Board creates reentry council, advances hiring rules and urban‑forestry changes; smoking proposal sent back to committee

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 passed an ordinance to establish a reentry council, approved a set of administrative and public‑land measures on first reading, and sent a proposed citywide smoking ordinance back to committee after lengthy floor debate.

Reentry council established with mayoral representation

The Board amended and approved an ordinance adding sections to the Administrative Code to create a reentry council to set purpose, powers and duties for coordinating reentry services. Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi offered an amendment to add “the mayor or the mayor’s representative” to the council’s membership; Supervisor Mirkarimi moved the amendment and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell seconded. The amendment passed on a roll call vote of 10–1 (one supervisor voting no). On final roll call the ordinance passed unanimously (11–0) on first reading.

Mirkarimi described the measure as a straightforward fix to ensure the mayor’s office would be represented on the new council; colleagues welcomed the addition as a means to improve coordination across city agencies.

First‑reading actions, technical amendments and bond authorization

The Board also: - Reconstituted the Urban Forestry Council to 11 members (ordinance passed on first reading by an 11–0 roll call). - Amended the Administrative Code to provide compensation for members of the In‑Home Supportive Services Public Authority governing body; the deputy city attorney explained technical edits replacing earlier department names (the changes were adopted and the ordinance passed on first reading as amended). - Adopted a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of ABAG Finance Authority revenue bonds for Sacred Heart Schools in an amount not to exceed $35 million; Supervisor Michela Alioto‑Pier recused herself because of a board‑membership conflict and the resolution passed 10–0.

Market/Octavia first‑source hiring and enforcement

The Board advanced an ordinance amending the Environment Code to strengthen enforcement of first‑source hiring requirements in the Market and Octavia plan area. Sponsor statements described the measure as an effort to give the city more “teeth” in existing first‑source hiring laws so San Franciscans have access to jobs created by new development. Supervisor Mirkarimi said: “If companies want the prestige ... of being in San Francisco, certainly ... it is incumbent upon us ... to try to do our best so that San Franciscans get those jobs as well.” The ordinance passed on first reading by a vote of 9–0 (two supervisors absent for that roll call).

Smoking ordinance sent back to committee after amendments and votes

A lengthy discussion about a proposed citywide smoking ordinance produced multiple motions on the floor. Supervisors debated private enforcement, the proposed 20‑foot buffer measured from windows or doorways, and potential impacts on small businesses.

The Board adopted an “amendment of the whole” on the floor, then took a procedural vote on whether to continue consideration for one week; that motion failed on a 5–6 roll call. The subsequent motion to refer the ordinance to committee passed 6–5. The president said he would refer the legislation to an appropriate committee that reflected concerns on where further vetting should take place.

Other minutes and consent items

Several consent‑calendar items, including landmark tree designations, approvals of tentative parcel and subdivision maps, and other routine matters, were approved early in the meeting. Resolutions and motions taken without committee reference (items 26–30) were adopted on the consent roll call (10 ayes recorded for those items during roll call adoption).

Special orders and continuances

A set of planning EIR items for the Eastern Neighborhoods rezoning and area plans (items 20–23) were continued to Sept. 23 at the request of the Planning Department and with agreement from appellants. Other items were continued or set for further committee work as noted above.

Votes at a glance

- Item 6 (Reentry council ordinance): Amendment to add mayor/mayor’s representative adopted 10–1; final item passed 11–0 (first reading). - Item 13 (Urban Forestry Council membership increase): passed on first reading, 11–0. - Item 14 (IHSS Public Authority compensation; technical edits): passed on first reading as amended. - Item 15 (ABAG revenue bonds for Sacred Heart Schools, up to $35M): Supervisor Alioto‑Pier recused; adopted, 10–0. - Item 16 (Market & Octavia first‑source hiring enforcement): passed on first reading, 9–0. - Item 17 (Affordable housing preference for certificate holders): continued to Sept. 23. - Item 18 (Zoo animal welfare/oversight committee): continued 1 week. - Item 19 (Smoking ordinance): amendment adopted on floor; motion to continue 1 week failed 5–6; motion to refer to committee passed 6–5. - Items 26–30 (adoptions without committee reference): adopted on roll call.

Why it matters: The reentry council creates a formal city structure to coordinate services for people returning from incarceration and explicitly includes the mayor’s representation, which supporters said should improve interagency coordination. The Market/Octavia change signals a push to enforce local hiring commitments tied to development approvals. The smoking ordinance remains unsettled and will receive further committee review.

What’s next: Several matters (the smoking ordinance, EIR appeals, and others) are set for further committee consideration or calendar continuance; the reentry council ordinance and other first‑reading ordinances will follow the city’s charter process for final readings and implementation steps.