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Rules Committee forwards charter amendment to create homeless housing and transportation funds to full Board, 2-1
Summary
The Rules Committee voted 2-1 to forward a third-draft charter amendment that would create a Homeless Housing and Services Fund and a Transportation Improvement Fund to the full Board of Supervisors; the Controller estimated initial annual contributions totaling tens of millions of dollars and a public commenter urged the measure be revised.
The Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to forward a third-draft charter amendment to the full Board with a positive recommendation on a 2-1 roll call. The measure would create a Homeless Housing and Services Fund and a Transportation Improvement Fund and, if placed on the ballot, would be considered at an election on Nov. 8, 2016.
Supervisor Scott Wiener (identified in the meeting as the item sponsor) told the committee the draft "does create a, segregated dedicated fund for transportation improvements as well as, for, some critically important, housing related homeless, services," and asked the panel to send the item on with a positive recommendation after public comment and the committee's review.
A District 4 resident, Eileen Bokin, urged the committee to reject the language during public comment, saying the package "is ill conceived and poorly drafted" and arguing the draft conflates a charter amendment with budget set-asides.
Natasha Michal of the Controller's Office presented a modified cost estimate for the proposal. Michal said the homeless housing and services fund would receive $12,500,000 in the first fiscal year and $50,000,000 in the next fiscal year. She said the transportation improvement fund would receive $25,400,000 in the first fiscal year and grow to $101,600,000 in the next fiscal year, with contributions indexed to the city's aggregate discretionary revenue through fiscal year 2040-41.
During discussion, Supervisor Mark thanked colleagues and city offices for their work on transportation provisions but said the homeless services component "caught me by surprise" and raised concerns that broader efforts could risk dehumanizing people experiencing homelessness. He said, "I can't support this full measure to go forward right now and I'll be voting no." The record shows the roll call on the motion produced two ayes and one no: Supervisor Marr voted no; Supervisors Cohen and Tang voted aye.
Supervisor Cohen moved to accept the amendments and to forward the item to the Board as a committee report. The clerk called the roll and announced "two ayes with one no." The committee concluded that the measure will appear on the July Board of Supervisors meeting for further consideration.
The meeting adjourned following the vote. The item will next be considered by the full Board at the date announced by the clerk.
