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Board approves Ocean Avenue Community Benefits District after weighted-ballot tabulation
Summary
Following a continuation of the public hearing and a weighted-ballot count, the Board adopted a resolution establishing the Ocean Avenue Community Benefits District (CBD) on a vote of 8-3; staff noted the weighted ballots showed a majority in favor and no majority protest.
After a continued public hearing and a weighted ballot tabulation, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution Dec. 14, 2010, to establish the Ocean Avenue Community Benefits District (CBD) and to levy assessments for up to 15 years beginning fiscal year 2010-11.
The Board conducted an extended public hearing at which proponents, including local residents, merchants, and the Ocean Avenue Revitalization Collaborative, described the CBD's goals: cleaning and greening, promotion, and security services for the Ocean Avenue commercial corridor. Several property owners and businesspeople spoke in favor; others opposed the measure, arguing assessments were too burdensome during difficult economic conditions and challenging the validity of some weighted ballots and ownership calculations.
City staff explained the ballot tabulation process. The Clerk announced that returned weighted ballots in favor totaled 54.83% and those against totaled 45.17%, which the Clerk stated amounted to "no majority protest." Several supervisors noted the weighted calculation included a substantial share of city-owned parcels; Supervisor Avalos asked staff to clarify the portion attributable to city property. City staff responded that parcels owned by the City and County of San Francisco represented 11.8% of the weighted total (including a library parcel and other public parcels).
Supervisor Chu and others explained the tabulation result meant the required weighted majority in favor had been met, and the Board proceeded to a roll call vote on the resolution ordering levy and collection of assessments. The Clerk recorded 8 ayes and 3 noes and the resolution was adopted.
Ending: The CBD was established at the hearing; the record shows debate about the role of city-owned parcels in the weighted-ballot result and that private property-owner opposition in number of parcels was larger than supporters in raw parcel count, but the weighted vote (by financial obligation) favored formation. Implementation will proceed under the CBD management plan and the Department of Elections tabulation.
