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good morning and welcome to the monday, april 10, 2023 meeting of the rules committee of the board of supervisor i'm supervisor dorse competence joined by vice chair walton and member safai. i want to express our graft to youed to our clerk mr. victor young and thanks also to the team at sfgovtv for facilitating and broadcasting today's meeting our producer today, ms.

janet:the board of spierzs are convening hybrid meetings allowing remote access and public comment via phone. equal access of essential and will be taking comment as follows. first it will be taken on each item. those in person will speak first and then take those on the phone bienful for those watching 26, 98 and 99 and sfgov.org the call in number is streaming. the number is 415-655-0001. then enter access code: 2480 819 2523 ##. you will be in listening mode. when your item come up and public comment is called those in person lineup to speak and

those on the telephone dial star 3 to be added to the peeshg line if youor the telephone turn down all listening device. we'll take public ment from those in the room first then the phone line. you may submit is in writing to myself the rules clerk victor. young sfgov.org. if you commit is via e mill tell be forwarded to be included as part of the file. you may send written comment to our office at city hall 1 dr. carlton b. goodlett place room to 44. san francisco, california 94102. that completes my comments. >> thank you. call item one. >> item one is an ordinance amending the code to revise the duties of small business commission replacing the duty to cord mate application and selection process to recognize

contributions by small bye-byes during mall business among a duty to coordinate activities to encourage the public to support mall business during mall business mont. >> thank you. today we are joined by aaron peskin and katy tang from the office of small business who can speak. president peskin, welcome. >> thank you. member of rowel this is is a relatively small chink to section 2a.240 of the add stritive code relates to power and duties of the small business commission. it is a rather pedestrian amendment that changes the over low prittive recipe that i think but i may be wrong. supervisor chris daly originally drafted decades ago upon the

creation of small business which provision prescribed the small business commission would go through an application selection press for a public event honoring mall business owners this broadens that requiring that during small accident month. the department coordinate activities to encourage the yes or no public to support small businesses in the city and county of can san francisco. i have done this change in coordination with katy tang the director of the mall business office. and we are here to answer questions that you may have. >> thank you. colleagues, are there any? questions? >> okay. i thank you is pretty straightforward. mr. clerk. open this up to public comment.

>> yes. if you don't mind we are double checking seems that our online sfgovtv streaming has an error. we want to be sure that is working before we proceed any further. sfgovtv stroll suggest down at the moment can you take a few minute recess? >> why don't we take a recess for 5 minutes. thank you.

we are reconvening. we are reconvening. sorry for the delay we had a

problem with our strolling service app and it is back up and running. we were take public comment for item one i will resume with that. >> members of the public who wish to speak on item one and joining in person lineup. for those listening we mote call 415-655-0001. access code: 2480 819 2523 ## then star 3 to enter the queue. you will need to press star 3 to enter the line of the for those in the queue wait until the system indicates you have been unmute exclude begin your comments. there is nobody in the room for public comment dom we have anybody on the phone line for public ment in well is nobody on the phone line for public comment at this time thank you. public comment is now closed. i would like to make a motion to

send item one, which is administrative code provisions good afternooning the small business commission dauts stot full board. >> on the motion vice chair walton. >> aye. >> supervisor safai. >> aye. >> chair dorsey. >> aye. iot motion passes without objection. >> thank you, mr. young. item one guess to the board with a positive recommendation. item 2 is an ordinance amending the code to remove the minimal cost weighing for design, build and contractor best value procure am and consideration of contract and performance evidence and consider contractors for award of public works contract. >> thank you. we are joined by supervisor mandelman the sponsor.

welcome. the floor is yours >> thank you, chair dorsey. the legislation you have before you today respondses to and implements 2 recommendations of 2 different civil grand juries one report came out in june of 2021. specifically looking at van ness brt challenges. and the other came out in april of 22. and looking for broadly at capitol project delivery. and so. initially we felt to combine the 2 sets of recommendations. we have in the course of conversation with city stake holders determined it might make sense to operate them out. as currently drafted it would do 2 things. first, thing, this is out of june 21 report, would be to amend the administrative code to

cost criteria in award of construction management general contractor or cmg conrackets and allow for department discretion weighing cost and noncosts on a case by case basis. the advance nesz brt wagz lives an allowance of low are waiting threshold but i think the grand jury concluded and others confirms cost waiting for contracts is not the right way tong about them and should think about the value of the contract and the capacity of the contractor to deliver the thing we are asking for rather than in the front end of what may be a long project get cost estimates they have no religion to what may happen and do fighting about change orders for 10 years. so that , the first change would be that. the second thing the legislation

would do is require and this is based on the 2022 civil grant jury report require chapter 6 departments to consider a contractor past performance when evaluating the award by requiring consult pass contractor performance evaluations. we did the prior board did mandate creation of a contractor performance data base that data base has not been used. we felt it could not hurt to take this to the grand injury recommendation we require departments to consult in data base. you know considering the feedback from the stake holders the gravity of the issue in the need to address our capitol project delivery challenges the general feeling that from some and i'm not sure we are on board but the feeling this data base is in the necessarily the right

way to improve performance, what i am going to ask you to do is move forward the one piece of this that is dealing with the waiting of cost criteria from the 2021 report. and hold the other one in committee to have more conversation busy whether this makes sense or bring in something else. so. procedurally that would be duplicating the file. separating the 2 legislation and then advancing a dub indicated amending out the past performance piece as -- my description is this is in the as good as the amendments we are circulated by my staff earlier but duplicate the file. amend out the 2022 pieces related to the data base and forward the duplicated file with the cost provisions to the full

board with positive recommendation. in addition to my staff who worked on this jacob and ross green of course want to thank the civil grand jury and taylor and city attorney's office for her work. i hope that is clear i'm happy to answer questions. >> great. thank you, supervisor mandelman i want to express my gratitude for you and your team for your work on this and i will echo your thanks to the civil grand jury for their work as well and i will say that especially i shareit@cbsaustin.com sentiment avoiding situations where we fight over change orders i have seen from my time in the city attorney's office nobody win in that situation. i value your work and i don't see anybody with questions.offi

situation. i value your work and i don't see anybody with questions. members when would like to speak lineup at the podium. row motely, call 415-655-0001, access code: 2480 819 2523 ##, star 3 to enter the queue. there is nobody here for public ment and no one on the line. public comment is closed. mr. clerk i would like to make the motion to amend the

supervisor mandelman? >> i believe the first thing that a member of the committee i'm not sure i can, somebody needs to request the clerk duplicate the file. then after that, request for the chair but and then somebody would make a motion to amend the duplicated file in the ways that are shown in the amendments we circulated today. >> thank you. mr. clerk a roll call on the motion to duplicate the file. >> no need for a motion. >> the motion to amend. >> yes. i believe the there is a motion to amend the duplicated version. >> yes. to only list the cost criteria recommendation. >> on this motion to amend.

>> vice chair walton. >> aye. >> supervisor safai. >> aye. >> are chair dorsey. >> aye. iot megz passes without objection. >> thank you a unanimous vote item 2 is amended goes to the full board. >> not yet >> machine if i may. someone would need to make a motion to forward the file as amended to the board with positive recommendation. >> so moved. >> yes. the motion is to recommend the as amended to the full board. correct. duplicated file >> coupeidated version. >> on this motion, vice chair walton. >> aye. >> supervisor safai. >> aye. >> chair dorsey. >> aye. >> the motion masz passes

without objection and need a motion on the original version. >> so moved. >> i request to be held to the call of the chair. >> move to the original version well is a motion to continue to the call of the chair. vice chair walton. >> aye >> supervisor safai. >> aye. >> chair dorsey. >> aye. >> the motion passes. >> thank you. thank you supervisor mandelman. why thank you, mr. young. mr. clerk call the next item >> item low a hear to consider accounting a member 2 members ending 2024 and a member ending september first of 25 to the assessment appeal's board number 3. >> i want to thank the 2 applicants for wellingness to serve on assessment board 3. we have 2 applicants joining you

one remotely. they have applied for different seats more from marc dickow applying for seat number 5 yoochl welcome. the floor is yours >> thank you. supervisors. appreciate you consideration my application. i robbery residents of san francisco since 1990. a homeowner in san francisco since 1995. i have been in the real estate business my whole life. my mother is still a real estate broke exert licensed and a broker in san francisco for the past 14 years. i have owned a boutique brokerage in san francisco dealing with residential real estate and a practicing realtor. and i served on the board of san francisco organization of role tors the past 8 years and the

president in 2020. i serve on the national association of realtors board of directors as well of the california association of realtor board of directors i am the chair for the state of california. for california association of realtors. i thank you makes me qualified help in assessment appeals. i have been around apraisers my whole life. i'm a nobody's person i appreciate the values ever rolls royce in san francisco and watched our real estate values go up and down the past 30 years. i believe i can serve well. >> thank you, mr. dickow. >> thank you. >> vice chair walton. >> thank you chair dorsey. i have a question you talked about qualification what is makes you want to take on this

role. >> yes, good question. i like serving our i have served in a lot of boards i'm very involved in what is going on in our community especially with the real estate community. i seat need for assessment appeal and is know that, that is a position which needs to be filled and as i said i'm a nobody's person i enjoy the looking at the values of real estate and hope i can help the public that has appeals to settle their matters. >> thank you. great. thank you vice chair walton. no further questions or comments. supervisor safai. i will say thank you for your wellingness to serve it is an important role. so many individual homeowners

and in particular have to come with anxiety to this in front of this body to have someone with experience that understands both sides of the argument and be fair is important. we are happy happy to support you today. >> thank you, supervisor. >> thank you all. >> thank you. next hear from mr. su. i believe is john su is joining remote >> i'm john su. >> can you hear me? >> we hear you >> and also i turn on the camera to my computer i'm not sure if you hear or see me through the >> yes. >> thank you for joining us. >> thank you. good morning and i'm john su. i am a real estate broker in california since 2012 and

licensed insurance agency in california since 2014 my experience is in property management i manage properties for 20 years. i started first in college and doing it basically informally. and started becoming interested in real estate i took real estate classes in college in 2006 and got my associates in real estate in 2008 i went to law school at university of nebraska from 2008-11. i have a law degree i'm not a practicing attorney in the state of california but i do have experience with law. i worked at law firms i have clerked for a jung. management and [inaudible] helped clients sell and also manage and buy real estate including land and so forth. i have transactional real estate

experience. and i also have the educational background. hopefully i can utilize my experience and serve the board and people of san francisco. i live in albany, california across the bay. i am a local as well. >> thank you, mr. su. >> okay. i want tos express our my gratitude for your wellingness to serve. seeing no one on the roster for further questions or comments mr. clerk open up to public comment? >> yes, members who wish to peek and joining in person lineup at this time. for those remote call 415-655-0001, access code: 2480 819 2523 ## then star 3 to enter the speaker's queue. for those in the queue continue on wait until the system indicates you have been unmuted

then begin your comment. no speakers in person. we are moving to our public comment line there is nobody on the line for public comment. >> thank you, mr. clerk. public comment is closed. and i because we had a bit of a delay and had to take a recess because of technology issues presented a scheduling challenge i want to make a motion to excuse member safai. >> yes, on the motion to excuse. vice chair walton. >> aye. >> chair dorsey. >> aye. >> motion to excuse member safai for item 3 approved without objection with member safai

being excused. >> thank you, mr. clerk. i would like to make a motion to recommend marc dickous for seat 5 and john su to go to the full burden board >> vice chair walton. >> aye. >> member safai. >> excused. >> chair dorsey. >> aye >> the motion passes with supervisor safai excused. >> thank you, then item 3 goes business. >> that completes the agenda. >> thank you, everyone. we are adjourned.

>> shared spaces have transformed san francisco's adjacent sidewalks, local business communities are more resilient and their neighborhood centers are more vibrant and mildly. sidewalks and parking lanes can be used for outdoor seating, dining, merchandising, and other community activities. we're counting on [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]

>> i think a lot of times we get in adult lives we are afraid to follow our passions and think life can't be that easy. but i truly do believe i followed my heart this time in my journal in city government i did not know that is where my passion lied. i kept following it and ltd. to great opportunity to serve the city. [music] >> i'm katy tang the executive director of the office of small business. >> small business contributes to san francisco's economy. they provide the bulk of employment in the city and employing a million people in

san francisco. and roughly 90% of the businesses are defined as small businesses. so, they contribute to the economy but also just the quality of life. small businesses are more then and there a place of transaction it is a community center. a play where people gather. know each other and form memories about the city. >> at the office of mall business i run a team this helps report all mall businesses in san francisco whether they are looking to stfrt a new business or expand or perhaps they are feeling with issues. our office is here as a point of information for anyone with a business that has 100 or nower employees. >> i was growing up i had many ideas of when i wanted to do. i wanted to being an olympic swimmer. and i wanted to men be an architect, you name it i had

many ideas for what i wanted do when i grew up. and i never anticipated entering in politics. this opportunity came along wh started working for former supervisor carmen chu and she became the district 4 sunset district supervisor. that was my firstent row in politics and government in a different level. and so when i was finishing up my time working for legislative aid i thought, i will go off and do something else. may be explore opportunity outside of city government what was then approached by this opportunity to also serve as a district 4 supervisor. if not the traditional route that many people think of when you enter in politics. a lot know that is manage than i want to do and run for office. that was not part of my culture

and upbringing with manage my parents were wondering why i wanted to go in that role this legislation and important because so many women when have it return to work after having a child feel embarrassed or don't feel comfortable asking their supervisor for will any lactation accommodations. i saw it as an opportunity you could use the position where you have tools creating legislation and pass laws and where people listen to to you help the community and pass cause catharsis important to the city and individuals. my family immigrated to the united states from taiwan. and they came here in pronl probably late 20's almost 30. and so, they came also in the knowing english limp barely read or write but had to quickly

understand english to i can't haveigate services and find a job in america. i grew up in the san francisco sunset district i spent most of my childed hoo up until i went off to college. so when i started working in city government, i think i had mixed reactions about my involvement working government because for some of our parents generation, there is i bit of distrust in government. i think there are questions about why i was entering in this field of work. i think you know when i went in city government i thought about my parents like so many other who is have to navigate city services and resources english first language and help the individuals both navigate, intercept that is on an application approximate signage. it is fulfilling to mow to help people like my parent and feel

like government is there to support them and not to harm them. my parents are happy that i retired early from politics and being a district 4 supervisor i could have continued on for a couple more years approximate decided to leave early. i think that over all they were able to see some of my work appear in the chinese newspaper. through that they were able to see i was able to help communities in a tangible way. >> the member of the board of supervisors. >> transportation authority. for the city and county of san francisco. congratulations. >> i think about one importance when i was worn in as district 4 supervisor. years ago, and someone actually came up to me during the swear nothing ceremony and said, wow, i'm traveling here from canada, and i just i could not believe i saw an asian female worn in in this role a leadership role this

meant so much that someone would say that and felt they were inspired by the scene. so -- i hope that as more people see people that look like them and more women coming in positions of leadership than i feel they can doing the same. person this inpyred me is carmen chu who is our city add administrator but also was district 4 supervisor when i worked with her as a legislative aid. at this point, i too, was skeptical of going in politics. i saw someone who had herself never seen herself in politics. got thrown into it and put her heart and soul and dedication to serve people. and it gave me the confidence to pursue that same job and i honestly would not have either chosen or accepted or considered serving on the board of

supervisors were not for carmen. >> if you want to make your business accessible. >> in my role in city government where i have seen the most challenge is people who don't know you and you are here to serve and help them that they classify you as our city government and here to hurt you. so, people will talk to you and -- and just you know treat you disrespectfully. and sometimes i noticed that they might do more to me as a female compared to my male colleagues. but you know i try to be empathetic. one of the most significant barriers to female empowerment we feel like we have to be 100% meeting all of the qualifications before we think that we are qualified to do a job. if we look at a job description or an opportunity to come your way well is self doubt about

whether you can fulfill the obligations of that role. i think that the confidence is huge and sometimes i think we make up for it by trying to gain more experience. more and more and more in whatever we can put under our belts we'll feel better. that may not be the case. we might be qualified with when we have already accomplished. i started rock climbing indoors a couple years ago as an activity to try to spends time with my husband and also to try something new and i finds that rock climbing there are so many parallels to life. you know when i'm on the wall i'm concentrating and trying to make it to the next piece without falling. there are daying you think i'm not making progress. you come back and wow, i hit another level.

and so i feel like in our daily lives and w we think we are not making enough of i change in the city. and sometimes we have to take out time to reflect every day as long as you try and give it your all and you look back you will have made a significant contribution there is no limit to where you go in terms of rock climbing. i want to reminds myself of that in terms of daily life. >> follow what it is you are interested in, what makes you feel excited about wake up every day. you never know and be open to all the possibilities and opportunity. [music]

>> i went through a lot of struggles in my life, and i am blessed to be part of this. i am familiar with what people are going through to relate and empathy and compassion to their struggle so they can see i came out of the struggle, it gives them hope to come up and do something positive. ♪ ♪ i am a community ambassador.

we work a lot with homeless, visitors, a lot of people in the area. >> what i like doing is posting up at hotspots to let people see visibility. they ask you questions, ask you directions, they might have a question about what services are available. checking in, you guys. >> wellness check. we walk by to see any individual, you know may be sitting on the sidewalk, we make sure they are okay, alive. you never know. somebody might walk by and they are laying there for hours. you never know if they are alive. we let them know we are in the area and we are here to promote safety, and if they have

somebody that is, you know, hanging around that they don't want to call the police on, they don't have to call the police. they can call us. we can direct them to the services they might need. >> we do the three one one to keep the city neighborhoods clean. there are people dumping, waste on the ground and needles on the ground. it is unsafe for children and adults to commute through the streets. when we see them we take a picture dispatch to 311. they give us a tracking number and they come later on to pick it up. we take pride. when we come back later in the day and we see the loose trash or debris is picked up it makes you feel good about what you are doing. >> it makes you feel did about escorting kids and having them feel safe walking to the play

area and back. the stuff we do as ambassadors makes us feel proud to help keep the city clean, helping the residents. >> you can see the community ambassadors. i used to be on the streets. i didn't think i could become a community ambassador. it was too far out there for me to grab, you know. doing this job makes me feel good. because i came from where a lot of them are, homeless and on the street, i feel like i can give them hope because i was once there. i am not afraid to tell them i used to be here. i used to be like this, you know. i have compassion for people that are on the streets like the homeless and people that are caught up with their addiction

because now, i feel like i can give them hope. it reminds you every day of where i used to be and where i am at now. >> for us, we wish we had our queue and we created spaces that are active. >> food and drinks. there is a lot for a lot of folks and community. for us, it started back in 1966 and it was a diner

and where our ancestors gathered to connect. i think coffee and food is the very fabric of our community as well as we take care of each other. to have a pop-up in the tenderloin gives it so much meaning. >> we are always creating impactful meaning of the lives of the people, and once we create a space and focus on the most marginalized, you really include a space for everyone. coffee is so cultural for many communities and we have coffee of maria inspired by my grandmother from mexico. i have many many memories of sharing coffee with her late at night. so we carry that into everything

we do. currently we are on a journey that is going to open up the first brick and mortar in san francisco specifically in the tenderloin. we want to stay true to our ancestors in the tenderloin. so we are getting ready for that and getting ready for celebrating our anniversary. >> it has been well supported and well talked about in our community. that's why we are pushing it so much because that's how we started. very active community members. they give back to the community. support trends and give back and give a safe space for all. >> we also want to let folks know that if they want to be in a safe space, we have a pay it forward program that allows 20%

to get some funds for someone in need can come and get a cup of coffee, pastry and feel welcomed in our community. to be among our community, you are always welcome here. you don't have to buy anything or get anything, just be here and express yourself and be your authentic self and we will always take care of you.

>> you are watching san francisco rising with chris manner. today's special guest is carla short. >> hi, i'm chris manner and you are watching san francisco rising the show about restarting rebuilding and reimagining the city. our guest is carla short the intric director of public works and here to talk about the

storms we had and much more. welcome to the show. >> thank you for having me. >> great to have you. let's start by talking about the storms that started beginning of the year. there fsh a lot of clean up recovery and remediation. can you talk about what your team did? >> sure. the 17 inches of rain we got starting on new year's eve through the first 2 and a half weeks of january made it one of the wettest periods in recorded history for san francisco, so as you imagine we had a lot of work to do. we gave out more then 31 thousand sand bags, we were operating all most non stop from new year's eve to san francisco residents and businesses out of our operation yard and frequently working thin rain so it was a beautiful dance to watch. we had a corio graphed where people drive in the stop and load with san dags and get on it way so thats was the most visible thij weez had to do.

responded to all most a thousand calls for localized flooding for the corner of the street with catch basin. our team trying to address that. we clear and pick up anything to block and it hopefully get the flooding to go down. if we are able to respond we call in the san francisco pub utility system and are responsible for the sewer system under so they bring ing vack trucks that vacuum out debris inside the catch basin. we also dealt with lots and lots of calls about trees and tree limbs down. i think we actually faired better then some other places in terms of loss of full trees. we did have whole tree failures and that is not that uncumin with super satch waited soil conditions. we had over 950 calls about trees or tree limbs down. a lot of calls were about loss of a

limb and we could save the tree. we are still assessing the data to figure how many were full tree failures versus limb failure. >> also had land movement too. the great highway comes to mind. what is your approach to managing rock mud and land slides? >> that is a great question. we had 28 different slides over the course of that period. it is kind of a interesting process, so the first step is we have our geotechnical or structural engineers take a look to see is the hillside safe, do we need to stabilize it in some way or just need to do some cleanup? once they made their assessment they will recommend the next steps. often times to protect public safety we will place k rails the giant concrete rails at the base omthe slide area to make sure that any debris doesn't get on the edroway and bring ing the heavy equipment to scoop up on the ground

and move off the roadway and try to open the roadway. some cases, we will actually inject some rocks or other stabilizing forces either into the slide area or sometimes below the roadway. right now there is nothing that's unstable out there but be are keeping a close eye on the areas including the gray highway area. >> right, right. well, so talking about the storms in the city response, brings us to southeast community scepter when there is rain remediation projects going on. can you talk about the inconstruction project kblrks that is a favorite project. a beautiful new community facility. we were involved in pretty much every aspect of developing that project for the public utility commission. they were a client. we design project management and construction management and the landscape design for that project. and one thing that we

included was storm water management throughout the entire project site. so, that project encapturealize the rain water that lands on the roof and flows into the landscape where we have rain gardens so intent is slow the water down to and give areas to collect to percolate into the ground rather then the sewer system. when we have sewers that are overloaded, because our rain water mixes with the sewer treatment storm sewer system, we actually can end up dist charging into the bay which we dont want to do. anything we can do to just prevent those combined sewers from overpm loaded is a good thing and in this case allows the water to collect onsite and percolate to the ground which is the best way to manage the storm water and it is beautiful and provides habitat. i encourage

everybody to see it. it is special place. >> that's great. there was recently news about how city (indiscernible) powered by steam, which is super unusual i think. i understand public works ablgtually does the maintenance on the system. can you just talk about that a bit? >> sure. that is a unusual situation. that steam loop was actually built when the city was recovering from the 1906 earthquake. it only provides to steam about 4 buildings in civic center but that is how we keep buildings like city hall warm. the steam goes into the radiators and provides the heat. it is a old system and if you see steam billowing out of the man holes or other spaces, that is indication of a leak actually. we spend a lot of time trying to fix the leaks because it's a old system. it

is managed by the real estate department and at one point they were looking trying to replace the whole thing but think that is a massive undertaking so now they focus on making as needed repair said. we did a big repair on growth street where we spent a month and a half working on the known leaks s in the area. it is a very tight spot and have to use blow torches to seal up the leak so a intense operation and seeing more leaks on polk street so we will be out there once it warms up to fix the leaks. >> excellent. let's discuss what is the reunifiquation of public works. there fsh a proposal or plan to split off the division, called the street and sanitation. now that has been shelved and public works is going to just retain being a single entity. can you talk through the process? >> sure. yeah. the original

proposal was a ballot measure voted on to split the department into 2. it basically create the department of sanitation and streets that was really going to incompass all our operation divisions so it was a street cleaning department but encompass everything we refer to as operations. when we worked preparing for that split with the city administrator office, we found there were actually 91 what we call touch points between the operations work and our engineering and architecture side, so we really felt like it could be very difficult to split into two departments. we have so many areas of overlap. there was a new ballot measure last november to reunit the department. technically we split october one and did split in some ways. we did put on hold some of the behind the scenes things like

rebranding all the vehicle jz giving everyone a new e-mail address in the sanitation and streets department, but on january 1 of 2023 we came back together so we are reunited i want sing the peaches and purb song and think it is a good thing for the 91 areas of overlap. we making #2c3w50d use of the research. preparing for the split. looking at all the touch points and trying to strengthen the department so we are more streamlined and efficient. one of the most important component from the original ballot measure is commission oversight. we retained two commissions, the public works commission which oversee the over-all department and approve the budget and contracts. and sanitation and street commission and their mandate focus on policy and deliverable for street cleaning and

basically the operation division. reporting to them regularly how we are doing, we think will help make sure we are as efficient and effective as we can be as a department. >> that sounds great. thank you so much for coming and talking to me today and appreciate the time you have given. >> thank you so much for having me. it was a pleasure. >> that is it for this episode. you are watching san francisco rising.

>> my name is holly doudiet. h2 firefighter with the san franciscowired. what inspired me to be a firefighter was in 2008 i graduated college . the recession had happened so

there weren't any jobs. i was having troublefinding a job. and i was kind of looking around . my dad was a firefighter and i thought what a great career he had. so i asked my dad, never thinking about it at first before. i said dad, what you think about me being afirefighter and he goes yeah, thatwould be a good idea . i took some classes, i ended up loving it . i grew up and actually and i think it was a good fit for me because it's a physical job and it's enjoyable. you never know whatyou're going to get and it's a team effort . i first realized i was part of the lgbt+ community in sixth grade. i looked on the other side of the classroom and i sawthis girl i thought was really attractive and i thought i want to be her boyfriend . though my experiences in the city growing up in the city and countyof san francisco were always verypositive . i came out in high school . i actually ended up being prom

king my senior year in high school and a lot of peoplewere very supportive . myparents were very supportive . they just let me do my thing and my dad knew of a lot of lesbian women in the fire departmentthe time because he was a san francisco firefighter . for me it's very important to be part of a community and organization and an agency that supports my lgbtq status because if you're not yourself, how can you perform to the best of your abilities? you're always holding back in some way whether it's your personality or your abilities or your overall skills and with agency that supports me being a lesbian i can truly be myself. i can be happy. i can be social with other people. it makes me want to work as a

team and we all work better together when we are happier and we can be ourselves. >>. [music] >> a city like no other, san francisco has been a beacon of hope, and an ally towards lgbtq equal rights. [♪♪]

>> known as the gay capital of america, san francisco has been at the forefront fighting gay civil rights for decades becoming a bedrock for the historical firsts. the first city with the first openly gay bar. the first pride parade. the first city to legalize gay marriage. the first place of the iconic gay pride flag. established to help cancel policy, programses, and initiatives to support trans and lgbtq communities in san francisco. >> we've created an opportunity to have a seat at the table. where trans can be part of city government and create more civic engagement through our trans advisory committee which

advises our office and the mayor's office. we've also worked to really address where there's gaps across services to see where we can address things like housing and homelessness, low income, access to small businesses and employment and education. so we really worked across the board as well as meeting overall policies. >> among the priorities, the office of transgender initiatives also works locally to track lgbtq across the country. >> especially our young trans kids and students. so we do a lot of work to make sure we're addressing and naming those anti-trans policies and doing what we can to combat them. >> trans communities often have not been included at the policy levels at really any level whether that's local government, state government.

we've always had to fend for ourselves and figure out how to care for our own communities. so an office like this can really show and become a model for the country on how to really help make sure that our entire community is served by the city and that we all get opportunities to participate because, in the end, our entire community is stronger. >> the pandemic underscored many of the inequities they experienced on a daily basis. nonetheless, this health crisis also highlighted the strength in the lgbtq and trans community. >> several of our team members were deployed as part of the work at the covid command center and they did incredit able work there both in terms of navigation and shelter-in-place hotels to other team members who led

equity and lgbtq inclusion work to make sure we had pop-up testing and information sites across the city as well as making sure that data collection was happening. we had statewide legislation that required that we collected information on sexual orientation and our team worked so closely with d.p.h. to make sure those questions were included at testing site but also throughout the whole network of care. part of the work i've had a privilege to be apart of was to work with o.t.i. and a community organization to work together to create a coalition that met monthly to make sure we worked together and coordinated as much as we could to lgbtq communities in the city. >> partnering with community organizations is key to the success of this office ensuring lgbtq and gender nonconforming people have access to a wide range of services and places to go where they will be respected. o.t.i.'s trans advisory committee is committed to being

that voice. >> the transgender advisory counsel is a group of amazing community leaders here in san francisco. i think we all come from all walks of life, very diverse, different backgrounds, different expertises, and i think it's just an amazing group of people that have a vision to make san francisco a true liberated city for transgender folks. >> being apart of the grou allows us to provide more information on the ground. we're allowed to get. and prior to the pandemic, there's always been an issue around language barriers and education access and workforce

development. now, of course, the city has been more invested in to make sure our community is thriving and making sure we are mobilizing. >> all of the supervisors along with mayor london breed know that there's still a lot to be done and like i said before, i'm just so happy to live in a city where they see trans folks and recognize us of human beings and know that we deserve to live with dignity and respect just like everybody else. >> being part of the trans initiative has been just a great privilege for me and i feel so lucky to have been able to serve for it for so far over three years. it's the only office of its kind and i think it's a big opportunity for us to show the country or the world about things we can do when we really put a focus on transgender issues and transgender communities. and when you put transgender people in leadership positions.

>> thank you, claire. and i just want to say to claire farly who is the leader of the office of transgender initiatives, she has really taken that role to a whole other level and is currently a grand marshal for this year's s.f. prize. so congratulations, claire. >> my dream is to really look at where we want san francisco to be in the future. how can we have a place where we have transliberation, quality, and inclusion, and equity across san francisco? and so when i look five years from now, ten years from now, i want us to make sure that we're continuing to lead the country in being the best that we can be. not only are we working to make sure we have jobs and equal opportunity and pathways to education, employment, and advancement, but we're making sure we're taking care of our most impacted communities, our trans communities of color,

trans women of color, and black trans women. and we're making sure we're addressing the barriers of the access to health care and mental health services and we're supporting our seniors who've done the work and really be able to age in place and have access to the services and resources they deserve. so there's so much more work to do, but we're really proud of the work that we've done so far. >> he is a real leader that listens and knows how to bring people together. brought this department together like never before. i am so excited to be swearing in the next chief of the san francisco fire department, ladies and gentlemen, let's

welcome, jeanine nicholson. (applause). >> i grew up total tomboy, athlete. i loved a good crisis, a good challenge. i grew up across the street from the fire station. my dad used to take me there to vote. i never saw any female firefighters because there weren't any in the 1970s. i didn't know i could be a fire fighter. when i moved to san francisco in 1990, some things opened up. i saw women doing things they hadn't been doing when i was growing up. one thing was firefighting. a woman recruited me at the

gay-pride parade in 1991. it was a perfect fit. i liked using my brain, body, working as a team, figuring things out, troubleshooting and coming up with different ways to solve a problem. in terms of coming in after another female chief, i don't think anybody says that about men. you are coming in after another man, chief, what is that like. i understand why it is asked. it is unusual to have a woman in this position. i think san francisco is a trailblazer in that way in terms of showing the world what can happen and what other people who may not look like what you think the fire chief should look like how they can be successful. be asked me about being the first lbgq i have an understands because there are little queer

kids that see me. i worked my way up. i came in january of 1994. i built relationships over the years, and i spent 24 years in the field, as we call it. working out of firehouses. the fire department is a family. we live together, eat together, sleep in the same dorm together, go to crazy calls together, dangerous calls and we have to look out for one another. when i was burned in a fire years ago and i felt responsible, i felt awful. i didn't want to talk to any of my civilian friends. they couldn't understand what i was going through. the firefighters knew, they understood. they had been there. it is a different relationship. we have to rely on one another. in terms of me being the chief of the department, i am really trying to maintain an open

relationship with all of our members in the field so myself and my deputy chiefs, one of the priorities i had was for each of us to go around to different fire stations to make sure we hit all within the first three or four months to start a conversation. that hasn't been there for a while. part of the reason that i am getting along well with the field now is because i was there. i worked there. people know me and because i know what we need. i know what they need to be successful. >> i have known jeanine nicholson since we worked together at station 15. i have always held her in the highest regard. since she is the chief she has infused the department with optimism. she is easy to approach and is

concerned with the firefighters and paramedics. i appreciate that she is concerned with the issues relevant to the fire department today. >> there is a retired captain who started the cancer prevention foundation 10 years ago because he had cancer and he noticed fellow firefighters were getting cancer. he started looking into it. in 2012 i was diagnosed with breast canner, and some of my fellow firefighters noticed there are a lot of women in the san francisco fire department, premenopausal in their 40s getting breast cancer. it was a higher rate than the general population. we were working with workers comp to make it flow more easily for our members so they didn't have to worry about the paper

work when they go through chemo. the turnout gear was covered with suit. it was a badge to have that all over your coat and face and helmet. the dirtier you were the harder you worked. that is a cancer causeser. it -- casser. it is not -- cancer causer. there islassic everywhere. we had to reduce our exposure. we washed our gear more often, we didn't take gear where we were eating or sleeping. we started decontaminating ourselves at the fire scene after the fire was out. going back to the fire station and then taking a shower. i have taught, worked on the decontamination policy to be sure that gets through. it is not if or when.

it is who is the next person. it is like a cancer sniper out there. who is going to get it next. one of the things i love about the fire department. it is always a team effort. you are my family. i love the city and department and i love being of service. i vow to work hard -- to work hard to carry out the vision of the san francisco fire department and to move us forward in a positive way. if i were to give a little advice to women and queer kids, find people to support you. keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep trying. you never know what door is going to open next. you really don't.

[cheers and >> the meeting will come to order. welcome to april 5, 2023 of budget finance committee. i'm supervisor chan joined by supervisor safai and shortly by vice chair mandelman. our clerk today is brent-always brent. i also like to thank sf tv michael for broadcasting the meeting. mr. clerk, do you have announcements? >> ma