Board overrides mayoral veto to require audio/video recording of certain City Hall hearings

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 13 overrode a mayoral veto and amended Administrative Code section 67.14 to require that public meetings held in City Hall hearing rooms that are equipped with audio or video recording facilities be recorded and the recordings be made available on the city's website.

Supervisor Mercarini urged colleagues to support the override, saying the measure advances transparency: "San Francisco being literally one of the strongest cities in the United States that practices its transparency... why would we go backwards now when we have something that for really very little money... enables us to then webcast live and provide details of up to literally 60 commissions and task forces"; he added that the estimated cost was "$76,000 a year" and framed it as preventing litigation and promoting sunshine.

During roll call the override passed with eight ayes and three noes; the chair announced "the veto is overwritten." The action amends the administrative code to require recording and public posting of recordings for City Hall hearing rooms equipped with recording capability.

Why it matters: the change expands transparency obligations for City Hall meetings and requires the city to publish audio/video recordings online for rooms that have such equipment. Board members debating the override framed it as an inexpensive way to increase access to government deliberations.

Next steps: the ordinance amendment will be implemented by the affected departments to ensure recordings are posted to the city's website in accordance with the revised code section.