SFPUC and SFUSD seek 40-year umbrella MOU to expand green infrastructure on school sites

San Francisco — The Government Audit & Oversight Committee on April 4 voted to forward to the full Board a proposed 40-year umbrella memorandum of understanding between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) to govern green infrastructure projects on district properties.

The resolution, read into the record by the committee clerk, would set an umbrella term from June 1, 2024, through June 30, 2064, and establish a framework for shared objectives, roles and responsibilities for planning, capital delivery, and ongoing maintenance. Sarah Bloom, senior watershed planner with SFPUC, told the committee SFPUC would hire contractors to install projects and retain responsibility for long-term maintenance; the umbrella MOU itself does not authorize specific projects.

SFPUC described a two-layer approach: the umbrella MOU provides the overarching partnership terms while individual site agreements (appendix A1 to the legislative file) will authorize and detail each project on a specific school site. Bloom said those site agreements will typically run for 30 years to align with the asset life of installed capital and that each site agreement will go to the SFPUC Commission and the SFUSD Board of Education for approval. Giannini Middle School was identified as the first site the parties expect to advance.

Committee members asked how the public will track site selections. Bloom said projects that proceed will appear in the SFPUC capital plan and that the agencies will post and coordinate site agreements as projects are initiated. Supervisors also asked about procurement: SFPUC staff said most projects will go out to bid site-by-site, though multiple sites could be bundled if timing and cost savings allow; contractors working on school property will be subject to additional district conditions, including criminal-background checks.

A member of the public, H Brown, a retired reform school teacher, used the public-comment slot to urge elected officials and mayoral candidates to address homelessness; he suggested, controversially, repurposing school grounds and other sites. Chair Dean Preston limited remarks to the item under consideration and closed public comment after no additional speakers were queued.

Chair Preston moved to forward the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation. Vice Chair Katherine Stephanie and Supervisor Connie Chan voiced 'aye'; the motion passed unanimously (3–0).

What happens next: If the Board approves the umbrella MOU, the SFPUC and SFUSD will begin negotiating and bringing site agreements forward for Commission and Board approval; the committee record and SFPUC capital plan will show which sites are proposed for each implementation phase.