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Public Works says vacancies top 20%; proposes extra cleaning crews and corridor workers as Tenderloin debate intensifies
Summary
Public Works reported a ~21.7% vacancy rate department‑wide and that Street & Environmental Services (SES) holds most general‑fund vacancies (about 70). The department proposed 9 new enhanced cleaning FTE plus ~45 temporary corridor workers and a nighttime median‑maintenance crew; supervisors pressed for faster hiring and questioned capital financing choices.
Public Works interim director Carla Short and CFO Bruce Robertson told the committee that the department is struggling with a high vacancy rate — approximately 21.7% overall and about 75 general‑fund vacancies concentrated in Street & Environmental Services.
The department proposed incremental investments to address urgent cleanliness and maintenance needs: nine new FTE for an "enhanced cleaning" program focused on high‑need corridors, a new nighttime median maintenance crew (1 supervisor + 5 gardeners) to allow safer, longer work windows, a 45‑person pool of temporary corridor workers to restore steady daily presence citywide, and funding for a SOMA Street Tree Nursery (grant‑supported) to grow local stock.
Public Works explained much of the vacancy pressure results from pandemic hiring disruptions, constraints on in‑person competency exams (arborists and laborers require hands‑on testing), retirements and turnover; the department has used temporary appointments (99‑16 classifications) and packed overtime to keep services running but acknowledged employee burnout. Public Works also said some funding for paving and deferred maintenance will be supported by certificates of participation (COPs), which prompted supervisors to question borrowing for resurfacing with short asset lives.
Supervisors pressed Public Works and the mayor—s budget office for (a) a district‑level matrix showing how new corridor staff would be allocated, (b) an inventory of capital projects not yet under contract so the board can prioritize, and (c) an explanation of why COP financing was recommended for paving. Public Works said it will deliver more granular district staffing maps and work with the Controller and BLA on capital prioritization and borrowing mechanics.
Ending: Public Works asked the board to fill HR and recruitment gaps so vacancies can be filled and said the proposed additional crews should materially improve cleanliness where they are deployed; supervisors requested follow‑up performance analyses and district impact projections.
