San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - May 6, 2025

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on May 6, 2025, beginning at 10:15 AM. The meeting included consent calendar approvals, numerous regular agenda items (including a major police overtime appropriation, a recovery-first substance use policy, and a landmark district designation), two 3:00 PM special orders (a parcel map appeal and a committee-of-the-whole hearing on police reform), committee reports, legislation introductions, and adoption of resolutions without committee reference. Key votes and public testimony reflected significant debate on police accountability and homelessness policy.

Consent Calendar

• Items 1 through 7 were approved unanimously (11-0). These included: de-appropriation and appropriation for building improvements at 1235 Mission Street and 1455 Market Street ($11,846,898); three lawsuit settlements ($285,000, $75,000, and $135,000); planning code amendments for entertainment uses in South of Market; an existing building code update for concrete building inventory assessment; and an administrative code amendment for entertainment zones on Valencia Street, Pier 39, Folsom Street, and Ellis Street, and Yerba Buena Lane.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the police overtime item (item 25): Several members of the public expressed concern about police overtime mismanagement and accountability. One speaker criticized the lack of public comment opportunity during the committee process. Others urged the board to hold the department accountable. A mother of an unsolved homicide victim emphasized the need for overtime funding to solve cases.
• On the Addison Street parcel map appeal: The appellant, Nicole Miller, spoke after withdrawing her appeal, expressing concerns about inadequate community communication in state-mandated housing development processes and noted traffic safety issues. A project sponsor responded, stating the project would follow all requirements. A neighbor asked for clarity on forums for public input.
• On the police reform hearing (Committee of the Whole): Multiple speakers addressed law enforcement practices. One speaker criticized the pace of reforms and questioned the effectiveness of implicit bias training given past misreporting of race in arrests. Another speaker described a personal experience of excessive force and called for respect and dignity. A speaker advocated for whistleblower protections. Others raised concerns about surveillance technologies, and a mother of a murder victim reiterated the need for overtime funding to solve cold cases.
• General public comment: Speakers addressed airport worker strikes (Flying Food Group), supported Assembly Bill 670 on housing preservation, criticized an anti-Semitic outburst during the meeting, and urged support for transgender rights and the trans flag in the Castro. One speaker expressed opposition to Supervisor Mahmood's proposed shelter-equity ordinance due to lack of cost analysis. Another speaker shared personal struggles accessing mental health services after incarceration.

Discussion Items

• Item 8 (Cash Revolving Funds): Ordinance amending the administrative code to remove, reduce, or increase several cash revolving funds for various city departments. Passed unanimously without objection.
• Items 9 & 10 (Contract Amendments for Mental Health Services): Approved amendments with Community Forward SF (increase to $42,052,558) and HealthRight 360 (increase to $305,358,044), extending terms through June 30, 2028. Passed unanimously.
• Item 11 (In-Kind Gift for Food Pharmacies): Retroactive authorization for Department of Public Health to accept $283,753.42 in in-kind food supplies from San Francisco Public Health Foundation for food pharmacies. Passed unanimously.
• Items 12 & 13 (HomeBridge Grants for In-Home Supportive Services): Approved a new $39.6 million grant agreement and a $144,684,989 amendment, both with HomeBridge Inc. Passed unanimously.
• Items 14 & 15 (Public Utilities Commission Engineering Contracts): Amendments for South Ocean Beach coastal erosion project ($12.75 million) and transmission pipeline services ($14 million). Passed unanimously.
• Items 16 & 17 (Airport ATM Leases): Leases with Wells Fargo ($350,000 minimum annual guarantee) and Bank of America ($250,000 minimum annual guarantee). Passed unanimously.
• Item 18 (California Energy Commission Grant): Acknowledged $5,047,167 grant for EV charging infrastructure. Passed unanimously.
• Item 19 (Networking Equipment Contract Amendment): Amendment with Intervision Systems LLC for $74,040,000. Passed unanimously.
• Items 20-22 (Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Grants): Three resolutions authorizing acceptance of state grants for Balboa Reservoir Buildings E and A: $29,585,486 (AHSC), $45,721,399 (AHSC), and $20,095,616 (Infill Infrastructure Grant). Supervisor Melgar expressed gratitude, noting the project transforms 17 acres of asphalt into a new neighborhood. Passed unanimously.
• Items 23 & 24 (HomeKey+ Grant Applications): Authorized applications for properties at 835 Turk Street (up to $18 million) and 1035 Van Ness Avenue (up to $37.5 million). Passed unanimously.
• Item 25 (Police and Sheriff Overtime Appropriation): Referred without recommendation from committee. The ordinance de-appropriates $86,310,081 from salaries/benefits/projects and appropriates $92,050,000 (including $5,739,919 from the General Reserve) for overtime and building repairs in the Police and Sheriff's Departments for FY2024-2025. Extensive debate occurred over SFPD overtime management, including allegations that the department suspended MOU provisions (TMB overtime rule) without DHR authorization after the pandemic. DHR confirmed they did not approve such suspension beyond the COVID emergency. Chief Lazar stated the department simply never reverted to prior rules. Supervisor Walton cited a BLA audit and noted only 12% of officers (88% not) receive overtime. Several supervisors expressed frustration but voted yes because the alternative would freeze the police budget and disrupt public safety. Supervisor Chen and Walton voted no, demanding legislative oversight and accountability. Vote: 9-2 (Fielder and Walton opposed).
• Item 26 (Alexandria Theater Special Use District): Ordinance establishing a Special Use District at Geary Blvd & 18th Ave, allowing up to 8 stories, 75 units (2-3 bedrooms) with 12% on-site affordable housing, and ground-floor commercial space. Supervisor Chan highlighted community collaboration and historic preservation. Passed unanimously on first reading.
• Items 27-28 (Landmark Designations): Initiated landmark designations for Chula-Abbey Early Residential Historic District and Alert Alley Early Residential Historic District. Passed unanimously.
• Item 29 (Recovery First Substance Use Disorder Treatment Policy): Ordinance establishing long-term remission of substance use disorders as the primary goal of the city's treatment policy. Supervisor Dorsey thanked co-sponsors and supporters. Supervisor Fielder supported but emphasized the need to continue harm reduction and overdose prevention. Passed 11-0 on first reading.
• Item 30 (Liquor License Transfer – Far East Cafe): Resolution determining public convenience for a liquor license transfer to Far East Cafe Social Club at 627 Grant Avenue. Passed unanimously.
• Items 31-33 (Appointments/Reappointments): Approved reappointment of Andrea Marmo Crawford to the Citizens’ GO Bond Oversight Committee; appointment of Charles Lavery to Transbay Joint Powers Authority; and reappointment of Mike Chen to the MTA Board of Directors. All passed unanimously.
• Special Order 2:30 PM – Commendations: Recognized Kopiku Coffee (Indonesian coffee shop in District 2), Be Chinatown and associated organizations for the Chinatown Night Market (named best night market in the US by USA Today), and Terry Aston Bennett (retired Castro Merchants Association president) for community service.
• Special Order 3:00 PM – Item 25 (continued): Roll call on item 25 took place after the commendations, resulting in the 9-2 vote.
• Special Order 3:00 PM – Items 34-37 (Addison Street Parcel Map Appeal): Hearing on appeal of a tentative parcel map for a 2-lot subdivision at 2-4 Addison Street. The appellant withdrew her appeal after reaching an agreement with the developer on property boundaries. Public comment addressed community communication challenges in state housing law. The board approved item 35 (approving the map) and tabled items 36 and 37. Vote: 11-0.
• Special Order 3:00 PM – Item 38 (Committee of the Whole – Law Enforcement Practice Reforms): Hearing on the update of the DOJ collaborative reform initiative within SFPD. Chief Scott reported 96.7% compliance (263 of 272 recommendations completed). Remaining 9 recommendations are tied to a performance appraisal and management dashboard set to pilot in early 2026. Accomplishments included reductions in use of force (steepest decline among Black/African American individuals), a nearly 50% drop in officer-involved shootings (2018-2023 vs. 2011-2017), and simultaneous crime reduction. Discussion included implicit bias training (ongoing for all ranks), technology upgrades (early intervention system, records management), and quarterly meetings with the Department of Police Accountability for discipline review. Public comment raised concerns about racial disparities in stops, over-reliance on surveillance, and individual cases of police misconduct. Supervisor Walton moved to continue the hearing to October 7, 2025. Motion carried 11-0.
• Item 39 (Ocean Avenue Community Benefit District Renewal): Committee report resolution to declare intention to renew/expand the district, approve the plan and engineer's report, and set a public hearing for July 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM. Passed unanimously.
• Item 40 (Detroit Street Steps Fee Waiver): Ordinance waiving encroachment permit fee and BOS surcharge for the Detroit Street Steps archway in Sunnyside. Passed unanimously.
• Legislation Introduced: Several items were introduced, including: Supervisor Mahmood's ordinance requiring at least one shelter/behavioral health site per district by June 2026; Supervisor Mandelman's hearing requests on residential care treatment capacity, SB 43 implementation, and the Treatment on Demand annual report; Supervisor Melgar's resolutions supporting student journalists at Lowell High School and recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month; Supervisor Sauter's update to the Community Challenge Grant Program rules; Supervisor Walton's request for an audit of the SFPD-POA MOU economic components and a resolution supporting AB 1414 (tenant ISP choice); Supervisor Chan's resolution supporting Flying Food Group workers' strike; Supervisor Chen's resolution supporting AB 1165 (California Housing Justice Act) and an in memoriam for Kira Lonnie Meyer.
• Items 43-45 (Adoption Without Committee Reference): Items 43 (Public Works Week proclamation) and 45 (resolution supporting AB 670 – affordable housing preservation counting toward RHNA goals) were adopted unanimously. Item 44 (resolution supporting AB 255 – Supportive Recovery Residence Program) was pulled for separate consideration and adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Police/Sheriff Overtime (Item 25): Passed 9-2. The $92 million supplemental appropriation was approved, with supervisors signaling intent to impose stronger legislative oversight and accountability measures on SFPD overtime practices in future budgets. A call for an audit of the SFPD-POA MOU was made.
• Recovery First Policy (Item 29): Passed 11-0 on first reading, codifying a drug-free goal for substance use disorder treatment policy.
• Alexandria Theater SUD (Item 26): Passed on first reading, enabling a 75-unit housing project with 12% affordability in the Richmond district.
• Police Reform Hearing (Item 38): Continued to October 7, 2025, for a future update on the remaining 9 DOJ recommendations.
• Shelter Equity Ordinance: Introduced by Supervisor Mahmood; referred to committee for further deliberation.
• Flying Food Workers Strike Resolution: Introduced by Supervisor Chan with co-sponsors; encourages good-faith bargaining.
• SFPD-POA MOU Audit: Requested by Supervisor Walton; the Budget and Legislative Analyst and Controller’s office are to conduct a comprehensive review.
• AB 255 Support (Item 44): Adopted, endorsing state legislation to allow recovery housing in permanent supportive housing funding.
• Community Challenge Grant Update: Legislation introduced by Supervisor Sauter to update rules and re-release RFPs for public beautification projects.