Supervisors approve police MOU on first reading amid criticism over cost and data on retention

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 18 passed on first reading an ordinance to adopt a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the city and the San Francisco Police Officers Association, despite sharp criticism from at least one supervisor about the contract's size and the analysis behind it.

The roll-call vote was 10-1 in favor; Supervisor Dean Preston cast the lone no vote.

Supervisor Preston said he opposed the MOU because the administration and the Department of Human Resources (DHR) communicated inconsistent cost figures during committee briefings and because the city had not marshaled data showing the package would improve officer retention. "This is not normal and it is not, okay," Preston said on the floor, adding that the city had presented an $84 million total cost figure in public materials before committee but later disclosed a higher number "over $166 million." He said DHR, and later SFPD, had not provided sufficient exit-interview or retention data; the presentation the board received shortly before the vote showed SFPD obtains exit interviews from approximately 28% of departing officers.

DHR and the administration defended the negotiation and said the increases were intended to strengthen recruitment and retention in a competitive regional market. Supporters of the MOU argued that arbitration or failure to approve the package could result in less favorable outcomes and that the city needed to remain competitive with other jurisdictions to reduce lateral losses.

The ordinance was introduced as Item 19 on the agenda and a roll call followed. The Clerk recorded 10 ayes and 1 no; the item passed on first reading and will return for final adoption after the usual procedural steps.

Key points raised on the floor

- Cost discrepancy: Preston said the administration initially told the board and media the three-year cumulative cost would be $84 million; the controller's memo and subsequent materials presented a three-year figure of roughly $166 million. The supervisor asked for an explanation and said the difference merited further review.

- Data on retention: Preston and other board members asked for concrete evidence that the pay increases and bonuses would reduce departures. The SFPD memo delivered shortly before the hearing stated the department obtains exit interviews for only 28% of separating officers.

- Budget context: Preston noted competing budget priorities for social services and programs that serve vulnerable residents and said the city should have better justification before committing sizeable sums to the MOU.

What the vote means

Passing the ordinance on first reading sends the MOU forward to the second reading and final adoption steps unless the board or the administration makes further changes. Preston warned that voting the item down could send the matter to arbitration; he said an arbitrator might still award increases but would do so based on objective financial factors rather than a political compromise.

Actions and vote

- Action: Ordinance to adopt and implement the memorandum of understanding between the City and the San Francisco Police Officers Association (07/01/2023 ' 06/30/2026). Kind: ordinance_first_reading. - Vote: Approved on first reading, 10 ayes, 1 no. (Preston cast the no vote.)

Speakers (attribution whitelist)

- Supervisor Dean Preston ' Supervisor (recorded opposition and lengthy floor statement) - DHR Director (unnamed in transcript) ' Department of Human Resources (staff presence and testimony) - Controller's Office (memo referenced; controller available for questions)

Authorities

- {"type":"other","name":"Memorandum of Understanding between City and SFPD POA (proposed 07/01/2023-06/30/2026)","referenced_by":["body"]}

Clarifying details

- "cost_estimates": DHR and the mayor's office reportedly cited an $84,000,000 3-year figure prior to the hearing; the controller's memo and later documents showed a three-year cost near $166,000,000. - "exit_interviews": SFPD reported exit-interview capture for roughly 28% of outgoing officers in a memo provided to the board shortly before the hearing.

Proper names

- {"name":"San Francisco Police Officers Association","type":"organization"} - {"name":"Department of Human Resources (San Francisco)","type":"agency"} - {"name":"Office of the Controller (San Francisco)","type":"agency"}

Community relevance

- Geographies: Citywide (impacts city budget and public safety funding priorities) - Impact groups: City budget, police workforce, municipal social-service programs

Meeting context

- Engagement level: High ' prolonged committee-level review and substantial floor questioning about fiscal details - Implementation risk: Medium-high ' large budgetary consequence and potential for arbitration if the board rejected the MOU - History: Follows prior bargaining and amendments to city labor agreements; DHR reopened negotiations to include longevity bonuses

Searchable tags

["POA","labor","mou","police","budget","retention"]

Provenance

- transcript_segments: [{"block_id":"12470.26","local_start":0,"local_end":45,"evidence_excerpt":"Item 19. This is an ordinance to adopt and implement the memorandum of understanding between the city and the San Francisco Police Officers Association to be effective 07/01/2023 through 06/30/2026.","reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"13279.99","local_start":0,"local_end":76,"evidence_excerpt":"There are 10 ayes and 1 no with supervisor Preston voting no. Ordinances passed on first reading.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]