SPUR president Jim Chappell submits that relevant planning precedents from other cities need to be a part of the planning process in San Francisco.

Both parks function as green oases filled with myriad cultural attractions -- developed tennis courts, formal gardens, restaurants and theaters (Vancouver), museums (San Francisco) and aquariums (both).

Gordon Price provides an in-depth recent history of planning in Vancouver. By embracing density and walkability, Price argues that planning in Vancouver has yielded a unique and definitive style.

In Vancouver, rather than planning where buildings should go, they plot out the opposite: what do we leave open and what views should be protected? In a city with as much natural beauty as San Francisco, shouldn't we adopt similar guidelines?

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does The City issues a limited number of taxi permits. Permit holders must drive their taxi a minimum of 156 shifts of at least four hours each, per year (just three four-hour shifts a week). Failure to meet this requirement subjects the permit to revocation or suspension by the Taxi Commission. This…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition M would ban panhandling near ATMs, on median strips, near check cashing outlets, on public transportation, and in parking lots. It would ban “aggressive” panhandling in all other public spaces. The police would be required to issue a warning before issuing a citation which would then require the recipient to…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition L would raise the minimum wage in San Francisco to $8.50 per hour from its current level of $6.75. Beginning in January 2005, the minimum wage would be automatically adjusted to keep pace with inflation, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for the Bay Area. Businesses with…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition K would extend the existing 1/2-cent sales tax for transportation for 30 years. It specifies which projects and programs would be funded by the tax, estimated to total $2.4 billion to $2.8 billion over 30 years. The proposed tax and expenditure plan would take effect immediately, replacing the existing tax…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Proposition J looks like a policy statement, but it is an ordinance. Prop. J would require the City to provide separate homeless shelters for seniors, families with children, youth and disabled persons. It would not provide funding to fulfill this requirement. In addition to this binding ordinance, the measure contains a…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop. I is an ordinance which requires the city to create a “Smart Start for San Francisco Kids” fund intended to subsidize early day care and education for eligible working families. As is often the case in government, only the program is created; no money is appropriated in this ordinance to…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Presently, the Police Commission consists of five members appointed by the Mayor. Since they are not confirmed by the Board of Supervisors, the appointees take office as soon as the Mayor selects them.. In order to reject an appointment, the Board must act by 2/3 vote within 30 days. Proposition H…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would create a “Rainy Day” Reserve in the City’s budget. Revenue growth in excess of five percent would be allocated as follows: 50% of the excess to the Reserve, 25% to capital and other one-time expenditures, and 25% to general government needs. During lean fiscal times, the City…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does The City’s budget shortfall makes it very likely that employees will be laid off. Union seniority rules require that within each job category, the most recently hired, usually younger, workers will be let go first. Prop. F would encourage older workers in job categories being reduced and who are near retirement…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does This Charter amendment would create new and amended ethics laws governing the conduct of City officials and employees. In general, it attempts to tighten up regulations in the areas of financial interest, campaign contributions, conflicts of interest, contracting with the City, and lobbying.Why it is on the ballot The Ethics…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does The San Francisco City Charter details the retirement benefits of City employees, and any change to their retirement benefits has to be voted on by the citizenry as a Charter amendment. In the case of Prop. B, we are faced with a relatively technical change to the language that will allow…

This measure appeared on the November 2003 San Francisco ballot. What it does Prop. A authorizes the San Francisco Board of Education to issue up to $295 million in general obligation bonds to meet disability access requirements, health and safety codes, and to rehabilitate the buildings and grounds of 31 schools. There will be a $39.7 million State match, for a total rehabilitation cost…

Includes SPUR's analysis of 14 city measures on the November 4, 2003 ballot.

SPUR President Jim Chappell makes a case for the integration of landscaping and engineering in highway design, noting that highways today, like Doyle Drive, need not abandon the earlier concept of parkways.

Tom Radulovich discusses the effectiveness of city-transport balance, and recommends ways to improve San Francisco’s “balkanized” transit services into a larger, multimodal, regional agency.

The article discusses the conditions that led to the success of regional government in Portland, including homogeneity, young political institutions and urban links to natural resource industries.