Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Green Bank topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Supervisors introduce Green Bank resolution and call for OpenGov procurement review
Summary
Supervisor Fielder introduced a resolution urging the mayor and city officers to pursue funding for a San Francisco Green Bank and announced a hearing on outstanding developer commitments and concerns about the OpenGov contract procurement and cost.
During introductions and new business, the board heard multiple items that could shape the city's climate and housing finance strategy.
Supervisor Fielder introduced a resolution urging the mayor, treasurer and other departments to explore funding to establish a San Francisco Green Bank, saying it would finance renewable energy and affordable housing projects while keeping capital local. He cited polling—"67% of likely voters are in favor of starting a public bank" and "70% are in favor of a green bank"—to argue broad public support.
Fielder also called for a hearing about outstanding financial commitments by private developers at two Mission District sites and announced he would request Nick Padell, JRE Partners and others to report. Separately, he flagged concerns about the mayor's OpenGov contract for the permit system, saying staff feedback rated competitor Clarity higher and alleging OpenGov could cost "up to $4,000,000 annually," compared with about $528,000 per year for Clarity, and that procurement used an unusual administrative-code process.
Why it matters: A municipal Green Bank could unlock local financing for climate and housing projects; scrutiny of OpenGov speaks to procurement transparency and potential long-term contract costs.
Details: Fielder said staff technical feedback rated Clarity 4.42/5 and OpenGov 2.88/5 and that press reports raised questions about preexisting relationships between OpenGov leadership and the mayor's former nonprofit. He said those facts combined "are cause for serious concern" and requested an audit-style hearing by the government and audit oversight committee.
Next steps: Fielder asked for formal hearings on the developer commitments and the OpenGov procurement; supervisors signaled support for further oversight and committee review. No contract cancellation or spending decision occurred at the meeting.
Attribution: Direct quotations and numeric comparisons are taken from Supervisor Fielder's remarks at the Oct. 21 meeting.
