OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Government Audit and Oversight Committee Meeting - July 7, 2022

Government Audit and Oversight Committee — Thursday, July 7, 2022
BodySan Francisco, California
SessionGovernment Audit and Oversight Committee
DateThursday, July 7, 2022
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Good morning.

0:05

The meeting will come to order.

0:06

Welcome to the July 7th, 2022 regular meeting of the government audit and oversight committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

0:14

I'm Supervisor Dean Preston, Chair of the Committee, joined remotely by Vice Chair Connie Chan, and here in person by Supervisor Raphael Mandelman and our committee clerk today is Jessica Perkinson.

0:27

Want to thank uh the team at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting.

0:31

Um and Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements?

0:34

Yes, I do.

0:35

Uh the Board of Supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone.

0:45

The board recognizes that equitable public access is essential and will be taking public comment as follows.

0:50

First, public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda.

0:53

Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first.

0:56

And then we will take those who are waiting on the telephone line.

0:58

For those watching channel, either channel 26, 28, 78, or 99, and sfgovtv.org.

1:06

The public comment call in number is streaming across your screen.

1:09

The number is 415 65501.

1:13

Once connected, enter the meeting ID.

1:15

Today is 2487 3376281, then pound twice.

1:21

When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and in listening mode only.

1:26

When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up to speak.

1:33

And those on the telephone line should dial star three to also be added to the speaker line.

1:38

If you are on the telephone, please remember to turn down your TV and all listening devices you may be using.

1:43

Alternatively, you may submit public comment in either in writing in either of the following ways.

1:48

Email them to myself at the government and audit oversight committee clerk at Jessica Perkins.perkinson at SFgov.org.

1:55

That's J E S S I C A dot P E R K I N S O N at S F G O V dot O R G.

2:02

If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and will be also be included as part of the official file.

2:09

You may also send your written comments via U.S.

2:12

Postal Service to our office in City Hall, one Dr.

2:15

Carlton B.

2:16

Goodlit Place.

2:17

Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102.

2:20

That completes my uh that concludes my announcements.

2:24

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

2:25

Um, please call item one.

2:28

Yes, item number one today is a resolution urging Governor Gavin Newsom to halt the issuance of a safety certificate until Pacific Gas and Electric PGE is held accountable for its actions.

2:41

Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this resolution may line up to speak once the once we call for public comment.

2:47

Or if you are joining us remotely, please call the public call in number 415 65501.

2:53

Enter the meeting ID 2487-337-6281, then pound twice.

2:58

Once connected to the meeting, you will you'll press star three to enter the speaker line.

3:02

Assistant prompt will indicate that you've raised your hand.

3:04

Please wait until we take public comment on this item.

3:07

And when the system indicates you have been unmuted, that will be your cue to begin your comments.

3:11

Mr.

3:11

Chair.

3:15

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

3:16

And uh Vice Chair Chan is the sponsor of this item.

3:20

I want to thank you, uh Vice Chair Chan for bringing this forward and uh turn it over to you to uh take the lead on the hearing.

3:28

Thank you, Chair Preston.

3:30

I really appreciate uh the opportunity to bring this hearing uh before you today.

3:37

Um, colleagues, uh PGE's negligence has continued to contribute to our worsening climate crisis and cause devastating wildfires uh all around California.

3:48

Uh while San Francisco has the uh privilege of having clean power SF that has helped us help our city move away from relying on the monopoly of PGE holds.

4:02

We still rely on the company aging distributing uh distribution and transmission lines to deliver uh our power.

4:10

So, according to San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, nearly 770 city projects were delayed due to PGE, creating obstacles to connect affordable connections for affordable housing, parks, and emergency services.

4:26

Um these projects, uh their delays cost the city more than 10 million dollars annually.

4:33

Uh, it is why out of this uh resolution would reclaim our power utility justice campaign, which I'm really grateful for uh for their leadership uh and their advocacy.

4:46

They are the largest uh grassroots coalition fighting for transformation of California's energy system.

4:53

Uh fighting against monopoly is not easy.

5:00

Making pushing the governor and regulators to reject PGE's license to burn is really uh what they're labeled them as.

5:05

But in my opinion, it's a license to kill.

5:08

Uh they've been uh proven uh because their subpar safety uh standards that Californians suffer and die uh from those practices.

5:20

And um, and so we are looking for disparing to really have some information um and race awareness and demanding that our governor and our California Public Utilities Commission to hold PGE accountable uh before they issue another safety certificate.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Homelessness█████████████████████21%
Veterans Affairs███████████████15%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Crisis Intervention Team███████7%
Community Safety███████7%
Procedural█████5%
Energy Management█████5%
Public Comment█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Government Audit and Oversight Committee Meeting - July 7, 2022

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on July 7, 2022, at 10:00 AM in City Hall, Room 250, in a hybrid format. The committee, chaired by Supervisor Dean Preston, with Vice Chair Connie Chan and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, considered eight agenda items including resolutions, ordinances, hearings, and contract approvals. Notable discussions centered on PG&E accountability, veterans' affordable housing priority, and the Compassionate Alternative Response Team (CART) implementation.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 7: Resolution retroactively authorizing acceptance of an in-kind gift of internet access services valued at $173,400 from Monkeybrains.net for March 2020 through December 2022, to support COVID-19 response sites. Approved unanimously.
  • Item 8: Resolution retroactively authorizing acceptance of an in-kind gift of pro bono legal services valued at $250,000 from the University of San Francisco School of Law's Racial Justice Clinic for the District Attorney's Sentencing Review and Wrongful Conviction Units. Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 1 (PG&E resolution): Multiple speakers from Reclaim Our Power campaign and community organizations expressed strong support, citing PG&E's negligence, wildfires, and lack of accountability. One speaker suggested transmitting the resolution to state legislators and lobbyists.
  • Item 2 (Veterans housing priority): Over 30 public speakers, including veterans, commissioners, and service providers, overwhelmingly supported the ordinance. Many shared personal stories of housing insecurity and emphasized the need for priority within existing affordable housing preference categories. Some urged expedited implementation and criticized potential delays.
  • Item 3 (CART hearing): Approximately 20 public speakers, including advocates, formerly unhoused individuals, and community organization representatives, called for swift implementation of CART as a community-based alternative to police response. Some expressed frustration with the year-long delay and urged immediate action. One caller raised concerns about community input from residents.
  • Item 4 (Performance audits): One speaker supported the audits and stressed the importance of metrics.
  • Item 5 (Biosolids contract): One speaker supported the resolution, noting the city's wastewater treatment efforts.
  • Item 6 (Recology contract): One speaker expressed confusion about the extension and urged transparency but ultimately supported the resolution.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1: Resolution urging Governor Newsom to halt PG&E safety certificate issuance – Vice Chair Chan presented, highlighting PG&E's negligence, wildfire deaths, and cost impacts on San Francisco (nearly 770 city projects delayed, over $10 million annually). Antonio Diaz (PODER) and Jessica Tovar (Local Clean Energy Alliance) detailed PG&E's failures and advocated for a publicly owned energy system (Golden State Energy). Committee members expressed support; Supervisor Preston commented on the need for accountability. The item was moved to the full board with positive recommendation.
  • Item 2: Ordinance adding veterans priority in affordable housing programs – Supervisor Mar presented the Veterans Affordable Housing Access Act, which would prioritize veterans within existing preference categories. Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) Nick Menard estimated implementation costs of $300,000-$400,000 and about 2600 hours of work. Concerns were raised about timeline and funding; Supervisor Preston questioned the necessity of a year-long delay. Commissioner Jason Chittavang (Veterans Affairs Commission) supported the ordinance. After public comment, the committee voted unanimously to send to the full board.
  • Item 3: Hearing on CART implementation – Supervisor Melgar emphasized the need for a community-based alternative to police for low-priority homelessness-related calls. Director of Emergency Management Mary Carroll outlined a pilot program funded with $3 million, aiming to resolve up to 100 calls per week initially, with an RFP expected in September 2022 and operational start in January 2023. Tim Black (CAHOOTS program, Eugene, OR) described their model: 33 years, 20,000 calls/year, $2.5 million budget, saving $16 million annually. Wes Saver (Glide) and Gwen Westbrook (United Council of Human Services) stressed community trust and lived experience. Deputy Director Robert Smuts (DEM) noted approximately 65,000 C-priority calls related to homelessness annually; the pilot could cover about 5,000-7,500 calls per year. Supervisor Mandelman expressed concerns about neighborhood impacts and adequate response to serious issues. The committee continued the item to the call of the chair.
  • Item 4: Motion directing BLA to conduct performance audits – Chair Preston proposed two audits: (1) a multi-department audit of street crisis response teams (Fire, HSH, DPH, DEM) and (2) an audit of permanent supportive housing funds administered by HSH. BLA indicated audits would assess response times, service delivery, and funding transparency. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Item 5: Contract with Lystek International for biosolids management – The item was continued from a previous meeting after technical amendments. Director Carroll clarified transportation costs and fuel use (diesel). The committee approved sending to the full board.
  • Item 6: Contract modification with Recology for refuse collection – OCA confirmed issuance of a new solicitation. BLA recommended approval as a bridge until a new contract is awarded, noting termination clauses allow the city to exit if a new provider is selected. Committee approved sending to the full board.
  • Item 7: In-kind gift from Monkeybrains – Policy Analyst Brian Roberts explained the delay in bringing the gift to the board due to oversight; committed to seeking prior approval in the future. Approved.
  • Item 8: In-kind gift from USF Racial Justice Clinic – Deputy DA Sarcelia Hurtado described the post-conviction unit's work. Committee members expressed hope the new DA would continue the program. Approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Item 1: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board with positive recommendation.
  • Item 2: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board; supervisors Preston, Chan, and Mandelman added as co-sponsors.
  • Item 3: Continued to the call of the chair; DEM committed to issuing RFP by September 2022 for a pilot starting January 2023, with $3 million funding covering 12 months of operation.
  • Item 4: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board.
  • Item 5: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board as committee report.
  • Item 6: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board as committee report.
  • Item 7: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board.
  • Item 8: Approved unanimously (3-0) to send to full board.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the July 7th, 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 remotely by Vice Chair Connie Chan, and here in person by Supervisor Raphael Mandelman and our committee clerk today is Jessica Perkinson. Want to thank uh the team at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Um and Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, I do. Uh the Board of Supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and 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 on 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 channel, either channel 26, 28, 78, or 99, and sfgovtv.org. The public comment call in number is streaming across your screen. The number is 415 65501. Once connected, enter the meeting ID. Today is 2487 3376281, then pound twice. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you 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 the telephone line 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 either in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to myself at the government and audit oversight committee clerk at Jessica Perkins.perkinson at SFgov.org. That's J E S S I C A dot P E R K I N S O N at S F 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 be 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, one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place. Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. That completes my uh that concludes my announcements. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, please call item one. Yes, item number one today is a resolution urging Governor Gavin Newsom to halt the issuance of a safety certificate until Pacific Gas and Electric PGE is held accountable for its actions. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this resolution may line up to speak once the once we call for public comment. Or if you are joining us remotely, please call the public call in number 415 65501. Enter the meeting ID 2487-337-6281, then pound twice. Once connected to the meeting, you will you'll press star three to enter the speaker line. Assistant prompt will indicate that you've 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. Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And uh Vice Chair Chan is the sponsor of this item. I want to thank you, uh Vice Chair Chan for bringing this forward and uh turn it over to you to uh take the lead on the hearing. Thank you, Chair Preston. I really appreciate uh the opportunity to bring this hearing uh before you today. Um, colleagues, uh PGE's negligence has continued to contribute to our worsening climate crisis and cause devastating wildfires uh all around California. Uh while San Francisco has the uh privilege of having clean power SF that has helped us help our city move away from relying on the monopoly of PGE holds.

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