Committee adopts amendment removing nighttime noise fee from autonomous delivery-device permit ordinance

The Budget & Finance Committee on March 1 moved forward legislation to establish fees and an appeal process for testing autonomous delivery devices in the public right of way, but it rescinded an earlier vote to adopt the proposed nighttime noise fee and adopted an amendment to remove that fee from the ordinance.

Supervisor Norman Yee—s staffer Erica Maybaum said fee adoption is the final step to implement a one-year permit program for testing autonomous delivery devices and thanked city departments and community groups for working through the process. Deborah Lutzky, deputy bureau manager for Street Use and Mapping at Public Works, presented a DPW fee analysis and argued the proposed night-noise fee is a construction-style charge inconsistent with DPW—s inspection bureau; the bureau would prefer to address night-noise complaints through enforcement and existing violation processes.

John Quang (DPW) confirmed that the ordinance allows appeals to the Board after DPW review. After initial committee action, Chair Cohen rescinded the committee—s earlier vote on the item and the panel adopted DPW—s amendment to remove the nighttime permit fee. Deputy City Attorney John Givner later clarified that the committee reduced the proposed nighttime fee (previously listed at $123) back to the existing fee level of $115.45 and that any additional DPW changes can be considered by the full board.

The committee took the amended measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation.