The San Francisco Board of Supervisors convened on July 18, 2017, addressing a broad agenda encompassing budget approvals, housing policy revisions, the establishment of a cannabis office, and a range of policy updates. Key actions included approving the city budget, amending inclusionary housing fee requirements, and setting up an office to manage cannabis-related business permits. The meeting also featured extensive discussion on state legislation affecting local control over development, a presentation by the Mayor, and public comments touching on various community concerns. New legislation was introduced regarding building codes and local zoning.
Mayor Edwin Lee spoke to the Board of Supervisors, warning about potential cuts to Medicaid and Community Development Block Grant programs by the federal government. He urged the Board to be vigilant against Republican attacks on low-income individuals, seniors, and the disenfranchised. The matter was subsequently filed without further action after a public comment period.
President Breed requested the collective consideration of several file numbers pertaining to the budget. Supervisor Fewer then requested that File No. 170654, concerning the Annual Salary Ordinance, be considered separately. Eventually, the board passed several ordinances on the first reading including File 170653: The Budget and Appropriation Ordinance appropriating estimated receipts and expenditures, File 170654: The Annual Salary Ordinance enumerating positions, File 170093: Establish a fee for monitoring student housing. File 170672, to adjust surcharges on permits. File 170676 adopting the Neighborhood Beautification and Graffiti Clean-up Fund Tax designation. File 170679 authorzing the arts commission to contract for the development, fabrication, maintenence, conservation, removal, or installation of artwork. File 170680 requiring emergency medical fees to be made to the Department of Public Health rather than Emergency Management. File 170681 setting patient rates for the Department of Public Health. File 170682 increasing fees for Fire Department Services.
The Board adopted several resolutions which include Resolution No. 288-17 approving the budget of the Treasure Island Development Authority. Resolution No. 289-17 approving the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure budget. Resolution No. 290-17 adjusting the Access Line Tax.
The Board adopted Resolutions No. 291-17 authorizing the Controller and Treasurer to examine prepaid mobile telephony services; No. 292-17 concurring with the Controller's certification about contracted services; No. 293-17 regarding acceptance and expenditure of Department of Public Health grants; No. 294-17 approving expenditure plans for the Homelessness and Supportive Housing Fund; and No. 295-17 authorizing the San Francisco Public Library to accept and expend a grant from the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library.
Ordinance No. 159-17, transferring the Moscone Center Garage and Performing Arts Garage to the Municipal Transportation Agency, and Ordinance No. 165-17, approving Health Service System plans and contribution rates for calendar year 2018, both finally passed.
Ordinance No. 158-17, amending the Planning Code to revise the Inclusionary Affordable Housing Fee and dwelling unit mix requirements, finally passed. Supervisor Kim requested this Ordinance be DUPLICATED. See duplicated File No. 170834. Privilege of the floor was granted unanimously to Kate Stacy (Office of the City Attorney) who responded to questions raised throughout the discussion. Supervisor Kim, seconded by Supervisor Peskin, moved that this Ordinance be AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING SAME TITLE. Supervisor Kim, seconded by Supervisor Ronen, moved that this Ordinance be AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING SAME TITLE.
Ordinance No. 161-17 designating 1970 Ocean Avenue (aka El Rey Theater) as a Landmark, Ordinance No. 162-17 modifying requirements for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and Ordinance No. 164-17 amending fire safety disclosure requirements finally passed.
Ordinance No. 160-17 amending the Administrative Code regarding owner move-in (OMI) evictions, and Ordinance No. 163-17 amending the Police Code for outdoor amplified sound permits, both finally passed.
Supervisor Sheehy, seconded by Supervisor Cohen, moved that this Ordinance be CONTINUED ON FIRST READING to the Board of Supervisors meeting of July 25, 2017. The motion carried.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Planning Code to allow residential and Child Care Facility uses to share required open space on its first reading.
Resolution No. 287-17 adopting findings under the California Environmental Quality Act related to modifications to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Water System Improvement Program was adopted.
Resolution No. 298-17 approving the jurisdictional transfer of City-owned real property near 25th, Illinois, Cesar Chavez, and Maryland Streets from the Port Commission to the Municipal Transportation Agency was adopted.
Resolution No. 283-17, determining that the transfer of a liquor license to Good Eggs, Inc. will serve the public convenience or necessity, was adopted with Supervisors Fewer, Kim, and Peskin voting no.
Resolution No. 286-17 determining that the transfer of a Type 20 off-sale beer and wine license Garfield Beach CVS, LLC, dba CVS, located at 799 Beach Street (District 2), will serve the public convenience or necessity of the City and County of San Francisco in accordance with California Business and Professions Code, Section 23958.4.
Supervisor Cohen requested this Ordinance be DUPLICATED. Supervisor Cohen, seconded by Supervisor Tang, moved to AMEND the DUPLICATED Ordinance to define 'Service Mounted Facilities' as being no more than 25 feet. Before the vote was taken on the previous motion, Supervisor Cohen withdrew her request to DUPLICATE the Ordinance and the motion to AMEND the DUPLICATED Ordinance, without objection. Supervisor Cohen, seconded by Supervisor Safai, moved that this Ordinance be RE-REFERRED AS AMENDED to the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee. The motion carried.
Motion No. M17-113, appointing Ruslan Gurvits to the Immigrant Rights Commission, was approved.
The Board recognized Cyndi Khan for her kidney donation advocacy, officers of the San Francisco Police Department for their work in solving a kidnapping case, Jocelyn Kane on her retirement, Lee Radner for his swimming achievements, and Dino Anderson and William Fitzgerald for their work with the homeless.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code to specify processes for the auditing, determination, and collection of real property transfer taxes, including taxpayer reporting requirements, subpoenas, and penalties.
Resolution No. 284-17, approving a contract amendment with NextBus, Inc., for software and equipment maintenance, and Resolution No. 285-17, authorizing an agreement with Intercare Holdings Insurance Services, Inc., for workers’ compensation services, were adopted.
Resolution No. 296-17 authorizing a new lease to Crystal Springs Golf Partners, L.P. for the use of property owned by the City and County of San Francisco on property known as San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Parcel No. 31.
The Board passed an ordinance establishing an Office of Cannabis, extending the Cannabis State Legalization Task Force, and directing the Office to include perspectives of disproportionately impacted communities. Supervisor Fewer moved to CONTINUE the ordinance to the Board of Supervisors meeting of September 12, 2017. The motion FAILED.
The board passed an ordinance amending the Transportation and Urban Design Elements of the General Plan to implement the City’s Vision Zero policy regarding pedestrian safety.
The board passed on first reading an ordinance amending Public Works and Administrative Codes - Street Encroachment Permits and Maintenance Fund for Certain Permits, after a motion to AMEND it to include requiring additional Board approval on encroachments that are determined to be new or modified.
The Board passed an ordinance amending the Planning Code to adopt the zoning control table for the Valencia Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District, which was deleted inadvertently from Ordinance No. 129-17.
Resolution No. 299-17 extending interim zoning controls to require conditional use authorization for indoor agriculture uses was adopted.
The Board authorized the settlements of multiple lawsuits against the City and County of San Francisco and passed these ordinances on first reading: File 170728 (Barbara and Miles Burke), File 170729 (San Francisco Apartment Association), File 170730 (Jose H. Lima Osorio), File 170731 (BHR Operations LLC), File 170732 (Betsy Isabel Ayala), File 170753 (Pedro Figueroa Zarceno), File 170794 (Sarah Loomis), File 170795 (Sonia Meyerson), File 170797 (Paula Ginsburg).
Public speakers voiced concerns on religious topics, transportation network companies, sanctuary city policies, divesting from big banks, the recent murder at Twin Peaks, small businesses, and affordable housing.
The board moved to adopt, but Supervisor Cohen requested that File No. 170827 be severed so that it may be considered separately. As such, Resolution No. 301-17 urging Wells Fargo & Company to remediate the economically damaging effects of defamatory statements made against employees in retaliation for attempting to blow the whistle and Motion No. M17-114 adopting the Planning Department’s report on the interim zoning prohibition on commercial storefront mergers of greater than 799 gross square feet in the proposed Calle 24 Special Use District both were approved.
The board moved to adopt, but Supervisor Cohen requested that File No. 170827 be severed so that it may be considered separately. Resolution opposing California State Assembly Bill 943, was ADOPTED. Supervisor Cohen, seconded by Supervisor Peskin, moved to rescind the previous vote. The motion carried. Supervisor Cohen, seconded by Supervisor Safai, moved that this Resolution be REFERRED to the Land Use and Transportation Committee. The motion carried.
Ordinances introduced were: car-share requirements (170625), affordable housing funding (170835), area controls in North Beach, Telegraph Hill, Broadway, and Chinatown (170419), assessment appeals (170836), and disability access improvements (170837). Resolutions were introduced regarding recreation and parks month (170838), gun violence prevention (170839), consumer protection (170840), anti-Semitism (170841), youth homelessness (170842), a second attempt to voice opposition to California Assembly Bill 943, and a motion was introduced regarding the Local Agency Formation Commission (170847). Two requests for hearings were made regarding Utility Undergrounding (170844) and the City and County's Healthy and Sustainable Food Policy (170843).
Resolution [Settlement of Unlitigated Claim - DiamondRock Hospitality, L.P. - $245,000] 170818 was proposed to resolve the overpayment of real property transfer tax paid in connection with the November 14, 2012, purchase of the Hotel Rex, located at 562 Sutter Street. Supervisors requested more information about the outreach efforts to organizers and patrons of Up Your Alley street fair on July 30th, as well as Airport's views on implementation of the Airport Facilities Naming Advisory Committee's June 26 recommendation to rename Terminal 1 after Harvey Milk.