The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a special meeting on December 22, 2020, focusing on several critical issues facing the city. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The board released funds to the Office of Early Care and Education, underscoring the importance of childcare for economic recovery. They addressed the ongoing challenges of in-person learning, with supervisors and the public emphasizing the need for a safe and comprehensive return to school plan. Additionally, the board discussed the severe impact of the pandemic on small businesses and restaurants, hearing extensive public testimony and considering various relief measures. The board also considered several new pieces of legislation, including ordinances to establish a music and entertainment venue recovery fund and to waive certain business fees. They introduced resolutions supporting eviction protections, urging the establishment of an advisory committee on federal stimulus spending for small businesses, and promoting a permanent Shared Spaces Program. These actions reflect the Board's efforts to address the immediate needs of residents and businesses while also planning for long-term recovery and stability.
Jenny Bell voiced her support for early child care programs and stressed the importance of funding. Charles Head expressed his appreciation to the departing Supervisors for their work.
Supervisor Yee introduced the motion to call from the Budget and Finance Committee a hearing to consider the release of $42,000,000 in reserved funds to the Office of Early Care and Education for All. This funding was intended to support the Early Education Economic Recovery Grant and Loan program, provide additional childcare access, supplement teacher stipends, fund community response through Family Resource Centers, and support staffing. The motion was approved unanimously. A hearing was then held, with Ingrid Mezquita presenting information and answering questions. Gina Fromer and several other speakers spoke in favor of releasing the funds. The hearing was closed, and the Board voted to release the funds, declaring the hearing heard and filed.
President Yee called File Nos. 201410 and 201368 together. Supervisor Fewer presented background on a resolution urging the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to develop a comprehensive plan for the safe return to in-person learning, with opening remarks from President Yee. Public comment was opened and a host of people shared their perspective on a safe return to school plan. The public comment was then closed, and the hearing was declared heard and filed. Supervisor Stefani requested to be added as a co-sponsor. Supervisor Fewer then moved that this Resolution be AMENDED, AN AMENDMENT OF THE WHOLE BEARING SAME TITLE. The motion carried unanimously. The Resolution was ADOPTED AS AMENDED by the same vote, with changes made to clarify the urgency and scope of the plan.
President Yee opened the public hearings for File Nos. 201407, 201413, and 201411, with Supervisors Haney and Stefani providing opening remarks regarding the impacts of the pandemic on small businesses and restaurants. City officials presented information on resources and answered questions. Multiple people spoke on various concerns related to the impacts and needed relief, while also making requests of the board. The hearing was closed, and declared heard and filed.
President Yee opened the public hearings for File Nos. 201407, 201413, and 201411, with Supervisors Haney and Stefani providing opening remarks regarding the impacts of the pandemic on small businesses and restaurants. City officials presented information on resources and answered questions. Multiple people spoke on various concerns related to the impacts and needed relief, while also making requests of the board. The hearing was closed, and declared heard and filed.
Supervisor Haney introduced an ordinance to amend the Administrative Code to create the San Francisco Music and Entertainment Venue Recovery Fund. This fund would provide grants to music and entertainment venues negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. It was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Supervisor Stefani introduced an ordinance to waive business registration fees for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2020, and certain license fees originally due on March 31, 2020, for businesses with $25,000,000 or less in San Francisco gross receipts that received more than 50% of such receipts from business activities precluded during all or a portion of the period from March 16, 2020, through March 1, 2021, due to a Local Health Officer’s order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and/or from the activities of a facility that prepares and serves food for delivery or carry out or a restaurant, and refunding any waived amounts paid to the City. It was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
The Mayor introduced a resolution to authorize the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development to expend SoMa Community Stabilization Fund dollars in the increased amount of $78,000 for a total amount of $378,000 to extend a grant supporting Trauma Informed Systems training and counseling for students, families, faculty and staff at Bessie Carmichael School; and amending a grant agreement with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) HEARTS Program to provide the specified services, to extend the grant term by one year for a total term of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2021. This was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
The Mayor introduced a resolution retroactively authorizing the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $150,000 from the California Employment Development Department. It was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
The Mayor introduced a resolution retroactively authorizing the acceptance and expenditure of State Transportation Development Act, Article 3, Pedestrian and Bicycle Project funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020-2021, in the amount of $1,215,999 which includes $607,999 for Public Works and $608,000 for the Municipal Transportation Agency, for the term of July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2023. This was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
The Mayor introduced a resolution retroactively authorizing the Fire Department to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $636,363.64 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase four mini-pumper apparatus, for the performance period of August 6, 2020, through August 5, 2021, and waiving indirect costs. This was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
The Mayor introduced a resolution authorizing the Fire Department to accept and expend a grant in the amount of $13,760,604 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to hire thirty-six new firefighters for the performance period of March 10, 2021, through March 9, 2024, and waiving indirect costs. This was assigned to the Budget and Finance Committee.
Supervisor Haney introduced a resolution supporting the immediate prioritization of small business economic relief in the appropriation of discretionary funds. It was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
Supervisor Haney introduced a resolution urging the Office of Small Business and the Small Business Commission to establish a Special Advisory Committee on Federal Stimulus Spending to create a Citywide plan for how Federal stimulus funds may support the small business sector and to submit a proposed Citywide Federal Stimulus Spending Plan for Small Businesses to the Board of Supervisors by February 2, 2021. It was assigned to the Rules Committee.
Supervisor Haney introduced a resolution urging the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Planning Department, Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Works, Fire Department, and Recreation and Parks Department to develop a proposal for a permanent Shared Spaces Program; and affirming the Board of Supervisors’ support for creating a permanent version of the program. It was assigned to the Land Use and Transportation Committee.
Supervisor Peskin introduced a resolution supporting California State Assembly Bill Nos. 15 and 16, introduced on December 7, 2020, by Assembly Member David Chiu (AD-17), which would extend certain eviction protections through December 31, 2021, and establish a fund and framework for distribution of financial support to ensure long-term stability for renters, small landlords, and affordable housing providers, protect tenants during the ongoing public health crisis, and ensure an equitable, broadly shared recovery. It was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
Supervisor Yee introduced a motion concurring in actions taken by the Mayor in the Thirty-Second Supplement to the Proclamation of Emergency to meet the ongoing local emergency related to the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic by authorizing the Mayor, upon the request of a department, to provide an extension of up to 30 days to submit and post the department’s racial equity action plan, upon a showing by the department that it is unable to meet the deadline because the current surge in COVID-19 cases has required it to divert resources to the emergency response. This was referred for adoption without committee reference agenda at the next board meeting.
Supervisor Preston requested a hearing on the Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan proposed by the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) as well as the draft Memorandum of Understanding between UCSF and the City; and requesting the Planning Department to report. It was assigned to the Land Use and Transportation Committee.