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Votes at a glance: PUC approves PLA, multiple contracts, leases and biofuel outreach program
Summary
At the March meeting the San Francisco PUC approved a project labor agreement for WSIP, a set of consent calendar contract closeouts, leases including a SAGE agreement, a biofuel/outreach contract and several consultant and training agreements; the commission also scheduled and disclosed closed‑session items with no reported action on several litigation matters.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission took formal votes on a set of consent and action items at the March 15 meeting. Key outcomes included:
- Consent calendar (item 9): The commission approved four items accepting completed work and authorizing final payments and time extensions for wastewater contracts (identified in staff materials as CW403, WW406, WW431 and WD2474). The chair announced the consent items passed on a single vote.
- Project Labor Agreement for WSIP (item 10): After discussion and questions about contractor participation, the commission authorized the general manager to enter into and sign the WSIP Project Labor Agreement. Staff said the agreement is accompanied by a letter of understanding with the Office of Labor Standards Enforcement to harmonize prevailing‑rate enforcement.
- Leases (items 11–13): The commission approved leases including a lease with Sustainable Agricultural Education (SAGE) for Parcel 65 in Alameda County and leases at 145 Market Street and 3801 Third Street. A SAGE representative addressed the commission to thank staff for support during lease negotiations.
- Agreements and consultant items (items 14–19 and 17): The commission approved right‑of‑way engineering and acquisition agreements CS846/CS847 (items 14–15), consultant agreements (item 17 set), a training/team‑building contract for BEI (CS687, item 18) and a filter design/study for the Harry Tracy Water Treatment Plant (CS704, item 19).
- Biofuel outreach (item 16): The commission approved an outreach/education agreement (CS853) to support a biofuel program that pairs fats, oils and grease collection with biodiesel production; staff said sewer operations respond to about 44% of their annual work orders for grease blockages and estimated the program could collect over 1,000,000 gallons of yellow grease a year if successful.
- Closed session disclosure: The commission moved to assert attorney–client privilege for multiple closed‑session items (threats to public services/facilities and a long list of existing and anticipated litigation matters). During open‑session disclosure the chair said there were no actions on several listed items; specific cases and dockets were read into the record as part of the closed‑session report.
Vote detail and procedure notes: Many votes were announced in aggregate without roll‑call tallies in the public transcript. Where the record shows a mover and second these were recorded in the meeting minutes and the items were carried by voice vote.
Why it matters: The PLA and contract approvals are central to moving WSIP construction forward and to stabilizing labor and bid pricing; the biofuel contract addresses recurring sewer blockages and links to municipal vehicle fuel strategies.
What's next: Staff will implement approved contracts and return to the commission with routine reports; the PLA and WSIP contracting will inform upcoming procurement and schedule milestones.
