Hearing Update – 4/6/26
Board of Supervisors Rules Committee considers ordinance establishing Technical Advisory Council for sprinklers
View selected public comment videos below
On April 6, 2026 the Rules Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, comprised of Chair Shamann Walton and Supervisors Stephen Sherrill and Rafael Mandelman, held a hearing to consider a proposed ordinance creating a Technical Advisory Council (TAC) in connection with the Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Mandate. Supervisor Danny Sauter was also present.
The full text of the proposed ordinance can be viewed here.
Public attendance at the hearing was much smaller than the overflow crowd that was present for the February hearing by the Land Use Committee, when the extensions of interim deadlines for the mandate were considered and forwarded to the full Board.
The hearing began with discussion by the Rules Committee members and Supervisor Sauter. The SFFD Fire Chief and Fire Marshal then spoke, endorsing the proposed ordinance. After that, public comments were opened. Each commenter was allowed one minute to speak. Around two dozen members lined up to make comments.
Public comments were similar in nature to those made at the earlier hearing in February. (Videos of selected excerpts can be viewed below.
Many speakers, such as retired 84 year old retired schoolteacher Velma Dean, related that their personal financial situations were completely unable to manage the anticipated expense of the sprinkler retrofit. “I will not be able to afford this thing in 5 years and I will not be able to afford it in 10 years,” she said.
Other speakers suggested that there had been corruption influencing the passage of the mandate. “This mandate was championed by a former official who immediately sought to profit from its enforcement,” said Jennifer Galbardi.
One speaker called for three amendments to the ordinance: 1 – Re-title it as a Feasability Analysis Council, to make explicit that it should consider human and financial concerns as well as technical. 2 – Add a seat for an economist skilled in cost-benefit analysis. 3 – Have the Council report its findings to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors rather than the Fire Department, so they could be the basis for further legislation if indicated.
After a closing discussion among the Supervisors, the committee voted 2 to 1 to recommend the proposed ordinance to the full Board. Supervisors Mandelman and Sherrill voted in favor, withSupervisor Walton against. The primary objection Walton voiced was that a Supervisor (or designated legislative aide) should not be granted a seat on the TAC.
Introductory remarks
Sup. Sherrill started his remarks by noting that a 2016 analysts report has recommended against imposing a sprinkler retrofit mandate. He went on to acknowledge that when the mandate was proposed in 2022 no notice was provided to potentially affected parties. He expressed an opinion that the process imposing the mandate had been flawed, but suggested that the TAC process could help to remedy anticipated negative effects of the mandate. Similar sentiments were expressed by Sup. Sauter.