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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

SFPUC Meeting on Budget and Capital Projects - September 23, 2025

Public Utilities Commission — Tuesday, September 23, 2025

BodySan Francisco, California

SessionPublic Utilities Commission

DateTuesday, September 23, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:56:49

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0:01

President Stacy.

0:02

Here.

0:03

Vice President Arce.

0:05

The meeting is starting.

0:08

Oh, we expect President Arce or Vice President Arcee shortly.

0:11

Yes.

0:12

Commissioner Jamdar here.

0:14

Commissioner Leveroni.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Commissioner Thurlow.

0:17

Here.

0:18

You have a quorum.

0:19

Thank you.

0:21

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 ethno-historic territory of the Mawekma Aloney tribe and other familial descendants of the historic federally recognized Mission San Jose Verona Band of Alameda County.

0:45

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 Mawekma Alone tribe's aboriginal lands since before and after the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission's founding in 1932.

1:05

It is vitally important that we not only recognize the history of the tribal lands on which we reside, but also that we acknowledge and honor the fact that the Mawekma Alone people have established a working partnership with the SFPUC and our productive and flourishing members within the many greater San Francisco Bay Area communities today.

1:29

Please call the first item.

1:33

Third item.

1:34

Item three, approval of the minutes of September 9th, 2025.

1:38

Commissioners, are there any correct corrections, comments, additions to the minutes?

1:45

Seeing none, let's have public comment.

1:48

Remote callers, please raise your hand if you wish to provide comment on item three.

1:52

Are there any members of the public present who wish to comment on this item?

1:56

Seeing none, moderator, are there any calls who have their hand raised?

2:00

Miss Lanier, there are no callers who wish to be recognized.

2:04

Thank you.

2:05

Commissioners, could I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes, please?

2:10

So moved.

2:11

Um seconded.

2:13

Thank you.

2:14

President Stacy.

2:15

Aye.

2:16

Vice President Arce.

2:18

Commissioner Jamdar.

2:19

Aye.

2:20

Commissioner Lavaroni.

2:21

Aye.

2:22

Commissioner Thurlow.

2:23

Aye.

2:23

The item passes.

2:26

Item four, general public comment.

2:29

Members of the public may address the commission on matters that are within the commission's jurisdiction and are not on today's agenda.

2:36

Just to note that the commission values civic engagement and encourages respectful communication at the public meeting.

2:43

We ask that all public comment be made in a civil and courteous manner and that you refrain from the use of profanity.

2:50

Thank you.

2:52

Remote callers, please raise your hand if you wish to provide comment on item four.

2:56

Are there any members of the public present who wish to comment on this item?

3:00

Seeing none, moderator, are there any callers who have their hand raised?

3:05

Ms.

3:05

Lanier, there are two callers who wish to be recognized.

3:08

Thank you.

3:11

Caller, your line has been unmuted.

3:13

You have two minutes.

3:15

Thank you.

3:16

This is Peter Dreckmeyer, Policy Director for the Tuolamy River Trust.

3:28

It's a pretty long document.

3:29

I haven't had a chance to read it yet.

3:32

But I think it would be really helpful for the FFU to see to have a workshop to hear from experts.

3:38

We would love to have an NGO panel as we have in the past and to get familiar with the Tualmee River Volunteer Agreement.

3:47

We used to have pretty regular workshops.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procurement███████████████████████████27%

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████17%

Community Engagement████████████████16%

Procedural███████████11%

Public Comment██████████10%

Personnel Matters█████████9%

Economic Development████4%

Public Safety███3%

Environmental Review██2%

Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting - September 23, 2025

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission convened to review quarterly financial results, capital project updates, and public testimony. Key discussions centered on budget development, rate affordability concerns, and community involvement in projects, with commissioners requesting earlier engagement in the budgeting process.

Consent Calendar

Approval of minutes from September 9, 2025.
Unanimous approval of consent calendar items, including the Clean Power SF report, with a clarification on eligible hydroelectric criteria.

Public Comments & Testimony

Peter Dreckmeyer (Policy Director, Tuolamy River Trust) advocated for a commission workshop on the Tuolamee River Volunteer Agreement and expressed opposition to budget allocations for expensive alternative water supplies.
Maurice Rem (resident) expressed strong opposition to rate increases, citing exaggerated demand projections and unrealistic design drought periods, and suggested a preliminary budget overview in November.
Mike Pinkston (community member) called for community inclusion in budgeting and hiring for projects in Bayview Hunters Point.
Elisha Rochelle (Bayview Hunters Point Coordinating Council) emphasized the need for community oversight and involvement in projects affecting the Southeast sector.
Dave Warner (caller) supported commissioners' requests for early budget information and urged sensitivity analysis on demand projections to assess affordability impacts.
Demetrius Williams (resident and contractor) expressed concern about emergency response plans for wastewater spills in Bayview and requested community training for disasters.

Discussion Items

Quarterly Budget Status Report: Budget Director Anna Dunning presented surplus projections in water, wastewater, and power enterprises due to lower-than-expected demand and higher interest earnings. Commissioners discussed implications for rate smoothing and the impact of vacant positions on costs.
Budget Development Update: Dunning outlined the timeline for the next two-year budget, with special hearings scheduled for January. Vice President Arce and others emphasized the need for early commission and public involvement in rate-setting decisions to avoid late-stage trade-offs.
Hetch Hetchy Capital Improvement Program: Director Katie Miller reported on project expenditures, cost variances, and milestones, including delays and savings. Commissioners discussed contract delivery methods like progressive design-build and requested transparency in project alternatives.
Wastewater Enterprise Quarterly Report: Program Director Bessie Tam highlighted project updates, safety awards, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Public comments raised concerns about emergency preparedness for new facilities.
Employee Retirement Recognition: Winfred "Pete" Flewellan was honored for 39 years of service with a resolution and commendation.
Communications: Commissioner Stacy questioned delays in real estate agreements with public entities and fair market value for parcels.
Items Initiated by Commissioners: Commissioners requested future informational presentations on topics including the Bay Delta plan, water supply and drought planning, contracting methods, inclusive procurement, climate change impacts, and emergency response planning.

Key Outcomes

Unanimous approval of minutes and consent calendar.
Accepted work under contract WW-735 and authorized final payment (Item 8).
In closed session, the commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a settlement referenced in communications.

Meeting Transcript

President Stacy. Here. Vice President Arce. The meeting is starting. Oh, we expect President Arce or Vice President Arcee shortly. Yes. Commissioner Jamdar here. Commissioner Leveroni. Here. Commissioner Thurlow. Here. You have a quorum. Thank you. 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 ethno-historic territory of the Mawekma Aloney 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 Mawekma 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 that we acknowledge and honor the fact that the Mawekma Alone people have established a working partnership with the SFPUC and our productive and flourishing members within the many greater San Francisco Bay Area communities today. Please call the first item. Third item. Item three, approval of the minutes of September 9th, 2025. Commissioners, are there any correct corrections, comments, additions to the minutes? Seeing none, let's have public comment. Remote callers, please raise your hand if you wish to provide comment on item three. Are there any members of the public present who wish to comment on this item? Seeing none, moderator, are there any calls who have their hand raised? Miss Lanier, there are no callers who wish to be recognized. Thank you. Commissioners, could I have a motion and a second to approve the minutes, please? So moved. Um seconded. Thank you. President Stacy. Aye. Vice President Arce. Commissioner Jamdar. Aye. Commissioner Lavaroni. Aye. Commissioner Thurlow. Aye. The item passes. Item four, general public comment. Members of the public may address the commission on matters that are within the commission's jurisdiction and are not on today's agenda. Just to note that the commission values civic engagement and encourages respectful communication at the public meeting. We ask that all public comment be made in a civil and courteous manner and that you refrain from the use of profanity. Thank you. Remote callers, please raise your hand if you wish to provide comment on item four. Are there any members of the public present who wish to comment on this item? Seeing none, moderator, are there any callers who have their hand raised? Ms. Lanier, there are two callers who wish to be recognized.

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