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Record of Proceedings

San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Actions on Victim Services, Women's Agenda, Airport Tech, and ADA Permitting (March 19, 2026)

Government Audit and Oversight Committee — Thursday, March 19, 2026

BodySan Francisco, California

SessionGovernment Audit and Oversight Committee

DateThursday, March 19, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:28:19

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

Good morning.

0:04

This meeting will come to order.

0:05

Welcome to the March 19th, 2026 regular meeting of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

0:12

I'm Supervisor Sauter, Vice Chair of the Committee, joined by Supervisor Cheryl and Supervisor Melgar, who I'd like to thank for sitting in for Chair Fielder today.

0:27

Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements to begin?

0:30

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

0:34

When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right.

0:39

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

0:43

Email them to me, the government audit and oversight committee clerk at M-O-N-I-Q-U-E.

0:49

C-R-A-Y-T-O-N at SFGOV dot or G.

0:54

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

1:01

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

1:03

Postal Service to our office in City Hall.

1:05

Number one, Dr.

1:05

Carlton B.

1:06

Goodlit Place Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102.

1:11

If you have documents you would like to be included as part of the official file, please submit them to me before the end of the meeting.

1:16

Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent any interruptions to today's proceedings.

1:22

Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of April 7th, 2020 2026, unless otherwise stated.

1:31

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:32

And first I would like to make a motion to excuse Chair Fielder from today's meeting.

1:37

Yes, and on the motion to excuse Chair Fielder, Member Melgar.

1:42

Member Melgar I.

1:43

Member Cheryl, Member Sheryl I, Vice Chair Sauter.

1:46

Aye.

1:46

Vice Chair Sauter, I have three eyes.

1:48

What's Chair Fielder excused?

1:51

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

1:53

Due to some constraints from our presenters, I would like us to begin with item two first.

1:58

So Madam Clerk, could you please call item number two?

2:00

Yes, item number two is a resolution authorizing the director and the deputy deputy director of the mayor's office for victim rights to solicit donations to benefit survivors, victims of crime from individuals, nonprofits, private organizations, and foundations for six months, notwithstanding the behestid payment ordinance.

2:19

Thank you.

2:19

And we have Ivy Lee, Director of Mayor's Office for Victim Rights, to begin and present today.

2:24

Thank you.

2:24

Good morning.

2:25

Thank you so much and good morning, um committee members.

2:28

Um I I really want to just start by um saying, you know, we're here with uh on an agenda with a really important um item that's coming up, um, especially in light of revelations about someone that I think a lot of us held up as a hero.

2:45

Um and it's really I have to admit, like it is very um it really shook me this week.

2:53

And it made it all the more important, I think, um, for us to do this work.

2:58

Um so I really want to thank you, um, all three of you for your support since our office was created a year and a half ago.

3:06

Um the three of you have really shown us um unfailing support.

3:10

Um Supervisor Cheryl, you sit on the Family Violence Council, and I really want to appreciate that.

3:15

Um thank you.

3:16

Um and Supervisor Melgar, the work that we've done around special victims unit and really bolstering that work and making sure there's a bridge between SFPD and victim services organizations was really strengthened by that hearing that you called um last year.

3:31

So just a lot of appreciation for um what this board does um to really uplift um the population that we serve.

3:39

Um the mayor's office for victims' rights um is an office that was designed to be independent and to be a source of um a safe haven, really, and an ombuds office for um crime victims and survivors.

3:51

Um we are open to all because crime victimization is not your identity.

3:57

It is something that you experience.

3:59

Um we'll be speaking more as part of the um women's agenda um item later.

4:06

But really for this item, um, what we want to uplift is the fact that we have limited resources and we have three very clear needs that we are trying to uh find private public partnerships to really bolster.

4:22

Umelessness prevention and trying to make sure that we have housing resources, urgent accommodations uh for folks that are really in need because of imminent harm that they are at risk of.

4:33

Um, where safety um and having safe housing actually means um that they get to live.

4:39

Um stay alive, you know.

4:42

So that is one thing that we really want to uh try and uplift.

4:45

Um another uh issue that we really want to try and fundraise for privately is the right to counsel, because without that legal access to assistance, um, we can prevent so much harm if someone is connected with an attorney.

5:00

So that is really what we are also trying to do.

5:01

But we are trying to do it very thoughtfully and very intentionally, which is why we are also outreaching to um groups like Stout Financial to do a return on investment analysis to bolster um that ask, right, of private funders.

5:17

And I'll talk more about that later as well.

5:20

Um and the last is really just very practically things that I believe that DOSW and HRC have really um spearheaded in the past and are doing now, um, which are things like UBI, right, for folks um for mothers for for children.

5:37

Um that is something that we also would like to try and uplift.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety██████████████████18%

Engineering And Infrastructure████████████████16%

Public Comment████████████12%

Procedural█████████9%

Permit Process███████7%

Technology And Infrastructure██████6%

Community Engagement█████5%

Homelessness████4%

Early Childhood Education████4%

Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Government Audit and Oversight Committee Meeting - March 19, 2026

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on March 19, 2026, under Vice Chair Sauter, joined by Supervisors Cheryl and Melgar (substituting for Chair Fielder). The committee considered multiple items including a resolution to allow the Mayor's Office for Victim Rights to solicit donations for crime survivors, a resolution urging a citywide women's advancement action plan, an ordinance approving airport surveillance technology for ride-hail virtual queues, a hearing on ADA accessibility permitting processes, and thirteen settlement ordinances and resolutions.

Consent Calendar

Items 5 through 13 (six ordinances and three resolutions authorizing settlement of lawsuits and unlitigated claims) were approved and forwarded to the full Board with a positive recommendation. No public comment was offered.

Public Comments & Testimony

Item 2 (Victim Rights Donation Waiver): Several members of the public spoke in strong support. Brielle, a domestic violence survivor, described her arrest as a victim and urged fully funding legal services. Another speaker noted 3,000 reported domestic violence incidents per year, with 15,000 likely total, and only $1 million allocated for legal assistance. A speaker cited data that 43% of families entering homelessness and 29% of adults are fleeing violence, estimating each homeless individual costs the city $30,000 (police/security), $50,000 (public health), and $62,000 (shelter) annually. Diana Derry, a survivor of sex trafficking and domestic violence, called for providing every survivor access to an attorney. Carol Ito supported the effort but highlighted structural deficits from merging the Commission on the Status of Women with HRC. Robin Jeesman (Turntable) emphasized the need for integrated services.
Item 1 (Women's Advancement Resolution): Numerous speakers expressed strong support. Chelsea Leonard (San Francisco Safe House) said women are the fastest growing homeless population yet receive less than 5% of funding. Gillian Hughes (Safe House) described women choosing streets over co-ed shelters due to safety risks. Olivia Hoffman (Community Forward SF) presented survey data: 74% of unhoused women reported violence while homeless; domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness. Danielle Threadgill and Stevana Talburn (Community Forward) called for women-only, survivor-centered shelters. Kristen Nelson urged investment in non-congregate models. Sierra Sparks (Open Door Legal) noted two-thirds of clients are women and warned that ending support for general civil legal services would cut assistance to survivors by 50%. Carol Ito and Dr. Catherine Kenley Johnson emphasized keeping the Commission on the Status of Women in the charter. Joanna Hernandez (Freedom Braiders) highlighted incarcerated women's needs. April McGill (American Indian Cultural Center) requested a healing center for Indigenous women. Beverly Upton (Domestic Violence Consortium) noted the 95% reduction in domestic violence homicides but said services struggle to stay afloat. Tania Estrada (Women’s Building) called for coordinated citywide action. Ani Rivera (Commission on the Status of Women) urged investment in societal change.
Items 3 and 4: No public comment offered.

Discussion Items

Item 2 – Resolution to Solicit Donations for Crime Victims: Director Ivy Lee (Mayor's Office for Victim Rights) presented the need for private fundraising for three priorities: homelessness prevention housing, right to counsel for survivors, and a potential UBI program. She requested a behested payment waiver, cautioning that her office primarily fundraises for service providers, not itself. The committee accepted non-substantive amendments by Supervisor Fielder requiring reporting to the Board 60 days after expiration and specifying recipients “to the extent known.” Supervisor Cheryl supported the ROI study on legal services. Supervisor Melgar added her name as co-sponsor, noting that public safety for women looks different, and expressed hope the city would do more than rely on private funding. The item passed unanimously.
Item 1 – Resolution Urging Citywide Women's Advancement Plan: Supervisor Melgar introduced the resolution, citing wage gaps, racial birth disparities, and unmet Prop D promises. Dr. Diana Aroche (Department on the Status of Women) presented the newly published Women's Agenda, built on community listening sessions. The agenda has four pillars: health, safety, civic leadership, and economic mobility. City department heads detailed their contributions:
- Health (DPH): Director Sai emphasized reproductive health services, maternal/child health disparities (e.g., preterm birth rates for Black women are multiples of others despite $20M annual spending), and programs like Project Lily.
- Safety (HRC & MOHCD): HRC Executive Director Mawli Toubenio highlighted joint work on jail conditions for women. MOHCD’s Julia Sabori noted 39 gender-based violence grants totaling $9.37 million.
- Civic Leadership: Dr. Aroche underscored the need for leadership pipelines and representation.
- Economic Mobility (OEWD & MOHCD): OEWD’s Ayolina Pena discussed workforce alignment focusing on supportive services. Jenny Lamb (Department of Early Childhood) reported over 10,000 children enrolled in city-funded preschool (72% of 3-4 year olds vs. 44% statewide), expanded tuition support up to 200% AMI, and a 47% salary increase for early educators leading to improved retention. MOHCD’s Sabori added that 71% of clients in place-based housing services are female.
- Mayor's Office for Victim Rights: Director Lee described cost-neutral initiatives: a pro-bono ROI study (by Stout Financial) on right to counsel for DV survivors, and state legislation to allow felony charges for repeated violations of protective orders. She also noted human trafficking training for 750 frontline staff. Supervisor Melgar questioned inclusion of transit safety and educational opportunities. Dr. Aroche acknowledged these were not fully developed due to timeline constraints but committed to engaging SFMTA and school districts. OEWD’s Pena noted that the workforce RFP process will incorporate equity parameters. Sabori highlighted new transitional housing projects: a 23-unit site (San Francisco Safe House) and a 36-unit site (Friendship House) funded by $30M from Prop A. The item passed unanimously.
Item 3 – Airport TNC Virtual Queue Technology Ordinance: Guy Clark (SFO Cybersecurity and Compliance Manager) and project manager Rashon presented the technology, patented by the airport, to manage ride-hail drivers via a driver registration portal and SMS-based virtual queue. The system collects driver names, selfies, and TNC profile data (Level 3 sensitive). It aims to reduce roadway congestion by allowing drivers to wait remotely rather than circling, and will free up one of three lots for revenue-generating use (estimated $1-2M annually). Drivers will be required to register; lot attendants will verify identity upon entry. Supervisor Melgar raised concerns about worker breaks, noting the current 60-minute dwell time rule. The presenters clarified that the rule remains unchanged, and the system primarily addresses safety and congestion from oversupply, not just efficiency. No public comment. The item passed unanimously.
Item 4 – Hearing on ADA Accessibility Permitting: Supervisor Sherrill led the hearing to explore challenges for small businesses. Deborah Letsky (DPW Permits Manager) and Kevin Jensen (Disability Access Coordinator) presented:
- DPW reviews ~2,900 building permits and ~30,000 permits annually. Accessibility compliance begins with DBI’s building permit; if right-of-way work is triggered, a DPW permit is needed.
- Since 2024, DPW overhauled processes: 30-day review cycles for completeness and compliance; electronic plan review (Bluebeam) enabling concurrent interagency review (12 departments/8 agencies); published checklists and standards; early release of building permits; and a permit tracker pilot.
- Results: review cycles dropped from 3-9 months to 30 days; completeness time from 102 to 20 days; first-pass completeness rose from 1% to 37%; resubmittals down 50%.
- Jensen explained the technical challenges of retrofitting older sidewalks, using performance-based solutions like the accessible business entrance standard (CurbRAMP). He noted San Francisco has successfully defended against a class action lawsuit and is considered a national leader.
- Staffing constraints: DAC team reduced from 8 to 4 engineers, straining ability to meet shot clocks. A hire is approved to return to 5.
- Questions explored self-certification (not currently viable due to city liability), the 30-day shot clock stacking (DBI and DPW reviews are sequential but applicants can submit both simultaneously), and the need for better upfront applicant guidance. Supervisor Sherrill moved to continue the item to the call of the chair. The motion passed.

Key Outcomes

Item 2 (Victim Rights Donation Waiver): Amended and forwarded to full Board with positive recommendation (3-0). The amendments require a report to the Board 60 days after waiver expiration and specify disclosure of donations to third parties “to the extent known.”
Item 1 (Women's Advancement Resolution): Forwarded to full Board with positive recommendation (3-0). Supervisor Melgar added as lead sponsor; Supervisors Cheryl and Sauter co-sponsored. The resolution urges the Mayor to issue an executive directive for a citywide women's advancement action plan led by DOSW with cross-departmental participation and dedicated budget.
Item 3 (Airport TNC Virtual Queue Technology): Forwarded to full Board with positive recommendation (3-0). The ordinance approves the Surveillance Technology Policy for the virtual queue system.
Item 4 (ADA Permitting Hearing): Continued to the call of the chair (2-0, with Chair Fielder excused). The hearing will remain open for further discussion.
Items 5-13 (Settlements): Forwarded to full Board with positive recommendation (2-0, with Chair Fielder excused).

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the March 19th, 2026 regular meeting of the Government Audit and Oversight Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Sauter, Vice Chair of the Committee, joined by Supervisor Cheryl and Supervisor Melgar, who I'd like to thank for sitting in for Chair Fielder today. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements to begin? Yes, 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 your right. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. Email them to me, the government audit and oversight committee clerk at M-O-N-I-Q-U-E. C-R-A-Y-T-O-N at SFGOV dot or G. If you submit public comment via email 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. Number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. If you have documents you would like to be included as part of the official file, please submit them to me before the end of the meeting. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices to prevent any interruptions to today's proceedings. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of April 7th, 2020 2026, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Madam Clerk. And first I would like to make a motion to excuse Chair Fielder from today's meeting. Yes, and on the motion to excuse Chair Fielder, Member Melgar. Member Melgar I. Member Cheryl, Member Sheryl I, Vice Chair Sauter. Aye. Vice Chair Sauter, I have three eyes. What's Chair Fielder excused? Thank you, Madam Clerk. Due to some constraints from our presenters, I would like us to begin with item two first. So Madam Clerk, could you please call item number two? Yes, item number two is a resolution authorizing the director and the deputy deputy director of the mayor's office for victim rights to solicit donations to benefit survivors, victims of crime from individuals, nonprofits, private organizations, and foundations for six months, notwithstanding the behestid payment ordinance. Thank you. And we have Ivy Lee, Director of Mayor's Office for Victim Rights, to begin and present today. Thank you. Good morning. Thank you so much and good morning, um committee members. Um I I really want to just start by um saying, you know, we're here with uh on an agenda with a really important um item that's coming up, um, especially in light of revelations about someone that I think a lot of us held up as a hero. Um and it's really I have to admit, like it is very um it really shook me this week. And it made it all the more important, I think, um, for us to do this work. Um so I really want to thank you, um, all three of you for your support since our office was created a year and a half ago. Um the three of you have really shown us um unfailing support. Um Supervisor Cheryl, you sit on the Family Violence Council, and I really want to appreciate that. Um thank you. Um and Supervisor Melgar, the work that we've done around special victims unit and really bolstering that work and making sure there's a bridge between SFPD and victim services organizations was really strengthened by that hearing that you called um last year. So just a lot of appreciation for um what this board does um to really uplift um the population that we serve. Um the mayor's office for victims' rights um is an office that was designed to be independent and to be a source of um a safe haven, really, and an ombuds office for um crime victims and survivors. Um we are open to all because crime victimization is not your identity. It is something that you experience. Um we'll be speaking more as part of the um women's agenda um item later. But really for this item, um, what we want to uplift is the fact that we have limited resources and we have three very clear needs that we are trying to uh find private public partnerships to really bolster.

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