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Supervisors hear debate over proposed 28% rise to street artist certificate fee; public speakers push for audit
Summary
The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed an ordinance to raise the annual street artist certificate from $419 to $532 to cover expiring reserves, higher advisory committee pay and rent/administration; licensed artists and advocates urged an audit and return of funds they say were moved to the general fund.
At a meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee, members reviewed an ordinance to raise the city's street artist certificate fee from $419 to $532 a year, a proposal proponents said is necessary to keep the program self-supporting.
Mister Lazar, a long-time representative of the street artist program, told the committee the program has operated since 1972 and pays for itself, but that surplus fee savings used to cover shortfalls will expire next month. He said the proposed increase would help the program shoulder rent and administrative costs and fund a recommended raise in advisory committee pay from $80 to $100 per meeting. Lazar estimated gross annual sales by active street artists at about $4,000,000 and described the proposed fee as an effort to preserve program self-sufficiency.
The issue drew several public speakers who urged caution or opposed the increase. "I am here to oppose this rate increase," said Michael O'Dario, who submitted a report and charts comparing San Francisco's fee to other cities and warned the proposed rise would disproportionately affect licensed artists who sell via a lottery system. Virginia Travers, a street artist of roughly 20 years, said sellers receive a 3-by-4-foot sidewalk space and argued the city's program is not comparable to enclosed markets cited in the presentation. William Clark told supervisors he had documented $237,004 (plus interest) collected over years from street-artist fees and deposited into the city general fund; he requested a supplemental appropriation to return those funds to the street-artist special fund.
Luis Cancel, director of cultural affairs at the Arts Commission, said the commission is sensitive to affordability concerns but noted staffing for oversight is minimal and that the program generates complaints and enforcement needs that require staff time. He warned that adequate supervision may require additional staffing funded by program fees.
After questions and public comment, Supervisor Sean Ellsburn moved to send the ordinance forward to the full Board of Supervisors for further consideration; the committee approved forwarding the item without objection. The measure will now proceed to the full board, where supervisors may weigh add-backs, audits or technical amendments cited by public commenters.
Next steps: the item will be considered by the full Board of Supervisors; petitioners requesting an audit and staff-provided reconciliations of special-fund balances said they will submit supporting materials for the board record.
