Planning Department updates commission on racial and social equity implementation

Planning Department staff provided the commission with a year‑in‑review of its racial and social equity work and described next steps for implementation.

Department staff told the commission they have more than 100 actions in Phase 1 (internal operations, hiring practices, budget-tool use and an internship program) and have submitted a Phase 1 plan to the Office of Racial Equity. Staff highlighted a record internship cohort — 39 interns across high‑school and college programs, with preservation‑focused interns supporting cultural‑resource surveys — and said a new San Francisco Young Planners program was launched to engage local high‑school students.

For preservation priorities staff described community‑led historic‑context statements underway for American Indian, African American, Chinese American and Latinx histories and a methodology in development to account for intangible cultural heritage. Staff said they plan interactive web reporting dashboards and will return to commissions later in the year with additional timeline and outcome details.

Commissioners emphasized the need for clearer outreach, community engagement roadmaps and public access to progress dashboards; staff said the newly formed Community Equity Advisory Council will help advise engagement plans and that updated website tools and contact methods will be published.

The presentation was informational only and no action was required.