An Equitable Water Future Danielle Mayorga, Senior Program Manager US Water Alliance Presentation to SFPUC Citizens Advisory Committee November 21, 2017
About the Alliance One Water One Future
An Equitable Water Future Defining Terms Water equity occurs when all people have access to safe, clean, affordable water services, are resilient in the face of environmental challenges, and have a stake in decision-making around water management. Water stress occurs when individuals and communities face difficulty in accessing water services, due to challenges such as poor water quality, lack of access to infrastructure and water services, financial and climate challenges. Vulnerable communities face historic or contemporary barriers to socioeconomic opportunities. Factors that influence vulnerability include income, race, language ability, and geographic location vulnerable populations include low-income people, people of color, immigrants, seniors, children, those with limited English-speaking ability, people with disabilities, and those living in rural and tribal communities.
Water Stress in Vulnerable Communities Aging and inadequate infrastructure Lack of infrastructure Affordability Fragmentation Water quality Climate impacts Flooding Siting of hazards Public participation Courtesy of DIGDEEP
An Equitable Water Future The Pillars of Water Equity Ensure all people have access to clean, safe, affordable water service Maximize the community and economic benefits of water infrastructure investment Foster community resilience in the face of a changing climate
Pillar One Ensure all people have access to clean, safe, affordable water service Affordability Access to Infrastructure Water Quality Expand affordability programs at the local, state, and federal levels Increase funding and support to utilities with financial challenges Improve affordability data Pace the implementation of regulatory compliance mandates Explore consolidation of small utilities Scale up successful community-centered direct service programs Incorporate successful international models Deploy technology solutions for communities without infrastructure Harness waterfront revitalization to bring multiple benefits Advance water quality goals through citizen science Support tribal governments in source water protection Explore restorative justice and reconciliation to rebuild trust
Pillar One: Case Study Community Water Center Empowering community leaders to build equitable water systems in the Central Valley Courtesy of Community Water Center
Pillar Two Maximizing community and economic benefits of water infrastructure investment Workforce Development Contracting and Procurement Neighborhood Revitalization Build a water career pipeline for youth and young adults Utilize proactive hiring requirements for construction and nonconstruction careers Align workforce training with employer needs at a regional level Break up large contracts to create opportunities for small, minorityand women-owned businesses Partner on business accelerator and development programs Create incentives for community benefits within contracting Create synergistic benefits between multiple infrastructure investments Channel green infrastructure to disinvested neighborhoods Cultivate resident and community stewardship of water projects
Pillar Two: Case Study Clean Water Partnership A community-based public-private partnership in Prince George s County Courtesy of Clean Water Partnership
Pillar Three Foster community resilience in the face of a changing climate Planning and Assessment Funding Project Delivery Include community risk factors in climate vulnerability and risk assessments Incorporate community vulnerability assessments into climate planning tools Connect community-based organizations to climate planning efforts Dedicate adaptation, mitigation, and disaster relief funding to vulnerable communities Fund community development initiatives to build climate resilience Build partnerships with the flood insurance industry Leverage climate adaptation projects to create economic opportunity for vulnerable communities Prioritize vulnerable communities in physical adaptation
Pillar Three: Case Study Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers Partnering to build climate resilience in the Kinnickinnic River Watershed Courtesy of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Cross Cutting Case Studies Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative Institutionalizing equity into the fabric of the utility Credit: Seattle Race and Social Justice Initiative
Cross Cutting Case Studies San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Community Benefits Program Building partnerships, deepening social impact Courtesy of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Equity Strategies Leadership, Power, and Policies Institutionalizing the Community Benefits Program Place Based Investments Social Impact Partnerships Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement Strategic Networks 14
Leadership, Power, and Policy Good Neighbor Policies Community Benefits Policy (2011) Environmental Justice Policy (2009) Designate executive level staffing Activities should be intentional & centrally coordinated Sufficient resources allocated to initiatives Stakeholder involvement Clear metrics and lines of accountability and evaluation/monitoring processes Programs must be tailored to stakeholder community needs 15
Community Benefits Program Our Good Neighbor Policies Community Benefits 2011 Environmental Justice 2009 Education Developing the next generation of environmental stewards, ratepayers & skilled workforce Arts Enriching communities through arts & cultural programs that align with the agency s values & goals Workforce & Economic Development Advancing our talent pipeline and creating new opportunities for workers & businesses Environmental Justice & Land Use Integrating environmental justice to support a healthy place for people to live, work, learn & play Neighborhood Revitalization Providing opportunities in the neighborhoods most impacted by our water, power & sewer operations Values: Diversity and Inclusion * Authentic Stakeholder Engagement * Leveraged Partnerships
Placed Based Investments Bayview Hunters Point
Social Impact Partnerships Contract Innovation: SFPUC asks its partner firms to be a good neighbor by putting community benefits criteria into RFPs $5 million and above Through this program, we leverage private sector financial contributions, volunteer hours, and in-kind contributions into the community 18
Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement 19
Strategic Networks Elevate the role of utilities in the equity movement Members of the Northern California Government Alliance for Racial Equity Partnering with nearly two dozen cities through affinity groups like the US Water Alliance and the General Managers Group (e.g. Seattle, Camden, New York, DC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, LA) 20
Challenges 1. Understanding that SFPUC s long term success requires embedding equity in who we are and how we do business 2. Statewide Propositions like 218 does not allow us to subsidize rate classes 3. Proposition 209 and the absence of a Citywide Mandate on Racial Equity 21
An Equitable Water Future The Path Forward Build community capacity to engage with water management Action: Help us identify community champions whose voices need to be elevated Cultivate the capacity of organizations (utilities, government agencies, and environmental nonprofits) to advance equitable water management Action: Share our story and encourage others to adopt policies that institutionalize inclusion as a core value Engage in effective cross-sector partnerships for change Action: Identify and form strategic partnerships, alliances, and coalitions
Thank you! Jessie Buendia jbuendia@sfwater.org Danielle Mayorga dmayorga@uswateralliance.org Zoë Roller zroller@uswateralliance.org