San Francisco Supervisors adopt capital spending plan

By Angela Hokanson, Bay City News Service

June 21, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) - The San Francisco Board of Supervisors yesterday voted 9-1 in favor of a resolution that adopts a $15.7 billion, 10-year capital expenditure plan for fiscal years 2007-2016.

San Francisco hasn't had a similar, multi-year plan detailing investments to be made in infrastructure and facilities since 1991, according to the executive summary of the plan.

As a result, the city has lacked a "comprehensive and clear citywide strategy," for addressing infrastructure investments, according to the plan's authors.

The plan proposes capital investments in the city's water and sewer systems, port, airport, public transportation system, parks, public health and public safety facilities.

"This capital plan is a blueprint for how we can responsibly address our critical infrastructure needs, instead of burdening future generations of San Franciscans by whimsically ignoring the skyrocketing costs of continually deferring capital maintenance," Supervisor Sean Elsbernd said

in a statement on May 1, when the plan was submitted by the city administrator to the mayor and the board of supervisors.

"As a whole...it's a great first plan," Elsbernd, who sponsored the legislation calling for the production of the plan, said before the supervisors' vote yesterday.

The plan will be updated each year by the city administrator's office and the city's capital planning committee.

Over the duration of the plan, proposed investment in infrastructure and facilities includes: approximately $1 billion toward public health and human services projects; $944 million for criminal justice projects; $459 million for streets and right of way work; and $141 million for fire protection and emergency response services.

The plan also calls for investing approximately $7.2 billion in public utilities, around $1 billion in the airport, $414 million in the port, and approximately $3.5 billion for municipal transportation.

The investments made through the plan are for the purposes of preserving or modernizing critical facilities, and for making seismic safety upgrades and improving disability access to these facilities.

Supervisor Chris Daly cast the sole vote against the resolution.

Supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier was not present at the meeting and did not vote.

The resolution will be passed on to the mayor, who could sign it, veto it, or return it unsigned to the board of supervisors.

Copyright © 2006 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

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