Board approves package to fully fund Free City College program and withdraw charter amendment

The Board of Supervisors on July 16 approved a three‑part package intended to fully fund Free City College over the next decade and to withdraw a previously ordered charter amendment the board had planned to send to the November 2019 ballot.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin read a statement (on behalf of Supervisor Gordon Mar) describing a tentative agreement between the mayor’s office and City College trustees that the supervisors had negotiated with stakeholders. The package includes: (1) an ordinance amending the city college financial assistance fund and oversight committee membership to align with the tentative agreement; (2) a motion to withdraw the Free City charter amendment that the board had earlier ordered to the ballot; and (3) a resolution authorizing the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families to execute a 10‑year memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the San Francisco Community College District to provide funding and program administration for Free City.

Supervisor Manahan (reading on behalf of Supervisor Mar) said the agreement front‑loads funding so full support begins this fall — earlier than in the charter amendment — provides a one‑time reimbursement to the college for prior underfunding, and sets terms for a completed 10‑year MOU. The Chancellors’ office and City College trustees approved the tentative agreement; the board approved the ordinance on first reading and adopted the resolution and motion to withdraw the charter amendment unanimously.

Clerk reported the board voted to pass the ordinance on first reading and to adopt the resolution authorizing DCYF to negotiate and execute the MOU. The item will return for additional steps required to finalize the MOU and implement funding.