Board of Supervisors adopts package of ordinances, appointments and resolutions; several items pass on first reading

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a package of ordinances, resolutions and appointments covering city planning, utilities financing, commission appointments and a settlement, with most items passing on unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls.

The board adopted the consent agenda (items 1–8) by roll call, then passed ordinances adopting the 02/2009 bicycle plan (items 9–10). An ordinance appropriating proceeds for the Wastewater System Improvement Program (item 11) passed on first reading. The board approved a new Irvington Tunnel construction management contract for up to $15,000,000 (item 12) and approved a fuel agreement with Western States Oil estimated to exceed $10,000,000 (item 13). The board also passed an ordinance renaming the Equal Access Ordinance to the Language Access Ordinance (item 14) on first reading.

On individual items, the board authorized settlement of the lawsuit filed by Linda Corratti against the city for $80,000 (item 25); the motion passed by a 10–1 roll call. Reappointments and appointments to boards and commissions were handled: Larry Martin was reappointed to the Recreation and Park Commission for a term ending 06/27/2013 (item 26) by a 10–1 vote; the board voted not to approve the reappointment of David Lee to the Recreation and Parks Commission (item 29)—that motion failed because it required eight votes; Amelia D. Yaros was appointed to the Residential Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board (item 30) by an 11–0 roll call; Dennis Normandie was reappointed to the Civil Service Commission for a term ending 06/30/2013 (item 32) by a 10–1 vote.

The board advanced several land-use and housing measures on first reading, including an ordinance to require owners of vacant or abandoned buildings to register such properties with the Department of Building Inspection and to establish an annual registration fee (item 34), and an ordinance (item 35) creating new rules for mortgage modification consultants (see separate article). A resolution opposing BART’s surcharge on San Francisco International Airport employees was adopted (item 36). The board also took action to confirm delinquent charges for refuse collection (items 17–18) and code enforcement assessments (items 19–20), and approved a final map for property at 1355 Pacific Avenue (item 42).

On the package of measures transmitted for possible ballot action, the board authorized individuals to prepare official proponent and opponent arguments and rebuttals for several charter amendments and ordinances on the November ballot (item 41); a separate roll call resolved who would prepare various materials and which supervisors would serve as official proponents or opponents.

Votes at a glance (selected): - Settlement for Linda Corratti (item 25): passed, 10–1. - Reappointment of Larry Martin (item 26): passed, 10–1. - Rejection motion for David Lee (item 29): not approved (required 8 votes; result 6–5 in favor of rejection but motion failed due to threshold). - Appointment of Amelia D. Yaros (item 30): passed, 11–0. - Fairfax/West Point street vacation for Hunters View (item 16): passed in first reading, 10–1.

Many of the items passed with minimal debate and were taken under the "same house, same call" practice, where members consent to take multiple items together. A small number of items drew specific discussion during roll call or brief remarks by sponsors.

The meeting also included numerous public-comment speakers addressing library governance, alleged patent infringement, hate speech in media, and local environmental and redevelopment concerns. Public comment did not produce formal board action on those subjects at this meeting.

The board adjourned with in memoriam tributes for several community members and activists.