Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Ssip topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SFPUC workshop focuses SSIP on environmental justice, local hiring and apprenticeships
Summary
At a workshop the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission reviewed the $2.98 billion Sewer System Improvement Program, detailed commitments from an environmental‑justice analysis for the Southeast biosolids project and outlined workforce and local-business inclusion goals that staff say have already channeled millions to District 10 contractors and local apprentices.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on the regular agenda devoted a multi‑hour workshop to the Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP), reviewing Phase 1 project status, commitments from a community‑led environmental‑justice analysis and workforce inclusion strategies meant to connect long‑term Bayview Hunters Point residents to construction and professional services jobs.
Acting Director of Wastewater Capital Programs Howard Fung said Phase 1 comprises 70 projects with a $2,979,000,000 budget; staff reported the program is about 30.6% complete and that $781,000,000 had been expended as of the close of March. Fung said the biosolids project has reached roughly 95% design on the main facility scope and that two early construction packages are being finalized, with construction for some components anticipated to begin in August.
"This quarter we're able to progress two more projects into construction," Fung said, and he added staff will provide deeper dives on the biosolids and headworks projects at future meetings.
Yolanda Manzoni, deputy assistant general manager for external affairs, summarized a parallel environmental‑justice (EJ) analysis done for the Southeast biosolids facility. Manzoni said staff used a community‑driven process and 62 indicators to assess cumulative and socioeconomic burdens that CEQA does not always capture. The analysis identified 33 indicators showing disproportionate impacts in Bayview Hunters Point and produced a nexus of 17 issue areas tied to the biosolids scope.
The analysis led to enforceable project commitments, Manzoni said: "No odor is beyond the fence line," and the SFPUC committed to ensure that operational fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions will not rise above the no‑project alternative. Manzoni said the EJ process also produced non‑air commitments, including expanding childcare capacity at a new community center and rooftop air monitoring partnerships with the Air District, the Department of Public Health and UC Berkeley.
Masood, the agency lead on workforce and business inclusion programs, described efforts to convert training into paid work on SSIP projects. He said the SFPUC has partnered with CityBuild, the building trades and local community organizations to create pre‑apprentice and project‑specific training. "Out of all the total dollars on SSIP so far, more than one out of every $4 has gone to local business enterprises," Masood said, and he reported more than $85,000,000 awarded to firms in District 10 and $11,300,000 awarded to African‑American contractors in that district.
Commissioners pressed staff for more granular financial breakdowns — specifically the dollar amounts paid to apprentices and how much of in‑house design work counts toward local hire metrics. Fung and Masood said staff will provide a disaggregated accounting showing hours and wages, and reminded commissioners that a large share of the program budget pays for non‑labor items such as equipment and materials.
Several public commenters praised the EJ analysis and asked the commission to make the methodology a model for other city projects. Environmental stakeholders also urged continued monitoring and clear reporting on the "no increase in PM2.5" commitment.
Next steps: staff said it will return with more detailed apprenticeship and local‑hire dollars and a July follow‑up presentation on the biosolids package and the headworks project. The commission also scheduled a second SSIP workshop (a deeper dive on the headworks and biosolids projects).
