[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6645491,"mediaKeyId","3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207","parentId",3668474,"title","Palo Alto commission splits over proposed amendments to San Francisco water agreement and updated Tier 2 allocation plan","audioSeconds",2640,"startMs",4484000,"endMs",7124000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207&start=4484&end=7124","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207/thumbnail_4484000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6645491/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-commission-splits-over-proposed-amendments-to-San-Francisco-water-agreement-and-updated-Tier-2-allocation-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645491-b11026f902376a354c0f0fb7080ccc55/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406495&Signature=I742LAQoxNf1CwYPaH05hGEu9Xxq9zd7ePr9bjmkK4gNKMl6BG5yj29HVTxNYs-wYdupBMKic0AjZIItwWDtdIpof-HiaaqbO95UsgKdpjEHJHTpxaxOqZ54Xp-XTK4hxbykgC6yljTfcP1nYzPdEQoRYZZ98DgpZZImKiNVMm-O-JTysRqYyAD3ZT4aF5dtQBp~JH1wpyNk5WThrhjUti5FnIDIgV3hiP~67r4OuFLk0Z6i9SOssPAb1Mq8OxK337sg6MGlaDBYsp3rtwHxBjxuaHG~eDJ7U~RdAiu99M6RaxgLpWR5Gg6pcTVd5-9vA9K3DdUUK3AI33w8qmcYFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-06-02T14:52:03Z","article","The Utilities Advisory Commission debated but did not deliver a majority recommendation on a package of amendments to Palo Alto\u0000water contracts with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and an updated Tier 2 drought allocation plan negotiated by the Bay Area wholesale customers (Bosca/BOSCA).

Carla Daley, Assistant Director of Utilities Resource Management, told commissioners the package resulted from nearly three years of negotiations among 26 wholesale agencies and the SFPUC and includes three linked components: a reset of minimum purchase quantities (MPQs) for four agencies, a change to Tier 1 allocation mechanics in drought, and an updated Tier 2 drought allocation implementation plan. Daley said the MPQs would be reset at 80% of prior four-year non-drought use, include a one-year drought rebound, and allow the four MPQ agencies to be treated as a family for penalty purposes. \"Mountain View has paid more than $11,000,000 in penalties for unused water,\" Daley said as she explained the rationale for the amendment.

The nut graf: Commissioners split over tradeoffs between regional fairness and transparency from SFPUC. Supporters said the negotiated package reduces penalties on neighboring agencies and encourages alternative local supplies; critics said the commission should withhold a recommendation pending more information about SFPUC planning assumptions and drought-design metrics.

Public comment focused on the SFPUC\u0000including letters and calls for more data. Peter Dreckmire told the commission he was \"appalled\" that SFPUC had not answered questions submitted through other channels and urged the commission to continue the item until a Bosca policy committee considered related documents. Dave Deveo and other speakers urged more transparency about SFPUC assumptions and the need to understand drought return periods before permanently changing contract terms.

Votes and motions: A motion by Chair Sharf to recommend city council approve the two WSA amendments and the updated Tier 2 plan resulted in a 3-3 tie on roll call (Commissioners Croft, Sharf and Vice Chair Mater voted yes; Commissioners Metz, Tooker and Gupta voted no). A prior motion by Commissioner Gupta to table the item until a later meeting also failed to obtain a majority. As a result, the commission recorded no majority recommendation; the split will be transmitted to the finance committee and city council for further consideration.

Why it matters: Daley and other staff cautioned that all 26 agencies must approve any change to the WSA for it to take effect; if agencies fail to reach agreement, BOSCA or SFPUC could be the default decision-maker under the contract language. The changes would affect how shortages are allocated among San Francisco retail customers and wholesale partners in a declared shortage of up to 20% and could modestly change Palo Alto\u0000s cutback obligations under the new Tier 2 formula (examples shown in staff materials: a wholesale 20% cutback maps to a Palo Alto reduction from 16% under the old formula to 18% under the new formula). Staff estimated the MPQ changes could increase regional rates by roughly 0.007\u0000to 0.04\u0000per CCF (0.13% to 0.72% impact in staff examples).

Commissioner debate: Opponents of immediate endorsement (led by Commissioner Gupta and others) urged waiting for additional information requested from SFPUC about the design drought and planning assumptions; supporters (including Commissioners Mauder and Croft) argued the negotiated package represents substantial concessions by SFPUC and that delaying approval might hand decision leverage to SFPUC if the region cannot coalesce around a compromise.

Ending: The split vote leaves the matter to city policymakers and the Bosca process. Several commissioners said they would individually raise concerns and questions in Bosca meetings and at council-level hearings; staff said the item will proceed to the finance committee and ultimately to city council for review under the usual calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Utilities Advisory Commission Meeting - June 4, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Utilities Advisory Commission debated but did not deliver a majority recommendation on a package of amendments to Palo Alto\u0000water contracts with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and an updated Tier 2 drought allocation plan negotiated by Bay Area wholesale customers.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645495,"Palo Alto utilities commission adopts $15.1 million wildfire mitigation plan, advances Foothills undergrounding",1290,3225000,4515000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207&start=3225&end=4515","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207/thumbnail_3225000.jpg","/articles/6645495/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-utilities-commission-adopts-151-million-wildfire-mitigation-plan-advances-Foothills-undergrounding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645495-cd79258ab997bafa9a2a00e8bd287218/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406495&Signature=Posx8OTA92Sa84EcfSsO-Ik85AyjC1ZT2sb-RkfBqq0LM~qDShaolLfN3U9d6eUf4Q6wHBBm7BmDBY7cYnYDd2Nd14zxlS6XELO~fiHMXP0Fk~CBusJ-Y-GMuMmw5jvx2p68W4o2xlbJYpB9R20DaQ2SuJ4OVisRTNvtaK1Zogy0wlCjOOFx0dSz7TPeH9sDObwSpneoDV3~-8nvSrDOq6KMgYw16tE9mYWZBt8k6EU2iTe3nfdvmGhcqmvf3SIPUgW-JQ6B9YNfONd8jTm5pSZee36Bh1OyKZuLq4s1OU~miPfb3vHwep0Vml8tTr1Jhmmwk3j4DBu4IxKLl6IBHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palo Alto Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously to accept the city\u0000wildfire mitigation plan and direct staff to implement it and file the plan with the wildfire safety advisory board.

The plan, presented by Assistant Director of Electric Terry Crowley, lays out operational changes, vegetation management targets and a multi-million-dollar undergrounding project in the Foothills aimed at reducing the risk of utility-caused wildfires. \"The intent of this plan is to mitigate wildfires that are caused by utilities,\" Crowley told the commission.

The nut graf: Commissioners were asked to approve an annual plan required by state wildfire rules and to authorize continued funding and implementation of Foothills undergrounding and other mitigation measures. Staff said the program is already underway and that the city has not caused a utility wildfire in recent years.

Key facts and how the plan matters: Crowley told the commission that the wildfire mitigation budget for the effort is projected at $15.1 million, largely dedicated to the Foothills undergrounding project; staff expect to expend roughly $11.6 million through the end of the fiscal year. The undergrounding project is roughly 80% complete, and staff said another segment of roughly 10,000 feet of new easement work is scheduled for construction this summer. Vegetation work reported included more than 8,000 trees trimmed in the high-fire-threat district during the past year.

Crowley outlined the plan\u0000\u0000\u0000which must be updated and publicly posted annually under the post-2017 state wildfire law\u0000covering performance metrics (vegetation management, infrastructure inspections, outage counts), procedures for public notification during preemptive power shutoffs and operational changes such as disabling automatic reclosing where appropriate. \"We do a lot of visual inspections, intrusive inspections and pole testing throughout the year,\" Crowley said, noting the work lowers exposure and helps identify equipment that should be replaced.

Commissioners asked about long-term costs, vegetation standards and whether undergrounding includes service all the way to meters in the Foothills. Crowley said the city has moved in recent weeks to underground service to the meter in the Foothills and to size underground capacity for future electrification demand. He also said some overhead infrastructure owned by other entities (PG&E, telecommunications) will remain overhead in the same areas and the city will still need limited vegetation work around pad-mounted equipment.

The commission approved the plan and directed staff to file it with the wildfire safety advisory board and to proceed with implementation. The motion was made and seconded during the meeting and passed on a 6-0 roll call.

What comes next: Staff said they will continue Foothills work this summer, finish cutovers and remove deenergized overhead lines where feasible, update policies tied to preemptive deenergization criteria, and review recent CAL FIRE local responsibility maps to identify additional mitigation priorities. Commissioners asked staff to consider formal membership or participation on the city's emergency services council to improve coordination; staff said they would take the request under consideration.

Ending: The approval keeps the city on track to complete the current phase of undergrounding and to meet the annual filing requirement; staff and commissioners said they will return with progress reports as milestones are reached.","Palo Alto Utilities Advisory Commission voted unanimously to accept the city\u0000wildfire mitigation plan and direct staff to implement it and file the plan with the wildfire safety advisory board.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6645486,"Utilities director highlights transmission approval, $47 million water-treatment contract and electrification programs",0,2442000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207&start=2442&end=2442","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3668474-69d12e368f27a2daa160233f90380207/thumbnail_2442000.jpg","/articles/6645486/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Utilities-director-highlights-transmission-approval-47-million-water-treatment-contract-and-electrification-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6645486-dc36195a75f5528a270b1565fd0aa82a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770406495&Signature=Ez4vCjMivtZ~YIjgxai701Rj1fC79G7AyulnrdpNawmM5WkbSTgLMV-7O6keT0nrwm5hpGI6yIN2u-g5GFvT11-2Sas8JN705k~QYSavdpAoP~lRQTvk8qZ48WhWXF4DPxZBaotLntbo7v3Wc0obZj6TP1Xedp8yWvhxElbeHskNRgdGp8pzAxPUMZusBTWo4xI9C0NohFOUrFuj1oxyWN2AuU1iPNimadkUspyLdflVfObZZdgq7U4esJViNx4sQGKDusank~T2~g5Q96o79HyDC1dPZKo61sc1zD9gbdIqdvRbwLiY9ec-dNgKfK83upoBshQne8TL0nTBY3KVQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Utilities Advisory Commission heard a broad update from the new utilities director and staff covering regional transmission, large contracts, data-center impacts, audits and upcoming community events.

Alan Cortori, introduced as the new utilities director, summarized council and regulatory actions: California ISO approved a transmission plan that includes a new transmission corridor to connect a switching station within Palo Alto to the NASA Ames substation in Mountain View; staff reported an estimated project cost range of $42 million to $84 million and said the earliest estimate for in-service is about 2034. Cortori said the project will be partially funded through Palo Alto\u0000s transmission access charges and larger regional charges.

The nut graf: The director's update covered items that affect the utility's long-term grid modernization and customer programs, including a major wastewater treatment contract, electrification programs funded from gas cap-and-trade reserves and a positive CPUC audit of the gas distribution system.

Other highlights: Cortori reported that on May 19 the city entered a professional services agreement related to the wastewater treatment plant advanced water purification system, described in the staff update as approximately a $47,000,000 contract to improve recycled water quality for Palo Alto and Mountain View customers. Staff also reported a professional services agreement with Franklin Energy Services LLC to deliver a turnkey home electrification program for single-family homes funded through gas cap-and-trade reserves; the director said the program supports the city's Sustainability/Climate Action Plan goals.

Staff described attendance at a Santa Clara study session on data centers and noted that data centers have a very flat, stable load profile; the director said such loads affect rates and connection fees and the city is studying impacts and best practices. The commission was told the California Public Utilities Commission conducted an on-site audit of Palo Alto\u0000s natural gas distribution system in May and that preliminary findings were favorable with no recommendations rising to a notice of violation.

The director also announced a dedication of Tower Well Park to former Mayor Fred Eyerly on June 18; staff said the park includes the original concrete storage facility for the utility.

Why it matters: The new transmission corridor will increase regional capacity and is tied to the city\u0000s electrification and resiliency planning; the advanced water purification contract is a large, near-term capital commitment that shapes recycled-water quality and reuse for Palo Alto and Mountain View customers. The director said staff will return with implementation details and links to study-session materials.

Ending: Staff offered to provide links and follow-up material. Commissioners asked to see more detailed schedules and to include transmission and grid modernization topics in upcoming reliability and resiliency briefings.","City staff updated the Utilities Advisory Commission on multiple near-term projects: California ISO approved a new transmission corridor connecting Palo Alto to Mountain View (estimated cost $42\u0000to\u000084 million, in-service 2034 estimate), the council approved a roughly $47 million contract for advanced water purification at the wastewater treatment","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Palo Alto commission splits over proposed amendments to San Francisco water agreement and updated Tier 2 allocation plan

Palo Alto utilities commission adopts $15.1 million wildfire mitigation plan, advances Foothills undergrounding

Utilities director highlights transmission approval, $47 million water-treatment contract and electrification programs