San Francisco Residential Vacancies Policy Analysis
This policy analysis, initially released in January 2022 and updated in October 2022, looks at the number of residential vacancies in San Francisco, reasons for vacancies, comparison to other cities, and offers policy options for addressing vacancies based on other jurisdictions. The October 2022 update provides revised estimates based on 2021 American Community Survey vacant housing data. The report finds that the City experienced a 52 percent increase in vacant units between 2019 and 2021, from 40,548 to 61,473. Vacancies in units identified as in the “For Rent” category increased 142 percent over the same period, from 7,241 to 17,514. Read the policy analysis on residential vacancies from January 2022 and the October 2022 update.
San Francisco Chapter 12X Contracting Ban Policy Analysis
This policy analysis, released in October 2022, assesses the impact of the implementation of the contracting prohibitions applicable to states on the Covered State List, pursuant to Chapter 12X of the City’s Administrative Code. Chapter 12X prohibits City-funded travel to states with laws that reduced protections for the LGBT community against discrimination. This ordinance also prohibits City contracting with companies headquartered in these states, or where work on the contract would be performed in these states. The ordinance has been amended twice: in 2019 to expand the travel and contracting ban to include states with restrictive abortion laws; and in 2022 to include states with restrictive voting laws. The analysis estimates that the implementation of Chapter 12X has cost the City an additional $474,283 since FY 2017. Read the full policy analysis report.
Performance Audit of Small Business Programs in San Francisco
This performance audit, issued in June 2022, focuses on the City’s small business programs and community grants that are managed by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and the Office of Small Business. The scope of this performance audit includes the Department’s performance metrics for such programs, procurement and contracting processes, program monitoring, and permit center support provided by the Office of Small Business. The performance audit contains 14 recommendations to improve management of the City’s small business programs and community grants. The report also includes a survey of small businesses in San Francisco. Read the full performance audit report.
San Francisco Budget Priority Report on Racial Equity in City Employment
This budget priority report, issued in June 2022, analyzes racial equity and diversity in City employment. Looking at the City’s workforce composition between FY 2018-19 and FY 2020-21, the report finds that as a whole, the percentage of City employees represented by people of color (all racial/ethnic groups other than White) increased from 70.9 percent to 72.1 percent; the percentage of people of color newly hired into the City workforce declined slightly from 73 percent to 72.1 percent; and, employees of color achieved more promotions than White employees, but their share of total citywide promotions declined from 69.8 percent to 66.6 percent. The report provides recommendations on options for further investment and data collection to assess efforts at improving diversity and racial equity within the City’s workforce. Read the full budget priority report.
Santa Clara County Special Study on COVID-19 Relief Funds
This special study, issued in May 2022, assesses Santa Clara County’s management of COVID-19 relief funds. The report has six findings and 20 recommendations related to the strategic management, use of advisors, expedited claims and appropriations, communications and training, documentation, and information systems. If implemented, these recommendations would provide in-house expertise and enhanced oversight of disaster relief funds; expedite reimbursement and claims processing; and establish clear documentation practices for disaster cost tracking. Read the full report.
San Francisco Policy Analysis on Referrals for Mental Health Services
This policy analysis, issued in May 2022, looks at referrals to mental health services and the role that the Office of Coordinated Care, established by Mental Health SF, plays in overseeing the collection, analysis, and maintenance of data to operate and evaluate the system of care for adults experiencing mental illness. The report focuses on referrals made for adults who are unhoused in calendar years 2020 and 2021. Read the complete policy analysis.
Police Department Role in San Francisco Street Teams
This policy analysis, issued in April 2022, analyzes the extent to which the San Francisco Police Department is still responding to mental health street crises after the City created numerous teams composed of mental health professionals, paramedics, and peer advocates to, without law enforcement involvement, address street conditions and homelessness and assist people with mental illness and/or addiction that are having crises in the streets. The report recommends better data collection efforts to record the entity that responds to all mental health crisis calls. Read the full policy analysis report.
Santa Clara County Equal Opportunity Division Management Audit
This management audit, released in February 2022, examines the operations, management practices and finances of the Santa Clara County Equal Opportunity Division to identify opportunities to increase the Division’s efficiency, effectiveness, and economy. The report includes 10 findings and 32 recommendations related to the following: improving County staff awareness of Division services, tracking investigation outcomes by case traits, better case management data entry and documentation practices, improved communication with investigation parties around case status, clearer conflict of interest identification policies and processes, more defined peace officer investigation practices, additional anti-retaliation measures, more consistent conflict resolution referrals, and ensuring compliance with federal requirements around the County’s equal employment opportunity program. Read the full management audit report.
Special Study on Santa Clara County Debt
This special study, released in December 2021, examines the County’s debt issuances and debt management practices to identify opportunities for issuing and administering the County’s debt more efficiently. The report includes five findings and 16 recommendations related to transparency and oversight, debt-management policy, reliance on lease revenue bonds, internal management, and the use of advisors. If implemented, the recommendations would help to increase the transparency and oversight of the County’s debt issuance process and reduce the risk of injudicious or unnecessary use of debt, poorly structured debt, or poorly structured repayment schedules. Read the full report.
Management Audit of Santa Clara County Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program
This management audit, issued in November 2021, evaluates Santa Clara County’s Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Forensic Exam Program (SAFE Program). The report contains five findings and 12 recommendations related to SAFE Program response locations, adequate staffing of SAFE nurses, SAFE Program growth and long-term planning, Information and materials provided to patients, and the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) operations and the SART protocol. Read the full management audit report.
San Francisco Performance Audit of Policies for Affordable Housing Development and Preservation
This performance audit, released in June 2021, evaluates the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development’s policies and procedures for the development or preservation of affordable housing. The audit report includes six findings and 12 recommendations regarding policies for equitable geographic distribution of affordable housing; policies and practices for soliciting and evaluating affordable housing proposals; and the impact of insufficient developer capacity on affordable housing development and preservation. Read the full performance audit.
Performance Audit of San Francisco Street Resurfacing and StreetTreeSF Programs
This performance audit, released in June 2021, assesses the Public Works Department’s management of pavement conditions, pothole and patch paving services, baseline pruning of street trees, staffing and administration of the StreetTreeSF program, and the geographic distribution of StreetTreeSF services. The audit also reviews the sustainability of funding available for street resurfacing and street tree canopy growth and geographic distribution. The performance audit has nine findings and 21 recommendations to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Department operations in these areas. Read the full performance audit.