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San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously adopts Phase 1 racial and social equity action plan
Summary
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt the department's Phase 1 Racial and Social Equity Action Plan, directing staff to implement internal reforms, training, a budget equity assessment tool and a public Phase 2 process to apply the tool to projects and outreach.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Nov. 21 voted unanimously to adopt the Planning Department's Phase 1 Racial and Social Equity Action Plan, a package of internal reforms intended to shape how staff assess projects and distribute planning resources.
The plan, presented by Claudia Flores, lays out an internal focus for 2019'20 including staff training, a baseline survey, performance measures, an interim racial and social equity assessment tool and an implementation roadmap. It directs staff to finalize performance metrics, coordinate with the new Office of Racial Equity, identify training and hiring recommendations, and return with Phase 2 for public adoption next year.
Why it matters: Commissioners and public speakers said the plan could change how projects are evaluated citywide by pulling equity into early project review and budgeting. Supporters including labor and neighborhood advocates urged the commission to pair the plan with concrete resources and enforcement to prevent displacement and to ensure that new policy tools reach historically underserved communities.
Details: Flores told the commission the Phase 1 package focuses on internal operations ' hiring, capacity building, procurement and contracting ' and that Phase 2 will extend to outreach, preservation, enforcement and monitoring. The plan provides for an interim assessment tool to be tested on pilot projects (staff cited work already underway with Market-Octavia) and calls for an ongoing steering committee and annual progress updates.
Public comment emphasized employment, contracting and tenant protections. Labor representatives told the commission to require stronger community benefits in development agreements and to ensure "quality jobs, not just jobs." Several commenters urged the commission to pair the plan with budget allocations and anti-displacement measures.
What the commission decided: Commissioner Milagros Johnson moved to adopt Phase 1 and direct staff to implement the actions described; the motion passed 5-0. Commissioners asked staff to track metrics and return regularly with progress reports and to coordinate with the Office of Racial Equity.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the implementation matrix and performance measures, translate key materials for community use, and bring Phase 2 (external operations and community implementation) back for a public draft and adoption in 2020.
