San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting (January 6, 2026)

The Board of Supervisors convened for its first regular meeting of the 2026 legislative session on January 6, 2026. Supervisors present included Chan, Chen, Dorsey, Mahmoud, and others; Supervisor Jackie Fielder was excused. The Board approved prior minutes, passed multiple planning and alcohol-license actions, heard special-order commendations (including for outgoing Interim Police Chief Paul Yep and community leaders responding to the Parks Alliance collapse), and advanced first-reading legislation for a new San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) training facility at 1236 Carroll Avenue. Major themes included public safety, infrastructure reliability (PG&E outages), and civic stewardship.

Consent Calendar

• Approved Board minutes for the November 4, 2025 meeting on a roll call vote of 10 ayes (noted as to be finalized after public comment).
• Items 1–3 (consent): Passed unanimously (10 ayes); described as routine ordinances and finally passed.

Discussion Items

• Planning Code / Household definition ordinance (Item 4): Passed on first reading without objection. The ordinance:

  • Defined “family” as a “household,”
  • Eliminated numeric limits on unrelated household members and requirements that members share meals,
  • Classified certain small residential care facilities (serving 6 or fewer persons) as residential uses,
  • Clarified zoning administrator enforcement authority including administrative subpoenas,
  • Affirmed CEQA determination and made findings.

• Alcohol license public convenience/necessity determinations (Items 5–7):

  • Item 5 (Royal Mart LLC / Unimart, 1201 Howard St., Type 21 transfer): Board determined the transfer would not serve public convenience or necessity and requested ABC deny issuance; adopted without objection.
  • Items 6–7: Board determined two transfers would serve public convenience or necessity and requested ABC impose conditions; adopted without objection.
    • Item 6: Big Sky LLC / Club 895, 895 O’Farrell St., Type 48 transfer.
    • Item 7: Caldero LLC / Caldero, 2149 Union St., Type 20 transfer.

• Juvenile Probation Department surveillance report (Item 8): Accepted the biannual surveillance report under Administrative Code §19B.6; adopted without objection.

New Business Introductions (Roll Call)

• Supervisor Melgar introduced a resolution (with multiple co-sponsors) commemorating Roe v. Wade (Jan. 22, 1973) and reaffirming San Francisco’s commitment to reproductive freedom following Dobbs (2022), including:

  • Coordinated protocols with SFPD, DA, DPH and others to enforce clinic access/safety laws,
  • A statement that city resources/data will not be used to assist out-of-state actions targeting reproductive health care that is lawful in California.

• Supervisor Wong introduced:

  • A hearing request on the December 20, 2025 power outages that began on Dec. 20 and, per her remarks, left nearly one-third of San Francisco without electricity; she stated periodic outages continued for days and full power was not restored until Dec. 23. She cited six outages in the Sunset District in December and said PG&E credits offered were $200 for residents and $2,500 for businesses, which she characterized as inadequate.
  • A letter of inquiry (LOI) to SFPUC on considerations for potentially acquiring and operating a publicly owned electric grid (cost, financing, capacity, timeline).

• Supervisor Chan introduced two resolutions (with early co-sponsorship from Supervisor Dorsey) responding to the same outages, stating impacts to over 130,000 customers, and:

  • Reaffirming city efforts to acquire PG&E infrastructure (citing a 2019 SFPUC report) to meet goals including reliability, climate goals, transparency/accountability, workforce development, and equitable access.
  • Urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety to withhold PG&E’s 2026 safety certificate until infrastructure is inspected and maintained.

• Supervisor Chen introduced:

  • An LOI to SFFD, DEM, HSA, and SFPD requesting information on protocols and services for fire victims, language access, and data on leading causes/rates of fires by district.
  • A resolution recognizing January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, citing increased risk associated with major events including NFL Super Bowl 60 and the FIFA World Cup.

• Supervisor Mahmoud later introduced a hearing request focused on Waymo autonomous vehicles’ response during the Dec. 20 outage, citing reports that vehicles halted and blocked intersections and, per reports he referenced, may have impeded emergency response. He requested agency participation from DEM, SFFD, and SFMTA, and noted co-sponsorship from Supervisors Wong and Dorsey.

Special Orders / Commendations

• 2:30 p.m. Special Order: Commendations for Meritorious Service

  • Supervisor Dorsey honored outgoing Interim Police Chief Paul Yep (served as interim chief beginning June 2025, after returning from retirement earlier in January 2025 to serve as Mayor Daniel Lurie’s public safety policy chief). Speakers (multiple supervisors, Mayor Lurie, DA Brooke Jenkins, Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, and community leader Rudy Corpus of United Playaz) highlighted:

    • His role in managing leadership transitions amid retirements,
    • Reported crime reductions described by Chief Yep as 25%–30% decreases (as characterized in his remarks),
    • Establishment of a real-time investigations center (“ARTIC”) and use of technologies including drones,
    • Regional/public-safety partnerships and recruitment efforts (noting the first net increase in officers patrolling since the onset of the 2020 pandemic).
    • Chief Yep cited drug enforcement statistics: 56 pounds of fentanyl seized and over 6,600 arrests related to drug activity (attributed to the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center, “DMACC”).
    • Community speaker Rudy Corpus stated that “over 230 guns” were taken off San Francisco streets in a recent joint effort.

  • President Mandelman recognized the Community Partner Network Advisory Committee (Ildiko Poloni, Rashid Zarif, Irma Lewis, Jolene Yee, Kath Sakalakis, Matthew Blaine, Michaela Dudley) for organizing a response to the collapse of the Parks Alliance. Key factual milestones described:

    • Parks Alliance collapse left nearly 90 community groups without expected funds.
    • With philanthropic support, the group identified nearly 50 donors and raised more than $2 million.
    • The San Francisco Neighborhood and Parks Fund opened for applications in mid-September; eligible recipients identified by mid-November; funds distributed by end of December.
    • Ildiko Poloni stated that over 80 community groups had received more than 80% of their money back.

3:00 p.m. Special Order: Committee of the Whole Hearing (Items 9–11)

• The Board held a public hearing (Committee of the Whole) on legislation facilitating the SFFD Division of Training facility at 1236 Carroll Avenue (Bayview area). Presentations were given by:

  • Gareth Miller, Assistant Deputy Chief, SFFD, describing training needs and noting current training occurs largely on Treasure Island (planned for demolition) and at an older site near 19th & Folsom.
  • Scott Moran, Public Works project manager, describing:
    • Project site of just over 8 acres comprising 26 parcels plus three paper streets.
    • Proposed street vacations affecting portions of Hawes St., Griffith St., and Bancroft Ave. (paper streets never built).
    • Utility considerations: PUC sewer infrastructure and existing PG&E overhead power lines, with easement language and an interagency MOU noted.
    • Zoning changes to support the training campus and height needs, including an 84-foot training tower and other tall simulation structures.
    • Community outreach: the Bayview Citizens Advisory Committee voted unanimously in August to recommend Planning Commission approval of the map amendments.
    • Planning Commission recommendation date cited as 10/16; Land Use and Transportation Committee recommendation date cited as 12/8.

• No public speakers testified on Items 9–11.

• Items 10 and 11 (street vacation ordinance and zoning map/height-bulk ordinance) were passed on first reading without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony (General)

• Molly (Outer Mamas / Sunset Parent Advocates; District 4 resident): Expressed opposition to proposals she characterized as reopening the Great Highway and closing “Sunset Dunes,” stating her family uses the space daily and asking the Board not to reduce access (e.g., weekend-only use) or remove amenities (play structures, art, skate ramps, “wind phone”).
• Sarah Yoll (PG&E Government Affairs): Stated that on Dec. 20 equipment at the Mission substation failed causing a fire and outages affecting ~130,000 customers. She said PG&E hired Exponent for an independent root-cause investigation with preliminary results likely in February, asked the Board to refrain from conclusions until results are available, and requested the Board schedule a hearing after the preliminary report to ensure it is well-informed.
• Richard S.D. Peterson: Expressed support for Muni and urged attention to proposed SB 677, warning about potential effects on development and speculation.
• Zach Sharp (Luminol Solar): Advocated for changes to local fire-code interpretations affecting battery storage installations; argued current requirements increase costs substantially and limit resiliency to the wealthiest residents; urged the Board to consider resiliency and safety as the 2025 fire code is presented.
• Unidentified speaker: Delivered remarks unrelated to Board agenda items (claims about future U.S. presidency and technology proposals).
• Willa Duffy (Tenderloin/North of Market Planning Area resident): Cautioned against relying on “ask chat GPT” as verification.
• Kat Anderson (President, Recreation and Park Commission): Spoke in support of a resolution (Item 14) to commemoratively name a Golden Gate Park street after Claude the alligator, and mentioned a community celebration planned for January 28.

Key Outcomes

• Attendance/administrative actions:

  • Supervisor Jackie Fielder excused (motion approved without objection).
  • Minutes approved (Nov. 4, 2025) on 10–0 vote.

• Legislation adopted/passed:

  • Consent items 1–3: Finally passed, 10–0.
  • Item 4 (Planning Code household/family definition and related enforcement updates): Passed on first reading (no objection).
  • Item 5 (Unimart, 1201 Howard; Type 21 transfer): Resolution adopted requesting ABC denial (no objection).
  • Items 6–7 (Club 895 and Caldero license transfers): Resolutions adopted requesting ABC conditions (no objection).
  • Item 8 (JPD biannual surveillance report): Resolution adopted (no objection).
  • Items 10–11 (SFFD training facility—street vacations and zoning/height changes): Passed on first reading (no objection).
  • Item 15 (from “Adoption Without Committee Reference”): Adopted unanimously, 10–0.
  • Item 14: Adopted—urging Rec & Park to name a Golden Gate Park street “Claude the Alligator Way” (taken without objection).

• Hearings/LOIs announced (no final vote recorded in transcript for referrals at this meeting):

  • Proposed hearing on PG&E outages (Supervisor Wong).
  • LOI to SFPUC re: public acquisition/operation of electric infrastructure (Supervisor Wong).
  • Two resolutions introduced calling for municipal power efforts and urging withholding PG&E safety certification (Supervisor Chan).
  • LOI on fire victim support protocols and a resolution on Human Trafficking Prevention Month (Supervisor Chen).
  • Proposed hearing on Waymo AV performance during outages (Supervisor Mahmoud).

• In memoriam:

  • Meeting adjourned in memory of Diosdado P. Bonatua (Supervisor Cheryl) and Matai Chief Asatasi Tevita Semu Siataga (Supervisor Walton; died Dec. 22, 2025).