Rules Committee backs reducing MOHCD reporting to semiannual schedule

The San Francisco Rules Committee on Dec. 9 voted to move forward an ordinance that would change how often the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development reports on 100% affordable housing projects. The measure would end certain quarterly reporting requirements under Administrative Code section 109.3 and establish semiannual reporting beginning July 31, 2025.

Sheila Nicholas of the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development told the committee that permitting for affordable housing is substantially improved since the reporting requirement was enacted in 2018. She described system changes including a central permit center, an online database and ministerial approvals under state laws and said permitting now takes “less than 5 months” compared with more than 13 months a few years ago. Nicholas pointed supervisors to MOHCD’s annual reports and an online affordable housing dashboard for project-level data.

Supervisor Ronan, a co-sponsor of the legislation, thanked MOHCD for the prior quarterly reports and said the reports helped identify specific roadblocks — citing historical delays by PG&E as an example — and that semiannual reporting will reduce administrative costs while preserving transparency. Chair Shamann Walton called for public comment; none were present.

Walton moved to recommend the ordinance as a committee report to the full Board. Vice Chair Safaie, Supervisor Peskin and Chair Walton each recorded aye votes and the motion passed without objection.

The committee’s action sends the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors for final consideration on the Dec. 17 agenda.