San Francisco's planning and building process is in trouble. Funding for the Planning Department and Department of Building Inspection has been cut. Staff morale is down. The Planning Commission is overwhelmed with fights around specific proposals and doesn't have time to work on true long-range planning. SPUR recommends steps to reform the city's planning functions.

This measure appeared on the March 2004 ballot. What it does Regional Measure 2 (RM2) is a user fee increase presented to the voters of seven Bay Area counties that are connected by state-owned bridges. RM2 would raise all Bay Area bridge tolls except the Golden Gate Bridge by $1, to generate over $125 million a year for Bay Area transportation improvements. RM2 would…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does The measure would do four things: Establish a "Workforce Housing Program," providing incentives (additional height and density, and timelines for public review to qualifying projects in two neighborhoods: the Central Waterfront and Downtown) to produce housing at a level affordable to qualifying people. To protect the character of existing residential neighborhoods…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This ordinance attempts to force Muni to use a different kind of bus, one that is less polluting than those used in their current fleet. If it is adopted, and legally enforceable, it would require Muni, during the two years between December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2006, to remove from…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does "The Great Schools Charter Amendment" mandates that over a five-year period, starting in Fiscal Year 2005-06, the City will phase in an annual funding of $60 million from the General Fund for preschool and K-12 public-school enrichment programs. Funding can be reduced when the City faces deficits or if State funds…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment extends the time period for which employees called to active military duty may receive supplemental pay from the City. Currently, the Charter allows the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to pass an ordinance to pay City employees called to active duty with a United States military reserve…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop. F would amend the City Charter section under which the deputy sheriffs and the City negotiate and arbitrate their labor agreements. Presently, deputy sheriffs are covered by Charter section A8.409, which covers most City employees except nurses (covered by Charter section A8.403), transit operators (covered by Charter section A8.404) and…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop. E is a Charter amendment that would permit the Board of Supervisors, by resolution, to designate any State or Federal law or regulation a "watch law." Watch laws are laws that would authorize or require the City (including its departments and employees) to disclose information or records "which could violate…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would ensure that the surviving domestic partner are treated exactly the same as surviving spouses by the Employees' Retirement System. The amendment is not expected to increase costs.Why it is on the ballot Currently, under the San Francisco City Charter and Domestic Partner ordinances, the surviving partner…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter change aims to increase San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) efficiency without a decrease in service, by allowing some SFPD positions currently filled by sworn officers to be filled by civilians. Basic protections regarding neighborhood policing, position reviews, and no job losses of uniformed personnel are included.Why it is…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would authorize the Board of Supervisors to contract with the state Public Employees' Retirement Systems (PERS) to provide increased service retirement benefits for district attorneys, public defenders, and public defender investigators.Why it is on the ballot Currently, district attorneys, public defenders, and public defender investigators are members…

This measure appeared on the March 2004 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would allow the Board of Supervisors to establish one or more plans to defer taxation of accumulated vacation, sick leave, and other compensation, payable when an employee retires from the City, without cost to the City.Why it is on the ballot Currently, when a City employee retires…

Includes SPUR's analysis of 11 city measures on the Mar 4, 2004 ballot.

This article describes how the budget gap was closed in 2003 and makes predictions for the city budget in 2004-2005.

Though businesses weigh benefits beyond tax rates when choosing a location, there is a point where types and rates of taxes do matter. This report compares the varying business taxes and their extents.

Brian O'Neill is Superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), one of the largest urban national parks in the world, with over 75,000 acres of land and 28 miles of coastline. The park itself is over twice as large as San Francisco. O'Neill, a long-time SPUR Board member, is recognized for his leadership in the Bay Area environmental community and as an international…

The story of this small battle informs how we think about working toward institutional change, and along the way, what it takes to move away from fossil fuels.

The plan to replace Doyle Drive with a new parkway that will pass underground at key locations presents an opportunity to reconnect the heart of the Presidio to Crissy Field and the Bay.

Michael Alexander discusses Doyle Drive, a project that finally reached consensus after heated debate, only to be delayed by state budget woes.

During a visit to Vancouver, Jeannene Pryzblyski witnesses how their planners worked together with the public, without contention, by focusing on "planning for delight"