Committee forwards Noe Valley Town Square restroom grants and a donated modular unit amid local‑hire and provenance concerns

The Budget and Finance Committee forwarded two related Recreation and Park items to the full Board without recommendation: acceptance of an in‑kind donation (a prefabricated restroom and installation valued at ~$425,000) and acceptance and expenditure of a $1.7 million California State Parks grant to construct the Noe Valley Town Square restroom and support future modular restroom projects across the parks system.

Tony Moran of Rec and Park’s Capital & Planning Division described the project scope, budget and timeline: Mission‑style community improvements, site work and an expected late‑summer construction start for Noe Valley; the department said the in‑kind donor agreed to use union contractors for site work and that the state grant requires matching and will allow Rec and Park to pursue modular restroom installations at other high‑priority parks (the department discussed Presidio Park as a candidate for the remaining funds).

Rudy Gonzalez of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council urged caution, urging that public funds and projects prioritize local union labor and questioning procurement of an out‑of‑state modular unit. Rec and Park staff acknowledged the donated unit was built out of state and that commission approval had been 5‑2, citing concerns from two commissioners about provenance and worker pay; the department explained that accepting a gift (vs. purchasing) of the existing unit is permissible under the city attorney’s advice but the city could only purchase units under local procurement rules and project labor agreements when city funds are used.

Chair Chan moved to forward both items to the full Board without recommendation; the committee approved the motion and noted remaining questions about local hiring and quality that had been raised in public comment and at Rec and Park’s commission.