ADOPTED MINUTES

        SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FACILITY COMMISSION          

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

6:00 P.M.

This meeting was held by Teleconference Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order N-29-

   20 and the Twelfth Supplement to Mayoral Proclamation Declaring the Existence of a Local

Emergency Dated February 25, 2020

 

1.  Call to Order:  Commissioner Amerika Sanchez, Vice- Chair called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M.

 

2.  Roll Call:

Present:   Sanchez, Chung, Murphy, Satele, Tran

Excused: Fromer

 

Agenda Change

Vice-Chair Sanchez announced the agenda would move to Item 6c to maintain quorum and would return to Item 3 at the completion of the action.  She recused herself and the item was chaired by Commissioner Murphy.

 

6.  Presentation:

c) ACTION:  By Motion, Recommend the SECF Commission Adopt Tenant Solicitation Resolution #20210526 – Urging the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to Pursue A Competitive Public Bid Process to Solicit Tenants for The New Southeast Community Center At 1550 Evans Avenu

(Rogers-Pharr, Executive Director, SECFC)

Moved:   Chung  Second:  Satele

Commissioner Murphy called for discussion and public comment. There was none.

Ayes: Chung, Murphy, Satele, Tran

Item 6c passed and Director Rogers-Pharr said the next steps would be to work with the Real Estate Division and other stakeholders to develop the RFP process.  The details will be returned to the Commission for consideration when they were ready.  

        

3.  Adoption of the Minutes of April 28, 2021 – APPROVED

Requested Motion to open discussion of minutes - Commissioner Murphy

Moved:  Satele   Second:  Tran

Commission Murphy called for discussion and public comment.  There was none.

Requested Motion to approve April 28, 2021 minutes – Commissioner Murphy

Moved:  Chung  Second:  Sanchez

Ayes: Sanchez, Chung, Murphy, Satele, Tran

 

4.  General Public Comment:  None.

 

5.  Report of the Chair: (Amerika Sanchez, SECFC Vice-Chair)

Vice-Chair Sanchez provided the following updates:

• Child-Care Lease – A draft will be provided to the Commission for consideration.  The focus will be on making sure equity goals and strategies are employed.  Community members have expressed concern regarding the need to insure 94124 residents and all District 10 community members are given priority for childcare in the facility.

• Communication Strategy – A guide is being developed to help Commissioners promote the new Center.

• Southeast Community Center Summer Programming – The annual Future’s Fair and Health Fair will be postponed this year to focus on the opening of the new Center at 1550 Evans.

• Staff will provide a presentation on the new Center Programs Framework at the June meeting.

 

Questions from Commissioners: None

Public Comment: None

 

6.  Presentation

a)       Customer Affordability and Arrearage Management Pilot Program - CAAMPP (Hudson & Iton)

Simone Hudson, Acting Senior Workforce Analyst, SFPUC, Community Benefits, External Affairs

Carmon Iton, Youth Workforce Associate, SFPUC, Community Benefits, External Affairs

Carmon Iton provided a list of the affordability work at the SFPUC as follows:

Current -

• Collections & Delinquencies

• Emergency Programs

• Racial Equity and Affordabilities

  ​

Upcoming –

•  Customer Affordability and Arrearage Management Pilot Program

• Community Organization Survey

The presentation quantified the need of the affordability work to address the 85% increase of average water and wastewater accounts for single-family residents from March 2020 to February 2021.  At the same time these accounts grew in arrears 216%.  The highest rates of bill and debt burden in San Francisco are in the Southeast neighborhoods.

Simone Hudson reported the goal of the pilot is to provide support to customers with the highest needs in the 94124, 94134, and 94112 zip codes.  The pilot will also measure the impact of bill discounts and debt relief on payment behavior for customers with accrued arrears.  The Customer Service Bureau will be provided with tools to manage arrears.

Ms. Hudson explained the pilot structure which will consist of 3 groups.  Each group will have 50 participants and the 3 groups will receive different amounts of support.  Applicants will be selected at random and the success of the pilot will be based on:

• Customers begin making on-time payments

• Revenue collection increases (from re-engaged customers)

• Pilot participants continue consistent payment after pilot term ends

• Customers report a more positive relationship with the SFPUC and increased wellbeing from financial relief

• Customer Service Bureau reports program as scalable, sustainable, and a valuable shutoff avoidance tool

 

Ms. Iton introduced the Community Organization Survey which was created to learn from local organizations about what programs and interventions would best support their communities in avoiding utility debt and loss of service.  The Commissioners were invited to share any ideas they might have.

Commissioners Questions and Comments:

Commissioners asked if PG&E and Recology were providing debt relief programs, and if the applications for debt relief were provided in other languages?

• Staff responded they were not sure of the details of other utilities however they would check.  They added they would be willing to share the results of this pilot with other water utilities that were also serving customers with high debt.  Staff advised they were working with the Communications Department to develop applications in threshold languages.

 

Commissioners asked what type of documentation would be required to accompany the application and how did they land on 80% AMI (area medium income)?

• Staff advised they advocated for self-certification and no additional documentation would be required.  Regarding the 80% AMI they worked with the Office of Financial Empowerment who advocated for a higher threshold because data shows that people under that threshold generally don’t misreport their income.

 

Commissioners thanked staff for the intentionality of the program and asked what will happen if even with the discount rate payers are unable to pay?

• Staff responded they hoped the debt relief incentive would encourage rate payers and the Customer Services Bureau would continue to look for more tools to reengage with customers.

 

Commissioners noted the presentation said an average water bill was $151 a month and they wanted to know if there was any indication as to the family size?

• Staff indicated it might be 2.3 but they would investigate for definitive numbers.

 

Public Comment:

Great pilot.

 

 b)       Signage Content

ACTION:  By Motion, Recommend the SECF Commission adopt names and signage content for auxiliary spaces and informational signage to be installed at the Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans Avenue (Berry)

Larry Berry, Deputy Director, SECF

Larry Berry provided two options of signage for consideration.  Option 1 uses the names of Landmarks and Option 2 uses the names of the Founders.

Director Rogers-Pharr led a discussion regarding the signage.  The Commissioners suggested instead of using the names of individuals they should use landmarks.  It was noted keeping the Alex Pitcher Room would provide continuity in the new Center.  There was a suggestion to change the 3^rd multipurpose room 215 from Hunter’s Point to Bayview Hunter’s Point.

 

Public Comment:

Community Member Brigette LeBlanc thanked staff for including the communities and the landmarks.  She asked where the former Commissioners photos would be placed?

• Staff responded they would be recognized in the new space.

 

Questions from the public included: Was there a survey and where is the Afrocentricity considering Equity?  Are the rooms the same size?

• Staff responded the rooms are not the same size and it was a challenge.

 

By Motion, Recommend the SECF Commission adopt Option 1 (Landmarks) to name signage content for auxiliary spaces and informational signage to be installed at the Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans Avenue.

Moved:  Murphy  Second:  Chung

Ayes: Sanchez, Chung, Murphy, Satele, Tran

7.  Committee Reports:

a)       Community Programs Advisory Committee (Murphy)

Commissioner Murphy provided highlights from the May 10 Community Programs Advisory Committee meeting where the committee recommended the Tenant Solicitation Resolution to the full Commission for adoption.  There was discussion regarding the need for a safety plan so students would be comfortable accessing the Center and crossing neighborhood zones.  Director Rogers-Pharr discussed the next steps for the Programs Framework.  The Mayor’s Office has not assigned a replacement for Commissioner King.  Anyone interested in the seat should contact the Mayor’s Office directly.  FacesSF has opened a drive through site for vaccinations which is open for ages 12 and over.  Over 5,000 have been vaccinated at the 1800 Oakdale site.

 

b)       Facility & Design Advisory Committee (Sanchez)

Vice-Chair Sanchez provided highlights from the May 13 Facility & Design Advisory Committee meeting. There were 3 presentations as follows:

• Recommendation to adopt names and signage content

• Recommendation to adopt tenant solicitation resolution

•  Air Quality Monitoring Program Update

The two recommendations were forwarded to the full Commission.  The Air Quality Monitoring Program was discussed along with the partnership with UC Berkeley.  The committee was updated on the plans for 1800 Oakdale to be a part of the monitoring program.

 

Public Comment: None.

 

8.  SECF Director’s Report:

Director Rogers-Pharr reported the construction of the new Center is on schedule.  Most of the Commissioners have completed a tour and we are looking forward to installing the public art which is stunning.  There will be future engagement workshops focusing on programming and art.  The final designs will be presented to the full Commission.  Tours will soon begin for the Headworks and Biosolids projects.  1800 Oakdale continues to be activated in COVID response working with the Department of Public Health to provide social service programming at the HUB.  We will be recruiting and providing a broad outreach to ensure local community residents have an opportunity to apply for the new positions that will be available at the new Center.  The Director introduced Michelle Peters who has been with the SFPUC for 10 years.

Ms. Peters expressed her excitement in joining the SECC team and said she was looking forward to working on communication outreach strategies.        

9.  New Commission Business:

Vice-Chair Sanchez said she was looking forward to new Commissioner photos and staff advised there was a discussion to do new photos in October.  Vice-Chair Sanchez suggested creating a resolution to honor former Commissioner LaVaughn King and staff advised she would be available to attend the June meeting and a resolution would be provided at that time.

Commissioner Chung inquired as to when the Commission might return to in-person meetings?

• Staff responded there was no directive at this time and as soon as we receive direction to return to in-person meetings the Commissioners will be advised.

 

10. Announcements:

Commissioner Tran expressed concern that water conservation efforts and directives were only available in English.

 

11. Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

 

The next meeting of the Southeast Community Facility Commission will be Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

 

Carla Vaughn, Commission Secretary