Imperium

Mayor London Breed addressed the Board regarding Black History Month and Lunar New Year events, clean and safe neighborhoods, the street vending moratorium, and efforts to change state policies. Supervisor Preston questioned the Mayor about the Notice of Funding Availability for SRO elevator repairs, specifically aiming for a February 12, 2024 publication date. The Mayor acknowledged the urgency but couldn't commit to the date due to the limited number of qualified contractors. Supervisor Preston pressed for a commitment regarding the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing receiving the Notice by February 12, but the Mayor declined, citing her inability to guarantee the date while assuring the Board of her dedication to improving conditions in the Tenderloin and directing the Department to act swiftly and safely. After public comment, the matter was filed with no further action.

The Consent Agenda included a series of ordinances and resolutions recommended by various committees. The Budget and Finance Committee recommendations included approving contracts with the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) for IP address registration, appropriating $1,350,239 in Tax Increment Revenue Bond Proceeds for affordable housing on Treasure Island, retroactively authorizing the District Attorney to accept and expend a $2,050,000 grant for the Organized Retail Theft Vertical Prosecution Program, and authorizing the Police Department to expend grant funds for organized retail theft prevention without competitive bidding. The Government Audit and Oversight Committee recommendations included ordinances authorizing settlements for lawsuits: Phaedra Michelle Scott ($40,000 for a pothole injury), Alfred Coutts ($190,000 for negligence at Laguna Honda Hospital), and Peyman Pakdel and Sima Chegini ($450,000 for property value diminution related to the Expedited Conversion Program), and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. regarding power connections. The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommendations included an ordinance amending the Existing Building Code to require supplemental inspections for tall buildings. The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee recommendations included an ordinance amending the Health Code to regulate medical specimen test collection sites. The Rules Committee recommendations included an ordinance amending the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code regarding Form 700 filing requirements for the General Services Agency. Also included were several resolutions approving settlements of unlitigated claims: Deven Gadula ($175,000 for property damage from a water main rupture), Joan Assereto ($44,000 for property damage from a water main rupture), John Paul USA, Inc. ($70,805.11 for tax refunds), and San Francisco Deputy Sheriff’s Association ($94,675 for an employment dispute). All items on the Consent Agenda were approved with a unanimous vote.

The Board considered unfinished business, including an ordinance authorizing the SFPUC and City Attorney to approve settlements of claims arising from the September 10, 2023, water pipeline break at Fillmore and Green Streets, not to exceed $7,000,000 in total, with individual claims capped at $1,000,000 each. This ordinance was approved unanimously. The Board also considered an ordinance designating the Westwood Park Entrance Gateways and Pillars as a Landmark, consistent with Article 10 of the Planning Code. Supervisor Preston voted against the designation on first reading, however, ultimately, the ordinance was passed with a 10-1 vote.

The Board discussed a resolution expressing support for a permanent cultural monument for the Filipino Cultural Heritage District, with Supervisor Dorsey seconding the motion to amend the whole and bearing the new title. The amendment involved adding 'and public realm artworks' to the title and making changes to the language in several lines to emphasize public realm artworks and highlight those artworks in the Civic Art Collection rather than reflecting by the current collection. The Board voted unanimously to pass the changes. The resolution was adopted as amended.

The Board considered new business, including several items recommended by the Budget and Finance Committee. These included an ordinance retroactively authorizing the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to accept and expend a grant of $1,086,740.83 for the Overdose Prevention Initiative, as well as amending the Annual Salary Ordinance to provide for the addition of Forensic Laboratory Analyst, Forensic Toxicologist, and Forensic Toxicologist Supervisor positions. The board also considered an ordinance placing a total of $48,403,840 in various departments’ budget appropriations specified in the Mayor’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-2024 mid-year budget reduction plan on Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee Reserve in Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Several resolutions were passed including one retroactively authorizing the Department of Public Health to enter into a Grant Agreement for a term commencing on execution of the Grant Agreement through June 30, 2027 between the City and County of San Francisco (City), acting by and through its Department of Public Health (DPH), and Advocates for Human Potential, Inc., having anticipated revenue to the City of $6,774,965 for construction at 822 Geary Street, 1st Floor. Also discussed was referred business regarding a contract amendment with the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project for pretrial services, increasing the contract amount by $499,342 for a total not to exceed amount of $19,763,114 with no change to the term of three years from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2024, with two one-year options to extend. Supervisors Dorsey and Stefani voted against this action while the remaining supervisors voted for it. The Government Audit and Oversight Committee presented regarding a resolution authorizing the Office of the Mayor to solicit in-kind donations through the Civic Bridge Program from various City contractors, notwithstanding the Behested Payments Ordinance for six months from the enactment date of this Resolution. Lastly, Land Use and Transportation presented regarding a resolution granting revocable permission to Otis Property Owner, LLC, to occupy and maintain the 12th Street Plaza on 12th Street. The Board considered a range of ordinances and resolutions related to fire codes and street encroachment permits.

The Board took up New Business and approved appointments to the Food Security Task Force, motioning to appoint Hannah Grant and Lura Jones to indefinite terms. Also discussed and motioned was the approving of Wing Kwan Wong to be appointed to the Election Commission. The motion was approved by the following vote: Ayes: 11 - Chan, Dorsey, Engardio, Mandelman, Melgar, Peskin, Preston, Ronen, Safai, Stefani, Walton

The Board suspended a ruling to grant floor privileges to Supervisor Mandelman, who introduced and presented a Certificate of Honor to the Haight Ashbury Community Nursery School, accepted by Cocoa Drake, Director, on the occasion of the school's 50th Anniversary. Next, Supervisor Ronen introduced and presented a Certificate of Honor to Dr. Akihiko Takahashi and Sara Liebert in recognition of their educational accomplishments and continued community support.

President Peskin requested File Nos. 231187, 231188, 231189, and 231190 be called together. Hearing of persons interested in or objecting to the decision of Public Works, dated November 1, 2023, approving a Tentative Parcel Map for a two-lot subdivision project at 1365-1371 York Street. Supervisor Ronen requested to move the matter to a continuance with concurrence of the appellant and project sponsor to the Board of Supervisors meeting of March 5, 2024. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: 11 - Chan, Dorsey, Engardio, Mandelman, Melgar, Peskin, Preston, Ronen, Safai, Stefani, Walton. [Approving Decision of Public Works and Approving the Tentative Parcel Map - 1365-1371 York Street] and [Conditionally Disapproving Decision of Public Works and Disapproving the Tentative Parcel Map - 1365-1371 York Street] followed suit for a continuance to the same date, with the same vote.

The Board examined the recommendations of the Land Use and Transportation Committee including regarding the acceptance of public parks and open space improvements related to Treasure Island/Yerba Buena Island Project and related infrastructure. Several votes were motioned and passed for first reading for ordinances related to the Treasure Island project.

Discussion and presentation from the Rules Committee regarding the location and priority for a new public library branch with a motion to designate the city to prioritize 100 Orizaba Avenue. Board discussion included potential pushback for that site and the potentiality for there to be any further construction. Board agreed to change language in legislation that will ask the city to prioritize that site subject to environmental review or other applicable laws. This ordinance was motioned to pass onto first reading with changes

Members of the public gave testimony regarding concerns about the use of technology and its effects on health, drug disorders, the recertification methodology used at Laguna Honda Hospital, support of resolutions on safety and prevention during Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and issues being experienced by trans-people.

Board motioned to adopt without committee reference: [National Gun Violence Survivors Week - January 22 through January 26, 2024] and Declaring Gender-Based Shelter, Affordable Housing, and Support Services as Proven Safety and Prevention Tools During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month - January 2024. Both were adopted without committee reference. The appointment of Lisa Cook to the Commission on the Aging Advisory Council was also adopted.

Resolution severed from the for adoption without committee reference agenda: [Support for the Matthew Shepard U.S. Stamp Campaign]. There was a motion for the language to be amended for adding a whereas statement regarding support from the The International Imperial Court System of the United States and President Barack Obama. The rest was adopted as amended.

New legislation was introduced covering issues regarding appropration and controller's reserve, public works infrastructure and safety at Pier 70, the launch of the Legacy Business Assistance Program, and the historical preservation of the San Francisco Fire Station No. 44. Further introduced were support initiatives on SoMa community stabilizations, housing assitance programs and increased loan funds, and the support the the UPTE-CWA 9119 optometry employee strike.

Board moved to request a hearing on the possible goals, design options, administrative costs, and feasibility of a residential construction mitigation program providing support to small businesses impacted by construction. Additionally, the Board moved to request a hearing on the status of University of California San Francisco's (UCSF) proposed acquisition of Dignity Health's clinical presence, including but not limited to St. Mary's Medical Center and St. Francis Memorial Hospital, and the impact of the proposed merger on staffing plans and patient care; and requesting the Department of Public Health and UCSF to report.