Committee recommends reappointment of Kate Stacy to Public Utilities Commission; questions on affordability and flooding raised

The Rules Committee on July 28 recommended the reappointment of Kate Stacy to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and discussed PUC priorities including affordability, watershed protection, and wastewater improvements.

Stacy, a four-year incumbent nominated for reappointment by the mayor, told the committee she wants to continue supporting PUC leadership continuity, resilience in water supply and the agency’s clean-energy goals. She cited recent wastewater system projects and the Southeast Treatment Plant as program highlights and said the commission uses affordability metrics to guide capital planning.

Vice Chair Steven Sherrill pressed Stacy on whether the PUC’s current capital plans and design thresholds adequately address neighborhood flooding—citing Marina Boulevard—and on transparency around budgets and leader-selection processes following the general manager’s retirement. Stacy said improvements are underway, that climate change requires reconsideration of what design storms the system should handle, and that she favors a diverse applicant pool for the next general manager.

President Mandelmann moved to delete the word ‘rejecting’ from the motion and forward the reappointment to the full board with a recommendation; the motion passed with the chair absent. The reappointment will advance to the full Board of Supervisors.