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Supervisors continue $400 million 'Easter 2' bond debate after amendment to add $25 million for streetlight repairs
Summary
The board duplicated and continued resolutions for a $400 million general obligation bond (Easter 2) to allow a one-week review of an amendment adding $25 million for streetlight capital repairs. The board requested additional CEQA/general plan language and set the items for a committee-of-the-whole hearing the following week.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Jan. 31 took up the proposed “Easter 2” $400,000,000 general obligation bond intended to fund fire and police station repairs, emergency water systems, and seismically secure facilities for first responders. Supervisor Scott Wiener proposed an amendment to add $25,000,000 specifically for capital renovations to the city’s streetlight system.
Wiener said the PUC-owned streetlight system has widespread reliability problems and that recent inspections found corroded poles in his district. Brian Strong, director of the Capital Planning Program, said streetlights are listed as Public Utilities Commission assets in the 10-year capital plan but have not previously been singled out for major renovation funding and that the city’s GO bond program generally focuses on general-fund liabilities rather than enterprise assets. Ben Rosenfield, city controller, cautioned the board that authorizing more than $400 million could marginally push projected property tax rates above the 2006 target used in the capital plan projections; he noted that actual tax impacts depend on when bonds are sold and on future assessed-value growth.
Kay Howard, the mayor’s budget director, said the administration believed streetlights were not an appropriate fit for the earthquake-safety bond and that more time was needed to scope the problem and possible solutions. Deputy City Attorney John Gibner requested a technical tweak to the amendment to add placeholder language for CEQA findings and General Plan referral; Wiener accepted the tweak.
Supervisor Wiener moved to duplicate the bond files so the board could advance 2 versions — the original and the amended $425,000,000 version — and continue both for one week. Supervisor John Avalos seconded the motion. After extended discussion, the board agreed without objection to duplicate and amend the files and to continue all four related items for one week to a committee of the whole (the board set the continued hearing for early February). The board also directed staff to return language addressing CEQA and general-plan referrals for the amended file.
