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Planning commissioners weigh time-certain hearing for 4,000‑page SFPUC draft EIR amid heavy expected turnout
Summary
Commissioners discussed setting a time-certain or special meeting to take public testimony on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Water System Improvement Program draft EIR, noting the document's size (~4,000 pages) and requests from environmental groups to schedule full public hearings.
Commissioners on the San Francisco Planning Commission on Aug. 30, 2007, discussed how to schedule public review for the SFPUC Water System Improvement Program draft environmental impact report (EIR), which staff described as roughly 4,000 pages.
Commissioner Catherine Moore said local environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, the Alameda Prieta chapter and Clean Water Action, had asked the commission to hold a special hearing on the draft EIR. "We got an urgent plea from the Sierra Club...to hold a special hearing the draft EIR for the SFPUC Water System Improvement Program," Moore said.
Members debated options for accommodating large public participation. One commissioner suggested setting a "time certain" (for example, 6 p.m.) so attendees could plan for a set start, while another proposed scheduling a separate special meeting dedicated to the item. Planning staff and commissioners agreed to consult SFPUC staff and environmental groups to better estimate turnout and determine whether a time certain or separate meeting would be most effective.
Commissioners noted logistical constraints on their calendar and the importance of ensuring adequate staff (including the Environmental Review Officer) be available for a CEQA-focused hearing. The commission decided to take up scheduling at the start of their next meeting and asked staff to consult with SFPUC to gauge the likely number of speakers.
