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Planning Department outlines budget plan, readies short‑term rental registration
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Department presented its proposed FY2015–17 budget and work program and announced that short‑term rental registration and enforcement will begin Feb. 2 after the legislation takes effect Feb. 1. The department plans temporary hires and 12–14 new FTEs over two years to address application backlogs and administer the short‑term rental program.
The San Francisco Planning Department told the Planning Commission on Jan. 22 that it expects to submit a proposed FY2015–16 budget to the Mayor by Feb. 23 and will not pursue a separate supplemental request this year. Director John Ram said an active permitting pipeline and sustained fee revenue make a modest surplus available to fund temporary requisitions that convert to permanent positions in the next budget cycle.
Keith DeMartini, the Department’s finance and IT manager, said the budget anticipates a small overall surplus driven by a higher mix of large, fee‑generating applications and CPI indexing of fees. The department proposed adding roughly 12.6 FTEs in fiscal 2015–16, annualizing to about 14 FTEs in 2016–17, focused on application review, environmental work and zoning compliance. DeMartini said the department’s grants portfolio totals roughly $4.8 million and that fee‑based revenues remain the largest revenue source.
Ram separately announced the short‑term rental registration program is live online and will require in‑person registration to confirm residency. “The legislation is effective Feb. 1,” Ram said; intake appointments will begin Feb. 2 and the department plans to hire three staff dedicated to short‑term rental administration and enforcement. Commissioners asked for an informational hearing in March to review initial registration counts and early enforcement challenges.
Commissioners pushed staff on operational metrics and the department’s strategy to reduce permitting backlogs. Commissioners praised the Small Projects Team — a recently formed squad that has already reviewed more than 100 small projects in the last two months — and urged clearer, separate performance metrics for small versus large projects. DeMartini and Ram said the new permit and project tracking system (PPDS) will improve real‑time data and allow staff to refine process improvements.
Several commissioners also urged contingency planning for attrition and stronger plans to onboard staff quickly. The department said civil‑service and DHR rules limit how many positions can be requisitioned in advance but noted options such as temporary requisitions and targeted hiring to reduce delays.
Next steps: the Planning Commission will continue budget review and return in February for a vote on the department’s proposed work program before transmittal to the Mayor’s office.
