Supervisor Campos introduces bill to ease parking‑garage bond requirement for compliant operators

Supervisor Campos introduced an ordinance on Oct. 30 proposing lower bond requirements for parking‑garage operators that have a proven compliance record with tax obligations and laws.

“Since these bonding rates were passed, the financial crisis has made it quite difficult for certain operators to get a large line of credit without actually owning significant assets,” Campos told the board. He said existing bonding levels — which currently range from $20,000 to $800,000 depending on annual gross receipts — have disadvantaged small operators and some larger operators that have a reliable tax remittance history.

Campos said his office worked with the treasurer and tax collector to craft the proposal, which would lower the bond requirement for operators who comply with state and local laws and “have met their financial obligations for the preceding 3 years.” Campos described the measure as intended to “strike the right balance in protecting the city, but also helping small businesses in particular in this industry.”

The item was introduced for committee consideration; no committee hearing or vote occurred at today's meeting. Campos also used his remarks to describe ongoing public‑safety efforts in the Mission District and to say an additional $30,000 had been allocated to augment violence‑prevention workers' hours in that neighborhood. He described recent vandalism and arrests tied to post‑championship celebrations and urged residents to “celebrate responsibly.”

The proposed bonding change would require further drafting in the controller/treasurer's office and review by committee before any final vote. Campos thanked Treasurer Jose Cisneros and staff for working on the proposal and said he looked forward to a “substantive dialogue at the Board of Supervisors.”