Committee continues 'Love Our Neighborhoods' encroachment-permit ordinance after substantive amendments

Supervisor Mirna Melgar presented the 'Love Our Neighborhoods' ordinance Nov. 27, describing a three‑tier system to simplify approvals for community placemaking projects such as sidewalk libraries, planters, murals and string lights. The ordinance would create a registration pathway (tier 1, non‑permit) for small installations and two permit tiers for more complex work requiring engineering or broader review.

Carla Short, Director of Public Works, said the legislation aims to reduce major and costly encroachment permit requirements for small neighborhood projects and to create a single online portal. Short told the committee that neighborhood string lighting along sidewalks and alleys without vehicular traffic would be a tier‑2 activity and that qualifying existing installations could be grandfathered in if they meet new standards.

Members praised the streamlining goal but many public commenters raised equity and implementation concerns. Some speakers asked whether the program would be used to displace people experiencing homelessness by placing planters that limit sleeping areas; others urged passage so merchants and neighbors could more easily beautify corridors. Director Short said tier‑1 registrants would be required to maintain plants and meet sidewalk clearance standards; DPW expects a working draft of regulations by the end of the year and continued development of a portal with Digital Services.

Chair Melgar read several clarifying amendments into the record, but Deputy City Attorney Anne Pearson advised that several of the newly introduced changes were substantive and therefore required a continuance. The committee voted to continue the ordinance, as amended, to the Dec. 4 Land Use meeting so staff and the City Attorney could complete form review and prepare the record for a committee vote.