Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting Summary – April 27, 2026

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on April 27, 2026, at 9:45 AM. Chair Miranda Melgar presided, joined by Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen and Member Balam Mahmood. The committee considered seven agenda items: a commemorative street naming, a plaque for Carlos Santana (continued), acceptance of street infrastructure, PUC electric facility purchase authority, temporary street use permits, structural maintenance inspections, and a hearing on Market Street corridor. All votes were unanimous.

Commemorative Street Naming: Helen Wakazo Way

• Presentation: Sasha Gaona (Chief of Staff for Supervisor Jackie Fielder) presented a resolution to add the commemorative street name "Helen Wakazo Way" to Julian Avenue in the American Indian Cultural District. Helen Wakazo founded Friendship House in 1963, which has served over 6,500 clients and is nationally recognized for integrating Native healing practices with substance use disorder treatment. The resolution honors her legacy.
• Committee Discussion: Chair Melgar and Vice Chair Chen expressed strong support, both adding themselves as co-sponsors. They highlighted Friendship House’s importance to the urban Native American community.
• Public Comment: Eleven speakers testified in support, including Patricia Shirley (friend), Catherine Collins (alumni), Sheree Apadaka Duarte (HR manager), Javerne Shirley (Chief Administrative Officer), Nona Claypool (discharge coordinator), James Williams (facilities assistant), Athuservantas (program co-lead), Andrew Cloud (graduate), Peter Brett (Village SF lead), Juliet Lee (reducing disparities initiative), and Hector Patty (ceremonial son). Many shared personal stories of healing and emphasized Helen Wakazo’s compassion and impact.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors.

Commemorative Plaque for Carlos Santana – Continued

• Action: Supervisor Fielder’s office requested a continuance for item 2 (resolution authorizing a commemorative street plaque for Carlos Santana at 205 Mullen Avenue) to allow further community discussion.
• Public Comment: No speakers.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to continue the item to the call of the chair.

Acceptance of East Clementina Street and Public Improvements

• Presentation: Kalhal Hinsey (Department of Public Works) presented an ordinance conditionally accepting a segment of East Clementina Street between Beale and Main streets, along with public improvements from Trans Bay 2 (senior housing with 151 units and family housing with 184 units, both 100% affordable). The project includes street dedication, easements, and CEQA findings.
• Public Comment: None.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend the ordinance to the full board.

PUC Authority to Purchase Electric Infrastructure from Customers

• Presentation: Renil Bijoy (Supervisor Mandelman’s office) and Catherine Spaulding (SFPUC Deputy Assistant General Manager) introduced an ordinance amending the Administrative Code to allow the PUC to purchase electric infrastructure from customers (e.g., Cordia’s steam loop electrification project). The ordinance retains prevailing wage, local hire, and nondiscrimination requirements. The PUC stressed that this authority would reduce delays and support electrification goals.
• Committee Discussion: Chair Melgar and Vice Chair Chen supported the ordinance, noting protections for labor and equity. Chair Melgar added herself as a co-sponsor.
• Public Comment: Three speakers supported: Brendan Green (IBEW Local 6), Rudy Gonzalez (Building and Construction Trades Council), and Mike Yerkis (Cordia Energy Center). They emphasized skilled jobs and efficient infrastructure delivery.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend the ordinance to the full board.

Temporary Street Use Permits and Street Closures

• Presentation: Ben Van Houten (OEWD), Hava Cronenberg (SFMTA), and Katie Tang (Office of Small Business) presented an ordinance to authorize administrative approval of certain temporary street use permits, bypassing the ISCOT hearing for events contained within three blocks, not requiring Muni rerouting, and keeping intersections open. The goal is to simplify permitting for small events and reduce ISCOT workload by an estimated 80–90%.
• Committee Discussion: Chair Melgar and Vice Chair Chen supported the reform, noting it helps small organizations. The committee duplicated the file with a technical amendment (reorganizing ISCOT provisions) and continued the duplicate to the call of the chair.
• Public Comment: Three speakers supported: Jill Linwood (Buena Vista Partnership), Simon Bertrang (SF New Deal), and Griffin Lee (Connected SF). Griffin Lee asked for clarification on “certain circumstances.”
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to amend the duplicate and continue it, and separately voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend the original ordinance to the full board.

Structural Maintenance Inspections – Alignment with State Law

• Presentation: Christine Gasparek (DBI Assistant Director) presented an ordinance aligning local requirements for exterior element inspections (e.g., balconies) with state law. Key changes: flexible submission timeline to match the state’s five-year cycle, aligning inspector qualifications, clarifying that the extended timeline is a one-time adjustment, and reinstating fire escapes inadvertently dropped during drafting.
• Committee Discussion: Vice Chair Chen confirmed the rationale: avoiding duplicative inspections. The committee adopted an amendment (restoring fire escapes and clarifying one-time extension).
• Public Comment: None.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to adopt the amendment and then unanimously (3-0) to recommend the amended ordinance to the full board.

Hearing on Market Street Corridor (Transportation, Economic Development, and Public Engagement)

• Call for Hearing: Supervisor Mahmood outlined three questions: future of transportation on Market Street, public realm investment plans, and strategies for small business activation. He noted optimism (e.g., theater district, downtown development corporation) and concerns (vacancies, reduced transit service, private vehicle reintroduction).
• Presentations:
  • Planning Department (Jeremy Shaw): Described zoning changes, housing expansion downtown, and public realm improvements. Investments include $32M for Embarcadero (with $16M from downtown development corporation) and $22M for Powell Street ($16M from DDC). No centralized vision for Market Street was identified; multiple plans guide investments. Office-to-housing conversion pipeline includes two projects.
  • SFMTA (Hava Cronenberg, Jenny DeLumo, Jessica Garcia): Reported on transportation operations. Muni service cuts in summer 2025 reduced service by 2%, but ridership shifted to rapid routes. The car-free Market Street (since 2020) reduced crashes by 40% and transit travel times by up to 14%. A loading evaluation for TNCs (Uber Black, Lyft Black, Waymo) began in 2025, with limited operations. As of March 2026, TNCs average under 250 trips/day (about 10/hour), and no significant changes in safety or transit performance were observed. However, private vehicle compliance is a concern. The evaluation is ongoing, with a public intercept survey and operator interviews planned.
  • OEWD (Diana Ponce de Leon): Highlighted programs: entertainment zones (including one on Market at 5th-6th), SF Live calendar for smaller venues, $4M from Community Investment Fund for arts space, storefront opportunity grants, business recruitment, and partnerships with Mid-Market CBD and Foundation. Noted that mid-market and Tenderloin receive significant investment but less than the core downtown.
• Committee Discussion: Supervisors pressed for a unified vision and equitable investment. Chair Melgar emphasized that Market Street is both a thoroughfare and a destination, and that public safety and fun factor are critical. Supervisor Mahmood questioned the prioritization framework for investment, noting that mid-market (west of Powell) appears underfunded relative to Embarcadero and Powell Street. He also raised concerns about the TNC pilot being exploited by private vehicles. Vice Chair Chen asked about the health of mom-and-pop businesses and displacement pressures.
• Public Comment: 17 speakers addressed the committee. Major themes:
  • Support for maintaining or strengthening car-free Market Street (many from Keep Market Street Moving Alliance: Walk SF, SF Bicycle Coalition, Transit Riders, Taxi Workers Alliance). They reported increased private vehicles, safety risks, and called for closing the commercial passenger vehicle loophole.
  • Need for improved public safety, cleanliness, and law enforcement presence (business owners, residents).
  • Support for Supervisor Mahmood’s arts and entertainment district vision.
  • Call for a coordinated, citywide vision for Market Street with equitable investment across the corridor.
• Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to hear and file the hearing.