San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting – November 20, 2024
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
San Francisco Budget and Finance Committee Meeting – November 20, 2024
The Budget and Finance Committee, chaired by Supervisor Connie Chan and joined by Vice Chair Rafael Mandelman and Supervisor Myrna Melgar, met on November 20, 2024, to consider 14 items. The committee continued one item (Worker Justice Fund) to allow further negotiations and approved the remaining 13 items—including contract modifications, grant acceptances, fee eliminations, and service agreements—sending them to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations. Public comment was absent on all items.
Discussion Items & Key Outcomes
1. Worker Justice Fund (Item 1) – Ordinance to establish a fund for workers who have not received payment from employers for violations of city worker protection laws. Chair Chan noted concerns about workload on the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement and expressed a desire to avoid pitting workers against workers. Vice Chair Mandelman acknowledged competing claims and hoped to reach agreement in the new year. Supervisor Melgar voiced strong support for the fund as a safety net for immigrant workers. Result: Continued to the call of the chair (unanimous 3-0).
2. Airport Solid Waste Contract – $22.4 million (Item 2) – Resolution approving a $13.1 million increase and three-year extension (through February 2028) for South San Francisco Scavenger Co. to provide waste management services at SFO. The airport reported the contractor met or exceeded obligations. Result: Approved 3-0.
3. Fee Elimination and Administrative Provisions (Item 3) – Ordinance to waive 49 regulatory license fees (totaling $10 million annually) following voter approval of Proposition M. The Treasurer-Tax Collector’s office presented that 91% of San Francisco restaurants and 87% of nightlife businesses will see their license bills eliminated, saving typical mid-sized restaurants at least $1,400 per year and nightlife businesses at least $850 per year. The ordinance also increases the small business exemption threshold for shared spaces from $2.5 million to $5 million in gross receipts and indefinitely waives business location/device fees for taxi and ride-share businesses. The Budget Analyst noted 80% of the revenue loss affects the Department of Public Health, with backfill expected from future business tax revenues. Vice Chair Mandelman praised the elimination of “annoying and pointless” fees. Result: Approved 3-0.
4. India Basin Shoreline Park Grant – $756,728 (Item 4) – Resolution retroactively accepting a state grant for the India Basin Shoreline Park Project to create a resilient shoreline, expand wetlands, and buffer against storm surges and sea level rise. The project is part of the India Basin Waterfront Initiative; construction is expected summer 2025. Result: Approved 3-0. Vice Chair Mandelman added as co-sponsor.
5. Havelock Pedestrian Bridge Safety Improvement – $500,000 (Item 5) – Resolution accepting a state earmark to construct a 370-foot sidewalk with curb ramps connecting the Havelock Bridge over I-280 to City College, improving pedestrian safety. Supervisor Melgar thanked outgoing Assemblymember Phil Ting. Result: Approved 3-0.
6. Central Subway Train Control System Contract Modification – $29.8 million (Item 6) – Resolution approving modification number four to the agreement with Hitachi Rail GTS USA Inc. (formerly Thales) for the advanced train control system. The modification adds $2.1 million to cover design changes, delay compensation (136 days of delayed site access), and replenishment of retention funds recovered from the prime contractor. The Budget Analyst recommended approval. Result: Approved 3-0.
7. Behavioral Health Infrastructure Grant Applications – Up to $144 million (Item 7) – Resolution authorizing the Department of Public Health to apply for state bond funds (Proposition 1, March 2024) to expand behavioral health beds. Six projects are proposed, adding 175 beds, including: 16 dual diagnosis beds, 40 medical adult residential SUD treatment beds, 12 PES beds at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 50 locked subacute treatment beds at the Behavioral Health Center, capital improvements for a future mental health service center, and a partnership with UCSF for 50 locked subacute and 6 acute psych beds at their St. Francis campus. Applications due December 13, 2024; award notices expected May 2025. Vice Chair Mandelman called the application “giddy” and emphasized the critical need for locked subacute beds to support conservatorship and reduce system bottlenecks. Result: Approved 3-0.
8. Bay Area Community Resources Grant – $16.8 million (Item 8) – Resolution retroactively approving a five-year grant (July 2024–June 2029) for after-school and beacon programs. The Budget Analyst noted that one program, “A Home Away From Homelessness,” served only two children in 2022-23 (one for a meaningful duration) and recommended the department report back at the end of the academic year. The acting director explained the program serves highly transient homeless youth and that a new strategy (academic support) will be tried. Result: Approved 3-0.
9. Mission Graduates Grant – $10.7 million (Item 9) – Resolution retroactively approving a five-year grant for beacon and summer programs. The Budget Analyst noted that a program at Bessie Carmichael School was understaffed but positions have since been filled. Supervisor Melgar asked about the Bryant Elementary School Beacon, which was not included because the school did not participate in the RFP; gap funding is being provided. Result: Approved 3-0.
10. Police Forensic Science Grant – $72,275 (Item 10) – Resolution retroactively accepting a state grant for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Program to maintain crime lab accreditation and reduce case backlogs. Result: Approved 3-0.
11. Naloxone Distribution In-Kind Gift – $81,300 (Item 11) – Resolution retroactively accepting 1,800 units of naloxone from the state Naloxone Distribution Project. Since 2019, SFPD has deployed naloxone 994 times, with 60% of deployments in the Tenderloin district and 15% in the Southern district. Result: Approved 3-0.
12. Water Service Contract – Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory – $66.4 million (Item 12) – Resolution approving a 10-year water service contract (2025–2034) with the U.S. Department of Energy, continuing a relationship since 1960. Estimated revenue of $66.4 million over the term. Result: Approved 3-0.
13. CleanPowerSF Greenhouse Gas-Free Energy Purchase – $8.955 million (Item 13) – Resolution approving a one-year contract with PG&E to purchase hydroelectric greenhouse gas-free energy for 2025 to meet clean energy targets. The contract includes binding arbitration; the general manager signed it subject to board approval. Result: Approved 3-0.
14. Treasure Island Master Lease Amendment – One-Year Extension (Item 14) – Resolution approving amendment number 49 to extend the master lease with the U.S. Navy through November 30, 2025, on the same terms. The Navy requires annual extensions. Result: Approved 3-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 continued to the call of the chair (3-0).
- Items 2 through 14 approved and forwarded to the full Board of Supervisors for the December 3, 2024 meeting (all 3-0 votes).
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the November 20th, 2024 meeting of the budget and finance committee. I'm Supervisor Connie Chan, Chair of the Committee. I'm joined by Supervisor Mayor Namagart, shortly by Vice Chair Rafael Mendelman, our clerk is Brent Haliba. I would like to thank uh Colina Mendoza from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. 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, they should be submitted to myself, the clerk. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda when your item of interest comes up and public comment is called. Please line up to speak on the west side of the chamber to your right, my left along those curtains. And while not 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 finance committee clerk at B-R-E-N-T.jov.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 at one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlick Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. And pursuant to motion number M24-112, approved on November 5th to cancel the November 26th board meeting. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of December 3rd, unless otherwise stated. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And before we call item number one, like to just remind everyone that we have budget and legislative analyst reports for several items today. And for those item, we will have department presentation first, followed by the budget and legislative analysts. Then we will take questions and public comment. So with that, Mr. Clerk, please call item number one. Yes, item number one is an ordinance amending the administrative code to establish the worker justice fund to provide financial restitution and timely payment to workers who have not received payment from their employers for violations of city worker protection laws to authorize the fund to receive monies paid to the city as penalties and liquidated damages by employers, as well as additional monies appropriated in the future. Hinter require the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement to administer the fund and make payments to workers based on specified criteria. Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. And uh this item, I really do hope that we will come together and continue to work on this legislation. I think that there are challenges and concerns expressed um by uh members of the workers that actually uh work at Office of Labor and Standard Enforcement. Um, but at the same time, I think that you know, I I know that this legislation brings uh work burdens to the workers who do this work. Um at the same time, you know that we have workers that are waiting to uh receive relief um for some of the treatments that they have received from employers that have that are the bad apples, and I really do hope that we will come to some agreement um regrettably not today and not at this time. So, with that, it is my intention today to continue this item to the call chair so that we can continue those conversations. I think the last thing that we want at the end of the day for any policymakers is to actually pit workers against workers. Um, what can we do in a moment like this to find solutions? Um, and you know, what ways that we can bring everyone together? It's actually, at least my personally, that's my ultimate goal. Um, and that especially in uh time of budget deficits continue to grow. Um, what is it that we can do to make sure that we're not um spending certain dollar amounts at the expense of other workers uh for some and how can we have a balanced approach? And that's really ultimately my goal. It's tough decision. It's a lot of tough decisions in fact ahead of us, and that we actually have to make.
openpublica.com