Board of Supervisors approves hurricane relief funds, transit ad deal and upholds environmental finding for 700 Valencia; charter amendment fails to advance

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Oct. 23 approved several funding and contract measures, affirmed the Planning Department’s environmental determination for a proposed development at 700 Valencia Street and left a proposed charter amendment on minimum qualifications for city oversight bodies without submission after a late series of votes.

The board voted to appropriate $100,000 from the General Fund Reserve for hurricane relief in Nicaragua; to approve a transit-shelter advertising agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor Inc.; and to adopt multiple Municipal Transportation Agency resolutions accepting Federal Transit Administration capital grants. In a separate action the board voted to affirm the Planning Department’s final mitigated negative declaration for the 700 Valencia Street project after a public hearing and a motion to table related items. The board also re-referred to committee proposed local rules to require point-of-sale warnings for cough and cold medicines intended for young children.

Why it matters: the votes move city resources and contracts forward (including federal transit funds and a city advertising contract) and uphold a Planning Department environmental finding that allows the Valencia Street project to proceed further in the land-use process. The late-stage votes on the charter amendment left that measure in limbo and illustrate the board’s divided stance on strengthening candidate and ethics-related qualifications.

Most important votes and actions

- Hurricane relief: The board adopted Ordinance (Item 19) appropriating $100,000 for hurricane relief in Nicaragua. Roll call recorded 8 ayes and 2 noes; the ordinance was finally passed.

- Transit shelter advertising agreement (Item 20): The ordinance approving a transit-shelter advertising agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor Inc. was finally passed (7 ayes, 2 noes recorded on the roll call).

- Federal transit grants (Items 26–28): Resolutions authorizing the Municipal Transportation Agency to accept and expend approximately $47,000,000, $32,000,000, and $1,800,000 respectively in Federal Transit Administration funds for various Muni capital projects were adopted by the board on the same house, same call vote.

- 700 Valencia Street environmental decision (Items 34–37): After a public hearing and public comment, the board moved to affirm the Planning Department’s adoption of the final mitigated negative declaration for 700 Valencia Street (motion approved 7–3). Related items to reverse the Planning Commission decision were tabled or made moot by that motion.

- Charter amendment on minimum qualifications for oversight bodies (Item 23): The board considered a charter amendment that would add minimum qualifications for members of city bodies that oversee elections, campaign finance, lobbying, conflict-of-interest, open meetings and public records laws. The item passed an earlier roll call but a subsequent motion to rescind and re-vote resulted in the charter amendment not being submitted by the board (final tally recorded as 5 ayes and 4 noes on the resubmission roll call).

Other board actions

- Item 24: Ordinance to amend the annual salary ordinance to add 34.95 positions in the Department of Public Health passed on first reading (same house, same call).

- Item 29: Ordinance amending the Park Code to ban alcohol consumption in children’s play areas was re-referred to committee after a request on the floor.

- Item 30: Ordinance to require point-of-sale warnings on cough and cold medicines for infants and children under age 2 (board discussion referenced recent FDA advisory activity); the item was re-referred to committee for further work.

- Items 31–33: Planning code and landmark-related measures (including reducing a lot size limit on Polk Street, initiating a landmark designation at 690 Market, and amendments related to neighborhood commercial districts) moved forward on first reading or were adopted as noted on the calendar.

Meeting context and next steps

The meeting included a scheduled 2 p.m. “mayor’s appearance” special order; the mayor did not appear and the board proceeded after the five-minute waiting rule. The board recessed and reconvened for afternoon public hearings; the 700 Valencia appeal was the most significant land-use hearing and concluded with the board affirming the environmental determination. Several items were re-referred to committee for further drafting and technical amendments. The board recessed after recognizing local columnists and community memoriam items.

Votes at a glance (selected items)

- Item 19 (Ordinance): Appropriation of $100,000 — outcome: passed (final passage). Vote: 8 ayes, 2 noes (recorded on roll call). - Item 20 (Ordinance): Clear Channel transit-shelter advertising agreement — outcome: passed (final passage). Vote: 7 ayes, 2 noes (recorded). - Items 26–28 (Resolutions): FTA grants to MTA ($47M, $32M, $1.8M) — outcome: adopted (same house, same call). - Item 23 (Charter amendment): final status — not submitted after rescission and re-vote (final roll call recorded 5 ayes, 4 noes; item not submitted). - Items 31–33: planning code amendments and related resolutions — outcomes: passed on first reading or adopted as described on the agenda. - Item 34/35 (700 Valencia): motion to affirm Planning Department’s final mitigated negative declaration — outcome: motion approved (7 ayes, 3 noes); related reversing motions were tabled/moot.

Speakers (selected): Supervisor Aaron Peskin (presiding), Supervisor Sophie Alioto-Pier, Supervisor Tom Ammiano, Supervisor Carmen Chu, Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, Supervisor Chris Daly, Supervisor Jake McGoldrick (excused), Supervisor Ed Lee (note: transcript name variations present; speakers listed using names as stated during roll call). Several community members and medical experts, including Dr. Philip Ziering (Department of Public Health pediatrician), testified on specific items.

Provenance: topic spans for this roundup are drawn from the Oct. 23 Board of Supervisors transcript, including the roll-call and vote sequences (see transcript timecodes 15.5–316.0 for morning roll calls and 7163–8418 for afternoon special orders and votes on 700 Valencia).