San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting - December 12, 2023
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San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting – December 12, 2023
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission met on December 12, 2023, to discuss and act on a range of items including budget reports, capital improvement programs, a fee schedule for the Southeast Community Center, a contract award, revised electric service rules, and an extension of credit support for CleanPowerSF. The meeting also included the Citizens Advisory Committee annual report, public comments, and a closed session.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of November 28, 2023, unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Francisco de Costa (district 10 representative) urged the Commission to provide quarterly reports on biosolids and digesters, and to ensure community benefits from the $6 billion (now heading to $12 billion) water system improvement project reach those most in need.
- On item 6B (Water CIP), a speaker requested the Commission focus on lead pipes in Bayview-Hunters Point, stating children are at risk from contaminated water.
- On item 7 (Southeast Community Center fees), several community members (Susan Murphy, Francisco de Costa, Oscar James, Orande Sterling, Dennis Williams, Demetrius Williams, Lisonya Mansfield) expressed concerns that fees would burden small businesses and community organizations, and called for more community involvement and resources. Susan Murphy, chair of the Southeast Community Center Commission, praised staff and the center’s success.
- On item 12, no public comment.
Discussion Items
- Citizens Advisory Committee Annual Report (Item 5): Chair Moises Garcia reported that all 17 seats are filled, highlighted joint meetings with the Southeast Community Facility Commission and Muwekma Ohlone leadership, and outlined priorities for the coming year: capital program implementation, rates and customer assistance, and workforce retention. Commissioners thanked the committee and expressed appreciation for their engagement.
- General Manager’s Report (Item 6):
- 6a: Quarterly Budget Status Report – Laura Bush presented first quarter FY24 results. Water enterprise projected a $14.6 million shortfall due to removal of drought surcharge and lower wholesale volumes; wastewater positive $6.9 million; power positive $38.7 million; CleanPowerSF positive $52.9 million. All financial ratios on target.
- 6b: Water Enterprise Capital Improvement Program – Katie Miller reported on 38 projects with $3.1 billion total budget, 33% expended. Key projects: lead service line replacement (184 lines replaced in quarter, estimate 1,300 total), reservoir coatings, and emergency firefighting water system.
- 6c: Water System Improvement Program – Program 99% complete, $5 million expenditures in quarter. Alameda Creek Recapture Project still under evaluation; unused materials auctioned for $100,000.
- 6d: No additional announcements.
- Southeast Community Center Fee Schedule (Item 7): Staff presented a fee structure with three tiers (individual, business, special events), hourly rates $90-$125, deposits, discounts for District 10 residents and nonprofits. Approved after public comment.
- Contract Award WD-2862 (Item 8): Awarded to Big Valley Electric for $8,869,322 for San Antonio Pump Station replacement and seismic retrofit, duration 1,125 days.
- Revised Electric Service Rules (Item 9): Catherine Spaulding presented updated rules and regulations, effective February 12, 2024, incorporating stakeholder feedback and clarifying customer responsibilities. Approved unanimously.
- Credit Support Extension for CleanPowerSF (Item 10): Staff requested authorization to extend the General Manager’s ability to enter into credit agreements up to $150 million for an additional 10 years, to maintain liquidity and meet CPUC requirements. Approved unanimously.
- Communications (Item 11): Noted and filed.
- Items Initiated by Commissioners (Item 12): Commissioner Stacy highlighted a San Francisco Chronicle article on recycled water and praised SFPUC staff.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of November 28, 2023 (5-0).
- Approved fee structure and schedule for Southeast Community Center reservable rooms (5-0).
- Awarded contract WD-2862 to Big Valley Electric for $8,869,322 (4-0, Commissioner Maxwell absent).
- Adopted revised Rules and Regulations Governing Electric Service (5-0).
- Approved proposed ordinance amendment to extend credit support authorization for CleanPowerSF for 10 years (5-0).
- In closed session, recommended approval of settlement for Lynette Chung claim ($42,115.44) and took no other action; motion to not disclose discussions passed (5-0).
- Meeting adjourned after closed session.
Meeting Transcript
Public Utilities Commission meeting to order. So can we have a roll call, please? President Paulson. Aye. Vice President Rivera. Here. Commissioner Jamy. Here. Commissioner Maxwell. Commissioner Stacey. Here. I would 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 Moequa Ohlone tribe and other familiar dissent. Excuse me, descendants of the historic federally recognized Mission San Jose Verona Band of Almeda County. The SSP SFPUC also recognizes that every citizen residing within the Greater Bay Area has and continues to benefit from the use and occupation of the Moekla Ohlone 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 the and honor the fact that the Moequa Ohlone people have established a working partnership with the SFPUC and our productive and flourishing members within the many greater San Francisco Bay Areas today. Okay, so first item. Item number three is approval of the minutes of November 28, 2023. So are there any corrections or comments on the minutes? If not, we will open that to uh public comment if we will, Madam Secretary. Do you have any members of the public present to provide comment on the minutes? See none public comments. Okay, seeing none, um, can I get a motion and a second to approve the minutes of November 28th? I'll second. We have a roll call, please. President Paulson. Aye. Vice President Mace President Rivera. Aye. Commissioner Maxwell? Commissioner Jamy? Aye. Commissioner Stacy? Aye. You have five eyes. All right. Item four is general public comment. And Madam Secretary, can you open that, please? Mr. How many members of the public to provide comment on items that are within the commission's jurisdiction and are not on today's agenda? Please uh line up on the side and Mr. DeCosta. My name is Francisco de Costa. And as you know, at one time we could give public comment from home. And y'all could, y'all could, this commission could. Not the Board of Supervisors is not doing it because a few people are saying bad words and stuff like that. But y'all could, but y'all don't do it. So it's a hot chip for us to come here to give public comment for Missly two minutes. Now let me remind y'all that uh if you take our projects, and if you take the SUS system improvement project, a six billion dollar project, now it's heading towards 12 billion. You commissioners should ask how has the community benefited from all this money. And I'm going to request y'all that we have every quarterly, if not twice a year, a report on the biosolids and the digesters.
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