Prior to the proposed ordinance, the City Attorney needed Board of Supervisors approval for each settlement of a litigated or unlitigated claim in excess of $25000, and Board approval was required for settlements of litigation by ordinance upon recommendation of the City Attorney.

The ordinance authorizes the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the Office of the City Attorney to settle claims arising from the September 10, 2023 water pipeline break at Fillmore and Green Streets without Board approval for amounts exceeding $25000 per claim, up to $1000000 per claim, with an aggregate settlement amount not to exceed $7000000.

Allows for the expedited settlement process to quickly resolve anticipated damage claims or litigation resulting from the September 10th Incident, ensuring prompt payment to affected parties.

The purpose of this ordinance is to enable prompt payment to those impacted by the September 10th Incident by establishing an expedited settlement procedure.

The SFPUC and the City Attorney will approve settlements, which must be certified by the Controller for available funds, and settlements exceeding $7000000 will require a resolution from the Board of Supervisors.

The SFPUC and the City Attorney must submit periodic reports every six months to the Board of Supervisors Government Audit and Oversight Committee on the settlement of claims or litigation arising out of the September 10th Incident.