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Ocean Avenue and East Cut CBDs meet OEWD benchmarks; committee forwards annual reports
Summary
The Government Audit & Oversight Committee received annual reports for Ocean Avenue and East Cut (Greater Rincon Hill) Community Benefit Districts for FY 2016–17; OEWD staff found both districts met statutory benchmarks and the committee forwarded the reports with recommendation to the full board. Public commenters raised concerns about privatization and labor practices in CBDs.
The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on Sept. 19 received and forwarded two annual reports for Community Benefit Districts covering fiscal year 2016–17.
OEWD senior program manager Chris Korgas summarized staff reviews and benchmarks required under state law (Property and Business Improvement District Law of 1994) and local Article 15 of the San Francisco Business and Tax Regulations Code. Korgas said Ocean Avenue CBD — established in 2010 with an assessment budget of roughly $239,000 — met OEWD benchmarks including budget variance and non‑assessment revenue targets and had implemented recommended improvements from prior reports.
Dan Weaver, executive director of Ocean Avenue CBD, described programming and capital efforts: banners, Second Sundays events, new murals and facade improvements funded in part by SF Shines, and efforts to program Unity Plaza and pursue a maintenance agreement with BART for the Balboa Park station area. Weaver also discussed challenges in providing multilingual outreach to a diverse merchant community and constraints in accessing city grant funding.
The committee then heard a presentation on the Greater Rincon Hill CBD, now operating as the East Cut CBD. Andrew Robinson described the district’s roughly $2.4 million assessment budget, service areas (cleaning, public safety, parks and green space, communications, and economic development), and stewardship of parks including Emerald Park and contributions to Salesforce Park. OEWD found the East Cut CBD met its four benchmarks and documented carry‑forwards for planned projects.
During public comment, labor and community members said CBDs sometimes privatize public services and outsource work that city employees or unionized workers could perform, raising concerns about unionization, worker pay and transparency. The committee acknowledged the comments, thanked CBD representatives for their presentations, and forwarded items 4 and 5 to the Board of Supervisors with recommendation, without objection.
