Board adopts amendment to clean construction ordinance to add residences as 'sensitive sites' and extend compliance window

Supervisor Maxwell proposed amendments to an ordinance revising the administrative code’s clean construction rules, including adding residences to the list of “sensitive sites” and extending the operative compliance date so the ordinance would take effect after 24 months instead of the shorter timeline previously proposed.

Deputy City Attorney Cheryl Adams told the board the technical change was straightforward: add residences into the sensitive site definition and change references to the operative date to “24 months.” The amendment also removed a subparagraph to make the operative date consistent across contract types.

Supervisor Maxwell described the measure as intended to reduce construction‑related air pollution in a dense city where heavy equipment can affect nearby windows, schools and hospitals, and said advocates had agreed to the 24‑month implementation period after discussions with the public works and environment departments.

Supervisor Daley said he opposed extending the schedule from earlier versions and said construction equipment is a “significant contributor” to particulate pollution; he voted against the amendment. A roll call showed the amendment passed six ayes to four noes. The item then proceeded as amended and was recorded as passed on first reading in the meeting transcript.

The changes will require the Department of the Environment and public works contractors to treat residences as sensitive sites for scheduling and mitigation purposes and give contractors an extended compliance period.

No specific enforcement plan or budget for implementation was recorded in the transcript; Deputy City Attorney Adams said staff would prepare final ordinance language consistent with the motion if the board approved it.