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Commission extends CAPS contract as seismic-safety reports near completion; discussion turns to mandatory retrofits
Summary
The commission approved a no-cost extension through Dec. 31 for the CAPS contractor to finish seismic-safety reports, including a near-complete Community Action Plan; commissioners and public witnesses urged stronger outreach and raised the possibility of mandatory soft‑story retrofits.
The Building Inspection Commission unanimously approved a no‑cost extension of the Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPS) contract through Dec. 31 to allow Applied Technology Council (ATC) consultants to finish and copy‑edit final work products.
An ATC representative told the commission that key reports are complete, including 'The Road to Earthquake Resilience in San Francisco' and a vulnerability study titled 'Potential Earthquake Impacts.' The Community Action Plan (task 4) was reported to be about 95% complete and scheduled for advisory‑committee review on Dec. 8, after which copy editing and publication are expected before year‑end.
John Paxton, co‑chair of the volunteer advisory committee for CAPS, delivered letters of support from SPUR and the Chamber of Commerce and urged commissioners to approve the extension. "The vulnerability study... is objective, but it gives city leaders a choice," Paxton said, urging the commission to move from reporting to action and adopt retrofit and repair standards outlined in the CAPs recommendations.
Commissioner Walker, who moved to extend the contract, said the reports create urgency to press for mitigation steps, including possible mandatory retrofit programs for soft‑story wood‑frame buildings. "We have the information," Walker said. "We have a broad group across all stakeholder groups that came together... Now it's up to us."
John Malamed of the city attorney's office said a mandatory retrofit program for soft‑story wood‑frame buildings was under consideration by the mayor's office in draft form, but that the commission and its code advisory committee could also initiate legislation to address retrofits and standards.
Public testimony included endorsements for the extension plus an offer from Heidi Seek, program director for Resilient SF, to present how Resilient SF can use CAPS data to prioritize recovery projects and pursue FEMA Hazard Mitigation / pre‑disaster mitigation grants for soft‑story work.
What happens next: The advisory committee will review the near‑final task 4 on Dec. 8; the commission asked staff to place follow‑up action items on future agendas to consider outreach, education and possible policy options, including mandatory programs and further technical review by the code advisory committee.
