San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - February 4, 2025
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - February 4, 2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on February 4, 2025, for its regular meeting. The board passed Mayor Lurie's emergency ordinance granting expanded powers to tackle the fentanyl and homelessness crisis after significant debate and amendment, approved over $70 million in various grants and contracts, and recognized several retiring public servants and community leaders.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1-9: All routine items on the consent calendar were approved unanimously. These included the appropriation of $40 million in General Obligation Bond proceeds for preservation and seismic safety, settlement of two lawsuits for a combined total of $545,016.38, planning code amendments for health service uses, and the establishment of a Cole Valley Entertainment Zone.
Public Comments & Testimony
- ADA Accommodations (Start of Meeting): Three individuals needing accommodation spoke against the impending closure of the Bayview Vehicle Triage Center (VTC). Ramona Mayan argued the closure violated the City Charter due to a lack of a public hearing. Kelly Hughes, a wheelchair user with a pending HUD complaint, stated her RV repairs were stalled by the city and requested a 90-day extension, alleging retaliation related to her ADA advocacy. A third speaker echoed the need for more time to complete essential vehicle repairs.
- General Public Comment: Speakers expressed opposition to the VTC closure, with Aaron Wilson urging the city to provide more RV parking, not less. Residents voiced mixed views on the city's enforcement strategy; one speaker described enforcement-focused plans as a "new kind of carceral purgatory," while another voiced strong support for Mayor Lurie and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' approach to improve street safety. Jim McFee raised concerns about financial transparency and patient costs at Laguna Honda Hospital. A taxi worker requested the board regulate autonomous vehicles and better support Muni.
Discussion Items
- Commercial Vacancy Tax Exemption (Item 12): The board passed an ordinance exempting commercial spaces in neighborhoods impacted by long-term city construction projects (over 180 days) from the commercial vacancy tax. (Passed on first reading.)
- Emergency Ordinance on Homelessness, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health (Item 13): This was the central debate. Supervisor Chan introduced amendments limiting non-governmental donations to $10 million, narrowing the scope of behested payment waivers, and setting a January 8, 2026, sunset date. Supervisor Fielder expressed conditional support, stating the ordinance represented an "unprecedented transfer of power" and she was putting "great faith" in Mayor Lurie to execute responsibly. Supervisor Mahmood supported the ordinance for cutting government red tape. Supervisor Walton strongly opposed the ordinance, arguing the board was "putting the cart before the horse" and granting a "blank check" without a concrete plan. The amended ordinance passed on first reading with a 10-1 vote, with Supervisor Walton dissenting.
- Grants and Contracts (Items 14-18): The board approved a $21.5 million grant amendment with Episcopal Community Services for rapid rehousing. It also approved over $48 million in retroactive agreements with the Community Youth Center of San Francisco, Instituto Familiar de la Raza, and the Richmond District Neighborhood Center for youth and community programs. Supervisor Sauter disclosed a prior professional relationship with the Richmond District Neighborhood Center's fiscal sponsor.
- Other Business (Items 10-11, 20-29): The board unanimously approved financing for Port projects, liquor license transfers, property leases, a planning code amendment for 99 Rhode Island Street, an exemption for Midtown Park Apartments from construction contracting requirements, and the naming of "Jesai Kingston Way" as a commemorative street.
- Commendations and Recognitions (Special Order 2:30 PM):
- The Lincoln High School girls' flag football team was honored for winning the first-ever girls' Turkey Day Bowl championship.
- Joyce Armstrong was celebrated as a Black History Month honoree for decades of community advocacy.
- Brian Chu was recognized upon his retirement from the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development after 20 years of service.
- Dr. Grant Colfax received a special commendation for his six-year tenure as Director of the Department of Public Health, where he led the city through the COVID-19 pandemic, reduced nurse vacancy rates to zero percent, and oversaw a 72% decline in HIV infections since 2012.
- New Legislation Introduced: Supervisor Fielder introduced a resolution recognizing February 2025 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Supervisor Mandelman introduced an ordinance to establish a Castro Upper Market Entertainment Zone. Supervisor Melgar introduced a resolution supporting SFMTA's joint development goals. Supervisor Sherrill introduced a resolution supporting Assembly Bill 381 (Human Trafficking Procurement Prevention Act). Supervisor Dorsey called for a hearing on staffing needs in the District Attorney's office to implement Proposition 36.
- For Adoption Without Committee Reference: The board unanimously adopted resolutions urging pharmacies to address pharmacy deserts (Item 32) and recognizing February 2025 as Black History Month (Item 33).
Key Outcomes
- Mayor Lurie's emergency ordinance to address the fentanyl crisis passed on first reading with a 10-1 vote, amended to include stricter financial oversight, spending caps, and a January 2026 sunset.
- All consent items and the vast majority of the regular agenda were approved without objection or by unanimous vote.
- Over $70 million in grants and contracts were approved for housing, youth, and health services.
- The board adopted proclamations for Black History Month and Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
- The meeting was adjourned in memory of Richard Bolingbroke and Alan Baird.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. Good afternoon, everybody. Uh, welcome to the January 28th, 2025 regular meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Uh Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President. Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Chen, Chen present, Supervisor Dorsey, Dorsey present, Supervisor Ringardio, and Guardio present, Supervisor Fielder, Fielder present, Supervisor Mahmud, Mahmoud present, Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Mandelman present, Supervisor Melgar, Melgar present, Supervisor Sauter, Sauter present, Supervisor Cheryl, Cheryl present, and Supervisor Walton. Walton present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatou Shalone, 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 Ramatush Aloney community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Colleagues, will you please join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. To the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God indivisible with liberty and on behalf of the Board of Supervisors. They record each of our meetings and make transcripts available to the public and online, and we are uh grateful to them. Madam Clerk, are there any communications? Thank you, Mr. President. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes attendance in person here in the Board's legislative chamber, room 250, second floor of City Hall. Or you may watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WWW.sfgovtv.org. You may submit your public comment by sending an email to BOS at SFGov.org or via the U.S. Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. The number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlick Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. 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. And Mr. President, today, uh the clerk's office is in receipt of three ADA accommodation requests. The first one is a remote caller. The second is an in-person commenter who needs interpretation services, and the third person will be in person. They are an individual with a disability. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. We have those three ADA requests for accommodations, which we should take. So let's go to our first commenter. All right, to the clerk staff. Can we have the remote caller, please? Well, we are setting the timer for two minutes. Hello, my name is Ramona Mayan. I live in a broken RV at the safe parking site next door to Hunter's Court Shipyard. VTC is closing February the 14th. According to City Charter 16, section 16.112.
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