Public comments were heard on various issues.
Zach Karnazes expressed concerns about the attack on the Capitol building and the need to address racism in the police department and justice system through empathy training.
Meeting on COVID Relief, Land Use, and Code Amendments
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on January 12, 2021, addressing a range of issues including COVID-19 related relief and protections, land use and landmark designations, and updates to city codes. Key actions included approving fee and tax relief for businesses affected by the pandemic, initiating landmark designations for historic buildings and a Diego Rivera mural, and reenacting emergency ordinances providing employee protections. The board also discussed the UCSF Parnassus Expansion Plan and took up new business related to transportation, housing, and community support initiatives. Public comment addressed concerns about the Capitol attack, racial justice, vaccine distribution, housing, and library access.
Search for Specific Moments
The board approved fee and tax relief for certain businesses affected by the pandemic and updated conflict of interest filing requirements.
The Board approved Ordinance 008-21, which waives certain license and business registration fees and payroll expense taxes for businesses with specific gross receipts and permits (entertainment or restaurant) affected by the pandemic. It also extends deadlines for fee payments and tax filings. Ordinance 007-21 was also approved, updating the Conflict of Interest Code's Form 700 filing requirements by adding, deleting, and changing titles of designated officials and employees to reflect organizational and staffing changes, refining disclosure requirements.
The board initiated landmark designation for the Jones-Thierbach Coffee Company Building and One Montgomery Street.
Resolution No. 009-21 was adopted, initiating landmark designation for the Jones-Thierbach Coffee Company Building at 447 Battery Street. Resolution No. 011-21 was adopted, initiating landmark designation for the building at One Montgomery Street.
A hearing regarding a tentative map disapproval for a condominium conversion at Francisco Street was opened and then continued to a later date.
President Walton opened a public hearing regarding the decision of Public Works to disapprove a Tentative Map for a six-unit condominium conversion at 424, 426, 428, 430, 432, and 434 Francisco Street. Supervisor Peskin moved to continue the hearing to March 2, 2021. Anastasia Yoganopolis spoke out against the continuance. The motion to continue carried.
Motions related to the Francisco Street tentative map were continued.
Motions related to conditionally approving or disapproving the decision of Public Works and approving the Tentative Map for the Francisco Street property, as well as the preparation of findings related to the Tentative Map, were all CONTINUED to the Board of Supervisors meeting of March 2, 2021.
An ordinance was passed on first reading to protect employees from adverse employment actions if they test positive for COVID-19, are isolating or quarantining, or have previously isolated or quarantined.
Ordinance 201188 was passed on first reading, amending the Police Code to protect employees from adverse employment actions if they test positive for COVID-19, are isolating or quarantining, or have previously isolated or quarantined, due to COVID-19 symptoms or exposure. Supervisors Preston, Safai, Haney, and Melgar requested to be added as co-sponsors.
Emergency ordinances related to reemployment rights and employee protections during the pandemic were reenacted.
Emergency Ordinance 201287, temporarily creating a right to reemployment for certain employees laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was FINALLY PASSED with a vote of 10-1 (Stefani voting no). Supervisor Safai requested to be added as a co-sponsor. Emergency Ordinance 201329, to temporarily require grocery store, drug store, restaurant, and on-demand delivery service employers to provide health and scheduling protections to employees during the public health emergency, was FINALLY PASSED with a vote of 11-0. Supervisors Preston and Safai requested to be added as co-sponsors.
Interim zoning controls for residential projects in certain districts were adopted with an amendment.
Resolution 201370, imposing interim zoning controls for parcels in RC, RM, and RTO districts, requiring Conditional Use Authorization for any residential development that does not maximize the number of units allowed by applicable density restrictions, was ADOPTED AS AMENDED. An amendment was made to exclude RTO-M districts from the resolution.
Landmark designation for the Diego Rivera mural at 800 Chestnut Street was initiated with an amendment.
Resolution 210016, initiating a landmark designation for the Diego Rivera mural at 800 Chestnut Street, was ADOPTED AS AMENDED. Supervisors Melgar and Ronen requested to be added as co-sponsors. An amendment was made to add language recognizing the mural's significance to the Latinx and Chicanx communities and the responsibility of civic and academic institutions to include these communities in decisions pertaining to the Mural.
A resolution urging the California Regents to delay consideration of the UCSF Parnassus Expansion Plan EIR was adopted.
Resolution 210017, urging the California Regents to move consideration of the UCSF Parnassus Expansion Plan Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Amendment to the 2014 Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) from their January 2021 meeting to their March 2021 meeting, was ADOPTED with a vote of 10-1 (Stefani voting no).
The board took up several pieces of legislation that were introduced at roll call.
Ordinance 210027, appropriating $287,000,000 of Revenue Bond proceeds to the Municipal Transportation Agency for street and transit projects in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021, was ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. Ordinance 210028, appropriating $220,000,000 from the issuance of one or more series of Refunding General Obligation Bonds, was ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Budget and Finance Committee. Ordinance 210029, authorizing the Recreation and Park Department to amend certain leases to forgive rent and extend the lease term, was ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Budget and Finance Committee. Ordinance 210030, amending the Building Code to waive specified fees for certain accessory dwelling unit projects, was ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. Ordinance 210031, appropriating $165,000 from the General Reserve in the Department of Building Inspection to provide Accessory Dwelling Unit permit services, was ASSIGNED UNDER 30 DAY RULE to the Budget and Finance Committee. Ordinance 210032, amending the Administrative Code to establish the Students and Families RISE (Recovery with Inclusive and Successful Enrichment) Working Group, was ASSIGNED to the Rules Committee. Resolution 210033, declaring the intent of the City and County of San Francisco to reimburse certain expenditures from proceeds of future bonded indebtedness for 1360-43rd Avenue (Shirley Chisholm Village), was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. Resolution 210034, authorizing the sale, issuance and execution of revenue bonds by the Municipal Transportation Agency, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. Resolution 210035, retroactively authorizing the Department of Public Health to accept and expend a monetary gift from the Joan Kelley-Ryder Trust, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. Resolution 210036, retroactively authorizing the Department of Public Health to accept and expend a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through Heluna Health, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Budget and Finance Committee. Resolution 210037, condemning recent vandalism of Cherry Blossom trees in Japantown, was REFERRED FOR ADOPTION WITHOUT COMMITTEE REFERENCE AGENDA AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Resolution 210038, urging the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to work with various entities to identify and determine possible hotels to purchase, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee. Resolution 210039, urging the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) to complete the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Recommendations and Compliance Measures, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee. Resolution 210040, urging all entities that provide COVID-19 vaccinations to San Francisco residents to report their vaccination data to the Department of Public Health, was REFERRED FOR ADOPTION WITHOUT COMMITTEE REFERENCE AGENDA AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING. Motion 210026, approving/rejecting the Mayor's nomination for appointment of Jamal Anderson to the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Rules Committee. Request for Hearing 210041, regarding widespread vaccination in the City and County of San Francisco, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Request for Hearing 210042, on the City's reimbursement practices and maximizing funding for mental health services, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. Request for Hearing 210043, to review the outcomes of the Safe Parking and Vehicular Triage Center, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. Request for Hearing 210044, Hearing of the Board of Supervisors sitting as a Committee of the Whole on January 19, 2021, to hold a public hearing to consider an Ordinance appropriating $1,900,000 from the COVID Contingency Reserve in the Human Services Agency (HSA) to provide assistance to restaurant and food service businesses in Chinatown in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021, was RECEIVED AND ASSIGNED to Board of Supervisors.
Public comments were heard on various issues.
Francisco Da Costa expressed concerns about housing, food security, and efficient vaccine distribution. An anonymous speaker expressed concerns about Sunshine Ordinance Task Force determinations on public access. Peter Warfield expressed concerns about library access and social media use. Barry Toronto congratulated new members and raised concerns about taxi medallion holders facing foreclosure.
Requests were made to the City Attorney, Director of Real Estate, Controller, and Budget & Legislative Analyst.
Supervisor Chan requested the City Attorney to draft legislation to expand the Legacy Business Program and establish free legal aid for Neighborhood Anchoring Businesses. Supervisor Chan requested the Real Estate Department to produce a map and list of all city-owned properties. Supervisor Chan inquired about the structure of the City Administrator’s Office.