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Committee narrowly limits emergency contracting waiver, adds board oversight for new shelter sites
Summary
The committee approved amendments and sent to the full board an ordinance that temporarily waives some competitive‑bidding rules for identified shelter‑crisis sites but excludes two named existing navigation centers and requires Board resolution approval for future unidentified sites.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Feb. 1 considered a one‑year ordinance permitting Public Works, the Department of Homelessness & Supportive Housing, and Public Health to enter into contracts for identified shelter crisis sites without following certain procurement and administrative-code competitive bidding requirements.
Jeff Kozinski of HSH described the ordinance as a tool to cut contracting timelines (public‑works estimated savings of about 120 days per site; HSH estimated roughly six months saved for operations), reduce procurement friction and realize 10–15 percent cost savings per project. He listed five initial sites, including Minna Lee, 125 Bayshore, Division Circle and Fifth & Bryant, and noted the department must notify the Board and district supervisors before adding new sites.
The Budget Analyst recommended narrowing the ordinance: keep only sites with identified funding and remove unspecified Caltrans sites until funding and terms are known. Supervisor Feuer proposed an amendment to exclude two existing navigation centers (1590 Mission Street and 1515 South Van Ness) from the ordinance so extensions or renewals would return to the Board for oversight; the committee adopted the amendment without objection. Chair Cohen also circulated language requiring the Board to approve by resolution any additional identified sites to be included under the waiver.
After amendments, the committee passed the ordinance as amended and will forward it to the full board with no recommendation. The department will return to the board for funding and site‑specific decisions and is required to follow community outreach and site health, sanitation and safety plans.
