This week at Goodlett Place reflects a lull in activity following last week’s major budget talks. That said, components of a crucial policy accord on housing will be on the table, there is an outreach event on property taxes on Monday, and supervisors will likely approve the return of remote public comment after a three-year hiatus.
On Monday, the supervisors’ Rules Committee will consider new board rules allowing for the return of remote public comment to full board meetings, in accord with a recently approved state law, SB707. They are expected to be referred to the full board for approval on Tuesday.
Like many local legislative bodies, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors authorized members of the public to call in to provide public comment back in March 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and as the city’s shelter-in-place order took effect.
That authorization remained in place until October 2023, when the board voted to remove the provision, except for persons with disabilities, due to increasing incidents involving deliberately disruptive calls featuring hate speech. The new rules include a provision for pushing the dump button on disruptive callers. No word yet on whether a seven-second delay will be implemented.
Also on Monday: San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Joaquin Torres’s office will hold a District 10 community meeting at the Southeast Community Center on Evans Avenue. Staff will answer questions regarding property reassessments, outline the assessment appeals process and cover other issues of interest. Those interested can RSVP here.
Meanwhile, the charter amendment to expand the city’s Housing Trust Fund, part of a compact to spur housing construction, remains on the Rules Committee’s plate this week. Last week, sponsor and District 7 member Myrna Melgar offered amendments intended to align the measure with existing programs and address technical issues. Additionally, more than 50 stakeholders, mostly from the affordable housing community, spoke in favor of the item.
Meanwhile, the companion measure that reduces inclusionary housing requirements for market rate projects, comes to the Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Thursday after being approved by the Planning Commission earlier this month.
Budget committee meetings have been canceled this week as the supervisors and Mayor Daniel Lurie came to an accord last Thursday, as $28.5 million was reshuffled to restore preferred programs. The finalized spending plan can be seen here. This year “Addback Day” went surprisingly smoothly and adjourned well within business hours; sessions in previous years often extended into the wee morning.
The turnaround on cuts tossed a big bone to progressive groups like the People’s Budget Coalition and the San Francisco Human Services Network, as many at City Hall either seek re-election or don’t want to see the boat rocked on major policy initiatives. The final budget vote is expected on July 28.
