The City of San Francisco held a government meeting on July 4, 2025, focusing on critical infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing earthquake safety and flood risk reduction along the waterfront. The meeting outlined several key initiatives, emphasizing the need for foundational investments in the city's aging structures.

The first item discussed was the seismic retrofit and substructure repair of Pier 9. Officials noted that this project aims to add a seismic joint and repair the existing infrastructure, which has not undergone initial earthquake retrofitting. The goal is to ensure the pier's resilience against seismic events.

Moving south, the discussion shifted to the ferry building seawall and substructure earthquake reliability project. This initiative seeks to strengthen the seawall and substructure of the iconic ferry building to improve earthquake safety and disaster response capabilities. The area is recognized as highly active, and the project aims to minimize construction impacts while developing a long-term adaptation plan.

The meeting also addressed the coastal flood risk reduction project, which spans from Broadway to Howard Street. This area is currently vulnerable to flooding during King Tides, prompting the city to invest in protective measures for underground transit systems like BART and Muni. A FEMA grant application for $50 million has been submitted to support this project, which aims to balance immediate investments with future needs.

Further discussions included the seawall earthquake safety project at piers 24.5 to 28.5, where assessments indicated a high risk of collapse. Officials are considering simple retrofits to mitigate this risk and are coordinating with adjacent development projects that could enhance the seawall's integrity.

Next steps outlined in the meeting include advancing project alternatives and completing pre-design work by the end of 2024, with construction expected to begin shortly thereafter. The city is also pursuing additional funding sources to support these initiatives, as current needs exceed available resources.

A pilot project, the Living Seawall, was introduced, focusing on ecological enhancements to seawalls. This project has been installed at three locations, with monitoring set to provide valuable data over the next two years.

The meeting concluded with an overview of the Army Corps of Engineers' flood study, which is evaluating major adaptation strategies for the entire waterfront. Various alternatives are being considered, including flood-proofing and relocating critical facilities, as well as managing water levels in response to rising sea levels.

Overall, the meeting highlighted San Francisco's proactive approach to addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities and preparing for future environmental challenges, with a clear commitment to enhancing the city's resilience against earthquakes and flooding.