Citizen’s Advisory Committee
Environmental Justice Subcommittee (CAC-EJ)

MINUTES

April 12, 2007
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
1155 Market Street
4th Floor Conference Room

Members

David Pascal – Chair
Jennifer Clary
Richard T. Hansen
Alex Lantsberg 
 Staff:  Catania Galván

(1) Call to order: Meeting was called to order at 5:38 PM

(2) Roll Call: Members present: Pascal, Clary, Lantsberg and Hansen
Staff present: Galván 
Members absent: All present
Members of the public: Karen Pierce, SFPUC CAC

(3) Approval of the Minutes 
There were no minutes available from the last meeting that was held in September 2006.  Staff will locate minutes and transmit them to David Pascal, Chair for approval to present to CAC-EJ in May.

(4) Public Comment:
Karen Pierce: Suggested that Environmental Justice (EJ) Policy should be one that informs the Sustainability Plan (SP).  The SP should include EJ policy that addresses agency goals within the EJ Policy.  Recommend consideration of the State of California EPA EJ plan in lieu of the SFPUC SP.  The EJ Policy should be vetted through public meetings.

Agenda Items:

(5) Discussion centered on the Susan Leal letter of March 14, 2007 addressed to Alex Lantsberg.  The full CAC coming out with environmental justice plan that Susan Leal may not be aware of. 

Alex:   Commented that there is no time-line/date to implement/incorporate EJ basics into the Sustainability Plan.  There is no proposal to evaluate how EJ is incorporated.  Susan’s response appears defensive as her letter details projects but there is no comprehensive or uniform policy for the EJ Resolution and other EJ issues.  People [staff] have no EJ guidance on administering projects within the parameters of the EJ.  Implementation of EJ principles continues to be on, then off with the agency.

Jennifer: The SP does not contain any goals or performance measures related to EJ.  The Precautionary Principle has experts.  We need EJ experts “community experts.”  It is impossible to address EJ with the SP without the proper community representatives and experts’ input.

Richard: Did not agree with Jennifer.  There appears to be a disconnect with the SP as it is not clear if synonymous [SP and EJ].  The issue of scheduling, implementation appears to be more important at this time.  EJ with the SP is flawed.

David:  EJ does not exist in the timeline [SP].  It is merely a “laundry list” of what policy is.  A couple of references/instances on EJ does not constitute policy framework.

The discussion centered on the fact that the SP has no tracking indicators and no negative impacts carved out.  The SP lens should include EJ lens.  The SP has not incorporated any EJ guiding principles or strategies.

1. Sustainability is not the same as environmental justice.
2. Not affirmed in SFPUC policy framework.

Jennifer: It is not clear how the SP will operate after projects are completed.  The SP is waiting for the development of the stewardship plan.  There is a need to have stewardship indicators for the SP, and need EJ indicators for the SP.  Not the other way around.  It needs, and is missing professional guidance [EJ].
Richard: The SFPUC should comply with AWWA standards by including some appropriate distribution of SP standards.

Jennifer and Richard: There are number of EJ issues that are not addressed in the SP.  For example, what about lead in the water in the Mission and Chinatown Districts?  Lead from solder in the pipes of the old buildings in these areas.  Why isn’t this type of EJ issue addressed?  If it is not discussed with the community, how will the community know that this may be a problem?

David:  Suggested that the SFPUC should use the CAL-EPA EJ Guidelines to help guide the process for achieving EJ at the SFPUC.  Decisions about how EJ is addressed need to be in place now.  The following should be considered:

     1. Discussion with external stakeholders appears to be reactive, not proactive.
     2. Development of EJ is too late for CIP.
     3. SP appears to be reactive.  Must adopt provisional guidelines that address EJ.

There is not enough EJ expert stakeholder input to adopt EJ standards.  Members from impacted communities need to be included in the discussion of the stewardship policy.  Questioned whether impacted community members were included in the stewardship policy discussion.

(6) Staff Announcements

No formal presentation was made.  Catania Galván, newly assigned to the CAC-EJ subcommittee introduced herself to the committee.  She described her background in environmental justice and environmental education. 

The agenda packet for this meeting included handouts:

1. April 12, 2007 CAC-EJ meeting agenda
2. SFPUC CAC-EJ Environmental Justice Resolution
3. SF Precautionary Principle Ordinance
4. 2006 – SFPUC Citizen’s Advisory Committee Roster
5. Susan Leal’s March 14, 2007 letter to Alex Lantsberg
6. Alex Lantsberg’s February 27, 2007 letter to Susan Leal
7. Notice of Cancellation, January 4, 2007 meeting
8. Notice of Cancellation, March 1, 2007 meeting
9. EJ definitions crossword puzzle

(7) New Business/Action Items

David Pascal:
1. Draft a letter to Susan Leal responding to her March 17, 2007 letter to Alex Lantsberg.  Letter to be reviewed at next CAC-EJ regularly scheduled meeting on May 3. 

     o Include question as to timeline for EJ goals and standards policy draft.
     o Include suggestion on adopting CAL-EPA EJ Standards.

2. Review General Manager’s response/no response to letter.  Include courtesy copy to full CAC and SFPUC Commission members.  If there is no response, letter to be sent to San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Agenda item:
* Sustainability Plan – the lack of EJ policy within the SP does not give CAC-EJ committee the ability to adopt the EJ Policy without further discussion.
* Alex will chair full CAC in 2 weeks and bring up EJ in the meeting.
Catania Galván:
* Contact EPA-EJ Division for possible training opportunities and speakers for CAC-EJ committee members.  Look into scheduling Lewis Harrison to give a discussion on water pollution prevention program, Biofuel and environmental education.
*Send members copy of California EPA Environmental Justice Action Plan, October 2004; SFPUC Sustainability Plan, August 1, 2006; SFPUC Sustainability Plan Framework, August 1, 2006

Next Meeting: May 3, 2007
Next Meeting Agenda: TBD

(8) Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:30 PM