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Fire Commission adopts response to civil grand jury urging expansion of auxiliary firefighting water system
Summary
After a staff presentation and extensive public comment, the San Francisco Fire Commission unanimously adopted a response to the 2018–2019 civil grand jury calling for AWSS expansion; staff committed to sync the plan with the 10‑year capital program and pursue interim portable host standards.
The San Francisco Fire Commission on Sept. 11 unanimously approved the commission’s response to the 2018–2019 civil grand jury report that recommended broad expansion of the Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS).
Staff presented a line‑by‑line response to the grand jury’s recommendations and described recent work with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), Department of Public Works and other agencies. The presentation noted prior and proposed bond funding for AWSS‑related projects (the record presented to the commission referenced prior allocations from 2010 and 2014 and proposed allocations on the 2020 bond as presented to the commission staff during the meeting). Staff said the city will fold AWSS priorities into the next 10‑year capital plan and indicated a target of delivering a sync'd plan by Dec. 31, 2021.
The department also reported a fiscal‑year allocation to purchase five portable PWSS (portable water supply) host standards (host tenders) and that it will pursue a multi‑year contract to simplify procurement if additional funding becomes available. The commission’s draft response committed to completing a joint SFPUC/SFFD study of saltwater pump stations by June 30, 2021 and to work with SFPUC to amend the 2015 memorandum of understanding to include an exercise and drill roadmap.
Public commenters pressed for faster action. Retired Assistant Deputy Chief Thomas Didier urged the commission to take immediate leadership and expand AWSS into the 15 unprotected neighborhoods. Community members warned of catastrophic losses and urged saltwater pumping stations and portable systems as immediate measures; historian and author James D’Alessandro argued portable, sea‑water pumping would be the most resilient short‑term option. Nancy Werfel of the public urged the commission to accept the grand jury’s findings outright rather than issuing a more limited draft response.
Vice President Francie Covington moved to approve the commission’s responses to the civil grand jury recommendations (the motion called out recommendations 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10). Commissioner Michael Hardiman seconded. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote.
What the adoption means: the commission formally transmitted its responses and committed department and commission attention to AWSS priorities — including the five portable host standards already funded — while continuing interagency work (SFPUC, mayor’s office and Board of Supervisors) to identify funding and refine timelines. Several members of the public said the response did not go far enough and urged the commission to continue advocacy for accelerated funding and portable saltwater options.
