SF Politics 101 > SF Legislative Branch

The SF Legislative Branch

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Board of Supervisors Meetings

The Board of Supervisors holds a regular remote meeting each week at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, unless otherwise noted. Remote public comment is allowed via teleconference and is highly encouraged. Visit the SFGovTV website for detailed instructions on participating via teleconference to stream the live meetings, or watch meetings on demand.

What happens during holiday periods?

If the regularly scheduled Board meeting is during a holiday or the day following a holiday, the meeting is canceled. The Board of Supervisors does not meet during the week after Thanksgiving, or between December 24 and December 31.

The Board of Supervisors takes a Spring (March 28, 2022 – April 1, 2022), Summer (August 1, 2022 – September 5, 2022), and Winter (December 14, 2022 – January 6, 2023) Recess.

Can an Emergency Board Meeting be called?

A special meeting of the Board of Supervisors may be called at any time by the President, or by a majority of the Board. The special meeting may take place at least 24 hours after it was called for.

Special meetings may also be called for standing or special committees of the Board of Supervisors by the presiding officer of the committee, or by a majority of the members of the committee.

Click here to view all upcoming Board of Supervisors meetings.

How are Board Meeting Agendas Determined?

Board Meeting Agendas

The Board of Supervisors publishes an agenda on its website at least 72 hours prior to any meeting. In the agenda, the contents of what will be discussed at the meeting are laid out, including but not limited to: legislation to be discussed and/or voted, significant requests and hearings, and commendations.

Roll Call for Introductions

During the roll call, and up until the Board meeting adjourns (or 5:00 pm, whichever is later), Supervisors will be called alphabetically (rotating on a weekly basis) to introduce legislation, request the City Attorney to prepare legislation, approve draft ordinances, issue legal advice, and send requests for letters of inquiry. Supervisors may also submit legislation to the Clerk of the Board between meetings. These matters will be considered as being introduced at the following board meeting, with the exception of matters for the “Without Reference to Committee Agenda.”

Once introduced at a board meeting, most legislation is assigned to a Board committee and through the legislative process. (For further information see the Legislative Process Section.)

Public Comment

At Board meetings, members of the public have an opportunity to directly address the Board on items of interest to the public within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board. This includes items being considered at that specific meeting, which have not been referred to committee. Items that have already been considered by a Board committee may not be addressed. Members of the public have a maximum of three minutes to speak, and if need be, the President or the Board may limit the total testimony to 30 minutes. At the conclusion of public comment, the Board may refer the proposal to a City official for review, but is prohibited from taking action to approve or disapprove a new proposal that was not originally on the agenda.²

Passing Laws…and Budgets

The city budget is the most important piece of legislation passed by the Board of Supervisors. Over the last decade, the city budget has doubled in size, now totaling more than $13 billion, and is expected to continue to increase. While the City budget of San Francisco provides about half of its budget towards funding for enterprise departments such as the Airport and Port Commission, the remaining budget continues to boast amongst the highest spending in the nation. In terms of money spent per resident, San Francisco is surpassed only by Washington, D.C., which has a high spending ratio to compensate for its lack of state government.³

The Budget Process

The budget process provides the opportunity for City officials to prioritize which programs and services San Francisco should invest its financial resources into. After the Mayor presents their budget proposal, the City Controller conducts an analysis before the proposal heads to the Budget and Finance Committee. These committees have significant control over amending the proposed budget before it is finalized, including:

• After a review of the Controller’s analysis of the Mayor’s revenue estimates, the Board of Supervisors may reduce estimated revenues.
• The Board of Supervisors may increase or decrease any proposed expenditure in the General Fund or any special, sequestered, or other funds so long as the aggregate changes do not cause the expenditures from each fund to exceed the amount proposed for expenditures by the Mayor from any such fund.
• The Board of Supervisors may increase or decrease any proposed expenditure for capital improvements.

Read about the Board’s 2021 and 2022 budget priorities.

The Board of Supervisors also oversees appropriation ordinances, revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, and participates in many other financial functions of the City. (For further information about the budget process and the financial provisions of San Francisco, head to Sec. 9 of the Charter.⁴)

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President of the Board of Supervisors

As second-in-command in the power structure of the City and County of San Francisco, the President of the Board of Supervisors takes on further responsibility as the leader of the legislative chamber. The current President of the Board is District 10 Supervisor Shamannn Walton. Prior to Supervisor Walton, former District 7 Supervisor Norman Yee held the post to close out 2020.

How is the President of the Board elected?

At its regular meeting on January 8 of odd-numbered years, the Board elects through majority vote one of its members as President for a two-year term.

What powers does the President of the Board hold?

The President shall preside at all meetings, appoint all Standing and Special Committees, assign legislation to committees, and have other powers and duties as assigned by the Board.

The President of the Board also holds the distinction of being next in line of succession if the Office of the Mayor is vacated. (For further information about this process see the Elections section.)⁵

What happens in the case of a vacancy in the office of the President of the Board?

If a vacancy in the office of the President of the Board occurs prior to the end of the term, the Board through a majority vote elects one of its members to fill the unexpired portion of the term. If no nominee receives a majority of the votes, then the presiding officer shall direct additional roll calls until a nominee receives a majority vote and a President is elected. The members of the Board may, by majority vote, and at any time during the election process, reopen nominations.⁶

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Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

To help manage the legislative branch, the Board of Supervisors appoints a Clerk of the Board. The Clerk of the Board is responsible for all legislation, five agencies, and staff which include executive managers, legislative analysts, accountants, personnel administration, and information management. The Clerk of the Board is also responsible for maintaining local legislation, upholding the Public Records Act, the Brown Act, the Sunshine Ordinance, and other laws, as well as being responsible for the preparation, management, and oversight of the city budget.

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Legislative Committees

As is common for legislative bodies across all levels of American government, the Board divides its 11 members into various legislative committees. Focused on a wide variety of issues, each committee is comprised of three Supervisors, chosen and assigned by the President of the Board. There are three types of committees: standing, select, and joint. Standing committees are permanent, while select and joint occur only in special circumstances.

(For further information see the Legislative Process section.)

Click here to see the committees that are meeting this week.

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Standing Committees of the SF Board of Supervisors

[First-named Supervisor is the chair; second-named Supervisor is the vice-chair of the committee.]

Budget and Finance Committee

• Meeting: Wednesday at 1:00 pm weekly
• Members: Members: Supervisors Matt Haney, Ahsha Safai, Gordon Mar*

The Budget and Finance Committee reviews appropriation ordinances; measures concerning bond issues, taxes fees and other revenue measures; redevelopment; and real estate. This committee also oversees the annual appropriation and salary ordinances. Once the Mayor releases their annual budget instructions, the Budget and Finance Committee holds a public hearing with each city department to review the annual City budget.

*The Budget and Finance Committee has three full-time members, except for the period starting March 1 when the committee increases to five members while the Board adopts the annual appropriation and salary ordinances. Once this has been accomplished, the committee is again reduced to three full-time members.

(For more information on determining if legislation has a fiscal impact and must be heard at a fiscal committee, see Municipal Code 2.6-3.)

Budget and Appropriations Committee

• Meeting: Every Wednesday at 1:00 pm (between February 1st and August 1st)
• Members: Matt Haney, Ahsha Safai, Gordon Mar, Hillary Ronen, Shamann Walton*

The Budget and Appropriations Committee oversees the budget process from February 1 to August 1 each year. By March 1, the Chair of the Committee submits a motion for consideration by the Board, delineating the budget process for the coming months, including but not limited to: the committee’s anticipated hearing topics from March through June; the process for the Board to identify and publicly communicate its policy priorities for the budget; whether the full Board will schedule hearings on the Mayor’s budget instructions, the Mayor’s budget priorities, the Mayor’s proposed budget, the Board’s proposed spending plan, or other topics; and the committee’s guidelines regarding public transparency and decision-making.

*The Budget and Appropriations Committee is comprised of five full-time members, including the three full-time members of the Budget and Finance Committee unless otherwise designated by the President of the Board.

Government Audit and Oversight Committee

• Meeting: First and third Thursday at 10:00 am
• Members: Supervisors Dean Preston, Connie Chan, Rafael Mandelman

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee oversees labor agreements, Civil Grand Jury Reports, audits of City departments and agencies, and settlement of claims, litigation, and rewards. The committee also oversees the management audits, audit schedules, and approval of the audit schedule.

Rules Committee

• Meeting: Every Monday at 10:00 am
• Members: Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Rafael Mandelman, Connie Chan

The Rules Committee is responsible for matters concerning appointments, ballot measures, (except revenue measures which are heard in the Budget and Finance Committee), Charter amendments, amendments to the Administrative Code (except fiscal matters which are heard in a Fiscal Committee and land use matters which are heard in the Land Use and Transportation Committee), amendments to the Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code, and Board Rules of Order.

Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee

• Meeting: Second and fourth Thursday at 10:00 am
• Members: Supervisors Gordon Mar, Catherine Stefani, Matt Haney

The Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee reviews measures related to public works, infrastructure, neighborhood quality of life, parks and recreation, utilities, public protection, delinquency prevention, public health, emergency services, seniors, the disabled, children, and families. Additionally, it is responsible for all measures related to the City’s coordination including strategies, policies, programs, and budgetary actions surrounding public safety.

Land Use and Transportation Committee

• Meeting: Every Monday at 1:30 pm
• Members: Supervisors Myrna Melgar, Dean Preston, Aaron Peskin

The Land Use and Transportation Committee review measures related to housing, land use, zoning, planning, and rent control, as well as transportation, traffic, parking, the Municipal Agency, economic development, resident employment, workforce training and placement, homelessness, and the environment.

Youth, Young Adult, and Families Committee

• Meeting: Second Friday at 10:00 am
• Members: Hillary Ronen, Ahsha Safai, Myrna Melgar
  

The Youth, Young Adult, and Families Committee reviews measures related to youth, young adults, and families, including fiscal matters that have a direct and exclusive fiscal impact on the interests of children, youth, and their families that are not part of the annual budget appropriation process.

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Select Committees

The Board, by motion, may create select committees (consisting of three Supervisors) after such motion has been first referred to the Rules Committee for public hearing, and then recommended to the Board. The select committee shall specify a clear, simple, narrow, single statement of purpose, and a termination date or a period of time during which the committee will be in operation starting with the appointment of its membership.

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Joint Committees

When a matter cannot adequately be considered by a single committee, the President of the Board may determine that a joint committee –- the combination of two standing committees –- will give more appropriate consideration.⁷

• For example, on May 3, 2016, the Board of Supervisors held its first ever joint meeting with the Youth Commission, in order to hear public testimony on a charter amendment that would extend voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in municipal elections.⁸

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Outside Board Controlled Agencies

Are Supervisors permitted to serve on outside boards and commissions?

Each Supervisor is restricted to serving on a maximum two outside boards or commissions, (which remunerate service) unless every Supervisor has been polled in order of seniority, and declined to serve. Before a Supervisor may be appointed to the first term of a second outside board or commission (excluding appointment to the San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission and the San Francisco Transportation Authority), every other Supervisor must be given the opportunity to serve on at least one outside board or commission.⁹

Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo)

• Meeting: 11:30 am on selected Fridays
• Members: Supervisor Connie Chan, Gordon Mar, and Dean Preston (Alternate), and Commissioners Jeremy Pollock, Jackie Fielder, Shanti Singh (Alternate)

The Local Agency Formation Commission is responsible for reviewing and approving proposed jurisdictional boundary changes, including annexations and detachments of territory to or from cities and special districts, incorporations of new cities, formations of new special districts, as well as consolidations, mergers, and dissolutions of existing districts. In addition, the Local Agency Formation Commission must review and approve contractual service agreements, determine spheres of influence for each city and district, and may initiate proposals involving district consolidation, dissolution, the establishment of subsidiary districts, mergers, and reorganizations (combinations of these jurisdictional changes). Another essential function of the Local Agency Formation Commission in 2019 is to oversee CleanPowerSF, which includes advising the Board of Supervisors, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and other agencies on all aspects of development, implementation, operation, and management of the Community Choice Aggregation program.¹⁰

San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA)

• Meeting: Twice monthly
• Members: Supervisors Rafael Mandelman (Chair), Aaron Peskin (Vice Chair)
• Executive Director: Tilly Chang

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority is a voter special district created under state law and is a separate legal entity from the City and County of San Francisco. Its mission is to make travel safer, healthier, and easier for all San Francisco County residents and visitors. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority also plans, funds, and delivers local and regional projects to reduce congestion, increase street safety, and improve travel choices for residents, commuters, and visitors throughout the City.

The Board of Supervisors acts as the San Francisco County Transportation Authority’s policy-setting body, and unlike the Board’s legislative committees where the President of the Board chooses leadership positions, the chair is selected by all eleven members.

San Francisco County Transportation Authority – Personnel Committee

• Meeting: Meets at the call of the chair
• Members: Supervisors Aaron Peskin, Rafael Mandelman, Hillary Ronen

The Personnel Committee is charged with evaluating the performance of the Executive Director and approving requests to add or modify job classifications for the agency.¹¹

San Francisco County Transportation Authority – Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency (TIMMA)

• Meeting: Quarterly
• Members: Supervisors Matt Haney, Rafael Mandelman, Catherine Stefani, Aaron Peskin, Gordon Mar, Shamann Walton, Ahsha Safai, Connie

The Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency shares staff and offices with the Treasure Island Development Authority. However, the two organizations have separate finances and oversee different aspects of Treasure Island. The Treasure Island Mobility Management Agency was created by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (which handles transportation throughout the City) to focus on the unique transportation needs for Treasure Island.¹²

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Endnotes

¹ “San Francisco Charter.” Article XIII, Section 13.110.
² “City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors.” Rules of Order. Section 4, 19 Apr. 2019.
³ “Analysis of Spending in America’s Largest Cities.” Ballotpedia.
⁴ “San Francisco Charter.” Article IX.
⁵ “San Francisco Charter.” Article II , Section 2.116.
⁶ “City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors.” Rules of Order. Section 6, 19 Apr. 2019.
⁷ “City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors.” Rules of Order. Section 3, 19 Apr. 2019.
⁸ “Youth Commission.”
⁹ “City and County of San Francisco Board of Supervisors.” Rules of Order. Section 6, 19 Apr. 2019.
¹⁰ “Local Agency Formation Commission.”
¹¹ “SFCTA.” Who We Are.
¹² “SFCTA.” Treasure Island Transportation Program.

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