San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Regular Meeting - March 15, 2023
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San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Regular Meeting - March 15, 2023
The Budget and Finance Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 10:15 AM in a hybrid format. Chair Connie Chan presided, joined by Vice Chair Raphael Mandelman and later by Supervisor Asha Safayi. The committee considered nine agenda items, including resolutions, ordinances, and contract amendments, and forwarded most to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations. Key discussions centered on safe consumption site funding, a property assessment system contract, a shelter services agreement, and an infrastructure financing district.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Safe Consumption Sites): Ally Anakin, policy associate for Clyde and member of the Safe Friendside and Treatment on Demand coalitions, expressed full support for the resolution, citing the overdose crisis and the need for supervised consumption sites to save lives, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
- Item 5 (Power Station EIFD): Multiple union representatives (John Corso, UA Local 38; Ruby Gonzalez, Building Trades; Dan Torres, Sprinkler Fitters; Eddie Reyes, Iron Workers) and Gene Deckenbach (Friends of Jackson Park) spoke in support, emphasizing job creation, community benefits, and the project's labor agreement. They noted 300 unemployed workers in Local 38 alone.
- Item 6 (Embarcadero Safe Navigation Center): Alice Rogers, chair of the site's advisory group, expressed personal support, citing Five Keys' consistent success in meeting benchmarks. A later speaker criticized the cost and lack of health department reports. Megan Fallon, co-director of housing services at Five Keys, provided public comment and later answered supervisor questions, detailing intake processes, community partnerships, and the bed supply chain delay.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Safe Consumption Sites - Behested Payment Waiver): Tom Paulino (Mayor's Office) presented the resolution, which would allow the Mayor's Office and Department of Public Health to solicit donations from city contractors for safe consumption sites. Vice Chair Mandelman noted it was a second such waiver, following a unanimous January approval for the Civic Bridge program. The committee forwarded the item with a positive recommendation (2-0, Supervisor Safai absent).
- Item 2 (TNC/Taxi Business Registration Fee Suspension): Board President Aaron Peskin sponsored the ordinance to extend the suspension of business registration fees for transportation network company drivers and taxi drivers through FY2027-2028, citing a state law that eliminated local requirements for TNCs. The committee forwarded it (2-0, Safai absent).
- Item 3 (Sapient Corporation Contract Amendment): Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres presented the amendment to increase the contract for property assessment system replacement from $21.4 million to $27.2 million, with a reduced term of nine years. The Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) reported that the city is paying more for less due to delays, and recommended a six-month progress report. The committee approved the item with a condition that the Assessor return in September 2023 for an update (2-0, Safai absent).
- Item 4 (California Appropriations Limit): Michael Mitten (Controller’s Office) presented the resolution establishing the FY2022-2023 appropriations limit at $10.6 billion, based on population decline (-0.7% for the Bay Area) and cost-of-living increases (7.55% or 10.65%). The BLA recommended approval. The committee forwarded it (3-0).
- Item 5 (Power Station Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District): Lee Lutenski (OEWD) and Anna Vandegna (Controller’s Office) presented the resolution to establish an EIFD for the 29-acre Potrero Power Station site, which would use incremental property tax revenue to fund public improvements. The project includes 30% affordable housing and labor harmony. The committee forwarded it (3-0).
- Item 6 (Five Keys Schools Grant Amendment): Dylan Schneider (HSH) presented the second amendment to extend the Embarcadero Safe Navigation Center contract through December 2027, increasing the total not-to-exceed amount to $36.6 million. The site currently serves 120 guests, with plans to expand to 200 beds. Questions focused on bed supply chain delays, data collection, and exit outcomes. The committee forwarded it (3-0).
- Item 7 (James Irvine Foundation Grant): Orion Willis (OEWD) presented the retroactive acceptance of a $900,000 grant to support the Northern California Apprentice Network, focusing on tech and tech-adjacent apprenticeships for underrepresented populations. The committee forwarded it (3-0).
- Item 8 (Hunters Point Shipyard Block 56 Revenue Note): Jasmine Quo (OCI) presented the resolution for a $36.3 million multifamily housing revenue note to finance construction of 73 affordable units (72 for households at 50% AMI or less). Construction is expected to begin in April 2023. The committee forwarded it (3-0).
- Item 9 (706 Mission Street Fund Appropriation): President Peskin presented the ordinance to transfer $1.7 million from Rec and Park and GSA to MOHCD. An amendment was introduced to split the funds equally between two subfunds, clarifying inconsistencies. The committee voted to amend and continue the item to the March 22, 2023, meeting (3-0).
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (2-0, Safai absent).
- Item 2: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (2-0, Safai absent).
- Item 3: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation, with a requirement for the Assessor to return in six months (September 2023) for a progress update (2-0, Safai absent).
- Item 4: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 5: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 6: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 7: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 8: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 9: Amended to split the $1.7 million between two subfunds and continued to the March 22, 2023, Budget and Finance Committee meeting (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the March 15 meetings of uh of the budget and finance committee. I am Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee, and I'm joined by Vice Chair Raphael Mendelman and shortly by Supervisors Asha Safayi. Today, our clerk, as always, Brent Halipa. I would like to thank uh uh Kalina Mendoza from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Thank you, madam chair. Just a friendly reminder for those in attendance to 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. Uh the board recognizes that equitable public access is essential, and we'll be taking public comment as follows. First public comment will be taken on each item on the agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and we will take those waiting on the telephone line. For those watching either channels 26, 2878 or 99 and SFgovTV.org. The public comment call and number streaming across the screen. That number is 415 65501. Again, that's 415 65501. And enter the meeting ID of 2491 751 5889, and then press pound twice. When connected, you will hear meeting discussions, but you'll 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 to speak, and those in uh on the telephone uh 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. Uh each speaker will be allowed up to two minutes unless otherwise stated. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the budget and finance committee clerk at uh B-R-E-N-T.jal I P A 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. That's one. Dr. Carlton, be good at the place. Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, Madam Chair, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of March 21st, unless otherwise stated. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Um, before we call item number one, I would like to just remind everyone that uh what we typically do here will have uh the department presentation first and uh for any items that actually have the budget and legislative analyst report that we will have the butt department presentation, the BLA report, and then we will take questions and then uh followed by public comment. So um that today, items three, four, six, nine, which is a total of four items. Those items have the budget and legislative analysts report. Mr. Clerk, please call item number one. Yes, madam chair, item number one is a resolution authorizing the mayor, officers and employees of the office of the mayor and officers and employees of the Department of Public Health to solicit donations to support the opening and operation of safe consumption sites for various private entities and foundations, notwithstanding the behested payment ordinance. Members of the public who are joining us remotely and wish to comment, please call 415-655-0001. Enter the meeting ID of 2491-751-5889, then press pound twice. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Uh and today we have uh Mr. Paulino from the mayor's office uh for to answer to make a presentation on this item, but then we I believe we also have Dr. Jeffrey Hallm from the Department of Public Health available to answer questions. So thank you so much. Mr.
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