Committee endorses 10‑year agreement to sustain Free City College, pledges additional near‑term funding

The committee considered a resolution authorizing the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families (DCYF) to negotiate a 10‑year memorandum of understanding with the San Francisco Community College District to sustain the Free City College program from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2029.

Chair Gordon Marr and staff described a negotiated tentative agreement among the mayor’s office, DCYF and City College trustees that would begin full funding this fall — a year earlier than a prior charter amendment forecast — resulting in an additional $8.6 million for the coming year. The tentative deal also included a one‑time $5.4 million reimbursement to City College to cover prior underfunding in the first two years of the program.

Supervisor Marr proposed three related items be considered together by the full Board on July 16: withdrawing the Free City charter amendment, an ordinance aligning the City College Financial Assistance Fund and Oversight Committee with the tentative agreement, and the DCYF resolution authorizing the MOU. The committee discussed whether language stating the funding was not guaranteed should be removed; deputy city attorneys noted the Charter ultimately governs appropriations and that deleting the recital would signal stronger intent while not altering charter provisions.

Public testimony included City College representatives, the union AFT 2121 and labor council leaders who supported the agreement and emphasized the program’s success and need for long‑term stability. The committee accepted proposed amendments and moved the related items to the full Board as a committee report with a recommendation.

Next steps: Committee report and related ordinance will go to the full Board on July 16 for final action.