Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Rules Committee backs Nisha Ajami for SFPUC seat after climate and water resiliency exchange
Summary
The committee unanimously recommended Nisha Ajami for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, highlighting her water‑policy expertise and an exchange about Hetch Hetchy, emergency water sources and options for West Side firefighting infrastructure.
The Rules Committee on Jan. 25 voted unanimously to forward Nisha Ajami's nomination to the full Board of Supervisors for appointment to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
Ajami, director of urban water policy at Stanford's Water in the West program, said climate change demands different infrastructure approaches and urged nature‑based strategies, diversified water supplies and cross‑enterprise governance. "We need to think across sectors and enterprises while promoting more cross collaboration, governance, and engagement," she told the committee.
Supervisor Connie Chan asked Ajami about Hetch Hetchy and West Side emergency firefighting water infrastructure, raising the possibility of a West Side pump station, Lake Merced options, or ocean intakes. Ajami said the city should maintain existing systems while evaluating smaller regional supplies and cautioned that ocean intakes present additional environmental and permitting hurdles, including Coastal Commission constraints and corrosion concerns.
Public comment included environmental and fishing industry representatives urging stronger science‑based protections for salmon and welcoming Ajami's expertise. Chair Peskin moved to forward the nomination for full board consideration; roll call recorded aye votes from Mandelmann, Chan and Peskin and the motion passed without objection.
