San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - December 3, 2024
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - December 3, 2024
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 10:15 AM. The meeting included adoption of a consent agenda, debate on a lawsuit settlement involving a trans income program, passage of multiple ordinances and resolutions, and commendations for retiring city officials and community leaders. The board also heard public comment on remote public comment access and other matters.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1 through 15 were approved unanimously, including appropriations for earthquake safety bonds ($6.18 million), multiple lawsuit settlements (totaling $1.86 million), firearm procurement policy changes, and amendments to the Police Code regarding public bath houses and reproductive health facility access.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Several members of the public, representing Senior and Disability Action and the Remote Public Comment Coalition, urged Supervisor Walton (District 10) to place reinstating remote public comment on the December 9 Rules Committee agenda. Speakers cited accessibility barriers for individuals with disabilities, chronic conditions, and those living far from City Hall. Multiple speakers held moments of silence to honor those unable to comment.
- One speaker criticized the city's support for trans people and opposed the settlement on the trans income program, alleging transphobic input into legislation.
- A foster parent highlighted the need for long-term, relationship-based support for youth in the child welfare system.
- Other speakers addressed topics including the KPFA radio station, COVID-19 vaccine safety, and personal experiences with city services.
Discussion Items
Settlement of Lawsuit – Paul Wildes and Reed Sandberg (Item 31)
- The board considered a settlement of a lawsuit filed by two individuals alleging discrimination based on transgender status, sex, race, and ethnicity against city officials. The settlement proposed payment of approximately $3,250 in attorney's fees and costs, plus injunctive relief limiting future city efforts to establish a basic income program for trans people.
- Supervisor Preston opposed the settlement, arguing the injunctive relief would tie the hands of future administrations and that the lawsuit's request was moot since the program had ended. He stated, "We should not tie the hands of the incoming mayor and the incoming board for future programs."
- Supervisor Ronan supported the settlement, expressing pride in the city's support for the trans community but criticizing the program's structure, and noting that rejecting the settlement could lead to a worse outcome and higher costs. He said, "We're not going to be dumb about the way we spend our money."
- The board voted 7-3 to approve the settlement, with Supervisors Walton, Peskin, and Preston voting no.
Artificial Intelligence Inventory Ordinance (Item 38)
- Supervisor Ronan introduced an ordinance to amend the Administrative Code to create a publicly available inventory of all AI tools used by city departments, with reporting requirements and enforcement measures. He noted that the Department of Technology had hired a new Deputy Director of Emerging Technologies to lead the effort. The ordinance passed unanimously.
Rapid Rehousing Policy (Item 39)
- An ordinance declaring city policy to provide up to five years of rapid rehousing assistance to eligible households, with annual hearings and reports by the Homelessness Oversight Commission, passed unanimously.
Other Regular Agenda Items
- Items 16-30, 32-37, 40-41 were approved unanimously, including:
- Appropriation of $571 million in general obligation bond proceeds for seawall, earthquake safety, and affordable housing projects.
- Grant acceptance for India Basin Shoreline Park ($757,000) and Havelock Pedestrian Bridge ($500,000).
- Modification of airport solid waste contract ($22.4 million).
- Approval of liquor license transfers for AJ's Bar and Nihon Whisky Lounge.
- Amendments to the Shelter Monitoring Committee and Standards of Care ordinance.
- Appointment of members to the Citizens Committee on Community Development and the SOMA Community Stabilization Fund Community Advisory Committee.
Commendations
- The board adopted resolutions honoring:
- Jesse Smith, retiring Chief Assistant City Attorney, for 32 years of service.
- Steve Pulliam, Executive Director of the Heart of the City Farmers Market, for food justice work.
- Members of the Mental Health SF Implementation Working Group, for five years of oversight.
- DeJada Durden, Deputy Director of Operations at Public Works, for leadership and 20 years of service.
- All commendations were approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 31 (Settlement): Approved 7-3, with a $3,250 payment and injunctive relief limiting future trans income programs.
- Consent Agenda and all other regular agenda items: Approved unanimously.
- Public Comment: Speaker requests to reinstate remote public comment at committee meetings were noted but not voted on.
- Legislation Introduced: Supervisors introduced new business, including a resolution urging SFMTA to paint red zones at all crosswalks (Supervisor Walton) and an ordinance to prioritize recovery housing in Prop 1 funding (Supervisor Dorsey).
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned in memory of Doug Gourney, Robert Drucker, Joseph Ignatius Kelly, Ida Bakalinski, and Peter Salfazio.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting for today, Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024. Madam Clerk, would you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ringardio, Engario present, Supervisor Mandelman, Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar, Melgar present, Supervisor Peskin. Present. Peskin present, Supervisor Preston, Preston present, Supervisor Ronan, Ronan present, Supervisor Safai, Safai not present, and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, you have a quorum. Thank you. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatushaloni, 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 Ramatushalone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as First Peoples. 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 individual with liberty and justice for all. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, Mr. President. As members well know, at 12 41 p.m. yesterday, Assemblymember Catherine Stephanie was sworn in to the California State Assembly, which created a vacancy in the District 2 office. Unless or until the Honorable Mayor London and Breed makes her appointment to that seat. The basic requirement for approval of an action remains a majority of the entire membership of the board or six affirmative votes. Additionally, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes your attendance at this meeting today in the Board's legislative chamber. You may attend in person or watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WWW.sfgovtv.org. You may also submit your public comment in writing, send it to BOS at SFgov.org, or you can use the U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one. Dr. Carlton, Capital B, period, Goodlit 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, you can 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. Could you please read the consent agenda? Items 1 through 15 are on consent. These items are considered to be routine. If a member objects, an item may be removed and considered separately. Would any member like an item or item severed, seeing no names on the roster? Roll call, please. Supervisor Safai. On the minutes, I. Supervisor Walton. Walton, I, Supervisor Chan. Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey I, Supervisor Rengario. Engario, I, Supervisor Mandelman.
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