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Planning Commission backs staff plan to add Western SoMa advisory seats, and a second District 9 seat on Eastern Neighborhoods CAC
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Commission on May 28 voted 6–1 to recommend amendments that add two Western SoMa non‑voting seats (convertible to voting once a fee mechanism exists) and an additional District 9 seat to the Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee, with compensating mayoral appointee seats to preserve board‑mayor ratios.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on May 28 recommended changes to the Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee (ENCAC) that would expand representation to include Western SoMa and add an extra seat for District 9.
Steve Wertheim, planning department staff, told the commission the department—s recommendation would give Western SoMa two immediate non‑voting seats that would become full voting seats once a local fee collection mechanism is established and integrated into the Eastern Neighborhoods Public Benefits Fund. The department also recommended adding one seat appointed by the District 9 supervisor and compensating mayoral appointments to keep the board‑to‑mayor ratio roughly the same.
"Western SoMa can still benefit from the expenditure of public benefits funds, particularly transportation funding," Wertheim said while describing the rationale for including non‑voting representation until fee revenues are generated.
Supervisor Campos appeared and urged the commission to add District 9 representation, saying it would be "fair and appropriate" given staff projections that by 2025 District 9 will contain about 26% of the Eastern Neighborhoods' jobs and housing. "We believe that adding a seat for District 9 makes a lot of sense," Campos said.
Representatives of the Western SoMa Task Force testified in favor of voting representation. Jim Micco, chair of the task force, said the areas are "irretrievably interdependent" for transportation, production‑distribution‑repair uses, parks and public benefits and argued against a permanent non‑voting designation for Western SoMa.
Commissioners debated competing aims: avoiding ties on the advisory committee and keeping the commission's earlier 8:5 board‑to‑mayor appointment ratio while recognizing areas that do not yet contribute to the Public Benefits Fund. Several commissioners, including Antonini and Borden, supported staff's compromise of non‑voting seats that convert to voting status once fees are in place.
On a recorded vote the commission approved the staff recommendation, with Commissioner Seguaya casting the lone dissent. The commission voted 6–1 to forward the recommended amendments to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.
What happens next
The Planning Commission—s recommendation is advisory to the Board of Supervisors, which must act on any ordinance. Staff noted that Western SoMa would not receive full voting privileges until a fee mechanism is created and integrated into the Eastern Neighborhoods Public Benefits Fund.
