Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - May 12, 2022
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Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Meeting - May 12, 2022
On Thursday, May 12, 2022, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee met at 18:15 UTC. The committee was chaired by Supervisor Gordon Mar, with Vice Chair Catherine Stefani and Member Connie Chan (substituting) present. The agenda included five items: two liquor license transfers, a proposal to expand shelter ("Place for All"), a skilled nursing care reporting ordinance, and a community policing plan ordinance.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1 (220252): Liquor License Transfer to Blue Ice Entertainment LLC (doing business as Roccapulco) at 3140 Mission Street, District 9. The SFPD Alcohol Liaison Unit recommended approval with four conditions. No public comment. The committee voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation to the full board.
- Item 2 (220253): Liquor License Transfer to Bear Eagle Inc. (doing business as SFGIFTBASKETS.COM) at 2 Embarcadero Center, Suite R-2105, District 3. The ALU recommended approval with no additional conditions. The applicant described the business as mail-order and delivery. No public comment. The committee voted unanimously to send a positive recommendation to the full board.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 3 (Place for All): Approximately 45 public speakers (in person and by phone) commented. Supporters included Rescue SF, the San Francisco Marin Medical Society (representing ~3,500 physicians), the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, GROW SF, and several district residents. They argued that the city lacks adequate shelter, that encampments are inhumane and unsafe, and that a shelter plan is a necessary first step. Opponents included the Coalition on Homelessness, GLIDE, HomeRise, Compass Family Services, and many individuals with lived experience. They contended that the legislation is an unfunded mandate, would divert funds from permanent housing, and would be used to criminalize and sweep unsheltered people without providing meaningful housing exits. Several speakers urged adopting Supervisor Melgar's amendments to tie shelter expansion to permanent housing and to restore a telephone shelter registration system.
- Item 5 (Community Policing): One speaker in person (Maria Dura Michelle) asked for clarification on "non-criminal" activities and community notification. Three remote speakers: Francesca Pestine supported community policing but warned against creating new bureaucracies; Larry Yi (Police Commissioner) supported foot patrols; Tyler expressed concern about increased police funding and suggested ambassador programs instead.
Discussion Items
- Item 3 (Place for All – Administrative Code Amendment): Supervisor Mandelman, the chief sponsor, introduced the ordinance. He stated that the city's shelter capacity is severely lacking, with 73% of unhoused people in the Bay Area unsheltered (highest in the nation). He noted that the 2021 All Home Regional Impact Council framework (124 framework) suggests San Francisco needs at least 2,000 additional shelter beds. He presented amendments: requiring HSH to prepare an implementation plan by December 31, 2022; including a geographic equity strategy; adding safe parking sites; reducing the cap on safe sleep sites from 20% to 10%; and adding services to expedite moves from shelter to housing. Supervisor Melgar offered amendments to add "permanent supportive housing" alongside shelter throughout the legislation, to require a telephone-based shelter registration system, and to add definitions for homelessness prevention, permanent supportive housing, and safe overnight parking. Supervisor Safai proposed amendments to include vehicle navigation triage centers and to clarify that safe sleep sites, safe parking lots, and vehicle triage centers are short-term options. The committee debated the amendments. Vice Chair Stefani and Supervisor Mar supported the bill as a step forward, while Supervisor Chan expressed reservations about the lack of a funding mechanism and the need to integrate housing. After public comment, the committee voted on amendments. Supervisor Mandelman's amendments were approved unanimously. Supervisor Safai's amendments were approved unanimously. Supervisor Melgar's amendments were divided into three votes: the first (adding "permanent supportive housing" throughout) passed 2-1 (Stefani no); the second (telephone registration system) passed 2-1 (Stefani no); the third (definitions and remaining non-substantive changes) passed 2-1 (Stefani no). Because the amendments were substantive, the item was continued to the May 26, 2022 PSNS meeting.
- Item 4 (Health Code – Skilled Nursing Care Transfer Reporting): This was a duplicate file of an ordinance already adopted by the full board. Supervisor Mar proposed continuing it to the call of the chair to consider possible amendments from community health advocates. The clerk noted that the original had not yet taken effect, so a continuance was permissible. The item was continued to May 26, 2022.
- Item 5 (Administrative Code – Community Policing Plans): Supervisor Mar presented the ordinance, which would require each police district to create a community policing plan incorporating foot and bike patrols, language access, and alternatives to law enforcement for non-criminal quality-of-life issues. He introduced three amendments: (1) providing deployment flexibility subject to budget and staffing availability; (2) ensuring continuity during district captain changes; (3) requiring identification of alternatives to law enforcement. The committee voted unanimously to adopt the amendments and continue the item to the May 26, 2022 PSNS meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 & 2: Approved unanimously and sent to the full Board of Supervisors with positive recommendation.
- Item 3: Amended with all three sets of amendments (Mandelman, Safai, and Melgar) and continued to the May 26, 2022 PSNS meeting.
- Item 4: Continued to the May 26, 2022 PSNS meeting.
- Item 5: Amended and continued to the May 26, 2022 PSNS meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. Welcome to the Thursday, May 12th, 2022 meeting of the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. I'm Supervisor Gordon Maher, the chair of this committee, and I'm joined by committee members Catherine Stephanie and Connie Chan, who's subbing for um who's who's submitting in today. Um and I want to thank this, the committee's clerk, Elisa Samara for staffing this meeting. And also um SFGUBTB and um Matthew, um, particularly Matthew Igneo for staffing. Uh Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, Mr. Chair, 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 we'll 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, either channel 26, 78, or 99, depending on your provider. And SFgovTV.org, the public comment call and number is streaming across the screen. The number is 415 65501. Once connected, you'll enter the meeting ID 2490 2199126, then pound impound 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 and public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up to speak, and those on the telephone should dial star three to 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. You can email them to myself, the PSNS clerk at Elisa, A L I S A dot Samara, S O M E R A at SFGO V dot org. If you submit public comment via email, it 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 at City Hall 1. Dr. Carlton B. Goodlick Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Finally, items acted upon today will are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of May 24th, 2022, unless otherwise stated. Mr. Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh can you please call item number one? Yes, item number one, agenda item number one is a hearing to consider that the premise to premise person to person transfer of a type 48 on sale general public premises liquor license to Blue Ice Entertainment LLC, doing business as Rocapulco, located at 3140 Mission Street in District 9 will serve the public convenience or necessity of the city and county of San Francisco. For members of the public who wish to provide comment on this hearing should line up to speak or join if you're joining us remotely, call the public comment number and press uh star three to enter the speaking line. A system prompt will indicate that you have raised your hand. Please wait until the system 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 first we're going to hear from the SFPD ABC liaison unit, and we have app Officer Salmons here in person to present. Morning, members of the board. There are two letters of protest of zero letters of support. They're located in plot 803, which is considered a low crime area. They're in census track 253, which is considered a high saturation area. Ingleside station has no opposition. And Alcohol Liaison Unit recommends approval with the following conditions. Number one, the petitioner shall actively monitor the area under their control in an effort to prevent the loitering of persons on any property adjacent to the licensed premise as depicted on the ABC 253 form. Number two, that the sale of alcohol uh alcoholic beverages for off-scale consumption is strictly prohibited. Number three, no noise shall be audible at any nearby residence.
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