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Planning Commission approves $3M supplemental appropriation to reduce permit backlog and fund Central Corridor EIR
Summary
The commission approved a supplemental appropriation of just over $3 million to hire temporary staff to reduce a permit backlog, support IT and office reconfiguration, and fund the Central Corridor EIR; the Central Corridor line drew questions and was discussed with an asterisk to allow scoping before EIR work begins.
The San Francisco Planning Commission approved a supplemental appropriation request of just over $3 million to program an expected revenue surplus into backlog reduction, IT improvements and preliminary funding for the Central Corridor EIR.
Keith DeMartini, finance manager for the Planning Department, told the commission the department projects a roughly $6 million revenue surplus for the current fiscal year driven largely by higher building-permit and environmental fees and proposed programming a conservative $3 million of that surplus to two main initiatives: hiring 10 temporary positions (six planning staff and four support staff) for roughly 2.25 years to reduce a review backlog, and funding office/IT improvements and completion of the Central Corridor EIR. He noted some funds would also support the department’s permit tracking system.
Commissioners pressed staff on the Central Corridor EIR budget line and whether the appropriation signaled endorsement of a preferred plan. Staff said the appropriation would budget the EIR work but not proceed with detailed scoping until alternatives and a scope were presented to the commission. Commissioner Sugaya voted against the appropriation, expressing concern about committing EIR funding for a project the commission had not yet vetted; the motion passed 5–1.
Why it matters: the appropriation funds short‑term staff capacity to chip away at a known building‑permit backlog and advances funding for a major transportation/land‑use environmental review (Central Corridor) whose scope and alternatives still require commission input.
Next steps: staff will return with the draft revenue and expenditure budget and will coordinate a scoping discussion on the Central Corridor EIR as requested by commissioners; the new positions will be staffed as funds are realized and appropriated.
Provenance: presentation and details at SEG 869–SEG 922 (finance presentation) and commission debate and vote at SEG 930–SEG 1226.
