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Rules Committee advances charter amendment to extend children—s and school enrichment funds
Summary
The Rules Committee voted to forward a charter amendment—branded the Children and Families First Initiative—that would renew the Children—s Fund and the Public Education Enrichment Fund, create a citywide children and families council, and set rainy-day reserves; the committee sent the measure to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
A San Francisco Rules Committee meeting on a proposed charter amendment to extend and align the city—s children- and school-focused funds ended with the committee forwarding the measure with a positive recommendation.
The proposal, introduced as the Children and Families First Initiative, would renew the Children—s Fund for 25 years and the Public Education Enrichment Fund for 26 years, create an Our Children/Our Families Council to advise city policy, require a citywide children and families plan, and establish a city rainy-day reserve and a separate school rainy-day reserve using existing rainy-day funds. The clerk described the item at the outset of the hearing.
Supporters and city agencies framed the amendment as the outcome of an extended, multi-year community process. Chris Armentrout, director of development and local government relations for the San Francisco Unified School District, said the alignment of the two funds has benefited schools and that the district is grateful for unanimous supervisor support. "The Public Education Enrichment Fund, the Children's Fund, these have done enormous good over the past decade," Armentrout said.
Maria Su of the Department of Children, Youth and Families told the committee the charter language extends protections and oversight for services for young people up to age 24 and creates an advisory structure "that will be transparent and accountable to all of our residents." Erica Maybaum, coordinator of the San Francisco Childcare Planning and Advisory Council, pointed to community recommendations folded into the legislation and cited a city poverty statistic: "13 percent of our city's children under the age of 5 are at or below the federal poverty level," she said.
Public commenters representing advocacy coalitions and youth services praised the measure and said community priorities are reflected in the draft language. Chelsea Boylard of Coleman Advocates noted the Children—s Funding Community Coalition saw more than 75% of its recommendations included.
After hearing presentations and public comment, a committee member moved to send the charter amendment out of rules with a "positive recommendation." The motion passed by voice consent with no recorded objection.
Next steps: the Rules Committee—s positive recommendation sends the charter amendment to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration and, if approved there, for placement on the ballot. The Board will decide scheduling and any additional amendments at its discretion.
