feature

by Sean Pritchard

San Franciscans will go to the polls soon and vote on 11 local ballot propositions sponsored by the mayor, a variety of San Francisco supervisors and activist groups. Below, is some information on the propositions, which should help you make some sense out of the alphabet soup.

Proposition A: Emissions
Reductions & Transit Reform
Proposition A, sponsored by most of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors except for Michaela Alioto-Pier, Gerardo Sandoval and Ed Jew, proposes to continue and expand the power granted to the Municipal Transit Agency in 1999 under Proposition E. The biggest expanse of power would be an increase in money the MTA receives from the city’s general fund. The MTA would receive an increase in the parking tax revenue from 40% to 80%, and it would receive 100% of any new revenue from changes in parking fines, taxes or enforcement. The MTA will also have the capacity to issue bonds, which it couldn’t do under Proposition E. Prop. A would also change the way the MTA proposes its budget. It will maintain a two-year budget cycle, as opposed to the standard one-year cycle. The MTA could also enter into contracts without meeting city requirements and authorize more power internally to the director of transportation. Finally, the MTA would still require new funding from the general fund to implement any new improvements recommended by the city’s Transit Effectiveness Project. The hope is that by increasing the MTA’s funding, San Francisco’s plagued MUNI system will improve.

Proposition B: Limiting Holdover
Service on Boards & Commissions
Proposition B, sponsored by Supervisors Jake McGoldrick and Tom Ammiano, creates a limit on the amount of time a holdover commissioner can sit on a particular commission. Currently, a commissioner can sit on a commission after the term expires, if there is no replacement. McGoldrick and Ammiano’s proposition would create a 60-day window for that commissioner to remain in that seat. The goal of this charter amendment is to reinvigorate the city’s commissions with fresh ideas and new appointments.

Proposition C:
Public Hearing on Initiatives
Proposition C, sponsored by Supervisors Sean Elsbernd, Aaron Peskin, McGoldrick, Alioto-Pier and Sophie Maxwell, will limit the ability for supervisors and the mayor to throw a last-minute proposition on the ballot. This charter amendment would require the mayor or four or more supervisors to submit a proposed ordinance to the Board of Supervisors for a public hearing before submitting the measure to the board. The public hearing would need to take place at least 45 days before the required deadline for ballot measure submissions are due. This proposition was created to curb certain supervisors from creating an unfair playing field by abusing their power to insert ballot measures without much public review.

Proposition D:
Library Preservation Fund
Proposition D, sponsored by all the supervisors except Ed Jew and Chris Daly, would renew the Library Preservation Fund for 15 years. This fund currently expires in fiscal year 2008-2009 and receives 2.5 cents per every $100 of property tax revenue. This charter amendment would not only renew the fund, but also give the city the capacity to authorize revenue bonds that would not require voter approval. The Library Preservation Fund would also be used to repay the library system’s debt but would be limited by the amount of growth in the fund. The supervisors are hoping that by funding the library they can fix the ailing public institution.

Proposition E:
Mayor to Appear at the Board
Proposition E, sponsored solely by Supervisor Daly, would require the mayor to appear before the Board of Supervisors at their regular meetings. The difference between this proposition and a similar one that passed in a previous election is that the previous proposition was more of a suggestion, rather than a requirement. This new proposition puts a mandate on the mayor, which, if not adhered to, could create legal trouble. This power-play proposition intends to keep the mayor accountable and available.

Proposition F: Retirement Benefits
for Police Department Employees
Who Were Airport Police Officers
Proposition F, sponsored by Supervisor McGoldrick, would authorize the Board of Supervisors to amend the Police Department contract with CalPERS, the agency handling retirement benefits. This amended contract would allow police department employees who served as airport police officers before December 27, 1997, to end their participation in CalPERS and move their service credit to SFERS, the agency handling SFPD retirement benefits. This charter amendment would benefit police officers who serve at the airport under SFPD, yet do not benefit from the same retirement packages. Supervisor McGoldrick hopes to even out the benefits of retirement among police officers in San Francisco.

Proposition G:
Golden Gate Park Stables Ordinance
Proposition G, sponsored by Supervisors McGoldrick, Daly, Mirkarimi and Sandoval, and would set up a matching funds system for the renovation of the Golden Gate Park stables. This ordinance would require the city to spend $1 for every $3 the stables receive in donations. The city will spend a total of $750,000, if donations reach the appropriate level. The state has already allocated $1.4 million for this retrofit, which is only a portion of the monies needed to renovate the stables.

Proposition H: Parking Initiative
Proposition H, sponsored by Jim Maxwell of the San Francisco Council of District Merchants Associations, would change the San Francisco Planning Code to increase the number of parking spaces that developers are permitted to build in residential and nonresidential developments. It would also ease restrictions on downtown zoning districts and permit more parking downtown. Currently, the city has restrictions on how many parking places buildings may have in certain downtown zones. It also restricts the ability of owners to add parking to facilities. This ordinance would ease these restrictions to allow for more off-street parking and give more say to owners and developers on the use of their buildings.

Proposition I: Small Business
Assistance Center Ordinance
Proposition I, proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom, would allow the Office of Small Business to establish a Small Business Assistance Center to provide a central source of information for small businesses. The ordinance would provide $750,000 for the first year of operation of this center. The purpose would be to assist small business owners in operating in San Francisco. The center comes at the request of the small business community, which believes doing business in San Francisco is difficult, due to the city’s many regulations. The center would provide assistance in permit and licensing requirements, bidding on government contracts and the greening of small business.

Proposition J: Universal Wi-Fi
Proposition J, proposed by Mayor Newsom, would declare it policy that the city provide wireless high-speed internet access to all parts of San Francisco. It states that the system should be outsourced to a private provider and that free internet should be a priority of the city. It does not state how this system should be paid for or who should oversee the network. This city policy would mandate that the wireless system should be free and accessible to all San Franciscans.

Proposition K: Street Furniture
Proposition K, proposed by Supervisors McGoldrick, Daly, Mirkarimi and Peskin, would limit the number of general advertising signs on bus stop shelters; street furniture like benches, kiosks and newspaper racks; and city-owned buildings. These pieces of furniture are authorized by the city, yet owned privately. The private entities are then allowed to advertise on these spaces to cover costs. The policy declaration seeks to limit advertisements in an effort to beautify the city.

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The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the SFAA or SF Apartment Magazine. Sean Pritchard is the government and community affairs coordinator for SFAA and can be reached at 415-255-2288. Copyright © 2007 by SF Apartment Magazine. All rights reserved.