Supervisors pass range of measures on biotech tax exclusion, lighting efficiency, development fees, solar incentives and grants; smart-meters item continued

Note: This article summarizes several adopted items and roll-call outcomes recorded during the May 2010 San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting. It focuses on measures with formal votes or significant debate.

Key outcomes at a glance

- Biotechnology exclusion (Item 9): The Board passed an ordinance amending the Business and Tax Regulations Code to clarify the definition of "biotechnology business" and to allow applicants to claim a biotechnology tax exclusion for seven and a half years irrespective of application date. Vote: 9 ayes, 2 noes (Supervisor Avalos and Supervisor Daley recorded no votes on the roll call). The ordinance was finally passed.

- Fluorescent lighting efficiency (Item 10): The Board adopted an ordinance amending the building and environmental codes to require city-owned facilities and commercial buildings to increase the efficiency of fluorescent lighting by 2011. Vote: unanimous (11 ayes).

- Probation grant (Item 11): The Board authorized the Department of Adult Probation to retroactively accept and expend an approximately $506,000 grant from the California Emergency Management Agency for a pilot program for 18-to-25-year-old probationers and to add one grant-funded position; the ordinance passed first reading.

- Airline lease approvals (Items 12 and 13): Resolutions approving lease and operating agreements for airlines and airport modifications were adopted on the consent calendar.

- D…