District 7 Newsletter – Spring 2016

From Supervisor Norman Yee

<yeestaff@sfgov.org>

Dear community members,

As we enter summer I am pleased to share with you spring updates.

If you haven’t heard yet, Participatory Budget results are in! I’m proud to announce that this year’s participatory budgeting received record votes. Thank you, everyone, for all of your enthusiasm and participation in our 3rd year.

Regarding public safety, I have been very concerned with the crime increase in our neighborhoods and across the City, so I have been working closely with the Police Department, including our neighborhood precinct Captains, and the crime prevention nonprofit, SFSAFE to seek both short- and long-term solutions. I will continue to work closely with the new Acting Chief Chaplain to ensure adequate resources are dedicated to the West Side.

I’ve also heard your concerns regarding the increased presence of coyotes in the neighborhood and since last winter, our office has taken the lead in communicating with Animal and Care Control to create an action plan.

I am also co-sponsoring legislation to increase funding for support services for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and those with chronic illnesses. This legislation is called the Dignity Fund and will be on the November ballot.

In line with my Vision Zero priorities, last week I introduced legislation to install telematics in City vehicles to increase traffic safety and decrease City liability costs and carbon emissions.

My staff and I look forward to continue hearing from many of you regarding your concerns, ideas and questions.

Regards,

Norman

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LEGISLATIVE AND PROJECT UPDATES

PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING SUCCESS!
Your District. Your Ideas. Your Vote.

RECORD PARTICIPATION
Participatory Budgeting (PB) results were finalized early May and our office was thrilled to announce the results to all the applicants and awardees. This was the third year we have held PB in District 7 and the budget has grown from $300,000 to $500,000. Votes have increased from just 800 to over 11, 000. Project proposals grew from 23 to 39. Our District is also the only district to participate in PB this year.

This year’s results will fund pedestrian safety projects, such as providing better lighting in the Brotherhood Way tunnel and crosswalk improvements in school zones. Community improvement projects such as the Laguna Honda mural and the West Portal Elementary School Neighborhood Green Picnic Pavilion are also being funded.

For a complete list of the awarded projects, see the attached document.
To read Supervisor Yee’s Op-Ed: http://www.sfexaminer.com/putting-city-spending-decisions-hands-residents/
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PUBLIC SAFETY
To strengthen the City’s understanding and response to rising crime, I called an official hearing in January on property crime in our City. In March our office also organized two public safety summits and will be organizing two more summits in the coming months. Additionally I have requested increased funding for the the crime prevention nonprofit, SFSAFE, so they can increase their capacity to empower neighborhoods and organize safety watches. I have also developed a plan to increase resources for the SFPD’s Property Crime Unit. I have also secured 12 new officers from the graduating class next month for District 7 police stations and ensured the continued presence of two full-time beat cops on West Portal Ave and Ocean Ave.

I look forward to continuing to partner with community members, the Police Department, the District Attorney’s office and other stakeholders to improve public safety in our neighborhoods. Click here to see which station serves you. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact Jen.Low@sfgov.org.
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COYOTES
Our office has been in regular communication with the Animal Care and Control (ACC) team. After the hearing I called to the Board of Supervisors, the ACC is currently working on creating a City-wide plan for coyote management and a coyote mapping tool app and web-based sighting report form. They are sending officers out to locations where there have been sightings. If you have would like to report a sighting, please e-mail acc@sfgov.org. Please stay in touch for updates.
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DIGNITY FUND
Our district population has over 20% seniors. Almost 40% of seniors live alone. Many are on fixed incomes, have limited physical mobility and do not have the means to pay for increased medical costs, in-homecare and other needs. The Dignity Fund is a proposed Charter Amendment to address this gap, especially because many aging adults are not “poor enough” to quality for existing social services. The Fund will enable seniors and those with disabilities to to age comfortably and with dignity within the familiarity of their own homes, as long as possible.

The Fund will set-aside revenues in our City budget for support services for not only seniors, but also senior veterans, adults with disabilities, older adults with HIV and those with chronic conditions. Support services include comprehensive, preventative programs such as, nutrition, home and community-based long-term care, paratransit and caregiver support. I hope you will support this important measure in November.

For about the Dignity Fund, contact Jarlene.Choy@sfgov.org.
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TELEMATICS
In 2014, San Francisco committed to reaching zero traffic deaths by 2024. Every year, about 30 people are killed and over 200 are seriously injured while traveling our streets. These deaths and injuries are preventable and why I am calling for telematics to be installed in our City vehicles.

Telematics is a technology that has GPS and collects data on speed. In other jurisdictions it has shown significant benefits early on including increasing traffic safety, substantial cost savings, improving driving habits, and reducing carbon emissions. In the last 5 years we have spent nearly $77 million in settlements and judgments from claims relating to our city fleet.

As an elected official trusted to be accountable to our public dollars this legislation is common sense and proven to save money and reduce liability. As the chair of the Vision Zero Committee and as a survivor of a near fatal pedestrian accident, telematics will potentially save lives. Telematics is aligned with our city’s policies and climate goals. I am proud of this legislation and I look forward to the vote at the full board in the coming weeks.

For questions about telematics, contact Erica.Maybaum@sfgov.org.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS & ALERTS

Legacy Business Registry Application
Legacy Bars & Restaurants

The purpose of the Legacy Business Registry is to recognize that longstanding, community-serving businesses can be valuable cultural assets to the City. In addition, the City intends that the Registry be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to Legacy Businesses to encourage their continued viability and success. Businesses on Legacy Businesses Registry are eligible to participate in the Legacy Business Preservation Fund.

Benefits to businesses are listed here.The Legacy Business Preservation Fund makes Legacy Businesses on the registry eligible for either:

an annual grant of $500 per employee
an annual $4.50 per square foot grant to property owners who extend 10 year leases to Legacy Business tenants

The registration process includes nomination by a member of the Board of Supervisors or the Mayor, a written application, an advisory recommendation from the Historical Preservation Commission, and approval of the Small Business Commission. The application is here.

To be nominated by Supervisor Yee, contact Jarlene.Choy@sfgov.org.

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CONSTRUCTION IMPROVEMENTS

RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMIT EVALUATION & REFORM PROJECT
The SFMTA is undertaking a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of the Residential Parking Permit, or RPP, program.

The program, which provides residents with an exemption to parking time limits in their neighborhood, has been largely unchanged for 39 years, even as San Francisco has changed considerably. The SFMTA is seeking to update the program, align it with the agency’s overall strategic goals and improve customer service for permit holders.

A full program evaluation, including policy and process reform recommendations, will be presented to the SFMTA Board of Directors in fall 2016.
More info here: https://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/residential-parking-permit-evaluation-reform-project

Contacts: Kathryn Studwell, Program Manager at InfoRPP@sfmta.com or Pamela Johnson, Public Relations Officer at Pamela.Johnson@sfmta.com
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SLOAT BOULEVARD PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), working in conjunction with the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) and San Francisco Public Works is planning various pedestrian enhancement projects along the Sloat Boulevard (State Route 35) corridor between 36th Avenue and 21st Avenue.

Timeline: in progress
More info here: http://www.sfpublicworks.org/sloat
Contacts: Tony Henderson, SFMTA at 415-701-5375 or Grace Moore at grace.moore@sfdpw.org
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TWIN PEAKS TUNNEL TRACKWAY IMPROVEMENTS
Light rail tracks will be replaced along the entirety of Twin Peaks Tunnel. The new tracks will allow trains to move faster through the tunnel and improve travel times. To avoid future impacts to transit and the surrounding neighborhoods, additional work to the tunnel’s infrastructure will take place at the same time as the track replacement. These items include seismic upgrades, repairs to concrete reinforcements and cleaning and repairing the tunnel drainage system.

Construction noise may be expected in West Portal and Castro neighborhoods near the tunnel entrances. When the tunnel is closed, bus shuttles will be provided to bridge affected stations.

More info here: https://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/twin-peaks-tunnel-trackway-improvements

Construction schedule: (tentative) weekend shutdowns (closed late Friday night and reopening before start of regular serviceMonday morning)

Tentative start for tunnel construction: Summer 2016 (mid to late August anticipated)

Contacts: Kelley McCoy, Public Information Officer at Kelley.McCoy@sfmta.com or David Greenaway, Project Manager at david.greenaway@sfmta.com
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TRANSIT LINE PLANNING

28 – 19th AVE RAPID PROJECT

A cooperative agreement was reached between the City and Caltrans concerning the design and construction of the 19th Avenue combined City project including pedestrian safety, transit improvements, and utility upgrades along 19th Avenue between Junipero Serra Boulevard and Lincoln Way.

Timeline: Construction would start Spring 2017
For more info: https://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/28-19th-avenue-rapid-project

Contacts: Darcie Alaba at Darcie.Alaba@sfmta.com or Cheryl Liu at cheryl.liu@sfmta.com

L – TARAVAL

Taraval Street is part of the City’s High Injury Network, with 46 pedestrian and vehicle collisions reported in the past five years. Taraval Street is also home to Muni’s L Taraval, which carries nearly 29,000 riders each day, 10,000 boarding in the Sunset alone. The SFMTA is proposing pedestrian safety and transit improvements along the surface portion of the route to improve safety for people walking along Taraval and those getting on and off the train, while also increasing the reliability of the L.

Timeline
2016: Review and approve the project at the SFMTA Board of Directors
2018-2020: Construction

More info here: https://www.sfmta.com/projects-planning/projects/l-taraval-rapid-project

Contacts: Sean Kennedy, Muni Forward Program Manager at sean.kennedy@sfmta.com or
Michael Rhodes, Muni Forward Transit Planner at michael.rhodes@sfmta.com

M – OCEAN VIEW

The 19th Avenue/M Ocean View Project planning is in its early stages. SFMTA is exploring different ideas including running a light-rail tunnel under 19th Avenue, improved sidewalks and pedestrian areas and an off-street bike path. To learn more and to help shape the future of the M, please visit here.

Contacts: Liz Brisson, Project Manager at liz.brisson@sfmta.com or 415.701.4791 or Kelley McCoy, Public Relations Officer at kelley.mccoy@sfmta.com or 415.701.5428
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RESOURCES

Remember to vote by June 7!

Here is the Department of Election guide.

Everything you need to know about the June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election in one convenient location
Supervisor Yee’s Local Ballot Measure Positions

Yes–Prop A: [General Obligation Bond Election – Public Health and Safety – $350,000,000]
Yes–Prop B: [Charter Amendment – Park, Recreation and Open Space Fund]
Yes–Prop C: [Affordable Housing Requirements]
Yes–Prop D: [Initiative Ordinance: Office of Citizen Complaints and Investigations]
Yes–Prop E: [Initiative Ordinance: Paid Sick Leave]
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Senior Citizen Tax Exemption

Certain parcels are exempt from one or both of the parcel taxes below for the 2016-17 tax year, provided that certain criteria are met and the homeowner submits an application by the June 30th deadline:

For the Quality Teacher and Education Act of 2008, the owner of the parcel must occupy it as their primary residence and be 65 years or older as of June 30, 2017.
For the School Facilities Special Tax of 2010, the unit must be the primary residence of at least one occupant (either an owner or tenant) who will be 65 years or older by June 30, 2017.

To apply for this exemption, please download the form from SFUSD’s website here. SFUSD also encourages you to visit the district’s Senior Exemption Office home page to learn more or contact their office here:

Senior Citizen Exemption Office
135 Van Ness Avenue, Room 112
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 355-2203
Fax: (415) 241-6684
Email: seniorexemptionoffice@sfusd.edu
Website: http://www.sfusd.edu/en/about-sfusd/voter-initiatives/senior-citizen-exemption.html
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00PM

For more info: http://www.sfusd.edu/en/about-sfusd/voter-initiatives/senior-citizen-exemption.html
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Learn how the City Budget process works!

Want to learn more about the City’s budget? Ever wonder about the details of the City’s costs and revenues? Check out the City and County of San Francisco’s Budget Challenge. This is a tool that aims to help people learn about the City’s budget by enabling residents to balance the City’s upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2016-17 and FY 2017-18 budget.
We invite you to send the Mayor’s Budget Office a message through the site, or email at budget@sfgov.org, with your thoughts and input on this year’s budget.
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Short-Term Rental Registration

The San Francisco Office of Short-Term Rentals is offering additional opportunities to apply for registration as a Short-Term Rental host** or just to ask questions.

Walk-in registrations (no appointment required) at 1660 Mission Street (Dept. of Building Inspection), on the 5th floor, on every Wednesday afternoon, between 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
Evening walk-in registrations (no appointment required) on the first Monday of every month, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, at the Planning Department. Located at 1650 Mission Street, on the 4th Floor.
Registrations can also be handled, by appointment, on most weekdays (at 1660 Mission Street), and take about 20 minutes.

Registration is required with BOTH the Office of Short-Term Rentals AND the Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector. For more information on the application requirements, including documents needed in order to register visit

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Copyright © 2016 Office of Supervisor Norman Yee, District 7, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Office of Supervisor Norman Yee, District 7
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place Room 244
San Francisco, CA 94102