Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting – May 25, 2022
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Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting – May 25, 2022
This meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Hillary Ronin, was held on May 25, 2022, from approximately 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The committee reviewed the Mayor’s Proposed Budget for selected departments for FYs 2022‑2023 and 2023‑2024, heard reports from the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA), accepted trailing legislation, and voted on multiple items. Committee members present included Vice Chair Asha Safai, Supervisors Gordon Maher and Connie Chan, and President Shamann Walton (joined after roll call). Member Mar was absent for several later votes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Pilpel spoke multiple times: He criticized the lack of up‑to‑date budget information on city websites, the absence of posted BLA reports for most departments, and the timing of fee legislation under Charter Section 2.109. He also expressed support for the Port’s ARPA grant but urged the Board to consider unwinding all “Friends of” city department entities, citing potential corruption concerns. He requested a comprehensive report on PUC real estate and facility needs.
- Mark Gleason (Teamsters Local 665) expressed support for the Proposition J contract certification resolution (Item 4), stating that union members work in many of the contracted services and that the resolution has historically been supported.
Discussion Items
- Airport Commission Budget (Items 1-3): BLA recommended reductions of $7,468,045 in FY22‑23 and $6,011,839 in FY23‑24. The airport agreed. Committee accepted the budget with BLA recommendations.
- Department of Building Inspection (DBI) Budget: BLA recommended reductions of $418,950 in FY22‑23 and $200,000 in FY23‑24. DBI agreed. Committee accepted.
- Port of San Francisco Budget: BLA recommended reductions of $393,836 in FY22‑23 and $44,144 in FY23‑24. The port agreed. Committee accepted.
- San Francisco Public Library Budget: BLA recommended reductions of $496,724 in FY22‑23 and $145,000 in FY23‑24. The library agreed. Committee accepted.
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Budget: BLA recommended reductions totaling $4,268,603 in FY22‑23 and $3,730,071 in FY23‑24, revised from the initial report. SFPUC agreed. During discussion, supervisors questioned the high number of vacant funded positions (529). SFPUC General Manager noted plans to hire 234 positions per year and that attrition savings (227 FTE in FY22‑23, 229 in FY23‑24) are already budgeted. Committee accepted the budget with BLA recommendations.
- Retirement System Budget: BLA recommended reductions of $506,319 in FY22‑23 and $65,200 in FY23‑24. The retirement system agreed. Committee accepted.
- Trailing Legislation for Port (Item 7): Resolution to accept and expend $100.8 million in ARPA funding from the California State Lands Commission to support port operations and capital. Passed unanimously.
- Trailing Legislation for Library (Item 6): Resolution to accept and expend $1,002,647 in‑kind grant from Friends of the San Francisco Public Library for FY22‑23. Passed unanimously.
- SFPUC Trailing Items (Items 8-14): The committee heard and voted on a series of ordinances related to CleanPowerSF, Hetch Hetchy water and power, wastewater, and water capital projects and bond issuances. All were amended as recommended by BLA (requiring reporting on bond issuances, rate increases, and facility dispositions) and forwarded to the full board with positive recommendations. Specific amendments included:
- Item 10 (Power Revenue Bonds): Amended to require that the report on bond issuance be included in the legislative file.
- Items 13-14 (Water Revenue Bonds, Water Capital appropriations): Amended to require reporting on the disposition of Rollins Road facility and to place $2.5 million for a new administrative building on reserve pending a report.
- The committee also requested an annual report on wastewater enterprise expenditures and a report on Hetch Hetchy and CleanPowerSF customer rates prior to June budget decisions.
- Proposition J Contract Certification (Item 4): Resolution concurring with controller’s certification that 13 contracted services (airport, MTA, port, PUC) are more cost‑effective. Forwarded unanimously.
- Board of Appeals Surcharges (Item 5): Ordinance to adjust surcharges on permit fees: DBI and Planning increase from $22.50 to $37; DPW from $7 to $9; Department of Public Health decrease from $46 to $43; Police from $6 to $3; Entertainment Commission from $4 to $2. Forwarded unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Budgets Accepted: The committee accepted the Mayor's Proposed Budget for the Airport, DBI, Port, Library, SFPUC, and Retirement System, incorporating all BLA-recommended reductions.
- Trailing Legislation: All trailing items (6-14) were approved with amendments and forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations.
- Item 1 (Hearing): Heard and filed.
- Items 2-3 (Budget and Salary Ordinances): Amended to include BLA reductions and continued to the call of the chair.
- Votes: Most votes were unanimous among present members; Member Mar was absent for several votes but the outcomes were not affected.
- Next Steps: The full Board of Supervisors will consider these items on June 7, 2022. The committee requested additional reports from SFPUC on rates and facility plans before final budget adoption.
Meeting Transcript
I have to wait for the little beeps, right? There we go. Um good afternoon. The meeting will come to order. This is the May 25th, 2022 budget and appropriations committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronin, Chair of the Budget Appropriations Committee. I'm joined by committee members Asha Supervisor Asha Safai, the Vice Chair, Gordon Maher, Connie Chan, and President Walton will be joining us shortly. Our clerk is Brent Halipa, and I would like to thank Michael Baltazar from SFGov TV for broadcasting in this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Do I need to do that again? I think you may need to do that again. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Madam Chair. That's okay. I I'm late, so I apologize to everyone. Uh the meeting will come to order. This is the May 25th, 2022 Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronin, Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee. I'm joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Asha Safai, Supervisors Gordon Maher and Connie Chan, and we will be joined by President Shaman Walton shortly. Our clerk is Brent Halipa, and I would like to thank Michael Balthasar from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Thank you, Madam Chair. With our return to the chamber, just a friendly reminder for those in attendance to make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. First public comment will be taken on each item of this agenda. Those attending in-person will be allowed to speak first. And then we'll take those who are uh waiting to telephone line. Uh for those watching either channels 2678 or 99 and SFGov TV dot org. The public call in number is streaming across the screen. That number is 415. 655-0001. Again, that's 415. 655-0001. The meeting ID is 248069, 6647, then press pound and then pound again. 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 and public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up uh to speak along the curtains. And those on the telephone should dial star three to be added to the speaker line. If you're on your telephone, please remember to turn down your TV and all listening devices you may be using. As previously mentioned, we will take public comment from those attending in-person first, and then we'll go to our public comment telephone line. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, uh the budget and appropriations committee clerk at B-R-E-N-T.org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and also included as part of the official file. You may also send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. That's one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors Agenda of June 7th, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Madam Chair.
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