Board of Appeals adopts FY2014 annual report after noting surge in appeals and budget surplus

The San Francisco Board of Appeals unanimously adopted its Fiscal Year 2014 annual report (covering July 1, 2013–June 30, 2014) at the Oct. 15 meeting, after Executive Director Cynthia Goldstein summarized caseload trends, budget results and administrative accomplishments.

Goldstein told the board the office experienced a 28% increase in new matters filed and a 24% rise in cases heard, noting the board considered 182 matters during the fiscal year. "This was also the first year since the economic decline began that the board exceeded the 10-year average for appeal volume," Goldstein said. She reported 44% of the board's workload came from the Department of Public Works and that AT&T-related excavation cases alone comprised 28% of cases heard.

On fiscal results, Goldstein said the board ended the year with a surplus of $210,595, driven by stronger-than-projected surcharge and filing-fee revenue and savings from using the Department of Technology for database support. "We came in under budget 9.2% this year," she said, noting the board placed surplus funds in a deferred rainy-day account for future use.

Goldstein also noted operational achievements: the board exceeded performance measures for deciding cases within 75 days and releasing decisions within 15 days, had no staff turnover, and completed a multiyear project to scan more than 30,000 historical board decision files dating to 1932 into the Planning Department's Parcel Information Database.

Commissioner Daryl Honda moved to adopt the report; the motion passed 4-0 with Vice President Arcelya Hurtado absent.