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Board approves $100,000 for Italy earthquake relief after multiple rescind motions and re-votes
Summary
The board adopted an ordinance appropriating $100,000 from the General Reserve for earthquake relief in Italy after several procedural motions to rescind earlier roll-call votes led to multiple re-votes; the item ultimately passed with a 7–4 vote.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Oct. 25 approved an ordinance to appropriate $100,000 from the General Reserve to the Department of Emergency Management for relief to earthquake victims in Italy for fiscal year 2016–2017 after a series of procedural rescind motions and repeated roll-call votes.
Why it matters: The item drew unusual procedural attention: board members moved to rescind earlier roll-call results more than once, requiring repeated votes on the same ordinance and underscoring divisions among supervisors over the measure.
The ordinance as introduced would transfer $100,000 from the city’s General Reserve to the Department of Emergency Management to provide relief to earthquake victims in Italy for the 2016–2017 fiscal year. After the first roll call, the clerk reported 8 ayes and 3 noes. Supervisor Cohen then moved “to rescind the last vote,” a motion seconded by Supervisor Farrell; the board took the rescind motion without objection. The item was re-called for roll call multiple times during the same meeting as supervisors again sought to rescind and re-vote.
After the final re-vote recorded in the late morning hour, the clerk announced the ordinance had passed with seven ayes and four noes; supervisors voting no were recorded as Supervisor Cohen, Supervisor Farrell, Supervisor Tang and Supervisor Breed. The board then moved on to the next item.
Procedural notes: The record shows multiple motions to rescind were made and seconded (Supervisor Cohen was recorded making the rescind motion on at least one occasion), and the board processed the procedural motions before re-calling the roll. The transcript records several iterations of the roll call and the clerk’s announcements of ayes and noes as the item was retaken.
What’s next: The ordinance was finally adopted and will be implemented by the Department of Emergency Management consistent with the appropriation and city rules for use of the General Reserve.
