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San Francisco LAFCO refers two-year continuance of executive officer, asks staff to develop municipal broadband and sea-level projects
Summary
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission voted to refer a resolution to the Board of Supervisors recommending a two-year continuance of its executive officer position and asked staff to prepare potential long-term projects including municipal broadband, sea-level-rise planning and open-source voting; the executive officer also warned of pending state utility measures.
The San Francisco Local Agency Formation Commission on Friday voted to refer a resolution to the Board of Supervisors recommending that the commission’s executive officer position be continued for two additional years.
"I support continuing the position for 2 more years," Chair John Avalos said during discussion, noting that any continuance would still require funding and FTE approval by the Board of Supervisors. The commission took the referral motion without objection.
The referral grew out of discussion about LAFCO’s workload and possible new projects the office could pursue beyond its current community choice aggregation (CCA) work for CleanPowerSF. Commissioners identified several potential initiatives they want staff to explore, including municipal broadband and fiber deployment, a long-term plan for sea-level-rise response and open-source voting systems. Commissioners asked Executive Officer Jason Fried to prepare a short package of potential projects and circulate it to commissioners ahead of the Board of Supervisors consideration.
In his executive officer’s report, Fried also flagged two state measures that could affect utilities and CCA operations. Fried described one bill as "AB 1350," which he said deals with electricity generation and has drawn opposition from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. He also said another proposal, which he described as "AB 11," would alter the California Public Utilities Commission’s independence and could let the Legislature change how the CPUC functions. Fried said he was still gathering details and would work with the chair on any letters or actions before the commission’s next meeting.
During public comment, Eric Brooks, speaking for Californians for Energy Choice and Public Net, corrected Fried’s label for the ballot measure and said the proposal is known to sponsors as "ACA 11." Brooks warned that, if enacted, the measure could let the Legislature reorganize or eliminate the CPUC and transfer regulatory authority to the Legislature, with wide implications for energy policy and municipal broadband. "It would give carte blanche to the legislature to do whatever it wants," Brooks said, urging LAFCO staff to track the item closely and to consider a special meeting if rapid action is required.
The commission also approved routine items by unanimous consent, including a motion to excuse Commissioner Campos and approval of minutes from the May 20, 2016 regular meeting.
Next steps: the commission will forward the resolution to the Board of Supervisors for funding and FTE action, and Executive Officer Fried will prepare and circulate a short list of proposed long-term projects for commissioners to review before the Board of Supervisors considers the resolution. The commission’s next regular meeting was announced for July 22.
