Members of the Board of Supervisors added two propositions onto the Nov. 6 ballot, and Mayor Gavin Newsom added two — all on Friday, the final day to place measures on the ballot.

Newsom, who is up for re-election this November, put on the ballot Friday a nonbinding policy statement that would call on city officials to “approve all agreements necessary for providing a citywide Wi-Fi network.” The measure was also signed by Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin.

Newsom’s high-profile agreement with EarthLink to provide the city with free Internet access via Wi-Fi has been bogged down in bureaucracy since its introduction to the Board of Supervisors for approval in January. In recent weeks, the company’s interest in moving ahead with Wi-Fi projects has been called into question.

“We do want our partners to understand that the city family is unified in our desire for free Wi-Fi to happen as soon as possible in San Francisco,” Newsom’s spokesman Nathan Ballard said.

Newsom also added to the ballot on Friday an ordinance that would establish at City Hall a one-stop shop — the Small Business Assistance Center — for businesses with 100 or fewer employees.

The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee refused earlier this year to fully fund Newsom’s proposal, suggesting it was not necessary given other competing needs. The measure would require the city to spend $750,000 from its operating budget on the center this fiscal year.

Supervisor Jake McGoldrick submitted two ballot measures on Friday — a policy statement calling for a ban on additional advertisements on such things as bus shelters, and an ordinance that would create a city matching fund for donations to reopen and maintain the Golden Gate Park Stables. The City would match $1 per every $3 donated, up to $750,000.

Prior to Friday, the Board of Supervisors had voted to place six measures on the ballot, including Peskin’s measure that, if approved, would sink more money into Muni — at least $26 million more a year — and bestow more management powers to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees the ailing transit system.

jsabatini@examiner.com  

What voters have on their plate

Local measures qualifying for the November 6, 2007, ballot

Charter amendments

Charter amendments make changes to the city’s constitution. Since the charter was adopted by voters, all charter amendments must be adopted by voters. To qualify for the ballot: Signatures from 10 percent of registered voters or six votes by supervisors.

» Emissions Reduction and Transit Reform: Would provide Muni with at least $26 million more a year and grant more autonomy to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, which oversees Muni.

» Limiting hold-over service by members of board and commissions: Any member of a board or commission could remain an active member no later than 60 days after the term expires unless the member is reappointed.

» Requiring a public hearing on ballot initiatives submitted by mayor or four supervisors: Would require the mayor or four members of the Board of Supervisors to submit any proposed ballot measure for a public hearing before it is placed on the ballot.

» Requiring mayoral participation in monthly board meetings: Would require mayor to attend once a month a Board of Supervisors meeting to engage in formal policy discussions with members of the board.

» Retirement benefits for airport police officers: Would provide retirement benefits for police department employees who were also airport police officers prior to December 27, 1997, as if they had been members of the police department during their service as airport police officers.

» Renewal of Library Preservation Fund: Would renew for 15 years the fund that earmarks money for library operations and allows the library to borrow against the fund to raise money to complete the renovation of branch libraries.

Ordinances

Inferior to charter amendment; once passed, it becomes law. While supervisors can pass ordinances, if an ordinance is passed by voters, typically it can only be changed by voters. To qualify for the ballot: Takes four supervisors or signatures from 5 percent of last mayoral election’s voter turnout.

» Parking For Neighborhoods: Would increase parking allowances, including in the downtown core.

» Golden Gate Park Stables Matching Fund: Would establish a fund for donations to the Golden Gate Park Stables and provide a city match of $1 for every $3 donated to the fund up to $750,000, for the renovation, repair and maintenance of the stables.

» Small Business Assistance Center: Would require the establishment of a Small Business Assistance Center and allocate $750,000 for its operations, designed to centralize services for businesses with 100 or fewer employees.

Policy statements

Takes strong position on a matter but is not legally binding. To qualify for the ballot: Takes four supervisors or signatures from 5 percent of last mayoral election’s voter turnout.

» Free Universal Wi-Fi: Calls for The City to provide San Francisco with free wireless Internet access.

» Fighting Blight on Street Furniture in Public Spaces: Calls for no increase in the number of general advertising signs on street furniture, including transit shelters, kiosk benches and newspaper racks and no increase in the number of advertising signs on the exterior of city-owned buildings.

Source: City Department of Elections

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