Board approves multiple revenue bond measures, library grant, leases and fee amendment in unanimous votes

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved multiple finance and administrative items on the consent and adoption calendars at its June 5 meeting, including ordinances authorizing the issuance of refunding lease revenue bonds and several Public Utilities Commission (PUC) revenue bond and appropriation ordinances, a library grant acceptance, and a first-reading planning-code change to the Transportation Sustainability Fee (TSF).

The board took routine action on several grouped items without separate debate. Among the items passed unanimously:

- Ordinances authorizing refunding lease revenue bonds: Item 6 authorized refunding lease revenue bonds payable from the park and recreation open-space fund in an amount “not to exceed approximately 41,300,000” to refinance lease revenue bonds previously issued for park projects. Item 7 authorized up to approximately $26,500,000 in refunding lease revenue bonds for projects under the branch library improvement program. Both ordinances were finally passed without objection.

- PUC bond and appropriation ordinances: Items 9 through 14 included multiple authorizations and appropriations for PUC capital programs, including a bond authorization for the power enterprise (item 9, reported as up to approximately $155 million) and other water and wastewater revenue bond authorizations and appropriations (items 10–14). The board adopted those ordinances unanimously.

- Library grant and other administrative items: Item 15 authorized the San Francisco Public Library to accept and expend an in-kind and cash grant from the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library of up to approximately $813,000 for public programs in fiscal year 2018–19. Item 16 authorized a transfer of up to $4,000,000 to the general fund for parking and transit payment overpayments and duplicates. Item 17 authorized substitution of a letter of credit up to $100,000,000 to support the MTA commercial-paper program. Item 18 authorized a five-year lease for 1305–1309 Evan Street.

- Planning-code amendment on first reading: Item 19, a planning-code ordinance increasing the Transportation Sustainability Fee by $5 to $24.04 for certain large nonresidential projects (with a different rate in the Central SOMA area), passed its first reading unanimously after an amendment clarifying that development agreements previously approved by the board (Mission Bay and Pier 70) would be exempt; the board and city attorney clarified the cut-off date for the exemption during the meeting.

- Other resolutions: Item 20, a resolution urging the Recreation and Park Commission to remove the name of Julius Kahn from a playground and begin a renaming process, was adopted unanimously. Item 22 (committee report) authorized continued operation of two navigation centers through specified dates; that resolution also passed.

Votes were recorded on the floor or taken "without objection" where noted. Several items were grouped and called "same house, same call," a standard consent practice used by the board to adopt routine matters in a single action.

Ending

The board convened other, more contested items later in the meeting, including consideration of appointments and a project labor agreement proposal (item 28), which were discussed separately. Several items that drew extended public comment were deferred for further committee consideration or were the subject of separate debate on the agenda.