San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - September 3, 2024

The Board of Supervisors convened its regular meeting on September 3, 2024, at 10:15 AM. All 11 members were present. The meeting included approval of minutes, a consent calendar, several ordinances and resolutions, supervisor introductions and reports, and general public comment. Key actions included passing a ban on algorithmic rent-setting, approving a transfer tax reduction for union-built housing, and adopting a resolution expressing intent to expand rent control if Proposition 33 passes.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1–4 (Settlements): Approved unanimously without discussion. Included settlements of lawsuits: Dora Barnes ($27,500), Sarah Perata ($575,000), Robert Lasky (City to receive $100,000), and RES System 3, LLC ($2,600,000).

Public Comments & Testimony

• A speaker discussed the Ocean View Library, criticizing Supervisor Safai’s request to build exclusively at 100 Orizaba Avenue, arguing the site is unsafe and far from the population center, and advocating for a Randolph Street location.
• A speaker alleged that Supervisor Safai groped her in 2018, criticized President Peskin for appointing Safai to chair the Rules Committee, and called for accountability. Another speaker echoed these concerns, urging the board to ostracize Safai and stating that trans community members feel unsafe.
• A speaker raised concerns about Laguna Honda Hospital’s patient discharge policies and resident elopement response.
• A speaker requested a public hearing, alleging a serious bodily crime and that District 10 and District 3 supervisors ignored her, and asked for federal marshal involvement.
• A speaker advocated for wider distribution of fentanyl testing strips as a harm reduction tool.
• One speaker gave a religious commentary linking COVID vaccines to sterilization and referencing biblical prophecies.
• A speaker presented documents alleging misuse of wireless technology agreements for COVID management and urged a closed-door session to hold city officials accountable.

Discussion Items

• Item 5 (Transportation Code – Fee Waivers for Neighborhood Events): Passed unanimously. Amends code to waive street closure fees for events on Irving, Noriega, and Taraval Streets from 19th Avenue to the Great Highway, with a sunset date of June 30, 2027.
• Item 6 (Landmark Designation – Rainbow Flag at Harvey Milk Plaza): Passed unanimously. Designates the rainbow flag installation by Gilbert Baker as a landmark.
• Item 7 (Ban on Automated Rent-Setting): Passed unanimously. Amends Administrative Code to prohibit the sale or use of algorithmic devices to set rents or manage occupancy for residential units. President Peskin noted San Francisco is the first city in the U.S. to pass such a law.
• Item 8 (Concourse Garage Project – Certificates of Participation): Passed on first reading. Authorizes up to $29 million in certificates of participation to fund acquisition of the concourse garage.
• Item 9 (Transfer Tax Reduction for Union-Labor-Built Housing): Passed on first reading. Amends Business and Tax Regulations Code to reduce transfer tax rates from 5.5% to 3% for properties valued $10M–$25M, and from 6% to 3% for properties $25M+, if at least 12% of units are rent-restricted affordable, built with 100% union labor, and financed with at least $25M from a union pension fund. Supervisor Safai stated it will unlock over 40,000 permitted but stalled projects.
• Items 10–11 (Grants for Parks): Resolutions adopted. Item 10 accepts $8.12 million from the National Park Service for Buchanan Street Mall Project (2022–2027). Item 11 accepts $5.5 million from California State Coastal Conservancy for India Basin Shoreline Park Redevelopment (through 2027).
• Item 12 (COVID Response Resource Hub Coordinator Grant): Resolution adopted. Retroactively approves $14.78 million grant amendment to Bay Area Community Resources, Inc. for COVID response coordination (2022–2025).
• Item 13 (Fentanyl Overdose Prevention Grant): Resolution adopted. Accepts $1.28 million from California Department of Public Health for fentanyl overdose prevention program (2024–2027).
• Item 14 (County Victim Services Program Grant): Resolution adopted. Accepts $364,146 from California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, with $91,000 in city matching funds, for victim services (2024).
• Item 15 (Infill Opportunity Zone Update): Resolution adopted. Updates the designated infill opportunity zone for congestion management planning.
• Items 16–17 (Liquor Licenses): Resolutions adopted. Determine that Type 90 on-sale general music venue liquor licenses for 7 Social (65 Post Street) and Reverb (2801 Leavenworth Street) serve public convenience or necessity, and request conditions from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
• Supervisor Introductions and Reports:
  • Supervisor Chan: Reported that the administration is withholding funds for services approved in the budget, causing delays in contracts. She stated the Budget Committee will scrutinize spending and await the Controller’s financial forecast in November/December.
  • Supervisor Dorsey: Updated on Golden Gate Bridge District: traffic remains below pre-pandemic levels, bus/ferry service is being added back, and a $250 million funding gap remains for seismic retrofitting. Also reported that the Health Service Board selected Blue Shield as the city’s Medicare PPO provider, projected to save over $40 million over three years, but expressed concerns about Blue Shield’s reputation with retirees.
  • Supervisor Mandelman: Introduced legislation to revise San Francisco’s all-electric ordinance to comply with the Ninth Circuit ruling on Berkeley’s ordinance, exempting appliances covered by the Federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. Also introduced a resolution proclaiming September 2024 as Transit Month. Provided updates on the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA): the Downtown Rail Extension received $3.4 billion in federal funding but has a $2.5 billion gap; the target date for a full funding grant agreement is pushed to July 2027. Also reported on California State Association of Counties (CSAC) positions on November ballot measures: support for Props 5, 4, and 36; no position on Prop 35.
  • Supervisor Preston: Noted that the State Legislation Committee is on break until December; many bills are on the governor’s desk with a September 30 deadline for action.
  • Supervisor Ronan: Updated on MTC/BAFA: a select committee is working on a new transportation regional measure framework; the TJPA project is seeking top regional priority status. Also reported that BAFA voted to remove the $20 billion affordable housing bond from the November ballot, citing the need for voters to weigh in on Prop 5 first.
• Item 20 (Resolution on Rent Control Expansion): Resolution adopted unanimously. Declares the Board’s intent to expand local rent control protections if Proposition 33 (repeal of Costa Hawkins) passes on November 5, 2024. Supervisor Dorsey expressed support for the resolution but stated he will vote against Prop 33 because it is not a clean rent control measure and could allow anti-housing jurisdictions to undermine state housing law.
• Items 21–22 (Appointments): Adopted. Appointments to the Commission on Disability and Aging Advisory Council (Beverly Karnatz) and the Child Care Planning and Advisory Council (Delia Fitzpatrick).

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar (Items 1–4): Approved unanimously.
• All ordinances and resolutions on the regular agenda (Items 5–17): Passed unanimously or on first reading with no recorded opposition.
• Item 20 (Rent Control Resolution): Adopted unanimously. Supervisor Dorsey noted he supports the resolution but opposes Prop 33.
• Supervisor reports and introductions: No formal votes; updates received as information.
• Public comment: Several speakers raised allegations of sexual misconduct by Supervisor Safai; the board did not respond during the meeting.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned in memory of Adam Banks at approximately 1:30 PM.