Budget and Appropriations Committee Regular Meeting - March 24, 2021
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Budget and Appropriations Committee Regular Meeting - March 24, 2021
The Budget and Appropriations Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on March 24, 2021, chaired by Supervisor Matt Haney, with members President Shamann Walton, Vice Chair Ahsha Safai, and Supervisors Hillary Ronen and Gordon Mar. The agenda included three items: a hearing on updates to the city's economy and financial condition (continued to the call of the chair), a hearing on the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) budget for fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023, and a hearing on the Office of the City Administrator's budget for the same period.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Economic Update): No public comment was offered.
- Item 2 (DCYF Budget): Four members of the public spoke in support of City College of San Francisco (CCSF), urging the committee to address the college's budget crisis. Speakers included CCSF students and a faculty member who highlighted the potential layoff of 60% of faculty, impacting over 40,000 students, and the importance of CCSF for workforce training, ESL, DSPS, and programs serving immigrant and low-income communities. They requested emergency city assistance and sustained funding for the Workforce Education and Recovery Fund (WERF) and free city college.
- Item 3 (City Administrator Budget): Three speakers, all current or former DreamSF Fellows, advocated for continued funding for the DreamSF Fellowship program, specifically to restore a permanent coordinator position. They emphasized the program's unique role in providing professional development and leadership opportunities for undocumented immigrants, and noted that the program has operated without an official coordinator for two years.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 – Hearing on City Economy and Financial Condition: Chair Haney made a motion to continue this item to the call of the chair, citing no discussion needed. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair Safai and approved unanimously (5-0).
- Item 2 – DCYF Budget (FY21-22 and FY22-23): Director Maria Sue presented the budget, which totals $166 million in discretionary funds (excluding $90.5 million for public education and $16.4 million for free city college). The budget is relatively flat, with 67% from the Children and Youth Fund ($111 million), 28% from the general fund ($47 million), and 5% from federal/state grants. The department committed to not cutting nonprofit agency budgets, instead reducing non-personnel services such as technical assistance and evaluation contracts. Director Sue highlighted the Community Hubs initiative (84 sites, serving over 2,000 children with zero COVID outbreaks) and the upcoming Summer Together program aiming to serve 20,000 children with academic recovery. She also discussed the SF Rise initiative for long-term learning recovery. Supervisors praised the department's work, with Supervisor Ronen requesting additional staffing for DCYF to lead SF Rise, and Supervisor Mar emphasizing the need for stronger pathways from high school to City College and full investment in WERF. Supervisor Safai inquired about Summer Together details and the need to extend the hub model permanently. Chair Haney asked about equity prioritization and the reduction in non-personnel services (technical assistance and evaluation). The department noted a $1 million gap in food costs for hubs due to FEMA/ USDA paperwork challenges.
- Item 3 – Office of the City Administrator Budget (FY21-22 and FY22-23): City Administrator Carmen Chu presented the budget, noting a proposed $505 million for FY21-22 (up from $472 million current year) and $529 million for FY22-23, with FTE counts roughly flat. She highlighted the office's broad portfolio: public-facing services (311, Animal Care & Control, Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs, Grants for the Arts, Office of Cannabis, etc.) and internal services (real estate, fleet, contract administration, digital services). Key challenges identified include COVID-19 response and recovery, convention/tourism decline (impacting $800 million in annual city revenue and 80,000 jobs), digital divide, support for small businesses and arts organizations, and anti-Asian violence. Administrator Chu detailed equity efforts: a 10% reallocation of arts grants to smaller organizations (17 organizations rooted in trans and Black communities saw a 25% funding increase), community ambassador program, and focus on racial equity plans. On oversight, she noted full implementation of controller's public integrity recommendations, strengthened contract administration (OCA) digitization and training, and upcoming work on the DPW transition under Proposition B (including potential sanitation commission). Supervisor Safai asked about digital divide funding (responses on infrastructure, equipment, and training), 311 call resolution (noted the connected worker app and need for better closure), and Grants for the Arts funding timeline. President Walton inquired about the community ambassador program, which faces a slight reduction ($2,000), and Administrator Chu indicated interest in expanding it. Supervisor Ronen raised the need for real estate department capacity to find a secure placement for the juvenile hall closure workgroup, with Real Estate Director Andrico Penick confirming efforts but noting significant renovation needs. Supervisor Mar asked about strengthening OCA's citywide procurement oversight, with OCA acting director Sailaja Golla outlining plans for digitizing compliance workflows.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: The hearing on the city's economy and financial condition was continued to the call of the chair (motion carried 5-0).
- Item 2: The DCYF budget hearing was filed (motion carried 5-0). The committee expressed strong support for the department and commitment to addressing City College funding and equitable investments.
- Item 3: The City Administrator's budget hearing was filed (motion carried 4-0 with Vice Chair Safai absent, but later confirmed as 5-0). The committee noted the need for continued collaboration on digital equity, real estate resources, DPW transition, and oversight improvements.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will come to order. This is the March 24th, 2021 budget and appropriations committee meeting. I'm Matt Haney, Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I am joined by committee members President Walton, Vice Chair Safai, and Supervisors Ronan and Marr. Our clerk is Ms. Linda Wong. I want to thank Colina Mendoza for from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Madam Clerk, do you have any uh announcements? Yes, Mr. Chair, due to the COVID 19th health emergency and to protect board members, city employees and the public, the board of supervisors, legislative chamber, and committee room are closed. However, members will be participating in the meeting remotely. This precaution is taken pursuant to the various local, state and federal orders, declarations and directives. Committee members will attend the meeting through video conference and participate in the meeting to the same extent as if they're physically present. Public comment will be available on each item on this agenda. Channels 267899 and SFGTV.org are streaming the number across the screen. Each speaker will be allowed two minutes to speak, comments or opportunities to speak during public comment period available via phone call by calling 415-655-0001. Meeting ID 1876060436, then press pound twice. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up, star three to be added to the speaker's line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly and turn down your television. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in the following way. Email to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at L-I-N D A dot W O N G at S F G O V dot O R G. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and will be included as part of the official file. And Mr. Chair, this concludes my announcement. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Will you please call item one? Yes, item number one is a hearing to receive updates on the city's economic, financial condition and other issues. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this item should call 41565501 meeting ID 1876060436, then press pound twice. If you have not already done so, please tell star three to not have to speak. Assistant prompt will indicate you have raised your hand. Please wait until the system indicates you have been unmuted and you may begin your comments. Thank you, Madam Clerk. I'm gonna be making a motion to continue this item uh to the call of the chair. But before that, Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public who wish to speak on this item? Yes, Mr. Chair Shavira Ranika with DT is checking to see if there are any callers in the queue. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on item number one, please press star three now to be added to the queue. For those already on hold, please continue to wait until the system indicates you have been unmuted. Uh Mr. Chair, there are no callers in the queue. Great. Public comment is now closed. I want to make a motion to continue item one to the call of the chair. Is there a second? Second, Safai. Seconded by Safai. Madam Clerk, roll call vote, please. Yes. On that motion, Vice Chair Safai.
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