SFPUC offers expanded grants, property-level flood protections as supervisors press for faster Cayuga fix

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Nov. 8 presented a package of grant expansions, property‑level flood protections and proposed code changes aimed at reducing repeated sewage and stormwater flooding in low‑lying neighborhoods, while supervisors and residents demanded faster action for heavily impacted blocks such as Cayuga Avenue.

Harlan Kelly, general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, told the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee that SFPUC has developed non‑capital, property‑scale strategies to complement long‑term infrastructure investments. "We're very excited to share with you today the results of our work this summer," Kelly said, introducing project manager Stephanie Harrison.

The presentation framed flood risk using three design storms. SFPUC said its current collection system is designed to manage a 5‑year, 3‑hour storm (about 1.3 inches of rain in three hours) and estimated capital needs as roughly $1.6 billion to address collection system projects targeted at core risk areas. SFPUC provided larger, order‑of‑magnitude figures for broader protection: about $7 billion to address a 25‑year level of protection and roughly $15 billion for a 100‑year level.

SFPUC described a proposed expansion of an existing grant program to fund measures homeowners could implement — plumbing modifications (backwater valves), dry flood‑proofing (sealed door frames, removable panels), wet flood‑proofing (drainage vents, elevated utility boxes), and, when necessary, elevating structures. The agency said eligibility would be automatic for properties in core 25‑year flood areas and available by opt‑in for other sites after site investigations and hydraulic modeling.

To integrate flood resilience over time, SFPUC flagged potential changes to city codes, including building, plumbing and electrical codes, and proposed point‑of‑sale triggers requiring backwater valves and sewer lateral inspections when applicable. Harrison said the commission is coordinating with the Department of Building Inspection, Planning and the City Administrator’s office to craft specific thresholds.

Residents pressed for faster relief. "I am angry and frustrated beyond belief that I stand here today making the same speech that I have given time and time again," said Nancy Huff, a Mission Terrace resident, who described repeated losses since a 2014 failure. David Hooper, president of the New Mission Terrace Improvement Association, urged SFPUC to pursue state financing and to work with Caltrans where highway works affect drainage.

Supervisors pressed SFPUC on outreach, timing and alternatives. SFPUC said outreach included community meetings with about 50 attendees and that staff collected 12 grant interest forms. The commission said it would issue a request for information (RFI) for designers and contractors within roughly two to three weeks and that negotiations with Caltrans on a Cayuga corridor co‑op agreement are underway; preliminary modeling suggests the Alameda Farmers Market project could halve flood depth in parts of the corridor in a 25‑year storm, staff said.

Supervisors and residents debated buyouts and other near‑term approaches for the most affected blocks. SFPUC acknowledged property acquisition as an option but said purchases require willing sellers and legal steps; eminent domain was discussed as a more onerous alternative. Supervisors urged SFPUC to produce cost estimates and timelines for targeted interventions such as raising foundations or driveway modifications to protect individual homes.

On health risks, SFPUC said floodwater in combined sewer events is overwhelmingly stormwater but is not clean urban runoff; staff said they are coordinating with the Department of Public Health and recommended flood insurance where appropriate.

The committee voted to file the item without objection to allow continued development of the grant expansion, code proposals and coordination on the Cayuga project. SFPUC signaled it would continue community outreach and follow up with property owners who expressed interest in grants.

What’s next: SFPUC will finalize an implementation plan for grant modifications, continue outreach to residents and pursue interagency negotiations on capital projects such as the Cayuga corridor. The committee filed the item for the record pending those followups.