amendments), special orders (commendations and a public hearing on a $390 million general obligation bond), committee reports, new business introductions, public comment, and adoption of resolutions without committee reference. Key votes included approval of the Stonestown project (10-0 after recusal), the two‑year budget (10-1), several charter amendments for the November 2024 ballot, and the health service system plan (passed on first reading).
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 through 7 were approved unanimously as routine. These included amendments to health, business, and tax regulations codes, grant agreements, hotel operator agreements, workforce housing revenue bonds, park acceptance, and a requirement for pharmacies to stock buprenorphine.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Great Highway: One speaker opposed converting a section of the Great Highway into a park, stating the road has been there forever and that Golden Gate Park is nearby.
- Free City College (Item 61): Multiple speakers (students, a former student trustee, a faculty member, and a CCSF trustee) urged the Board to support the resolution urging the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families to negotiate an updated MOU for the Free City College program. They emphasized the program’s role in removing financial barriers and supporting first‑generation and low‑income students. One speaker noted that Free City helped her earn a degree as a disabled Latinx student.
- Subway Worker Exploitation (Item 62): Several members of Trabajadores Unidos spoke in support of the resolution supporting workers at Subway franchises. They reported that workers were paid $13/hour (below the $20/hour fast‑food minimum wage), experienced wage theft, and faced unsafe conditions. One speaker read a testimony from a Nepali worker who described unpaid wages and poor conditions.
- Other: A speaker raised concerns about alleged online harassment and questioned the cancellation of certain city commission meetings. A former teacher supported Free City College. A speaker commented on an algorithmic transparency issue not on the agenda.
Discussion Items
- Item 8 – Cova Hotel Agreement Amendment: Ordinance to increase the agreement with Shin International Inc. for the Cova Hotel (homeless shelter) by $1.7 million to a total of $16 million, extending the term through March 31, 2025. Passed 10-1 (Supervisor Mandelman voted no).
- Items 9-12 – Stonestown Development Project: Four ordinances approving a development agreement, an enhanced infrastructure financing district, general plan amendments, and zoning map changes for a 30‑acre mixed‑use project with affordable and market‑rate housing and six acres of open space. Supervisor Engardio recused himself. Passed 10-0.
- Items 13-26 – City Budget (FYs 2024-2026): A package of 14 ordinances appropriating funds, setting salaries, adjusting fees, and reallocating approximately $13.7 million from the Our City, Our Home Fund for homelessness services. Passed 10-1 (Supervisor Preston voted no). Item 24 (homelessness fund reallocation) passed on first reading.
- Item 27 – Charter Amendment: Our Children Our Families Initiative: Submitted to the electorate unanimously (11-0) to create a coordinated outcomes‑based service delivery for children, youth, and families.
- Item 28 – Charter Amendment: Commission Reform: Established a task force to recommend streamlining city commissions. Passed 7-4 (Supervisors Stephanie, Dorsey, Engardio, and Melgar voted no).
- Item 29 – Charter Amendment: Inspector General: Created an Inspector General in the Controller’s Office with subpoena and search warrant powers. Passed 11-0.
- Item 30 – Charter Amendment: Affordable Housing Opportunity Fund: Required the city to appropriate at least $8.25 million annually starting FY 2026-27 for rental subsidies for extremely low‑income seniors, families, and people with disabilities. Passed unanimously (11-0).
- Item 31 – Charter Amendment: Nurse Retirement Credit and Public Safety Communications Retirement: Allowed per diem nurses to buy back up to three years of service credit and moved public safety communications personnel to a safety retirement plan. Passed unanimously.
- Item 32 – Gross Receipts Tax Rate Reduction for Hotels (NAICS 721): Lowered tax rates for accommodation businesses. Passed 9-0 (two absences).
- Item 33 – Health Service System Plans and Contribution Rates for CY 2025: Approved after extended discussion about the change from UnitedHealthcare to Blue Shield of California. Director Yant explained that Blue Shield’s bid was significantly lower (a difference of about $43-67 million over three years) and that provider networks are nearly identical (less than 2% difference). The Health Service Board initially rejected the RFP result, but after board composition changes, approved it 3-2. Passed on first reading (unanimous on roll call).
- Items 49-50 – Special Order 3:00 PM: General Obligation Bond Hearing: Public hearing and final passage of a $390 million bond for health, safety, and vibrancy projects, including up to $50 million for shelters and interim housing (including tiny homes permanently affixed). Supervisor Safai clarified that sleeping cabins qualify as real property. Passed on final reading.
- Items 35-48 – Various Leases, Agreements, Permits, and Licenses: All approved unanimously on same‑house‑same‑call votes (details in agenda).
- Item 51 – Charter Amendment: Police Staffing and Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP): Defined full‑duty sworn officer, modified staffing report frequency, and created a voluntary DROP for officers, sergeants, and inspectors. Passed 8-3 (Supervisors Preston, Ronan, and Walton voted no).
- Item 52 – MOU Amendment with SEIU Local 1021 (Nurses): Addressed staffing and hiring of registered and public health nurses. Passed 11-0.
- Items 53-54 – Building Code Amendments: Extended deadlines for disability access improvements and exempted vacant storefronts due to public infrastructure construction from registration requirements. Both passed on first reading.
- Item 55 – Charter Amendment: Fire Department Service Retirement Pension: Continued one week to July 30, 2024.
- Items 56-57 – Appointments: Approved reappointment of Jose Lopez to the Board of Appeals and appointment of Pamela Troy to the Ballot Simplification Committee.
- New Business / Introductions:
- Supervisor Ronan introduced a resolution for National Health Center Week (August 4-10) recognizing the Community Clinic Consortium.
- Supervisor Engardio introduced a request for a ballot measure on the future of the Upper Great Highway (park vs. road) and called for a planning process to address traffic concerns. Supervisor Melgar co‑sponsored and supported the measure.
- Supervisor Mandelman introduced a resolution recognizing July 2024 as Disability Pride Month.
- Items 60-62 – Adoption Without Committee Reference:
- Item 60: Resolution declaring August 2024 as Afghan American Heritage Month – adopted unanimously.
- Item 61: Resolution urging DCYF to negotiate an updated MOU for the Free City College program – adopted unanimously.
- Item 62: Resolution supporting workers exploited at Subway franchises – adopted unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Votes and Decisions:
- Stonestown development: passed 10-0.
- Two‑year budget: passed 10-1 (Preston no).
- Charter amendments submitted to voters (Nov. 2024): Inspector General (11-0), Commission Reform (7-4), Children & Families (11-0), Affordable Housing Fund (11-0), Nurse/Public Safety Retirement (11-0), Police DROP (8-3). Fire pension charter amendment continued one week.
- Health Service System plan: approved on first reading after debate.
- General obligation bond ($390M): finally passed.
- All other routine items and resolutions adopted unanimously.
- Referrals and Next Steps:
- The Free City College resolution urges an updated MOU; no binding action.
- The Subway worker resolution expresses support but does not mandate action.
- Supervisor Engardio’s request for a Great Highway ballot measure and planning process will be further considered.
- Commendations: Recognized probation services (especially Victor Williams), Fire Station 19, community volunteer Shelley Constantini, and the Transgender District’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator graduates.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the July 23rd, 2024 regular 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 Rengario. Engario present, Supervisor Mandelman. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar present, Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston. Preston present, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan present, Supervisor Safayi. Safayi present, Supervisor Stephanie. Stephanie present, and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. 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 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 to stand one nation under God, indivisible with liberty of justice for all. Madam Clerk, do we have any communications? Yes, thank you, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes you to attend this meeting in person 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 public comment in writing, you can send an email to BOS at SFgov.org or using the 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. If you need 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. I'll give you the telephone number. It's 415 554 5184. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Colleagues, is there a motion to approve the June 18th, 2024 minutes made by Supervisor Mandelman, seconded by Supervisor Walton? On that motion made and seconded, a roll call, please. On the minutes, uh Supervisor Preston. Preston I, Supervisor Ronan. Ronan, I, Supervisor Safaye, Safayi I, Supervisor Stephanie, Stephanie I, Supervisor Walton, Walton, I, Supervisor Chan, uh Chan. Chan I, Supervisor Dorsey, Dorsey, I, Supervisor Ingario, Engario, I, Supervisor Mandelman, Mandelman, I, Supervisor Melgar. Melgar, I, and Supervisor Peskin. Aye. Peskin I. There are 11 ayes. The minutes will be adopted as presented after public comment.
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