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SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
Daniel Lurie
Mayor
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FT REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
1:30 PM
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
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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, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
3. Approval of the Minutes of April 14, 2026
Commission consideration of the Minutes of April 14, 2026 was rescheduled for the April 28, 2026 meeting.
4. General Public Comment
• Francisco Da Costa provided comment relating to three former SFPUC employees who were dismissed.
• Reverend Ronnie Chis m, Bayview resident, provided comment stating r atepayers pay premium dollars for drin king water and wastewater fr om a system that , ratepayers were told , will convert wastewater to potable water which is not happening.
• Johnny Schenone provided comment relating to a SFPUC demand for payment that identifies a 24-year old bond and asked what percentage of the goal (for which the bond was issued) has been completed.
• Eileen Boken, Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, spoke on her own behalf and repeated comments made at the April 20th Capital Planning Committee meeting.
• Denise Louie, San Francisco homeowner, resident, and California Native Plant Society member, spoke on her own behalf and provided comment relating to the Emergency Firefighting Water System.
• Peter Drekmeier, Yosemit e Rivers Alliance Policy Dir ector, provided comment relating to comments made by General Manager Herrera at the January 29, 2026 hearing.
5. Report of the General Manager (discussion only)
a) Report on Recent San Francisco Public Utilities Commission A ctivities, Events and Announcements
No report provided.
6. Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency Report Tom Smegal, BAWSCA CEO and General Manager, provided the report.
• Francisco Da Costa provided comment relating to historical events , including the 1906 earthquake and the 1913 Raker Act , and stated that understanding these events would provide assistance towards addressing the water situation. • Peter Drekmeier provided comment stating appreciation for the presentation by Mr.
Smegal and for the progress made by BAWSCA.
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7. CONSENT CALENDAR
a) Award Contract No. WW -784, As -Needed Spot Sewer Replacement No. 48, to the responsible bidder that submitted the lowest responsive bid, J. Flores Construction Company, Inc., in the amount of $10,245,408 and with a duration of 400 consecutive calendar days (approximately one year and one month), to replace sections of existing sewer pipe on an as -needed basis at locations that staff will determine throughout the City and County of San Francisco. (Robinson)
b) Accept work performed by Pipe and Plant Solutions, Inc. , under Contract No. WW- 751, As -Needed Sewer Inspection (FY24); approve Modification No. 2 (Final) decreasing the contract amount by $1,078,249, with no change to the contract duration, for a total contract amount of $1,893,751, and a total contract duration of 500 consecutive calendar days (approximately one year and five months), to adjust the final contract amount to the value of actual contract quantities completed; and authorize final payment to the contractor. (Robinson)
c) Award Contract No. WD-2920, Water Main and Sewer Replacement on Moraga, Noriega, and Ortega Streets from 8th to 11th Avenue and Various Side Streets, to the responsible bidder that submitted the lowest responsive bid, Cratus Inc., in the amount of $14,490,752 and with a duration of 775 consecutive calendar days ( approximately two years and two months), to rehabilitate water pipelines that are over 100 years old in the Sunset District of San Francisco. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that the Project is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on the determination to make its decision on this action. (Robinson)
No public comment provided.
On motion to approve the Consent Calendar:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
REGULAR CALENDAR
8. Public Hearing (1) to consider whether to proceed with the proposed adoption of FY 2026- 27 and FY 2027-28 water rates in light of w ritten objections and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s responses; and (2) to consider and adopt a new schedule of rates for retail water service in San Francisco and suburban areas, to be effective with meter readings on or after July 1, 2026. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that the Project is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision on this action. (Hom)
Matthew Freiberg, Rates Manager – Finance, presented Item Nos. 8 and 9 together.
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• Masood Samerie, who spoke on behalf of the San F rancisco Minority Chamber of Commerce Foundation, provided comment for Item Nos. 8 and 9 stating that the Chamber of Commerce recognizes the need to invest in reliable infrastructure; however, they are concerned about the scale and timing of the rate increases. • Denise Louie referenced a letter she sent to the Commission a few days prior to the April 28th Commission meeting that requested a workshop. • Francisco Da Costa provided comment suggesting that the (SFPUC) data be reviewed to determine if SFPUC service recipients conserve water and stated that they do conserve water and should not be penalized.
• Mary Butterwick, San Francisco resident and ratepayer, provided comment s tating that she continues to be alarmed that the Commission faces a real fiscal crisis, her water rates are increasing, and she believes her rates are likely to triple within the next 15 years.
• Johnny Schenone provided comment relating to his concerns about his SFPUC bill for services and discussed other matters.
• Eileen Boken provided comment opposing the rate increases. • Albert Chow provided comment stating that he is running for District Four Supervisor and expressed his concern about the rate increases. • Ted Low enberg provided comment stating th at the proposal for rate increases is massive for San Franciscans.
• Donald Driscoll of Driscoll and Omens stated that he represents Mark Roh and Ted Lowenberg and explained that they submitted timely objections under Government Code Section 53759.1, and they reserve all rights, including the right to chal lenge any rate adopt ion on procedural and substantive grounds using any appropriate procedure.
• Heather Wilson, owner of Wishy Washy Laundromat located in the lower Haight, stated that she represents laundromats and provided comment that she sells water and deals with wastewater and shared what she will need to do to manage pricing. • Reverend Ronnie Chism recalled a statement that a c ommissioner previously made during the meeting r egarding “system running proper ly” and stated that the comment is a joke.
• Dave Warner provided comment stating that he hoped the commissioners received the letter that he sent the day before which offered a solution similar to what the San Diego mayor negotiated with the San Diego County Water Authority in Ju ne, 2024.
• Carlos Solórzano, CEO of the Hispanic Chambers of Commerce of San Franci sco and provided comment on behalf of the Latino and minority -owned small businesses that will be impacted by the proposed rate increases. • Akshay, Bayview resident, stated that his comments pertain to the formal objection he submitted on April 1, 2026, relating to Proposition 218 proportionality.
On motion to approve Item 8:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
9. Public Hearing: (1) to consider whether to proceed with the proposed adoption of the FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28 sewer rates in light of Written Objections and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s responses; and (2) to consider and adopt a new annual DRAFT
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schedule of rates for sewer service in San Francisco, to be effective with meter readings on or after July 1, 2026. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that the Project is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision on this action. (Hom)
On motion to approve Item 9:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
10. Public Hearing to consider the adoption of rates of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Power Enterprise for Hetch Hetchy Power service, to be effective with meter readings beginning on or after July 1, 2026. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that the Project is exempt from the CEQA. The Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision on this action. (Hom)
Mr. Freiberg presented Item 10.
Eileen Boken provided comment opposing Power Enterprise rate increases if based on fund balance offsets.
On motion to approve Item 10:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
11. Consider and adopt the proposed Wholesale Water Rates for Fiscal Year 2026- 27, which will become effective for meter readings on or after July 1, 2026. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission developed the proposed rates in accordance with the terms of the Water Supply Agreement between the City and County of San Francsico and its Wholesale Customers, which the Commission approved on April 28, 2009, by Resolution No. 09-0069, and most recently amended and restated on May 14, 2025, by Resolution No. 25- 0074, with subsequent approval by the Wholesale Customers. This action constitutes the Approval Action for the Project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code section 31.04(h). The Planning Department has determined that this action is exempt from the CEQA. If the item is approved, the Commission will rely on that determination to make its decision. (Hom)
Mr. Freiberg presented Item 11.
Peter Drekmeier provided comment relating to projected water sales, illustrated by PowerPoint Presentation slide 7.
On motion to approve Item 11:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
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12. Approve an increase of $2,000,000 to the cost contingency and 700 calendar days to the duration contingency for Contract No. WD -2893, Sunol Valley Chloramination Facility Improvements, with Anvil Builders, Inc., for a revised cost limit of $1 2,283,350 and a revised duration limit of 1,426 consecutive calendar days (approximately 3 years and 10 months), to address design changes for control systems, and cost and schedule impacts due to changes by the SFPUC to the planned facility shutdown schedule to accommodate operational needs during the 2025-26 Hetch Hetchy System shutdown. (Robinson)
Alisha Reinhardt, Project Manager – Project Management Bureau, presented Item 12.
No public comment was provided.
On motion to approve Item 12:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
13. Approve an increase of $2,800,000 to the existing cost contingency and 243 calendar days to the existing duration contingency for Contract No. WW-723R, Channel Force Main Intertie, with Anvil Builders Inc., for a revised cost limit of $22,175,899 and a revised duration limit of 1,374 consecutive calendar days, due to unforeseen existing pipe conditions requiring additional pipe modifications and to extend dry weather restricted work into 2026 to support ongoing construction activities. (Robinson)
Carman Luk, Project Manager – Project Management Bureau, presented Item 13.
No public comment was provided.
On motion to approve Item 13:
Ayes: Arce, Leveroni, Jamdar, and Thurlow
Excused: Stacy
14. COMMUNICATIONS (information only)
a. Advance Calendar
b. Contract Advertisement Report
c. Correspondence Log
d. Water Supply Conditions Update
e. Power Quarterly Report on Delegated Authority Contracts Pursuant to Administrative Code Section 21.43
f. Quarterly Report on Delegated Actions to the GM Pursuant to Commission Resolution 24-0185
g. Green Infrastructure Grant Quarterly Report Pursuant to Board of Supervisors Ordinance 207-24
15. Items initiated by Commissioners (discussion only)
No items were initiated by Commissioners.
16. Adjournment
President Arce adjourned the meeting at 4:04 P.M.