surrounding the transbay terminal. although design can only do part of it and certainly enforcement is going to be important and we hope it doesn't end up like the current transbay terminal after several million dollars. my question relates to the connection between bart and the metro at the present terminal. i understand there is a plan to have a way to go to bart. i would hope there is. i'm not sure it is part of this report but it should be there because even in 1939 or whenever we had our first transbay terminal, the one that is being torn down, we had street cars come right up to the terminal so if someone is taking barter muni they should be able to access the trains and the buses, you

made comment on that, i don't know if that is part of today's presentation or not. >> there is not a vacation in this package that would relate to a barton muni connector. that is something that was included on our original document as an alternate program element and something we're continuing to discuss with bart. we kind of developed it to the extent that we have identified that a connection -- because between midway, slightly close to embarcadero. we have identified it as a more logical connection, slightly shorter and has conflicts with underground facilitateds between us and montgomery station. but that would be part of the rail component of the program if

we implement that. we've also been having, as i mentioned, quite a bit of conversation with bart, and one of the concerns that they have is people using that as a connection to get north of market street but not actually transfering to bart or muni and the congestion that might add to the bart -- embarcadero station. we're also discussing some ways we might address that, whether it is the use of a car and the person did in fact transfer or some other means but we were having ongoing conversations about that. >> take a trip to new york. they got a number of those connections underground. i know you're not -- there may be ways to monitor that but i'm sure there will be to make sure that most of your people using it are actually utilizing bart

but there is a couple of major ones between grand central and i think where the other is, probably about a quarter of a mile and you need to have the moving stairways and stuff for people too along there. let's hope that that can get done because i think it would be a big oversight if it isn't there. >> certainly when you think trying to transfer, with baggage and things, it would be a much more convenient connection. >> i would hope there would also be a view towards some and this is in the far future, but if there is some connection to the north bay that cops across san francisco, i mean, -- comes across san francisco, i mean, getting that connected, rather than clogging up the city with the buses, as is usually the case, we may be able to put that underground and that would make a lot of sense. thank you. >> commissioner lee?

>> he was a deputy director of d.p.w. for many years and then took job on the transbay terminal. if you have questions, and also call mr. beck. with that i want to move that we approve. second. commissioner moore: i would ask that the director help us formulate a -- to my asking for the department stay involved in a formalized way, not just some casual letter of memorandum, understanding as people move along in this 20-year project, out of sight, out of mind, i would like to see a formalized relationship. >> we can add that to it. >> i just want to make sure in

this type of thing we can add a condition to the action. >> let me ask mr. beck. don't we have some sort of more mallized agreement with the city and the trans-- formalized agreement with the city on the transbay? >> it does put most of the planning review or planning approval underneath the redevelopment agency but we had discuss, you know, a formal agreement between the director, you know, committing to quarterly consultations or what have you and we could execute something like that. >> i guess the only question for me is whether that becomes a part of this action or something

separate. i just want to understand the legal impolice carations of that. >> this resolution really doesn't have conditions attached it to but it may be useful to put something in the findings portion of the resolution possibly in the section on the urban design element that the planning department would be -- would continue to be involved in the review process and fund. we could add a sentence and i just want to be clear that that is what the commission wants to add into this amendment. that the planning department and the planning commission or the -- >> the planning, the planning department. the physical design capabilities for that level of input is in the planning department. if they want to come back and report to us, it would be nice but that is not really the

reason why i'm saying this. >> so the finding would include, then, a statement that the department will continue to be involved with the -- >> continue to monitor. >> continue to monitor and oversee the public realm design and improvements. over time. >> ok. commissioner moore: did the findings not necessarily as strong -- >> just because these are still -- these will still be public streets, we will be involved anyway. commissioner moore: ok. >> and if the commission could separately have me direct a letter. commissioner moore: i think you can write an explanation to them to start a more complieget way of going about it but i think -- collegiate way but i think i

would like to formalize. >> with an amendment to findings that would include an urban design element that the planning department will continue to be involved in the public realm design and improvement over time and that to that extent, the director will send a letter. on that motion -- [roll call vote] thank you, commissioners. the that motion passed unanimously. commissioners, you are now on item 13, 2010.0438 c. >> this is to place a karaoke machine at a restaurant and bar

occupying two floors at 1268 grant avenue in the north beach commercial district. the business was approved as two floors with 4,000 square feet for conditional use in 1987. they would locate a karaoke machine to the right of the bar. the request is for the karaoke machine only and any other form of entertainment would need to be approved by the commission under a new request. the project does not include any changes to the second familiar. the police department opposes this request. they are concerned about the restaurant/bar trying to evolve into a nightclub and the noise and activities involved with such a use. the department has also received emails from hill dwellers in opposition because they are concerned it will become a nightclub. 13 letters of support from

businesses, a veteran's group and residents in the area have also been received. the neighborhood is also concerned about the amount of signage that cover much of the window area. the department is recommending conditions be imposed that will lessen the chance that it become a nuisance, including silenting at midnight, restrictions on noise and window signs. it was approved by the entertainment commission in february of this year without conditions. restrictions on window signage, noise and hours of use for electronic amplification. i'll be happy to answer any questions. thank you very much. >> thank you. project sponsor?

>> my name is marcia garland. i'm with garland public and community relations. good evening, everybody. he bought his building in twen for $3.-- in 2007 for $3.9 million. he employees a lot of people. he pays a lot of taxes and he is proud of his culinaryy accomplishments. i think there were like 600 or 700 congressmens, most of which were favorable. -- comments, most of which were favorable. also he received a readers poll,

lots of other accolades. but when he started his business, he had a business model in mind and the model didn't work for him and he was beginning to see his investment dollars going south. so at that time, he started to -- he had a place -- this building is very historic. i'll just show you a picture of it. for those of you who know the area, this area here used to be the famous la pantera. the buildings were combined. that is the existing footprint. so the bar is actually in this portion. it looks like two separate store

fronts. he originally had a place called the manchester which was for his favorite soccer team. that didn't work so he kept modifying his system. when he started to apply for the entertainment permits, he also, at the same time, went ahead and lowered his price to $2 for domestic beer and $5 for many of the plates on the menu. i have eaten there many times. it is an outstanding bargain. now, a lot of people -- let me explain karaoke. first of all, i grew up in england as most of you know. every sunday we didn't have a television. every sunday we would stand around the piano and have family sing-song. we did broadway teams. made absolute bloody fools of ourselves but it was fun. it was family entertainment. along comes karaoke.

i first came across it about 25 years ago and thought it was stupid. anyway, it has come back again and has become a very important part of the asian community. it has replaced our family sing-songs. asians typically do not drink a lot and so they go and get a microphone passed around and act silly, sing songs and pretend they are queen latifah for the night. this karaoke set that he has in mind is just like the kind you would have in your living room. they tell us everybody doesn't like his signage. they think it is low class. ok. the u.s. restaurant, a famous italian restaurant. show the signs. daily specials. i don't know what that sign is.

it is not even sicilian. should be. here we have the philadelphia cheese steak company. there is even a pose poster with a smokinggun on it. that is philly cheesesteaks. then we have the italian butcher. full of signage. how to make vale saute. what kind of -- veal saute. what kind of ingredients go into their sausages. so i have come to know with north beach, especially, we have what i like to call the taste police. i really think that's what this boils down to. the taste police coming along saying they don't like what he does. thank you very much. >> thank you.

i have a number of speaker cards. richard al. tony yantner. bill bradley. >> good evening, commissioners. i'm a resident close by. i walk through the restaurant quite often and they are doing pretty good business and we, the city is a tourist town. and we have to encourage, let this restaurant continue the business and unlike other restaurants, found in the china town on jackson street and washington street, they don't have many customers and i urge you to accommodate the restaurant so that they can continue to operate.

let them have their karaoke music. it is a small sized musical instrument and the tourists and the neighbors really enjoy, you know, eating and single among themselves -- single among themselves. i'm also a member of the community advisors and every month we have a meeting and captain -- you know, tells us what's been going on. the activities troubled spots but they never mentioned this thai restaurant so i can assure you that for the last six-eight

months they did not make any wave. i urge you to approve of their conditional use. thank you. >> thank you. >> commissioners. good evening. tony gantner. i have eaten at the restaurant. they have a fine menu, courteous staff. across the street i bought thousands of coffees and several doors down the saloon where i have gone for several decades to listen to the blues. they are rougher than anything the king of thai could possibly dream up. i'm working to transform the street between grant and columbus a poet's plaza. i know this area intimately. there are serious problems on broadway that should be

forcefully dealt with but broadway isn't relevant to this application. it as improved thanks to a new more responsible ownership and establishments that have live entertainment. i have never seen a single public safety issue related to the king of thai restaurant. it is not hyperbole small businesses in north beach are under serious financial strain. many are barely keeping their heads above water. responsible entertainment is one way to bring more people and revenue into the area. why not bring people of asian background and many others the pleasure of karaoke. it will still be a restaurant. music of the 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, jazz, blues, pop, rock.

we need to bring back the scene for the owners to impact the neighborhood. thank you. >> thank you. >> i see you guys on tv all the time. channel 26, 4:00 a.m. reminds me of marlenea dietrich. i love you guys. i watch you late at night and some of the things you did. just a whole bunch of different things. the reason i'm here is i'm from the neighborhood. i used to work for henriqueo ganducci for a number of years. i was basically the gofer. 1976-1978.

everything was good until they caught me in the shower having a meeting and they fired me coming out of the shower. that is another story. i love north beach. i know mr. -- tony -- i don't know him that way. i don't know how to pronounce his last name but he is a great guy. he put all of this money into it and it was fantastic and all of a sudden the economy went down the tubes. i do security for some buildings in the neighborhood rights across the street. i've caught about 15 burg larceny in the past 10 years. -- burglars in the past 10 years and caught a purse snatcher. that was for captain dudley when he was the captain about four years ago. what are you doing? i'm getting back at him. he kicked me. i don't know if that is the guy that stole the lady's purse out

of the saloon. to make a long story short, is basically this man has put out this beautiful food and all of these nice people and everything is like this. they are so beautiful and so gentle and when the world cup was going last month, you could hear everybody screaming but he hasletter couches upstairs and down in the restaurant he has so many nice stools with the padding you couldn't hear anybody in the restaurant. it is the quietest place. i'm right across the street there. you never see any negative people. you always see very gentle peep. nice people. and of course, $5 for that thai, i'm right in there. you can't beat that price. i'm in there. it is not all the crap like on broadway. there has been shootings down there. there has been crap. they run up and all that in

neighborhood. i'm the guy that picks up the garbage cans because i love it. but all i'm trying to say is never one negative thing. i wouldn't lie to you. they are so beautiful and it is quiet. i mean, you're not going to hear anything there. i think it is good. chinatown they said no, you can't have firecrackers. it was a cultural thing. when they had the line dancers, they said no more line dancers. what are you talking about? trying to get rid of the bad spirits. i watch you guys. you're great. please give him a good thing. ok. thank you. >> thank you very much for hearing me. pleasure to see you tonight.

i'm here to support tony and just support small business in this city. i think it is a great thing and i have to agree with marcia with the market that other people -- fact that other people with have signage to the point and she pointeded out what they did. i'm definitely in support of his. i run a small business in the city as well. it shouldn't be up to neighbors to tell me how i should put and what i should put in my windows as long as it is not completely disrupting the sidewalk or anywhere else within their path. i would urge you to support their conditional use. >> can you state your name for the record? >> john. >> thank you. >> good evening commissioners. my name is darla bernard. i have been a member of the community since 1989.

i'm here in support of tony and his restaurant. many of my friends have enjoyed his restaurant. many of my friends are asian and they too, like karaoke. i urge you to support the karaoke machine. thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening, commissioners in. my name is elmer patry. i've been in the north beach neighborhood since 1985. i would like to say -- basically hello in thai. i spent a lot of time in thailand as well. i'm here also in support of tony. i -- as i'm sure you commissioners know, there is different types of people in north beach and i certainly want to say that tony and his

restaurant is one of the good groups that i certainly support and certainly hope that you will understand that and be supportive of his desire. thank you. >> thank you. >> good evening, commissioners. i'm from japan. i live in north beach. japan is the original country of karaoke and many japanese people have a karaoke machine at home and they enjoy the karaoke. some people enjoy that every day. karaoke is very popular. i'm sure that many families have

an entertainment -- but also their friends and even though you do not know anybody at the karaoke place you can make a friend very easily. the karaoke machine is very nice to make a good community. thank you very much. >> thank you. is there additional public comment on this item? >> good evening, commissioners. i'm from the san francisco police department. i'm currently assigned to the abc liaison unit. the san francisco police department is in opposition of this conditional use change because there is community opposition to it. the business has, in the past operated in violation of their current entertainment permit and engaged in entertainment in the space that they are proposing a change. the venue originated as a

restaurant and is currently licensed by the a.b.c. as a restaurant and what we are finding is a lot of these businesses start out as restaurants and then they morph into something more like a club. there is an abundance of signage on the building itself that pertains to entertainment, alcohol available, as well as menu items at the premise. the signage promotes blight in the neighborhood and it is just unsightly. the current use is reasonable and prudent. the police department strongly opposes the expansion of the permit at this venue and lastly, if you plan on approving this item we would ask that it be continued to allow the police department to bring forward more information.

>> thank you. >> good evening, commissioners. president miguel, i'm jeri crowley. i've lived for 33 years on upper grant avenue at the intersection of lombard. i'm asking you tonight not to grant this permit for other entertainment. it seems to me, as has been mentioned before, that the sponsor wants 1268 grant to be a club, and as the previous speaker said it is licensed as a bar and restaurant, but it seems