Transcripts For SFGTV Government Access Programming 20240714

SFGTV Government Access Programming July 14, 2024

Construction sites clean. That was the biggest, biggest concern, and so we made sure in our Construction Contracts that there is a specific condition that they do that, and that inspectors and resident engineers regularly check and make sure there is compliance, ambassadors will inform project managers or resident engineers if we are not complying. We have hired a fulltime person who will manage the program in the m. T. A. Daytoday, working specifically with project managers on developing specific plans prior to construction, so we are ready to go on day one as soon as construction starts. And we are also working with oewd, the point of todays discussion on finalizing some of the technical aspects of the program. So, here is some specific examples of projects, central subway project you just discussed, twin peaks tunnel, probably the first project where we fully implemented the suite of Different Things that we would do in this particular project and the van ness improvement project, so the buy local campaign, corridor marketing, we absolutely work on, businesses also often contact our Public Information officers or talk to ambassadors about cleanliness, making parking available, another major issue. So when a contractor reserves a parking space, sometimes they dont need those all day, so if we can make those available sooner during construction we will work to be able to do that, and again, up front planning with merchants, definitely did that on twin peaks in advance, talking to them about what the anticipated impacts would be, and coming up with specific mitttation measures to work for that corridor. I want to stress not everything works in every particular corridor, different businesses or merchant groups need support so we work with them to come up with the specific package with he would use based on the standard template i just showed you. So, here are the things that we absolutely learned after implementing a couple of these projects. So, actually start earlier, even earlier than we had thought about starting before. Typically we were talking about 90 design, or kind of post contract award, the contractor is on board and part is working through with the specific contractor for whom we have awarded bid to, working with them on the mitigation measures. Cleanliness, where will you do work, where staging will occur, so knowing that. We have decided to try to move that even earlier, during the 65 Design Period where we think we have a little bit more surety about where impacts will be. And our Public Information officers and our outreach staff will start the discussions with merchant groups around that period of time, so we dont want the dark where we go into construction, no one has heard from us and you get a 30day notice and the disruption is created. We want to start the touch point with merchants in advance, so actually working to do that. Now, education of businesses, we also found working with the office of economic and workforce development. A lot of businesses dont know about all the different programs the city offers. They are absolutely available during construction and even before construction. So a piece of feedback we have received from the board of supervisors as the Transportation Authority is Start Talking to them when you know the project will happen and we will follow through and start doing that. So kind of lastly, the one outstanding point that we still have is as part of the discussion when there was an appropriation, which you approved and went to the board of supervisors earlier this year, a 5 million set aside for a construction mitigation fund. But we have directed business support, i showed you at the highest level project. We have done that one time and that was for the central subway project. When we first started this program. But it was sort of unnamed as to how we would use it, who would use it, what the criteria would be. So we spent a period of time working, doing two public hearings at the Transportation Authority with all the members of the board of supervisors, talking to our Small Business working group. Went to the local Merchants Association and talked about this coming up, how is this going to work and make it most useful. The two criteria that we have come up with, one, apply to only the largest projects, directed business support, so it should be at the level that we have discussed, those ones that are going to be 24 months that we know there is major disruption and that largely these funds be used for sfmtaled projects, the larger Infrastructure Projects here in San Francisco. So, the feedback we have received after two full hearings with the board of supervisors, originally the proposal was use the funds in the way i have discussed the program. So, marketing opportunities, use it for marketing. So not impacting a project but just to the point where you are doing more construction mitigation than you are developing or delivering transportation improvements. So in some cases smaller level projects where the m. T. A. Interest is paint or improvements on the street but a lot of other impacting components of the project. And so we dont want to end up to a point we cant deliver transportation improvements because we are fully paying for mitigation measures. Recommendation was use 5 million to augment the good things and the tools we know are working, because we dont want to impact project delivery. Also use the funds for things that are typically not eligible for project funds, so again, one of the complexities in designing this program is for the purposes of the m. T. A. , over our projects are federally funded, funded through local sales taxes or through either general obligation or revenue bonds. So the use for direct cash payment or supportive rent is typically not eligible, almost never eligible for that type of fund. In the case of the department of public works, they use a lot of general Obligation Bonds and use a lot of state funds that also have the restrictions. P. U. C. Also has the difficulty with regard to rate payer funds and bonds they generate. So, we have built and we have created a set aside in all project budgets for these things that are eligible, where we can do marketing, where we can do support, we can have a business liaison, we can have ambassadors. Direct business support, though, is something we cannot do. So, this 5 million absolutely can be used for that purpose. So, that was the direction we got, and thats what the board told us. So dont use it for the existing elements with project funds, use it strictly for direct business support. Feedback from the board of supervisors. The other thing you may or may not have read in the press, we had recommended because of the sustainability of this funding there be both directed grants and a Revolving Loan fund. It would be 0 interest, but we had considered in recommending that approach was one that this needs to be financially sustainable, meaning that as people pay back the funds, you know, pay it forward, essentially supporting future projects that come in the city, and second, there are the situations i discussed where it is not an m. T. A. Led project, where we are a scope of work or element but still a City Infrastructure project impact so again, on behalf of the city we would also want to provide support in those particular situations. So, that was one of the recommendations that we move forward and we had a proportion. Then at that last Transportation Authority commission meeting, the Board Members also brought up that they would like to see, for central subway, anybody can go on the public website today, type in construction mitigation central subway, it will take you to the office of economic and Work Force Development site and there are specific criteria. We are recommending that be maintained, it is what we have done in the past. The Board Members did ask that we consider amounts higher than the 10,000 in that particular situation so we took that into account. That leads us, so thats the criteria which again is public. That leads us to today, the final element where we want to formalize the specific program with the office of economic and workforce development, through a memorandum of understanding between the departments, is continuing or having the option of a Revolving Loan fund, proportion when we went to the Transportation Authority was 3 million, 2 million being responsive, we are looking at more 4 million and 1 million, again, to at least establish it, have it in place and hopefully have something sustainable or the other option, use the entire 5 million strictly for grants and payments. So, those are the final two options. Ive been before the Transportation Authority twice so prior to making a final decision on this we wanted to get feedback from the m. T. A. Board. So, happy to take any questions and hear your thoughts. Ok. Can you just because seems the crux of the issue, tease out again what types of things the funds, grant funds would be used for as opposed to loan funds . Sure. So, for the central subway project, the specific grant funds were used for rent, for the period, for utilities, or for Capital Improvements. The staff from oewd can help me if im missing anything, we asked them to go through the process where we did a business evaluation to determine eligibility and need overall. That is the general criteria, allow the grant funds used for. The loan. Actually, i could use some help on the loan. Good afternoon. Office of economic workforce development. For jorge rivas. For the central subway, the loans were available but not part of the mitigation program. Loans can be used for any operations, any of the costs generally by a business, and sometimes rent as well, labor, improvements, marketing, buying new equipment for the shop, whatever it may be. Im sorry, before you leave the podium, jorge, for the loan program its administered by the city and the county. How would loan eligibility be decided upon . Seems like thats something thats not in our scope of work currently, so we would need somebody with some loan expertise. Of course. So, currently we are building off based on the, building off on the loan fund, by main street launch, our partner here in the city and oakland, and we work closely with them setting up terms and how to best support the Small Business, and currently looking at a model that says its no risk, no, 0 interest loan, which works closely with the Business Owner so they dont have to necessarily show paperwork up front, but over time and measure the impact of the construction project on the Small Business. Are the loans being offered, successful in terms of currently in our current model, 98 repayment percentage, so, very high. Its pretty successful. Okay. Thank you. Other directors . I will say that this was a big issue, especially in the Restaurant Association for a lot of Small Businesses, the disruption is enormous, no one wants to eat at a restaurant where work is going on out in front of it, its too noisy and too loud, and its not always clear the businesses are open. A restaurant had an outdoor space and planning a wedding on a saturday and found out we would have construction on the saturday and having to work with the oewe to make sure they can gain the revenue. So being more strategic how we do that, i think the outreach and feedback is getting to people sooner in the very beginning because people can make other choices. I think we have to realize we should notify the landlords, because the landlords before they sign leases with people, it would be unfortunate to sign a lease on a space and find out a few months later that you are going to have the major mitigation, Major Construction project thats going to impact you. Something thats related, an offshoot of this, one of the areas around the loan support, a lot of businesses do seismic retrofit, and i dont know if theres any way that some of that work can overlap with, or a way to think about that, maybe this is more of an oewd thing, if a landlord needs to do the seismic retrofit work, maybe it happens, maybe they know up front so they can stage it during some of the worst time of the construction, something to think about, its a little more complicated. If somebody is planning a giant project anyway, good time to do it. Yeah, i know one of the challenges in general with the seismic work, there was not a requirement landlords put anything in the leases to tenants about that. So, us being better than that standard would be great. Mr. Rose, im leaning towards the grant loan mix as being sort of a preferred option. Is there anything about that, that we should know that wouldnt be seems giving people more options is going to be better. Anything about that that is a drawback to it . I think the only the reason that we recommended it up front was because again we want to consider this to be at least to have a sustainable source and something longterm citywide we can consider how to keep it going. In the case of grants, once the money is gone, its gone. And as you recall, this came from a onetime source. So, we want to at least build the foundation for something that can be ongoing. Oewd believes they can manage that and implement it. I think in hearing from the board of supervisors and briefing them and speaking with them, the businesses are feeling the pain so they want to see the money get out as quickly as possible. So i think we increase the proportion that will go directly to grants in response to that concern. Any other questions before i open it up to the public for Public Comment . Chair, i guess im just having a hard time drawing a bead on this. Who would want a loan if they can get a grant . I mean, who asked for the loans . The guys who are, i mean, i dont understand. Just i think the criteria right now for the grants, only available after the 24month project is delayed. The recommendation is for loans to be available at the inception of the project, which is a difference. That makes the loan more attractive. Attractive to help them sustain during the period of time when construction is occurring. The cost of capital these days is virtually nothing anyway. Is it really attractive to folks . For payroll, believe it or not, a lot of businesses take loans to make payroll in months they believe its slow. A source of funding to keep folks above water during a period of time. With that, i think we are going to open it up to to the public for Public Comment on this item. Jason is the only person who has turned in a speaker card on this topic. Hi, again, speaking on behalf of chinatown trip. Echo the importance of having construction mitigation to offset the central subway impacts, especially to chinatown. Chinatown has a threat of displacement for decades, and that is even a stronger threat today. The businesses have been struggling due to the construction for the exact reasons said earlier by director borden. We need to make sure the businesses serving the low income Chinese Community today are able to stay in place long enough so they can see the benefits of the subway when its finally built. We would like to see some of these funds used to boost business in chinatown, particularly around with the shuttle bus, with shuttle busses and a Public Outreach campaign that tells people chinatown is still open during construction. Thank you. Thank you. Any other Public Comments . Quick one, correct the record on my previous comment on the item. Turns out the board of supervisors did pass a best value contract award ordinance in may 2016. Obviously way too late for the central subway bid, but at least looks like progress has been made in that area, and that was what it was calling for. Thank you. Thank you. Directors. So, just to back up one more time with the last commenter said, the type of work that he was talking about reminding people that businesses are open for business, thats sort of a separate bucket of money than what we are talking about. Correct. So, what we that is now an official part of the program, and if that is a mitigation measure we are going to use we will add it to the budget of a project. So the things those types of things we will do, we are going to do them as part of the cost of the project, and this construction mitigation we are talking about is for separate activity, you know, as we talked about whatever people use. Ok. Good, thats all i wanted one thing i want to add on the loans, maybe i did not make as clear. So, on the loan program, we are also talking about using those funds, since they would be selfsustaining and not dependent on the m. T. A. Budget for projects in which the m. T. A. Has scope, but it is not directly our project. So, sometimes there are other projects in the city that are highly impactful where we might have a vision element or other element, or situations where we are the public face of the project the m. T. A. Board is legislating the project but the large part of the scope of work is not ours. So, some businesses would be able to access this fund as part of that. Thank you. Im still leaning towards option one, the grant seems like giving more flexibility in that. I would echo that, and like the idea of having a sustainable model for that, and being able to see more people use that money. Great. Just would imagine for our loan products, do we have, its not like the same stringent requirements at the bank, because a lot of businesses would have a hard time getting money from a bank sometimes. The citys loan project is more flexible and build in the terms on what they would like to see. Normally tend to be low interest, 3 to 5 . And we take a holistic approach to their Business Plan and what they would like to use the resources for, knowing most of the resources might have gone to the conventional bank and not qualified, s

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