Committee backs Rebuilding Together SF contract to run fixed‑lead program after staff and relocation questions

San Francisco’s Budget and Finance Committee voted on April 6 to forward to the full Board a resolution authorizing the Department of the Environment to contract with Rebuilding Together San Francisco to administer the city’s Fixed Lead SF program, a multi‑year effort to reduce childhood lead poisoning.

The contract covers the period March 1, 2022, through Feb. 28, 2027, and is described in the record as not to exceed roughly $14.3 million, with three one‑year options to extend. The department said Rebuilding Together SF will serve as a third‑party administrator responsible for construction coordination, contractor oversight and, when necessary, voluntary tenant relocation.

The program was framed by Department of Public Health staff as the implementation arm of settlement dollars from lead‑paint litigation. "The settlement funding is intended to reduce the amount of lead that came from paint," said Karen Yu of the Department of Public Health, explaining that remediation work requires construction skills the health department does not perform and that a third‑party administrator reduces city risk.

City staff told supervisors the program will include tenant supports and that relocation would occur only when DPH determines it is necessary based on the scope of work and home layout. "We’ve set up a structure to provide tenant support throughout the entire process if relocation is deemed necessary," said Ryan Ramos of the Department of the Environment.

Supervisor Asha Safaie said she had "serious reservations" about parts of the program’s structure even though she expressed confidence in the organizations involved. Safaie pressed staff on language access and relocation logistics for monolingual Spanish‑ and Chinese‑speaking households in targeted ZIP codes, and questioned the portion of settlement funds that would finance city staff rather than direct remediation. "I just noticed this as I reread the BLA’s report, but almost $7,000,000 or 25% of this settlement is going toward funding staff and not going to service the families," Safaie said.

Environment staff and DPH responded that the higher staffing figure in the report reflects roughly $4.7 million for city staff over five years plus $2 million set aside as a contingency in case the program cannot spend settlement funds within the anticipated period. DPH clarified that existing staff working under a separate state contract cannot be reassigned to this program and described DPH’s roles as subject‑matter expertise, health education and clearance inspections.

Mahogany Rowland, executive director of Rebuilding Together San Francisco, outlined her organization’s experience managing multi‑household renovation efforts and said RTSF would provide translation support via Spanish and Cantonese and, when needed, the language line.

After discussion, Chair Hillary Ronan moved to send the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation. The committee took a roll‑call vote; Vice Chair Safaie, Member Marr and Chair Ronan voted aye (3–0).

What’s next: The item will appear on the full Board agenda for April 12 unless otherwise stated; supervisors asked staff to return with implementation progress reports that address relocation and language‑access arrangements.