Citizens' Advisory Committee
Water Subcommittee

MINUTES 

July 23, 2008
1155 Market Street, San Francisco
4th Floor Conference Room
5:00- 7:00pm

Members:  Jennifer Clary – Chair, David Drabkin Richard Hansen, Lurilla Harris, Art Jensen, Robert Varni

Staff: Suzanne Gautier

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Roll Call:
Present:  Clary, Varni, Harris, Jensen, Drabkin
Absent:  Hansen  

1. Call to Order
The Meeting was called to order at 5:07 p.m.

2. Approval of Minutes 
Motion to approve minutes of June 25, 2008
Tabled until the next regular meeting, corrections have been submitted in writing.

3. Public comment—matters within Subcommittee’s scope, not on today’s agenda
Christina Lee expressed concern about the availability of water in the future and the need for us to look at options for the development of local supply to avoid using Hetch Hetchy water for irrigation, etc.

4. Staff Presentation— The San Francisco Recycled Water Program – Westside Recycled Water Project

Speaker: Barbara Palacios, Project Management Bureau
Barbara gave a presentation on the San Francisco PUC WSIP Westside Recycled Water Project – the presentation is attached.

Following the presentation committee members commented on and raised questions about the project, topics of these questions included:
• Cost of the project, it has gone up; will it continue to go up in price as we wait for construction? Is this project the best use of limited resources?  What will be gained by the wholesale customers if SF pursues this project?
• How much will recycled water cost?
• Are there restrictions on the use of recycled water for residential application in San Francisco?
• How is the water treated, and who regulates treatment and water quality?
• What is the relationship between San Francisco and BAWSCA (wholesale customers of SF System water) in paying for the projects that will produce recycled water?
• What is the cost of not doing the project in San Francisco?

Public comment on the presentation:
 
Christine Lee – Expressed her commitment to implementing the recycled water project now, in recognition of the risk of having future generations pay more for it later/

Jeff Hoel – expressed concern about chlorine disinfection as a byproduct of treatment (only if we are planning on drinking the water)

5. Discussion and Possible action – a resolution concerning use and disposition of SFPUC surplus properties in San Francisco.

Motion for passage by member Jensen, second by member Varni

Discussion of the resolution included the request that the SFPUC Stewardship policy be attached to the resolution; criteria for declaring property “surplus” needs to be understood, does the SFPUC have a responsibility to make sure that this land, regardless of owner is maintained in the “public interest”?

The SFPUC shall consider an additional clause in its surplus land disposal policy reflecting the proper best management practices with regard to storm water, this clause shall be drafted and implemented no later than June 2009.  The will be a presentation on storm water management in September.

Following the discussion a vote on the resolution was taken

Resolution approved by unanimous vote of members present.

6. Discussion and possible action on a resolution concerning SFPUC use of chloramines

Motion for approval by member Jensen, second by member Harris

Discussion of the resolution included clarification by David Behar of the Water Enterprise on some preferred language from the Water Quality Bureau with respect to this resolution, the “Ruskin” resolution as a template for the subcommittee to consider.

After many revisions to the original resolution, a final version was drafted for adoption.  This revised resolution will be presented to the subcommittee at its next regular meeting.

7.  Announcements by member and reports on other meetings – none at this time

8.  Discussion about future agenda items:
 
        * Chair Clary and member Varni will present perspectives on the Westside Recycled Water Project of the SFPUC; this presentation will be the next step in the subcommittee’s process for addressing the policy of the SFPUC in pursuit of recycled water.

* Chloramine Resolution to be presented

* Water Conservation – can buildings by “retrofit on resale” to meet passive water conservation goals?
 

9.  The next regular meeting of the SPUC CAC Water Subcommittee will take place on Wednesday September 24, 2008.

The Meeting adjourned at 7:25p.m.