director, didn't give you a minute to comment, but if there is any other context we love to hear from you in your report. okay. alright. item number 4. >> item 4 approval of draft meeting minutes. discussion and action. the commission will discuss and possibly take action to approve the draft february 27, 2023 meeting minutes. >> any questions on the minutes? any public comment on this item? number 4, meeting minutes. >> not in the room and none online. >> public comment is closed. anybody want to make a motion on the draft meeting minutes? >> motion to approve.

>> second. >> motion by commissioner herbert, seconded by commissioner dickerson. >> (indiscernible) >> commissioner carter is absent. commissioner dickerson, yes. commissioner herbert, yes. president huey is absent. commissioner ortiz cartagena, yes. vice president zouzounis, yes. motion passes. >> okay. item number 5 please. is there anyone in the room for general public comment? any items not on today's agenda? okay. any commenters online? >> there are no commenters online or in the room. >> great. public comment is closed. next item, please. >> item 6, director's report. this is a discussion

item. >> thank you director. >> alright. good evening commissioners. for the first update i just wanted to remind folks in case you missed the announcement that happened in february, which is that the mayor has introduced legislation to pause the increase on gross receipts tax, and so this delay or if the ordinance passes, then the gross receipts tax increases would be delayed two years. just a bit of background, when voters approved the switch from payroll tax to gross receipts tax the ballot measure allowed for delay in tax increases for some industries including retail, food services arts maintenance manufacturing and entertain and recreation until 2023 so in 2023 and gone through really difficult times so the legislation aims to support these

industries especially those hardest hit by covid-19 so wanted to make sure everyone caught that announcement. secondly, you may have seen that supervisor stefani introduced a resolution regarding employee retention tax edcrt that would be heard at the board of supervisors tomorrow, march 14 and it urges our office to initiate a public education campaign and to raise awareness on availability of the employee retention tax credit. you probably heard our previous commission president sharky laguna talk about this so this is a effort the office will continue to be working on so we are crafting some additional outreach and educational efforts and welcome ideas you have. any of the commissioners how else or if you want to share personal experiences trying to apply for the ertc we love to hear it. but we will try to encourage people to not leave money on

the table so i will be channeling our former commission president. next, i know we heard about awnings and so wanted to provide a update that we are continuing to work with the different permitting agencies to find out the most efficient way for businesses that have been hit with complaints and or notice of violations recently so over 200 of them that were sparked by complaints from private individual or individuals, so we just letting you know we'll continue working on that but meanwhile, if permits need to be pulled then at least there is the awning fee waver program that exist every may. and then also wanted to let you know there is the second annual hospitality small business job fair happening wednesday april 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the san francisco ferry building in the front plaza. april 12, wednesday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ferry

building. we had conversations even here where some businesses are having trouble hiring workers and so wanted to make sure you are aware of this opportunity so this is hosted in conjunction with our colleagues at the workforce division at oewd, office of economic workforce development and for employers trying to recruit 5 or more employees, you can participate in this job fair and sign up ahead of time on the workforce link page to register as a business that is looking to hire workers. also, if you are a job seeker you are welcome to come. you can potentially get some interviews done on the spot, and the rsvp link is

link.oewd.org/hiringfai r. in case anyone is interested. lastly, sharing that the shared spaces program just wanted to note that to date 3015 applications have been submitted. of those, 2276 were for sidewalks or parking lane so the traditional shared space structures we are thinking about, and then also of that 3015, 589 of those were roadway applications so meaning the slow streets programs, street closure types, and then 146 were for private lots, so some examples of those might be back patios. quite a few businesses are still applying to keep the shared spaces for example dining, eating and drinking you traditionally think of. those are my updates for today and happy to answer any questions that you all have.

>> well, i finally-not finally, i guess probably i started in january looking for someone to do my erc, but i have binge book keeping as my accountants and binge tax as my tax prepares and they could not tell me how to get my erc tax credit. i started looking outside of that and took so much time is why i was delayed in filing, because i couldn't find anyone who could do it. then when i did find someone, the first person said, i was like okay, this is great. he was so excited and i said okay, that's great. what do you charge? what is your percent-do you charge a percentage or flat rate. he

said 40 percent. so, i can't tell you what i said on the microphone. i know i'm being recorded but i politely backed out and said i need to try somebody else. so, then as i kept looking it kept getting lower, but the only place or the right now what i could find, right now i can't find anyone that do less then 20 percent. granted, but this was the part, it was-this is what is happening now, not sure if you filed or not or anyone is still interested, i'm more then happy-i found a guy who is very reasonable. there are quarters you are losing now that were in delay. now we lost a quarter, so if you are qualified you are now only qualified for 5 quarters as of i believe april. and 4 quarters and 3

quarters. if you haven't done it and need someone, i do have a guy. but i do have a guy if you are interested. i'm sure i'm not the only one who came across the dilemma for someone who can file it. it was a law firm for me that had to do it. i was unaware. now that i'm aware, i'm more then willing to help whom ever needs help, because this was-that was a journey. commissioner ortiz cartagena. >> commissioner dickeren s can i add? small business, be aware because some people getting commission, they set up the paperwork but make it seem like you are still filing so not putting their agency name or their tax code so

be careful because if you are paying a percentage, they should be putting their firm's name, not you personally. that is big. i have noticed that and yes the percentage has gone up, but it is money. i helped several businesses and they actually get a check. just-but, i was going to announce one of our sister cbo's in the mission has their second annual event. it is calle venta quatro. it is taking over the space, cleaning, activating the corridor in order for them to keep our cultural district clean and viable and vibrant and helping small businesses and storefronts so everybody is welcome to participate. saturday march 18, 10

a.m. thank you. >> any other questions for our director before we continue with commissioner comments? any other commissioner comments? okay. >> no public comments. >> no public comment. no public comment on item number 6 or 7 and next item, please. >> item- >> item 6. >> any commissioner comments that haven't been made yet? we got mixed up. okay. >> you want mead me to read item 6? >> we closed item 6, correct? >> item 7. >> yes. >> item 7, commissioner discussion and new business. this is discussion

item. >> any further announcements from our commission? any public comment on item 7? >> there is none in the room and none online. >> item 7, public comment is closed. next item, please. >> item 8, adjournment. sf tv. >> the small business commission official public forum is the official public forum to voice your opinions and concerns about policies that effect the economic vitality of small businesses in san francisco and the office of small business is the best place to get answers about doing business in san francisco during the local emergency. if you need assistance with small business matters, continue to reach out to the

office of small business. meeting adjourned. [meeting adjourned] te >> in 1948 swensen's ice cream

used to make ice cream in the navy and decided to open up an ice cream shop it it takes time for the parent to put money down and diane one of the managers at zen citizen in arena hills open and serve old-fashioned ice cream. >> over 20 years. >> yeah. >> had my own business i was a firefighter and came in- in 1969 her dad had ice cream and left here still the owner but shortly after um, in here became the inc. maker the manager and lead and branded the store from

day to day and in the late 90s- was obvious choice he sold it to him and he called us up one night and said i'm going to sell the ice cream store what you you talking about diane came and looked at the store and something we want to do and had a history of her dad here and growing up here at the ice cream store we decided to take that business on. >> and have it in the family i didn't want to sell it. >> to keep it here in san francisco. >> and (unintelligible). >> share worked there and worked with all the people and a lot of customers come in. >> a round hill in the

adjoining areas loved neither ice cream shop in this area and support russia hills and have clean up day and give them free ice cream because that is those are the people that keep us the opportunity to stick around here four so many years next generations have been coming her 20 er thirty or 40 years and we have the ingredients something it sold and, you know, her dad said to treat the customers right and people will keep on coming back and 75 or 74 years, you know, that is quite an accomplishment i think of it as our first 75 years and like to see that, you know, going into the future um, that ice cream

shop will be around used to be 4 hundred in the united states and all gone equipment for that one that is the first and last we're proud of that we're still standing and people people are you tell people it's been around in 50 years and don't plan on

>> tenderloin is unique neighborhood where geographically place in downtown san francisco and on every street corner have liquor store in the corner it stores pretty much every single block has a liquor store but there are impoverishes grocery stores i'm the co-coordinated of the

healthy corner store collaboration close to 35 hundred residents 4 thousand are children the medium is about $23,000 a year so a low income neighborhood many new immigrants and many people on fixed incomes residents have it travel outside of their neighborhood to assess fruits and vegetables it can be come senator for seniors and hard to travel get on a bus to get an apple or a pear or like tomatoes to fit into their meals my my name is ryan the co-coordinate for the tenderloin healthy store he coalition we work in the neighborhood trying

to support small businesses and improving access to healthy produce in the tenderloin that is one of the most neighborhoods that didn't have access to a full service grocery store and we california together out of the meeting held in 2012 through the major development center the survey with the corners stores many stores do have access and some are bad quality and an overwhelming support from community members wanting to utilities the service spas we decided to work with the small businesses as their role within the community and bringing more fresh produce produce cerebrothe neighborhood their compassionate about creating a healthy environment when we get into the work they rise up to leadership. >> the different stores and

assessment and trying to get them to understand the value of having healthy foods at a reasonable price you can offer people fruits and vegetables and healthy produce they can't afford it not going to be able to allow it so that's why i want to get involved and we just make sure that there are alternatives to people can come into a store and not just see cookies and candies and potting chips and that kind of thing hi, i'm cindy the director of the a preif you believe program it is so important about healthy retail in the low income community is how it brings that health and hope to the communities i worked in the tenderloin for 20 years the difference you walk

out the door and there is a bright new list of fresh fruits and vegetables some place you know is safe and welcoming it makes. >> huge difference to the whole environment of the community what so important about retail environments in those neighborhoods it that sense of dignity and community safe way. >> this is why it is important for the neighborhood we have families that needs healthy have a lot of families that live up here most of them fruits and vegetables so that's good as far been doing good. >> now that i had this this is really great for me, i, go and

get fresh fruits and vegetables it is healthy being a diabetic you're not supposed to get carbons but getting extra food a all carbons not eating a lot of vegetables was bringing up my whether or not pressure once i got on the program everybody o everything i lost weight and my blood pressure came down helped in so many different ways the most important piece to me when we start seeing the business owners engagement and their participation in the program but how proud to speak that is the most moving piece of

this program yes economic and social benefits and so forth but the personal pride business owners talk about in the program is interesting and regarding starting to understand how they're part of the larger fabric of the community and this is just not the corner store they have influence over their community. >> it is an owner of this in the department of interior i see the great impact usually that is like people having especially with a small family think liquor store sells alcohol traditional alcohol but when they see this their vision is changed it is a small grocery store for them so they more options not just

beer and wine but healthy options good for the business and good for the community i wish to have more [music] >> san francisco is known as yerba buena, good herb after a mint that used to grow here. at this time there were 3 settlements one was mission delores. one the presidio and one was yerba buena which was urban center. there were 800 people in 1848 it

was small. a lot of historic buildings were here including pony express headquarters. wells fargo. hudson bay trading company and famous early settlers one of whom william leaderdorph who lived blocks from here a successful business person. african-american decent and the first million airin california. >> wilwoman was the founders of san francisco. here during the gold rush came in the early 1840s. he spent time stake himself as a merchant seaman and a business person. his father and brother in new orleans. we know him for san francisco's history. establishing himself here arnold 18 twoochl he did one of many

things the first to do in yerba buena. was not california yet and was not fully san francisco yet. >> because he was an american citizen but spoke spanish he was able to during the time when america was taking over california from mexico, there was annexations that happened and conflict emerging and war, of course. he was part of the peek deliberations and am bas doorship to create the state of california a vice council to mexico. mexico granted him citizenship. he loaned the government of san francisco money. to funds some of the war efforts to establish the city itself and the state, of course. he established the first hotel here the person people turned to often to receive dignitaries or hold large gatherings established the first public

school here and helped start the public school system. he piloted the first steam ship on the bay. a big event for san francisco and depict instead state seal the ship was the sitk a. there is a small 4 block long length of street, owned much of that runs essentially where the transamerica building is to it ends at california. i walk today before am a cute side street. at this point t is the center what was all his property. he was the person entrusted to be the city's first treasurer. that is i big deal of itself to have that legacy part of an african-american the city's first banker. he was not only a forefather of the establishment of san francisco and california as a state but a leader in industry.

he had a direct hahn in so many things that we look at in san francisco. part of our dna. you know you don't hear his anymore in the context of those. representation matters. you need to uplift this so people know him but people like him like me. like you. like anyone who looks like him to be, i can do this, too. to have the city's first banker and a street in the middle of financial district. that alone is powerful. [music] welcome

to the government over sxiet audit committee i'm dean preston joined by vice chair stefani and supervisor connie chan. the clerk is stefani cabrera. we want to thank the team at sfgovtv for staffing this meeting. any announcements. >> convening hybrid meetings allow in person attendance and public comment providing