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.

- Development impact fees & fee deferral (Items 14 and 15): The Board passed an ordinance (Item 14) updating building/ planning code procedures for collection of development impact and in-lieu fees and establishing timing. Item 15 (an ordinance amending planning and administrative code to allow the Department of Building Inspection to collect these fees and include a limited fee-deferral option) passed first reading by roll call (10 ayes, 1 no). Supervisor Daley cast a "friendly no" on Item 15 in discussion.

- Solar energy incentive program (Item 16): The Board passed an ordinance amending the Environment Code to adjust the solar incentive program. Vote: unanimous (11 ayes) on first reading.

- Union Pacific supplemental agreement (Item 17): A resolution authorizing a supplemental agreement to install an additional water pipeline on railroad property was adopted.

- Veterans commons special use district (Item 27): An ordinance establishing a Veterans Commons special use district for property at 150 Otis Street was passed on first reading.

- Appointment to Board of Appeals (Item 26): The Rules Committee appointment of Christine Huang (term ending 07/01/2014) to the Board of Appeals was approved.

- Smart meters outreach (Item 31): A resolution urging outreach and education regarding smart meters and to prevent service disconnections was continued for one week at the sponsor's request.

Other items

- A resolution denouncing the Burmese military regime's 2010 election (Item 37) was adopted as amended.

- Item 28, the Arizona boycott resolution, was discussed at length and is covered in a separate article.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Item 9 (biotechnology exclusion ordinance): Approved 9-2 (Ayes 9; Noes 2) - Item 10 (fluorescent lighting efficiency ordinance): Approved 11-0 - Item 11 (Probation grant, retroactive $506,000): Passed first reading (house call) - Item 14 (development fee administration ordinance): Passed first reading (house call) - Item 15 (fee deferral option): Passed first reading by roll call 10-1 (Supervisor Daley recorded no) - Item 16 (solar incentive ordinance): Passed first reading 11-0 - Item 17 (Union Pacific agreement): Adopted (same house, same call) - Item 26 (Board of Appeals appointment): Approved (same house, same call) - Item 27 (Veterans Commons special use district): Passed first reading - Item 31 (smart meters outreach): Continued one week at sponsor request - Item 37 (Burma Democracy Day resolution): Adopted as amended (11-0)

What supervisors said

Supervisor Maxwell introduced the package of development fee ordinances and emphasized balancing economic relief with delivering public benefits and neighborhood infrastructure. "The down payment requirement for those participating in the deferral program will help ensure that we have adequate funds to support predevelopment and design work on critical neighborhood infrastructure projects," Maxwell said while urging support for the combined ordinances.

Supervisor Daley asked for a separate roll call on Item 15 and said he would cast a friendly no on that item, arguing the fee deferral might not have sufficient benefits for development in the current market.

Why it matters

Taken together, these measures update how San Francisco collects development fees, pursue energy efficiency in public and commercial buildings, support the probation department's youth pilot program with state grant funds, and adjust renewable-energy incentives. The development-fee changes include a limited deferral option intended to ease upfront costs for development while aiming to preserve funding for neighborhood infrastructure.

Next steps and follow-up

Several ordinances passed on first reading and will return for final passage in a subsequent meeting. Planning and budget staff will implement changes to fee collection procedures and the Department of Building Inspection will apply the new timing and deferral rules as they take effect. The smart-meters item was continued for further study.

Ending

The board moved a mix of fiscal, environmental and land-use measures in one session; most items passed with broad support, while a few drew targeted dissents and requests for separated roll call votes. The city will publish the ordinance texts and filing details in the coming days.