Government Audits Committee moves into closed session, recommends 8 ordinances and 3 resolutions; public raises transparency concerns on item 9

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ Government Audits and Oversight Committee convened and moved into closed session to consider items 1 through 11, which the Clerk described as eight ordinances settling lawsuits and three resolutions to settle unlitigated claims against the City and County.

During the meeting’s public-comment period, David Pilpel spoke about item 9 and said he was concerned the proposed settlement with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board had not been publicly discussed. Pilpel asked that the City Attorney provide an overview of the matter, including the projects involved, any compliance commitments and rough dollar amounts, and he noted that on-screen closed captions appeared to show a different concurrent meeting.

Chair Supervisor Dean Preston moved to convene in closed session to consider the listed items. The Clerk called the roll; Supervisors Connie Chan, Rafael Mandelmann and Preston each voted "Aye." The motion to convene in closed session carried without objection. The committee returned to open session later in the meeting, and the Clerk reported that the committee had taken actions in closed session to recommend items 1 through 11 to the full Board. The Clerk also stated there was no committee report for item 9 as previously indicated.

After reporting the closed-session outcome, the committee voted on a motion not to disclose the closed-session discussions. The Clerk again called the roll; Supervisors Mandelmann, Chan and Preston voted "Aye," and the motion to withhold disclosure passed without objection.

The Clerk told attendees that items acted upon at this meeting were expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda on 09/27/2021, unless otherwise stated. With no further business, Chair Preston adjourned the committee.