San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Citizens Advisory Committee

MINUTES

April 23, 2007
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
1155 Market Street
4th Floor Conference Room

Members

Alex Lantsberg– Chair	Richard T. Hansen	Kimia Mizany
Nick Carlin	Winchell Hayward	David Pascal
Jennifer Clary	David Hochschild	Robert Varni
Ken Cleaveland	Art Jensen	Judy West
David Dawdy	Steve Lawrence

Staff: Maureen Barry

ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. Chair A. Lantsberg called the meeting to order at 5:50 p.m. after K. Cleaveland arrived to establish a quorum. The Chair opted to begin with an informational presentation by AGM Harlan Kelly.
   
2. Roll Call:

   a. Members present: Lantsberg, Dawdy, Hansen, Hayward, Jensen, Lawrence, West, Varni. Shortly after Cleaveland arrived, K. Mizany joined the Committee.
   
   b. Members absent: Carlin, Clary, and Pascal
   

3. The minutes were carried over to the next meeting for review.
   NOTE: MAY Meeting is cancelled. Next meeting is June 25, 2007 at 5:30 pm
   
4. Public Comment – regarding matters not on today’s agenda:

   a. R Hansen shared a recent NYTimes article (4/22/07)regarding a masterplan for Greening New York that Mayor Bloomberg presented. He suggested that the CAC push the SFPUC to encourage SF to do much the same and to ask for staff presentation on what SFPUC is doing to make the City greener.
   

5. Staff Reports and Presentations:

   a. Chair opted to begin with presentations since a quorum was not present immediately.
   
   b. AGM Kelly reported on efforts to improve Construction Contracting and making it easier to do business with the SFPUC.

   i. PowerPoint attached provides overview of the presentation. Mr. Kelly outlined several initiatives his group has taken to improve relations with contractors and streamline both the bid and payment processes.
   
   1. Working closely with City Attorney’s office on city-wide initiative to improve contracts and RFP procedures—SFPUC taking lead on Committees given their experience with WSIP.
   
   2. PreQualifying contractors, Different contract delivery formats and centralizing invoicing are among the innovations.
   
   ii. Carol Isen, discussed new Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that she and the SFPUC team negotiated over the past couple of years and was signed by labor and SFPUC last month.
   
   iii. Numerous questions/comments from the panels:

   --12B Compliance—how does it apply for companies? Can be partial compliance or complete depending on where else companies do business and if they are drawing on other offices for City work.

   --How does CityBuild help? While contractors may have some key positions identified they continually need people and also have apprentice labor requirements in contracts.

   --Can these innovations help us meet AB1823 requirements regarding 2010 deadline? H Kelly explained they are one of many things we are doing to encourage contractors to bid, lower costs and try to get the work done on time.

   --A Jensen complimented the staff on the PLA, “tremendous piece of work”

   --R Hansen was quite astonished to hear there were 91 elements to each contract and wondered if the City had assigned a financial cost to each item.

   --K Cleaveland queried the staff about the obligation to hire CityBuild or other staff. C Isen explained that local hiring is a voluntary program and contractors have to see advantage for it to work. The program has placed over 100 people-voluntary compliance, and many have helped meet staffing ratios of required apprentice slots to each journeymen enabling the trades and crafts to train new people.

   --S Lawrence expressed doubt that prequalifying contractors would actually help expedite work or increased bidders. C Isen noted it came about as much from the larger contractors as the City. Larger contractors wanted to be assured they were bidding against competitors with equal experience and skills.

   --Final comment about retention: K Cleaveland asked if there was any changed on the retention amount or paying subcontractors directly. H Kelly noted that a new software Elation is now in effect that tracks when payment is made and for what tasks. Both contractor and subcontractors receive this information.

   The committee requested that the Executive Summary of the City Attorney’s report about contracting for the City as well as list of the 91 elements required in City contracts be sent to CAC members.

   c. Lewis Harrison of Bureau Regulatory Management presented update on the Fats, Oils and Grease Biodiesel Program.
   
   i. A copy of the PowerPoint and the graphic explaining how the program works are attached.
   
   ii. This program has evolved immensely and will soon provide incentives for restaurants to participate more readily and more uses for the byproduct that can fuel the MUNI fleet.
   
   iii. Harrison and team secured grant to implement program.

   MOTION: K Mizany introduced motion to support and commend this FOG Biodiesel Program. Seconded by R. Hansen. The motion was approved unanimously. Letter will be sent to Commission.

   iv. Comments by Members:
   –A Jensen said he was pleased to see the presentation include financial costs and demonstrate the savings of program
   

6. Role for residents—upcoming is a residential program to encourage members of the public to contribute their grease and oils. Must first removed methanol
   
   
7. R Hansen queried Harrison about the assurances that the treatments plants could handle byproducts and not impact the Bay. Harrison said that this is being tested right now so they perfect the system.
   
   
8. J Giordaro verifed that the 1.3 million a year would actually power the entire City fleet. Harrison said it would given that the fleet uses a blend.
   
   
9. K Mizany elaborated on how pleased she was to see the progress this program had made. She reconfirmed that it would be of no cost for restaurants to participate.
   
   
10. Counsel Roddy reminded Committee that it is already illegal for restaurants to dump grease and oils—this program makes it easier for restaurants to comply with law.
    
    
11. Report from the Chair

    a. Chair returned to his report since there had not been a quorum at the beginning of the meeting. Resolved to cancel May meeting.
    
    b. Had not heard from AGM Spanjian about changing enabling legislation to fill vacancies on CAC and subcommittees easier.
    
    c. Chair Lantsberg felt that time didn’t allow CAC to take up messaging or methods for encouraging water conservation. Suggested focus group might be better method. Asked that Communications share their ideas with CAC for comment.
    
    

12. Subcommittee Reports

    a. Water—chair was not present and other members declined to comment at this time.
    
    b. Wastewater—Series of workshops coming in June to discuss findings and next steps in MasterPlan process. Expect to see site alternatives. Subcommittee may have two meetings in June to review material.
    
    c. Power—Had presentations on Green Building for the City, and learned about what other cities are doing. CCA update. On May 1, will subcommittee will hear about the proposed new SFPUC building a state-of –the art green facility
    
    

13. Announcements

    a. R Hansen reminded the Chair that he would like future vision of Sustainable City to be a upcoming staff presentation.
    
    

14. Meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.