Budget Committee forwards 15 items to full Board, including bond issuances, playground grant and affordable housing site purchase

The Budget Committee on a voice vote forwarded a slate of 15 items to the full San Francisco Board of Supervisors, sending transportation and parks bond issuances, multiple grants and appropriations, a city acquisition of a commercial site for 100% affordable housing, and reserve releases for a supportive-housing project for further consideration.

Chair Supervisor Norman Gee opened the special meeting and the committee heard presentations and took unanimous action to send most items with positive recommendation. Committee members and agency staff outlined program goals, funding sources and schedule expectations across the agenda.

Why it matters: The package includes two planned general obligation bond issuances the city expects to use to finance transit and street work and park improvements; a $15 million private grant for playground renovations; the city's planned purchase of a McDonald’s property to develop 100% affordable housing; and a reserve release to furnish a supportive housing access point serving people experiencing homelessness. Together the measures would authorize new debt, unlock private funding for neighborhood parks and commit local funds to housing and human services projects.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded motions and forwarded each item as noted in committee debate. - Item 1: Resolution to amend the ground lease for Ridge (transcript: Rich) Soro Commons to accommodate Freddie Mac refinancing and a minor rehab of community space — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 2: Annual adjustment to prevailing wage rates for city contract classifications — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 3: Retroactive accept-and-expend grant from the SFGH Foundation for the Zuckerberg Patient Care Quality Improvement Fund (multi-year) — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 4: Authorization for Recreation & Park Department to accept and expand a $15,000,000 grant from the San Francisco Parks Alliance for Let’s Play SF playground renovations, with two technical amendments to term dates — forwarded as amended. - Item 5: Appropriation of $300,000 from cigarette litter abatement fees to Public Works for enhanced street-cleaning operations — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 6: Acceptance of MHSA assignment and assumption agreement for Willie B. Kennedy senior housing (Willoughby/Kennedy) — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Items 7–10: Authorizations and appropriations for the second issuance of the 2014 transportation & road improvement GO bond (up to $177,000,000) and a third issuance of the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks bond (up to $76,700,000) — forwarded as a package with positive recommendation. - Item 11: Authorization to acquire property at 700–730 Stanyon/Stanion Street from McDonald’s corporation for $15,500,000 to enable 100% affordable housing — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 12: Ordinance amending the health code to set a $1,200 annual permit fee for cannabis smoking consumption permits to cover ventilation and sanitation inspections — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 13: Appropriation of approximately $11,000,000 for Geneva Car Barn & Powerhouse capital improvements (Phase 1 reimbursement to CAST Powerhouse LLC) — forwarded with positive recommendation. - Item 14: Emergency declaration to repair flywheel and uninterruptible power-supply units at the Tesla treatment facility, with an amended estimated cost reduced by the Budget Analyst from $500,000 to $322,000 — forwarded as amended. - Item 15: Release of reserved funds for furniture, fixtures and equipment for the 440 Turk supportive housing project, amended per the Budget Analyst recommendation from $1,700,000 to $1,300,000 — forwarded as amended.

Committee members pressed agencies for clarifications on schedules, maintenance responsibilities and cost tracking. Steve Ritchie of the Public Utilities Commission acknowledged lapsed maintenance contracts related to the Tesla plant repairs and said PUC will prioritize new maintenance contracts to avoid future emergencies.

The committee adjourned after forwarding the items to the full Board; each forwarded item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated.