Planning Department outlines FY2020–22 budget and work program; public urges updates to demolition valuations and more West Side planning

The Planning Department presented its proposed fiscal year 2020–22 budget and work program, describing a modest revenue outlook amid steady project volumes, a pending fee study of planning and building fees, and proposed consultant placeholders including $50,000 for housing affordability alternatives and a $200,000 placeholder for organizational development work if a new director pursues a restructuring.

Director John Ram framed the budget and introduced Deputy Director Deborah Landis, who walked commissioners through projected revenues, fee increases tied to CPI (noted in hearing as 3.91%), anticipated grants (including AB101 housing development funding), and planned contract increases driven by two major environmental impact reports (Civic Center and Transportation Element EIRs). Landis emphasized personnel costs as the largest share of the budget and noted the departments planned move to 49 South Van Ness.

Public commenters urged specific policy changes and indicated concern about priorities. Georgia Shudish asked the commission to update longstanding demolition valuation calculations (demo calcs) that were last revised in 2007–08 and said ad hoc changes by the Zoning Administrator over recent years show the need for recalibration. "The demo calcs haven't been adjusted since 2007–2008," Shudish said; she argued those valuations were intended to protect relative affordability and should be updated to prevent speculative outcomes.

Christopher Peterson urged the department to set aside resources for neighborhood planning on the western half of the city and noted possible implications of state proposals (e.g., SB 50) that could require accelerated planning work. Commissioners discussed staffing tradeoffs between fee‑funded development review and general‑fund long‑range planning, and several asked staff for performance measures comparing past estimates to actual costs and timelines.

Department staff agreed to include clarifying language in the next memo on SB 50 uncertainties, to provide performance metrics and to follow up on demo calculation work in coordination with other offices.

What happens next: The Planning Department will revise the budget memo with clarifications discussed at the hearing, continue public outreach and meetings required by new budget transparency legislation, and return to the commission in February for final action before sending the budget to the Mayors Office.