This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would provide a one-time appropriation of $750,000 to fund the building and staffing of a Small Business Assistance Center with the purpose of providing assistance to businesses of fewer than 100 employees that operate in San Francisco. The funding would be allocated to: (1) build-out of a publicly accessible…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure would revise numerous provisions of the Planning Code to allow developers, at their discretion, to provide as much or as little parking in new projects downtown as they choose, and to prevent the reduction of current parking requirements in certain neighborhoods outside the downtown area. The initiative ordinance was…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does Appropriates money outside of budget process to subsidize stables shuttered since 2001. This proposition is an ordinance that would establish a fund for donations to restore the stables in Golden Gate Park and provide for a City match of $1 for every $3 in private money donated to the fund. The…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does Reverses cost-neutral provision of charter by partially subsidizing transfer from state to City retirement plan for a small group of airport police. This proposed amendment to the San Francisco City Charter would authorize the Board of Supervisors to amend the contract between the City and the California Public Employees' Retirement System…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This measure changes the San Francisco City Charter to add a new requirement for the mayor to appear monthly at the Board of Supervisors' regular meetings to engage in "policy discussions." It also gives the Board of Supervisors, in consultation with the mayor, the power to set the rules and guidelines…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This proposition is a an amendment to the San Francisco City Charter to renew the current Library Preservation Fund for an additional 15 years. The Library Preservation Fund is a budget set-aside to fund library services. In a change from the current fund, this charter amendment would also allow the San…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This proposed amendment to the San Francisco City Charter would add a new procedure governing how the mayor or four or more members of the Board of Supervisors could submit an ordinance or policy declaration directly to the Department of Elections to be placed on the ballot. Under the proposal, if…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does Most members of City commissions and boards are appointed for a fixed number of years, typically four, and their terms expire when that time is up. Under current law, even when the member's term has expired, the member may continue to serve until he or she is reappointed or until a…

This measure appeared on the November 2007 San Francisco ballot. What it does This amendment to the San Francisco City Charter, officially called the Emissions Reduction and Transit Reform Act, is intended to strengthen Proposition E from 1999, creating greater independence and more streamlined operations for our city's transit agency and providing more funding. It also implements some reforms designed to improve labor management…

Includes SPUR's analysis of 11 city measures on the November 6, 2007 ballot.

Every day urban life finds a counterpoint in Seattle’s public art initiatives

It lacks a rail rapid-transit network, but Seattle has a Department of Transportation that runs a fast, efficient bus system and has a specific plan to address climate change.

The Emerald City’s green-tinted take on strategies for integrated capital investment

Seattle has shied away from sweeping public planning as a solution to big problems. Still, San Francisco has much to learn from Seattle’s approach to neighborhoods, industrial lands and capital infrastructure.

A heightened sense of regionalism influences both civic culture and planning law in Seattle

Nestled on the Central Waterfront between China Basin and Candlestick Point, Warmwater Cove lies in disrepair. How can we populate and enliven this forgotten nook of the southeastern waterfront?

Changing government is never easy. But when it comes to the two departments responsible for planning our city, can we afford not to?

Caltrain's surface rail yards represent enormous opportunities for San Francisco. In this report, SPUR proposes a plan to knit together Mission Bay with neighborhoods to the north and west.

San Francisco is about to build its first new subway in decades. It's a great project that could be even better with a few key improvements.

Building high-speed rail in California could reinforce cities as the hubs of our economies and significantly reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. So why is the proposal languishing?