Supervisors send two new BLA performance audits — street cleaning and interdepartmental work orders — to full Board
November 16, 2023 | San Francisco County, California
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The Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Nov. 16 voted to forward to the full Board of Supervisors a motion directing the Budget and Legislative Analyst (BLA) to conduct two additional performance audits in fiscal year 2023–24: one examining San Francisco Public Works’ street-cleaning operations and another reviewing interdepartmental services and work orders.
Chair Dean Preston, who moved to send the item with a positive recommendation, said the audits respond to persistent public concern about street cleanliness and to the need for better oversight of internal city billing. "Our hope is that this audit will shed light on efficiency, but also really dig into the process in place for deploying our street-cleaning staff and contractors," Preston said.
Dan Goncher of the BLA described the audits’ scope: the street-cleaning review will assess efficiency, effectiveness and equity across neighborhoods after a 2023 resident survey ranked street and sidewalk cleanliness among the lowest metrics. The interdepartmental-services audit will examine documentation and cost-basis practices for work orders, a budget category that the committee noted totals about $251,000,000 citywide with roughly $98,000,000–$100,000,000 in the general fund.
Goncher added the BLA’s prior work shows San Francisco’s per-capita street-cleaning costs have been substantially higher than peer cities and that a performance audit has not been completed of Public Works’ street-cleaning operations in at least five years. "With the city facing a substantial structural deficit, it is imperative that we take all feasible steps to reduce unnecessary spending on administrative costs," he said.
No members of the public signed up to comment on Item 1. The committee voted 3–0: Vice Chair Stephanie, Supervisor Connie Chan and Chair Preston recorded aye votes. The committee clerk noted items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Nov. 28 unless otherwise stated.
The full Board will now receive the motion and may approve, modify or instruct the BLA on final audit scope and deliverables.
Chair Dean Preston, who moved to send the item with a positive recommendation, said the audits respond to persistent public concern about street cleanliness and to the need for better oversight of internal city billing. "Our hope is that this audit will shed light on efficiency, but also really dig into the process in place for deploying our street-cleaning staff and contractors," Preston said.
Dan Goncher of the BLA described the audits’ scope: the street-cleaning review will assess efficiency, effectiveness and equity across neighborhoods after a 2023 resident survey ranked street and sidewalk cleanliness among the lowest metrics. The interdepartmental-services audit will examine documentation and cost-basis practices for work orders, a budget category that the committee noted totals about $251,000,000 citywide with roughly $98,000,000–$100,000,000 in the general fund.
Goncher added the BLA’s prior work shows San Francisco’s per-capita street-cleaning costs have been substantially higher than peer cities and that a performance audit has not been completed of Public Works’ street-cleaning operations in at least five years. "With the city facing a substantial structural deficit, it is imperative that we take all feasible steps to reduce unnecessary spending on administrative costs," he said.
No members of the public signed up to comment on Item 1. The committee voted 3–0: Vice Chair Stephanie, Supervisor Connie Chan and Chair Preston recorded aye votes. The committee clerk noted items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on Nov. 28 unless otherwise stated.
The full Board will now receive the motion and may approve, modify or instruct the BLA on final audit scope and deliverables.
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