Board refers park sleeping-and-cooking ordinance to committee after weeks of debate

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Nov. 20 referred to committee an ordinance that would amend the Park Code to prohibit cooking in parks, prohibit modifying park landscapes to create shelters and ban sleeping in parks from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Supervisor Tom Ammiano, who introduced amendments and moved to refer the item, said the measure had become “very contentious” and would benefit from further negotiation with homeless advocates, the mayor’s office and other stakeholders. "It's not so much to delay it out of malice, but to see what can be worked out with all the parties," Ammiano said.

The motion to re-refer the ordinance to committee was seconded by Supervisor Chris Daly and then supported by a majority of supervisors after debate that included concerns about parks being used as housing, enforcement mechanisms and the need for the local homeless coordinating board to review the proposal. Supervisor Daly asked whether the local homeless coordinating board had deliberated on the legislation; Trent Rohrer, director of the Human Services Agency, replied that it had not.

Supporters of referral argued the proposal needs more time so stakeholder differences — including how citations and services are delivered — can be resolved. "I think we just need a little more time to sort of mull it over, talk to one another, because it's coming close," Supervisor McGoldrick said in support of the re-referral.

Opponents cautioned against measures that could criminalize homelessness without sufficient outreach and remedies. Supervisor Dufty said he supported the ordinance’s aim — that parks should not be long-term housing — but also wanted the coordinating board to weigh in and asked that the item be calendared quickly after committee work.

On the roll call the re-referral passed. The board instructed staff to return the item to committee and requested that the local homeless coordinating board be asked to review the ordinance language and related enforcement strategies.

The board’s action moves consideration of the ordinance out of today’s calendar so supervisors, city agencies and advocacy groups can attempt to reconcile enforcement, citation and service delivery questions before any final vote.

The measure will return to the board after committee review; supervisors requested a rapid calendar process and explicit input from the local homeless coordinating board and the District Attorney’s Office.