Historic Preservation Commission recommends Planning Department budget for 2021

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously Feb. 3 to recommend that the Planning Department's fiscal year 2020–2021 budget be approved by the mayor and Board of Supervisors.

Deborah Landis, Planning Department staff, summarized changes since the department’s prior briefing and highlighted equity-focused programs across the department. "The shared spaces program, has helped close to 3,000 small businesses, more than 2,800 of them," Landis said, citing survey results and a $500,000 equity grant fund administered through the program.

Landis told commissioners that impact-fee revenue is projected to fall in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 years because last year included unusually large transfers to non‑city agencies. She also reminded the commission of the city charter timeline: the department submits budgets to the mayor’s office on Feb. 20 (the Feb. 21 deadline falls on a Sunday this year), the mayor’s proposed budget is published June 1, and the full Board of Supervisors acts in July.

Commissioners praised staff analysis and the department’s equity assessment work. Commissioner Black said the department had adapted well to remote operations and continuing priorities despite budget pressures. Commissioner Foley highlighted interest in including early‑childhood education facilities in large housing projects.

After discussion, the commission made and seconded a motion to adopt a recommendation for approval of the department budget; the motion passed 7–0. The commission's vote forwards the budget recommendation to the mayor’s office and is part of the normal city budget review process.