These are the resolutions adopted by the SFPUC Citizens' Advisory Committee for the year 2007.

Passed January 22, 2007

The CAC urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to expedite the activities of other departments on whom the PUC depends for services and support for the WSIP because any unnecessary delay poses an increased risk to public health and the safety of 2.4 million customers of the SFPUC water system.

That the CAC urges the General Manager and Commission to implement and/or otherwise address recommendations in the CA Seismic Safety Commission and DoHS reports that apply to them and advise the State of their progress towards implementation in their annual report.

April 23, 2007
Support of biofuel program. Letter in support was to be sent to Commission.

Resolution on Pay-for-Service Electricity Rates
SFPUC CAC Power Subcommittee

Passed by the Citizens Advisory Committee on August 27, 2007

Whereas, the SFPUC and the City and County of San Francisco have a goal of deploying more renewable energy technologies in the City to achieve the goal of more sustainable power generation, and;

WHEREAS the Proposition E passed in 2002 restricted the practice of using SFPUC enterprise revenues to subsidize the general fund and directed the SFPUC to establish 'rates, fees and charges at levels sufficient to improve or maintain financial condition and bond ratings,' and;

Whereas, the Solar Bond Initiative, established by Propositions B and H that were passed overwhelmingly by San Francisco voters in 2001, allows for $100 million in bonding authority for solar, energy efficiency, and wind power projects in the City, and;

Whereas, the SFPUC Power Enterprise has been unable to access this bond money for its solar projects because the current credit-worthiness of the Power Enterprise is insufficient;

Whereas, the SFPUC Power Enterprise’s low credit rating derives from the fact that its revenue stream is not sustainable because the Enterprise has not been charging all of its electrical customers adequate rates to cover the cost of service;

Whereas, the SFPUC Power Enterprise would be able to restore its credit-worthiness and therefore be able to take advantage of the solar bond monies to fund significantly more solar projects if it were to stabilize its revenue stream by implementing a policy of charging pay-for-service electric rates to all of its customers without exception;

Therefore, be it resolved that the SFPUC Citizen’s Advisory Committee hereby strongly urges the SFPUC Power Enterprise to implement a firm policy of charging pay-for-service electric rates to all of its customers without exception at its next Commission Hearing.

Resolution on Public Participation in the SFPUC Water System Improvement Program – Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR)
Passed by the SFPUC Citizens’ Advisory Committee August 27, 2007

Whereas, the Citizens Advisory Committee to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was appointed to advise by the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors, and

Whereas, said Public Utilities Commission is currently engaged in a $5,000,000,000 (Five Billion Dollar) project to enhance the Hetch Hetchy Water Delivery System, and

Whereas an Environmental Impact Report has been prepared for review by the Citizens and taxpayers of the City and County of San Francisco on September 20, 2007.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Citizens’ Advisory Committee advise the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to direct the Planning Commission to schedule the Citizen/Taxpayer review of said Environmental Impact Report as the first (or only) item on the Agenda at said Meeting.

Sent to the Mayor and Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco, with a cc to the President of the Planning Commission.
SF PUC CAC Environmental Justice Subcommittee

Resolution passed by the full CAC on December 17, 2007

Whereas the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), through its Environmental Justice Subcommittee (CAC-EJ), submitted a resolution in December, 2006 addressing the SFPUC’s lack of compliance with certain environmental justice requirements of the current City Charter, as amended in 2002 by Proposition E; and

Whereas the CAC’s recommended action was not taken within the timeframe specified in the resolution; and

Whereas the General Manager of the SFPUC did personally respond to the resolution in the form of a letter, requesting additional guidance from the CAC-EJ as to how best to leverage the prior work reflected in the California State EPA EJ Action Plan;

Be it resolved that the CAC now recommends the following to the General Manager and the Commission of the SFPUC; and

Be it further resolved that the purpose of this resolution is not to provide direct solutions to EJ problems. Instead, it is intended to guide the assessment of different environmental scenarios, identification of challenges and opportunities, exploration of practical application of strategies, and development of recommendations to address EJ issues; and

Be it further resolved that the SFPUC Commission, at its earliest opportunity, adopt the following statement on environmental justice as an interim working policy, until such time as a final policy can be developed by the SFPUC with appropriate, local public participation. This statement reflects elements common to a number of existing municipal EJ definitions as well as San Francisco’s precautionary principle.

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission defines environmental justice as the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies.

Fair treatment has been interpreted to mean that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences resulting from the operations, programs, and/or policies of any enterprise, organization, or agency.

In light of this definition, the SFPUC is committed to identifying environmental justice issues associated with its own planning, operations, and existing infrastructure, including circumstances of disproportionate and cumulative impacts, and to make real and measurable improvements in these situations.

The SFPUC will apply the City and County of San Francisco’s Precautionary Principles when identifying these issues.

Be it further resolved that the SFPUC immediately convene an Environmental Justice Technical Advisory Committee, whose membership will comprise individuals with demonstrated expertise in the area of environmental justice and/or related fields, including community, government, academic, and industry representation. The purpose of this Advisory Committee is to provide the SFPUC with synthesized concerns and recommendations based on their varied perspectives and affiliations. The CAC’s Environmental Justice Subcommittee (CAC-EJ) will deliver to the Commission, along with this resolution, a list of suggested Advisory Committee candidates.

Be it further resolved that this Environmental Justice Technical Advisory Committee, with the assistance of the CAC-EJ, the SFPUC’s Strategic and Sustainability Planning Group and Communications Group, will develop and present to the Commission for adoption by July 1, 2008, the following deliverables:

1. A “final” definition of Environmental Justice to be adopted by the SFPUC, thereby replacing the aforementioned “working” definition;
   
2. A set of guidelines, and best practices aligned with CALEPA Environmental Justice Guidelines and relevant City SF policies and ordinances to be used in conjunction with the SFPUC Sustainability Plan, that will allow the SFPUC to track and improve performance with respect to Environmental Justice; and
   
3. A list of four pilot projects designed to quickly demonstrate the SFPUC’s environmental justice commitment.