San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - May 3, 2023
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San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting - May 3, 2023
The Budget and Finance Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on May 3, 2023, at 10:15 AM. Chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan, the committee considered six agenda items, including an electricity procurement ordinance, a contract amendment for tax filing software, an emergency declaration for library repairs, a cannabis equity grant, and two airport lease agreements. The committee voted to forward four items to the full board with positive recommendations and continued two airport lease items to the call of the chair.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Electricity Procurement): One member of the public spoke, expressing concern about the increase in the annual expenditure limit from $150 million to $200 million, describing it as "an intrusive amount of money."
- Item 2 (21 Tech Contract): A member of the public argued that tax filings should be done in person, not online, and opposed the 10-year contract extension.
- Item 3 (Library Emergency): David Pilpel supported the resolution but requested a follow-up report with details and photos of the remediation, and noted potential interjurisdictional issues with the emergency declaration process.
- Item 5 & 6 (Airport Leases): David Pilpel expressed support for the resolutions, acknowledging they would be continued.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (230281) - Electricity Procurement: The committee heard no new presentations as the item was continued from the previous week due to substantive amendments. Public comment was taken, and Vice Chair Mandelman moved to forward the ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation. The motion passed 3-0.
- Item 2 (230405) - 21 Tech Contract Amendment: Amanda Freed from the Treasurer & Tax Collector's office presented the proposed 10-year extension and $10 million increase (total not to exceed $18.2 million) for the service and support agreement enabling online tax filings. The BLA recommended amending the resolution to correct the not-to-exceed amount to $18.2 million, noting actual spending averaged $815,000 per year against a $1 million budget. The committee unanimously approved the amendment and then forwarded the amended resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation.
- Item 3 (230315) - Library Emergency Declaration: John Kuha, Director of Facilities, described a January 20 sewage stoppage at the Main Library that caused overflow on three floors. Remediation by Belfour cost an estimated $550,000, with most costs covered by insurance (a $10,000 deductible). The BLA recommended approval. The committee voted 3-0 to forward the resolution to the full board.
- Item 4 (230453) - Cannabis Equity Grant: Jeremy Schwartz, Deputy Director of the Office of Cannabis, presented a $1,511,791.11 grant from the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development for social equity businesses. He noted that over $7 million had been previously disbursed to 60+ equity businesses, with 95% of recipients satisfied and 98% finding the office responsive. Up to 10% of the grant can be used for administrative overhead. Vice Chair Mandelman added himself as a co-sponsor. The committee voted 3-0 to forward the resolution to the full board.
- Items 5 & 6 (230204/230342) - Airport Lease Agreements: Chair Chan called these items out of order. The managing director of finance was absent, and Chair Chan had questions about the $800 million operating reserve and capital improvements. She moved to continue both items to the call of the chair. The motion passed 3-0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 2: Amended to correct not-to-exceed amount to $18.2 million, then forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 3: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 4: Forwarded to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Items 5 & 6: Continued to the call of the chair (3-0).
No other business was discussed, and the meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Today's meeting will come to order. Welcome to the May 3rd meeting of the budget and finance committee. I am Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee, and I'm joined by uh Supervisor Asha Safai and hopefully shortly joined by Vice Chair Raphael Mendelman. Uh our clerk is Brent Halipa. I would like to thank uh Matthew Eatnow from SFGovG uh Gov 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 silence 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-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. Public comment will be taken on each item on the agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first. And then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line.org. The public comment call in number is streaming across the screen. And then when connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but 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 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 on your TV and all listening devices may be using. And uh 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 Hat S F G O V dot O R 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 to uh via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall, that's one Dr. Carlton be good. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And before we start, I would like to uh announce that uh would like to limit today's public comments to one minute. Um that's one. And then uh just uh of course, as a general reminder that we will always have the city department's presentation uh first, followed by the budget and legislative analyst report uh for those that item that has them. Uh and then we'll go to uh questions and comments and then public comments. And with that, today I would do would like to um call the items out of order. Um, Mr. Clerk, please call item number five and six. Uh yes, madam chair, items five and six. Her resolution is approving the uh 2023 lease and use agreement between the city and county, hacking by and through its airport commission and 29 airlines in item five and 11 airlines in item six to conduct flight operations at the San Francisco International Airport for a term of 10 years from July 1st, 2023 through June 30th, 2033, affirming the planning department's determination under the under CEQA and to authorize the airport director to enter into modifications to the leaks that do not materially increase the obligations nor liabilities to the city and are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the leases or these two resolutions. Members of the public who are joining us remotely and wish to comment, uh please call 415-655-0001 with a meeting ID of 2597-675-7544. Then press pound twice. And once connected, you will need to press star three to enter the speaker line. A prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand, and when the system indicates you have been unmuted, that will be your signal to begin your comments. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clark and um colleagues. Regrettably that uh Mr. Kevin Cone, who is the managing director of finance and acting uh airport controller, cannot be with us today in person to make the presentation, uh, which I have some questions about, particularly about the 800 million dollars of operation um reserve as but as well as the capital improvements. So, with that, it is my intention today to continue these two items uh again to the call chair. Uh so with that, um let's go to public comment. Yes, madam chair, uh members of the public who is to speak uh should line up now. And for those joining us remotely and haven't already done so, press star three to enter the speaker line.
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