SF puts $535M earthquake safety bond on June ballot (+ rent impact)

San Francisco
Board of Supervisors Meeting
January 27, 2026

TL;DR

• $535M earthquake safety and emergency response bond headed to the June 2, 2026 ballot; landlords can pass through 50% of any resulting property tax increase to residential tenants.
• Mission Bay South Block 4 East redevelopment plan amended to allow a 250-foot building (up from 160) and more units for an affordable housing project.
• Charter amendment for lifetime term limits on Mayor and Supervisors continued to February 3; Walton's amendment to extend it to other elected offices failed 4-7.
• $9.02 billion in revenue bond proceeds appropriated for Airport Commission capital projects.
• Hydrogen-fueling station equipment permitting ordinance passed 9-2; Supervisors Chan and Fielder voted no.

What happened

1. $535M earthquake bond goes to June 2026 voters
   1. The Board voted 11-0 to place a bond of up to $535 million on the June 2, 2026 ballot to fund the Emergency Firefighting Water System, fire and police facilities, the Muni bus storage and maintenance facility at Potrero Yard, and other public safety infrastructure. The resolution authorizes landlords to pass through 50% of any resulting property tax increase to residential tenants under Chapter 37 of the Administrative Code.
   2. What this means for you: If voters approve the bond in June, residential tenants in San Francisco could see up to half of any property tax increase from the bond passed through to them by their landlords.
2. Mission Bay South tower height raised to 250 feet for affordable housing
   1. The Board passed a redevelopment plan amendment 11-0 that increases the maximum building height on the northern half of Block 4 East from 160 feet to 250 feet and allows more dwelling units. The site is planned for a 100% affordable housing project; per the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure presentation, the two-phase project would deliver 398 total units, with 80 units set aside for families experiencing homelessness.
   2. What this means for you: A taller affordable housing project is now permitted at Block 4 East in Mission Bay South. Construction on phase one is targeted to start in early 2027.
3. Lifetime term limits charter amendment held a week
   1. The Board voted 8-3 to continue the proposed charter amendment to February 3, 2026. The measure would change the existing two-term limits for Mayor and Supervisors from consecutive limits to lifetime limits, going to voters June 2 if passed. Supervisor Walton's amendment to extend lifetime two-term limits to the Assessor-Recorder, City Attorney, District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff, Treasurer, Board of Education, and City College Board of Trustees failed 4-7. Supervisors Chan, Fielder, and Walton voted against the continuance.
   2. What this means for you: If the underlying amendment passes the Board next week and voters approve it in June, former Mayors and Supervisors could not return to those offices after a break in service.
4. $9.02 billion appropriated for Airport capital projects
   1. The Board voted 11-0 on first reading to appropriate $9,016,051,176 in revenue bond and commercial paper proceeds to the Airport Commission for capital improvement projects in fiscal year 2025-2026. The full amount is placed on Controller's Reserve pending receipt of the proceeds.
   2. What this means for you: SFO can move forward with planning and contracting for capital projects funded by future bond sales, with no impact on the General Fund.
5. Hydrogen fueling station permits approved 9-2
   1. The Board passed an ordinance on first reading creating a Building Code permit process for hydrogen-fueling station equipment. Supervisors Chan and Fielder voted no. Fielder said on the floor that 98% of hydrogen fuel is made from fossil fuels and only 1% from low-carbon sources like water electrolysis, and raised concerns about nitrogen oxide emissions.
   2. What this means for you: Hydrogen fueling stations now have a defined permitting pathway in San Francisco's Building Code.

What residents brought up

• Plastic cigarette filters. Several speakers, including representatives of a local volunteer cleanup group and the SF Tobacco Free Coalition, urged the Board to ban the sale of plastic-filtered cigarettes. One speaker cited a 2014 city litter audit showing cigarette butts made up 53% of observed litter, and pointed to Santa Cruz County and Capitola passing similar bans recently.
• Gender-affirming care resolution. A nurse and a parent representing Rainbow Families spoke in support of the resolution introduced by Supervisor Chan reaffirming the city's commitment to gender-affirming care. The nurse noted that roughly 35,000 city workers and their families receive health care through Kaiser under a major city contract.
• Mission Bay developer inclusion. During the 3 p.m. hearing on the Block 4 East redevelopment amendment, the president of a local building trades contractors collective and a Fillmore-based community development executive director urged the Board to ensure local and community-rooted developers and contractors have access to redevelopment project work. The community development director formally requested a hearing on developer-level participation in city-supported redevelopment.

Also happened

• Two Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District plans approved: District No. 2 (Stonestown) and District No. 3 (3333/3700 California Street).
• Three lawsuit settlements passed on first reading: General Motors $71,125,000 (gross receipts tax refund), Microsoft $6,500,000 (gross receipts tax refund), and York/Brown/Briers $6,030,000 (personal injury and wrongful death from a city tree).
• Resolution adopted 11-0 condemning ICE for actions leading to loss of life and calling for a moratorium on ICE detention pending a third-party investigation.
• Resolution adopted 11-0 supporting California AB 1537, which would prohibit peace officers from federal immigration enforcement work.
• $420,000 California Office of Traffic Safety grant accepted for the District Attorney's impaired-driver prosecution program; $15.55 million Ryan White HIV/AIDS Emergency Relief application authorized; $1.625 million Koshland Park improvement grant accepted.
• 27 landmark designation initiations sponsored by President Mandelman were referred to the Land Use and Transportation Committee at Supervisor Walton's request.

For any updates or corrections, please email steven@polisdesk.com