SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
Daniel Lurie
Mayor
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
1:30 PM
(Approved May 12, 2026)
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, City Hall, Room 400
Commissioners
Joshua Arce, President
Stephen E. Leveroni, Vice President
Avni Jamdar
Kate H. Stacy
Meghan Thurlow
Dennis J. Herrera
General Manager
Tiffany Lennear
Director of Commission Affairs
SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 2 of 8
ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Call to Order
President Arce called the meeting to order at 1:30 P.M.
2. Roll Call
Present: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
3. Approval of the Minutes of March 24, 2026
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve the Minutes of March 24, 2026:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
4. General Public Comment
• Francisco Da Costa provided comment relating to standards and discussed three individuals who were dismissed from the SFPUC.
• Eileen Boken from the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods spoke on her own behalf and provided comment relating to the Pacific Palisades after the 2025 Los Angeles fires, the resulting environmental damage, and the economic impacts.
• Judy Lee spoke on behalf of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and commented on the SFPUC presentation given to the Board of the San Francisco Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
• Peter Drekmeier, Policy Director for Yosemite Rivers Alliance, provided comment regarding written correspondence he submitted to the Commission yesterday, April 13, 2026.
5. Report of the General Manager (discussion only)
a) Report on Recent San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Activities, Events and Announcements
No report provided.
6. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. PRO.0229, Emergency Planning, Response, Training and Technical Support, with AECOM Technical Services, Inc., increasing the contract duration by five years, for a total contract duration of nine years, with no change to the contract amount, for project continuity of several emergency planning projects in the Plan Update Schedule that require consultant support. (26-0048)
b) Approve the novation of Contract No. PUC-0002.C, Master As-Needed Security System Maintenance and Integration Services, to transfer the existing contract from Ojo Technology Inc., to Convergint Technologies LLC. (26-0049) SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 3 of 8
c) Award Contract No. CS-1272, Point-of-Sale Electric Vehicle Incentive Program to Cohen Ventures, Inc. DBA Energy Solutions in the amount of $4,200,000 and with a duration of four years, seven months. (26-0050)
d) Approve the novation of Contract No. PRO.0239 New City Distribution Division Campus at 2000 Marin Construction Management Staff Augmentation Services, to transfer the existing contract from Consor PMCM, Inc., to Consor North America, Inc. (26-0051)
e) Approve Modification No. 1 to Job Order Contract No. JOC-110, General Engineering (A License) Construction, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties, Hetch Hetchy, with Robert E. Boyer Construction, Inc., to increase the contract not-to-exceed amount by $2,500,000, for a revised not-to-exceed contract amount of $7,500,000, with no change to the contract duration, to provide additional capacity for facility and asset improvements. (26-0052) f) Modify Contract No. WW-752R, Various Locations Main Sewer Inspection No. 2, with Pipe and Plant Solutions, Inc., to decrease the contract amount by $585,098, for a revised total contract amount of $2,958,556, to adjust contract quantities to match actual completed quantities, with no change to the contract duration. (26-0053)
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve the Consent Calendar:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
REGULAR CALENDAR
7. Public hearing to consider and possible action to adopt new Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with Assembly Bill 1572; and authorize the General Manager in consultation with the City Attorney, to approve any non-substantive edits or minor corrections to the Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf that are necessary or appropriate to facilitate implementation of Assembly Bill 1572.
Pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 4.104(a)(1), a Notice of Public Hearing was posted at the San Francisco Main Library and on the SFPUC’s website. (26-0054)
Julie Ortiz, Water Conservation Manager, presented Item 7. • Francisco Da Costa provided comment and posed questions about societal practices such as the use of clean drinking water for activities like washing cars.
• Ann Schneider, former Board member of the Oaktree Commons Townhome Association in Mountain View, explained that a large portion of the SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 4 of 8
Homeowners’ Association dues were used to pay the expense for grass to cover the pipeline.
On motion to approve Item 7:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
8. Presentation and discussion only of the Draft 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, including the Draft 2025 Water Shortage Contingency Plan, prepared by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for the City and County of San Francisco pursuant to California Water Code Sections 10610-10657. The Commission will hold a second meeting to consider adoption of the final 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, following the public review and comment period on the Draft 2025 Urban Water Management Plan, no later than June 30, 2026. (Ritchie) Jennifer Lee, Utility Specialist - Water, presented Item 8. • Tom Smegal of BAWSCA provided comment relating to BAWSCA’s work on a set of common assumptions for each of the agencies that all agreed to before completion of the BAWSCA demand study issued earlier in the (2026) calendar year.
• Eileen Boken, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, commented on her own behalf and strongly opposed the Urban Water Management Plan as currently drafted.
• Layne Fajeau, on behalf of Sierra Club California, provided comment stating that for more than 25 years the SFPUC has overestimated water demand by as much as 45 to 50 percent over a 15-year horizon.
• Mary Butterwick, San Francisco resident, provided comment stating that certain aspects of the Draft 2025 Urban Water Management Plan directly affect the management of flows in the Tuolumne River.
• George Cattermole asked the Commission to use their power to protect the Tuolumne Watershed, shared his background stating he taught philosophy at Stanford University for 30 years, he now teaches fourth and fifth grades about watersheds and the importance of protecting endangered species, and, he currently owns and operates the San Gregorio General Store on the San Mateo coast.
• Christina Bertea, who has worked with Great Water Action since 2008, is a water cycle restoration plumbing practitioner, and stated that UWMPs have historically over projected demand.
• Mark Shahinian, an elected member of the of the San Francisco Sierra Club Board and SFPUC customer, provided comment stating that he led the team who performed the analysis documented in the two letters submitted to the Commission.
• Francisco Da Costa provided comment reminding the Commission that the Hetch Hetchy rally was one of the most beautiful in the world and he cautioned that if the commissioners and SFPUC do not respect indigenous people that there will be heavy consequences.
SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 5 of 8
• Doug Jacuzzi, San Francisco resident and Executive Director of Westside Water Resources, provided comment stating that he speaks for the salmon and urged SFPUC to adjust the official design drought down by a year or two. • Judith Cook, of Redwood City, California, provided comment that she has testified for three years before the State Water Board and Delta Stewardship Commission and learned that the Water Board will listen only to those who advocate for voluntary agreements.
• Alex, former City of San Francisco and current City of Alameda resident, provided comment stating the delta ecosystem is in collapse. • Hillary Hugg, a nearly forty-year Palo Alto resident and SFPUC customer, provided comment stating she relies on SFPUC policies to maintain the ecological integrity of the Tuolumne River Watershed and the downstream factors that influence it including the San Joaquin River and Bay Delta. • David Shrom, a 50+ year resident of Palo Alto and writer and teacher of value science, the subdiscipline of human ecology, provided comment that he cares about ensuring high quality and affordable water for himself and others. • Ann Schneider, who spoke on her own behalf and as an expert as a three-year BAWSCA Board member, provided comment stating that she has heard the environmental community and Ms. Schneider expressed there is a possibility that the SFPUC is planning for something that never happens. • Martin Gothberg, a user of Tuolumne River, Hetch Hetchy, and Santa Clara water, stated the UWMP will guide most decisions for the next five years and commented that we are all counting on you to get it right. • Les Kischler, a resident taxpayer of one of the Bay Area water districts and retired high school science teacher, provided comment stating that it is important to protect the health and well-being of the San Francisco Bay and Delta.
• Denise Louie, member of the National Organization Center for Biological Diversity, commented that SFPUC has a lot to consider including regulatory requirement, affordability, and the (Urban Water Management) Plan. • Peter Drekmeier, Yosemite Rivers Alliance Policy Director, commented that Commissioner Stacy correctly pointed out that the Urban Water Management Plan is not supposed to be a planning document and Mr. Drekmeier shared his belief that the plan is used as a planning document. • Julianne Frisell, current Palo Alto and former Menlo Park resident, commented that the State Water Board effectively stopped the implementation of the Bay Delta Plan in 2018.
On motion to approve Item 8:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
9. Approve the Water Supply Assessment for the proposed 536 Mission Street Project (located at 536 Mission Street), pursuant to California Water Code Section 10910 et seq., California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 21151.9, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15155. (26-0055)
SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 6 of 8
Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager-Water Enterprise, presented Item 9.
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve Item 9:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
10.Approve the Revised Water Supply Assessment for the proposed FlowerMart Project (located at 610-640 & 644-658 & 660-670 & 674-698 Brannan Street, 548- 5th Street, and 149 Morris Street), pursuant to California Water Code Section 10910 et seq., California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 21151.9, and CEQA Guidelines Section 15155. (26-0056)
Mr. Ritchie presented Item 10.
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve Item 10:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
11.Authorize the issuance of bonds or other forms of indebtedness to refund outstanding 2015 Power Revenue Bonds Series A with 2026 Power Bonds Series A (2026A Power Refunding Bonds) issued in a principal amount up to $30 million. (26-0057)
Nikolai Sklaroff, Capital Finance Director, presented Item 11.
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve Item 11:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
12.Approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. PRO.0163(R), Engineering Services for the Emergency Firefighting Water System and City’s Water Distribution System, with Lee+Ro and AGS Joint Venture, increasing the contract amount by $5,000,000, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $13,000,000, with no change to the contract duration, to provide additional engineering design and support for pipeline improvement projects, subject to Board of Supervisors approval under Charter Section 9.118. (26-0058)
Tedman Lee, Civil Division Manager – Engineering Management Bureau, presented Item 12.
Eileen Boken, CSFN who spoke on her own behalf, provided comment in strong opposition to additional funding for the potable EFWS project.
SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 7 of 8
On motion to approve Item 12:1
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
13. COMMUNICATIONS (information only)
a. Advance Calendar
b. Contract Advertisement Report
c. Correspondence Log
d. Water Supply Conditions Update
e. Retail Water Conservation Plan Quinquennial (2025) Report f. Annual Municipal Energy Benchmarking Report
14. Items initiated by Commissioners (discussion only)
No items were initiated by Commissioners.
15. Public Comment on matters to be addressed during Closed Session No public comment provided.
16. Motion on whether to assert the attorney-client privilege regarding the matter listed below:
Commissioner Jamdar left the dais at 3:45 P.M.
On motion to assert the attorney-client privilege:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Stacy, and Thurlow
Excused: Jamdar
The Commission entered Closed Session at 3:46 P.M.
CLOSED SESSION
SFPUC Officials and Staff members present during Closed Session: Josh Arce, Commission President; Stephen Leveroni, Commission Vice President; Commissioner Avni Jamdar (returned to the dais at 3:49 P.M.); Commissioner Kate Stacy; Commissioner Meg Thurlow; Dennis Herrera, SFPUC General Manager; Sheryl Bregman, Utilities General Counsel; Katherine Dulany, Deputy Assistant Attorney; Nikolai Sklaroff, Capital Finance Director; Rachel Gardunio, HR Deputy People Officer; Joel Prather, Assistant General Manager–Wastewater Enterprise; Jannie Ram, Executive Assistant; and Tiffany Lennear, Director of Commission Affairs.
CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL regarding anticipated litigation (Government Code §54956.9, Administrative Code §67.10(d)):
Craig Banks v. City and City and County of San Francisco SFPUC April 14, 2026 Meeting Minutes Page 8 of 8
Unlitigated Claim File No.: 240239
Date Filed: September 27, 2020
Proposed settlement of employment dispute in the amount of $100,000, subject to final approval by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. (Action Item) (26-0059) The Commission exited Closed Session at 3:54 P.M.
17. Report following Closed Session
President Arce reported that the Commission recommends the Board of Supervisors approve the settlement referenced under Item 16.
18. Motion regarding whether to disclose the discussion during Closed Session pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12(a).
On motion not to disclose the discussion during Closed Session:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, Stacy, and Thurlow
19. Adjournment
President Arce adjourned the meeting at 3:57 P.M.