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PUC meeting: Project Pool interns, Clean Power SF enrollment, strategic-plan steps and $1.3B in wastewater financing
Summary
The SFPUC highlighted the Project Pool youth internship program, Clean Power SF enrollment gains, progress on the 2020 strategic plan, and reported $594M in Series 2018 bonds plus a $699M WIFIA loan to fund wastewater capital projects; commissioners approved the consent calendar and several contract awards.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 28 heard updates across operations, workforce development and financing and approved a set of routine contract actions.
Project Pool: Director Lisa Miles Wilkerson and student alumni described Project Pool's expansion. Wilkerson reported 166 interns this summer across about 20 city agencies and noted several program expansions, including Project Pool Promise, which provides skills and internships for incarcerated youth. Interns Shailah Richardson and Carlos Ramos testified about career development and mentorship provided by the program.
Clean Power SF: Barbara Hale, Assistant General Manager for Power, said a July enrollment push brought roughly 27,000 new accounts into Clean Power SF, bringing the program to about 108,000 accounts with a 3% opt-out rate and a 3.4% opt-up (100% renewable) rate. Hale described active participation in California PUC proceedings on the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment (PCIA) and a near-term comment schedule in early September.
Strategic plan: Juliette Ellis and Grace Casey briefed the commission on moving from planning to implementation for the 2020 strategic plan, focusing on defining performance measures (examples included overtime as a share of base salary and stormwater removal targets), creating an internal data collection process and running staff workshops this fall to identify FY action items.
Financing and capital updates: Debt manager Rich Morales reported Series 2018 ABC wastewater revenue bonds priced at just over $594 million (average maturity ~20 years; true interest cost ~3.44%), with Series A and C issued as green bonds. Morales also reported a $699 million WIFIA loan closed in July to finance about 49% of the biosolids digestion SSIP project; together the bond sale and loan provide about $1.3 billion for wastewater capital work. Dan Wei provided the quarterly water enterprise capital improvement and WSIP update, noting about 9 miles of pipeline were replaced in FY17-18 (below the 15-mile target) and that Calaveras dam embankment work is at final height and moving toward impoundment approval.
Audit and contracts: Nancy Hamm presented the fourth-quarter audit report (FY17-18), reporting a 94% closure rate on audit recommendations and 13 open recommendations remaining. The commission approved the consent calendar and authorized a series of contract amendments and awards, including extension of agreement CS225R (amendment 5), the selection of three professional services firms (agreements PRO0066A—6C), and construction contract awards (6WW639 and WW674R).
Ending: Commissioners asked staff for additional analysis on timing and operational implications of capital programs and for further detail on disputed technical points related to the Bay-Delta briefing. The commission adjourned after approving the consent items.
