The San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting on December 13, 2022, covered a wide range of topics, including housing support, community programs, and legislative updates. Key actions included approving several leases and property management agreements to provide permanent supportive housing, adopting resolutions to support community benefit districts and access grant funding, and addressing the ongoing issues of homelessness and overdoses. There was significant public comment, particularly regarding the potential displacement of families at the Oasis Inn and concerns about compliance with the Displaced Workers Act. Several new ordinances and resolutions were introduced, covering areas such as planning code amendments, GO bond appropriations, and public works contracting.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee recommended the approval of a $100,000 settlement for a lawsuit filed by Victor Jimenez against the City and County of San Francisco, regarding property damage and personal injuries caused by a sinkhole that opened in the roadway beneath his vehicle.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended amending the Planning Code to increase density on lots with auto-oriented uses where housing is permitted, except for Residential-Mixed (RM) and Residential-Commercial (RC) districts and designated historic districts, which do not currently have any residential use or a legacy business; this change would also remove the Conditional Use requirement to change the use of an Automobile Service Station or Automotive Use to another use.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended adopting the 2022 Safety & Resilience Element of the San Francisco General Plan, repealing the 2012 Community Safety Element.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended repealing the existing San Francisco Fire Code and enacting a new San Francisco Fire Code consisting of the 2022 California Fire Code and portions of the 2018 International Fire Code, along with amendments specific to San Francisco, with an operative date of January 1, 2023.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended designating St. James Presbyterian Church, located at 240 Leland Avenue, as a Landmark.
The Rules Committee recommended amending the Administrative Code to permit members of the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS) to designate Special Needs Trusts as retirement beneficiaries in certain circumstances, specifying requirements for those trusts.
The Rules Committee recommended amending the Administrative Code to authorize the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to include Social Impact Commitment criteria as a scored element in solicitations for certain contracts at designated thresholds.
The Rules Committee recommended adopting and implementing an Amendment to the current Memorandums of Understanding and Collective Bargaining Agreements to provide hospital and skilled nursing facility Covid-19 worker retention pay to select classifications of workers, effective January 31, 2023.
The Board considered an ordinance amending the Park Code to restrict private vehicles on the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, on a pilot basis, on weekends and holidays until December 31, 2025, with Supervisor Mandelman added as a co-sponsor; the ordinance was passed with 9 ayes and 2 noes.
The Board considered an ordinance amending the Administrative Code to require Board of Supervisors approval of a policy governing the funding, acquisition, and use of certain law enforcement equipment, approving the Police Department's use of Equipment Policy; the ordinance was passed with 10 ayes and 1 no.
The Board considered an ordinance amending the Public Works Code to exempt the Leather and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) Cultural District from banner permit fees and inspection fees and to codify the existing exemption of the SoMa Pilipinas - Filipino Cultural Heritage District from banner permit fees and inspection fees, with Supervisor Mandelman added as a co-sponsor; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered an ordinance waiving the fee for temporary street space occupancy permits on San Francisco streets on specific dates in November and December 2022, to promote sidewalk sales of merchandise during the holiday season; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered an ordinance appropriating $4,711,123 from the issuance of Treasure Island Infrastructure and Revitalization Financing District (IRFD) No. 1 Tax Increment Revenue Bonds to the affordable housing project in the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, with Supervisor Dorsey added as a co-sponsor; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered an ordinance approving a Lease and Property Management Agreement with Dolores Street Community Services to lease, operate, and maintain the real property at 5630-5638 Mission Street for an initial five-year term, with rent of $1 per year and net property management and operating costs to be paid by the City, determining that the below-market rent will serve a public purpose by providing Permanent Supportive Housing, and exempting the Property from contracting requirements; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered a resolution approving a Lease and Property Management Agreement with Housing for Independent People, Inc. to lease, operate, and maintain the real property located at 333-12th Street for an initial five-year term, with rent of $1 per year and net property management and operating costs to be paid by the City, determining that the below-market rent will serve a public purpose by providing Permanent Supportive Housing, with Supervisors Dorsey and Safai as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered an ordinance approving a Lease and Property Management Agreement with Dolores Street Community Services to lease, operate, and maintain the real property at 3055-3061 16th Street for an initial five-year term, with rent of $1 per year and net property management and operating costs to be paid by the City, determining that the below-market rent will serve a public purpose by providing Permanent Supportive Housing, and exempting the Property from contracting requirements, with Supervisors Ronen and Safai as co-sponsors; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered an ordinance approving a Lease and Property Management Agreement with Five Keys Schools and Programs to lease, operate, and maintain the real property at 835 Turk Street for an initial five-year term, with rent of $1 per year and net property management and operating costs to be paid by the City, determining that the below-market rent will serve a public purpose by providing Permanent Supportive Housing, and exempting the Property from contracting requirements, with Supervisors Stefani, Safai, and Preston as co-sponsors; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Board considered a resolution authorizing the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing to execute a Standard Agreement with the California Department of Housing and Community Development for Homekey grant funds for the acquisition of the property at 333-12th Street for Permanent Supportive Housing, with Supervisors Dorsey, Ronen, and Preston as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution authorizing the Department of Public Works to apply for a grant from the California Natural Resources Agency’s Urban Greening Program for the Planting Trees and Growing Green Jobs Project at the South of Market Tree Nursery, with Supervisors Dorsey, Ronen, Chan, Safai, and Mandelman as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution retroactively authorizing the Director of Transportation to execute a new Cost-Sharing Agreement for paratransit services between the City and BART, under which BART will reimburse the SFMTA for providing BART’s paratransit services, with Supervisors Melgar, Safai, and Mandelman as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution receiving and approving the annual report for the Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District and Fisherman's Wharf Portside Community Benefit District for Fiscal Year 2020-2021; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution receiving and approving an annual report for the Japantown Community Benefit District for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, with Supervisors Preston and Chan as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution receiving and approving an annual report for the Noe Valley Community Benefit District for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, with Supervisor Mandelman as a co-sponsor; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution receiving and approving an annual report for the North of Market/Tenderloin Community Benefit District for Fiscal Year 2020-2021, with Supervisors Preston and Dorsey as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution approving the settlement of the unlitigated claim filed by 100-120 Powell Owner L.P., L.L.C. against the City for $5,362,325, involving property damage to the Hotel Union Square caused by shelter-in-place hotel guests during the COVID-19 pandemic; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution approving the settlement of pre-litigation claims against Sunset Scavenger Company, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling Company, Recology San Francisco, and Recology Properties Inc. through the acceptance of a $25,000,000 reimbursement to San Francisco ratepayers, with Supervisor Peskin as a co-sponsor; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a resolution approving the Third Amendment to the Agreement for Maintenance of State Highways in San Francisco between the City and Caltrans to include City’s maintenance and operation of additional traffic control devices, with Supervisor Walton as a co-sponsor; the resolution was adopted.
The Board considered a motion approving the Mayor's nomination for appointment of Jeanette Howard to the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors; the motion was approved.
The Board considered a motion appointing Jessy Ruiz Navarro, Haregu Gaime, Kudrat Dutta Chaudhary, Marco Senghor, and Elahe Enssani to the Immigrant Rights Commission; the motion was approved.
The Board held a hearing on the appeal of a Conditional Use Authorization approval for a proposed cannabis retail use at 4835 Mission Street, with Supervisor Safai indicating he would move to continue the matter; after public comment, the hearing was continued to the Board of Supervisors meeting of January 24, 2023.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee recommended initiating a landmark designation for 1200 Taraval Street (aka Parkside Library), with Supervisors Mar, Chan, Melgar, and Peskin as co-sponsors; the resolution was adopted.
The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee recommended amending the Police Code to require private employers to pay employees who are military reservists and are called for military duty the difference between their military salary and their salary as employees, with Supervisors Mar, Melgar, Dorsey, Preston, Stefani, Walton and Safai as co-sponsors; the ordinance was passed on first reading.
The Rules Committee recommended the appointment of Supervisor Ahsha Safai to the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District Board of Directors; the motion was approved with Supervisor Safai excused from voting.
The Rules Committee recommended approval of the Mayor's renomination for appointment of Kate Black for reappointment to the Historic Preservation Commission, which was approved. No details are provided about the Redevelopment Successor Agency Oversight Board or any Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
The Rules Committee recommended approval of Mayor’s renomination for appointment of Cindy Elias to the Police Commission and it initially passed. But that was rescinded and the approval was voted again. This was a very contentious vote, but approved.
There was a lot of public discussion surrounding employee termination at Twitter and there was much support of the Resolution urging the City to prevent displacement of families at the Oasis Inn.
Without the inclusion of any specific details, several motions were passed without objection to facilitate final maps, appointments to city boards and confirm election results.
Many new ordinances and resolutions were introduced into the legislative cycle to be considered regarding the planning code, appropriation of GO bond proceeds, public works contracting, veterans' affairs commission, resignations from city boards, and Departmental Overdose Prevention policies.