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Oversight committee hears bond program updates: DPW 2011 repaving, MTA 2014 transportation bond, MOHCD housing bonds, CSA report
Summary
Staff presented status updates on multiple general obligation bonds: DPW's 2011 repaving bond (substantial completion for many programs, Palou Streetscape underway), SFMTA's lessons from the 2014 transportation bond, MOHCD updates on 2015/2016/2019 housing bonds, and the City Services Auditor's FY18‑19 portfolio review.
Committee staff and agency presenters gave progress reports and budget overviews for several general obligation bond programs the committee oversees.
Department of Public Works (DPW): Edmond Lee, DPW project manager, reported that the 2011 Road Repaving and Street Safety bond (authorized at $248 million) is largely complete across subprograms. DPW reported 52 repaving projects covering roughly 1,436 blocks, 1,563 curb ramps, 646 sidewalk blocks (about 155,544 sq ft), and 39 roadway‑structure projects. The Palou Streetscape project remained under construction with an anticipated substantial completion in March 2021. DPW said closeout and financial reconciliation are under way; about 35–40% of bond records have been balanced to date.
Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD): Riley (finance manager) updated the committee on the 2015 Prop A affordable housing bond ($310 million). As of June 2020 the office had spent 96% of the first issuance and expected to expend remaining issuances by 2022; Casa Adelante (1296 Shotwell) was cited as a recent completion. Jonah Lee described the 2016 Preservation & Seismic Safety (PASS) bond program, noting that PASS loans preserve long‑term affordability and that MOHCD implemented a COVID‑era forbearance program (up to 12 months) to protect housing operators; staff estimated the fiscal impact as modest and said monitoring and capacity grants ($3.5M) were in place.
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority (SFMTA): Jonathan Ruiz reviewed the 2014 Transportation and Road Improvement bond ($500 million authorized). He said lessons from prior issuances led SFMTA to select fewer and more construction‑ready projects for the third issuance to accelerate spending. Highlighted projects included signal upgrades, corridor work (Nineteenth Avenue, Taylor Street), the Better Market Street program and BART canopy investments. Ruiz said the agency will continue to prioritize projects that are at detailed design or ready for construction to move bond dollars more quickly.
City Services Auditor (CSA) report: Marnie from the Comptroller’s City Performance Unit presented the FY18‑19 GEO Bond portfolio review (data updated to March 2020). The report found most bond programs on budget but noted recurring schedule delays and recommended improving project management capacity, permitting coordination, and reporting practices. The controller’s slides showed remaining balances across recent bond programs totaled about $1.2 billion as of June 30, 2019.
Committee reaction: Members thanked staff and pressed for clearer transparency on contractor lists, the effect of COVID‑related forbearance on loan recovery, and whether contractors named in outside investigations had contracts tied to the bonds. Agencies agreed to follow up with memos and to return with more detailed schedules and contractor searches. Public commenters urged greater oversight and audit of contractor practices and change orders.
The committee requested written follow‑ups from DPW, MOHCD and SFMTA on contractor lists, forbearance counts, and any direct ties between contractors named in subpoenas and bond projects.
