Legislation

The ordinance simplifies and streamlines procedures for neighborhood, cultural, and entertainment establishments in San Francisco by expanding review processes, allowing temporary outdoor activities, and extending performance hours. It also removes certain permit requirements and definitions to support the continuation of entertainment venues and activities.

Ordinance amending the Planning, Business and Tax Regulations, and Police Codes to simplify procedures and allow flexibility for neighborhood, cultural, and entertainment establishments by 1) expanding streamlined review and inspection procedures to principally permitted storefront uses citywide; 2) deleting separate definitions of “Cat Boarding,” and “Services, Instructional” from the Planning Code; 3) allowing the continuation of longstanding places of entertainment; 4) temporarily requiring a conditional use authorization for uses replacing Nighttime Entertainment uses; 5) allowing temporary outdoor entertainment, arts, and recreation activities; 6) eliminating the one night dance permit; 7) extending time for limited live performances from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.; 8) allowing additional One-Time Entertainment Permits and One-Time Outdoor Amplified Sound Permits; 9) exempting single individual performances without amplification from permit requirements; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; and making findings of consistency with the General Plan and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1, and findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare under Planning Code, Section 302.

This legislation initiates a hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of public safety strategies in commercial areas, including police patrols and community programs aimed at crime prevention. It requests reports from various city departments on these strategies and their impact on reducing crime.

Hearing to address concerns on public safety strategies in commercial corridors and their effectiveness on reducing crime, including but not limited to Police Department foot and bicycle patrols, the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs' Community Ambassador Program and similar programs, and other crime prevention and community building strategies; and requesting the Police Department, Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs, Office of Small Business, and Office of Economic and Workforce Development to report.

This ordinance expands the definition of "interested party" to include City contractors and others who influence City officials, and it prohibits certain City officials from soliciting donations from these interested parties. It aims to enhance transparency and reduce potential conflicts of interest in government dealings.

Ordinance amending the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code to expand the definition of interested party to include City contractors, persons seeking to influence City officers and employees, registered contact lobbyists, permit consultants, and to prohibit elected officials, department heads, commissioners, and designated employees from soliciting behested payments from interested parties.

The ordinance renames the Places for People Program to the Shared Spaces Program and updates the rules for using city property and public spaces, including streamlining the application process and setting fees. It also establishes new permit requirements for street closures and parking regulations to enhance public access and safety.

Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to rename and modify the Places for People Program as the Shared Spaces Program, and to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various departments regarding activation and use of City property and the public right-of-way, streamline the application process, specify minimum programmatic requirements such as public access, setting permit and license fees, and provide for the conversion of existing Parklet and Shared Spaces permittees to the new program requirements; amending the Public Works Code to create a Curbside Shared Spaces permit fee, provide for public notice and comment on permit applications, provide for hearings for occupancy of longer-term street closures, and supplement enforcement actions by Public Works; amending the Transportation Code to authorize the Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT) to issue permits for the temporary occupancy of the Traffic Lane for purposes of issuing permits for Roadway Shared Spaces as part of the Shared Spaces Program, subject to delegation of authority by the Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors to temporarily close the Traffic Lane, and adding the Planning Department as a member of ISCOTT; amending the Transportation Code to prohibit parking in a zone on any street, alley, or portion of a street or alley, that is subject to a posted parking prohibition except for the purpose of loading or unloading passengers or freight; making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

This ordinance requires construction and demolition debris transporters to obtain permits for their vehicles and debris boxes, and it increases the recovery rate for materials from 65% to 75% for demolition projects. It also mandates compliance with updated registration conditions for processing facilities and allows for penalties for violations.

Ordinance amending the Environment, Public Works, Health, and Administrative Codes to require transporters of construction and demolition debris to obtain a temporary or annual permit from the Department of Environment for each vehicle and debris box used for such transport and to comply with permit conditions; to require facilities that process such debris to comply with updated registration conditions; to require each person who conducts full demolition projects as permitted by the Department of Building Inspection and submits to the Director of the Department of Environment a material reduction and recovery plan to provide for at least 75% recovery away from disposal instead of 65% as required under existing law, and to verify this recovery rate after completing the project; to authorize the Director to impose administrative penalties for violations; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act.

This ordinance creates the San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group, which will develop plans for a non-depository Municipal Finance Corporation and a Public Bank. These plans will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors and the Local Agency Formation Commission for consideration.

Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to establish the San Francisco Reinvestment Working Group to submit business and governance plans for a non-depository Municipal Finance Corporation and for a Public Bank to the Board of Supervisors and to the Local Agency Formation Commission.