Published By: Communications and Public Outreach
| San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Citizens' Advisory Committee Wastewater Subcommittee MINUTES Thursday, August 16, 2007 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 1155 Market Street, 4th Floor |
Members Jennifer Clary Alex Lantsberg (Excused Absence) David Pilpel Judy West Jack Lendvay Staff Liaison: Idil Bereket |
1. Call to order - 5:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call - See above.
SFPUC Staff present – Iris Martin Lopez, Idil Bereket, Carolyn Chiu, Arleen Navarret
Members of the public – Ruth Gravanis, Copley Crosby
City Attorney - Absent
3. Minutes - July minutes have been approved.
4. Public Comment – No public comment was made.
5. SF Sewer System Master Plan Public Outreach Update
Idil Bereket gave an update on the public outreach efforts on the SF Sewer System Master Plan as well as other wastewater issues.
Excerpts from the update are as follows:
* Commission Meeting is tentatively scheduled for October 9th –however, nothing has been finalized yet.
* 3 Public Workshops will follow the Commission Meeting that same week.
Possible Locations are 6th Floor Conference Room (1155 Market St.); Sunset Rec. Ctr. (Lawton and 28th), SE Community Facility (Oakdale Avenue).
* Prior to the public workshops, SFPUC will be maximizing the advertising spots
- Commercial Ads: On cable TV that will use footage from the wastewater video (about 100 spots) on Discovery channel, etc.
- KFOG Promotion: Contest for 5 winners & their guests to win a tour of the SF transport box and possible tour of Oceanside Plant. Morning show personalities will promote the contest on air.
- Print Ads
- Possibly MUNI (bus and shelter) ads
- Newsletter with invitation to the public workshops – to go out 3 weeks before the workshops to approximately 5,200 people and neighborhood organizations.
* The wastewater DVD is being finalized.
- Working on the artwork.
- Will duplicate 2,000 - the CAC Wastewater members will each get a copy.
* Compost Giveaway at the Southeast Plant, Parking Lot on Phelps and Jerrold, Saturday, September 15th, 9am – 2pm.
* Stormwater Design Guidelines – tentative Open House week of October 22nd – on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
* The Biofuel Program will be unveiled in September/October. The Focus Groups looked at the artwork and messaging – CAC Wastewater members will have the chance to take a look at the artwork at the next meeting.
Questions and Comments on the Master Plan Public Outreach Update
The WWCAC members made the following comments:
* Commented that there was no relevance of the ads.
* Commented in response that the ads bring awareness.
* Asked what the context and percentage of the Master Plan budget are for the ads - how much of it for outreach and how much of it for advertising?
* Commented that at meetings, SFPUC should learn what made people come to the meeting.
* Asked how the effectiveness of the advertisements is assessed by the SFPUC staff.
* Asked to get a quarterly update on the wastewater treatment plant tours.
* Asked about an update on the LID/Stormwater Management Design Charrette on September 27th.
ANSWER: SFPUC will check with Rosey Jencks to see about an update for the CAC.
* Asked about the status of the Port’s approval on FOG’s collection site.
* Asked about West Drainage Basin Workshop
ANSWER: The Charrette will take place late September, and it’s invite only.
No action was taken.
6. Discussion and possible action on agenda items for upcoming WWCAC meetings from July 2007 through December 2007 –
WWCAC members discussed the following topics as possible agenda items from September 2007 through December 2007:
September 2007 – Breakdown of elements of draft Master Plan
* How to get the full CAC’s support on the Wastewater Subcommittee’s positions/resolutions.
* To determine/breakdown key elements of the Master Plan and the Wastewater Subcommittee’s positions on the Master Plan so as to be heard by the full CAC.
* How to present elements of the Master Plan to the full CAC to get their full support.
Topics for discussion:
- Biosolids
- Southeast Treatment Plant relocation
- Integrated Watershed Approach
- Decentralized treatment operations / flexibility and redundancy
- Reduction of combined sewer overflows
- Collection system options/upgrade
- Eastside drainage issue
- Mission Creek Corridor Treatment Options
- Multiple benefits of biosolids
- Near-term digesters.
The WWCAC members made the following comments:
* Asked members to bring bullet points for discussion to the meeting.
NORCAL food update – will be held off until later
WWCAC members requested to have an update on the subject in October 2007. The update should be in the form of a question about food waste disposal as it relates to biosolids.
Update discussion on Biosolids regional project
WWCAC members asked that an update on the Biosolids Plan be made in July ’08.
The WWCAC members made the following comments
* Commented that the subject was discussed at the July ’07 meeting
* Commented that there was not much to discuss
ANSWER: Short-term biosolids plan will be created by consultants. This may be a question for John in September.
Update on the state of the maintenance and improvements at the Southeast Plant
WWCAC Members asked to have an update from Herb Dang.
Draft Master Plan – WWCAC members asked to have a copy of the Draft Master Plan when it’s done
High Speed Rail
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
WWCAC asked to discuss CEQA in relation to the Master Plan
Southeast Neighborhood Mitigation
New Assistant General Manager for the Wastewater Enterprise
WWCAC members asked to learn about the status of the hiring for the new AGM, and an introduction when it happens.
No action was taken.
7. Presentation on Mission Creek Corridor by Judy West - Highlights from the presentation are as follows:
* The Mission Creek is a connector trail to the waterfront, along an historic waterway and rail line.
* Public easements with combined benefits allow transportation improvements and utility upgrades to assist each other, along this important corridor.
The WWCAC members made the following comments
* Commented that the WWCAC is encouraging the SFPUC to explore opportunities for the sewer system that exist along the Mission Creek corridor.
* Commented that the SFPUC should figure out a way to make use of the Mission Creek Corridor and that open space could be looked as opportunities for SFPUC near Channel Street.
* Commented that NORCAL and SF gravel area could be used as open space.
* Asked acreage of area.
* Commented that Greg Braswell with DPW is looking for site for 10 acres for wet weather plant
ANSWER: Master Plan Project Manager does not like the idea of having the plant as a wet-weather plant.
ANSWER: The big Master Plan is not looking at the Mission Creek Corridor as a capital project.
* Commented that the SFPUC could give an update on the drainage system in October.
* Commented that the idea of decentralization is not in the Master Plan.
* Asked about daylighting the Creek.
* Commented that the SFPUC needs to do specific planning in the Mission Creek area, reviving Mission, exploring opportunities that lie along the Mission Creek Corridor.)
ANSWER: The corridor part –Drainage Basin- will be looked at in September (including creek lighting). This will be done in September. Rosey Jencks is currently looking at problems with drainage areas.
Arleen Navarret asked Judy West to provide problems discovered with the drainage system.
Judy West commented that the concern was that the process will be long and the Master Plan will not be looking at key sites.
Judy West commented that NORCAL is not in SFPUC’s plan.
Ruth Gravanis commented that she was intrigued about a plant near NORCAL site, and that may be used as a recycled water plant.
Judy West commented that there could be stormwater in separate pipes.
8 – Discussion and possible action on revised Doyle Drive resolution
There is no resolution.
Ruth Gravanis commented that no action be taken at this point. There would be more meetings, and it would be more beneficial to take an action a later point.
A WWCAC member made the following comments
Commented that the resolution presented before the full CAC just needed re-wording.
Ruth Gravanis commented that they had a meeting with the Transportation Authority on August 14th and SFPUC staff was present there as well. Discussion included LID management approaches on natural park services. There will be studies for further alternatives.
SFPUC staff commented that people above Park attendees might not see how LID will fit into their ideas. The solution to the issue (of letting Doyle Drive’s stormwater treated by the SFPUC) is to have a consensus. The SFPUC is going to have a fight when/if the SF Recreation and Parks Department comes back and says that the SFPUC’s decision doesn’t fit with their mission.
WWCAC member asked who was the highest-ranking person at the meeting
Answer: None of the people at the table had the authority to say yes or no.
WWCAC member commented that the SFPUC handled themselves very well.
WWCAC member commented that future meetings should have the planner present.
WWCAC member commented that Rec & Parks needs to be educated, so does everyone else on the table at the meeting.
WWCAC member commented that the meeting notes should be distributed to the WWCAC members whenever they are available.
WWCAC member asked how committed the SFPUC was to not allowing Doyle Drive’s stormwater be treated by the SFPUC?
ANSWER: This could be a political issue, and that technically it would be a NO –as in the SFPUC will not allow it happen. The SFPUC’s position would be “not taking it”. The agency didn’t take it before, and will not take it in the future either. The stop in this issue would be the Presidio Park.
WWCAC member commented that the WWCAC would have to back up the SFPUC’s regional plan.
No action taken.
9. Adjourned - 7:20 p.m.
