MINUTES

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

6:00 P.M.

1800 Oakdale Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94124

1.0               Call to Order
Commission President Bobbrie Brown called the Wednesday, February 22, 2006 meeting to order at 6:10 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.

Commissioner Brown read the Sunshine Ordinance aloud.
 

             1.2            Roll Call

Commissioners Present: Brown; Fuentes; Jones; Kennedy, Parker, Sampson, Person

Staff Present: John Roddy, Deputy City Attorney,Toye Moses, Executive Director; Annette Price, SECF Comm-Sect

             1.3                    Consent Calendar

(a)           RESOLUTION (SECFC-2005-50)Be it resolved that the minutes of the Southeast Community Facility Commission meeting of Thursday, February 9, 2006 were approved as submitted.

2.0               PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Samuel Murray announced that on May 20^th, 2006 the SFPUC will host a disaster preparedness event at SECF, 1800 Oakdale Ave., from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. He requested that the Commission be a co-sponsor for this venture.

3.0               COMMUNICATIONS:
Dir. Moses reported the following correspondence as having been sent/received: Correspondence to Mr. Matthew Franklin, Mayor’s Office of Housing re: Underground Wiring Project in BVHP; Follow-up Letter to Capt. Albert Pardini, SFPD Bayview station re: Surveillance cameras in BVHP; Letter of invitation to Ms. Gwen Chan, Interim Superintendent, SFUSD re: Dream schools in BVHP.
 

4.0               PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Tyrone Jue, SFPUC Coordinator thanked the Commission for the opportunity to present. Mr. Jue reported the PUC will conduct a series of road shows (33 scheduled) to educate people on PUC’s sewer system master plan, current status of treatment plants, and possible solutions to current deficiencies.

The City of San Francisco has a combined sewer system, meaning both wastewater and storm water are transported through the same system and ultimately to one of three treatment facilities where it is discharged out into the bay or ocean. Ocean Side Treatment Plant currently processes about 20% of the City’s wastewater; Southeast Treatment Plant processes approximately 80% of the city’s wastewater, with North Point Wet Weather Facility only in operation during wet weather time to provide extra treatment capacity.
 



Referring to a Power Point presentation, Mr. Jue gave an overview of the treatment process, storage capacity, and treatment steps waste and run-off water go through before being discharged.
Mr. Jue reported that approximately 500 million gallons of combined waste and storm water are treated to ensure public health/safety. Mr. Jue stated SFPUC is looking for a long-term response for the next 30 years. The plan will provide a vehicle to estimate the cost of implementing projects as well as provide a fair/open planning process, given that SFPUC wants community input prior to redesigning this new sewer system.

Mr. Jue reported many improvements are possible with a redesigned sewer system, such as a reduction in overflows, cleaner water discharge, etc. Issues that need to be addressed are the aging infrastructure, seismic reliability, flooding, and the aging Southeast treatment plant. PUC is committed to improving the Southeast plant by using better technology or a possible relocation and is requesting community input in deciding the best solution for the plant.

Mr. Jue briefly reviewed options other cities are using, such as permeable sidewalks, green technology, and sustainable technologies to improve upon their wastewater system. Also looked at is the beneficial reuse of produces, i.e, solid waste, and possibly decentralizing treatment and opening up a satellite treatment facility. Mr. Jue reported PUC is scheduled to hold three public workshops in March in the Southeast district, the Sunset district, and Bill Graham Civic Center.

Mr. Jue concluded by listing available avenues for people to provide input, such as attending CAC meetings, become a member of the CAC, which meets the third Thursday of the month, through the PUC website at www.sfsewers.org, and also through newsletters and/or mailings.

Commissioner Person asked whether there was any other city across the country where 80% of the waste is treated in one community. Mr. Jue responded that a comparison is difficult given that San Francisco has a combined sewer system as compared to other municipalities. Commissioner Person that it is better to spread the treatment process around versus burdening one community. Mr. Jue stated the goal of public process is to make everyone aware of the issues involved to help them look at different alternatives. Commissioner Person asked who ultimately makes the final decision with regard to decentralization of a community. Mr. Jue replied the final decision would rest with the PUC Commission.

Commissioner Kennedy commented about the high sewer costs in San Francisco and urged the PUC to be mindful of cost when planning the redesign.

Commissioner Brown asked whether the PUC would advertise in terms of workshops. Mr. Jue stated the public process would involve bus advertisements and citywide mailers (370,000 pieces) to educate residents and encourage them to become involved in the process early on.

Commissioner Parker asked about the cost involved as compared to other cities with respect to efficiency of our system compared to another system. Mr. Jue responded that PUC is average, or above average.

Commissioner Fuentes asked in the event of a major emergency, how will the community need to be prepared since 80% of City sewage is processed in the BVHP. Will PUC assist the community in that regard. Mr. Jue responded that the emergency preparedness event that Mr. Murray is coordinating will educate the community on the steps that will be taken by local agencies in the event of an emergency.

Commissioner Fuentes was curious as to PUC’s relationship regarding the discharge of mercury from dental offices. Mr. Jue stated the PUC has many pretreatment programs, one of which is directly aimed at dental offices that address dental amalgam. Mr. Jue reported there is 100% compliance from all dental clinics in San Francisco to install dental amalgam separators, which separates mercury from other things that go into the sewer system.
Commissioner Brown stated on several occasions it has been asked why North Point cannot be brought up to a functioning facility other than during heavy rains to divert some of the waste and requested that that comment be taken back to the PUC to be considered. Regarding the Solano contract, which will end in 2007, Commissioner Brown was hopeful that it will not be brought back to BVHP.

Mr. Murray asked Ms. Bonnie to explain other options that are being looked at, such as biochips, etc. Dir. Toye Moses asked Mr. Jue to explain the process the Commission would go through to tour one of the sewage plants. Mr. Jue stated anytime the Commission would like to tour one of the plants, PUC would be happy to arrange that.

Former Commissioner Millard Larkin stated that the PUC should address the 80% of waste that comes into a community that is expanding, address the contaminated soil that is present in BVHP, address the closure of PG&E plant, address health issues in the BVHP.

Mr. Larkin also reminded that not too very long ago there was an explosion at the Southeast treatment plant and no official announcement was made by PUC. He stated some type of procedure should be implemented, a system in place to inform BVHP, some form of early warning system which would direct people to take the right steps. Commissioner Kennedy commented about the cross-town tunnel that was to be built.

Ms. Quinetta Lewis commented about the odor coming from the Southeast treatment plant. Mr. Alex Landsburg commented that it was good that the promise of the cross-town tunnel was never kept, as it would have ensured that sewage would forever be treated in the BVHP neighborhood.
Mr. Sandburg also stated that by looking at different ways of treating wastewater that do not place everything in one place, we can turn a burden into a resource for recycled water, for greening neighborhoods, etc. Mr. Landsburg announced that the Wastewater CAC is open to all members of the public for membership.

5.0                 OLD & ONGOING BUSINESS:
Health Benefits - Commissioner Ronald Personreported: Several weeks ago he and Attorney John Roddy met with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to discuss amending the administrative ordinance to include SECF Commissioners on the eligible list to receive health benefits. He reported that Supervisor Maxwell has requested more information before she can make a final decision of sponsorship. Commissioner Person also asked whether the Supervisor would lend her support in amending the ordinance giving the Commission more authority versus being advisory in nature. She stated she would take our concerns forward if that was something that we wanted.

Commissioner Parker stated the cost for health benefits should not be a factor; however, what must be considered is whether the SECF Commission deserves similar benefits as other commission.

Attorney Roddy reported that Supervisor Maxwell asked questions related to cost and whether other eligible commissions had similar characteristics to the SECF Commission. Mr. Roddy stated the information should be provided to her by the end of the week
.
Commissioner Kennedy suggested the issue also be discussed with the Mayor Newsom.

Commissioner Brown stated action will be postponed until all requested information has been provided to Supervisor Maxwell. Commissioner Person stated once Attorney Roddy has provided that information, he will follow-up with Supervisor Maxwell.

  6.0            Director’s Report:
Dir. Moses reported that a letter has been sent to the Mr. Brian Fitzpatrick of Caltrain concerning the homeless encampment. Mr. Fitzpatrick explained that Union Pacific Railroad owns the property in question. Staff will schedule a meeting with Union Pacific, Caltrain, and the Mayor’s Office as soon as possible.

Dir. Moses also announced that Carole Migden will honor Ms. Toni Battle, Ms. Dorris Vincent, and former Commissioner Millard Larkin on February 23 from 5:00 to 7:00 at the State Building.

Dir. Moses reported that Howard University is awarding 4-year scholarships to anyone with a household income of $40,000 or below. The PG&E plant in the Bayview district will close by April, 2006. A town hall meeting will be held on February 23 at the Bayview Police station, 201 Williams Street at 6:00 p.m. Current status of the Hunters Point power plant and procedures for closing it down will be discussed. Dir. Moses asked that the Commission Secretary give update on the upcoming presenters. 

Commissioner Kennedy reminded everyone that it is not necessary to call a vote in approving the Director’s report since it is deemed approved once read, per Robert’s Rules of Order. Attorney Roddy concurred with Commissioner Kennedy.

7.0               Introduction of New Business By Commissioners:
Commissioner Brown stated she will provide staff with the article concerning medical care for people who are uninsured. Commissioner Kennedy suggested a letter of invitation be sent to MoAD to discuss the new Museum of the African Diapora (MoAD).

8.0               Public Comment:
Mr. Tony Caruso of Decorative Plant Service thanked Dir. Moses for his efforts regarding the homeless encampment behind Southeast. He also informed the Commission that the current occupants of the homeless encampment have been arrested; however, now clean up of the encampment needs to be addressed. Mr. Caruso provided pictures of the debris for Commission review.

9.0               Announcements:
There were no announcements at this time.

10.0               Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

         _____________________

Commission Secretary