The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on March 3, 2020, addressing a diverse range of issues including public safety, land use, financial matters, and emergency response. Significant actions included passing legislation concerning crime victim data reporting, gun violence restraining orders, and COVID-19 emergency response. The Board also considered land use matters such as the Millennium Tower street vacation and the Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project, and approved several financial resolutions related to bond issuance, grants, and contracts. Public comment addressed a variety of local concerns, and the meeting featured a special order recognizing Women's History Month. New business included: * Legislation regarding Gun Violence Restraining Orders * HIPPA considerations for the city and county * $255 million in bond proceeds * Accepting a $100k gift * Accepting a $388k Recreation grant * Accepting $298k in Homeland Security funding * Approving multiple lease modifications * Approving final maps for Hunters Point Shipyard The supervisors voted in favor of supporting measures honoring Japanese Americans, supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, and creating the “Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act."
The Board passed an ordinance requiring the Police Department to regularly report certain crime victim data pertaining to victims of Hate Crimes and other specified crimes, including Assault, Burglary, Theft, Robbery, Battery, Vandalism, Domestic Violence, Manslaughter, and Murder.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed on behalf of the City and County of San Francisco and five other counties against Families First, Inc. for $189,884.63. The lawsuit involved allegations that Families First failed to provide adequate Day Treatment Intensive mental health services, failed to utilize qualified personnel, and falsely certified that it was complying with Medi-Cal regulations.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by San Francisco SRO Hotel Coalition, Hotel Des Arts, LLC, and Brent Haas against the City and County of San Francisco for $300,000. The settlement resolves a claim for attorney’s fees and costs following Petitioners’ challenge to Ordinance No. 38-17 on the grounds that it violated the California Environmental Quality Act and petitioners’ constitutional rights.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by Jennie Feldman against the City and County of San Francisco for $150,000. The lawsuit involved alleged personal injury from a falling tree branch.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by Virginia Ernster against the City and County of San Francisco for $70,000. The lawsuit involved an alleged personal injury from a vehicle collision.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by Jamie Sanchez and Yovanna Sanchez against the City and County of San Francisco for $27,500. The lawsuit involved a vehicle collision.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by Vera Cort, Trustee of Cort Survivor Trust, against the City and County of San Francisco for $200,000. The lawsuit involved petitioner’s challenge to the City’s cancellation of her construction permits after petitioner demolished property in violation of the issued permits.
The Board approved an ordinance authorizing settlement of the lawsuit filed by Garry Peace against the City and County of San Francisco for $43,500. The lawsuit involved an alleged personal injury while walking on a City sidewalk.
The Board adopted a resolution approving an updated settlement authority for the unlitigated claim filed by Estate Research Associates against the City and County of San Francisco for $82,465.14. The claim involved damages allegedly arising from the failure to properly administer two estates.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Police Code to require the Police Department to obtain Gun Violence Restraining Orders in certain circumstances.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Administrative Code to designate the City and County of San Francisco as a hybrid entity under HIPAA, to require the City Administrator to prepare a report identifying those City departments that would qualify as covered entities or business associates under HIPAA, and to require the City Administrator to develop, maintain, and administer a citywide HIPAA compliance policy.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Health Code to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Health to allow an existing Medical Cannabis Dispensary permittee to operate under that permit at a new location, provided certain conditions are met, including the permittee being verified as an Equity Applicant and having been evicted from the original location. Supervisors Stefani and Yee voted against.
The Board passed an ordinance appropriating not to exceed $255,000,000 from the issuance of one or more series of Refunding General Obligation Bonds.
The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to accept and expend a gift of $100,000 from San Francisco 722 Montgomery, LLC, to the Citywide Affordable Housing Fund.
The Board adopted a resolution retroactively authorizing the Recreation and Park Department to accept and expend a Local Assistance Specified Grant in the amount of $388,000 from the California Department of Parks and Recreation for the West Portal Playground Project.
The Board adopted a resolution retroactively authorizing the Police Department to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $298,414 from the Department of Homeland Security to purchase an underwater remote operated vehicle.
The Board adopted a resolution approving and authorizing the Director of Property, on behalf of the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing, to lease real property located at 33 Gough Street.
The Board adopted a resolution approving Modification No. 2 to the License and Services Agreement with Airport Research and Development Foundation to extend the services term for use of application-based commercial ground transportation trip fee collection services.
The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance from time to time on a tax-exempt or taxable basis, in one or more series, of not to exceed $1,482,995,000 aggregate principal amount of General Obligation Refunding Bonds.
The Board adopted a resolution approving the Controller's Office of Public Finance Debt Policy.
The Board adopted a resolution approving a contract with Universal Protection Service, LP for armed and unarmed security guard services for the Municipal Transportation Agency.
The Board adopted a resolution authorizing the Tax Collector to sell at public auction certain parcels of tax-defaulted real property.
The Board adopted a resolution authorizing and approving a Lease with NPU, Inc. for the United States Old Mint at 88 Fifth Street.
The Board passed on first reading an ordinance amending the Planning Code to allow, in required setbacks, yards, and usable open space, all projections of an architectural nature if they meet the specified requirements and to allow bay windows that do not meet the specified requirements to apply for a Zoning Administrator waiver.
The Board adopted a resolution authorizing and approving the acceptance of certain real property assets from the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure to the City and County of San Francisco, but then rescinded the vote and continued the resolution to the March 10, 2020 meeting.
The Board approved a motion appointing Kenneth Kim to the Street-Level Drug Dealing Task Force.
The Board approved a motion appointing Douglas Boullard, William Barnickel, Courtney Miller, and Hanley Chan to the Veterans Affairs Commission.
The Board approved a motion appointing John Elberling, Misha Olivas, Raquel Redondiez, Allan Manalo, and Adam Mesnick to the SOMA Community Stabilization Fund Community Advisory Committee.
The Board recognized Women’s History Month and presented Certificates of Honor to Wendolyn Aragon, Nicole Termini Germain, Andrea Dew Steele, Hong Mei Pang, Carol Tatum, Theresa Kolish, Christine Weibel, Windy Click, Christin Evans, Susan Pfeifer, and Nadya Williams for their accomplishments and community support. They also presented a certificate to Dr. Emily Murase for her service to the city.
The Board, sitting as a Committee of the Whole, held a public hearing to consider the proposed ordinance ordering the vacation of the sidewalk portion of streets on the south side of Mission Street at the intersection of Mission and Fremont Streets and on the east side of Fremont Street at the same intersection to allow a structural upgrade of the 301 Mission Street high-rise building known as Millennium Tower. The hearing was closed without public comment, other than a presentation by Javier Rivera of Public Works.
Following the Committee of the Whole hearing, the Board passed on first reading the ordinance ordering the vacation of the sidewalk portion of streets on the south side of Mission Street and the east side of Fremont Street to allow a structural upgrade of the Millennium Tower.
The Board held a hearing regarding an appeal of the determination of exemption from environmental review for a project at 1531-1581 Howard Street and 118-134 Kissling Street. Supervisor Haney moved to continue the hearing to the Board of Supervisors meeting of April 14, 2020, which passed.
Three related motions regarding the environmental exemption determination for the project at 1531-1581 Howard Street and 118-134 Kissling Street were also continued to the April 14, 2020 meeting. These motions included affirming the exemption, conditionally reversing the exemption, and directing the Clerk to prepare findings to reverse the exemption.
Members of the public shared their experiences regarding gun violence, racism, elder abuse, taxi medallion holders, the Police Department, public transit announcements, policy changes, housing evictions, navigation centers, and other topics of concern.
The Board adopted a resolution commending the California State Assembly for passing House Resolution No. 77, which issued a formal apology to all Americans of Japanese ancestry for the unjust exclusion, removal, and incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II internment camps.
The Board adopted a resolution declaring support for United States House Joint Resolution No. 79, authored by Congresswoman Jackie Speier, which would allow for the final ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.
The Board adopted a resolution supporting United States House Resolution No. 40, introduced by United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act.
The Board adopted a resolution urging the California Department of Motor Vehicles to adopt a photograph identification policy, allowing patients undergoing medical treatment that changes their physical appearance to request a temporary extension of the stored photograph on their driver’s license or identification card.
The Board approved a motion concurring in the February 25, 2020, proclamation by Mayor London N. Breed declaring the existence of a local emergency in connection with preparations the City and County of San Francisco is making in response to the threat of an outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.
The Board approved Final Map 10058, Block 52 of Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 1, a three lot subdivision of Assessor’s Parcel Block No. 4591C, Lot Nos. 215, 216, 226, 227, and 560, comprised of Lot 1, Lot 2, and Lot A; and adopting findings pursuant to the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
The Board referred a resolution urging Public Works and the City Attorney to take immediate steps to cancel the City and County of San Francisco’s Revenue Agreement with JC Decaux to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee.
Several proposed ordinances were introduced, including one for technical corrections to the Planning Code and other codes, one for the Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project, and several authorizing settlement of lawsuits, including those filed by Juan Ortiz, Erlinda Barahona and Saul Barahona, and Nancy Barsotti, et al.
Numerous resolutions were introduced related to concession lease amendments and a professional services agreement modification at the airport. These resolutions involved extending base operating terms and amending agreements with various vendors at SFO.
Resolutions included accepting grant funds from the Board of State and Community Corrections for recruitment and training for the Sheriff's Department, settlement of an unlitigated claim with Jennifer Roldan for property damage due to a water main rupture, and settlement of an unlitigated claim with Bryan Carmody.