San Francisco Office of Resilience and Capital Planning
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| San Francisco Office of Resilience and Capital Planning | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | San Francisco Office of Resilience and Capital Planning |
| Formed | 2013 |
| Jurisdiction | San Francisco, California |
| Headquarters | San Francisco City Hall |
| Chief1 name | Chief Resilience Officer |
| Parent agency | City and County of San Francisco |
| Website | Official website |
San Francisco Office of Resilience and Capital Planning is a municipal office within the City and County of San Francisco responsible for integrating resilience planning, capital project delivery, and fiscal stewardship for public infrastructure. It coordinates long‑term planning across departments such as San Francisco Public Works, San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, and San Francisco International Airport to align capital investments with hazard mitigation, seismic safety, and climate adaptation. The office works with elected officials including the Mayor of San Francisco and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors to develop multi‑decade capital plans and resilience strategies.
History
The office originated amid post‑2008 fiscal reforms and growing awareness of seismic and climate risks. Its formation in 2013 followed initiatives like the San Francisco General Plan updates and the aftermath of events such as the 2008 Financial Crisis that influenced municipal capital constraints. Early work intersected with state and federal programs including the California State Coastal Conservancy and the Federal Emergency Management Agency resilience grants. Over time the office expanded from capital budgeting to include resilience roles similar to other municipal entities like the New York City Mayor's Office of Resiliency and the London Resilience Team.
Mandate and Responsibilities
The office’s mandate includes preparing the citywide five‑year capital plan, coordinating seismic retrofit priorities, and embedding resilience principles into infrastructure decisions. It supports statutory processes involving the San Francisco Charter and the San Francisco Administrative Code for capital approval and fiscal reporting. Responsibilities encompass aligning projects with regulatory frameworks such as the California Environmental Quality Act and collaborating on hazard assessments used by agencies like the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the United States Geological Survey.
Organizational Structure
Organizationally, the office reports to the Mayor of San Francisco and works closely with the City Administrator of San Francisco and the Controller of San Francisco for budgetary oversight. Teams include capital planning, resilience strategy, project delivery oversight, and partnership liaison units that coordinate with department directors from San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and San Francisco Planning Department. Leadership roles often liaise with regional bodies such as the Association of Bay Area Governments and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Major initiatives include the San Francisco Multi‑Year Capital Plan, seismic retrofit prioritization programs tied to the Hayward Fault and San Andreas Fault risk assessments, and shoreline protection projects connected to the San Francisco Bay Sea Level Rise Adaptation efforts. The office has supported programs aligned with national resilience frameworks like the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit and has engaged with philanthropic partners such as the Rockefeller Foundation in resilience capacity building. It also manages grant coordination for infrastructure funds involving entities like the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank.
Capital Planning and Budget Process
The office develops the citywide capital planning cycle integrating inputs from agencies including San Francisco Unified School District facilities, the San Francisco Public Library, and the San Francisco Police Department facilities program. It produces capital asset inventories to inform bond measures presented to voters, coordinating with election timelines overseen by the San Francisco Department of Elections. Capital budgets are reviewed in concert with fiscal policy set by the San Francisco Budget and Legislative Analyst and audited by the Government Accountability Office standards when federal funds are used. Bond financing and revenue projections consider state sources like the California State Treasurer and federal sources such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Resilience and Climate Adaptation Efforts
Resilience work addresses earthquake preparedness, coastal flood risk from San Francisco Bay tides and storm surge, and urban heat management in neighborhoods including the Tenderloin, Mission District, and SoMa. Climate adaptation strategies coordinate with regional planning efforts by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and local plans such as the San Francisco Climate Action Strategy. Projects emphasize nature‑based solutions inspired by examples from the Dutch Delta Works discourse and Bay Area pilot projects with the San Francisco Estuary Institute to integrate tidal marsh restoration and managed retreat where appropriate.
Partnerships and Community Engagement
The office partners with academic institutions like University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco State University, and Stanford University for research and technical assistance; philanthropic and nonprofit partners include The Nature Conservancy and Urban Land Institute. Community engagement follows best practices used by bodies such as the National Civic League and involves neighborhood outreach in collaboration with community groups like the Chinatown Community Development Center and tenant organizations in Mission District housing initiatives. Interjurisdictional coordination occurs with nearby municipalities including Oakland, California and San Mateo County to address regional resilience priorities.