PUC presents draft community benefits policy; community groups press for oversight, transparency and local hiring

San Francisco — The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission received an executive summary and a draft Community Benefits Policy on Tuesday that would centralize the agency's community-benefits initiatives, set performance metrics, and allocate resources to support workforce development, stakeholder engagement and environmental programs.

Masood Odehkani, who led the presentation, said consultants cataloged more than 80 existing PUC community-benefit initiatives and recommended a coordinated, agency-wide program with clear metrics, staffing and funding. "The policy lays the framework for the development of a comprehensive community benefits program that is intentional and centrally coordinated throughout the agency," he said.

The draft adopts a triple-bottom-line definition of community benefits and calls for processes to engage stakeholders, implement a budget and staffing plan, and create metrics to evaluate impact. Odehkani said the Board of Supervisors would introduce resolutions commending the program and that staff would take community input for about a month before returning with a final policy for adoption in January.

Community speakers — including representatives of local workforce and jobs organizations — urged stronger community participation in monitoring and in decision tables, independent panels to allocate community-benefits funds, and training pipelines for disadvantaged workers, ex-offenders and veterans. "I would like to see community involvement as far as monitors," said Terry Andrews of Anders and Anders in the Fillmore area. Staff acknowledged the comments and said they will incorporate feedback and provide a revised draft.

Because this was an informational briefing, no adoption occurred Tuesday; staff will return with a revised resolution and policy for formal consideration.