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Contractors and residents press SFPUC on local contracting, Millbrae campus and potential turf runoff contaminants
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Summary
During general public comment and the budget hearing, contractors and community representatives pressed the SFPUC to turn the disparity study into enforceable contracting changes, called for more local hire and LBE outreach on major projects, and urged testing and disclosure of toxic runoff from artificial turf fields.
Several members of the public used the commission’s public comment periods to press SFPUC for concrete actions on contracting equity, to ask staff to reconsider the proposed Millbrae operations campus, and to raise health concerns about artificial turf runoff.
Demetrius Williams, president of the San Francisco Hyperlocal Building Trades Contractors Collective, said Bayview Hunters Point contractors have been repeatedly sidelined from major SFPUC projects and urged the commission to ensure community benefit packages and contract scopes let local firms participate meaningfully. "We have yet to see where that resources are for the community benefit package that's supposed to be for Bayview Hunters Point," Williams said during public comment.
Aronde Sterling (vice president, Bayview Hunters Point Coordinating Council) said the disparity study must result in enforceable procurement changes, not just analysis. "If the disparity study does not result in enforceable changes to procurement, contracting, and accountability, then it becomes a report without impact," Sterling said.
Multiple speakers from Millbrae (including Anne Schneider, former Millbrae mayor and BOSCA representative, and Tom Williams, Millbrae city manager) asked the commission not to approve project construction at Millbrae without a fuller alternatives analysis and raised concerns about closing the Orchard Supply Hardware property that currently generates revenue; SFPUC management and the general manager clarified that adoption of the capital plan does not itself approve specific construction projects and pledged continued engagement.
A commenter identified as Bob Hall and Susan Malaney raised concerns about toxic chemicals in stormwater runoff from several artificial turf fields and urged testing for PFAS and 6PPD/6PPD‑quinone using newer EPA methods (EPA method references were cited). The speakers noted detections of copper, lead, chromium, DEHP and other contaminants in PUC testing and argued for public disclosure and further sampling.
Commissioners acknowledged the public comments and asked staff to continue community engagement, track LBE and local hire commitments through contract closeout memos, and provide clearer public access to LBE closeout reports on the SFPUC website.
