Green Infrastructure Grant Program:
Board of Supervisors Update
July – September 2022
Program Summary
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Grant Program) is designed to encourage San Francisco properties to design, build, and maintain performance-based green stormwater infrastructure (Green Infrastructure or GI), including but not limited to: permeable pavement, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and vegetated roofs. The purpose of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program is to improve the performance of SFPUC’s sewer system by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff entering the system, while delivering public benefits that enhance the quality of life of SFPUC rate payers.
To receive funding under the Grant Program each project must:
1. Be located on a parcel that is connected to an SFPUC-owned and operated sewer system service area.
2. Manage stormwater runoff from a minimum impervious area of 0.5 acres.
3. Capture the 90th percentile storm (0.75-inch depth) with the proposed green infrastructure features.
4. Provide at least two (2) of the identified co-benefits from the program list, which can be found in the Grantee Guidebook
.
5. Have a grant team that collectively demonstrates a history of successful project implementation and has previous experience designing, constructing, and/or maintaining green infrastructure, and be in good standing in all currently active Green Infrastructure Grant Program projects.
More information on the Grant Program can be found at http://www.sfpuc.org/gigrants.
Quarterly Highlights
During the third quarter of 2022, no new Green Infrastructure Grant applications were received and no new projects were awarded. One awarded project, Lycee Francais SF Ortega Campus continued construction during the third quarter. Three awarded projects, Crocker Amazon Park, St. Thomas More School, and St. Anne of the Sunset continued project design during the third quarter.
On March 22nd, 2022 the SFPUC Commission approved proposed modifications to the Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines to reflect compliance with the City Administrative Code Chapter 21G, revise grant team experience and co-benefit eligibility criteria, increase cap on planning and design costs, and revise other program requirements. On July 12th, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved of the proposed modifications and an extension to the delegation of authority to the SFPUC General Manger to award grants.
The Fall 2022 Application Cycle opened on August 1st. The GI Grant team conducted the following outreach activities to potential grantees: advertised a competitive solicitation in accordance with City Administrative Code Chapter 21G, updated the program website and program materials, sent four e- blasts to over 250 prospective applicants, hosted two grant program webinars with a total of 95 attendees, completed five site visits, and prepared three new Green Infrastructure Opportunities Assessments for potential program applicants. Applications for the Fall 2022 cycle are due October 31st.
Program Statistics (February 2019 – September 2022)
Since the launch of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program in February 2019, the SFPUC has awarded grants to 11 projects with a total of approximately $10,480,000 in funding. The following program summary statistics are as of September 30, 2022:
• Applications Received: 11
• Projects Awarded: 11
• Projects Completed: 2
• Total Funding Awarded: $10.48M
• Potential Stormwater Captured by Awarded
Projects:
7.0 million gallons per year
• Property Site Visits Conducted by Technical
Team:
49 • Site Opportunities Assessments Completed: 26
• Presentations Given to Stakeholders: 11
• Publications and Media pick-ups: 2
Awarded Projects to Date
Project Name Watershed Grant Award
Impervious Area
Managed
(acres)
Estimated Stormwater
Volume Managed
(gal/yr)
Lafayette Elementary
School*
Sunset $489,142 0.6 341,000
St. Thomas More School** Lake Merced $1,118,958 1.5 782,000 Bessie Carmichael Middle
School*
Channel $428,075 0.6 233,000
Lycee Francais SF Ortega
Campus***
Sunset $480,958 0.6 383,000
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox
Church
Lake Merced $1,577,161 2. 6 1,319,000
Crocker Amazon Park** Sunnydale $859,151 1.1 593,000
St. Thomas the Apostle Sunset $724,227 0.9 483,000
St. Monica Catholic Church Richmond $641,413 0.8 394,000 St. Anne of the Sunset** Sunset $1,557,898 2.0 1,089,000 St. Emydius Church and
School
Lake Merced $873,136 0.9 445,000
Church of the Visitacion Sunnydale $1,727,103 1.9 925,000 *Project Complete
**Project in Design Phase
***Project in Construction
Lycee Francais de San Francisco School – awarded project in construction:
Construction of stormwater swale
Construction of permeable pavement.