Supervisors advance major Muni charter amendment after hours of debate; vote to solicit public comment next week

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment of the whole to a proposed charter amendment that would shift several authorities and a new funding stream to the Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA), then voted to send the measure to a Committee of the Whole for public comment and final action next week.

The amendment, put forward by Supervisor Peskin, won board approval on July 24 after several hours of debate and multiple failed motions to remove or scale back provisions that transfer rate-setting and parking authorities to the MTA commission, expand the agency's contracting and debt powers, and change certain budget processes.

Why this matters: If approved by voters later this year, the measure would change how fares, parking rates and related fees are set, alter the MTA's contracting thresholds, dedicate a larger share of parking-related revenues to the agency, and give the agency increased authority to incur debt tied to its revenue streams. Supporters say the changes provide tools and funding to improve transit; critics say they reduce the board's direct oversight.

What the board did

Supervisor Peskin, the measure's lead sponsor, described weeks of negotiation with labor and city offices and said the package is intended to give the MTA "the tools" and funds needed after years of underfunding. "I am proud to say that yesterday, we concluded a set of very fruitful, negotiations and discussions," Peskin said during opening remarks.

Supervisor McGoldrick and other members pressed for retaining more authority with the elected board. McGoldrick said members were being asked "to essentially abdicate or relinquish a great deal of the authority the…