Carla Short, director of San Francisco Public Works, told the commission on Jan. 9 that the city faces a projected $876 million shortfall over the next two fiscal years and that mayoral instructions require departments to prepare balanced budgets with a 15 percent cut to general‑fund expenditures. Short said Public Works’ share of required general‑fund reductions is roughly $14 million.

Short outlined department priorities for 2025 including maintaining core services, improving project delivery and focusing on safety and cleanliness. She said the department’s reorganized strategic plan positions Public Works to advance those priorities and to work with the new mayoral leadership. Short described meetings already underway with new mayoral policy lead Alicia John‑Baptiste, who the mayor named to oversee infrastructure, climate and mobility portfolios.

On operations, Short reported that Public Works resurfaced 640 blocks in 2024 and maintained the city’s pavement condition index (PCI) at 75 — a score Short said is the highest among large Bay Area cities and places streets in the “good” range. She cautioned, however, that sustaining the PCI will require continued capital funding and noted the department will present initial budget proposals to commissioners in January with a formal presentation scheduled for Jan. 23 and a department budget due to the mayor by Feb. 21.

Short also described parks and facilities the department will support in 2025, including project delivery and construction management roles on several park projects cited in local media: Ocean Beach Park, Outpost Meadow in the Presidio (not a city project), Hertz Recreation Center in McLaren Park, and the Japantown Peace Plaza renovation. She said the department is doing construction management on several projects and will report back with a fuller list at a future meeting.

Short invited commissioners and residents to the 2025 kickoff of Love Our City neighborhood beautification events, beginning Jan. 18 in District 11, and said the department will hold monthly volunteer events across the city.

Ending: Short told commissioners the department is engaged in ‘‘proactive’’ steps to prepare for a constrained budget cycle and said staff will return with more detailed budget options and performance information at upcoming meetings.

Provenance: Director Short presented the director’s report as Item 2; presentation began with the item introduction and continued through a question-and-answer exchange concluding in the director's report close.