San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting - May 10, 2022
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San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting - May 10, 2022
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) held a hybrid meeting on May 10, 2022, to discuss drought conditions, approve consent calendar items, and adopt wholesale water rates for fiscal year 2022-2023. The meeting included updates on reservoir storage, a plan for ecological releases from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, and a 15.9% wholesale water rate increase. Several public comments addressed water management, the Tuolumne River, and utility accountability.
Consent Calendar
- Items 9a, 9b, 9c, 9f, 9g: Approved unanimously (3-0) after items 9d and 9e were removed for separate discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: Three callers spoke. One criticized the transfer of AWAS (Administrative Water and Sewer) from PUC to the City Administrator, alleging it was used for budget balancing and inconsistent with Prop 218. A second speaker (Jeff Pentorino) shared personal experiences kayaking the Tuolumne River and urged balanced water management. A third (Peter Drekmeier, Tuolumne River Trust) requested a timeline for improving flows on the Tuolumne River, noting no progress since workshops. A fourth speaker alleged corruption and lack of outreach on a $400 million facility. Alita Dupree praised CleanPowerSF’s renewable content (54.5%) and asked for further increases.
- Comment on Drought Update (Item 7a): Peter Drekmeier expressed support for the pulse release to fill Pumaut Valley Pond but criticized SFPUC’s opposition to functional flows below Don Pedro Dam, stating the lower Tuolumne River received only 14% of unimpaired flow over two years, endangering salmon. Another caller accused the commission of “greedy evil ways” and called for saving salmon. Alita Dupree asked SFPUC to ensure basic water needs for San Francisco residents.
- Comment on Wholesale Water Rates (Item 10): Peter Drekmeier noted that the Bosca rates are expected to rise ~15% next year, causing 3% demand decline, and alleged SFPUC presented different demand projections to different audiences. Nicole St. Kulabovka (CEO of a customer group) voiced support for the rate increase, stating it complies with the Water Supply Agreement.
Discussion Items
- Drought Conditions Update (Item 7a): Steve Ritchie (Assistant GM for Water) reported that Hetch Hetchy Reservoir stood at 332,000 acre-feet (rising to 350,000) and would soon spill due to April storms and snowmelt. He explained a planned pulse release of up to 4,100 cubic feet per second to flood Pumaut Valley for ecological benefits (endangered foothill yellow-legged frog, native trout, bats). The release mimics natural hydrology and is part of the Upper Tuolumne River Ecosystem Program. He noted that last year’s storage was lower due to dry conditions, while this year’s cool weather preserved snowpack. Commissioner Maxwell asked about long-term monitoring; Ritchie confirmed ongoing work with the National Park Service. Commissioner Paulson praised the presentation.
- Item 9d – SFUSD Work-Based Learning Grant: Commissioner Maxwell questioned the $6,000 amount and scope. General Manager Herrera explained it supports two youth for summer stipends at the SFPUC learning garden, part of the Mayor’s Youth Jobs+ program. Approved unanimously (3-0).
- Item 9e – Consultant Selection for Water Enterprise Services: Commissioner Maxwell raised concerns about the evaluation points (895 written, 100 overhead/profit, 5 diversity) and a staff statement about a “separate panel” of diversity experts. Kendra Cox clarified it was a pass/fail evaluation, not a panel, and called the agenda language an error. Maxwell expressed disappointment, stating the 5-point allocation seemed insignificant. She moved to pull the item. The item was pulled for revision.
- Wholesale Water Rates for FY2022-2023 (Item 10): Aaron Franks (Rates Admin) proposed a 15.9% increase, raising the rate from $4.10 to $4.75 per hundred cubic feet (CCF). Drivers included a $44 million drawdown of the $87 million balancing account (owed to wholesale customers), reduced water sales due to drought (forecast 113.7 million gallons per day), and increased debt service and O&M costs. The untreated water discount rate for Coastside County Water District also rose to $0.43/CCF. Commissioner Paulson noted the large increase after five years of flat rates. Maxwell asked about smoothing future volatility. Franks explained the increase was driven by drought-induced lower volumes; wholesale customers were consulted. Approved unanimously (3-0).
Key Outcomes
- Adopted renewed findings for hybrid meetings under COVID-19 urgency legislation (Item 3) – passed 3-0.
- Approved minutes of April 26, 2022 (Item 4) – passed 3-0.
- Consent Calendar (less items 9d and 9e) – passed 3-0.
- Approved SFUSD Work-Based Learning Grant (Item 9d) – passed 3-0.
- Pulled Item 9e (consultant selection) for revision due to inaccurate description of diversity evaluation process; will be re-agendized.
- Adopted wholesale water rates for FY2022-2023 (Item 10) – passed 3-0, effective July 1, 2022.
- Staff will revise Item 9e to clarify the diversity evaluation criteria and correct the agenda language.
Meeting Transcript
Meeting of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to order. Madam Secretary, would you call the roll? President Morin. Here. Vice President Ajami's excuse for today. President Commissioner Maxwell. Commissioner Paulson? Here. And we have a quorum. This meeting is being tell is being held in person at the San Francisco City Hall Room 400 as authorized by the California Covenant Good Section 54953 E and Mayor Breed's 45th supplement to her February 25th, 2020 emergency proclamation. I would like to remind all individuals present and attending the meeting in person today that all health and safety protocols and building rules must be adhered to at all times. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the building and masks are available upon request at any of the city hall entrances. And I also like also like to ask those in attendance if you've not already done so to please silence any electronic devices. We welcome the public's participation during public comment periods. For each item in the commission, we will take two minutes of public comment first. Two minutes of public comment, first from those attending the meeting in person, and then from those attending the meeting remotely. Members of the public may provide remote public comment by dialing one 415-655-0001, meeting ID 2492-675-080385 pound pound and pressing star three to raise your hand to speak. Please note that you must limit your comments to the topic of the agenda item being discussed unless you are speaking under general public comment and remind you if you do not stay on the topic, the chair can interrupt and ask you to limit your comment to the agenda item. We ask that public comment be made in a civil and respectful manner, and then you address the remarks to the commission as a whole, not to individual commissioners or staff. On behalf of the commission, I would like to extend our thanks to SFGTV staff and SFPUC IT staff for their assistance during this meeting. Thank you, Donna. Before calling the first item, I'd like to announce that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission acknowledges that it owns and are stewards of the unceded lands located within the ethnohistoric territory of the Moekmaalone tribe and other familial descendants of the historic federally recognized Mission San Jose Verona Band of Alameda County. The SFPUC also recognizes that every citizen residing within the Greater Bay Area has and continues to benefit from the use and occupation of the Moekma Alone tribe's aboriginal lands since before and after the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's founding in 1932. It is vitally important that we not only recognize the history of the tribal lands on which we reside, but also we acknowledge and honor the fact that the Mawek Maloney people have established a working partnership with the SFPUC and are productive and flourishing members within the many greater San Francisco Bay Area communities today. First item is item number three. Adopt renewed findings under state urgency legislation to allow hybrid in-person meetings during the COVID-19 emergency and direct the Commission Secretary to agendize a similar resolution at a commission meeting within the next 30 days. Okay, thank you. And would you open public comment? Members of the public who wish to make two minutes of remote public comment on item three, please press star three to raise your hand to speak. Are there any map any members of the public present in the room who wish to provide comment on this item? Seeing none, Mr. Moderator, do we have any callers with their hands raised? Thank you. Collar, this is on item number three. Sorry, no callers. Thank you. Public comments closed on item three. Thank you. Uh Commissioners, any comments? Seeing none, uh, can I have a motion or second? Move to approve. Second. Moved and seconded. Roll call, please. President Moran. Aye. Commissioner Maxwell? Aye. Commissioner Paulson. How are you?
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