funding issues. the project funding shortfall and the cash row crop we are going to experience several years from now. the mind the gap committee has representatives from the mayor's office, the board of supervisors' offices, transportation authority, commission, spur, chinatown community development center and sfmta staff. it's a very robust committee that is looking at finding ways to patch our funding deficit or our funding gap. in july staff submitted a response to the financial capacity assessment. we haven't gotten anything back yet, but the response is that it was looked at favorably. on the financial capacity forecast, staff is working on operations maintenance cost update. we are expecting to submit that to the f.t.a. later this month as well as the draft state of

good repair report. in september we have to submit our financial plan to the f.t.a. under real estate acquisition, there has been a flurry of activity going on. we've made submissions to the chinatown property owner and mosconi propertier own, the two sites we will be building on in june. we made suggestions to the last resort housing plan in june. that actually was approved by the f.t.a., or they gave us favorable comments back july 13. and then resolutions of necessity of board and supervisor packages for both the mosconi and chinatown sections. the board of eminent approval was given approval july 27, just last week. so we are moving now to submit that to the f.t.a. to receive

federal approval. i believe the next step, since we now have board of supervisor approval on those properties, is then to get the superior court to weigh in. you see the last two bullets are submitting the tenant relocation plan, which is what is before you today to the board of supervisors for approval, and then the board of supervisors tenant re-election plan approval. just to give you a snapshot of what i just quickly explained, there are five takes in total that we are taking. if you take a look at the chart, the red letters, the mosconi and chinatown locations, you can see where along the problems they are. and then the blue areas indicate where the subway is going to need access for

operations and maintenance, and venting. so we have three underground easements for the tunnel in those locations. all in all, the central subway team has been doing a superb job of making great strides to make this program a huge success. the two calendar items before you today represent two key elements requiring your approval to maintain the momentum on the program. as mr. ford has spoken earlier, calendar item 12 requests your authorization for the agency program controls, and item 13 requests your approval of the central subway relocation impact study. we have staff here today, and so we will be happy to answer any questions with either of the two calendar items or the brief i just gave you. >> thank you mr. rohan. a couple of questions about the

actual tunneling. in the double slide, it seems like the construction there has been about three years as well. are you familiar with that project? >> no, sir, i'm not. >> it appears to be a much easier project than going under all the stuff in the city. >> that is the complexity, doing a subway in a city that has utilities, sewer, water, electric, you name it. there is a whole host of things in this city, and in some cases we have found some of it as we have gone on. we have had to find ways to deal with that, which are far outside the engineering realm when it comes to remains and things of that nature. it is very complex when we are talking about a tunneling job under a major urban city. >> do you have a time frame?

>> they are doing samples, but you are always at risk of something that is not there in the drawings or the historical documentation. there is some risk in terms of crog across something that we didn't plan to. i think we have built in a certain amount of contingency there, and hopefully that is enough to cover it. >> chairman, we are very comfortable with the schedule. i would submit to you that the greater risk is going to be on the time lines of actually constructing the underground stations. the tunneling itself is going to go very smooth. if we hit something like an arc logical find, it will stop us in our tracks until we clear that. >> so the last things that goes in is the tracks? >> we are staging the contract that most of the material can be removed through the tunnel. so there will be subbays and

temporary track put if for those contracts. >> and those projects could go on? there is nothing to preclude that? >> the actual exit is in north beach. >> this contract includes a tunnel bore machine retraction shift. we go all the way to washington square, and that is where we take the machine out. and all we have to do is close the door over it. if we ever decide there is a phase three, it will be able to spring from that. >> when there is a phase three. >> you mean spring from that, building a washington square station? >> anything that is designed. >> director? >> i think you forth greats presentation. it is very helpful to see this all laid out. a couple of service-related questions. the south terminus at king and

4th. does the t lee keep going down the existing line? >> no. it is going to connect both phases. the terminus would be visitation valley for the t-line. the t-line would continue straight, not make that right-hand turn. >> so someone there chinatown could keep going to what is the current end of the t-line? >> yes. >> and is the current t-line around the embarcadero going to continue as well? >> no. >> so that is the end of that one? >> yes. >> so then my next question is -- and i am sure you guys have thought of this, but my limited exposure to this in my real job suggestion -- suggests any time you go to digging up a gas station, there is a lot of

remediation? that is part of it? >> yes. that is in our plan. we have that contingency in our plan. >> you touched a little on this, about the laying down of temporary track to remove debris. what is the sort of anticipated disruption for the union square area associated with this project, and how much of it can be done underground to avoid strupting what is obviously a commerce center? >> actually, each of the three stations will be excavated differently. mosconi will have the more surface disruption, because it is a cut and cover. we'll bore down and then squa videogate back up. there will be a lot of disruption around that one. our utilities contract that is going to be going out in september will uncover and reroute major utilities, and

then place back so that we can restore traffic on a temporary means. then we are going to mine from there down and then build back up. now the struppings will be mitigated considerably, but there will be some surface disruption to make the final closure and initially to make the utilities opening. the chinatown station is going to be mined completely. we'll bore through and then set up and mine inside. >> so we could probably come back to you with specific time lines in terms of how much disruption at each location, if any. for example, minimal at chinatown, but definitely at union square. we have a very healthy community relations group as part of this project. there are a lot of elements that are working with the union square merchants and dealing with those issues. but we can come back with more of the details on that because those are questions that we had to answer a couple of years ago

when we went through this process. but i don't recall the exact -- >> one would be to minimize it during the christmas season, obviously a busy season for them. as long as you are doing the outreach with the community, that is excellent. the one thing i note on this map which is an excitement to me, you have in here a possible future line which appears to be running along eerie. am i reading the map correctly? >> which page is that on? >> possible future muni line. >> this map was taken from some of the earlier preliminary engineering drawings, which had geary in the concept stage. at that time we didn't know if it would be a connection to the subway or a b.r.t. this man shows that potential. >> all right. >> but it is not part of the

program now. >> i understand that. great next idea though. and the stations, the connection between powell street and union state stations will be at subground level so someone can walk from station to station? >> no connection at the platform. >> are there still plans for moving side walks? >> we actually abandoned those ideas about two years ago when the cost of the moving sidewalks became an issue. when we went through our risk mitigation program -- f.t.a. has a risk program you go through where you take a look at enhanced elements and what they would cost. when we went through that, we

threw it out because of the huge cost. >> another item we need to follow up with this because this has come from the public in terms of the length of time of transfer from our platform to the bart system. carter, i don't know if you have that in front of you, but i want to make sure we give you as much as we can in terms of potential issues. that was hot button a few years ago. >> we are not talking about a major league distance. >> maybe not for you and i? >> but it's about a block's worth of distance? >> yes. where someone of my age would ben at this time from moving sidewalks. >> and you are the one who threw it out, >> and you are not going to be any younger when it gets through. that concludes that. >> no one has registered as a speaker card, and i don't see anyone in the audience who is

appearing to desire to address you. >> so we can take both at once? >> ma i -- you may. >> any discussion? the ayes after it. >> number 14, fixing the wage schedule for transit operators at $29.52 per hour as of july 1, 2010. >> what is the pleasure of the board? >> move the staff recommendation. >> second. >> all in favor say aye. the ayes have it. >> i'd 15, discussion and vote whether to go to closed session and invoke the attorney-client privilege. prosecutor moved. >> seconded. >> all in favor say eye. >> for the close the session, we

>> the board met in closed session. the board of directors took no action. directors, do you want to disclose or not disclosed? director nolan: i think is important that we may be just indicate who was the present -- who was present at the meeting. and yes, mr. chairman. in the minutes, we are required to reflect who is involved in the closed session, the minutes will reflect that. director nolan: on the basis of that, is there a motion to disclose or not disclose? director oka: move to not disclosed. director nolan: all in favor? we were not disclosed. with that, we are adjourned. -- we will not disclosed. with that, we are intent. -- adjourned. >> ladies and gentt

to welcome you to the newest of the art materials stores. we are very, very excited to open our new facility here in san francisco. we have been here for a while, but this new facility is wonderful.

it is going to bring wonderful things to the neighborhood. our president, who is the president of our retail stores, is going to make a number of comments on how we work with the community, and also our students and teachers. thank you. [applause] >> welcome. welcome, mayor newsom. welcome to another art materials grand opening. despite the economic unrest we face, we are growing, serving, and creating jobs in all the communities where we have a presence. in fact, we are one of the few family-owned businesses in the u.s. that can say that while celebrating our 100th anniversary. how do we do it? we put people and communities first. while we are one of the largest independent suppliers of art

materials in the country, providing the broadest assortment and low prices, it is really our service and community involvement that sets us apart from the others. every year, our list of colleges and universities we support has grown. today, we visit over 250. whether on campus or at the events we sponsor, we see the same story unfolding. that is communities and the arts are struggling to get funding, improve, and revived. it is so important to remember, while the foundation behind art and life do not change, the supporting structure continuously evolves with time. as part of this evolution, we and others like the mayor's support the continuing of art and the revival of communities in which they exist. here in san francisco, the

market street community was once a thriving, exciting center for the arts. it was a place for the people in the city to come to forget their social and political differences and just another to enjoy life. hasn't san francisco waited and debated long enough on providing this area? now, along with mayor newsom, the planning and arts commission, galleries, theaters, and artists themselves, in places like san francisco's st., we are helping paint the way to revival today. we are not waiting for the economy to turn, but helping it turned around today. we will build a better market street for tomorrow. thank you and enjoy. [applause] >> do you have to introduce me? >> i do not have to.

everybody knows you. ladies and gentlemen, the mayor of san francisco. >> thank you all for being here. do not let me get in the wake of the most important sound, which is not my voice. it is the register. the retailers will appreciate what i am saying. this is once again a testament to this renewed vision, this renewed energy, this renewed effort to revitalize the central market, the fact that so many of you took time to be here. if i could turn these cameras around, we could see the folks not only in the store but throughout the district. they come down almost every time we come down to celebrate another milestone. the reason we do this is we are marking progress. the reason we are doing this is we think every opening like this is not insignificant. it is extraordinarily significant to the revitalization of the central

market area. we have long believed, but could not demonstrate, because we could not show people that arts will be the economic catalyst for revitalizing the central market area. the artistic expression, the community, the artistic contributions are self evident to anyone who has lived or visited san francisco. we have not necessarily organized the arts community in the measure and fashion today. do not get me wrong. we do not do the organization. the community is organizing itself in a meaningful way. we are just providing the conditions or the conduits to establish the conditions to allow that to flourish in an organic matter. and that is why this store has moved to the heart of this district. that is a big deal. they have not only revitalized a remarkable and spacious flotation -- spacious location,

exponentially bigger than i imagined, but have doubled the number of employees in this economy that are working for them. that should not be lost on anyone. what i love about the employees is they are also customers. they are artists themselves. there is tremendous diversity and expression with the staff. congratulations on all your success and the growth of this business. you get it. you do it right. you speak the language of those that are on this side of the aisle. the folks on the other side understand the unique needs of their customers. i am thankful that you recognized not just in your opening comments, but recognized throughout your stewardship of this brand, the importance of contribution and giving back, the importance of what is happening outside your doors. we also understand that you need help and support and that this is not the end.

we know that from our friends at fashion cafe on sixth street. we know every business accounts. we have more work to do. something else we want to celebrate in the market today -- in market today is this thursday, tomorrow, in 24 hours, we will be launching this arts fair, this arts market that will be in the un plaza between the hours of 12 and 8:00 p.m., showcasing the individual and collective efforts of artists throughout our community and reinforcing this artist imperative. we are working with intersection of the arts and the black rock foundation, and others. they have identified 72 to 75

other arts organizations that are down here looking for space, that are encouraged about what is happening and encouraged about their prospects to put together the resources with city support, these low and no interest loans we are handing out. we will be following that with some really exciting things in september, where we will start doing some dance and some theater out on the streets and sidewalks, as i believe that is where theater should be. it is democratizing the medium. that is something else i think is going to create a lot of energy, good will, identity for the neighborhood. a lot of good things happening. some months back, people said we were just shutting down markets street. it was an anti-car program. it was not about that. it was using that in a way that could anchor these other efforts. i see randy shaw here.

i am glad he is here. he has been a great partner for this city and a partner for these efforts. pulling this up into the tenderloin area, the new tenderloin museum which had its grand opening if you weeks back. i love these reporters from the new york times. they come down and say, "you are doing walking tours in the tenderloin? you are celebrating the historical contributions of the tenderloin? you are marketing this area to tourists?" we say absolutely right. eat your heart out. the history of the tenderloin is our history. it is something to be proud of. there is a lot that is right in these neighborhoods and this particular neighborhood. at the end of the day, we celebrate his work, your work, eds work -- ed's work, and all of you here. we are proud to be here today.

now come back and shop and eat. [applause] >> the evening and welcome to the august 18, 2010 meeting of the san francisco board of

appeals. the presiding officer is a board president peterson. joining her is vice-president commissioner goh, commissioner fung, commissioner garcia, and commissioner hwang. our board's legal assistant -- i am the executive director. tonight, we will be resent -- have the senior building inspector. it in the front row, we have someone representing the department of public and health.

[unintelligible] at this time, i would like to ask you to please go over the meeting guidelines and conduct the swearing in process. >> we request you turn off all phones, beepers, and pagers. please carry on conversations in the hallway. the rules of presentation are as follows. they each have seven minutes to present their cases, and three minutes for a bottle. people affiliated with these parties must include their comments within the 7 or 3 minute periods. those not in conjunction with a party may have up to three minutes to address the board. they are asked but not required to submit a speaker card or a business card to staff when you come up to the lectern.

there are available on the left side of the podium. the customer satisfaction forms are there as well. please speak to board staff during the break or after the meeting. the board office is located on mission street, room 304. this meeting is broadcast live on san francisco government television, sfgtv cable channel 78. dvd's are available directly from sfgtv. at this point, we will conduct our swearing in. if you intend to testify, please stand and raise your right hand , and say i do after you have been sworn in. do you solemnly swear or affirm

that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? thank you. >> president peterson and members of the board, we have at three appeals that have been withdrawn and will not be heard this evening. one is item no. 5 regarding the property, and the other are connected items 12a and 12b. we can move on to item number one, public comment. is there any member of the public that would like to speak on an item not on the agenda tonight? >> members of the board, i am director of the san francisco open government coalition. i would hope that the board members or were noticeable of the fact that this time i did te