Final OK for streamlined CEQA rules; immigrant legal aid and a street renaming

Daniel Lurie (Mayor) made his scheduled appearance before the Board. No questions had been submitted by the eligible supervisors (Districts 5 through 8), so he gave up to five minutes of remarks on immigration enforcement, sexual assault investigations, the drug crisis and treatment, street conditions in the Mission, and the economic impact of this year's major events. 00:02:12

• Mayor's appearance filed after discussion. Result: no action. 00:07:33

• The Mayor called federal immigration enforcement targeting San Franciscans upsetting and said he supports the funding Jackie Fielder (Supervisor, District 9) proposed that day 00:02:38
• The Mayor said new police department measures will strengthen sexual assault investigations through trauma-informed training, case reviews and communication with survivors 00:03:40
• The Mayor said fatal overdoses are down almost 40 percent since 2023 and unsheltered homelessness is at a 15-year low 00:04:42
• The Mayor said the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center has made over 6,000 arrests and taken hundreds of pounds of drugs off the street 00:04:42
• The Mayor said more than 17,000 people are now in treatment, up 17 percent in a year, and over 200 treatment beds have opened since January 2025 00:04:42
• The Mayor acknowledged that only 14 percent of patients starting medication treatment stay on it continuously for six months, and said the city is expanding long-acting buprenorphine and follow-up care 00:05:42
• The Mayor said city agencies have spent the last 120 days working together on street conditions in the Mission, especially at the 16th and 24th Street BART plazas 00:05:42
• The Mayor said this year's major events generated over $1 billion in economic impact and spending rose 14% during the World Cup 00:06:49

The clerk reported memos from Myrna Melgar (Supervisor, District 7) and Chyanne Chen (Supervisor, District 11) asking to be excused from the meeting. The Board excused them, so nine members sat for every vote. 00:08:52

• Jackie Fielder (Supervisor, District 9) moved, Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) seconded, to excuse Chyanne Chen (Supervisor, District 11) and Myrna Melgar (Supervisor, District 7) from the meeting. Result: passed. 00:09:08

Approval of the minutes of the September 8 and September 15, 2026 Board meetings. 00:09:34

• Stephen Sherrill (Supervisor, District 2) moved, Shamann Walton (Supervisor, District 10) seconded, to approve the minutes as presented. Result: passed, 9-0. 00:10:18

Two ordinances recommended by the Land Use and Transportation Committee were voted on together on consent, as routine items: a Planning Code amendment to the landmark designation for the Site of the Compton's Cafeteria Riot, and an Environment Code update to municipal green building requirements. This was their final passage. 00:10:28

• Items 1 and 2 on consent, finally passed by roll call. Result: passed, 9-0. 00:10:28

Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to issue revenue bonds and other debt so its water, wastewater and power enterprises can prepay their shares of lease payments financing the commission's headquarters at 525 Golden Gate Avenue. Agenda caps: water not to exceed $492,820,000, wastewater $24,570,000, power $12,610,000. The clerk said it needed at least a two-thirds vote, eight members. This was final passage. 00:11:14

• Finally passed by same house, same call (reusing the prior 9-0 roll call). Result: passed. 00:12:08

Changes the Administrative Code's local procedures under the California Environmental Quality Act. As read by the clerk, it removes shadow analysis as a specific type of environmental impact, cuts the time to appeal CEQA determinations to the Board from 30 to 15 days, removes some procedures for environmental documents CEQA doesn't require, and implements recent state law changes on when CEQA compliance happens. This was final passage, and the only divided vote of the meeting. 00:12:18

• Final passage of the ordinance by roll call. Result: passed, 8-1. No: Connie Chan (Supervisor, District 1). 00:13:00

Gives small hardware retailers a credit against the city's gross receipts tax for tax years 2026 through 2035, retroactive to January 1, 2026. Passed on first reading. 00:13:38

• Passage on first reading by roll call. Result: passed, 9-0. 00:14:21

Appropriates $658,000 in state revenue to the Department of Elections for costs of the statewide November 2026 election in fiscal year 2026-27. The clerk said the $308,000 portion for salary, overtime, fringe benefits and non-personnel services needs a two-thirds vote. Passed on first reading. 00:14:31

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call (reusing the prior 9-0 roll call). Result: passed. 00:15:01

Retroactively lets the Adult Probation Department accept $300,000 from the California Office of Emergency Services, $100,000 a year from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2029. The money continues its Probation Specialized Unit Program, which is federally funded through the Violence Against Women Act, if the grant is awarded. 00:15:07

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:16:02

Third modification of the airport's shuttle bus services contract with SFO Hotel Shuttle, Inc. The clerk said it adds about $25.5 million, bringing the total to about $98.1 million (agenda: not to exceed $98,110,172), with no change to the five-year term of January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027. 00:16:09

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:16:47

Two retroactive grant acceptances for the Department of Public Health. Item 9 is a third modification, about $72,000, of a National Institutes of Health grant through Family Health International for the HIV Prevention Trials Network. Its total grant is $181,434 (agenda) for April 1, 2024 through November 2026. Item 10 is a grant agreement with the California Department of Health Care Services under round two of the bond-funded Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program, with anticipated revenue of $14,184,580 (agenda), running through June 30, 2030. As read, it requires a recorded declaration of restrictions on 415 Trade Winds Avenue and lets the grantor apply for a receiver if the city defaults. 00:16:51

• Items 9 and 10 adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:18:42

Two leases signed by the Director of Property for the Department of Public Health. Item 11 is with West Bay Local Development Corporation (West Bay Conference Center) for about 3,000 square feet at 1290 Fillmore Street, Suite 103 and Gallery B: five years plus two one-year options, $105,138.88 initial annual base rent (agenda), with 3% increases at each extension. Item 12 is with Fillmore Center Associates, LP for about 1,500 square feet on the second floor of 1533 Eddy Street: five years plus two one-year options, $39,600 initial annual base rent (agenda) with 3% annual increases. 00:18:49

• Items 11 and 12 adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:19:54

Authorizes the Tax Collector to sell the tax-defaulted property at 250 32nd Avenue at public auction. 00:19:58

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:20:12

Port Commission lease with NorCal Rental Group, LLC for about 45,000 square feet of paved land at Pier 96, used to store and park construction vehicles and equipment. It starts once the resolution is approved and the Port's Pier 96 gatehouse project is complete, and runs five years plus options for five more. Monthly base rent is about $32,000 with 3% annual increases, and total base rent over the fully extended term is $4,312,110 (agenda). 00:20:15

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:21:09

Retroactively lets the Office of the District Attorney accept a $525,000 grant from the Crankstart Foundation for its Access to Hope initiative, which the clerk described as including youth trips retracing the civil rights movement through Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee. The term is May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2029. 00:21:13

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:21:47

The 51st amendment to the Treasure Island land and structures master lease between the Treasure Island Development Authority and the U.S. Navy. It extends the term one year from December 1, 2026, to November 30, 2027. 00:21:55

• Adopted by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:22:17

Amends the Housing Code to lower the minimum ceiling height for habitable rooms in existing buildings to seven feet. As read, it sets a lower minimum for other rooms (the exact figure was garbled in the transcript). Passed on first reading. 00:22:21

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:22:38

Requires online listings and leases for residential rentals to clearly show the total estimated monthly cost, rent plus any required fees and charges. Tenants who didn't get adequate disclosure could end their leases early without penalty, and landlords would be limited in evicting or charging late penalties over undisclosed fees. Passed on first reading. 00:22:42

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:23:20

Amends the Planning Code to change the size threshold at which a mezzanine counts as a separate story, to allow the larger mezzanines the Building Code permits. Passed on first reading. 00:23:28

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:23:45

As read by the clerk, it amends the Administrative Code so a landlord may not evict a residential tenant for unpaid rent below a threshold tied to the local fair market rent for an equivalent-sized unit, as set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Passed on first reading. 00:23:51

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:24:12

Two ordinances under the city's surveillance technology rules. Item 21 approves the Department of Elections' amended policy for continued use of security cameras. Item 22 approves a policy governing the Fire Department's use of social media monitoring software. Passed on first reading. 00:24:12

• Items 21 and 22 passed on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:24:51

Approves Greg Wagner (Controller)'s nominee to the Public Works Commission (named on the agenda), for a term ending July 2, 2028. 00:24:56

• Motion approved by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:25:13

Six ordinances, sent to the Board as committee reports by the Government Audit and Oversight Committee on October 15, amending the 2024-2027 labor agreements with IFPTE Local 21, the Municipal Executives' Association, SEIU Local 1021, the District Attorney Investigators' Association, Laborers Local 261, and Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 38. As read, they extend the agreements through June 30, 2031, set base wage increases for fiscal years 2027-28 through 2030-31, and bar the city from issuing layoff notices to or laying off permanent civil service employees through June 30, 2029. Provisions set to sunset in 2027 would run to 2031. For items 25-29, the parties may set up a citywide labor-management committee for 2027-2031. Item 24 was amended in committee to strike that provision. Passed on first reading. 00:25:13

• Items 24 through 29 passed on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:27:43

Sent as a committee report by the Rules Committee on October 19. It creates a system run by the Assessor-Recorder's office to notify property owners when something is filed affecting their real property. Passed on first reading. 00:27:54

• Passage on first reading by same house, same call. Result: passed. 00:28:17

A mayoral appointment to the Entertainment Commission, listed on the agenda among committee reports. The Rules Committee considered it on October 19, but the chair said it was not referred to the Board, so there was no action. 00:28:17

• No action; the item was not referred to the Board. Result: no action. 00:28:17

The 2:30 p.m. special order honoring service to the city. Honorees: the San Francisco Tsunami Swim Club for 40 years (from Bilal Mahmood (Supervisor, District 5)); a youth mentor with United Playas, for Filipino American History Month (from Matt Dorsey (Supervisor, District 6)); the founder of Ace Wasabi Rock and Roll Sushi, District 2's newest legacy business (from Stephen Sherrill (Supervisor, District 2)); two departing Port Commissioners (from Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3)); and Castro Community on Patrol for its 20th anniversary (from Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors)). 00:28:29

• A supervisor recognized the Tsunami Swim Club, founded in 1986, for 40 years of bringing LGBTQI+ swimmers together 00:28:44
• A supervisor noted the club placed fourth overall at the 2026 Gay Games in Valencia, Spain 00:30:57
• A supervisor honored a lifelong South of Market resident who has mentored young people through United Playas for more than 14 years 00:35:28
• A supervisor honored the founder of Ace Wasabi, a Marina restaurant open for over 30 years and now a legacy business 00:42:24
• Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) recognized one departing Port Commissioner who served from 2018 to 2026, including as vice president and president 00:50:51
• A guest presenter urged the Board to treat the waterfront as a public trust and adopt policies to keep the city affordable for working people 00:53:49
• A guest presenter recalled helping the Port's roughly 550 small business tenants who could not pay rent during the pandemic 00:57:42
• The Board President honored Castro Community on Patrol, a volunteer safety patrol founded in 2006 after violent robberies and sexual assaults targeting gay men 01:00:57
• The Board President said patrol volunteers have helped save three lives, called ambulances 126 times and law enforcement 92 times, and donated nearly 12,000 hours 01:03:13
• A guest presenter said the patrol encourages crime victims in the community to report and follow through on prosecution, and acts as a liaison with police and prosecutors 01:06:24

Supervisors introduced new business. Bilal Mahmood (Supervisor, District 5) introduced an ordinance easing formula retail rules for grocery stores and pharmacies and co-sponsored two Daniel Lurie (Mayor)-introduced ordinances for the Freedom West 2.0 redevelopment in the Fillmore. Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) made a drafting request to expand the commercial-to-residential adaptive reuse program. Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors) asked for a November 16 committee hearing update on traffic enforcement. Jackie Fielder (Supervisor, District 9) introduced a resolution of intention to rename Cesar Chavez Street to Las Campesinas and a $1,765,000 supplemental appropriation for immigrant legal services. In memoriams came from Bilal Mahmood (Supervisor, District 5), Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors) and Shamann Walton (Supervisor, District 10). 01:10:56

• A supervisor asked to adjourn in memory of a longtime Konko Church minister and Japantown community leader who died last month at 80 01:11:10
• A supervisor introduced an ordinance changing formula retail rules to make it easier for grocery stores and pharmacies to open, convert or operate 01:14:20
• A supervisor said current rules can require a conditional use permit for grocers or pharmacies with more than 11 locations globally, adding six to nine months 01:15:25
• A supervisor said grocery stores could devote up to 49% of their space to accessory restaurants under a single conditional use authorization 01:16:29
• A supervisor named Myrna Melgar (Supervisor, District 7) and Stephen Sherrill (Supervisor, District 2) as early co-sponsors and said the proposal builds on earlier legislation by Myrna Melgar (Supervisor, District 7) 01:17:32
• A supervisor said Freedom West's 382 homes are collectively owned by residents as a limited equity cooperative 01:19:38
• A supervisor said Daniel Lurie (Mayor) was introducing a development agreement and special use district for Freedom West, which he is co-sponsoring 01:19:38
• A supervisor said the project includes nearly 2,400 homes, including replacement units for current shareholders, 133 more affordable homes, and a 115-unit affordable senior building already underway 01:20:39
• A supervisor said a general plan amendment for the project will come from the Planning Commission later this year 01:21:40
• The Board President asked to adjourn in memory of a retired SFPD deputy chief and her daughter, killed October 11, and asked that it come from the full Board 01:23:25
• The Board President noted the late deputy chief was the first woman on the SFPD SWAT team and later the first woman to command it 01:24:26
• The police chief thanked the Board on behalf of the Police Department and said the department is still in shock over the deaths 01:26:42
• The Board President asked to adjourn in memory of a television news producer and documentary filmmaker who died September 29 at 61 01:28:01
• The Board President said he asked the Land Use and Transportation chair to schedule an update on traffic enforcement for the November 16 committee meeting 01:30:08
• The Board President said traffic citations fell to 4,006 in 2022 from 129,597 in 2014 and have since climbed, with 2026 citations up 41% over the same point last year 01:31:13
• The Board President said pedestrian deaths are up while speeding enforcement is essentially flat, at 1,160 citations in the first half of the year 01:31:13
• Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) announced a drafting request to expand the commercial-to-residential adaptive reuse program created in 2023 01:32:48
• Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) said four projects using the program are creating nearly 500 homes in empty commercial space 01:32:48
• Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) said the legislation would expand the program's eligibility zone into more downtown districts, including parts of SoMa and Van Ness Avenue, and add local incentives 01:33:53
• A supervisor asked to adjourn in memory of a Bayview pastor, coach and 26-year member of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 38 who died September 14 01:35:47
• A supervisor wished the Golden State Valkyries well in game three of the WNBA playoffs 01:41:01
• A supervisor introduced a resolution of intention to rename Cesar Chavez Street to Las Campesinas, after a renaming working group process 01:42:33
• A supervisor read the working group's statement, which cited allegations of sexual abuse and assault against young women and girls as part of its reasoning 01:43:34
• A supervisor read the working group's explanation that the name means women farm workers and is meant to honor women who work the fields 01:43:34
• A supervisor introduced a $1,765,000 supplemental appropriation for immigrant legal services, including the Rapid Response Network and habeas petitions for people in ICE detention 01:45:41
• A supervisor cited at least two ICE sightings the day before, including a violent detention in SoMa 01:45:41
• A supervisor said every other supervisor co-sponsored the funding, and thanked Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors) for agreeing to waive the 30-day waiting period 01:46:44

Open comment on the mayor's appearance, items 34 and 35, and matters not on the agenda. About 11 people spoke in person. No remote callers were in the queue. 01:47:38

▶ Hear it Who is responsible for a damaged sewer main in a city easement? · 0:47

A resolution honoring the 100-year legacy of McLaren Park and declaring October 20, 2026 McLaren Park Day, adopted without committee reference. 02:14:37

• Adoption by roll call. Result: passed, 9-0. 02:15:13

A resolution marking 100 years of the dahlia as San Francisco's official flower and honoring the San Francisco Flower Mart and the Dahlia Society of California. Shamann Walton (Supervisor, District 10) severed it so he could speak on it. 02:15:43

• Adopted by same house, same call after Shamann Walton (Supervisor, District 10) severed the item. Result: passed. 02:16:39

• A supervisor thanked the Dahlia Society for donating the chamber's flower arrangements, grown at the park nursery, and thanked Recreation and Park staff 02:16:01

• About 11 people spoke in person; no remote callers.
• Four speakers who identified with the group Stop AI urged the Board to act against advanced AI development in the city, calling it a public safety threat. Some asked for an emergency declaration. One read from a lawsuit against an AI company, one played recorded clips of AI industry figures, and one tied AI to surveillance cameras and gentrification in the Tenderloin.
• Several speakers raised policing and public safety: one alleged a police officer took his property and said his crime report was steered to an administrative process; one alleged ongoing harassment by a person he said police know of but did not investigate; an older speaker active in Mission community work spoke about discrimination and getting police reports.
• One speaker backed funding for immigrant habeas legal services and urged wealthy residents to match it, and also criticized SFPD over recent use-of-force incidents and the District Attorney's handling of cases.
• Another speaker described a long backlog for legal representation for people facing ICE and asked for more legal services.
• A District 8 homeowner asked the Board to bring the SFPUC before the Government Audit and Oversight Committee, saying the utility denied responsibility for a damaged sewer main in a city-recorded easement behind his home.
• A District 10 resident raised Waymo dynamic pricing, transit and pedestrian safety during the Islais Creek Bridge closure and T Line stoppage, contracting preference for district residents, and protecting open space.

• Passed on first reading: the small hardware store tax credit, the $658,000 election appropriation, the ordinances on ceiling heights, tenant cost disclosure, mezzanines and evictions for unpaid rent, the Elections and Fire Department surveillance technology policies, the six union contract amendments, and the property-filing notification program.
• Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors) asked the Land Use and Transportation Committee to hold an update hearing on traffic enforcement, with SFPD and SFMTA's speed camera program, at its November 16 meeting.
• Daniel Lurie (Mayor)'s Freedom West development agreement and special use district ordinances were introduced. Bilal Mahmood (Supervisor, District 5) said they come to the Board later this year, and a general plan amendment will come from the Planning Commission later this year.
• Jackie Fielder (Supervisor, District 9)'s $1,765,000 supplemental appropriation for immigrant legal services was introduced, co-sponsored by every other supervisor. She said Rafael Mandelman (Supervisor, District 8; President, Board of Supervisors) agreed to waive the 30-day waiting period.
• Jackie Fielder (Supervisor, District 9) introduced a resolution of intention to rename Cesar Chavez Street to Las Campesinas. She said an FAQ and help with address changes will be available to residents.
• Bilal Mahmood (Supervisor, District 5) introduced an ordinance easing formula retail conditional use rules for grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Danny Sauter (Supervisor, District 3) asked the City Attorney to draft legislation expanding the commercial-to-residential adaptive reuse program.