Transcripts For SFGTV Government Access Programming 20240714

They maintain the system. System improvements and expansion belong to p. U. C. We are working with them to make sure it meets the needs of the department. I have a map the way it was in 2010 prior to any bonds that have passed. This is the way it was. You have the three tanks, johns, as bury and twin peaks. Two bump stations that pump one is at headquarters and the other at vanness in case they are introduced for saltwater. This happened in 1989. That was pump station number two that was pressure rised to the system. The growth of the city back in the day in 1906 was downtown. At the time there was no systems that were expended to that. After that and we will talk about since 2010, we have been working to implement projects to improve this system. Finally needed to address the system it has been used. In 2010, they allocated 102 million projects. In 2014, it was 54 million. It is proposed 2020 to be 53. 5 million allocated if passed to the system. What have we done since 2010 on the projects . 30 new systems installed. 15 in sunset and richmond. Those are prior to the installation of the systems. The current map will include those new systems. They u upgraded three primary reservoirs, replaced Diesel Engine and pump station one and they improved some tunnel projects. Ones under construction now 19th avenue pipeline, as bury bypass. If you drive through you will see they are putting that into the system. Sea water pump station two is working with projects now and the pipeline is also being upgraded. Some of th the things they are working on. When we have new projects to develop in the city, the Development Project installed within their boundaries. We negotiate with them outside how we can tie into the system. Thathat is how the project is working now and the pipeline. They will work on that to connect the system within the boundaries. The city has developers to develop that and pay for that. Future project development. We will Work Together to compile a list of potential projects to be analyzed. Pilot projects to the not so allocated areas in the city. The scope is city wide with focus on areas with limited access to the system. That is what the future brings. If we go to the recommendation from the grand jury. By no later than december 31st of 2020, the office of capitol plumbing should present the detailed plan to ensure the city is well prepared to fight fires in the event of a 1906 earthquake 7. 8. We want to ensure we have the infrastructure and resources to fight fires. It is something that would be a focus of the next 10 year capital plan. The request presentation will be delivered to the plan across San Francisco and the challenges. The city will sing with a plan and push back the plan to december 31st, 2021. Number two. Upon discussing Condition One could include detailed proposal including finance and sources for the installation within 15 years of High Pressure seismically safe water system for those parts of the city that dont have one no later than june 30, 2034. The commitment for the specific uses on specific timelines for San Francisco Public Infrastructure is the work of a 10 year capital plan. It has longstanding principals to guide the investments in the projects. In the next 10 year plan and those that follow the city will continue to analyze the programs identify the source goes to advance those priorities. By no later than june 30, 2021, the city should purchase 20 new pws being requested to replace and expand the inadequate inventory. Response is that the Fire Department has been allocated funds in fiscal year 1920 to purchase five. The department will work to develop the multiyear contract this way. The procurement of funding available to expedite the process. Funding for Additional Units will be weighed and prioritized with other budget requests. Recommendation 5. Sffd should have areas present low pressure hydrants o or cisterns. They will go out to bid through the procurement before construction. These are heavier duty to be deployed and moved through out the city depending on the need giving the Operational Flexibility in the response. Recommendation number 6. Sfd should study adding water pump stations to improve the water sources especially on the west side. Findings and recommendations should be presented by no later than june 30, 2021. The response from the commission. It is going to be they will complete this study by june 30, 2021. Grand jury condition nine. No later than december 31, 2020, p. U. C. Subject to approval should implement best practices for the maintenance of the assets and b define with the valves in the system are critical and therefore require more attention and priority in the maintenance plans. Your response. This recommendation has already been implemented. It is in collaboration and consistent with the terms of the understanding regarding operation of water supply system. They will seek sfd written approval for any modification that could compromise the function as to High Pressure. Everything is with our approval. Grand jury recommendation 10. By no later than june 2020 it should be amended to include a detailed road map for exercises including earthquake drills involving the so a wss. Fire department conducts the weekly tests throughout the city. They will work to have in attendance and participate in the drills. They will commit to working to enhance the scope and frequency of training in the future for improved cooperation. They will Work Together to amends the m. O. U. By june 30, 2020. That concludes the commissions presentation of the civil grand jury recommendations and responses. Any questions . Chief, at this particular point we ask for Public Comment. Any member of the public wishes to give Public Comment on this item, please approach the podium. We will have three minutes for your Public Comment. Good mortgages r morning, commissioners, i am retired deputy chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. We are cognizant this is 9 11. We are presently at a historic juncture in the history of the city and you are in the spotlight, commissioners. This is the point in San Francisco history at which the future survival of the city will be decided. Based on how seriously you take the civil grand jury report. This report makes two facts abundantly clear if San Francisco is to survivor the fires the accident water supply must be expanded and time is of the essence. You take this seriously and if you understand the gravity of the situation, then there are no means you can avoid the responsibility of exercising the leadership role your position demands of you. Sadly, if this is left to the p. U. C. , the 15 neighborhoods will never have the protection of viable awss as evidenced by the absurdities put forth over the last three years. In promoting Drinking Water endorsed by the Previous Administration the p. U. C. Formulated recipe for the destruction of the city by fire immediately following the earthquake. The complete expansion will require approximately doubling the area currently protected and doubling pumping capacity only accomplished by unlimited supply of nonpottable water from the te diversified stations. They yield to the p. U. C. Withinsis tens on the use with the insistence of the Drinking Water. The expansion will not take place. The awss must expand to all city neighborhoods and done before the next great earthquake strikes has been known for decades. This is a matter of public record. No city agency took responsibility for the reality based plan. You are the members of the San Francisco Fire Commission. If not you who will do this . If not now when will this be done. I have a packet of information with the chief and also for deputy chief. Have you concluded your remarks . Yes, i have. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please identify. I am duck morton. It is nearly 30 years since the 6. 9 earthquake. Actions taken today still leaves huge parts of the city open to catastrophic fire. Usgs considers the last few decades to be an earthquake route. The 2008 haywired earthquake scenario anticipates within 30 years a 7. 0 earthquake on the hayward fault and forecasts inadequate water supply for firefighting. City engineers plan at least 100 simultaneous fires following a 7. 8 earthquake. That means 30 times strong thanloma. It means thousands of deaths, injuries, loss of housing and commercial viability. Property damage at 8 billion plus dollars, higher if no city wide awss. 15 neighborhoods that are nonawss. Western and southern, not just west side, the southern neighborhoods. Bayview out in those districts with over about 400,000 residents, 140,000 people i mean housing there. Those neighborhoods could be ashes in a day. Remember santa rosa. It is time to correct decades of official missed opportunities, ballot and policy misrepresentations inadequate schemes including drinks water for firefighting. The result dangerous and costly delays. In providing awss city wide. 2003. This Commission Said as soon as possible. Great. Awss city wide that was from the grand jury report 2003. In 2009 no action. 2010 mayor no action, same thing. We have had bond measures but for the existing system, no viable extensions in 30 years. Fire commissioners that means you. You are responsible for protecting the city, for protecting it from fire so please dont be passive as Fire Commissions have been in 30 years. Lastly, you could take immediate action to ask for the portable water supply. Get them out in our neighborhoods now. Your time is up. Next speaker. Your time is up, sir. Next speaker, please. Good morning, commissioners, i am duck allen. I have lived in district 7 for 34 years. I am here to strongly recommend you quickly organize by the end of september a Permanent Task force to implement the 10 recommendations and the required responses by the civil grand jury report. When are you going to announce the names of the Task Force Members and who will be in charge of the task force. What will be the consequences if the task force does not meet the timeline due dates . I do not agree with the long timeline target date suggested by the grand jury under recommendation number two because back in 2003, 16 years ago, a grand jury first recommended that a High Pressure auxiliary water supply system be extended to serve all parts of the city. Technically, you already have invested 16 years to construct this water system. One point of caution. Having worked with the p. U. C. To help henry store lake merced five of us filed a lawsuit. The state said file a petition and they will treat it like a lawsuit. The state said to us five guys includes mr. Morton, we will treat it like a lawsuit but it wont cost you the money and wont take as long. When i started rowing it was 26 to 27 feet high in lake merced. When we made there it was down to 11 feet. Then they went into now when the state intervened we have a conjunctive use program. Because of the five guys. That is why we have lake merced as it is today. It is a water source up to run 16, 18 feet. Because you are going to have an m. O. U. With a p. U. C. Whom i dont trust, we will be tracking your progress and we will be ready to help you and we will appear before the p. U. C. And to inspire them to followthrough and that will allow any more delays. Thank you for your time this morning commissioners. Next speaker, please. Eileen, coalition for San Francisco neighborhoods here on my own behalf. I am urging the Fire Commission to accept the findings and recommendations of the civil grand jury regarding the emergency firefighting water system. I am also urging the fire Admission Commission commission to make the decision independent. Yesterday the sf p. U. C. Decision was based on staff responses to the city civil grand jury report. During the staff presentation, the Fire Department and Public Works Department were mentioned repeatedly. This seemed to suggest the sf p. U. C. Was speaking for these departments as well. During the staff presentation, the staff responses focused on two things, certain civil grand jury recommendations were being implemented and other recommendations were beyond the control of the sf p. U. C. As they were linked to the 10 year capital plan. I have been attending the meetings three years. I would challenge the Fire Department and the sf p. U. Cp as version about the plan. There were major revisions to the 10 year plan based on directives from the mayor. This also included the timing of when the easter 2020 bond would be placed on the balloted. That has been moved to the marc. The Capital Planning Committee Staff has subsequently advised the budget and legislative analysts the ballot language will contain no specific projects relating to the emergency firefighting water system because these projects are still under secret review. As the 2020 bond language will lack specificity regarding efws projects now is the time for the Fire Department and commission to add an independent voice. I am urging the Fire Commission to determine that the findings and recommendations be incorporated into the implementation, assuming voter approval of the bond. Thank you. Next speaker, please. I am a concerned citizen and resident and maytive of San Francisco. Since i lived here my whole life, 63 years, i have seen tremendous amounts of buildings going on in my district. I assumed the city had enough responsibility to have protection for all of the New Buildings going up. That is fire material. When that goes, everything goes. When you go from one house one level to four or five story building, how is that covered . Has anybody ever addressed the fact you are issuing Building Permits . You dont have adequate protection for any of the residents in those neighborhoods. It is also my understanding there was a proposed budget in, i believe, 2006 was going to be around 310 million bond to put in a better system to protect the sun set in the richmond district. That got delayed and went up to 610 million. When the question was asked why has it gone up so high . Government fees to pay, government salaries, everything. I would like this board to consider maybe looking at getting proposals from private industry managing the fire system in the city. Managing putting in the pipes and monitoring these so we are not burdened with heavy taxes more so than now. I cant believe the Fire Department would say we dont want this because i know they do. I would like to know and i dont have to get the answer now maybe you dont have it. Who is holding this up . What parties are holding this up . The neighborhoods want it. I believe from what i just heard from the Fire Department they wouldnt say no to it. Who is saying no . To putting adequate protection in the neighborhoods . Can you answer me do i go to somebody to find that out . Any meetings held, why somebody would not want to do this . I am talking about what i heard something about 2030. That is a long time. Nobody can tell me where to go . No. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Good morning. I am john. I am currently a resident on rivera street between 39 and 40th avenue in the sun set. I have a degree in Fire Protection, also about 12 Years Experience with municipal, state and federal fir firefighting agencies. I know how important it is for having adequate Water Supplies and fighting any major fires. I also know from personal experience and from what i have heard throughout the state that San Francisco Fire Department has a very good reputation. They are a great Fire Department. They deserve all of the support they can get. When i hear that the civil grand jury has a number of findings and recommendations to improve the water system and then noticing that my own district has certain lack of water supply infrastructure, i just want to lend my support to the voices calling for following the grand jurys report and implementing it. I thank you for all of your efforts. Thank you very much, sir. Next speaker, please. In good morning, commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity. I am the author of the novel 1906 which is a minute by minute recreation what happened to us on april 18, 1906. I am also the documentary film maker and studdrying this for 30 years. We have at a crucial juncture. I read the report and read your response in detail. There are two things that jump out at me. First, the recommendation that we immediately build an aggressive portable water supply system. History i have a quote that i would like to use that if history teaches us anything, it is the fact that history rarely teaches us anything. In 1906 what was left of the city was saved by a portable water supply system known as United States navy. Five ships docked on the embarcadero at 5 00 on april 19, 1906 everything for the next 36 hours they pumped 80 milliongallons of saltwater. They ran a hose line up vanness to stop the fire from spreading. They saved the water front crucial to the rebuilding of