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Commissioners press for detail on chief's residence upgrades and a dedicated grant-writer position
Summary
Commissioners sought documentation and cost breakdowns after a DPW assessment estimated about $1.4 million for non-seismic upgrades to the landmark chief's residence; they also pressed department leaders to keep the new grant-writer position focused on grant work.
Commissioners asked for more detailed budget documentation for the department's requested upgrades to the chief's residence and for clarity about the scope of a newly budgeted grant-writer position.
Deputy Chief Janine Nicholson described the chief's residence as a San Francisco landmark built in 1921'122 at 870 Bush Street with roughly 4,300 square feet on a 7,100-square-foot parcel. Finance and planning staff told the commission the Department of Public Works provided a preliminary facilities assessment that produced a non-seismic cost estimate of approximately $1,400,000 to address roofing, exterior envelope, windows, HVAC, electrical, interior work and ADA-related items; the figure excluded seismic upgrades, which would increase costs. "They looked at roofing, exterior envelope windows, mechanical HVAC, electrical, sidewalk kitchens, interior work, specialties, systems, and ADA upgrades," Mark Corso, finance planning, said, and reported the $1,400,000 estimate.
Commissioners asked whether ADA requirements could be altered for landmark properties and cautioned that costs could rise markedly if seismic upgrades were necessary. They requested a breakdown of the $1,000,000+ figure presented earlier and were told DPW had provided the estimate and that any formal capital work would return to the commission for approval.
On staffing, commissioners pressed for a dedicated grant-writer. Mark Corso and the chief told the commission the new position in the city budget is intended to be "100% grant-focused" for writing, administration and reporting, though the chief noted that in practice staff sometimes take on other short-term work. Commissioners emphasized the importance of protecting time for grant work while grant activity demands it.
No formal vote was taken; commissioners asked staff to provide the DPW breakdown, clarify ADA and landmark constraints and return with a more detailed cost estimate and funding plan before any work begins.
