SFPUC authorizes urban‑ag pilot on PUC lands and a pilot grant program for garden water meters

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 11 voted to pursue an urban agriculture pilot and to fund a water‑efficiency pilot to meter community gardens.

Juliette Ellis said the PUC sought permission for the general manager to complete a feasibility study and to establish a pilot program at two sites — College Hill Reservoir and the Southeast Treatment Plant — to align PUC land use with the city's Urban Agriculture Ordinance and the mayor's executive order directing city departments to foster local food production. "We identified College Hill and the Southeast Treatment Plant as sites for deeper analysis," Ellis said.

Commissioners amended the resolution on the floor to shorten the feasibility study timeline to 90 days and to broaden the study to include urban‑ag activities beyond vegetable growing. President Vitor offered the amendment and the commission accepted it.

Public commenters representing the Tenderloin People's Garden, the San Francisco Urban Ag Alliance, Hayes Valley Farm, SPUR and others urged the commission to include community stewardship, training and water‑management measures. Nella Manuel, Tenderloin People's Garden coordinator, described volunteer-run harvests and neighborhood benefits: "Every day I'm in the garden, people really admire the garden," she said.

Separately, the commission approved a pilot water‑efficiency grant program (FY 2011–12) to set aside up to $100,000 to help install individual meters for community gardens (awards up to $10,000). Steve Ritchie said meter installations can start at roughly $7,000 and that the meter grants would be administered through PUC staff as a pilot to collect data on water use, billing and program design.

Both items passed by voice vote. Staff will conduct feasibility work, coordinate with community partners and report back with recommendations.