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Mayor’s 'Save Our Small Business' initiative advanced by Rules Committee after extensive debate over timing
Summary
The Rules Committee heard a mayoral initiative to streamline permitting and liberalize some zoning uses for small businesses, including a 30‑day review guarantee for principally permitted uses, retail-workspace rules, temporary conversions for entertainment venues, and a three-year default period; supervisors urged exploring emergency ordinance options to speed implementation.
The Rules Committee reviewed a mayoral initiative July 13 that would amend the Planning Code and Business & Tax Regulation Code to streamline permitting and allow greater flexibility for small businesses during the COVID‑19 economic crisis. Mayor’s office staff presented the "Save Our Small Business" package as a mix of process changes (a 30‑day streamlined review for principally permitted uses and concurrent interdepartmental review), zoning liberalizations in neighborhood commercial districts, a retail‑workspace allowance linked to food-and-beverage operations, temporary change-of-use authority for bars and entertainment venues (up to six years), and an expanded pop‑up retail authority (60 days). The measure also contains a three‑year period after which the Board could reverse the changes.
Sofia Kittler of the Mayor's Office said the initiative aims to move quickly to help businesses that may not survive long delays in permitting. Planning and economic-recovery staff described the measure's 30‑day goal as a voter-enforceable timeline for principally permitted uses while noting that existing notification processes can take 60–90 days and that some complex permits may not meet 30 days without process changes.
Supervisors repeatedly asked why the package was headed to the ballot rather than enacted immediately as an emergency ordinance. Several supervisors — including Chair Ronan and Supervisor Marr — said they would prefer working with the mayor on emergency measures that could be effective sooner; mayoral staff said they were open to working on emergency ordinances for parts of the package but preferred ballot placement to lock in a short-term framework and to avoid dilution of reforms.
Dozens of public callers — including small-business owners, the Chamber of Commerce, restaurant groups and neighborhood advocates — testified, with many endorsing the initiative as a necessary intervention and several urging emergency action to put some provisions into effect immediately. After public comment, the committee 'filed' the item as heard and the committee record was closed with a roll-call that recorded Supervisors Stephanie and Mar and Chair Ronan voting to file the matter.
