>> >> >> 554321. >> welcome to the san francisco small business commission meeting this afternoon at 4:30 pm., monday, march 25, in-person at city hall room 400 and broadcast live on sfgovtv channel 78. to participate, the call-in number is (415) 655-0001. the small business commission thanks sfgov for television today's meeting. an opportunity to comment on each item. the commission will take public comment in-person first and then people remotely.

first and then people remotely. first and then people remotely. members of the public who are calling in, the number is (415) 655-0001, press # to be added to the line when your item of interest comes up. public comment is limited to 3 minutes, and speakers are requested but not required to state your name. voice your opinions. the small business commission in san francisco is the best place to give comments during local emergencies. your opinions. the small business commission in san francisco is the best place to give comments during local emergencies. thank you for corresponding and please continue to reach out to the office of small business. please call item 1. >> item one roll call. >> commissioner benitez, commissioner cornet present. >> commissioner herbert present. >> councilmember curtis commissioner herbert here. >> vice mayor montanaro and president

on the unceded ancestral homeland of the ramaytush (rah-my-toosh) ohlone (o-lon-ee) who are the original inhabitants of the san francisco peninsula. responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. elders, and relatives of the ramaytush ohlone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. >> before item 2 i want to recognize and welcome our newest commissioner we have a full house today welcome commissioner cornet. >> we'll have a moment later on later on. >> awesome welcome

item 2. >> 2. approval of legacy business registry applications and resolutions (discussion and action item) the commission will potential take action to approve the applications and today is bay area bird & exotics hospital the presenter. >> welcome good afternoon president huie and vice president zouzounis and members of the public i'm a skes i'd like to acknowledge michelle my colleague in the office of small business for assistance and sfgovtv i have the power point presentation. >> before you today 4 applications for your consideration for the legacy business registry a draft resolution and the application itself and downtown support special use district from the planning department. the applications were that submitted

to planning on february 21st and heard by the historic preservation commission on march 20. item 2a. >> 2a. a&w contractors (application no.: lbr-2023-24-030) remodeling company founded in 198 three that installs with do to the san francisco area we can fit styles or have repairs to existing windows and the team of installers helps clients and. >> 2a. a&w contractors (application no.: lbr-2023-24-030) women owned family business to select the styles and materials to meet their needs and a great selection for lifestyles and to remain on the legacy business

registry is building restoration. item. >> 2b. bay area bird & exotics hospital (application no.: lbr-2023-24-033) . >> the business is. >> the bay area bird & exotics hospital treats exotic pets when your bid or reptile develops a problem advertised for to to be seen by an experienced vet and the species bayview bay area bird & exotics hospital has accommodate in depth extrovert treatment for the pets and since most of the patients were frightened by the sounds of predator tars they can't treat dogs and cats. the core feature

must maintain the vet services. >> >> 2c. gfds engineers (application no.: lbr-2023-24-032) the business it is structure engineering firm founded in 1952 with a history of engineering computerize for the san francisco bayview and beyond. gfds engineers dedication to the sensitivity has earned it a client list with residential and landmarks highly trained engineer is trained in modeling technologies and the most construction gfds engineers is known for the dedication to

innovation to provide challenging structures. >> by bringing little architectural vision to life hesitate shaped infrastructure and culture and historic hydrogen and the makes sense of structural engineering. >> >> 2d. ristorante ideale (application no.: lbr-2023-24-011) the business ask a bright and colorful italian restaurants and the modern version of a victor and festival for fantastic food and low prices is known for the pasta and pizza made with mozart relay little the ingredients are

organic with italian and olive oil has lesser known wines and core feature business must maintains the italian cuisine. >> though the businesses met the career for the legacy business registry all have received a positive recommendation from it is historic preservation commission and the staff riemdz adding this to the (lunch break) and for your consideration and a motion should be framed as a motion. all 4 businesses are adam cement will be the fourth

legacy business registry and congratulations to all the businesses as to the industry >> that concludes my presentation. and i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> not sure is anyone is here to speak on on behalf of the applications. >> thank you, commissioners. any questions? >> no? >> open up for public comment any public comment? >> no? >> okay. >> well, i want to congratulate all the work that you've done and michelle has done to shepherd in so many legitimacy small businesses it

is incredible how many we have under the legacy business registry program i know there are more and so i think there will be still be a nice road ahead e ahead but the momentum that the program has golden is incredible and there is the last thing for the city itself. thank you very much. and anybody have any comments? >> oh, commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> shout out to the north beach back in the day used to work with la and so (unintelligible), you know, used to be 4 hundred not only to them but that shows the world like how eclectic our county is and

have plenty more that is how strong san francisco is we're a small geography 4 hundred legacy business registry so that's the culture. >> seeing we have no other comments, and no public comment i think public comment is closed. and i think we can have a motion to approve. >> i'll motion to approve. >> i'll second the motion to approve. >> motion by commissioner dickerson. >> i'll read the roll, commissioner benitez. >> approve. >> aye. >> no, no. >> possible, aye.

>> commissioner dickerson, yes. >> commissioner herbert, yes. >> commissioner ortiz-cartagena and vice president zouzounis motion passes with 7 votes (clapping.) congratulations. >> extending waiver of permit, license, and business registration fees for certain small businesses (discussion and action item) the commission will discuss and may take actions on an ordinance spending waiver of permit and business registration fees for certain small businesses and commissioner ortiz-cartagena will on this one. >> all right. thank you commissioners, i also want to make sure i thank my colleagues at the small business administration make sure and manage the program is actually

put together a presentation last week so want to acknowledge my colleagues. >> (calling names.) >> so um, we go to the. next slide, please. you'll see a refresher for everyone started in 2021 and essentially was nothing that was um, sponsored by london breed and on the other hand, have their waiver of permit you know how many work is take to have a on-street and pay the fees left and right before you even on. so since the program began over 6 thousand small businesses have enrolled and the city has made $3 million for. you can see here

the braked at cb i will $1.4 million in the tairmd the first year it is waved and the license fees collected by t g x-$900,000 and $400,000 with the commission and 64 thousand planning department is dp c-$39,000. waved so far. so in terms of the ordinance set for the board of supervisors the hero last week and advocating for the program to be continued i know we love to see it continued definitely but will extend for one fiscal year and um, you know, this is in the context of large businesses with

the conversations which we would leave to see a version of this permanent ongoing. but just as a reminder the program what it does waves the (inaudible) fees and first year permits and others for qualifying new businesses and you would need to be eligible and have $5 million or less in gross receipts and have a regulatory location of commercial no home based businesses are eligible for the program and in the city finds that you have more than $15 million in gross receipts in the year that the business commences or the city has the ability to claw back that and next um, slide shows you that the city has tried to make it easy for businesses in the program it comes with the

registration progress or adding a new location have to have update your business accountability account and the fees if you enroll and eligible then the fees are automatically waved in the an ideal situation not paying anything sauk county on the table a little bit more of breakdown of program so for and the department how much has been waved and highlighted in the green row hospitals the fiscal year um, since we have partial fiscal years the green is intricate what that looks $6.1 million for one fiscal year and the department and where the money is like up so the

department the building inspection on the top of waving fees and a for example, our team has come across in terms of the businesses that are benefited so morris where we did a estimate to announce this ordinance to um, stipulated the program had been $11,000 fee waved when they opened her first restaurant that was exciting and you power line excelsior benefited from that well and. next slide, please. here momma restaurant opened the second location and saved 17 and the saloon had 5 thousand fees and other restaurant no north

beach and lace doughnuts $16,000 waved in the second location so thousands and thousands of more at the thank the treasurer's office and the team and the entire small businesses staff that are stan asking are you enrolled to get your fee waved to get a refund we're supportive of legislation and want to um, thank you for you're support and that concludes my presentation. >> commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> thank you president huie and thank you for the presentation i want to make a comment how much i love this program not necessarily for the monetary in my community maybe 7 thousand maybe putting you ahead in the rent and that makes the

difference you are moving like into an apartment use that for really small businesses is huge but above that not fiscal year or monetary it is a sense a change of the narrative of san francisco like i want to charge you a visitation fee i'm not going into the house; right? that is sets the timeframe for the small entrepreneurs want to start a - and have to be a roundabout scientist or super wealthy but san francisco is open for small businesses that is really the case the mindset the narrative i love it i love it i love it so, thank you. >> commissioner herbert.

>> thank you for the presentation. this is why i love san francisco so much i wonder if other cities have this? i just was wondering if you own businesses you're going to open a third location also get your fees waved. >> (unintelligible). >> okay. >> thank you. >> thank you so much director tang for the presentation and one question. i know so i took advantage of first year free and it has been so helpful to have everything taken care of already to have through the city. some of the things that i need to do though i think are getting replacements for contractors paid for some contractors is

paid for permits and things like that is there a deadline for me to get reimbursed. >> it is common a lot of contractors is pulling permits for small businesses and what happens they're going to the department building inspection asking for an account number and often will get the contract the account number and sometimes they are not enrolled in the first year free; right? and the contractors are not the intended audience for this so what happens is that if you reach out to our office and, you know, i can probably look it up but the address and business account number and what permit they paid for and go and ask for a refund. >> okay. thank you. >> so um, and next question is

this is - can you go over where this is right now and how you need to look forward. >> yes. so this actively was heard by the board of supervisors last wednesday and actually before the board board of supervisors tomorrow for the first vote they're not taking public comment there but, you know, everyone is welcome to the before the board of supervisors and encouraged to support it but we do hope will be support from the full board tomorrow. >> so given that there is an action item should take a vote right now. first public comment. >> oh, yeah. >> is there any public comment in the room? >> seeing none, public comment is closed. um, someone would like i'll make a motion to move and approve.

>> motion to support bos file no. 240126 by commissioner ortiz-cartagena and seconded by commissioner dickerson roll call. >> commissioner benitez, yes. >> commissioner cornet, yes. >> commissioner dickerson, yes. >> commissioner herbert, yes. >> commissioner dickerson, yes. >> vice president zouzounis and president huie the motion carries. >> okay. wonderful all your work (clapping.) we are slowly getting (laughter) in our meeting today. um. next slide, please. >> 4. discussion of strategic goals (discussion item) little commission will review fiscal year 2023-24 and discuss the potential updates.

>> while keri pulling up the do you want want to share for last fiscal year the commission had an open discussion about commission policy priorities we also shared with our office priorities are a little bit more in terms of the action items and what it is that we are seeking to do and here you'll see more of a policy goal that um, again, this commission agreed on and had an discussion especially given the remember the commission said to make sure we shared this with you and had allowed on turn out for anymore public dialogue to see if this is direction we want to go or anything missing. from the goals that you like to add. um, so really give you an opportunity

championship to have a dedicated day for a retreat to talk about everything at the meeting here. >> so with that, i'm going to turn it over to president huie. >> all right. >> so um, some of the sorry i'm trying to look through the - some of the strategic goals we had detailed last time i guess the fiscal year or last year. last year were um, obviously supporting small businesses retention and growth and attracting new businesses by making that easier and faster to open in san francisco and restoring the economic core and i look over those three over aching girls i can almost the

office of office of small business helped us get further towards the goals including we talked about the last item those are pretty broad 2345eb9 did everyone have a chance to look at the those before the meeting? so um, you know, at that time we 2k4r5i8d out priorities like permeating and policy and legislative solutions and i see providing a venue for collaboration so to make sure

that small businesses are heard and supported. proactively addressing the policy and regulatory issues that directly impact the small businesses and better understanding the long-standing businesses and simplifying the process across the department and serving as a voice and addressing public safety and addressing commercial vacancies so some of those again are kind of um, broader scale items but some of the ones that are more specific for i think last year's strategic the public safety and simplifying the permitting process as well as commercial vacancies. so those were some of the highlights then we objective have the board

commission members and i want to see what you want to have happen this year to have osha have those on our agendas i want to open the floor for everyone i have a couple of ideas i don't know if it helps to get a few ideas i know when i, you know, in our last meeting and spoke about my personal goals some of my goals were to help merchants associations help neighborhoods and better able to advocate and grow their memberships. and really be, you know, very local support of the merchant communities. i also am very

interested in sporting leadership within the small businesses community and so making sure that um, small business owners somehow find the capability and desire to sit on commissions. you know, outside of the small business commission we need small business owners so have a voice on all issues including, you know, our transportation from our planning and our i don't know every other commission is a small business owner those are a couple that i get in my re-election to (laughter) see. so, you know, i'd like to open up the floor to whom commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> thank you president huie i love the goals in nightly it's

simple city it the core to focus on each of the departments like we do always; right? i'm not going to name the departments (laughter) but things from like the lack of lens from currently or small business lens and on top of the way we decimate the information like you had a fantastic job, you know, education outreach i mean how many times are you been on mission street walking around so but other departments don't; right? and that effects mta doing project construction or dph or just decimateing information and resources especially people of color

bilingual honest in people knew the opportunities that san francisco provides for small businesses the narrative the national narrative sometimes we don't had had best job here again other departments just suck straight out; right? so you said that developments several times to make sure we got to keep pushing them i don't know. >> i agree oftentimes i hear yes. i go to the small business commission and get a lot of good support and then out, you know,

barriers so i think there's a way that maybe we can kind of promote this like yes let me figure out how i can help you. >> um, yes. i have. >> i remember one of my colleagues he talk about the me never say no i mean sometimes you have to say no, don't literally use the word you'd be surprised how your brain seeing how you can solve or figure out something and put in in the lexicon especially the city says no, no, no and that hammers we as entrepreneurs think big we or different crazy nuts; right? so somebody says to and a you're a

failure artificial or not no more dreams it is culture shock got to stop saying no. >> yeah. >> it's- a little bit different for us to kind of just speak in a commission meeting right now (laughter) so normally feels we're procedure oriented maybe. oh, commissioner herbert. >> (laughter.) >> i'll say something. i don't know if it is off topic how to do we attract new small businesses to this area what that means i mean what is happening with downtown? >> anything any progress in attracting new businesses? i

personally wouldn't venture but are there any more aggressive campaigns to attract small businesses to this area like local (unintelligible). >> yeah. sure i can speak a little bit to that a huge focus that have the work of my colleagues of office and workforce development a team dedicated to downtown and issued the mayor addressed announcing the thirty by thirty initiatives to bring though new residents and students to um, san francisco downtown area by 2030 one of the strategies on the table and addressing on day to day basis in your office with a

commercial leasing specialist yes. i have iris is communicating are with brokers and great deals and opportunity for small businesses may not have been we're not available in the past despite the fact that people are not working downtown deals to be made and actually sharing that information with entrepreneurs who are looking for spaces and making sure their aware of them of might be a shorter term situation but still a great way to check it out and try out a concept that is kind of the big picture and day to day happening as well. but um, happy to circle through more

regular updates if on the other hand, oewd. >> one of the other things i had on my list was going back to commissioner ortiz-cartagenas outreach comment i think that, you know, i feel like a lot of departments including unours here struggles with with outreach. and basically struggles with outreach outside - i know i literally are walking into each time business to talk to people, you know, and i think oftentimes like other departments don't have that. and it is also kind of a matter of i think small businesses they also structural with capacity right have to that that gotten moment

someone is walking in our moment you need them to walk in the door otherwise goat information you're kind of like i don't deal with that, i think if there is a way to collectively, you know, given we know what is like to see our business and other businesses and we also know that there is a fantastic information out there. that like i don't know maybe we have come together and think about more tangible ways to do outreach in our community. because language is a barrier that culture is a barrier and now judge ethnic but small business owners have a certain culture that bridging i think between city hall and like what we need some of the things

that we talked about is like okay. we put everything on line and people can go to the website when they need 2 like a big push and put information online and it is there; right? really hard to get people to care about something when the thing is offered if not something they care about; right? >> can i just this in? >> i was going to ask a follow-up question do you think that the harder (unintelligible) like people ask us how to reach businesses. >> (multiple voices). >> go to the merchants and i'm curious that it is indeed how information gets shared. >> i think that varies because the other issue is that merchant

associations are larger than volunteers so you're running a merchant association your capacity is limited it depends on sometimes people prioritize their goal and other people are doing it out of obligation. which is fine, you know, but i think then you i don't get the level of advocacy for someone that is dedicated to that so - commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> that's perfect you segued the merchants association went through but also our ceo; right? holding them accountable but a smaller presentation we're more nimble but our director we have a model like try to service the

businesslike we holiday inn them because if you're a (unintelligible) and you're in the backpack back of the business so being out they're seeing when you need to have downtown with a lunch and dinner break and bring you to compliance or other agency whatever i think really like starting in the downturn with this budget making sure the ceo perhaps holding up their end some of it ceos they get paid for this; right? the businesses get paid; right? and they should be having an expense of the block by block business, you

know, you know, those businesses this is the time and, you know, or that business have to reach out and communicate to the kids; right? and holding the bigger ceos that have become bureaucratic like come on get back on the ground and help the office of small business and for various organizations and hitting the streets with them; right? and so i think that is a key key tool in helping the office and every department to like really reach the small businesses at the downtime at the crucial moment when this we have a, you know, a little bit of moment to breathe small businesses are always on the goal and pick up the kids you know you're part of neighborhood so we don't move sometimes, we

consume less oxygen than people; right? >> (unintelligible). >> (laughter.) >> that's my thoughts. >> commissioner benitez. >> so very quickly touch on the merchants organization i authorize this merchant association quite a bit at that point about varies by neighborhoods. um, fillmore was cheney so small businesses so them is really different bus the turnover is high and those chains are there i can count on my hand the mom and pop but our merchant association will be important, you know, a way to reach out to them but, yeah

varies with the businesses there. second to that even trying to get, you know, our merchant on the list together the challenging part is rung the small business and finding time i open at 11 it is comes back to what our commissioner ortiz-cartagena we run the front of shop so a balance and i agree with the president a way to kind of make everything tackle but kind of remember that different neighborhoods or different merchants associations have different needs what is important to them too. >> commissioner herbert. >> well going back old idea i have just to have, you know,

varies merchants associations representatives as progress and they're in their integrity to highlight business that is making a difference or - i don't know i'm just speaking off the cuff but really great to see us have links with without over extending the office - kind of link in the more direct way to the merchants associations i know that one merchants in the cap show like ar their grievances that would be great to provide a place to come at a more productive angel strategic

development, you know, just some ideas but, yeah would be cool to link directly to us somehow oewd. >> commissioner cornet. >> so one question i have an idea um, how can we utilize the omni channels officially offering and on line but to talk to businesses with social media or graphics and now we know how to take a them facebook or ticktock or instagram like the platforms. and then another i don't do that would be great how we can look at corridors that or declining and activate them and

something like the first friday or second saturday in those areas but not just merchant from that area but also other areas just to kind of get their names out there. >> commissioner dickerson. >> (laughter.) >> i kept going ongoing you guys got on my point i don't want to over talk a statement that has been talked about but the experience on third street we have a girl i feel spoiled in an merchants associations but also serve on the board 6 community development so having a girl you know what if weighing just privileged to have him and

his work and his love and desire to see the corridor, you know, be able to get those buildings spaces occupied or i mean earl has done a phenomenal job first of all, we walked the corridor everyday (laughter) no, we walks the corridor at least three or four times a week. in the full corridor like all the way from say to evans so if you know that span is a lot not only that he's gone out of his way and team as well to actually build a relationship with the owners of the property. which, of course, what i love

about how we have been be able to navigate on the corridor an understanding a certain demand to put on business owners is to be a realistic expression; right? so it's really having people advocate for the small businesses and people like earl will tell you in a minute didn't want a small business but he did have would think and the importance to have someone to advocate for the things we need what he side he does the e-mails and social media and the walk he arranges the walk and the meetings like we have and always before and after hours like an understanding like if i want to participate here he'll focus on those that have the greatest

influence. those who doesn't have employees 1 or 2 how that works but supporting small businesses i want to be carefully with how we present sport because allotments well, we want to support small businesses and the expectations and willingly u willing to make things more doable more applicable and assessable for the small businesses not to have could keep doing all the loops and hoops to participate in some of the demands that feels like on us, you know. so um, i would - you know, we are talking about

- i'm oh, my goodness you talk about director tang talking about constantly the support of team that's why we are i believe being effective because we're advocating for this small businesses and giving them the tools they need without, you know - i just - i celebrate it i love everything about how this is written and the policies, you know, and this is the key enhancing the environment for small businesses exceed and failure issue vice president zouzounis thank you to my fellow commissioners yeah. i see your mandate over headlines we have

that storefront customers with the small businesses staff which runs itself we don't need to worry about from a view of the commission and up and coming we have our marketing and preservation program and built the legacy business registry and our collaboration with, you know, small businesses weeks ago and shop and dina great director that takes our referrals, you know, you know, first hand and introduces businesses to those programs we have had that customer service and marketing i love we're talking about the capacity building i know oewd side of things too that is port of our jurisdiction making sure that all small businesses are supported outside of this building um, and i think the what we have been getting closer to as a body is trying to um,

define our role when it comes to policymakersing those thing we present as part of the legislative review those were tools we came up with as the commission of how to better analyze legislation that comes to our decks and comes through city hall i think focusing on these bullet points and where we can draw um, you know, live, live and action items from those things so that's kind of where i'm wanting to make a couple of remarks on. um, i know in the past we are trying to see how to get more referrals from the board of supervisors, you know, how to get more legislation

related to small business; right? maybe we need to individual commissioner introductions to new board of supervisors legislative aids they need to know what we are and equinox which community how we can help them as legislators to make sure they have the people for small businesses; right? (clearing throat) i haven't heard of an economic impact report come gastroacross our deck that's at tool that did board of supervisors can request and um, it is an interesting document that we can even push the board or mayor to request if we feel like a certain legislation will have an impact um, on our economy; right? um, so i think that is good for us

to know where is the policy leverage we can press ours and i think that maybe helps us understand those strategic goals when it comes to our roles in policy and come together and staff come up with a couple of examples how we've gone from idea to policy and, you know, on this commission. um, how we written resolution and effect into law and definitely on our website see the policies we've created and definitely take a look at that and if you haven't and even just the first for example, how our policies come full circle, you know, customer service kind of things that is what the special about that body i think because we have the ability to do both um, and so i'd like to see some of us do

goals like action items when it comes to, you know, what we want to contribute or see here more and what we want to weigh in on more and whether, you know, what are the means to get there; right? getting more referrals those those office making - with other commissions like the immigrant commission and commission, you know, because the small business communities are based in people's community; right? and so um, there is the nexus study we're seeing a lot of storefront businesses deal with a lot of unfavored issues in san francisco; right? and can trade some of that in certain communities right not enough services um, and the

segments we work in will see homeless not just the workforce problem i'd like to see some of those connections drawn where we can actually situate splbz and context and work with other departments they're doing that and then (rustling of papers.) yeah, that's what i would see what we can come up with policies and goals and then yeah. i love we brought up small property owners they don't come up own this commission i would like to know how we're engaging with some of the maul property owners something on that will scare people if they're not informed address

that is all property owners yeah love the idea to find the hard to reach small business areas and come up some action items around that that carries on our what we started in the racial equity and had goals in mind we put on paper the most vulnerable segments how we can make things easier for them, you know, so might be time to look at wasn't we're done and where we can pull out some unfinished business for exacerbates comboits /* combaebts exacerbates. >> a way to look at a way to

put the legacy business registry or the program where will that fall within the categories whether in progress or approved things like that will be a good way to see where we're making strives and is that an internal document. >> more of an internal document just to make sure we're staying on track and um, i think we can get thrown in a million directions; right? and respond with transportation and safety so really a way to guide all of you and what you want to do as a commission. >> (unintelligible).

>> i'm going to show a second slide office goals that speaks more to - [off mic.] >> i think this document is available for (unintelligible). >> so i think this is a really good document to take a look at especially, you kno - >> metrics, you know, so those are for the office i'd like to see [off mic.] >> i think we tried to do something similar for the commission and the commission at

that time wanted to have the programs and policies focus versus the metrics hard for you to execute in this way (laughter) together as a body so i think that kind of makes sense that really go back to the first page really you telling us what you care about and what we can work together with. >> um, let's see - are there any other thoughts about strategic goals? any i guess this is what we're going to carry forward into the current year unless there are things - did you feel things were added today would be added into. >> i think there is some um, thing we can fin us internally and get a little bit of a

progress report and have the annual report came out maybe reshare that with the group here and came out in january that can shed a light on achievements across the strategies we can do especially coming up around a new fiscal year i jotted down notes to see where we can put forward for something for fiscal year 2024, 25 i guess. >> i trying to think if there is any other - i think that's all i have on my list but, you know, just also that this is kind of an ongoing thing. so every meeting we have um, you know, new agenda items and have a space to bring up new

interesting things so this will continue to evolve as we move forward this year okay. great - yeah. >> laughter we have no more to add. and do you think by the next meeting you'll have something drafted and we'll have to look at it again. >> we can circulate from updates prior to the next meeting at the next meeting is that the correct direction? and take action to officially approve this fiscal year. >> sounds good. there any public comment in the room? >> public comment is closed. next item. >> 5. approval of draft meeting minutes (discussion and action item) the commission will take

action to approve the draft meeting minutes. >> want to make a motion to approve the. >> motion to approve. >> first take public comment. >> officially opened up. >> (laughter.) >> is there any public comment? >> no? seeing none, public comment is closed and now yes. okay. >> motion to approve. >> the meeting notes. >> by commissioner benitez do i have a second? >> i second. >> seconded by commissioner herbert i'll read the roll, commissioner benitez, yes. >> commissioner cornet, yes. >> commissioner dickerson, yes. >> commissioner herbert, yes. >> president huie, yes. vice

president zouzounis motion carries minutes carries minutes are approved and commission's jurisdiction but not on today's calendar, and suggest new agenda items for the commission's future consideration. seeing none, public comment is closed. and next item, please. >> 7. director's report (discussion item) an update on the office of small business and policy and elective and announcements from the mayor. >> announcements regarding small business activity. >> all right. thank you commissioners and again, wanted to wish commissioner cornet a warm welcome for your first meeting congratulations (clapping.) in terms of legislative updates we talked about one of the action items i'll not go into

that but you heard me talk about the legacy business registry change when rick presented here. as a reminder this was legislation to amend or create a new fund in the legacy business registry to essentially require a stabilization program property owners need to give 50 percent of grant money. and this would be for now applicants. oh, wow. and not requiring my new funds or things like that but that program change was approved by the board of supervisors last tuesday that was final vote should be taking effective shortly and with regards to the small business program you know about this was created serve

years ago to help address a lot of the issues that small businesses especially were facing with regards to lawsuits from people to unfortunately, make a quick buck from small businesses that is unfortunate and at the same time the city was trying to make sure that people were aware of the responsibility of improvements from the federal and state level and welcome for participants but we do understand that the assessable brans program has been challenging financially and permitting, etc. so chair mandelman has legislation that was reviewed to extend the deadline under that program we understand how difficult that is for some of the businesses to make improvements and also opportunities to pitch that we offer year-round programs

reimburse up to $10,000 for any business that includes the section certified access for inspection as well as the, you know, the materials the supplies, the construction work, um, to bring our businesses to better facilities so that update with regards to the awning amnesty program let you know that many things to the incredible to the team is gathering second round of the outreach and e-mails and so individual outreach to small businesses that have received complaints. um, where the city received a complaint from someone before their business having an awning we recall this happening in 2023 i want to say

where someone made a several complaints about awning on businesses and the mayor's office created a awning program expires june 26th of this year we're trying to do a semi outreach to make sure that people are aware of those programs for any missing awnings and the requirement for the permit applications much, much more simplified only need photos and with dimensions and forms filled out don't have to hire a contractor for plans or things like that so we really want to encourage people to take advantage of that if you know anyone is curious about that having if you have any questions we will help and asked do planning department to send out

curiosities courtesy - we ask informs to be sent to landowners a business owners and then the department of building inspections will hand out notice and if you're available to help anyone in the process so courage you to do that if you need help and lastly, share on behalf of our small business program the heritage happy hours at lounge of stars on comet street in the richmond and the one after that that the small business week event um, may 9th and

landlord/tenant that 199 market street and that is the legacy business mixer they're a way for small business owners to connect with each other but welcome, everyone and it is what it is i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. >> commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> thank you do director i have a question about the awning that means they're not compliant not like i have a couple of businesses got them from our office does that sound right. >> our office would have sent out flyers. >> (multiple voices). >> um, but we focus our outreach on the complaints. or notice of violation so we didn't do a blanket. >> okay. okay. >> (multiple

voices). >> now i understand so i could yeah focus on that. thank you. >> commissioner benitez commissioner herbert and on for existing awnings. >> if you're interesting in new aging & adult services every may permit fees are waved for any stauksz for awning designs that occurs every year the theme regulations (rustling of papers.) are you need to go in into apply and have photos - landscape

confirmed for example, more legacy business registry coming. >> commissioner ortiz-cartagena i want to give you feedback we have ab and around that and phenomenal when the grants are phenomenal in the process and i wish i think more businesses would really like to took advantage take advantage of that and maybe can be complicated because like a gets

messy quick; right? and scary more than anything but regina been great and everybody in our office has been great and those are the resources; right? it goes toward (unintelligible) so that alone i'm not trying to sound cheesy but (laughter) knowing what you're not complying makes a difference that alone so said to highlight that. >> commissioner benitez. >> you brought it up about the small businesses i think small business week. >> both. >> all of us, yes everyday a small business. >> (laughter.) >> anything that is required or recommend you like us to par take in at all?

>> we'll be sending anti invites for various events and still in the works and yeah, we welcome you to particle but everyday here is small business week in san francisco. >> yeah. i will share as a purview one exciting thing from marianne these office and one thing new this year we're always do a pop out event usually at city hall this year will bringing it to sales force for the terminal one we want to bring more attention to the downtown area. um, but a lot of vacancies if transbay terminal area on top a lot of the workers that actually in the sales force expressed a desire do so more businesses kind of it is

challenging situation; right? businesses may not be to not about there because not enough workers this pop out is a way to attract more people in the area and really want to people that are interested in renting out spaces. and um, just yeah do something new and part of the city. >> so we will definitely invite you to that that. >> thank you very much. i think right now is the amazing time to really consider, you know, what type of small business that fits your life (laughter) like a lot of people have been thinking about starting small businesses i have spoken to personally they've been thinking about that and waiting for the right time and, you know, i think to consider starting with

small business now um, uptick not necessarily open tomorrow; right? but taking the first steps towards that is um, you know, there is so many supports right now available to help with the whole process. i heard from that we're like you have iris to help you with finding a location and you know negotiating landlord and knowing what the standards are at the point beyond iris technical assistance and grants financial assistance many people are open to supporting small businesses right now. i think this is kind of the morale of the story; right? like try it (laughter) try to out. i think it, you know, it is a made for crazy people is really fun

(laughter) okay. well seeing none, comments oh, go ahead. >> oh. okay. to other comments up here any public comment? >> seeing none, public comment is closed. . thank you very much. director tang for your presentation. >> next item, please. >> 8. commissioner discussion and new business (discussion item) vice president and president to report on small business activity and make announcements for small business community and staff allowed the commissioners to bring up now agenda items. >> commissioner ortiz-cartagena. >> thank you president huie i went to the fillmore for. >> that is a good for example,

of young adults entrepreneurs was able to use every single grant and agency every embryoand highly successful and this space serves like services like as is community space as a small business anticipate she i think bats other small businesses her brands the first year all the grants we have out there i can't name them all but take advantage of this success story and filling in, you know, where all the, you know, big spaces, you know, maul spaces, you know, like across the street from the safe way and really part of, you know, 134bz i want to highlight that things work; right? it works like in practice so hero

regrand opening i say that lots of time but for the record dph and mobile food permitting director tang brought this up in communication i culturally from like latino perspective i have a sense of urgency i see what is coming and going to come once the permitting, you know, get situated will have a impact i hate to - not only in our community we have to, you know, get right in front of it like a complicated issue to be compliant mobile food going to be compliant and become, you know, what i mean heart. >> can i repeat the name of business. >> mission b at 1709 farrell

in the heart of fillmore. >> were you on the radio at one point. >> no did audiencetions for my next career. >> xaubts. >> for xoubt can you share what you're concerns are about dph? so everyone can hear. >> so dph has been great at least the people i've contacted so state legislation; right? passed and we're not compliant to the state legislation; right? my concern is that there's been a sense since we've not done a great job enforcing but the barriers can be compliant will

be almost insoufrpt able to hotdog vendors nobody is not close to being compliant and what is the pathway to becoming compliant have a commercial kitchen and cart it is crazy not in a bad way whereas acceptable and allowed what will happen will be a huge shock and more vulnerable in the community and that's what i want to do not only dph but the community like reach out to the vendor, you know, whenever like what are we doing as communities mobile food vendors hey this is what that been and are you ready for this and coachella, you know,

devising a pathway. >> thank you, commissioner for your advocacy to the state has allowed different jurisdictions throughout california to operate what they calling compact mobile food operations and paid by the size what it about allow for cooking for example, people via those like carts essentially and san francisco currently is not allowing pop out food operations has been championship with the role out of the street vendor program can only sell specific food no cooked food i think outside the box dph is concerned while they have the program

regulations, you know, their department the reality they need other departments dph for example, to help with the regulations and dph is as you know street vending a challenging the city is not ready to roll out those operations and there are contact for this issue. >> commissioner herbert. >> i forgot to take my name off sorry. >> i just have a couple of things i think just to chair kerry and i met with the office of financial comboufrment after the last meeting and they shared with us they do a one-on-one kind of financial i mean their

office just to give you a little bit of background their office is really focused on more residents like individual san francisco residents or people who um, work in san francisco. so not necessarily towards small businesses. but i felt it was an opportunity for small businesses to connect with them because we hire residents and hire people to work in san francisco; right? so i know they do a lot of outreach to people as they um, get supportive services and things like that for us we're seeing people on a daily basis we know what happens, you know, like sometimes, we have employees that call in and can't make that my car broke down this person is, you know, it is going be become a challenging road if this i have to shell out and then start to miss more work or

someone else happens i think our office is on the front lines of thinking where we're at and i think we often act agree as mentors trying to help everyone out we function like family; right? and so i think, you know, realize reprovide services like this to people to anybody and had this helps to give us a mechanism to refer people so instead us experimenting spending a lot of time and give of him minorityship that is a program that the city provides we can give out as a benefit to

our employees and always looking for ways that small businesses can really come together to offer benefits to the - the city has what we have can do versus like a big corporation we care about people that work for us not that other people don't (laughter) i think care in a way that is different when you work for a large corporation so it is finding that mechanism to support our employees that we can. so that's really cool they offer one-on-one counseling is there another program? >> no, that was the main one. >> yeah. yeah. i think for other um, oh, for students they can help if you do hire students who have significant or i mean

student loans what, what help with advising like how to councilmember horland loans or get better rates things like that they're able to provide cloufrnl that that if you know if one of your employees paying loans they've follow-up with sort of a list of their resources and can share them but and that is maybe something other businesses wanted to share with their employees that would be great. >> this will be i think create a little piping a wonderful resource. i can go on later. >> oh, (laughter). >> the other thing i had a question i guess in terms of

graffiti mediation. >> the graffiti abatement program is still in existence if we can continue this i think a desire do have this program renewed more long term so we're not process of that research right now. >> wonderful. thank you. >> and this is just something that i thought i'd share that i don't know if you all know about the crossed o crosstown trail. i am trying my best to go out and walk the city has as much as i can (laughter) i think this is a really interesting the across town trail will start near candle stick; right? and take you across town to ocean beach and now have the double cross that goes in a x forms; right? and

takes i'm like will totally champion if i know the details (laughter) i know that goes past chinatown so (laughter) but, you know, i love that they are really interested in supporting small businesses so like as you walk they're encouraging people to stop into grab coffee and check out the retail store residents have created this this is a grassroots, you know, community of people that really want to champion the city in a all opportunity for small businesses to get in touch with some of the people involved in creating the maps for the trail and talk

about like, you know, what type of events we have. i envision like day and night walking situations (laughter) like i think will be fantastic to have those events around um, fitness and i think this across town trail is really exciting brings us into so many neighborhoods and that's all i have to say. >> vice president zouzounis. >> thank you yeah i'm not grad you brought up some employee benefits and how we can try to, you know, work towards that a little bit more a goal i have and with that, in mind i wanted to ask if there were any updates to the healthcare security ordinance funds that were um,

kind of contemplated for moved somewhere else i know we had childcare bonds or ballots or the last few years i'm curious since the childcare and healthcare are both important things for employees for small business i'm curious if anything in the pipeline is planned we can, you know, be aware of? >> yeah. maybe vice president zouzounis you if wouldn't mind exacerbating on both but on the security ordinance some of the employers have an account with the city or help with the city and not all the funds were used by the employees so um, the city can't access those funds yet

have the city first has to to notify all the employees the accounts and make sure they have ample opportunity to case those funds for my healthcare expenditures and so a south america period of time but, yes love to know more about yeah anything thoughts or questions around childcare. >> created ordinance legislation i'm curious if there is going to be making any changes that are going to um, you know, increase childcare for our workforce. i think one i haven't heard for a minute but had money accruing for that in the city um, so- >> i'm not aware of the money for childcare services but

several years ago supervisor norman yee supported the changes to create childcare business so create childcare facilities and so i think that is, you know, underway that is actually implemented. um, so, yeah i'm not sure funding. >> oh, no, that helps to answer my question- >> (multiple voices). >> some incentive for childcare to it underline for the small business and workforce and just the healthcare ordinance thanks for the update i'm sharing that will take some time um, but i'm hoping that we can when there are funds or initiatives around those things that our commission can weigh in on benefits for small businesses

i want to i want to put that out there. >> all right. >> any other commissioners comments? >> any public comment? >> seeing none, public comment is closed. all right. next item. >> >> 9. adjournment. and sfgovtv please show the slide. >> is it too late you forgot i wanted to give commissioner cornet and moment thank you, sfgovtv public forum to voice your opinions. the small business commission in san francisco is the best place to give comments during local emergencies. whatever i wanted to give you a moment a minute to um, welcome you. (laughter) to the commission (laughter). >> and i'm sorry this meeting i'm thrown off how bold we are and excited to have you on the

commission i know and i spent time together and got to know you're a little bit about you and your business would you like a few minutes to share about yourself or is that okay? >> (laughter.) >> yeah. >> thank you. >> um, so a little bit about me i started my first business a long time ago in a sale loan and moved to the moved to the - i love retail and customer service and love i love small business and the challenge i i'm a work alcoholic but finding this evolving creative ways to meet

the needs of the complies and for the businesses i think just to challenge myself and happier to serve on the board that helps to bridge the gap for small businesses between the city and the businesses and needs. um, i look forward to more items as well as, however, i can assist. thank you. >> thank you. >> commissioner herbert welcome a wholehearted welcome. >> yeah. >>. thank you very much. >> um. okay. i think sorry i'm all off sorry (laughter). >> >> >> 9. adjournment.

voice your opinions. the small business commission in san francisco is the best place to give comments during local emergencies. our services are free of charge. thank you for corresponding and please continue to reach out to the office of small business. please call item 1. [meeting adjourned] (gavel)

>> this is one place you can always count on to give you what you had before and remind you of what your san francisco history used to be. >> we hear that all the time, people bring their kids here and their grandparents brought them here and down the line. >> even though people move away, whenever they come back to the city, they make it here. and they tell us that. >> you're going to get something made fresh, made by hand and made with quality products and something that's very, very good.

♪♪ >> the legacy bars and restaurants was something that was begun by san francisco simply to recognize and draw attention to the establishments. it really provides for san francisco's unique character. ♪♪ >> and that morphed into a request that we work with the city to develop a legacy business registration. >> i'm michael cirocco and the owner of an area bakery. ♪♪ the bakery started in 191. my grandfather came over from italy and opened it up then. it is a small operation. it's not big. so everything is kind of quality that way.

so i see every piece and cut every piece that comes in and out of that oven. >> i'm leslie cirocco-mitchell, a fourth generation baker here with my family. ♪♪ so we get up pretty early in the morning. i usually start baking around 5:00. and then you just start doing rounds of dough. loaves. >> my mom and sister basically handle the front and then i have my nephew james helps and then my two daughters and my wife come in and we actually do the baking. after that, my mom and my sister stay and sell the product, retail it. ♪♪ you know, i don't really think about it. but then when i -- sometimes when i go places and i look and see places put up, oh this is our 50th anniversary and everything and we've been over 100 and that is when it kind of hits me.

you know, that geez, we've been here a long time. [applause] ♪♪ >> a lot of people might ask why our legacy business is important. we all have our own stories to tell about our ancestry. our lineage and i'll use one example of tommy's joint. tommy's joint is a place that my husband went to as a child and he's a fourth generation san franciscan. it's a place we can still go to today with our children or grandchildren and share the stories of what was san francisco like back in the 1950s. >> i'm the general manager at tommy's joint. people mostly recognize tommy's joint for its murals on the outside of the building.

very bright blue. you drive down and see what it is. they know the building. tommy's is a san francisco hoffa, which is a german-style presenting food. we have five different carved meats and we carve it by hand at the station. you prefer it to be carved whether you like your brisket fatty or want it lean. you want your pastrami to be very lean. you can say i want that piece of corn beef and want it cut, you know, very thick and i want it with some sauerkraut. tell the guys how you want to prepare it and they will do it right in front of you. san francisco's a place that's changing restaurants, except for tommy's joint. tommy's joint has been the same since it opened and that is important. san francisco in general that

we don't lose a grip of what san francisco's came from. tommy's is a place that you'll always recognize whenever you lock in the door. you'll see the same staff, the same bartender and have the same meal and that is great. that's important. ♪♪ >> the service that san francisco heritage offers to the legacy businesses is to help them with that application process, to make sure that they really recognize about them what it is that makes them so special here in san francisco. ♪♪ so we'll help them with that application process if, in fact, the board of supervisors does recognize them as a legacy

business, then that does entitle them to certain financial benefits from the city of san francisco. but i say really, more importantly, it really brings them public recognition that this is a business in san francisco that has history and that is unique to san francisco. >> it started in june of 1953. ♪♪ and we make everything from scratch. everything. we started a you -- we started a off with 12 flavors and mango fruits from the philippines and then started trying them one by one and the family had a whole new clientele. the business really boomed after that. >> i think that the flavors we

make reflect the diversity of san francisco. we were really surprised about the legacy project but we were thrilled to be a part of it. businesses come and go in the city. pretty tough for businesss to stay here because it is so expensive and there's so much competition. so for us who have been here all these years and still be popular and to be recognized by the city has been really a huge honor. >> we got a phone call from a woman who was 91 and she wanted to know if the mitchells still owned it and she was so happy that we were still involved, still the owners. she was our customer in 1953. and she still comes in. but she was just making sure that we were still around and

it just makes us feel, you know, very proud that we're carrying on our father's legacy. and that we mean so much to so many people. ♪♪ >> it provides a perspective. and i think if you only looked at it in the here and now, you're missing the context. for me, legacy businesses, legacy bars and restaurants are really about setting the context for how we come to be where we are today. >> i just think it's part of san francisco. people like to see familiar stuff. at least i know i do. >> in the 1950s, you could see a picture of tommy's joint and looks exactly the same. we haven't change add thing. >> i remember one lady saying, you know, i've been eating this ice cream since before i was born. and i thought, wow! we have, too. ♪♪

♪♪ >> san francisco! ♪♪ >> this is an exhibition across departments highlighting different artworks from our collection. gender is an important part of the dialogue. in many ways, this exhibition is contemporary. all of this artwork is from the 9th century and spans all the way to the 21st century. the exhibition is organized into

seven different groupings or themes such as activities, symbolism, transformation and others. it's not by culture or time period, but different affinities between the artwork. activities, for example, looks at the role of gender and how certain activities are placed as feminine or masculine. we have a print by uharo that looks at different activities that derisionly performed by men. it's looking at the theme of music. we have three women playing traditional japanese instruments that would otherwise be played by men at that time. we have pairings so that is looking within the context of gender in relationships. also with how people are questioning the whole idea of pairing in the first place.

we have three from three different cultures, tibet, china and japan. this is sell vanity stot relevar has been fluid in different time periods in cultures. sometimes being female in china but often male and evoking features associated with gender binaries and sometimes in between. it's a lovely way of tying all the themes together in this collection. gender and sexuality, speaking from my culture specifically, is something at that hasn't been recently widely discussed. this exhibition shows that it's gender and sexuality are actually have been considered

and complicated by dialogue through the work of artists and thinking specifically, a sculpture we have of the hindu deities because it's half pee male and half male. it turns into a different theme in a way and is a beautiful representation of how gender hasn't been seen as one thing or a binary. we see that it isn't a modest concept. in a way, i feel we have a lot of historical references and touch points throughout all the ages and in asian cultures. i believe san francisco has close to 40% asian. it's a huge representation here in the bay area. it's important that we awk abouk about this and open up the discussion around gender. what we've learned from organizing this exhibition at

the museum is that gender has been something that has come up in all of these cultures through all the time periods as something that is important and relevant. especially here in the san francisco bay area we feel that it's relevant to the conversations that people are having today. we hope that people can carry that outside of the museum into their daily lit. >> shop & dine in the 49 promotes local businesses and challenges resident to do their shop & dine in the 49 within the 49 square miles of san francisco

by supporting local services in the neighborhood we help san francisco remain unique successful and vibrant so we're will you shop & dine in the 49 chinatown has to be one the best unique shopping areas in san francisco that is color fulfill and safe each vegetation and seafood and find everything in chinatown the walk shop in chinatown welcome to jason dessert i'm the fifth generation of candy in san francisco still that serves 2000 district in the chinatown in the past it was the tradition and my family was the royal chef in the pot pals that's why we learned this stuff and moved from here to have dragon candy i want

people to know that is art we will explain a walk and they can't walk in and out it is different techniques from stir frying to smoking to steaming and they do show of. >> beer a royalty for the age berry up to now not people know that especially the toughest they think this is - i really appreciate they love this art. >> from the cantonese to the hypomania and we have hot pots we have all of the cuisines of china in our chinatown you don't have to go far. >> small business is important to our neighborhood because if we really make a lot of people lives better

more people get a job here not just a big firm. >> you don't have to go anywhere else we have pocketed of great neighborhoods haul have all have their own uniqueness. >> san francisco has to allte

>> a lot of housing advocates to speak out again poison pills that president peskin my name is jay the san francisco oregon director for mba action and from the action coalition owe a lot of housing advocates as well as some of our elected leaders joining us to push back against this i want to briefly just mention this is not unfortunately, the first thing by the had to get to the with president peskin this is not his first anti housing action a long list recently, i