[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6573074,"mediaKeyId","3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02","parentId",3118873,"title","Urban Forestry reports net tree gains, ramps pruning and planting amid staffing and funding constraints","audioSeconds",1739,"startMs",3753000,"endMs",5492000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02&start=3753&end=5492","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02/thumbnail_3753000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573074/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Urban-Forestry-reports-net-tree-gains-ramps-pruning-and-planting-amid-staffing-and-funding-constraints","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573074-18b2e5d93dcdf52c6f439c1332913075/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082227&Signature=KDcXJSG8x3B1FHDraUW8XYstF84UKter7HpHAuS-dbq-rbbzYlcO6h9An7~6jtN5BKX9ihsBKi4E2uYzIu40nXh2UmXk8Rd~A07OHRFIeZ-ddtJ2lJs3bFSt5RTRREQ6GtZ6ti67uOGewJ8UvoHdNDlsLU93MF-8yPYCAXNmW6S7pPdHqWIowc26JltosD9NLqJY4cM-QLDeqmue8o-XDvzwFeC4t-HClK9DN6FoVXIAvCWNos3Xi4PfgOihd4I9QGV4oFzZ5N4c5ptCQH4U3OrV~rkUR4DLlbzc43zsZb4owiMmQQDvWbpY3rKmz8dxtwTk49-3GRLLqaIzTVJcKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of San Francisco","date","2025-04-24T00:00:00Z","article","Nicholas Crawford, assistant superintendent for Urban Forestry, presented the bureau’s performance report at the Sanitation and Streets Commission meeting on April 24, 2025. He said the bureau’s Street Tree SF maintenance program has pruned about 77 percent of street trees since the program’s start and is projecting to prune roughly 7,409 trees this fiscal year.

Crawford said the bureau’s total street tree inventory is about 125,000 assets and highlighted reductions in annual removals compared with prior years. He reported removal counts peaked near 1,466 in fiscal 2023 (about 1 percent of canopy) and have since fallen to roughly 600 trees annually, helping to preserve canopy. Crawford said fewer than 40 storm‑related failures occurred this winter and crews cleared those failures.

The bureau projects planting roughly 1,300 trees this fiscal year through a mix of bureau planting and grant partners such as Friends of the Urban Forest and Climate Action Now; Crawford noted an additional roughly 250 permit‑triggered plantings tied to private development permits. He cautioned that tree‑planting momentum depends on continued funding and said federal funding opportunities remain uncertain.

Crawford also discussed operational constraints: contractor onboarding has taken longer than expected, slowing supplemental pruning capacity; stump grinding is being completed in batches and emergency removals may wait longer for stump grinding and sidewalk repairs; and the bureau has recently migrated data into the citywide CMMS system, which affected reporting.

On staffing, Crawford said the bureau has hired additional arborists and added two tree inspectors — positions requiring urban forestry experience — but still has vacancies it plans to fill. He described proactive maintenance, median programs and a rotating pothole/sweep approach for street work that aims to reduce 311 requests by addressing issues before they become open requests.

Commissioners asked about canopy percentage and how SF compares to other large cities; bureau staff said San Francisco’s overall canopy percentage (including all canopy, not just street trees) is low relative to many large cities — reported at about 13.7 percent — and that increasing canopy percentage is a longer‑term process because young trees provide limited immediate canopy.

No members of the public spoke on the item at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of San Francisco - Video Open Video Only in Windows Media Player - Apr 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Bureau of Urban Forestry reported on April 24 that it is pruning thousands of street trees and projecting a net positive in planted trees this year, while noting contractor onboarding delays, stump‑grinding backlog and uncertainty about sustained planting funding.","taxTitle","San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California","taxId",5751,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573076,"Building and Street Repair reports steady demand; paving goal likely short this year",390,2998000,3388000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02&start=2998&end=3388","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02/thumbnail_2998000.jpg","/articles/6573076/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Building-and-Street-Repair-reports-steady-demand-paving-goal-likely-short-this-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573076-66b9e8078c7d1e2f00b55938c242cce4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082227&Signature=e9MCZ-uvvpb8FBwtVf5n87sr4tF6qIdlocBajpqhDdDeVFi3PYAx3jdnV3aednrV2FJLcKj1vsxAxcY6dDEUJcCtVikoYNixHtTqtyXU~OHhrfEjHhH1L0Z7JPT2Ar0co-XhEBVY8cJH80RlarMPdF3860m-66AuGyoquNDcv1gqkgt6Nh39V8Wfn39pU2Z5WJ~gFgZhjP3Sk83SInAoD5tJKGRgy2~qNK~qVdiemx-CQ81tlrK~yO-yC1fEWxJ5v~Yh3ey8ZN4gLkefWr5wYgUgJIJUrsyqks-6PZyG8VpwzF06b7y7r0EiCNyp8rgbbBIAYAUogpCmXkog7yFZtg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeffrey Soria, assistant superintendent for building repair, and Maura Wayne, acting superintendent, presented the bureau’s performance measures at the April 24 Sanitation and Streets Commission meeting.

Soria said demand for service remains high and projects and corrective service orders are steady; the bureau projects repairing 9,134 potholes this fiscal year and noted the paint, plumbing, lock and glass shops are among the highest‑volume internal shops. Soria said the bureau’s estimate conversion rate is about 52 percent for fiscal year 2025, with roughly 31 percent of estimates still awaiting client approval.

Wayne discussed street resurfacing and said the bureau’s slides showed 74 blocks scheduled for resurfacing, but that the current figure has risen to 91 blocks and the bureau is now projecting it will likely fall short of its paving goal with an expected total of about 108 blocks for the year. She also said the bureau’s response rate for 311 requests is currently about 91 percent and attributed a recent decline in 311 submissions to a drier winter and some reduction in 311 usage.

Commissioners and staff described the bureau’s proactive pothole sweep program—crews sweep each district on a rotating schedule and repair many potholes without waiting for 311 requests—and explained that supervisors typically perform a field assessment before assigning pothole crews.

No public commenters addressed the item at the meeting.","Bureau of Building and Street Repair reported projected repairs and performance metrics April 24, including a projected 9,134 potholes to be fixed in fiscal year 2025, a current pavement condition index of 75, and a likely shortfall on paving block goals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573081,"Controller proposes lower refuse-rate increases than Recology; public hearing held",1172,1089000,2261000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02&start=1089&end=2261","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02/thumbnail_1089000.jpg","/articles/6573081/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Controller-proposes-lower-refuse-rate-increases-than-Recology-public-hearing-held","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573081-86d1f35783cd14f9c8122bdaa82f486e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082227&Signature=PLHrBX8iJSHVyL0j1z~5NRoNR1X3GW8BDcAcMv25OW2-5JSUhDust46BRodDSaHD5D2~ChvluOD55~oyjr7lZawRliD8f4N64zi-qkzqHJ2HuVaFKz5CqQqBdWztIeOsDe4OIVbiawZ1v8L7oszJGJNtxbdy0UHNZz4e-Lxkb6Ub5PsJjf7~xgUF2MlM4TdHeiGVYG3zg2-mDgAX6-dsAZHMIuCOoN7jC0iS-6ZBiJoSbPPbXNP7KjEs6jdquQuM7aAvnaq22h-wSK5PDBPtFV623ZOYQMMh7qMgkxcWzLW3H22BPNlKzrS9jHQ5ymRjfSvKyKLBUs0GbwV6~Zu7RQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Sanitation and Streets Commission meeting on April 24, 2025, Jay Lau, the refuse rates administrator in the Controller’s Office, presented a proposed three‑year rate order for residential refuse service covering rate years 2026–2028 and held the public hearing required by San Francisco Health Code section 290.6(b)(3).

Lau said Recology’s application requested a three‑year increase totaling about 18.18 percent; the Controller’s Office proposal reduces that to 12.59 percent, representing an approximate $50 million savings to ratepayers compared with Recology’s request. Lau said the Controller’s Office proposal would save an estimated $2.63 per month for a single‑family household in the first year compared with Recology’s filing. He told commissioners, “Our increase reduces to 12.59%.”

Lau described three main drivers behind the structural portion of the first‑year increase: lower tonnage and slower downtown recovery since the pandemic, a payroll projection error identified in the prior rate cycle, and higher business tax costs to Recology related to Proposition M. He said roughly 9 percent of the first‑year increase is attributable to those structural adjustments and the Controller’s Office proposal adds about 3.5 percentage points on top of that.

The proposal maintains current service levels for curbside collection and citywide street‑cleanliness programs, and it continues funding to city departments that receive rate revenues, including Public Works and the Department of the Environment. Lau said the proposal includes $13,500,000 in fund balance for procurement of new public trash cans (about $1,500,000 below the department’s original request) and additional funding for abandoned material collection, public receptacle collection, bulky‑item pickup, household hazardous waste and weekend district cleanups. Lau said, “This reduction does not change anything about their ability to procure trash cans,” while noting the Controller’s Office reallocated some funds to lower the overall rate impact.

Contingent trash‑processing facility: Lau said Recology’s application included a contingent schedule for a proposed trash‑processing facility estimated at $35 million; the Controller’s Office removed that contingency from its proposed rate order because of due‑diligence concerns. He said the Controller’s Office did include approximately $400,000 for further study to evaluate whether such a facility is appropriate in a future rate cycle. “Our proposals removed it from…our proposal, but what we've included is about $400,000 to do study,” Lau said.

Regulatory changes: Lau outlined proposed regulatory and monitoring changes intended to improve accountability, including service level agreements that would document Recology’s duties in greater detail, a set of cost‑control tools (cost‑variance review and hard cost caps), baseline operating metrics, and a balancing account intended to maintain Recology’s allowed profit at a 9 percent level.

Timing and next steps: The Controller’s Office plans to publish a rate report and proposed rate order on May 9 and present to the refuse rate board with at least two public hearings (the first scheduled May 27). The rate board (comprised of the city administrator, the general manager of the Public Utilities Commission and a ratepayer representative) will make the final decision; if rates are set as proposed they would take effect Oct. 1.

Public comment: No public commenters addressed the item at the commission hearing. Commissioners asked questions about Recology’s profitability, the payroll error that reduced prior‑year projections, oversight responsibilities among city offices, and the potential inclusion of the $35 million contingent trash‑processing capital schedule.

No vote on rates was taken at the commission meeting; the presentation and public hearing were part of the regulatory record that the Controller’s Office will present to the refuse rate board.","At an April 24 public hearing, Jay Lau of the Controller’s Office presented a three-year refuse-rate proposal that would raise rates less than Recology’s request (12.59% vs. 18.18% over three years); the hearing drew questions about a proposed contingent $35 million trash-processing facility and timeline for the rate board.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573086,"Sanitation and Streets Commission adopts consent calendar; minutes to be posted",107,939000,1046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02&start=939&end=1046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3118873-af8f9d8e2d9ae01480fe23743de5cc02/thumbnail_939000.jpg","/articles/6573086/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Sanitation-and-Streets-Commission-adopts-consent-calendar-minutes-to-be-posted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573086-574df4ad90c3d884138cd62aa16a5c91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771082227&Signature=ZxB-yRYBAe2U-oBGEC5XrAWeXXLkylbBKKXnqkds8YpV3D~7gZMQ8lCR8J2-3HozPN6XpQ08uK6iir4kgaOpMI1c7vSLnJU-esc04nUU7r9xB0gq41mAhwNEfcVBpBGXQRT-JtQNpdlYGfVBqqAKNpCCutBWHx0qKPhJiKTx9RwFbIlFckQjcr7aWjv8SCQnTrVdUzgH9IczL25RnAnh87kb6sokLBH5SA1NfkerdNVE7TWCTV2jbEoHG29eHM~BsTcRuuTQmg3BMwu3k3c5Q0pHwHc7JKlnuI9MlwSdHclQ~B0Mwf8yAqpJOJgTMFJxjqoLdTIS4TEdPVAiwLBTsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sanitation and Streets Commission adopted its consent calendar at a public meeting on April 24, 2025. The items included draft minutes from the commission’s Nov. 18, 2024 meeting and the Jan. 23, 2025 joint meeting with the Public Works Commission.

The consent calendar was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. The meeting minutes and related documents will be posted to the commission’s website by Secretary Fuller.

No public commenters addressed the consent calendar before the vote.","The Sanitation and Streets Commission unanimously adopted its consent calendar April 24, including draft minutes from Nov. 18, 2024 and Jan. 23, 2025; Secretary Fuller will post the adopted minutes to the commission website.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Urban Forestry reports net tree gains, ramps pruning and planting amid staffing and funding constraints

Building and Street Repair reports steady demand; paving goal likely short this year

Controller proposes lower refuse-rate increases than Recology; public hearing held

Sanitation and Streets Commission adopts consent calendar; minutes to be posted