Budget & Finance Committee forwards a package of grants, contracts and ordinances to full Board; tax‑defaulted parcels list trimmed

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee met on Feb. 12 and forwarded a slate of items to the full Board for consideration, including grant acceptances, contract amendments, a sale of surplus property and the Clerk of the Board’s budget submission. Most items were forwarded with a positive recommendation; one substantial item (the Mid‑Market Foundation amendment) was forwarded without recommendation (see separate article).

Highlights and outcomes (votes recorded during the meeting) - Item 1 — San Francisco Department of Public Health: The committee forwarded a retroactive resolution authorizing SFDPH to accept and expand a Department of Justice grant of approximately $829,025 to support the Child and Adolescent Support Advocacy and Resource Center (CASARC) at San Francisco General Hospital. The department explained the award was received after the project start date and will fund a build‑out nearer the emergency department including secure tunnel access. Motion forwarded to full Board with positive recommendation (roll call recorded: Dorsey, Engadio, Guardio, Chan — ayes recorded in committee).

- Item 3 — Treasurer & Tax Collector: The committee approved removing three tax‑defaulted parcels (41 Sears Street; 26 Stanley Street; 1123 Capitol Avenue) from the public tax sale list after confirming occupancy and directing the tax collector to work with district supervisors. The amended list was then forwarded to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The tax collector confirmed auctions are governed by state law; scheduled public auction (April 21) and sealed bid sale (May 15) were noted in the department presentation.

- Item 4 — Department of Technology: The committee forwarded an amendment to DT’s master agreement with SSP Data Inc. to expand purchasing of Palo Alto Networks products and extend the term through May 31, 2029, increasing spending authority to a total not to exceed $40,000,000 (citywide use by multiple departments). The BLA recommended approval. Motion forwarded with positive recommendation.

- Item 5 — Sheriff’s Office / Department of Public Health / Department of State Hospitals grant: The committee forwarded a retroactive contract authorizing early access and stabilization services focused on competency restoration for individuals deemed incompetent to stand trial on felony charges. The program is a three‑year grant of about $3.3 million that DEPARTMENT staff said will serve a relatively small number (on average about 40 felony IST patients per year) and aims to reduce wait times for beds and delays in legal processes. Motion forwarded with positive recommendation.

- Item 7 — SFPUC surplus parcel sale to City of San Bruno: The committee forwarded a resolution approving sale of remnant PUC property to the city of San Bruno for a nominal $5,000 appraisal value; the PUC said the parcel is encumbered by easements, used as a bike lane under license, and has no operational value for the PUC. Motion forwarded with positive recommendation.

- Items 8 & 9 — San Francisco International Airport: The committee forwarded (1) a one‑time program resetting specialty retail minimum annual guarantee rents for 17 specialty concession tenants (projected $1.2 million reduction in airport rent in 2025, ~ $180,000 general fund impact noting the airport has contingency to absorb), and (2) a lease termination agreement for Minute Suites (Harvey Milk Terminal 1) including a $75,000 termination fee. Both items were forwarded with positive recommendation.

- Item 10 — Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development: The committee forwarded a retroactive Accept & Expand resolution to accept a $250,000 grant from the California Department of Social Services for the Center for Immigrant Protection to provide services for transgender immigrant asylum seekers. Public comment from the Center’s co‑executive director described plans to add legal staff and expand services. Motion forwarded with positive recommendation.

- Item 12 — Clerk of the Board budget: The committee authorized submission of the Clerk of the Board’s two‑year budget proposal to the Mayor’s Office, including requests for legislative management system phases, assessment appeals board staffing adjustments and other items. Motion forwarded with positive recommendation.

Roll calls and committee disposition Most items were forwarded with a positive recommendation; Item 11 (Mid‑Market Foundation amendment) was forwarded to the full board without recommendation due to oversight, reporting and governance concerns raised by the BLA and committee members. Votes recorded in the committee were unanimous among the members present for the forwarded items (Dorsey, Engadio/Angardio, Guardio and Chair Chan recorded as voting where roll call was taken).

What to watch The full Board agenda for Feb. 25, 2025 will include the forwarded measures. Observers should watch for (1) the Clerk’s requested appropriation items tied to IT modernization funding and assessment appeals staffing, (2) DT’s expanded Palo Alto Networks purchasing as it affects citywide cybersecurity spending, (3) the tax sale auction schedule and any removal/adjustments for occupied parcels, and (4) the Mid‑Market Foundation debate at the full Board about oversight and contracting options.