San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Recessed Meeting - June 20, 2025
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
San Francisco Budget and Appropriations Committee Recessed Meeting - June 20, 2025
The Budget and Appropriations Committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, met on June 20, 2025, to continue its second round of hearings on the Mayor's proposed budget for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. The committee addressed trailing legislation and disputed recommendations from the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA), hearing from multiple departments. The meeting recessed until Monday, June 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. for further public comment and deliberation.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Rec and Park Fee Legislation (Items 13-16): Numerous speakers addressed the proposed fee increases, including paid parking in Golden Gate Park, court reservation fees, golf surcharges, and recreation program fees. Supporters, including union representatives, workers, and park advocates, argued the fees are necessary to avoid service cuts, pool closures, and layoffs. Many opposed privatization of golf courses. Opponents, particularly from tennis and pickleball communities, argued fees would disproportionately harm low-income residents, youth, and seniors, and called for alternative funding or audits. Some speakers also urged preserving the Partnerships Division, which generates millions in private funding.
- Our City, Our Home Fund (Items 17-18): Several speakers, including service providers and advocates, thanked the committee for revising the spending plan to maintain funding for youth and family housing and prevention. Some expressed concern about moving funds from housing to shelter, emphasizing the importance of permanent housing solutions.
Discussion Items
- Police Department (Item 11): The committee heard a proposal to increase vehicle registration fees from $1 to $2 per vehicle and $2 to $4 per commercial vehicle to fund fingerprint identification programs. The department agreed with all BLA recommendations, but Chair Chan noted ongoing discussions about a civilian management position reduction. The item will be adjudicated later.
- Asian Art Museum: The new director, Dr. Soyoung Lee, presented her vision. The museum disagreed with BLA recommendation AAM-2 to delete a vacant manager position (head of production and preparation). The museum argued the position is critical for exhibitions and operations. Chair Chan expressed disappointment over the cancellation of a planned Forbidden City exhibit but appreciated the commitment to future cultural diplomacy.
- Public Library: The library director requested support to retain two vacant manager positions (main library manager and logistics supervisor) that the BLA recommended eliminating. The BLA noted the positions have been vacant for months and that the library has a low management-to-staff ratio (1:35). Supervisor Engardio and others advocated for the positions, noting they have no general fund savings.
- Department of Early Childhood: The director opposed BLA recommendations to delete three vacant positions and reappropriate funds from the Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEF). The BLA argued the positions have never been filled and that moving facility costs to PEF would not affect the baseline. The chair noted the policy debate around spending special funds.
- Department of Emergency Management (DEM): DEM agreed with all BLA recommendations. The committee discussed the new neighborhood street teams and ambassador program consolidation. Chair Chan proposed putting $9.9 million (year two) on reserve, requiring DEM to report back in November. DEM agreed.
- Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD): OEWD reached agreement with the BLA. The committee discussed City Build program changes and the legacy business program. Chair Chan requested dedicated staff for legacy business, and OEWD committed to further discussion.
- Human Services Agency (HSA): HSA agreed with 12 of 26 BLA recommendations, totaling $2.5 million in savings. Disagreements involved 14 vacant positions, upward substitutions, and a $1 million sugary drink tax fund transfer. The director argued the positions are mission-critical, especially for foster care, workforce development, and food security. Chair Chan signaled opposition to the debt service cut for a Bayview building but maintained a policy against upward substitutions.
- Recreation and Park Department (RPD): RPD disagreed with BLA recommendations to delete $900,000 in vacant positions (aquatic supervisors, recreation coordinators), an SUV, and two upward substitutions for manager positions. The department also opposed a cut to the Partnerships Division (6 filled positions). RPD presented fee legislation (Items 13-16) to generate $11.8 million over two years, including paid parking in Golden Gate Park ($4.9 million net), court reservation fees ($1 million), utility surcharges, and recreation program fee changes. The department announced it would not pursue outsourcing golf maintenance, instead proposing revised golf fees to reduce the general fund subsidy by 60%. Chair Chan requested amendments to the scholarship policy to use San Francisco area median income and to clarify cost recovery for golf. The committee will continue discussions.
- Adult Probation Department: The chief requested approval of a new manager three position and retention of a manager two position, citing increased workload from Prop 36 and re-entry services. The chair noted the policy against new management positions but agreed to further discussion.
- Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) - Items 17-18: HSH presented an updated Our City, Our Home (OCO) spending plan, agreed to with the BLA. The plan reallocates $34.7 million in unprogrammed funds and $19.5 million in interest earnings to expand housing for families, youth, and adults, including rapid rehousing, restore beds, and problem-solving resources. The trailing legislation suspends caps on short-term rental subsidies and authorizes future revenue spending. Supervisor Fielder expressed concern about a clause allowing future funds to be allocated without board approval, stating she would seek its removal. The committee will review amendments by Monday.
Key Outcomes
- Agreements: Many departments reached agreement with the BLA, including Police, DEM, OEWD, HSH, and parts of HSA and RPD. The committee will adjudicate unresolved items later.
- Votes: The committee voted unanimously to excuse Supervisor Walton and to recess the meeting until Monday, June 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. All items not yet disposed will be considered at that time.
- Next Steps: The committee directed the city attorney to draft amendments for the OCO legislation and requested further discussions on RPD fee proposals, including scholarship policy and golf cost recovery. Departments with unresolved disagreements will continue negotiations.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 20th meeting of the budget and appropriation committee. I'm Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Supervisor Vice Chair, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, members, Supervisor Joan Guardio, and shortly President Rent Mendelman, Raphael Mendelman. And today, substituting for Supervisor Walton, we have Supervisor Jackie Filder. Thank you so much, Supervisor Vilder. And our clerk is Brent Halipa. And I want to thank SFGup TV from broadcasting this meeting. And with that, Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcement? Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a friendly reminder to those in attendance to please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent interruptions to our proceedings. Should you have any documents to be included as part of the file, it should be submitted to myself, the clerk. Public comment will be taken on select items on this agenda. Kindly pay attention to the chair's instructions as we go throughout this meeting. Please line up to speak on the west side of the chamber to your right, my left along those curtains. And while not uh required to provide public comment, we do invite you to fill out a comment card and leave them on the trade by the television to your left by the doors if you wish to be accurately recorded for the minutes. 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 PA at SFGO V dot or G. 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 at 1 Dr. Carlton Bigot Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And thank you, Madam Chair. That concludes my announcements. Thank you. And just want to still give a special shout out to Count Lena Mendoza and Eugene Labadia from SFGov TV for your help today. I appreciate it. And with that, um, we will first need to excuse Supervisor Walton and the motion to excuse Supervisor Walton for today's meeting. So moved by President Mendelman. And then second by Vice Chair Dorsey. And with that, a roll call, please. And on that motion, I uh yes, and on that motion to excuse Supervisor Walton from attending today's meeting by member Mandelman, seconded by Vice Chair Dorsey. Vice Chair Dorsey. Dorsey, aye, member and Guardio. And Guardio, aye. Member Mandelman. Aye. Mendelman, aye. Member Fielder. Fielder, aye. Chair Chan. Aye. Chan, I. We have five eyes. The motion passes. And uh I will like to note with the appearance of uh of President Mandelman. We are now convened as a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors. And thank you and uh welcome Supervisor Danny Sauder for joining us in the chamber.
openpublica.com