Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Special Meeting - November 23, 2021
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The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee held a special meeting on November 23, 2021, chaired by Supervisor Gordon Mar, with members Matt Haney and Aaron Peskin (temporary member). The committee addressed four agenda items: two liquor license transfers, an ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses, and a hearing on the city's urban canopy and street tree maintenance plans. All items were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- The committee approved two liquor license transfers without opposition. The first was a type 51 (nonprofit club) license for Treasure Island Yacht Club, with zero letters of protest and support from the Treasure Island Development Authority. The second was a type 21 (off-sale general) license for Bottle Bacchanal, a woman-owned boutique bottle shop, with a condition to monitor loitering. Both were sent to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendations.
Public Comments & Testimony
- For Item 3: Brian McGilly (UFCW Local 5) expressed full support for the cannabis ordinance, stating it would protect workers, ensure fair wages and benefits, and bring parity to the industry through labor peace agreements and apprenticeship programs.
- For Item 4: Multiple community members spoke. Judy Irving (former chair of Parks and Trees Committee) urged clarifying watering responsibilities to prevent tree deaths. Brian Wiedenmeyer (Friends of the Urban Forest) called the inequitable distribution of trees an environmental injustice and requested dedicated planting funding. Josh Clift (Mission Verde) advocated for creating a city forest officer or office to oversee all city trees and green infrastructure. Catherine Howard (Sierra Club) supported funding through bonds and general fund allocation. Other speakers (Stephanie Peak, Michael Nalty, D Chabuler, Lance Kearns, Charles, John Nolte, Jian Hong) emphasized need for better data, departmental coordination, tree replacement plans, and equitable expansion of the urban forest.
Discussion Items
- Item 3: Ordinance on Cannabis Businesses (Files 211030) – Sponsored by Supervisor Safai, the ordinance amends the Police and Health Codes to extend the temporary authorization period for medical cannabis dispensaries (MCDs) from 120 to 150 days for complaint review, and requires MCDs with 10+ employees to enter into a labor peace agreement or collective bargaining agreement. It also mandates that 35% of new hires come from certified apprenticeship programs. Acting Director of the Office of Cannabis, John Pierce, noted that 35 MCDs remain under temporary permits and the office needs two years to process them. Supervisor Peskin raised a concern about a due process issue regarding complaints filed just before renewal, but Pierce clarified it is an extension and part of a holistic review. Supervisor Mar added himself as a co-sponsor. The committee voted unanimously to send the ordinance to the full board with positive recommendation.
- Item 4: Hearing on Urban Canopy and Street Tree Maintenance – Supervisor Peskin called the hearing as a follow-up to an October session. Dan Goncher from the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) office presented an audit of the Department of Public Works' Street Tree SF program. Key findings: only 32% of initial priority key maps were pruned in the first three years (projected to take 8 years total instead of 3-5); no arborist apprentices have been hired; tree distribution is uneven; and there is no dedicated funding for new tree planting. The city plants an average of 2,154 trees annually, far below the 5,000 needed to offset 4% mortality and meet urban forest goals. The BLA recommended realistic annual goals, specific recruitment, geographic equity, a management plan, and dedicated funding. Carla Short (Acting Director of Public Works and head of Bureau of Urban Forestry) acknowledged the challenges, citing pandemic impacts and hiring difficulties, but expressed support for the recommendations. She noted that tree watering costs about $1,500 of the $2,000 per tree, and that creative partnerships (e.g., Mission Verde volunteer watering) can reduce costs. She also stated that the department is working on a management plan and asset management system, and that a federal grant could help expedite MCD transitions. The committee discussed the need for a funding strategy and potential new sources. The hearing was filed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Unanimous vote (3-0) to send Treasure Island Yacht Club license to the full board with positive recommendation.
- Item 2: Unanimous vote (3-0) to send Bottle Bacchanal license to the full board with positive recommendation, including the condition to monitor loitering.
- Item 3: Unanimous vote (3-0) to send the cannabis ordinance to the full board with positive recommendation.
- Item 4: Unanimous vote (3-0) to file the hearing on urban canopy and street tree maintenance.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the Friday, November 19th, 2021, special meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I'm Supervisor Gordon Marr, Chair of this committee, and I'm joined by committee member Matt Haney and by Supervisor Aaron Peskin. I want to thank this committee's clerk Elisa Samara. And I also like to thank Jim Smith and Cor Corwin Cooley from SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. We are in receipt of a presidential action memo appointing Supervisor Peskin as a temporary temporary member of this committee. I'm just for today's meeting. I'm in place of Vice Chair Stephanie. And I'd like to make a motion to excuse Vice Chair Stephanie. Madam Clerk, can you please call roll? Yes, on the motion to excuse Supervisor Stephanie from today's meeting. Member Haney. Member Peskin. Aye. Chair Moore. Aye. There are three eyes. Okay, thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call item number one? Would you like me to make the announcements first? I'm sorry. Yes, please. Of course. Uh the minutes will reflect that committee members participated in this meeting remotely through video conference to the same extent as though they were physically present. The board recognizes that public access to city services is essential and invite public participation in the following ways. First, public comment will be available on each item on this agenda, either Channel 26, 78, or 99, depending on your provider. And sfgovtv.org are streaming the public comment call in number across the screen. Comments or opportunities to speak during the public comment period are available via phone by calling 415-6550 655-0001. Again, 415 655 0001. The meeting ID is 2493 5694649, then pound and then pound again. 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, please dial star three to be added to the speaker line. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, speak clearly and slowly, and turn down your television or radio. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing in either of the following ways. You can email them to myself, the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Clerk at Alisa, A L Isa dot Samara S O M E R A at S F G O V dot O R G. If you submit public comment via email, we'll be forwarded to the supervisors and included as part of the official files. 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. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of November 30th, 2021, unless otherwise stated. Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Now can you please call item number one? Yes. Item number one is a hearing to consider that the premise to premise transfer of a type 51 nonprofit club on sale beer, wine, and distilled spirits liquor license to Treasure Island Yacht Club Incorporated to do business as a Treasure Island Yacht Club located at one Avenue of the Palms Building One Suite 133 in District 6. Will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county of San Francisco. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this hearing should call the public comment number 415-655-0001.
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