Board approves formation of Tourism Improvement District after public hearing and ballot tabulation

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Dec. 16 approved a resolution forming a citywide Tourism Improvement District (TID) after a public hearing and tabulation of weighted ballots. The clerk reported that ballots cast in favor exceeded those opposed, and the board adopted the formation resolution as amended.

The public hearing on the proposal drew a broad range of supporters: hotel managers, tourism-related businesses, labor representatives and neighborhood business leaders who described the TID as a way to provide sustainable funding for citywide tourism marketing and for the Moscone Center. Rick Swig, chair of the TID task force, told the board the district represents a multi-stakeholder consensus built over about 24 months and called the TID "a fantastic example of alternative opportunities to provide ongoing sustainable funding for both tourism improvement as well as sustaining Moscone Center." Joe D—Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the district would enable a more aggressive marketing presence to compete nationally and internationally.

Deputy city attorneys read a small set of technical amendments into the record before the clerk opened public testimony. More than a dozen speakers representing hotels, the Yerba Buena neighborhood, and local small businesses described the potential economic benefits and jobs supported by tourism marketing and improvements at Moscone Center. Labor representatives said construction and convention-related work supports thousands of local jobs.

After public comment the clerk completed a ballot tabulation. The clerk reported the weighted tabulation as 29.02 in favor and 23.56 opposed (ballots weighted by assessed hotel obligations); with that result the clerk concluded a majority protest did not exist. Supervisor Ellsburn recused himself from the final roll call; the board then voted to adopt the resolution as amended by roll call. The clerk recorded the roll-call vote and the resolution was adopted.

Why it matters: The TID creates a new funding stream dedicated to tourism marketing and convention-center support; backers said it will help the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau market the city more aggressively and fund projects to maintain and plan for Moscone Center—s future. The district is structured with different assessment zones and a management contract will govern assessment collection and expenditure.

Provenance

Evidence excerpt — topic introduction: "Item 55 is a public hearing of persons interested in or objecting to a proposed resolution of formation, establishing a business based business Improvement District to be known as the Tourism Improvement District..." (transcript segment)

Evidence excerpt — topic finish: "On the proposal of formation to establish a business based business improvement district to be known as the tourism improvement district, 29.02 voted in favor. 49 excuse me, 23.56 voted against." (transcript segment)