PUC approves land-management framework, real-estate guidelines, SFUSD solar license and amends lobbying contract term

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 28 approved several policy and procurement items, including a land‑management framework, updated real‑estate service guidelines, a master license agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District to pursue rooftop solar installations, and an amended state lobbying contract term.

The commission adopted the framework for managing SFPUC lands, a decision‑making 'lens' staff said is intended to guide future acquisitions, dispositions, leases and permits without changing existing policy. Deputy General Manager Michael Carlin said the document “is a lens to look at how we bring forward land acquisition, disposition, leases, permits” and that staff will apply the criteria to future parcel decisions. Public commenters raised wording and consistency concerns: Jan Blum urged that community criteria ensure compliance with city plans and policies and recommended adding language that sales or transfers not conflict with city policy. The commission accepted a technical amendment to add the word “owned” to the disposition heading and then adopted the framework.

The commission also approved updated real‑estate service guidelines that supersede earlier Bureau of Commercial Land Management rules and clarify delegated authority for smaller leases and permits. Rosanna Russell, the commission’s real estate director, told commissioners the changes set thresholds under which the general manager may act and require Board of Supervisors approval for transactions longer than 10 years.

On procurement, the commission considered and approved a state lobbying contract with Edelstein, Gilbert, Robeson & Smith for up to $1,000,000. Juliet Ellis, assistant general manager for external affairs, summarized the RFP and selection process and noted the firm proposed LBE participation above the stated goal. Commissioners debated contract length and moved to amend the term from a straight five years to a 3+1+1 structure (three years with two successive one‑year options); the amendment passed and the item was approved as amended.

The commission also authorized the general manager to seek Board of Supervisors approval and execute a master license agreement with the San Francisco Unified School District to identify suitable school rooftops for photovoltaic systems. Barbara Hale, assistant general manager for power, said the PUC would pay for installation and own and operate the systems while the district would pay for any energy it uses. “The solar installation would be paid for by the PUC. It would be owned and operated by us,” Hale said. Any individual installation would be brought back to the commission for separate approval.

Routine consent items (the agenda’s items a, c and d) were approved by a single voice vote, with item b (the lobbying contract) considered separately and approved as amended.

What happens next: staff will return future, project‑level approvals to the commission for separate action where required (for example, individual solar installations), and the mayor’s office and city administrator will continue implementation steps for redevelopment obligations described earlier in the meeting.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar (items a, c, d): approved by voice vote. - Item 8b (state lobbying contract with Edelstein, Gilbert, Robeson & Smith): amended to a 3+1+1 term; approved as amended. - Item 9 (master license agreement with San Francisco Unified School District for PV installations): authorized for the general manager to seek Board of Supervisors approval and execute the master license agreement; motion carried. - Item 10 (framework for land management use): amendment adopted to add the word “owned” to the disposition heading; framework adopted. - Item 11 (real estate service guidelines): adopted.

The commission recorded motions, amendments and voice votes on the record during the meeting; individual roll‑call vote tallies were not provided in full in the transcript.