Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves placing $412.3 million earthquake safety and emergency response bond on June ballot
Summary
Supervisors voted to place an earthquake safety and emergency response general obligation bond (approx. $412.3 million) on the June 2010 ballot. Debate focused on which fire stations and Hall of Justice work would be covered, CEQA constraints, oversight measures and auditing provisions.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to place an earthquake safety and emergency response general obligation bond, estimated at approximately $412,300,000, on the June 2010 ballot.
Board President David Chiu, sponsor of the measure, urged unanimous support, saying the package addresses anticipated seismic risks and repair needs for critical infrastructure. "We have in front of us a vote on whether to place an earthquake safety and emergency response bond on the ballot, and I very much wholeheartedly ask all of us to support this incredibly important measure," Chiu said. City Administrator Ed Lee and Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White both voiced departmental support during the hearing. "This bond consists of 3 components, upgrading and retrofitting our auxiliary water supply system, as well as seismically making our fire stations ... safer, and then the rebuild of a Hall Of Justice," Hayes White told supervisors.
Supervisors pressed staff on two areas: specificity of projects and compliance with competitive-bidding and best-practice procurement, and whether the bond package inadequately addresses the county jail at 850 Bryant. Supervisor Campos asked whether the public could be given a preliminary list of fire stations targeted for work; staff said they could not provide station-specific lists before CEQA clearance, because doing so could compromise CEQA review. Charles Higuera and Brian Strong (Capital Planning) described a prior comprehensive assessment indicating total needs for all firehouses approach $400,000,000; the bond would fund a portion of that work. Strong said the projects likely to be funded would involve work on roughly 10 to 12 stations with the most serious seismic repairs.
Chiu and Controller Ben Rosenfield said additional accountability measures are in the measure: spending plans developed by Public Works, approval by the Fire Commission, board of supervisors appropriation of funds to projects, and oversight by a Citizens' General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee with audit set-asides. Several supervisors also noted the package is intended as one step that might be followed by future measures to address remaining needs, including additional Hall of Justice work.
On roll call, supervisors recorded nine ayes and one no; the measure passed the Board and will appear on the June ballot. Transcript roll call: the clerk announced "There are 9 ayes, 1 no. Measure passes." The Board emphasized the bond requires a two-thirds voter approval on the ballot.
Ending
The approved bond measure moves to the ballots for voter consideration in June 2010; supervisors and city staff described additional oversight measures and a multi-step capital program that will allocate the bond proceeds after public approval.
