SFGov Watch

1. Key Highlights and Announcements
   1. Proposition B Bond Approval
   2. Paving Projects and Infrastructure Updates
   3. Key Public Works Projects
   4. Tenderloin Graffiti Cleanup Project
   5. Love Our City Initiative
2. Commission Statements and Proposals
   1. Statement of Purpose Adoption
   2. Strategic Plan Proposal
3. Street Resurfacing Program Insights

Key Highlights and Announcements

Proposition B Bond Approval

Overview: Director Carla Shaw highlighted the recent approval of a $390 million general obligation bond, “Proposition B,” pending the final vote tally. This bond, achieving 71% approval (requiring 66%+1 for passage), secures funding critical to public works projects.

Allocations:

• $63.9 million is designated for street and sidewalk safety improvements.
• Additional funding targets paving, curb ramps, and essential projects within community health centers, homeless shelters, and hospitals, including Zuckerberg San Francisco General and Laguna Honda.

Importance: Shaw emphasized this funding as vital for city infrastructure upkeep, particularly in public health and homelessness initiatives.

Paving Projects and Infrastructure Updates

Great Highway: Proposition K’s potential closure of the Great Highway is not expected to disrupt current Sunset District paving, as noted by Shaw. The district’s major north-south streets, primarily Sunset Boulevard, have been resurfaced over the past 15 years.

Sunset Boulevard Project: Public Works reported nearing 70% completion on the Sunset Boulevard resurfacing project. This $8.6 million initiative includes upgrades to 42 blocks and 18 intersections and installation of 23 curb ramps.

• Highlights: Bus pads are being installed at intersections to mitigate pavement wear from public transit vehicles. New curb ramps and sidewalks are also part of this project.
• Completion Timeline: The department aims to finish by early next year to avoid overlapping construction schedules with 19th Avenue, slated for work in summer 2025.

Key Public Works Projects

Golden Gate Park Gateway: A ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the completion of a new landscaped plaza at the entrance to Golden Gate Park. The project was led by Public Works on behalf of the Recreation and Parks Department, providing a safer pedestrian experience and adding over 6,000 square feet of landscaping.

Japantown Peace Plaza Renovation: An ambitious renovation of Japantown’s Peace Plaza, including structural reinforcements to the Peace Pagoda, is progressing well. Engineers identified seismic vulnerabilities in the Pagoda, a five-tiered structure gifted by Japan over 50 years ago, and are reinforcing it with fiberglass-wrapped columns and thick cables.

Timeline: Construction began in April and is expected to finish by 2026.

Tenderloin Graffiti Cleanup Project

Efforts: A graffiti wipeout initiative in the Tenderloin district was launched involving neighborhood leaders, volunteers, and Public Works staff to improve public aesthetics and combat vandalism.

Love Our City Initiative

Final Event of the Year: The last neighborhood beautification day of 2024 was scheduled for November 9 in the Portola, Mission, and Bernal Heights areas. The initiative included cleaning, greening, and organizing community-focused activities.

Restart in January: Public Works plans to continue these clean-up events in January, emphasizing community engagement and neighborhood maintenance.

Commission Statements and Proposals

Statement of Purpose Adoption

The commission approved a standalone statement of purpose, previously part of the “Rules of Order.” This update aligns with best practices among other commissions and clarifies the powers vested in the commission.

Strategic Plan Proposal

A commissioner requested a presentation on the department’s strategic plan, including its goals, timelines, and success metrics. The commissioner emphasized the plan’s importance in articulating Public Works’ priorities and tracking their impact on public service.

Street Resurfacing Program Insights

Program Approach: The department follows a “right road, right treatment, right time, right price” philosophy to maintain streets efficiently. Their selection criteria incorporate the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), traffic type (buses, heavy vehicles), and multimodal needs (bikes, transit).

Funding Needs: Current budget allocations are around $75-80 million annually. However, achieving an “optimal state” (PCI score of 85) across all city streets would require an additional $1.5 billion over a decade, highlighting the department’s need for stable, long-term funding sources.