PUC outlines multi-year yard upgrades, approves consultant for Moccasin EIR

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission heard a multi-site facilities briefing on March 22 that described modernization proposals for the Millbrae Yard, the Sonoma (Snow) Yard and the Moccasin compound and approved an environmental services contract for Moccasin.

Assistant General Manager for Water Steve Ritchie said the yards date from the early 20th century and support about half of the utility’s water workforce. Proposed projects include office consolidation and laboratory modernization at Millbrae, shop upgrades and a proposed Alameda Creek Watershed Center at Sonoma, and structural, security and consolidation work at Moccasin — including potential reuse or seismic upgrades to an aging powerhouse. Ritchie said the Moccasin powerhouse "could collapse" in the long term without intervention and emphasized worker safety and operational efficiency as drivers.

The commission discussed phasing, financing and affordability. Commissioners asked staff to produce implementation plans that spread costs over phases and to quantify trade-offs with other capital priorities. Staff said the environmental review and engineering work are underway, with construction likely several years out and financing to be phased and paid over typical bond lives.

Action taken: The commission voted to select ESA Orion JV for environmental analysis services for the Moccasin Facilities Upgrade (agreement CS-139) and authorized the general manager to negotiate and execute a two-year, eight-month professional services agreement to complete an Environmental Impact Report.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with environmental review for Moccasin, continue engineering and phasing work for all yards, and return with implementation and financing scenarios that stagger capital spending.