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Board directs city to build centralized digital neighborhood notification system
Summary
Supervisors unanimously passed an ordinance directing the Chief Data Officer to create a one‑stop digital notification system that will let residents receive proactive electronic notices about construction, permitting, transportation and health and safety projects affecting their neighborhoods.
The Board unanimously passed legislation directing the city’s Chief Data Officer to develop a centralized digital neighborhood notification system to give residents electronic notice of major projects and permitting decisions affecting their neighborhoods.
Supervisor London Breed moved the item to sever it from consent and Supervisor Mark Farrell presented the ordinance, called the Neighborhood Notification Act. Farrell said the system will allow residents to sign up by ZIP code or neighborhood to receive email notices about construction, infrastructure repair, transportation changes, and public‑health and safety facility decisions. The system is intended to supplement — not replace — existing departmental notice requirements and to preserve mailed/door‑to‑door notice options for residents without internet access.
The ordinance transfers responsibility for building the system from 3‑1‑1 to the Chief Data Officer, allocates a full‑time staff position funded in last year’s budget and requires departments to cooperate by providing data in specified formats on a regular schedule.
The Board passed the ordinance on first reading by unanimous roll call.
Why it matters: Supporting public engagement and modernizing notice processes was a priority cited by supervisors and public commenters; the legislation aims to improve transparency for development and operations that most affect neighborhoods while retaining protections for residents without online access.
Outcome: Ordinance passed unanimously on first reading; departments were directed to cooperate with the Chief Data Officer on data feeds and formats.
