San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - April 26, 2023
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San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - April 26, 2023
The Budget and Finance Committee (Chair Chan, Vice Chair Mandelman, and Supervisor Safai) met on April 26, 2023, to consider several fiscal items, including appropriation amendments, grant acceptances, contract amendments, and policy waivers. The committee forwarded most items to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations, continued one item to the following week, and heard public testimony.
Public Comments & Testimony
- A recurring public commenter expressed general grievances about city governance, personal hardship, and feelings of exclusion. He did not take specific positions on most items but voiced confusion and opposition to the processes. On items related to the PUC and port, he questioned the motives behind waivers and large expenditures. On the HUD grants, he supported housing but criticized the system for not helping him.
- Another speaker (remote) on item 2 (in-kind gifts) called the city “the most corrupt city in America” and requested the item be tabled for review by the ethics commission and budget analyst before supervisor action. On item 5 (port waivers), a speaker (remote) supported the legislation and noted that it does not waive Charter Section 9.118 powers.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Overtime Appropriation – Various Departments): Director Anna Duning explained the amended ordinance shifts permanent salary to overtime funds for multiple departments, adding Recreation and Parks. The BLA report noted DPH overtime increased to $30.7 million. Chair Chan questioned park ranger overtime at Union Square (holiday season, Oct 27–Jan 1) and UN Plaza (since March 8, two shifts daily, 55% filled). Parks finance director Antonio Ferrari confirmed the amounts. The committee forwarded the item 3-0.
- Item 2 (In-Kind Gift – Civic Bridge Program): Sophia Kittler (Mayor’s Office of Innovation) presented five pro bono consulting projects (with firms like Accenture, Zendesk, Slalom). A key discussion centered on whether consultants could later bid on resulting RFPs; the city attorney and office stated their agreements prohibit that. Vice Chair Mandelman praised the program and added as co-sponsor. Forwarded 3-0.
- Item 3 (Title X Family Planning Grant – Retroactive): Jenny Lopez (DPH) requested retroactive acceptance of a $221,725 grant increase (total $301,725). Chair Chan noted 50% vacancy rate; currently serving 500–800 clients. Forwarded 2-0 (Safai absent).
- Item 4 (HIV Services Contract Amendment): Beth Neary and Bill Blum (DPH) presented the amendment for Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, increasing the contract by $5.5 million to a total not-to-exceed $15.2 million, extending to 2027. BLA found no major performance issues but noted late financial statements. Forwarded 3-0.
- Item 5 (Port Tenant Improvement Waiver): Rebecca Benassini (Port) requested a waiver from Admin Code Chapter 6 for tenant improvement allowances up to $20 million (using ARPA and port funds) to recruit tenants. Vice Chair Mandelman added as co-sponsor. Chair Chan clarified the waiver is tied to the $20 million cap. Forwarded 3-0.
- Item 6 (PUC Electricity Purchase Authority): Barbara Hale (SFPUC) requested increasing the annual expenditure limit from $150M to $200M, adding waivers for labor ordinances and binding arbitration. BLA called it a policy matter. Chair Chan expressed reluctance about waiving Minimum Compensation, Healthcare Accountability, and Sweat-free Contracting, asking for quarterly reports on any such waivers. Supervisor Safai asked about competition benefits. The committee approved the amendments (adding renewable portfolio standard) and continued the item to May 3, 2023, by a 3-0 vote.
- Item 7 (SFPUC–Caltrans Agreement Waiver): Suzanne Huang (SFPUC) requested exempting two cooperative agreements for stormwater projects from certain municipal code requirements. Forwarded 3-0.
- Items 8 & 9 (Airport Grants and Lease Amendment): Kathy Widener (SFO) presented a $31 million FAA grant for terminal roof replacement (with solar panels) and a lease amendment reducing Tastes on the Fly’s space by ~43% while maintaining $1.1 million minimum annual guarantee. Chair Chan expressed hope for recovery. Forwarded 3-0.
- Items 10–13 (HUD Formula Grants for Housing): Brian Chu (MOHCD) presented applications for FY2023-2024: HOPWA ($10.1M), ESG ($1.6M), CDBG ($25M), HOME ($7.3M). All are formula grants with known amounts. Forwarded 3-0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 2: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 3: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (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: Amended as read (3-0), then continued to the May 3, 2023 budget committee meeting (3-0).
- Item 7: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Items 8–9: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Items 10–13: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
Budget and Finance Committee. Um I am Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee, and I'm joined by Vice Chair Raphael Mendelman and Supervisor Safa Asha Safai. Our clerk is Brett Haliba. I would like to thank uh Paul uh Morio from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcement? Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a friendly reminder for those in attendance to please make sure to sound all cell phones and electronic devices so as to not interrupt our proceedings here in the chamber. The Board of Supervisors and its committees are convening hybrid meetings that allow in personal 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'll take those waiting on telephone line for those watching remotely and streaming through sfgovtv.org. The public comment call a number streaming across the screen. And when connected, you'll hear uh meeting discussions, but you'll be muted in listing mode only. When your item of interest comes up in public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up to speak, and those on telephone should tell 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 listing 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 finance committee clerk at B R E N T dot J A L I P A HET SF G O V dot 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. Goodlett 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 May 2nd, unless otherwise stated. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Um today we have four items that actually have a budget and legislative analyst reports. So we will have department uh presentation for those items and then directly go to BLA report uh before questions and public comment. Uh with that, um Do we see Director Anna Dunan here today? I just want to make sure before we call item number one. There she is. Great. Uh Mr. Clerk, please call item number one. Yes, item number one is an ordinance appropriating approximately 4.2 million in ambulance service revenue in the fire department, the appropriating approximately 62.3 million from permanent salaries and mandatory fringe benefits, and appropriating approximately 65.4 million to overtime in the Department of Emergency Management, Department of Public Health, Department of Public Works, Fire Department, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Sheriff's Department, and the Recreation and Parks Department, and appropriating approximately 1.1 million of materials and supplies in the fire department in order to support the department's projected increases in overtime has required as required per the administrative code. This ordinance requires a two-thirds vote of all members of the Board of Supervisors pursuant to the charter. Members of the public are joining us remotely. Then press pound twice. And once connected, press star three to enter the speaker line. And when the system indicates you have been unmuted, that is your cue to begin your comments. Madam Chair. Thank you, Director Dooning. The floor is yours. Um good morning, budget committee. Um so you all heard this item last week. Um a number of city departments are required to come before the board to request additional appropriation overtime if they overspend it. So a handful of departments are shifting largely permanent salary dollars to overtime funds. We added one department to that supplemental last week, and that was recreation and parks.
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