Board approves multiple contracts and resolutions, moves forward on home‑energy financing and planning code changes

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Dec. 10, 2013 adopted a series of resolutions and motions across a wide agenda, including a large contract amendment for the airport AirTrain, multiple Treasure Island master lease amendments, a renewed push to restart Green Finance SF and first‑reading passage of two planning ordinances intended to limit the loss of rent‑controlled housing.

Major contract and lease approvals

• Item 12: The board approved amendment No. 1 to a professional services agreement with Bombardier to operate and maintain the AirTrain system, a contract amendment with a stated total of $98,700,000 covering the period beginning March 1, 2014 through February (date in transcript appears truncated). The resolution was adopted by roll call with 11 ayes.

• Items 13–18: The board took a single vote to retroactively approve several master lease amendments between the Treasure Island Development Authority and the U.S. Navy (South Waterfront; Land and Structures; Marina; Childcare; Venues; Firefighting and Training Center master leases). The board took the items together “same house, same call” and adopted the resolutions without objection.

Other adopted items

• Item 19: Resolution retroactively authorizing a contract modification with Guardsmark for security services for the Human Services Agency — adopted.

• Item 21: An ordinance appropriating $4.4 million for transit center district funds and transportation development impact fee revenue to the Municipal Transportation Agency for FY 2013–2014 capital projects — adopted.

• Item 22: Resolution authorizing the Office of Economic and Workforce Development to accept and expend a $900,000 dislocated worker grant — adopted.

Green Finance SF

Supervisor Malia Cohen and Mayor Ed Lee were listed as co‑sponsors on a resolution urging the restart of Green Finance SF (a residential PACE‑style financing program). Supervisor Scott Wiener and others spoke in favor of reviving the program, and the board adopted the resolution without objection. Sponsors emphasized workforce components and protections to address concerns previously raised by the Federal Housing Finance Agency; speakers said the city intends to participate in a new state reserve fund created in the governor’s budget to address FHFA concerns and protect homeowners.

Planning and housing measures

• Items 34–35: Following a lengthy Land Use Committee discussion and board debate, the board passed on first reading two related ordinances: one revising rules on demolition, merger and conversion of residential units (sometimes described as the “residential DMC” ordinance) and a second revising the planning code for nonconforming uses to allow certain alterations of legal nonconforming residential units. The ordinances include amendments to disallow certain mergers or conversions for a look‑back period when a building has been subject to a recent no‑fault eviction (the board amended the effective date language and established a 5‑year look‑back for owner‑move‑in evictions). The items passed first reading with amendments and will return for second reading.

Appointments and other business

• Item 32: The board confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Vivienne Fay Sen to the Treasure Island Development Authority board.

• Item 33: The board appointed Charles Pearl to the treasury oversight committee.

Consent and other roll‑call items

A broad set of consent agenda items and routine resolutions (items 1–10, and multiple later items) were adopted by unanimous or near‑unanimous votes, including resolutions related to the Moscone expansion district, the tourism improvement district management plan, and authorization to accept grants for housing and workforce programs. Later in the meeting the board adopted items 42 through 47 by single roll call.

What it means

The meeting advanced several major contracting and planning actions while preserving board oversight of a controversial sheriff’s department contract (item 11, considered separately). The Green Finance SF resolution signals renewed city interest in property‑tax‑assessment financing for residential energy upgrades, subject to federal and state mortgage market concerns. The planning ordinances, passed today on first reading, are part of a package of local regulatory responses supervisors said are aimed at slowing the conversion or loss of rent‑controlled housing.