Committee forwards Civic Center and Mid‑Market CBD annual reports to full Board

The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on May 16 reviewed 2022 annual reports for the Civic Center and Mid‑Market Community Benefit Districts and voted to forward both resolutions to the full Board with a positive recommendation.

Jackie Hazelwood, CBD program director at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, told the committee that OEWD examined four benchmarks — comparisons of budget to management‑plan budgets, confirmation of non‑assessment revenue obligations, budget‑to‑actual comparisons, and identification of carry‑forwards and designated projects — and found both districts met the standards for the reporting period. "Civic Center CBD met all four benchmarks," Hazelwood said, and "Mid‑Market CBD met all four benchmarks." Hazelwood noted both districts submitted some materials late but were responsive to OEWD follow‑up.

Tracy Everwine, executive director for the Civic Center and Mid‑Market CBDs, described each district's 2022 services and budgets: Civic Center operated with an annual budget of about $3.2 million focused on streetscape services and field crews, and Mid‑Market reported a roughly $1.5 million budget supporting cleaning, public safety and economic development work. Everwine highlighted outreach and activation events, enhanced ambassador and clean teams, and partnerships with service providers. OEWD also noted the Civic Center CBD doubled social‑service support compared with the prior reporting period.

Supervisors asked for clarifications on reporting timeliness and service metrics. Vice Chair Catherine Stephanie asked whether the report's figure of 34,000 needles collected was an annual total and who collected them; Everwine replied the CBD staff accounted for part of that total and other collections were by partners such as Urban Alchemy and the Downtown Streets Team. Committee members also raised vendor concerns after the closure of the Fulton gift gallery; Everwine said staff are assisting vendors and exploring a vintage market operator who may begin operations in late summer.

After discussion, Chair Supervisor Dean Preston moved to forward Items 1 and 2 to the Board with a positive recommendation. The clerk called the roll; Vice Chair Stephanie, Member Connie Chan and Chair Preston voted in favor and the motion carried.

The items will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on June 4 unless otherwise amended.