Committee backs ordinance to expand COPPA notices to foreclosures and deeds in lieu

San Francisco — The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on April 4 voted to forward to the full Board an ordinance that would require owners of multifamily residential buildings to provide notice of foreclosure proceedings to the Mayor's Office of Housing and Community Development and to qualified nonprofits, and to add deeds in lieu of foreclosure to the list of transfers that require COPPA notices.

The clerk read the ordinance and Chair Dean Preston presented the item on behalf of sponsor Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who was not present. Preston described the proposal as intended to plug a loophole that has allowed properties at risk of leaving rent‑restricted or tenant‑occupied status to transfer via foreclosure or deed in lieu without COPPA notice and opportunity for qualified nonprofits to negotiate acquisitions that preserve affordability.

Speakers debated implementation and funding. Supervisor Connie Chan and Vice Chair Katherine Stephanie recalled prior local and state work on similar measures; Stephanie described a successful COPPA-supported acquisition in District 2 with a subsequent ribbon cutting, while Preston and others said the city must do more to use preservation funds when notices arise.

A member of the public (speaker listed as '7') urged the committee not to require private property owners to send special notifications, saying foreclosure notices are public and nonprofits should monitor them rather than receive mandated direct notice.

Preston raised funding concerns, citing a prior $64 million Prop I appropriation intended for preservation and noting a $20 million reduction reported in the mayor's housing-stability program budget; those figures were cited in discussion as context for the committee's argument that the city needs to be ready and funded to act on COPPA opportunities. The committee voted to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation; the motion passed unanimously (3–0).

What happens next: The ordinance will go to the full Board for consideration. If enacted, it would change notice obligations for specified transfers and require the mayor's housing office to receive timely information about foreclosure-related transfers so qualified nonprofits may evaluate purchase opportunities.