Budget and Finance Committee Approves SFO Lease and Bond Items - June 14, 2023
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Budget and Finance Committee Approves SFO Lease and Bond Items - June 14, 2023
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee met on June 14, 2023, to consider three resolutions related to San Francisco International Airport: two approving a 10-year Lease and Use Agreement with 40 airlines, and one authorizing up to $6.06 billion in revenue bonds and other financing. The committee heard presentations, public comment, and voted to forward all items to the full board with a positive recommendation.
Discussion Items
- The committee received a presentation from airport staff on items 1 and 2 (lease agreements) and item 3 (bond authorizations). The new lease replaces the 2011 agreement starting July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2033, and is expected to generate $6 billion in airline revenue over 10 years, consisting of $3.4 billion in terminal rental rates and $2.6 billion in landing fees.
- A key feature is the Operating Reserve and Capital Investment Fund, which will receive an initial $250 million deposit from airlines on July 1, 2023, and total over $800 million over the lease term. The fund can be used for capital projects with shorter useful lives, cash funding of small items, stabilizing rates during economic downturns, and other lawful airport purposes.
- Chair Chan questioned whether the fund could be used for labor disputes involving airport contractors. Airport staff responded that it could be used for contracts directly with the airport but not for third-party contractor wages, and they would follow up.
- Chair Chan also raised recent incidents at SFO—a power outage on June 13 and two go-around incidents involving Southwest and United airlines. Airport staff explained the power outage was caused by a cable failure scheduled for replacement, and the go-arounds were routine safety measures reviewed by the FAA.
Public Comments & Testimony
- David Pilpel spoke in support of all three items, noting the bond refunding would save $81 million in net present value (1.27% savings), exceeding the airport's minimum policy threshold. He urged quick approval to meet the July 1 deadline.
Key Outcomes
- The committee voted unanimously (2-0, with Supervisor Safayi excused) to forward all three resolutions to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. The items are expected to appear on the Board's agenda on June 27, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Thank you for joining the um budget and special budget and finance committee. Um I am Supervisor Connie Chan, the chair of this committee, and joined by Vice Chair uh Rafael Supervisor Raphael Mendoman, uh our clerk is Brent Halipa, and this and I want to thank SFGov TV, Matthew Icknow uh for broadcasting this uh meeting. Um 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 as to not interrupt our proceedings. How the Board of Supervisors and its committees are convening hybrid meetings that allowing personal attendance and public comment, also providing remote access and public comment via telephone. How public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda, and those attending in person will be allowed to speak first. And then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line. Uh 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 meeting discussions, but you'll be muted in the listing mode only when your item of interest comes up in public comment that's called. Those joining us in person should like to speak and those on telephone to dial star three to be added to the speaker line. If you're on your telephone, please remember to turn down uh 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 my self, the budget and finance committee clerk at BRENT dot J A L 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 and 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 June 27th, unless otherwise stated. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And before we call the items, I would like to make the motion to excuse uh Supervisor Safayi for the remaining of this uh for for this meeting. And on that motion to excuse uh member Safai, Vice Chair Mandelman. Chair Chan. I Chan, I we have two eyes with uh with uh member Safe excused. Thank you, and the motion passes. And with that, um Mr. Clerk, could you please call all three uh item one, two, and three together? Uh yes, madam chair one to second uh items number one and two are resolutions approving the 2023 lease use agreement between the city and county acting by and through its airport commission. Item one with 29 airlines, item two is with 11 airlines to conduct flight operations at uh the San Francisco International Airport for a term of 10 years from July 1st, 2023 through June 30th, 2033, referring the plan department's uh determination under CEQA and to authorize the airport direction uh director to enter into a modifications to the lease that do not materially increase the obligations or liabilities to the city and are necessary to effectuate the purposes of the leases or these resolutions. Item number three is a resolution approving the issuance of not to exceed approximately six billion aggregate principal amount of San Francisco International Airport's second series refunding revenue bonds to refinance bonds and subordinate bonds, approving the issuance of not to exceed approximately sixty million aggregate principal amount of San Francisco International Airport Special Facilities Bonds to refund bonds issued to finance fuel storage and delivery facilities, approving the issuance of not to exceed approximately 262.5 million aggregate principal amount of San Francisco International Airport Special Facilities Bonds to refund bonds issued to finance the airport hotel, approving revolving lines of credit and term loans in an available principal amount, together with the aggregate outstanding principal amount of subordinate bonds issued as commercial paper notes not to exceed 600 million, approving the purchase of bonds or subordinate bonds by the airport, approving the maximum interest rates, maturity dates and number of issues of such capital bonds, capital plan bonds, refunding bonds, subordinate bonds, and special facilities bonds, approving certain resolutions of airport commission and approving certain other related matters as defined. And members of the public who are joining us remotely and wish to comment, please call 415-655-0001. Enter the meeting ID of 2591 092 6245. Then press pound twice. Once connected, press star three to enter the speaker line. Your prompt will indicate that you've raised your hand and when the system indicates you have been unmuted. There will be your cycle to begin your comments. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And I want to say that on the record that all three items uh, particularly one, uh particularly three has been heard and presented. And I want to say that on the record that all three items uh, particularly one uh particularly three has been heard and presented uh and with the BLA report uh previously, and that was on um May 17. And then for item one and two, uh, we are going to have the presentation from the airport. Uh both items has uh a budget and legislative analyst report, uh, but I assume it's going to be brief.
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