SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - Major construction work on The City’s water and sewer systems will be undertaken by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and voters this June will decide how much power the mayor has to pick the members of the board governing the agency.

In November, Mayor Gavin Newsom announced that he would replace then-director Susan Leal with Ed Harrington, The City’s controller at the time. Harrington stepped into the new position on April 1.

In response, city legislators approved Proposition E, a June ballot measure that would require the mayor’s appointments to the SFPUC be approved by a majority of the Board of Supervisors. The measure, approved 9-2, would also set qualifications for each of the five positions.

This is not the first time city legislators have worked to shift some of the appointment power for city commissions away from the mayor. In 2002 and 2003, voters passing two board-sponsored charter amendments that gave authority to the supervisors to appoint a minority of members on the Planning Commission and Police Commission, respectively.

A vote on Proposition E comes at a time when the commission has several major projects in front of it. This year, the commission is slated to receive environmental impact reports on the first phases of a $4.3 billion project to renovate the water and power system’s tunnels, reservoirs and pipes, according to Harrington.

The commission also has to approve a plan for a $3 billion-plus sewer-system fix, and make determinations on a controversial new power plant in Potrero Hill.

Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, who put the proposition on the ballot, said the multibillion-dollar projects are all the more reason to set minimum qualifications for commission members.

Opponents argued, however, that the measure also lowers the threshold of rejection from eight to six supervisors, which could turn each appointment into a political battle.

Eric Jaye, a political consultant to Newsom, said the mayor opposes the measure. He said politics played a part in a recent decision by the supervisors to reject one of Newsom’s appointments and barely approve another.

dsmith@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:21 AM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "PUC caught in crossfire between mayor and Board of Supervisors"

Examiner Reader From Time to Time said:
In 2002 Proposition E (pushed by Ammiano and most of the progressives) passed. It stripped the voters of the right to issue revenue bonds. Gave it to the Board. E also created a Rate Fairness Committee. Operationally a contradiction in terms. Watch your "fair" rates escalate. Now the City has plans to issue over $20 billion in revenue bonds for capital expenditures. The expenditure barn door is now wide open and there is zero voter accountability. Nearly $8 billion for water and sewer alone. All these revenue bonds must be repaid via increases in rates or user fees. You! 2002 Proposition E must be rescinded ASAP. Take this power back from the Board. Ed Harrington is the first experienced SFPUC-GM since 2002. The hiring practices of the two prior GMs underscored their lack of experience. Don't give the Board anymore power, however, it would be good to have a homebody and knowledgeable mayor.

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3:28 PM MST on Sun., Oct. 7, 2007 re: "First question for Mayor Newsom: Where did the money come from?"

Examiner Reader said:
I'm not a huge fan of Chris Daly or Mayor Newsom. But why should either get a pass on policy debates whether they happen in the Mayor's Office or in the Board of Supervisors' Chambers?

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6:14 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Mayor Newsom: Where did the money come from?"

Examiner Reader said:
Hey shouldn't Chris Daly be spending his time trying to improve the conditions of his district full of prostitution, drugs, crime, mentall ill homeless people and human waste on the streets instead of calling the mayor names and trying to get rid of the Blue Angels?

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4:40 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Mayor Newsom: Where did the money come from?"

Examiner Reader said:
By the way 'Examiner Critic.' Your comment is not correct where you have 'accessible' mayor...he absolutely reponds to both emails and letters. Why do you people put up things that are not true? Are you really Chris Daly in disguise? EVERY time I have written either by email or snail mail to the Mayor I have gotten a response. I suggest that you try some politeness...perhaps he isn't dignifying your hate-mail with a response! P. Fitzgerald

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4:36 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Mayor Newsom: Where did the money come from?"

Examiner Reader said:
This is all about Daly posturing and wanting to use these meetings as a way to attack Newsom in any way that he can. To force any Mayor to sit in on these meetings will prove to be unproductive. It is obviously all Daly's politics as usual. The Mayor is having the Town Hall meetings and hearing what the community has to say...which is a hell of a lot more than Chris Daly is doing. P. Fitzgerald

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3:11 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Mayor Newsom: Where did the money come from?"

Examiner Reader said:
Although I am not a big fan of the mayor, this question time measure is a waste of time and pure political theater. Which is why I voted against the advisory measure. Who cares if the Parliament in Great Britain has "question and answer time." I wonder if Chris Daly and his adherents would propose this measure if he or Matt Gonzalez were Mayor?

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12:26 PM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

homer simpson said:
gavin is scared of the board, he's a wimp. for all the tough talk, he's terrified of the board. and he used to BE on the board! scaredy cat. oh and the guy who calls chris daly "dan white" is a loser who needs to get a life.

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11:48 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Examiner Reader said:
Newsom should show up in settings that are not completely staged by his handlers, consultants and hacks.

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11:30 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Disgusted said:
56.4% of San Francisco voters approved Question Time last year. Period. End of story. Instead of respecting the will of the voters, Gavin is trying to buy his way out of it.

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11:27 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Examiner Reader said:
Yet more grandstanding by Daly and company. Given the seething hostility that Chris "Dan White" Daly has continuously expressed towards Newsom, why should he bother attending their meetings? The Board of Supervisors is a self-serving claque of politicos who enjoy their enormous salaries while doing absolutely nothing for the people of San Francisco, apart from adopting useless resolutions calling for Bush's impeachment and banning plastic shopping bags. Their arrogance is appalling and I've long wondered why the people of this city but up with such windbags.

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11:03 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Examiner Reader said:
This is so simple my 5 year old could figure it out. Who put this on the ballot the first time. Cry baby Chris Daly. Its political theater which is what the progressive fascistic Daly so loves.

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10:26 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Disgusted said:
This is what the Mayor and his wealthy benefactors are concerned about? With the homicide rate skyrocketing, Muni still under performing, housing in the City becoming more unaffordable, it's disgusting that this is where the Mayor is putting his effort.

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9:19 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

examiner critic said:
Try to send an e-mail to the "accessable" mayor. The examiner writers are fed information and the Chroni-cle reporters are reprimanded for questioning the mayor's performance.

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7:33 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 2, 2007 re: "First question for Newsom: Where�s the money from?"

Examiner Reader said:
Prop E should be defeated. The mayor does not serve to please the Board of Supervisors, and doesn't answer to them, only to the voters. The mayor has had numerous meetings, and has been accessable to voters. This is merely an attempt by Chris Daly to make more personal attacks on the Mayor, to personally degrade and demean another person. This is a personal vendetta driven by the jealousy and anger of Chris Daly. Defeat Prop E to maintain some level of dignity to our city.

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