Public Utilities Revenue Bond Oversight Committee
Contracting Subcommittee

MINUTES

Monday, March 12, 2007
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
1155 Market Street (between 7 & 8th Streets) 4th Floor Conference Room

Committee Members
Aimee Brown, Chair
Patrick Sweetland, Vice-Chair
Brian Browne
Severin Campbell
Lisbet Sunshine
David Sutter

1. Call to Order and Roll Call

   Chair Aimee Brown called the meeting to order at 9:38 a.m. and roll call was taken. Present: Ms. Brown, Patrick Sweetland, David Sutter, and Brian Browne. Severin Campbell and Lisbet Sunshine were not present.

   
   
2. Public Comment - Members of the public may address the RBOC on matters that are within the RBOC’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.

   There were no comments from the public.

3. Discussion and possible action regarding recommendation by Contracting Working Group to approve contract with Robert Kuo Consulting LLC to perform certain financial consulting services for RBOC

   Chair Brown announced that Mr. Sweetland would be Chair of Contracting Working Group and that she would be Vice Chair.

   Mr. Sweetland reported that since the last full RBOC meeting on February 9, the Contracting Working Group met on February 13 with the consultants Robert Kuo and Shannon Gaffney. The purpose of the February 13 meeting was to address the concerns raised at the February 9 meeting. In particular, Mr. Sutter requested greater detail and a break down of hours, rates and deliverables by task and sub-task. Mr. Sutter also asked for more detail on the use of the engineering sub consultant. Mr. Sweetland explained that Mr. Kuo's work scope document has been refined and amended with a project amount not to exceed $119,600.  

   Mr. Sutter stated that he submitted questions to the audit subcommittee prior to February 28, 2007, and asked for confirmation that they had been reviewed. Mr. Sweetland confirmed that Mr. Sutter’s concerns and questions had indeed been reviewed, addressed and some had been incorporated in the amended work scope. Mr. Sutter was satisfied with Mr. Sweetland’s response.

   Mr. Sutter then requested that there be a breakdown of individual projects to be included in Task 1 of Mr. Kuo’s work scope. Mr. Kuo responded that he would like to work with his Sr. Consultant in order to determine the best method to breakdown Task 1a and 1b. Mr. Kuo confirmed that the first 3 deliverables would set project timeframe. The committee agreed that a 2-week (10 working days) timeframe would be sufficient for review of project deliverables.

   Mr. Browne stated that under Prop P, Mr. Kuo’s work scope/project is not a priority. Mr. Browne commented that he is concerned about SFPUC spending and believes that there should be an open field contract race vs. choosing from a specified list. Mr. Browne stated that this particular project is out of sequence and is not, in his opinion, to be the highest priority, and remains concerned about the cost effectiveness of the taxpayer’s expenditures of bond proceeds.

   Ms. Brown stated that she has requested in the past for Mr. Browne to put his questions, requests and concerns in writing, and requests that he do so going forward. Ms. Brown requested that the committee not move on a vote at this time. Ms. Brown then requested a special meeting in 10 days, before 3/23/07, to go forward with a vote.

   
   Public Comment:  Emeric Kalman is concerned that the capital plan is chaotic, and would like information from the City Attorney regard its spending and budgeting.

   Ms. Brown requested that Mr. Kalman submit comments and questions to the committee for review.

4. Discussion and possible action to approve the minutes of the meeting held on February 9, 2007

   Continued until next regularly scheduled meeting.
   

5. Discussion and possible action relating to RBOC members requests for information from SFPUC staff

   Mr. Browne submitted an information request from the SFPUC staff in writing. Mr. Browne requests dollar amount of Prop A money spent to date by the SFPUC. Ms. Brown requested the discussion be tabled until the 4/16/07 meeting. Mr. Browne made a motion to discuss his memorandum at the next meeting (3/19/07). His motion did not get a second and was denied.

   Public Comment: Mr. Kalman repeated that there was a lot of chaos.

6. Discussion and possible action regarding proposed agenda(s) for next meeting(s)

   Mr. Sutter requested that every meeting include a WSIP update and that an update on OCIP and project controls be provided in the near future. 

   Mr. Browne’s request for information will be on the agenda at the 4/16/07 meeting.

7. Adjournment

   The meeting was adjourned at 11:11 a.m.