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SFPUC outlines roughly $40 million in Rim Fire damage and a mix of short‑ and long‑term recovery options
Summary
SFPUC staff told the commission the Rim Fire is largely contained and estimated damage at about $40 million, described short‑term cash and appropriation options and longer‑term insurance and FEMA avenues, and said staff would update the commission monthly.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission was briefed on recovery work after the Rim Fire and on options for paying for emergency and longer‑term repairs.
Todd Reestrom, assistant general manager and chief financial officer, told the commission that preliminary damage estimates are “slightly less than $40,000,000,” split between emergency work and permanent repairs, and that the agency has submitted paperwork for the Fire Management Assistance Grant and other state and federal funding.
Reestrom outlined short‑term funding options: using already‑appropriated project funds where awards are not yet active, drawing on contingency reserves that are already budgeted and spendable (about $4 million has been used), and pursuing insurance recovery advances. He said program reserves (for example, funds set aside for a community choice aggregation program) are not immediately spendable and would require commission action or rate-setting to repurpose.
Longer term, staff has filed for FEMA public‑assistance and California Disaster Assistance Act reimbursement and is awaiting presidential and governor disaster declarations that would unlock additional aid. Reestrom said insurance adjusters are returning for follow‑up inspections and that recoveries from insurance and federal or state assistance would be auto‑appropriated under existing administrative provisions to backfill any temporary use of funds.
Commissioners pressed staff to clarify what reserves are immediately available and what would require formal re‑appropriation. Reestrom recommended continuing repairs using temporary appropriations where possible, filing timely insurance and state/federal claims, and returning to the commission before tapping deeper fund‑balance reserves.
Public commenters and commissioners also raised cultural‑resource issues. A public speaker and commissioners asked staff to document impacts to tribal sacred sites and to apply the Native American Graves Protection Act when considering ecosystem valuation and losses to cultural resources.
The commission did not vote on new appropriations. Staff said it would provide monthly updates and return with the information requested about reserve categories and a proposed timeline for any re‑appropriation or borrowing.
