San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 23, 2021
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San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 23, 2021
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Matt Haney, met on June 23, 2021 to consider the FY2021-2022 and FY2022-2023 budgets for multiple departments, as well as specific items including a retroactive agreement and the release of reserved funds. The committee accepted most departmental budgets with Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) recommended reductions, but chose to reject a $60,000 cut for the Department on the Status of Women after the director opposed it. Public comment on the overall budget was scheduled for June 25, 2021.
Consent Calendar
- Item 3 (Resolution 210667): Unanimously (5-0) approved a retroactive agreement with the San Francisco Community Health Authority for a Medical Reimbursement Accounts Cash Grant Program, not to exceed $14,903,500, for a term from July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2021. Moved to full board with positive recommendation on July 13, 2021.
- Item 4 (Hearing 210669): Unanimously (5-0) voted to release reserved funds of $68,099,127 to the Department of Public Health (DPH) for facilities acquisition and renovations, and $232,408,596 to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) for housing acquisition and prevention interventions. The hearing was filed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were received on items 3 or 4. Public comment on items 1 and 2 (budget ordinances) was scheduled for Friday, June 25, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Discussion Items
- Department of Public Health (DPH): Director Grant Colfax and BLA analyst Dan Gonscher presented. The BLA recommended reductions of $3,433,735 in FY21-22 (allowing a $42.2 million increase) and $1,321,352 in FY22-23. DPH accepted the recommendations. Supervisor Safai questioned $27 million for ongoing COVID-19 response in FY22-23, noting $14 million in general fund, and suggested revisiting. Supervisor Marr asked about mental health bed capacity: $10 transitional age youth residential treatment beds were funded, but no new beds for minors/children. Chair Haney noted the committee's intent to accept the budget with BLA recommendations.
- Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH): Director Abigail McSpaden and Deputy Director Gigi Whitley reported agreement with BLA recommendations of $5,708,425 in reductions in FY21-22 and $1,416,215 in prior year encumbrances (total $7,124,640 general fund savings). No reductions in FY22-23. They noted a reallocation of $34.8 million over two years to align with the Our City, Our Home committee, including hotel vouchers and navigation services. Supervisor Safai questioned the cost of safe sleeping sites ($57,000 per tent per year, $190 per night) and suggested funding only for one year. Supervisor Ronan echoed concerns about high costs. Chair Haney asked about data transparency and capital needs for permanent supportive housing. HSH noted a $3 million capital fund and plans to improve dashboarding.
- Human Services Agency (HSA): Director Trent Rohr accepted BLA recommendations of $1,578,646 in reductions in FY21-22 (one-time). No reductions in FY22-23. Supervisor Melgar discussed Baby Prop C funding: $185.8 million programmed for FY21-22, $162.9 million for FY22-23, with $300 million left in reserve. She requested placing unprogrammed funds in reserve, which was noted as already in reserve. Supervisor Marr asked about staff support for the Veterans Affairs Commission; HSA proposed a commission secretary position costing $125,000 annually ($60,000-$65,000 general fund). Also discussed the Dignity Fund: of the $3 million annual increase, $1.5 million goes to cost-of-doing-business increases. Supervisor Safai asked about food programs; HSA detailed $14 million for community food hubs, $11.6 million for Great Plates (ending), and a gap for the Mission Food Hub limited to $1.4 million due to procurement caps.
- Department on the Status of Women (DOSW): Director Kimberly Ellis opposed the BLA's recommended $60,000 reduction ($50,000 from city grants, $10,000 from professional services), arguing the department is under-resourced and needs the funds to address historic underspending due to understaffing. She noted that the majority of the budget increase is a $700,000 transfer from HSH for contract management without new staffing. BLA analyst Dan Gonscher justified the reduction based on historical underspending. President Walton and Chair Haney supported the director, noting new leadership and a plan to improve grant management. The committee voted to reject the BLA's $60,000 reduction but accepted the $29,622 in unencumbered funds.
- Other Departments: The following departments all accepted BLA recommendations without debate: Retirement System ($374,256 reduction in FY21-22), Human Resources ($442,177 reduction in FY21-22), Public Library ($465,000 reduction in FY21-22), Asian Art Museum ($43,488 reduction in FY21-22), Fine Arts Museum (no reduction in FY21-22, $75,148 in FY22-23), Arts Commission ($100,884 reduction in FY21-22), War Memorial ($144,714 reduction in FY21-22), Recreation and Park ($710,004 reduction in FY21-22), and Department of Children, Youth and Their Families ($212,500 reduction in FY21-22).
Key Outcomes
- Unanimous votes: Items 3 and 4 passed 5-0.
- Budget intent: The committee expressed intent to adopt the budget for DPH, HSH, HSA, Retirement, Human Resources, Public Library, Asian Art Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Arts Commission, War Memorial, Recreation and Park, and DCYF with BLA-recommended reductions.
- DOSW exception: The committee voted to approve the DOSW budget without the BLA's $60,000 reduction, but with the $29,622 in unencumbered funds removed. This was a policy decision.
- Next steps: The budget discussion continued on June 24, 2021 at 10 a.m. Public comment on items 1 and 2 occurred on June 25, 2021.
- Directives: The committee requested further discussions with DPH on the $14 million general fund COVID response in FY22-23, with HSH on safe sleeping site costs and data transparency, and with HSA on food program gaps and Veterans Affairs Commission staffing.
Note: The BLA report for DOSW noted that the majority of the department's budget increase is a transfer from HSH, not new grant funding. The meeting adjourned to June 24, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Meeting Transcript
This meeting will come to order. This is the June 23rd, 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 Supervisors Ronan and Safai and Marr. Our clerk is Ms. Linda Wong. I want to thank Colina Mendoza from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, Mr. Chair. The minutes will reflect that committee members participated in this remote meeting through video conference to the same extent as though physically present. The board recognizes that public access to city services is essential and invite public participation in the following ways. Public comment will be available on agenda items three and four. Public comment on items one and two shall occur at the committee meeting on Friday, June 25th at 10 a.m. either channel 26, 78 or 99, and sfgtv.org, streaming the public call-in number across the screen. Each speaker will be allowed one minute to speak. Comments or opportunities to speak during public comment period available via phone call by calling 415-655-0001 again, 415-655-0001. Meeting ID 146105903. Again, that's 1461054903. 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, thou start three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television or radio. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in the following way. Email to myself at the Budget and Appropriations Committee Clerk at L-I-N-D-A.W O N G at SFGOV Doc 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. Written comments may be sent via US Postal Service to City Hall number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodnight Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Mr. Chair, this concludes my announcement. Great. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Can you please call items one and two together? Yes, item number one, budget and appropriation ordinance appropriating all estimated receipts and all estimated expenditure for department of the city and county of San Francisco as of June 1st, 2021 for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023. Annual item number two is annual salary ordinance enumerating positions in the annual budget and appropriation ordinance for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022 and June 30, 2023, continuing creating or establishing these positions. Great. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. Welcome back, everyone. Colleagues, again to remind you of the process here. Can you please hold any questions for departments or the BLA until after the BLA has presented on their proposed cuts? Departments will first have an opportunity to say a few words and the BLA will summarize their report. And after the BLA has finished, we will be able to discuss the cuts and ask any remaining questions. Each department is free to go after all questions have been answered. We will not be taking comment on public uh on items one and two today, as comments will be made during the designated public comment day this Friday, June 25th. Uh and so first up, welcome back to the Department of Public Health. Welcome, Dr. Colfax. Thank you, Chair Haney and Committee members, Grant Colfax, Director of Health. I'm pleased to say that uh the health department accepts the proposed changes and that they will not re um result in any reduction in services, health services to our community.
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