DEPARTMENT
Water and Wastewater Enterprises,
Real Estate Services Division, and
Conservation and Pollution Prevention AGENDA NO. 6a
MEETING DATE March 11, 2025
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Consent Calendar
Project Manager: Julie Ortiz
Award Grant Agreement No. PRO.0300(G), Demonstration Garden Programming and Maintenance, and Authorize a No-Fee Revocable License with Earth Island Institute Summary of
Proposed
Commission Action:
Award Grant Agreement No. PRO.0300 (G) , Demonstration Garden Programming and Maintenance to Earth Island Institute, acting as the fiscal sponsor for Garden for the Environment , to operate a public demonstration garden and deliver educational programming for a term of nine years and in an amount not-to-exceed $2,000,000; and approve a nine-year, no-fee revocable license with Earth Island Institute as the fiscal sponsor for Garden for the Environment to use approximately one- half acre of real property under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at 7th Avenue and Lawton Street in San Francisco as a public demonstration garden and outdoor educational site in conjunction with the PRO.0300 (G) Agreement.
Background: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission ( SFPUC) recognizes the operational and regulatory need to educate San Francisco water and wastewater service customers
and residents about water conservation and pollution
prevention. Public education helps San Francisco residents adopt water conservation and pollution prevention practices and is inextricably linked to the conservation of resources entrusted to the SFPUC and to the reliable operation and functioning of San Francisco’s combined sewer system. The SFPUC recognizes that public education serves a utility purpose in furtherance of fulfilling its mission.
Located in San Francisco’s dense urban environment at 7th Avenue and Lawton Street (License Area) , the existing demonstration garden provides a unique opportunity for adults and children to learn through hands -on, skills -based organic gardening workshops, tours, and field trips (Demonstration Garden) .
Educational topics include reducing water use with water -wise gardening, improving water quality through pollution prevention, and reducing the use of toxic chemicals and solid waste through organic gardening and composting.
Open year-round to the public, the Demonstration Garden supports the delivery of a comprehensive range of adult educational workshops, school field trips, and volunteer programs (Educational Programs). Through SFPUC-funded activities, visitors learn and adopt sustainable behaviors and practices that help conserve and protect San Francisco’s water supplies and natural environment.
The Demonstration Garden and Educational Programs also help to increase Agenda Title: Approve Agreement No.PRO.0300 (G) Demonstration Gardening Programming and Maintenance Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
public awareness and understanding of environmental stewardship and eco - literacy, thereby fostering the next generation of environmental stewards.
This Commission has maintained this program in its current form since 2013:
2013 Grant Agreement and License for Demonstration Garden On June 11, 2013, by Resolution No. 13-0089, this Commission awarded Agreement No. CS -320 Grant Agreement (2013 Grant) to Garden for the Environment (GFE) and San Francisco Parks Alliance, in the amount of $550,000 and with a five-year term, to fund the Educational Programs conducted on the License Area . Concurrent with the 2013 G rant, this Commission issued a no-fee revocable license dated July 1, 2013, to the San Francisco Parks Alliance for use of the License Area for the Educational Programs. .
2017 Grant Agreement and License for Demonstration Garden On April 25, 2017, by Resolution No. 17- 0085, this Commission approved Amendment No. 1 to the 2013 Grant, increasing the grant amount by $380,000 and extending the term by two years. On that same date, by Resolution No. 17- 0096, this Commission issued a no-fee revocable license dated April 27, 2017, for GFE’s continued use of the License Area. The 2013 Grant expired on July 1, 2020, and the license expired on June 30, 2022.
2019 Grant Agreement and License for Demonstration Garden On October 22, 2019, by Resolution No. 19- 0203, this Commission awarded Agreement No. PRO.0151 after a SFPUC competitive selection process. T he SFPUC awarded the San Francisco Parks Alliance , GFE’s fiscal sponsor, a contract for $800,000 and with a five-year term (2020 Grant). Concurrent with the 2020 Grant, this Commission issued a no- fee revocable license dated July 1, 2020, to the San Francisco Parks Alliance (2020 License) to use the License Area, for a term concurrent with the 2020 Grant.
On June 14, 2022, by Resolution 22- 0105, the Commission approved an Assignment and Assumption amendment to the 2020 L icense when GFE elected to change its fiscal sponsor to Earth Island Institute. The 2020 License expires on June 30, 2025.
2024 Grant Solicitation
On August 14, 2024, the SFPUC issued a Grant Solicitation to operate the Demonstration Garden and Educational Programs . The SFPUC received one response to the Grant Solicitation from Earth Island Institute, GFE’s fiscal sponsor. The proposed grant is in the amount of $2,000,000 and with a nine- year term ( 2025 Grant). In addition, the SFPUC proposes to issue a no-fee revocable license to Earth Island Institute (License) to operate the Demonstration Garden and Education Programs on the License Area for a term concurrent with the 2025 Grant.
Description of Scope
of Grant Services
The SFPUC strives to provide high-quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and Agenda Title: Approve Agreement No.PRO.0300 (G) Demonstration Gardening Programming and Maintenance Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
and License Terms: community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care. In support of these goals, the SPFUC has identified a strategic opportunity with the Grant to increase the adoption of water conservation and pollution prevention practices through educational messaging and programming and maintenance of a demonstration site open to the public. Key program and project management responsibilities of the Grant include:
Adult Educational Programming: Public Education Workshops GFE will c onduct adult educational workshops for novice, intermediate , and experienced gardeners each year that focus on sustainable garden maintenance and design, including but not limited to the SFPUC’s priority topics. GFE will develop curricula (in coordination with the SFPUC), identify qualified instructors for each workshop, facilitate the workshops at the garden, and work with the SFPUC on promotional activities.
Educational Field Trips for San Francisco Students
GFE will f acilitate field trips for San Francisco students at the demonstration garden. Using gardening and the SFPUC’s Big Ideas as a framework, GFE will teach students about core SFPUC concepts , including local water conditions, San Francisco ’s water and wastewater system s, water conservation programs and principles, and water pollution prevention.
Management and Staffing of Demonstration Garden
GFE will p rovide a well -maintained space for garden visitors . GFE will provide ongoing upkeep and management of the half -acre teaching garden, including all site vegetation; plant -level signage; irrigation, composting, and rainwater capture systems; and site maintenance tools and supplies. GFE’s duties include regular pruning, weeding, planting, applying mulch, amending soil with compost, harvesting, cleaning, and testing of rainwater harvesting systems and composting systems, general maintenance and upkeep of pathways, garden tools, and routine garden care.
Metrics, Reporting, and Coordination with the SFPUC
GFE will s ubmit quarterly reports to the SFPUC tracking key educational metrics and maintenance activities.
SFPUC staff proposes that the 2025 Grant be awarded to Earth Island Institute in conjunction with the License and that the 2025 Grant and the License have concurrent terms.
The activities under the License and 2025 Grant are consistent with the SFPUC’s January 2011 Community Benefits Policy (CBP), which seeks to promote, among other things, educational programming, community health, and environmental justice. The CBP builds upon the SFPUC’s Environmental Justice Policy, which seeks to prevent, mitigate,
and lessen disproportionate
environmental impacts of SFPUC’s activities on communities.
Agenda Title: Approve Agreement No.PRO.0300 (G) Demonstration Gardening Programming and Maintenance Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
Environmental
Review:
On May 20, 2013, the San Francisco Planning Department determined that the issuance of a revokable permit for continued operation of the garden is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines s ection 15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities under Case Number 2013.0642E.
On February 25, 2025, the San Francisco Planning Department determined that the 2025 grant award and license to Earth Island Institute for the demonstration garden is consistent with the activities proposed under the May 2013 exemption and that no additional environmental review is required.
The exemption determination can be found here: link
.
Budget and Costs: The not-to-exceed amount is $2,000,000.
Funds will be available at the time of award of the 2025 Grant from the Water Enterprise Water Conservation Operating Budget (COA 295647-10000- 10029995) and the Wastewater Enterprise Collection System Division operating budget (COA 292649-10000-10030002).
Schedule: The 2025 Grant has a nine -year term and requires GFE to provide services starting on July 1, 2025, and ending in June 2034.
The License will commence at the same time the parties execute and deliver the 2025 Grant and expire at the same time as the 2025 Grant.
Final Score
Summary:
The SFPUC received one response to the Grant Solicitation. Staff assembled a panel composed of four individuals knowledgeable about relevant subject matter but not involved with the preparation of the solicitation and not affiliated with the applicant organization to evaluate the response and determined the following score:
Category Possible
Points
Average
Score for GFE
Grant Request 80 68.5
- Summary 3 3
- Qualifications 35 30.5
- Description: Adult Workshops 10 8.25
- Description: Educational Field Trips 10 8
- Description: Management and
maintenance of Demonstration Garden and
Volunteer program.
15 12.5
Agenda Title: Approve Agreement No.PRO.0300 (G) Demonstration Gardening Programming and Maintenance Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
- Program Evaluation 7 6.25
Budget and Budget Narrative 20 17
TOTAL: 100 85.50
2025 License
Description:
Parties to 2025
License:
The City and County of San Francisco, by and
through the SFPUC, and the Earth Island
Institute, a California non -profit organization, as
the fiscal sponsor for the Garden for the
Environment
Purpose: Operation of public demonstration garden and
educational programs in accordance with
PRO.0300 (G)
Location: A portion of SFPUC Parcel No. 52 located at 7 th Avenue and Lawton Street in San Francisco.
Commencement
Date/Term:
Upon execution and delivery of the License and
the 2025 Grant by the parties for a term of 9
years.
Recommendation: SFPUC staff recommends that the Commission adopt the attached resolution.
Attachments: 1. PRO.0300 (G) Grant Solicitation
2. Earth Island Institute License
3. Map of the License Area
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, The mission of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is to provide its customers with high quality, efficient and reliable water, power, and sewer services in a manner that is inclusive of environmental and community interests, and that sustains the resources entrusted into its care; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC recognizes the operationa l and regulatory need to educate San Francisco rate payers and residents about water conservation and pollution prevention; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC’s National Pollution Di scharge Elimination System permits require the SFPUC to maintain a pollution prevention program fo r its Water Pollution Control plants; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC promotes water-efficie nt gardening and landscaping practices as part of its water conservation program, which in turn is part of th e agency’s Local Water Program to supplement and dive rsify water supplies and enhan ce water supply reliability and resiliency for the future; and
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Fran cisco (City) owns approximately one-half acre of real property under the jurisdiction of the SFPUC at 7 th Avenue and Lawton Street
(License Area); and
WHEREAS, In 2011, the SFPUC adopted the De monstration Agriculture Pilot Program, which seeks to proactively develop demonstration agriculture as a secondary use on in-City land under the jurisdiction of the SFPUC, and the SFPUC designated the Li cense Area as a site in the pilot program; and
WHEREAS, The demonstration garden locat ed on the License Area is designed to educate local students with free, on-site field trips and curri culum tied to the Common Core Educational Standards of the State of California and educate adults about sustainable gardening practices with a focus on water conservation and pollution prevention; and
WHEREAS, Garden for the Environment (GFE ) is a non-profit or ganization that has used the License Area under prior no-fee SFPUC revo cable licenses issued to its fiscal sponsor, Earth Island Institute, to teac h the San Francisco public about organic gardening, sustainable food production, pollution pr evention and low water-use lands caping in urban settings and currently occupies the License Area pursuant to a no-fee, revocable li cense dated June 14, 2022 issued pursuant to SFPUC Resolution 22-0105; and
WHEREAS, On June 11, 2013, by Resoluti on No. 13-0089, this Commission awarded Agreement No. CS-320, Grant Agre ement with the GFE and the Sa n Francisco Parks Alliance, in the amount of $550,000 and a five-year te rm on April 25, 2017, by Resolution No. 17-0085, this Commission approved Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. CS-320, increasing the grant amount by $380,000 and extending the term by two years. The SFPUC continued to provide funding to the GFE under SFPUC grant agreemen t CS-320 to provide educational programming and operations on the License Area pursuan t to the 2017 License. On October 22, 2019, by Resolution No. 19-0203, this Commission awarde d Agreement PRO.0151, currently in effect; and
WHEREAS, Agreement No. PRO.0151 expires on July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, On August 14, 2024, the SFPUC issu ed a Grant Solicitation for public demonstration garden operations and programming; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC received one response to the Grant Solicitation and selected the Earth Island Institute (Grantee/Licensee), as th e fiscal sponsor for the GFE, as the highest scoring respondent to enter into a grant agreement (Grant Agreement) to operate a public demonstration garden (Demonstration Garden) and deliver educational programming for youth and adults on the License Area for a term of nine years and an amount not-to-exceed $2,000,000; and
WHEREAS, The SFPUC desires to enter into a nine-year, no-fee revocable license with the Grantee/Licensee, as the GFE’s fiscal sp onsor (2025 License) for the sole purpose of performing its obligations under the Grant Agreemen t and such license would have a term that runs concurrently with the Grant Agreement; and
WHEREAS, The 2025 License serves the SFPUC’s primary utility purpose by educating San Francisco residents to adopt practices to co nserve water and prevent pollution and, as such, is inextricably linked to the conservation of re sources entrusted in our care and the reliable operation and functioning of San Francisco’s co mbined sewer system. Accordingly, the SFPUC recognizes public education serves a clear utilit y purpose in furtherance of fulfilling its mission; and
WHEREAS, Issuance of the 2025 Licen se meets the Commission-approved 2011 Community Benefits Policy and the 2009 Environmental Justice Policy; and
WHEREAS, Funds for the Gran t Agreement are available from the Water Enterprise Water Conservation operating budge t (COA 295647-10000-10029995) and the Wastewater Enterprise Collection System Division operating budget (COA 292649-10000-10030002); and
WHEREAS, On May 20, 2013, the San Francisco Planning Department determined that the issuance of a revokable permit for continued operation of the garden is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California E nvironmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15301, Class 1, Existing Facilities under Case Number 2013.0642E; and
WHEREAS, On February 25, 2025, the San Fran cisco Planning Depart ment determined that the 2025 grant award and licen se to Earth Island Institute fo r the demonstration garden is consistent with the activities proposed unde r the May 2013 exemption and that no additional environmental review is required; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby rati fies, approves, and authorizes all actions taken by any City official in connection with the Grant and 2025 License; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby awards Grant Agreement No.
PRO.0300 with Earth Island Institute in the amount of $2,000,000 and a term of nine years, and the 2025 License with a term of ni ne years and no-use fee, on beha lf of the City and County of San Francisco; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby authorizes the SFPUC General Manager to enter into any amen dments or modifications to th e Grant Agreement or the 2025 License, including without limita tion, the exhibits, that the Ge neral Manager determines, in consultation with the City Attorney, are in the best interest of the City; do not materially increase the obligations or liabilities of the City; are neces sary or advisable to effectuate the purposes and intent of the Grant or the 2025 License or this resolution; and are in compliance with all applicable laws, including the City Charter.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meetin
g of March 11, 2025.
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission