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SFPUC outlines $2.7 billion SSIP Phase 1, biosolids pilots and workforce initiatives
Summary
The commission heard a quarterly update on the Sewer System Improvement Program: Phase 1 budget framed at $2.7 billion, $88 million spent to date, pilot grit-removal and biosolids studies moving forward, and workforce and community-outreach efforts noted.
Karen Kubik, director of the Sewer System Improvement Program, presented the quarterly SSIP update and described program scope, current spending and outreach.
Kubik said Phase 1 includes 37 projects in planning or design and three projects in construction. She cited a Phase 1 budget of $2,700,000,000 and said the program had spent approximately $88,000,000 to date. She described program-level initiatives including Southeast Plant integration planning (to coordinate many simultaneous projects while keeping the plant operational), sea-level-rise mapping for bayside and westside systems, and an updated contracting plan that includes alternative project-delivery approaches and outreach for RFPs.
On specific projects, Kubik said environmental review began for an aging Bay outfall and pump-station upgrades, headworks design proposals will be brought to the Commission for an award in October, and the Mission-Valencia green infrastructure project is slated to begin construction in 2015. She also reported two large-scale grit-removal pilot studies at Southeast Plant (pilot volumes described in staff slides) to test effectiveness during wet weather.
Kubik described workforce-development efforts tied to SSIP, including a summer internship program that engaged many students with mentorship; staff reported that several interns returned in subsequent summers and at least two have transitioned to jobs so far. Commissioners asked for deeper financial breakdowns of the $88 million spent to date and staff pointed to quarterly reports that itemize progress, schedule and budget by project.
Public commenters raised concerns about community benefits at the Contractors Center and requested greater transparency on decisions that affect the Bayview and Southeast neighborhoods, including how many digesters are currently operational. Staff confirmed two digesters are out of service for roof repairs and that additional repair work will take more digesters temporarily out of service. Kubik said the program will continue public outreach, stakeholder working groups and coordination with the Wastewater Citizens Advisory Committee.
