Citizens' Advisory Committee
Water Subcommittee

MINUTES 

November 28, 2007
1155 Market Street, San Francisco
4th Floor Conference Room
5:00- 7:00 p.m.

Members

Jennifer Clary – Chair	Richard Hansen
Tim Colen	Lurilla Harris
David Dawdy	Robert Varni

  
Staff: Amy Sinclair, David Behar

ORDER OF BUSINESS 

Roll Call
Present: Clary, Hansen, Varni, Harris, Dawdy.
Absent: Jensen, Colen.

Chair Jennifer Clary confirmed that Lurilla Harris is now a member of the committee.

1. Call to order
   Chair Clary called the meeting to order at 5:05pm.
   
2. Approval of minutes
   Minutes from October 24, 2007 were approved with clarification.

   Clarification: Joan Girardot attended the October meeting and passed out a letter on ‘Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods’ letterhead at the end of public comment. It is to be noted in the minutes that her letter titled “Charter Mandated Reconstruction & Replacement Funds” was passed out. A copy of the letter was one of the handouts during the November meeting.

   Member Hansen asked each member of the committee to be added to the mailing list for his free monthly publication Underground Infrastructure Management. He would like follow up from committee to be sure everyone is receiving it.
   

3. Announcements by members and reports on other meetings
   Member Hansen announced the American Geophysical Union conference at Moscone. It takes place December 10 – 14th. Sessions on hydrology and seismology are available. For more information, visit www.agu.org.
   
4. Public comment-matters within Subcommittee’s scope, not on today’s agenda
   No member of the public present.
   
5. Staff Presentations

   a. Revised Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) – from November 14, 2007 presentation on the WSIP Risk Assessment to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Changes in scope, schedule, and budget to Water Subcommittee key projects. These materials can be found at http://sfwater.org/detail.cfm/MC_ID/13/MSC_ID/167/MTO_ID/NULL/C_ID/3699 .

   Chair Clary referred to a Power Point presentation by Julie LaBonte from the November 14th Commission meeting, workshop 3. They did a risk assessment of the WSIP and did some budget and schedule revisions that reduce their contingency on projects. They changed scope on some of the projects. Schedule for completion has extended by five months. There is an increase of overall cost by $39 million. They are assuming an escalation rate of 3.5% and the recommended escalation rate was 4.5%.

   Chair Clary talked briefly about scope changes in the San Joaquin pipelines. Some changes are also noted in recycled water and groundwater projects. She also noted and briefly discussed changes to Harry Tracy and Sunol water treatment plants.

   Chair Clary stated her understanding is that the Commission did not take action on the presentation from November 14th. They will get a revised program to take action on and will do a 30 day review. Could be acted on in January or later.

   Handout 4, titled Schedule Variances, talks about schedule changes. Chair Clary stated Irvington Tunnel and Bay Division pipelines have significant delays and cost increases. Some projects will finish earlier.

   Chair Clary feels the projects of concern for the committee are the seismic upgrades on the Bay Division pipelines 3 and 4 at the Hayward Fault. She suggests the committee either attend the Commission meeting or watch the meeting online at SFGov TV.

   Member Dawdy asked that if the Tesla treatment facility is going to use ultraviolet (UV) treatment, is it for giardia and cryptosporidium? Chair Clary stated it is to comply with the federal rule on total coli form rule and long-term surface treatment rules. Dawdy - Will this take out the cryptosporidium and giardia that are occasionally found when the Water Quality measurements are made? Chair Clary and David Behar agreed that it does not replace filtration and chloramination. Chair Clary suggested the committee have a water quality briefing during a future meeting. Member Dawdy stated he would like to hear more about chloramines.

   Member Hansen asked that the committee be informed of future WSIP workshop presentations at the Commission meeting. Staff to notify committee of date.

   Quarterly report – Chair Clary reviewed reports and briefly discussed projects.
   

6. Action on proposed resolution regarding SFPUC Reserve Funds.

   Member Varni gave a brief overview on developing the committee’s position on asset management. He stated it comes as a result of the letter from Joan Girardot in which she points out that the charter requires developing reserve accounts for maintenance of installations of capital items. Section 16 of the San Francisco charter requires that a similar program be scheduled. He used her letter and worked to develop resolution submitted.

   Chair Clary pointed out that the committee is discussing a “repair and maintenance fund” whereas Joan Girardot is referring to a “reconstruction and replacement fund” which is different.

   Resolution
   Whereas, the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco, Section 16.103 (a) and (b) requires that the Public Utilities Commission create a Reserve Fund for Capital Assets and,

   Whereas, such assets are found within the Power Enterprise, Water Enterprise and Wastewater Enterprise

   Be it Resolved, that the Citizens Advisory Committee demands that the Public Utilities Commission develop a Reserve Fund allocation plan and said Commission begin funding said plan on July 1, 2009 and,

   Be it Further Resolved, that said plan development, implementation and operation be presented to the Citizens Advisory Committee on a quarterly basis.

   Member Hansen moved to adopt as changed.
   Committee vote: Clary (yes), Dawdy (yes), Varni (yes), Hansen (yes), Harris (yes).

   Chair Clary stated the resolution will now go to the full CAC. She asked David Behar to provide an update at the next Water Committee meeting.
   

7. CAC Water Subcommittee Annual Report Chair Clary asked the committee what they feel are their priorities are for the annual report. It will be given to the supervisors, commissioners, mayor, etc.

   Member Varni stated that all resolutions should be part of the report. Chair Clary asked for a list of all resolutions for 2007.

   Member Dawdy stated he would like to include the engineering report on the definition of drought-sustained flow. He would also like a copy.

   The committee discussed including concerns about impacts of global warming.
   

8. Discussion about future agenda items, including budget items that the Water Subcommittee would like to monitor and acquire more information about at future meetings.

   The next meeting is scheduled for January 23rd, 2008. Future agenda items were discussed. Future topics for meetings include:

   Water Quality
   Chloramines
   Disaster planning/preparedness
   NERT training (full CAC)
   Global warming/Climate change

   Fiscal accountability issues – someone from Business Services to talk about fiscal topics.

   Water use efficiency plans for city departments

   The SFPUC Holiday Party will take place on Friday, December 14th at the San Francisco Marriott. The committee would like to know that they are invited to attend.
   

9. Adjournment
   The meeting adjourned at 6:17 pm.