Issue Position: Protecting Our Environment and Our Parks and Open Space

Issue Position

A more sustainable and greener future requires aggressive policy action to combat our drought and climate change, as well as more support for our urban forest, open spaces, and parks. I've authored legislation to require water recycling in new developments, to increase the use of greenhouse-gas free power in new developments, and to better protect and expand our urban forest. I've also been a leader in numerous park rehabilitation projects and have worked to protect our parks and reduce park vandalism and illegal dumping. I'm dedicated to preserving and expanding our open space, including my efforts to turn a parking lot in Noe Valley into a public plaza. All of these efforts will improve our environment and reduce our reliance on outdated modes of water use and fossil fuels.

Here's some of my work on environmental and open space issues:

Clean Energy and Infrastructure Legislation

I authored legislation to increase the use of clean hydro-electric power in new developments. Our municipally owned Hetch Hetchy system produces clean hydroelectric power. This clean power provides electricity to San Francisco's municipal departments, for example, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco General Hospital, fire stations, police stations, schools, and libraries. The Public Utilities Commission sells this energy to the municipal agencies at a deep discount. The significant amount of remaining hydroelectric power is then sold onto the wholesale market at a low price. At the same time, the PUC's power enterprise has huge capital needs, including a deteriorated streetlight system and other capital needs approaching $1 billion. Because the power enterprise has few retail customers, it doesn't have the funding to meet these infrastructure needs. My legislation provides the PUC with the first right of refusal to be the retail power provider to all new development in San Francisco. Adding these retail customers will generate significant new revenue for the PUC to invest in streetlights and other infrastructure needs and will increase the amount of clean energy used in San Francisco.

Mandating Recycled Water In New Developments

Our water shortage requires aggressive policy solutions to reduce the amount of fresh water we use for nonpotable uses like flushing toilets and irrigating landscape. I authored legislation - the first of its kind in the nation - to require new large developments to use onsite water reuse systems, like greywater and blackwater systems, for non-potable uses. The legislation also pushes city departments to use non-potable water for all cleaning and irrigation of public spaces within the next 5 years.

Encouraging More Residential Greywater

We need to empower people to take action to conserve water in their homes. That's why I authored this legislation that will remove the permit requirement for residents who want to install simple recycled water systems to irrigate gardens, yards, and other outdoor areas around their homes. Currently, a plumbing permit is required to install these simple greywater systems, adding cost and impediments that can discourage residents from making home improvements to conserve water. This forward-thinking practice will allow San Franciscans to use greywater more affordably and safely.

Requiring Water Submeters

On World Water Day, I introduced legislation requiring the installation of water sub-meters in new residential multi-unit buildings. A separately metered unit will provide residents with information on their individual water usage, and allows property owners bill tenants individually, rather than bundling the cost with rent or other utilities. Studies show that sub-meters reduce water consumption by 15-20% by giving residents incentive to conserve water.

Better Roofs Ordinance: Solar and Living Roofs

To fight climate change and achieve a clean energy future, we need to take decisive steps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. I introduced legislation to require solar panels be installed on new residential and commercial buildings constructed in San Francisco. I will also be introducing legislation to include living roofs, aka green roofs, as eligible to satisfy this requirement. This legislation will help move San Francisco towards its goal of meeting 100% of the City's electricity demand with renewable energy.

California currently requires new buildings of less than ten floors make 15% of the total roof area solar-ready. My legislation builds on this law by requiring panel installation on the solar-ready roof space already required by the state. I will soon introduce trailing legislation to include living roofs, aka green roofs, as eligible to satisfy this requirement. This legislation will help move San Francisco towards its goal of meeting 100% of the City's electricity demand with renewable energy.

Protecting Open Space

I authored two pieces of legislation to preserve neighborhood open space for community use. The Corbett Slope, in Corbett Heights, had essentially been abandoned by the City and was slated for sale for development. Working with neighbors, I authored legislation to protect the space, which is now be transformed into a neighborhood park. Similarly, the site of the Noe Valley Farmers Market, a parking lot, was slated for sale for development. I authored legislation to purchase the site and convert it into a permanent town square, for use as a farmers market and as a neighborhood park space generally.

I've also supported recreational access by residents to our beautiful open spaces. I opposed a plan by the National Park Service to restrict recreational access at Fort Funston, Montara, Crissy Field, Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, and other properties. I advocated for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to increase public access to the majestic Crystal Springs Watershed, and the PUC is now moving forward with such a plan.

Preventing Park Vandalism, Metal Theft, and Graffiti

I authored legislation to create uniform closing hours, midnight to 5 a.m., at all city parks. San Francisco was the only major city in the United States that doesn't have statutory closing hours for parks, and we have an epidemic of nighttime park vandalism, including destruction of property, metal theft, and graffiti. The legislation helps police and park patrol officers protect these important community assets.

Caring for Our Parks

Since taking office, investing in our park system has been a high priority for me. I helped lead the 2012 parks bond, which provides significant funding to rehabilitate parks, recreation centers, pools, playing fields, and other park assets. Each year in the budget, I obtain funding for increased park maintenance and security staffing, which is critical to having a high-functioning park system.

Protecting and Maintaining Our Urban Forest

I've been working for several years with a broad coalition of environmentalists, tree advocates, and city departments to protect and expand our urban forest, both street trees and park trees. By any standard, our trees are neglected. The city cannot afford to care for street trees and thus has gradually handed over maintenance responsibility to property owners who may not want to care for the trees and may have no idea how to do so. Similarly, Rec & Park doesn't have nearly enough resources to care for its own trees, resulting in trees that topple over or drop branches, sometimes with deadly results. I sponsored legislation to adopt an Urban Forest Master Plan and am also working toward the creation of an Urban Forest Fund, with sustainable and dedicated funding for our city's trees. The goal is to ensure that the city can care for and expand a healthy urban forest, rather than force property owners to care for these trees.

I'm also authoring legislation to protect the trees that we have. Currently, billboard companies trim trees around their billboards and, at times, mutilate the trees in an effort to reduce their impacts on the billboards. I introduced legislation to require billboard companies to seek a permit from the Department of Public Works, outlining the scope of any maintenance, in order to avoid damaging the trees.

Undergrounding Utility Wires

Half of San Francisco streets have overhead utility wires, which are blight. The City has no funding in place to address this $3.6 billion capital need. At my request, our City Controller analyzed the cost of undergrounding the rest of the city and the various funding options to reach this goal. This analysis will help spur public discussion of this important topic.

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