San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - October 29, 2024

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on October 29, 2024, at 10:15 AM. The meeting addressed a wide range of items including routine approvals, legislation on affordable housing, e-bike incentives, supermarket closure notices, and two special hearings on San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) programs. The meeting included roll call, approval of minutes, consent agenda, discussion of regular agenda items, special orders for commendations, and committee of the whole hearings on SFUSD's math pilot and resource alignment initiative.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 through 10 were approved unanimously. These included settlements (e.g., $93,000 to San Francisco Apartment Association, $625,000 to Yulanda Williams, $475,000 to Barnard Jones and Patricia Farrell), stipulated property tax refunds for Park Hotels & Resorts Inc., fee waiver for the Vicha Ratanapakdee Mosaic Stairway, and amendments to the Administrative Code regarding Street Teams reporting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General public comment included speakers on homelessness, cybersecurity threats, unsecured property tax issues, and housing affordability. One speaker urged the board to consider restoring natural habitat at Ocean Beach for the Snowy Plover.
• During the 4:00 PM hearing on SFUSD's math pilot, students from Flynn Elementary testified that the program increased their confidence in math. Parents praised the program for collaborative learning and joy in math. Teachers and administrators highlighted data showing significant gains in math proficiency and reduced chronic absenteeism.
• During the 5:00 PM hearing on SFUSD's resource alignment, over a dozen speakers including parents, students, union representatives (UESF, SEIU 1021), and community members criticized the school closure process for lack of transparency, inadequate community engagement, and disproportionate impact on schools serving students of color and low-income families. Speakers called for an independent forensic audit of SFUSD's budget, restoration of trust, and a halt to privatization efforts.

Discussion Items

• Item 15 (Eliminating Public Art Requirement for 100% Affordable Housing): Approved 10-1 (Supervisor Peskin voted no). The ordinance removes the public art requirement for 100% affordable housing projects and allows relocation or removal of existing artwork under certain conditions.
• Item 16 (Real Property Acquisition - 2280 Market Street): Approved 11-0. Authorized the acquisition of property from Market & Noe Center LP for up to $11.62 million, with waivers of certain administrative code requirements.
• Items 17-25 (Various Contracts and Grants): All approved unanimously. Notable items included a retroactive contract with CENIC for fiber optic network ($6.97 million revenue), agreement with Gillig LLC for electric transit buses ($68.77 million), grant acceptance for port freight infrastructure ($9.16 million), and grant application for HUD Continuum of Care Program ($61.12 million).
• Item 26 (Supermarket Closure Notice - Police Code Amendment): Supervisor Preston presented the ordinance requiring large supermarkets to provide six months' notice before closing. After discussion, the item was duplicated and referred to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee for further clarification. Supervisor Preston, Walton, Chan, Safai, and Ronan were listed as co-sponsors.
• Item 27 (Cash Not Drugs Sobriety Pilot Program): Approved unanimously. Authorizes a voluntary three-year pilot providing weekly payments up to $100 to eligible CAAP beneficiaries who test negative for illicit drugs.
• Item 28 (Settlement with Maplebear Inc.): Approved unanimously. Resolution to settle unlitigated claims for $8.25 million involving tax refunds for 2019-2022.
• Item 29 (De Long Street Acceptance): Approved unanimously. Authorized acceptance of a street segment from BART for maintenance and liability, after decades of neglect.
• Item 30 (E-Bike Incentive Fund): Approved unanimously. Establishes an electric bicycle incentive program administered by the Department of the Environment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Item 31 (Commemorative Street Name - Joe Rosenthal Way): Approved unanimously. Designates the 600 block of Sutter Street in honor of photojournalist Joe Rosenthal.
• Item 34 (New Asia Senior Housing Special Use District): Approved unanimously. Creates a special use district at 758 and 772 Pacific Avenue for 175 units of extremely low-income senior housing and restoration of the New Asia Banquet Hall.
• Item 35 (BMR Ownership Units - Amendments): Passed on first reading with amendments. The ordinance allows certain below-market-rate owned units to be resold at higher income limits and requires amenities to be resold with the unit. Supervisor Peskin proposed a sunset date of three years, which was adopted without objection. The file was duplicated for potential further amendments.
• Special Orders - Commendations: The board recognized Renee Berger for the Burnside Steps renovation and San Francisco Stairway Month; Father Simpad Sabangian for his leadership at St. Gregory Armenian Church; and Dr. Martina Ayala for her work as executive director of the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts.
• 4:00 PM Hearing - Committee of the Whole: SFUSD Math Pilot: The board heard from SFUSD administrators, principals, and teachers about the Whole School Lesson Study Math Pilot. Key results: math proficiency increased from 21% to 34% over two years; Flynn Elementary saw 13% growth in math proficiency (vs. 0.1% district-wide); chronic absenteeism decreased 16% and 89% of students reported enjoying math. The program is funded by the city's Student Success Fund. DCYF Director Sheri Dorsey Smith and SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Maria Sue committed to continuing and expanding the program with long-term planning and stable funding, including adding Daniel Webster Elementary next year. Supervisor Ronan emphasized the program must not be diluted.
• 5:00 PM Hearing - Committee of the Whole: SFUSD Resource Alignment Initiative: The board heard from UESF President Cassandra Couriel and SEIU 1021 representative Anthony Robertson about the impact of the proposed school closures and mergers on educators, paraeducators, and staff. UESF presented data showing that 745 members (12% of workforce) would be affected by closures, and the process lacked transparency and community input. SEIU highlighted concerns about staffing, food quality, and central office bloat. Superintendent Dr. Maria Sue acknowledged the harm and committed to transparent processes. School board Commissioner Alita Fisher apologized for the harm caused. The board expressed support for collaboration and urged the district to engage stakeholders before making future decisions.

Key Outcomes

• Items 1-10 (Consent Agenda): Approved unanimously.
• Item 15: Passed 10-1 (Supervisor Peskin dissenting).
• Item 16: Passed 11-0.
• Items 17-25: All passed unanimously.
• Item 26: Duplicated and referred to Government Audit and Oversight Committee.
• Item 27: Passed unanimously.
• Item 28: Passed unanimously.
• Item 29: Passed unanimously.
• Item 30: Passed unanimously.
• Item 31: Passed unanimously.
• Item 34: Passed unanimously.
• Item 35: Passed on first reading with amendments (sunset date added). Duplicated file retained.
• Items 38-39 (Adoption Without Committee Reference): Adopted unanimously (resolutions on Sensible Density Working Group and Legion of Honor Centennial Celebration).
• SFUSD Math Pilot Hearing: DCYF and SFUSD committed to continuing and expanding the program with stable funding from the Student Success Fund. A steering committee will explore district-wide implementation of lesson study.
• SFUSD Resource Alignment Hearing: The board acknowledged the flawed process and received commitments from SFUSD to ensure transparency and community engagement in future decisions. Superintendent Dr. Maria Sue and Commissioner Fisher expressed commitment to repair harm and rebuild trust.