San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Meeting - June 2, 2022
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San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Meeting - June 2, 2022
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on June 2, 2022, at 11:15 AM PT (18:15 UTC). Chaired by Supervisor Dean Preston, with Vice Chair Connie Chan and Supervisor Raphael Mandelman, the committee considered two main agenda items: an ordinance to amend environmental and health codes for edible food recovery and organic waste collection, and a series of successor memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and collective bargaining agreements with city labor unions. The committee also handled amendments for police and fire MOUs, unrepresented employee compensation, a letter of agreement with medical interns/residents, and a holiday carry-forward amendment.
Discussion Items
Item 1: Ordinance on Edible Food Recovery and Organic Waste Collection
- Sponsored by Board President Shamann Walton, the ordinance aligns San Francisco with state Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce methane emissions by diverting organic waste from landfills. It requires commercial food generators to donate surplus edible food and mandates 20% of currently wasted edible food be recovered for human consumption by 2025.
- Natalie G. from President Walton's office presented, noting that one in four San Franciscans face food insecurity and that 11.2 billion pounds of food are sent to California landfills annually. She highlighted a pilot program in District 10 that recovered over 400,000 pounds of edible food.
- Charles Sheehan from the Department of Environment presented further details: the ordinance targets approximately 800 edible food generators (tier one: 172 businesses starting Jan 2022; tier two: ~500 businesses starting 2024). The department estimates 3 million pounds of food were recovered in a pilot over three years, equivalent to 2.5 million meals. The city is eligible for a $1.1 million grant from CalRecycle if the ordinance passes in time.
- Department of Public Health will partner for inspections. Enforcement will focus on education and technical assistance first.
- Supervisors Preston and Mandelman requested to be added as co-sponsors.
Items 2-26: Successor Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Collective Bargaining Agreements
- Approximately 30 successor agreements covering two-year terms (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024) for most city labor unions. All agreements were voluntarily reached and ratified by union members, a first since the 1990s charter amendment for interest arbitration.
- Human Resources Director Carol Isen and Employee Relations Director Artists Graham presented the terms: a general wage increase of 5.25% on July 1, 2022; 2.5% on January 1, 2023; and 2.25% on June 30, 2023 (with off-ramp provisions for emergencies). Other improvements include codifying Juneteenth as a paid holiday, hybrid/remote work provisions, tuition reimbursement increases, and health and safety language.
- The agreements also include a hiring framework with SEIU and IFPTE to address the city's roughly 2,500 vacancies, focusing on faster recruitment.
- A speaker from Transport Workers Union Local 250A expressed support, noting that all five of their contracts were ratified and members were satisfied, though they preferred a three-year term.
Items 28-32: Amendments to Police and Fire MOUs
- These items restore deferred wage increases originally due July 1, 2020. For police (item 30), additional changes include: eliminating the first entry-level step, moving step two to step one to boost starting pay; adding longevity premiums of 2% at 5 and 15 years; and a total estimated cost of $16 million (including $1.5 million for step changes and $4 million for restoration). The fire items (28, 29, 32) contained only the restoration.
- Director Isen noted that the police department faces a critical retention crisis: over 100 officers have left via lateral transfers since July 2020, and fewer than 10 applicants applied for the last academy. The changes aim to make the city more competitive among 12 regional agencies where it currently ranks 7th in total compensation.
- Deputy City Attorney Ann Pearson confirmed that the long title's focus on deferred increases is not required to list every amendment.
Item 27: Compensation for Unrepresented Employees
- This annual ordinance sets wages for about a small group of employees not covered by unions, including some mayor's office staff, DHR staff, the controller, and two city attorney's office employees. HR Director Isen explained that terms follow the general pattern of union agreements.
- Supervisor Preston requested a more detailed breakdown of titles and positions, noting that the current classification labels (e.g., "Mayor's Staff 11") lack transparency. He expressed concern about the board's oversight role for unrepresented employees.
Item 33: Letter of Agreement – Committee of Interns and Residents
- This unusual agreement, with the union representing UCSF medical interns/residents, updates the bargaining relationship. The city will maintain a training/education component and space provision while the primary employment relationship shifts to UCSF.
Item 34: Amendment for Carry-Forward of Accrued Holidays
- An amendment to allow carry-forward of up to 160 hours of comp time for Local 21 and up to 80 hours for floating holidays for other unions, due to pandemic-related challenges in taking time off. The item was amended and referred to the Rules Committee.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Items 28-32 (Police and Fire MOUs): Multiple public commenters spoke in favor, citing the need for more police officers to address crime and understaffing. Tracy McRae, acting president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, emphasized that retention is critical to maintain foot patrols and response times. Other callers referenced a Chamber of Commerce poll showing 80% of San Franciscans want more police. No public comments opposed the police amendments.
- Items 2-26 (MOUs): One speaker, the president of TWU Local 250A, expressed support for the ratified contracts and urged full board approval.
- Other items: No public comments were received on items 1, 27, 33, or 34.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (Edible Food Recovery): Unanimously moved to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Items 2-26 (MOUs): Unanimously moved to the full Board with positive recommendation (2-0, with Vice Chair Chan absent).
- Items 28, 29, 32 (Fire MOUs): Unanimously moved to the full Board with positive recommendation (2-0).
- Items 30, 31 (Police MOUs): Moved to the full Board without recommendation (2-0), after Chair Preston expressed concern over the lack of accompanying police reforms and the $59 million proposed increase in the mayor's budget.
- Item 27 (Unrepresented Employees): Moved to the full Board without recommendation (2-0), pending additional details on job classifications.
- Item 33 (Interns/Residents): Unanimously moved to the full Board with positive recommendation (2-0).
- Item 34 (Holiday Carry-Forward): Amended and referred to the Rules Committee to meet procedural deadlines.
All votes were taken in the committee's hybrid format. The full Board will consider these items at subsequent meetings.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the June 2nd, 2022 regular meeting of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Dean Preston, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Connie Chan and Supervisor Raphael Mandelman. The committee clerk today is Jessica Perkinson. And I want to thank our team at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, I do. The Board of the Supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access to in public comment via telephone. The board recognizes that equitable public access is essential and will be taking public comment as follows. First, public comment will be taken on each item of this agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line. For those watching either Channel 267899 or and SFgovTV.org, the public call in number is streaming across the screen. The number is 415 655 0001. Once connected, enter the meeting ID of 2487 4644742, then pound twice. When connected, you will hear the meeting and discussions, but you will be 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 the phone should dial star three to also be added to the speaker line. If you are on the telephone, please remember to turn down your TV and all listening devices you may be using. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to the government audit and oversight committee clerk at Jessica.perkinson at SFGov.org. That's J E S S I C A dot P E R K I N S O N at Sf G O V dot O R G. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and will be also also be included as a as part of that official file. You may also send your writing written comments via US Postal Service to our office in City Hall. One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. That concludes my announcements. Thank you. Please call item one. Yes, item number one on today's agenda is an ordinance. Oh one second. Ordinances. There it is. Amending various requirements, various environmental and health codes requirements for edible food recovery and organic waste collection. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this ordinance may line up to speak. Or if you're joining us remotely, please call the public comment line at 415 65501 and to the meeting ID of 2487-464-4742. Then press pan twice. Once connected to the meeting, you will you will press star three to enter the speaker line. System prompt assistant prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand. Please wait until we take public comment on this item. And when the system indicates you have been unmuted, that will be your cue to begin your comments. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And uh this uh ordinance is sponsored by our board president, uh Shimon Walton, and uh I believe we have Natalie G from President Walton's office here. We also have representatives from Department of Environment, Department of Public Health, uh, in the mayor's office. Uh, but uh to get started, uh welcome, Ms. G. Please proceed. Good morning, Chair Preston, and thank you, Supervisors. Um, thank you so much for considering this item today. Uh so despite being 2022, food insecurity remains a pressing issue in our city and across the state, as it was already a pressing issue before the COVID-19 pandemic, when one in four San Franciscans were at risk of hunger due to low income.
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