San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting – June 22, 2026: Homeless Donations, Housing Trust Fund, Public Bank, Charter Reform
San Francisco Rules Committee Meeting – June 22, 2026
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on June 22, 2026, at approximately 10:00 AM (17:15 UTC) to consider four major items: a resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to solicit private donations, a charter amendment to expand the Housing Trust Fund, a charter amendment to establish a municipal finance corporation and public bank, and a comprehensive charter reform measure. The meeting was chaired by Supervisor Shimon Walton, with Vice Chair Stephen Sherrill, President Mandelman, and Supervisor Melgar present. Public comment was taken on each item, with speakers overwhelmingly supporting the housing and public bank measures.
Item 1: Resolution to Solicit Donations for Homeless Services
- Discussion: Director Emily Cohen of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing presented the request for a sixth waiver of the behested payment ordinance, allowing department leadership to solicit philanthropic resources to augment the homeless response system. She noted past successes with partners like Crankstart and the Schwab Foundation.
- Public Comment: No members of the public spoke on this item.
- Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to forward the resolution to the full Board of Supervisors as a committee report.
Item 2: Charter Amendment to Expand the Housing Trust Fund
- Discussion: Supervisor Melgar introduced the charter amendment to gradually increase the Housing Trust Fund from its current ~$51 million annual appropriation to $125 million annually, using 20% of the city's annual property tax growth starting in fiscal year 2029. The fund would be extended through 2058 and include fiscal guardrails: a freeze during deficits over $250 million and a temporary reduction of up to 10% during recessions. Director Dan Adams of the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development and Jacob Bintliff of OEWD presented details, emphasizing that local funds leverage state and federal resources and that the city faces a funding cliff in 2–3 years without new sources. Supervisor Melgar offered amendments to align down payment assistance eligibility with 200% of AMI and make clerical fixes.
- Public Comments & Testimony: Over 30 speakers testified, nearly all in strong support. Speakers included representatives from Self-Help for the Elderly, Council of Community Housing Organizations, PODER, Mission Economic Development Agency, Chinatown Community Development Center, TNDC, Mercy Housing, Housing Accelerator Fund, San Francisco Community Land Trust, and many residents sharing personal stories of living in SROs and struggling to afford housing. Several speakers called the measure a "floor, not a ceiling" and noted the city needs ~$2 billion per year for affordable housing. One speaker (Griffin Lee of Connected SF) opposed, arguing more money alone won't solve the crisis.
- Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to adopt the amendments and continue the item to the June 29, 2026 Rules Committee meeting for final action.
Item 3: Charter Amendment to Establish a Municipal Finance Corporation and Public Bank
- Discussion: Charlie Siamas (Legislative Aide to Supervisor Chen) and Carlito Samurai (LAFCO) presented the charter amendment, which would authorize the creation of a Municipal Finance Corporation (MFC) and eventually a public bank. The MFC would be a non-depository financial institution that partners with credit unions and CDFIs to fill market gaps in affordable housing, small business, and climate resilience lending. The amendment codifies governance structures developed over years by the Reinvestment Working Group, with staggered appointments and safeguards to prevent co-mingling with city funds. The MFC is projected to become profitable by year three, requiring ~$26 million in initial capitalization (not provided by this amendment). Supervisor Mahmood expressed strong support, citing the need for capital access for small businesses and unbanked communities.
- Public Comments & Testimony: Approximately 15 speakers testified, all in support. Speakers included representatives from PODER, HOME, San Francisco Community Land Trust, San Francisco Public Bank Coalition, 350 San Francisco, and residents. They highlighted the bank's potential to finance affordable housing, support small businesses, and fund climate action. One speaker (Griffin Lee of Connected SF) opposed, arguing City Hall should focus on other priorities and that the bank is unnecessary.
- Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to forward the charter amendment to the full Board of Supervisors with a recommendation.
Item 4: Comprehensive Charter Reform Amendment
- Discussion: President Mandelman presented a wide-ranging charter amendment that includes modernization and cleanup (e.g., updating the law library bookbinder position), departmental pain points (e.g., updating Muni service standards to include wait assessments), and recommendations from the Commission Streamlining Task Force (e.g., eliminating the Streets and Sanitation Commission, moving advisory bodies to administrative code). He offered several amendments, including restoring a mayor/board split for the Homeless Oversight Commission, giving the task force flexibility in staffing, and authorizing the board to rename departments. The measure is intended to make the charter more usable and efficient.
- Public Comments & Testimony: One speaker (Griffin Lee of Connected SF) spoke in support, calling it a good step to reduce bureaucracy.
- Key Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to adopt the amendments and continue the item to the June 29, 2026 Rules Committee meeting.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Forwarded to full board as committee report (unanimous).
- Item 2: Amended and continued to June 29, 2026 (unanimous).
- Item 3: Forwarded to full board with recommendation (unanimous).
- Item 4: Amended and continued to June 29, 2026 (unanimous).
- All items are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of June 30, 2026, unless otherwise stated.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning, everybody. Welcome to our June 22, 2026 rules committee meeting. I'm your chair, Supervisor Shimon Walton, soon to be joined by Vice Chair Stephen Sherrill, and currently joined by President Mandelman. We also are joined by Supervisor Melgar this morning. Our clerk today is Victor Young, and I want to thank Matthew Ignail from SFGov TV for making sure that this meeting is publicized and available to the public. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak on your right. Actually, not on your right. Um against the wall by the window. Trying to find my spot again. Alternatively, you may submit public comment in writing either of the following ways. Email them to myself, the rules committee clerk at VICTOR.yo N G at sfgov.org. If you submit public comment by email, be included as part of the file. You may also send your written comments via U.S. mail to our office in City Hall, Dr. Carlton B. Good place. Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. Please make sure to silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors' agenda of June 30th, unless otherwise stated. That completes my initial announcements. Thank you so much, Mr. Clerk, and please forgive us all for any rustiness. I know I have not been in this room since the pandemic, and we have not had a rules committee here for a very long time. So thank you all for bearing with us this morning. With that said, Mr. Clerk, please call item number one. Item number one is a resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, Executive Director, Chief Deputies, Deputy Directors, and Program Directors to solicit donations from various private entities and organizations to support the expansion of temporary shelters and other homeless services to support people experience homelessness, notwithstanding the behested payment ordinance. There is request that this matter be sent out as a committee report. Thank you so much, Mr. Clerk. And I do believe that we have Director Emily Cohen with the Department of Homelessness and Support of Housing here with us this morning to present. Good morning. Good morning, Chair Walton. Good morning, President Mandelman, Supervisors Emily Cohen with the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing. And I'm before you today requesting approval of a resolution that would authorize the sixth waiver of the behested payment ordinance for leadership of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to engage in solicitation of philanthropic and private resources to augment the existing homeless response system in San Francisco. We have had this waiver in the past, which has helped us successfully leverage resources from philanthropies such as Crankstart or the Housing Accelerator Fund, the Schwab Foundation, and others that have led to significant investments in the homeless response system beyond what the public resources are able to do. We ask for this continued waiver, given that we are still in a state of crisis when it comes to homelessness, particularly unsheltered homelessness in our community, and respectfully request your support for ongoing collaboration with our philanthropic partners. Thank you. Thank you so much, Director Cohen. Don't see any questions or comments from colleagues. Mr. Clerk, would you please call for public comment on this item? Yes, members of the public who wish to speak. Uh Mr. Chairman, would you like to do one minute or two-minute public comments? Okay, thank you so much.
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