Board affirms SFMTA's CEQA exemption for two‑year budget, rejects appeal over Sunday parking meters

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday affirmed the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) determination that its fiscal‑year 2015–16 two‑year operating and capital budget is statutorily exempt from environmental review under CEQA, rejecting an appeal that had sought review of the agency's decision to eliminate enforcement of Sunday parking meters.

The appeal was denied by a 9‑2 roll‑call vote after a multi‑hour hearing that included legal arguments, testimony from transit and planning staff, and public comment from transit advocacy groups. Appellants argued the exemption was improperly applied to a discrete policy decision — the suspension of Sunday metered parking — and pointed to an SFMTA study they said showed the policy produced environmental and traffic benefits.

Appellants led by attorney James Birkland for Livable City and the San Francisco Transit Riders Union contended the statutory “rates, tolls, fares, and charges” exemption (Public Resources Code §21080(b)(8) / CEQA…