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Committee trims Port grant authorization for Crane Cove Park after supervisors press for limits
Summary
Supervisors amended a Port of San Francisco resolution to limit an MOU and accept-and‑expend authorization for Crane Cove Park after Vice Chair Connie Chan asked that the measure reflect funds already raised and reduce an open-ended $7 million cap to $3.25 million.
San Francisco — The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to forward to the full Board a revised resolution allowing the Port of San Francisco to execute a memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Parks Alliance and accept and expend philanthropic funds for Crane Cove Park — but only after supervisors narrowed the scope of the authorization.
Vice Chair Connie Chan told colleagues she was not comfortable with an “up to $7,000,000” accept‑and‑expend authorization because it left the Port with an open‑ended ability to accept donations on the city’s behalf without board oversight. Chan proposed, and the committee approved, amendments to remove “up to” language and change the authorized total to reflect funds already raised; she said her office understood roughly $3.3 million had been raised to date and asked the resolution to be updated to $3,250,000.
Michael Martin, assistant port director, told the committee the Port supported the amendment and could add conforming edits to the MOU to require additional Board authorization if further donations were collected. Nick Menard of the Budget and Legislative Analyst’s office said the BLA continued to recommend approval.
The committee registered a 3–0 recorded roll call on the amendment and later voted to send the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation as amended.
Why it matters: The vote tightens supervisory oversight of philanthropic fundraising tied to a public project and reflects concern about conflicts of interest and the need to vet donations after the mayor issued a recent letter directing departments to pause solicitations until compliance with the city’s ordinance could be confirmed.
What’s next: The amended resolution will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors on the regular agenda; if approved there, the Port may execute the MOU consistent with the clarified dollar cap and report back if further authorization is needed.
