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Votes at a glance: Board advances budget package, bond measures and assorted ordinances on first reading
Summary
The Board of Supervisors advanced a broad set of budget, finance and policy items July 23, including the city budget (items 2–18 on the agenda), revised park pricing for specialty attractions, a $50 million appropriation from the Embarcadero Seawall bond, and multiple leases and program authorizations.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 23 acted on a wide range of ordinances and resolutions, advancing the budget package and approving multiple measures on first reading or by resolution. Below is a summary of the principal votes and outcomes taken during the meeting. (This is a roundup of items recorded on the board agenda; for detailed debate, see individual item transcripts and committee reports.)
What passed (selected items and outcomes):
- Budget package (Items 2–18): The board called items 2 through 18 together. These items include the budget and appropriation ordinance, the annual salary ordinance, amendments to fee and tax ceilings, reauthorization of refunding Certificates of Participation (COPs) and related appropriations, and several departmental resolutions to accept state grants and set operating plans. The package was advanced by the board with the exception of item 9 which was considered separately; the resolutions were adopted and numerous ordinances passed on first reading.
- Item 9 (park code / flexible pricing for specialty attractions): Supervisor Peskin offered amendments including a sunset provision and a clarification that the proposed fee at Coit Tower is an elevator fee (not an admission fee). After discussion and a friendly amendment by Supervisor Fewer, the board accepted the amendment and passed item 9 as amended unanimously on first reading.
- Item 19 (Embarcadero Seawall funds): The board advanced an ordinance appropriating $50,000,000 from the Series 2019B Embarcadero Seawall earthquake safety general obligation bond proceeds to the Port of San Francisco for FY 2018–19.
- Items 26–27 (long-term leases): The board passed items on first reading to approve long-term leases: a 25-year lease with the South End Rowing Club at 500 Jefferson Street with a 24-year extension option (item 26), and an 18-year lease with the Golden Gate Yacht Club at 1 Yacht Road that includes youth programming and public access conditions (item 27). Both items passed on first reading unanimously.
- Item 28 (low carbon fuel standard credits): The board passed an ordinance delegating authority to the general manager of the Public Utilities Commission to enter into one or more agreements to sell Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits when expected revenue is $1,000,000 or more, and to establish a fund to receive proceeds for carbon-reduction projects.
- Item 30 (public toilet / revenue agreement): The board approved a revenue agreement related to an automatic public toilet and service kiosk program with anticipated revenues of approximately $13,000,000 and a 21.5-year term commencing 07/01/2019 (resolution introduced and approved).
- Item 37 (clinic lease and tenant improvements): The board authorized a lease with Volunteers in Medicine (Clinic by the Bay) for a city-owned property at 3545 Onondaga Avenue and approved reimbursement of $1.4 million for tenant improvements. The item passed unanimously.
- Item 38 (rideshare excise tax to voters): The board moved to submit an ordinance to the voters that would impose an excise tax on net rider fares for commercial rideshare and certain private transit services; the board approved sending the measure to the ballot.
- Item 40 (city-funded travel and contracting restrictions tied to abortion bans): An ordinance was advanced that would prohibit city-funded travel to states that restrict abortion before fetal viability and would prohibit contracting with companies headquartered in or doing contract work in states with those laws. The board passed the ordinance on first reading.
Other outcomes: Numerous resolutions and first-reading ordinances were adopted across a range of departments, including public utilities, recreation and parks grants, library gifts, public health grant receipts, and airport leases. Several settlements and administrative changes were forwarded from committee and approved as committee reports.
Why it matters: The consolidated votes advance San Francisco’s two-year budget, program appropriations and a set of policy changes that affect parks pricing, lease agreements for public assets, funding for shoreline resilience, and potential city policy on travel and contracting tied to state abortion laws. Some of the items passed on first reading and will return for final passage per the city’s ordinance process.
Provenance: The board clerk called items and the transcript records roll calls and votes; specific references to items and roll calls are recorded in the transcript sections cited below.
