Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee Regular Meeting - March 13, 2025

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 6:15 PM. The meeting was chaired by Supervisor Matt Dorsey, with Vice Chair Bilal Mahmood and Supervisor Danny Sauter present. The committee considered three agenda items: a liquor license transfer, a resolution on drug market intervention, and a hearing on public trash cans.

Liquor License Transfer - 1266 9th Avenue (Luke's Local)

Supervisor Dorsey introduced the item. Officer Freundes from the SFPD ABC liaison unit reported that the applicant, Luke's Local Inc., seeks a Type 21 off-sale general liquor license for a small grocery chain in the West Portal neighborhood. There were zero letters of protest or support. The Alcohol Liaison Unit recommended approval with one condition: the petitioner must actively monitor the area to prevent loitering. No public comment was offered. The committee unanimously voted to prepare a resolution finding that the transfer serves public convenience or necessity. (Vote: 3-0, Mahmood, Sauter, Dorsey aye.)

Drug Market Intervention (DMI) Resolution

Vice Chair Mahmood presented the resolution (Item 250197) urging implementation of a comprehensive DMI strategy to address the fentanyl crisis. He noted that the Tenderloin is home to over 3,500 children and that DMAC has seized over 300 pounds of fentanyl and made more than 2,000 felony drug arrests since 2023. Mahmood introduced an amendment to clarify that enforcement alone cannot eliminate the drug market and should be minimized whenever possible, prioritizing interagency collaboration, deterrence, and pathways to employment and rehabilitation. The amendment was adopted unanimously. No public comment was heard. The committee then voted to forward the amended resolution to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. (Vote: 3-0.)

Hearing - Public Trash Cans

Supervisor Sauter called the hearing to examine the city's policies for procuring, installing, and maintaining public trash cans. Presentations were given by Ian Schneider (Government Affairs Manager, DPW) and Kevin Flanagan (General Manager, Recology Golden Gate).

Key Statistics and Updates

• DPW manages approximately 3,000 public trash cans. Over the past 15 years, 1,500 cans have been removed.
• San Francisco has about four cans per 1,000 people (compared to New York City's one per 1,000).
• Approximately 800 of the city's cans have sensors that generate 311 requests when triggered (at 80% full).
• DPW is working to hire a trash can manager and is developing a new can design through an RFP, funded by a $15 million reserve from refuse rate accounts. The goal is to replace all existing cans over nine years.
• Recology services all public receptacles at least once per day, with a second pass on 12 dedicated routes, and a third pass in high-traffic areas (e.g., Mission District and Chinatown).
• Recology's clean street carts (with automatic locking lids) are deployed in several areas, but cost about double the standard cart.
• DPW has over 450 cleaning staff, but street cleaning budgets are vulnerable to general fund cuts.

Discussion

Supervisors questioned DPW and Recology about sensor expansion, enforcement, illegal dumping, and pilot programs. Supervisor Sauter noted that removing cans without adding alternatives can concentrate litter. Supervisor Mahmood asked about educational outreach, referencing Japan's culture of cleanliness. DPW cited past school assemblies and a campaign with the San Francisco Giants, but acknowledged difficulty in measuring impact.

Public Comments

Several members of the public spoke in support of more trash cans, better enforcement, and education. Key speakers:

• Blair Helsing (President, North Beach Neighbors): Noted increased garbage due to more visitors and called for collaboration.
• Devin Proctor (Clean Up the City volunteer): Urged the city to measure outcomes (e.g., street cleanliness audits) rather than just inputs.
• Julie Christensen (former supervisor, product designer): Suggested improvements to can design (manufacturability, removable skins, plastic materials).
• Alex Ludlum (Interim ED, SOMA West CBD): Stated that less than 10% of street trash in SOMA West comes from pedestrians; the rest is from illegal dumping and commercial sources.
• David Thompson (resident): Described a lack of cans on Taylor Street and a broken can at Sacramento and Jones.
• Michael I (Excelsior resident): Called for more cans in District 11 and suggested public-private partnerships.
• Barbara Bella (Russian Hill Neighbors): Asked Recology to address accidental litter during collection, estimated at up to 30%.
• Dallas Hyatt (Lower Nob Hill Cleanup co-captain): Emphasized need for more cans and cigarette butt receptacles.
• Nancy Yu Law (Chinatown small business owner): Noted overflow in Chinatown and suggested placing cans at corners rather than in front of stores.
• Vince Ewan (Refuse Refuse founder): Cautioned that trash cans are not a silver bullet; advocated for QR codes on cans, a drone program for illegal dumping detection, and a ban on filtered cigarette butts.

Key Outcomes

Supervisor Sauter committed to follow up on specific ideas, including pilot programs, expansion of clean street carts, and improved enforcement. The committee voted to continue the hearing to the call of the chair to allow for future updates and accountability. (Vote: 3-0.)

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at approximately 12:30 PM (after the recess for technical issues).