San Francisco Rules Committee Special Meeting – July 11, 2024: Charter Amendments for Children/Youth Services and Reproductive Rights Ordinance
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
San Francisco Rules Committee Special Meeting – July 11, 2024
The Rules Committee, chaired by Supervisor Hillary Ronan, met in a special session on July 11, 2024, to consider two charter amendments aimed at improving accountability and transparency for children and youth funding, and a hearing on a proposed initiative ordinance to safeguard reproductive freedom. Supervisors Myrna Melgar and Ahsha Safai were present; Vice Chair Shamann Walton was excused.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Items 1 & 2 (Charter Amendments): Leslie Who (Secretary, United Educators of San Francisco) expressed staunch support for clarifying that the Student Success Fund and Children’s Fund are separate, noting voters would not have wanted the latter shortchanged. Ephraim (Latino Task Force Education and Family Services Committee Chair) supported the language but wanted to ensure the Our Children, Our Families Council remains advisory without funding authority. Patricia Barraza (Latino Task Force volunteer, Beacon director) supported specific language to prevent misinterpretation and emphasized keeping families central. John Tresvenia (District 11 homeowner, public school product) supported the amendments, highlighted a controller’s office estimate of up to $500,000 per year in new costs, and noted the need to streamline reporting to avoid duplication.
- Item 3 (Reproductive Rights Ordinance): Ruth Nunes (Senior Center Director, Planned Parenthood Northern California) expressed support, noting the San Francisco Health Center sees an average of 10,000 patients annually and that the Reproductive Freedom Act would further protect access in the face of ongoing attacks.
Discussion Items
- Charter Amendments – Accountability for Children & Youth Services and Student Success Fund: Supervisor Melgar introduced her charter amendment (File 240545) to require a citywide outcomes framework, a community needs assessment, and enhanced budget oversight for departments and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Key additions from amendments: removal of references to the Our Children, Our Families Council; new five-year spending proposals from SFUSD for the Public Education Enrichment Fund (PEEF); annual reporting (including a “look back” on prior-year expenditures); and a data sharing agreement between the city and SFUSD. Supervisor Ronan introduced her charter amendment (File 240676) to clarify that the Student Success Fund (passed by 70% of voters in 2022) cannot be counted against the Children’s Fund baseline—a practice that occurred in the last two budgets. She proposed three minor edits to broaden language on school-site innovations and grant timelines. Both supervisors expressed frustration that such clarifications were necessary and noted the measures would be merged. Supervisor Safai voiced support and co-sponsored.
- Reproductive Freedom Ordinance (File 240705): Mayor Breed’s office presented the proposed initiative, which would declare city policy to safeguard reproductive freedom, establish a dedicated fund, require city signage about where abortion and emergency contraception are available (including at limited-services pregnancy centers), prohibit city cooperation with out-of-state prosecutions for lawful care, and clarify that reproductive health clinics are a permitted use in non-residential zones. Supervisor Melgar emphasized reproductive freedom as both a human right and an economic right, noting the Dobbs decision has led to 14 states banning abortion and 7 more restricting it. Supervisor Safai underscored San Francisco’s leadership. Chair Ronan noted the symbolic importance of allowing voters to affirm these values in November.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to excuse Vice Chair Walton: Passed unanimously (2-0, Safai absent).
- Motion to merge Student Success Fund language into File 240545: Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Motion to amend Student Success Fund section with three changes (community/school-site language, grant timing, and model/strategies wording): Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Motion to adopt Supervisor Melgar’s amendments (as read into the record): Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Motion to continue File 240545 as amended to the July 15, 2024 Rules Committee meeting: Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Motion to table File 240676 (Student Success Fund standalone item): Passed unanimously (3-0).
- Motion to file the hearing on Item 3: Passed unanimously (3-0).
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. The meeting will come to order. This is the July 11th, 2024 Special Rules Committee meeting. I'm Supervisor Hillary Ronan, Chair of Rules Committee. I'm joined by uh Supervisor Mirna Malgar, who is filling in or replacing today Supervisor Shaman Walton. And uh it sounds like we'll be joined by Supervisor Asha Safai in about 15 minutes. Uh our clerk is Victor Young, and I would like to thank Seuss and Enos from SFGov TV for broadcasting this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes. Public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing either the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at BIC TOR.yo N G at SFgov.org. If you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors that include it as part of the file. You may also send your written comment via US mail to our office at City Hall 1, Dr. Carleton B. Goodlit Place, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Documents to be included as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda on July 23rd, 2024, unless otherwise stated. That completes my initial announcement. Thank you. And I'd like to make a motion to excuse Vice Chair Supervisor Shaman Walton from the meeting. Yes, on the motion to excuse uh Vice Chair Walton. Uh Supervisor Melgar. I. Melgar, aye. Supervisor Safai, Safai absent. Chair Ronan. Aye. Ronan aye. The motion passes with Supervisor Safari being absent. Motion passes. Can you please read item number one? Item number one is a charter amendment first draft to amend the charter of the city and county of San Francisco to require the Our Children, Our Families Council to use an outcome framework to evaluate the budget and spending of each city department with expenditures that are eligible to be included in the children's youth fund baseline or the public education enrichment fund. Require the mayor and the board of supervisors to consider the council findings during the consideration of the city budget each year, including the Board of Supervisors holding a public hearing and adopting findings about the evaluation about the expenditures by resolution. Require the San Francisco Unified School District to submit proposals once every five years and annual reports describing how it will spend the city's general fund and contribution to the PEEF consistent with the outcome framework. Prohibit the city from providing PEF funding to the school district until the Board of Supervisors and the Mayor has approved the school district's proposal. Prohibit the city from providing discretionary funds to school districts unless it has entered into a data sharing agreement with the city. Thank you. And can you also read item number two? We're going to read them together. Okay. Item number two is a charter amendment. First draft, amending the charter of the city and county of San Francisco to provide that money set aside for San Francisco Unified School District and Student Access Fund cannot replace supplement count as or substitute for other city funding for the school district or our or children and youth required under children youth fund, the public education enrichment fund or other provisions in the charter and election to be held on November 5th, 2024. Thank you. And um I'm gonna turn this over to Supervisor Melgar to speak first. But before I do that, I just um want to thank you, Supervisor Melgar from the bottom of my heart uh for being one of the most brilliant and fierce and longtime advocates on behalf of children in the city. Um being able to partner with you on these issues.
openpublica.com