San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 14, 2023
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San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Meeting - June 14, 2023
The Budget and Appropriations Committee met on June 14, 2023, to review the Mayor's proposed FY2023-2024 and FY2024-2025 budget, hear from city departments, and consider related legislation. The meeting featured the Controller's revenue letter, presentations from numerous departments, and substantial public comment. The committee continued many items to subsequent meetings, approved several ordinances, and forwarded others to the full Board of Supervisors.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Numerous members of the public spoke in support of restoring funding for the SRO Families United Collaborative and the Code Enforcement Outreach Program (COP) under the Department of Building Inspection (DBI), emphasizing the critical role these programs play in providing language access, tenant rights education, and direct assistance to immigrant and low-income residents in SRO hotels. Speakers also opposed cuts to the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) community building grants and the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) worker outreach contracts.
Discussion Items
- Controller's Revenue Letter (Item 1): Controller Ben Rosenfield presented the revenue outlook, noting slow economic recovery, a heavy reliance on one-time solutions (including $1 billion in federal funds and reserve draws), and a projected $500 million structural deficit in FY2025-2026. The committee filed the hearing.
- First Year Free Program (Item 4): Ordinance to extend fee waivers for small businesses through June 2028. Supervisor Ronin expressed concern that the second year of the budget did not fund the program, contradicting the eight-year extension. The item was continued to June 21, 2023.
- Administrative Code Changes (Items 5-7): Items to reduce reporting burdens. Chair Chan voiced concern about eliminating proactive reports to the Board of Supervisors. Item 5 was continued to June 21, 2023; Items 6 and 7 were forwarded to the full board with a positive recommendation.
- Department of Building Inspection (DBI) Budget & Fee Increase (Item 15): DBI proposed a 15% fee increase to address a structural deficit, but eliminated the $5.2 million in grants for the SRO Collaborative and COP programs. Many public commenters urged restoration. The item was continued to June 21, 2023.
- Ethics Commission Budget: Acting Executive Director Guy Tri Thekendil warned that the proposed budget would cut the commission's staff by 40% and severely impact campaign finance enforcement, transparency, and ethics training. Supervisor Ronan called the cuts "a disgrace" and stated she would not support any budget that guts the ethics department. The item was continued to June 21, 2023.
- Airport (SFO) Position Requests (Item 24): The airport requested 128 new positions due to rapid traffic recovery. The Budget and Legislative Analyst recommended deleting 34 positions, but the committee, after discussion, approved the full request, noting the airport is an enterprise fund and the positions are needed for operational safety and cleanliness.
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Capital Budget (Items 16-22): The SFPUC presented a $1.4 billion capital budget for FY2023-2024, including bond authorizations. The committee approved all items with amendments requiring reporting on key projects in the legislative file.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (Controller's Revenue Letter): Hearing filed.
- Item 4 (First Year Free Program): Continued to June 21, 2023.
- Item 5 (Administrative Code - Reporting Burdens): Continued to June 21, 2023.
- Items 6 & 7 (Administrative Code - Fundraising Drive and Tech Procurement): Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation.
- Item 8 (Municipal Elections Code - Opt out of AB 1416): Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation.
- Item 11 (Prop J Contract Certification): Continued to June 21, 2023.
- Items 9,10,12,13 (Hearings, Access Line Tax, Graffiti Fund): Heard and filed or forwarded as appropriate.
- Items 16-22 (SFPUC Capital Budget and Bonds): Approved as amended (reporting requirements added).
- Items 23 & 24 (SFPUC/Port/Airport Budget Amendments): Approved as amended. The airport's full request for 128 positions was approved; the port's $500,000 general fund reduction was accepted.
- Item 15 (DBI Fee Increase): Continued to June 21, 2023.
- Items 2 & 3 (Main Budget Ordinances): Continued to June 15, 2023, after public comment.
Meeting Transcript
You're unmuted. Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 14 meeting of the budget and appropriation committee. I'm Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Vice Chair Rafael Mendelman, Supervisors Asha Safai, and Hillary Ronin. Our clerk is Brent Halipa. I would like to thank SFGTV for broadcasting this meeting. And Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcement? Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a friendly reminder for those in attendance. So please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices so as not to interrupt our proceedings here in the chamber. The Board of Supervisors and its committees are convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line. For those watching remotely and streaming through sfgovtv.org, the public comment call in number streaming across the screen. And when connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in listening mode only. Those joining us in person should line up to speak, and those on telephone should dial star three to also 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. And each speaker will be allowed up to two minutes to speak unless otherwise stated. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the budget and appropriations committee clerk at B-R-E-N-T dot J A L I P A at SFGO V dot O R G. If you submit public comment by email, via email. Sorry, lost my spot. Okay. Email. Yes, I will be forwarded to the supervisors and be part of the official file. And um yeah, you may also send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall, that's one. Dr. Carlton B. Gillet, place room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And for our hearings this week, we are working with Intergraphics to provide interpretive services during public comment in Spanish and Chinese. And today we are working with Gloria Rivera and Flora Wong, as well as Raymond Burris from our Office of Community Engagement and Immigrant Affairs to provide services in Filipino. Starting with Gloria and Flora, can you kindly provide our public comment instructions and language, please? This is Flora. I will go first and I'll go with Chinese. Thank you. Thank you much for the first time. Seguido por el código de acceso 2591092. Escuchara un mensaje automatico que dice in English. Raise your hand. Significa que usted a levantado la mano. For favor, baja el volumen de todas las cosas que suenen como la junta para poderlos mejor. Mata o sea, pintan simulantulang uli. Made you have raised your hand. Magantabepulama hang. You have been unmuted. At Marina Pomagbaya.
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