authority and the california department of transportation for receipt of federal and state funds. this is an action item. commissioner mirkarimi: very good. any comment from seeing none staffseeing -- seeing none, public comment. public comment is closed. we take this -- we did not do roll-call. [roll-call vote] the item passes. commissioner mirkarimi: items seven, please. >> reappoint fran martin to the citizens advisory committee of san francisco county

transportation authority for two year. this is an action item. commissioner mirkarimi: we take this without objection. congratulations. item eight. commissioner mirkarimi: public comment is closed. we did this without objection. next item. >> allocate $460 in prop k funds with conditions to san francisco municipal

transportation agency for two projects. this is an action item. commissioner mirkarimi: any discussion on this item? erikseeing none, public comment. public comment is closed. item 10, please. commissioner mirkarimi: i just had a quick question to staff on this. the reach of our authority on the climate initiatives program -- can you just explain that a little bit in terms of how that would garner, and what that might garner in terms of grants? >>-understanding is that this is part of the delegation process.

this is an opportunity for us to essentially show local support for the climate initiatives grant program so we can continue to advocate for the program in various capacities. the resolution provides a little bit more detail on that on page 87. commissioner mirkarimi: i'm looking at that. >> we also need that resolution in place in order to accept grants under the program. commissioner mirkarimi: ok. any discussion on this? seeing none, public comment? public comment is closed. we take this without objection. introduction of new items. i'm sorry. next item. >> in the 11th, ethics annual compensation for the executive director for the period of

january 1 through december 31. this is an action item. commissioner mirkarimi: this was handled by the personnel committee. any public comment? take this without objection, colleagues? so moved. i'm sorry. i did not see you. thank you. please take roll-call. >> [roll-call vote] commissioner mirkarimi: aye. >> the item passes. commissioner mirkarimi: thank you. >> item 12. introduction of new items.

this is an information item. commissioner mirkarimi: any information on new items? seeing none, public comment. public comment is closed. >> item 13, public comments. commissioner mirkarimi: one last chance for public comment. public comment is closed. >> item 14, adjournment. commissioner mirkarimi: meeting is adjourned. thank you.

>> the san francisco arts commission's public arts program made a big splash in the civic center with the world premiere of three heads, six arms. the artist came from shanghai to help us celebrate the unavailing. we had a chance to speak with him about his work. >> the san francisco arts commission is pleased to be celebrating their relationship between san high and san francisco. the shanghai and san francisco. this is a 30 relationship that

stretches back to win dianne feinstein was the mayor of san francisco. we premiered a new work of art here in san francisco called the three heads, six arms. welcome to san francisco. thank you for bringing your extraordinary sculpture. can you tell me about what inspired you to create this sculpture? >> this started with some trips that i took years ago. i went to to bed and i saw a lot of statues and i started to really feel the spiritual life of people in tibet. it really inspires me and i went back to shanghai and i started the creation of this.

>> we see that one of the heads of the bullet it is your face. can you talk about the significance of that? -- we see that one of the heads of the buddha is your face. >> i started doing public art almost 10 years ago. what i want to express this as an extension of my our practice. this is an accumulation of my own experience as a performance artist. >> we see that the scale is very important.

we have seen other works where a limb of this culture is on the floor but everything is very big and large scale. what are you trying to accomplish with expanding the scale of these images to such a great size. >> i wanted to make large scale art and see how this plays a role in contemporary society. i think that is the mission of contemporary art, to serve as a social critique. >> when the mayor knew some --

when mayor newsom join you in dedicating this, they wanted to find a work that was big and bold. he was so pleased with your participation that he made you an honoraria citizens of san francisco for the next 18 months. the public reaction has been very positive. what is your reaction of how people receive your sculpture? >> i think that san francisco has a long history. this gigantic sculpture is in front of the civic center. i know that that is not the kind

of a go with whole environment. there is an exchange with the american culture and the asian culture which has created this very strong power. this power was created by east meets west may be is exactly what our mayor or the public wants. they will start to be curious and wonder how this is here and how we look at the asian culture. >> you have lived internationally, you have lived in cities like new york and beijing, now shanghai. you made a very conscious decision to lend this culture to san francisco as opposed to having it premier as an exhibition at another museum.

>> i am very satisfied with the turnout and i lived in new york for 8 years and all of my children were born in new york. i already have the american spirit. i am proud to be here and i really appreciate the spirit of committing to things and being honored and being collaborative. when i flashed back to my career, i think about what an artist can do is a teeny tiny thing. i want to contribute to the hall human society. what art can do is just this tiny bit. >> your invitation has already proven to be a great success and we really look forward to spending time with your

sculpture. thank you for being part of "culture wire." >> thank you for being part of this project. >> thank you for watching. join us for future episodes. you can

>> good evening. welcome to the meeting of the san francisco board of appeals. the presiding officer is board president tanya peterson. joining her are commissioners garcia, fung, and hwang. we expect commissioner goh momentarily. i wonder if ms. young is here, if she could raise her hand. i want to let the audience know we have translation device is here for anyone who needs translation services. i will ask again and see if she arrived and can help to translate that message and to set of the headphones. sitting to my left is the deputy

city attorney. she will provide the board with any needed legal advice this evening. in the front row, we have representatives from some of the city departments you'll be hearing from this evening. we have senior building inspector joe duffey representing the department of building inspection. scott sanchez, the building administrator, is here representing the planning department and planning commission. jarvus murrais murray is represg the transportation department. john hwang represents st. use and mapping. the board's legal assistant is the boards except to director. >> the board requests to turn off all cell phones, beepers, and pagers. please carry on conversations in the hallway. the board's rules of presentation are as follows.

appellants, permit holders, and department respondents each have seven minutes to present their cases and three minutes for but a. people affiliated with these parties must include their comments within the seven and three minutes. those who are not affiliated with the parties have up to three minutes to address the board, with no rebuttal. to assist in proportion of minutes, members of the public who wish to speak are asked but not required to submit a speaker card or business card to staff when you come up to the lectern. speaker cards and pans are available on the left side of the podium. the board welcome your comments and suggestions. there are customer satisfaction service cards on the left side of the podium. if you have questions about requesting a rehearing, please speak to staff during a break or after the meeting, or call the office tomorrow morning. the office is located at 1650 mission, room 304.

this meeting is broadcast live on san francisco government television, sfgtv, cable channel 78. these are available for purchase directly from sfgtv. at this point, we will conduct our swearing in process. if you intend to testify tonight, please raise your right hand and say "i do" after you have been sworn in or affirmed. do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? thank you. >> thank you, mr. pachinko. we have one housekeeping item this evening which has to do with item eight, appeal 10-103,

regarding a tree removal permits. the parties have jointly requested that this matter be continued to january 26, 2011. with emotion, we can move the item to that date. is there any public comment on this rescheduling? simenon, if you could call the roll, please. >> on the motion from the president to reschedule 10-103 to january 26, 2011. commissioner fung: aye. commissioner garcia: aye. aye. -- commissioner hwang: aye. president peterson: we will take up item one, public comment. if there is anyone who wishes to speak on an item which is not on tonight's calendar, please step forward. >> good evening, commissioners. all of you should have received my e-mail-about my response to

miss gethener's response to your qualifications. some of you are not qualified to into the questions before you. you do not have the qualifications. i will ask that the overhead be turned on. i would like to bring your attention to it -- i would like people to get their attention to this. this is a santa cruz news article published on-line. you may you use -- please note that you may bring a small clams action of $7,500. the planning examiners and planning staff have been found operating without certification by the state that is mandated. the judge will hear your case, and the government step can be sued personally. this has worked quite well for the people. please contact this paralegal,

no charge, to assist you. this tells me that planning department staff are not doing their job. they are not doing the job the people are hiring them to do to protect them, to uphold the codes. they can be sued and dragged into court -- sued personally. it seems that is a question that if it has taken place in santa cruz, we should be able to do that here in san francisco. thank you. president peterson: thank you. next speaker, please. sir, were you wanting to speak on public, now? any other public comment? seen none, we will move on to commissioner comments and questions. commissioner garcia: the last time we met here was two weeks ago, and scott sanchez had just

been appointed za, . that was the day they held the parade for the giants having won the world series. i think i know i speak for the whole board when i say we want to absolutely congratulate mr. sanchez on what is a very important appointment. he is well qualified. he is very knowledgeable about codes. he comes here extremely well- prepared. anyone that has watched our proceedings or met mr. sanchez knows he is obviously highly intelligent. the only thing that might be bad about his appointment is the fact that he might decide not to come here any longer and represent the planning department. i hope that does not happen. beyond congratulating him, i want to commend the planning department on what i consider to be a very, very good choice in have been chosen him for a zoning administrator. on a less happy note, the other

announcement i have is that i have to leave your early tonight. i have to attend a funeral service. my daughter in law lost her mother, lisa, mary louise stewart, and the service is tonight. i apologize if this creates trouble for anyone appear, or anyone. president peterson: thank you. mr. sanchez, we again apologize. that night was confusing, but we should have a parade in your honor as well. any other commissioner comments? any public comment on the commission of commons? seeing at non-, we will move on to item 3, the adoption of the minutes. before you for your consideration are the minutes of the board meeting of november 3, 2010.

i move to adopt the november 3, 2010 minutes. any public comment on the minutes? seeing non-, call the roll, please. >> on that motion from the president to adopt those minutes, commissioner fund. commissioner fung: aye. vice president goh: aye. commissioner garcia: aye. commissioner hwang: aye. >> item 48 is your consideration of findings to do with -- item 4a is an adoption of finding to an appeal you heard recently. it is appeal no. 10-092, up banks versus dbi. you voted to overrule in grant the approval on the condition that the utilities be capped and

maintained. these findings were drafted with your motion in mind. the parties have agreed to the findings as written. unless you have questions for them or would like to discuss the findings further, we are able to entertain a motion. vice president goh: i had a question. if they have approved this, it must be correct, but i had the impression that the tenant was female. >> there was no disagreement to the gender of the tenant. commissioner fung: i think you were right. commissioner garcia: it was a male? i thought it was a female. president peterson: may be in the findings we can have it neutral. >> the name is confusing. it is a foreign name. president peterson: i will move to adopt the findings. is there any public comment on the findings? seeing none, please call the

roll. >> the motion is to adopt with no changes. on that motion from the president to adopt those findings -- commissioner fung: aye. vice president goh: aye. commissioner garcia: aye. commissioner hwang: aye. >> the vote is 5-0 to adopt those findings. >> before we move on to the next item, i would ask ms. young if you could step forward briefly. i want to make sure if those here who need translation services understand we have the headsets available. do you have them with you? if you could make a brief announcement into the microphone that you are able to provide the service in cantonese and mandarin and how people can access the headsets, i would very much appreciate it. >> [speaking chinese]

>> if you could also announced, i apologize, that there will also be a translation service available if people would like to speak to the board, if they come up and want to speak and need it. we can provide that to them. >> [speaking chinese] >> thank you very much.

>> i just explained to them to say that anybody who needs translations in cantonese or mandarin can step forward and i will speak for them. >> thank you very much. mr. checkpachecko, when you are ready, we are ready for item 4b to be called. >> it is a jurisdiction request for subject party 3506 16th st., also known as 282 center street. it is a letter regarding an allegation of illegal commercial activities at the subject property. the appeal ended on july 28, 2010, and the jurisdiction

request was received on october 21, 2010. the subject property owner is denman drobisch. president peterson: we can hear from the request foiror first. >> my name is ali faritous. i am the agent for ike's place. can i submit a letter from the head of the office of economic and work force development? president peterson: if you want the board to consider this right now, you need to read it into the record. you would be using some of your time. we may not have a chance to read it while you're speaking. but go ahead. >> she is also here, if the

board would appreciate speaking to her or hearing from her as well. ok. i would like to start off by saying it is our position that we were not served properly. there is three different addresses that this notice has gone out to. it is my understanding that it was actually served on one of the other two addresses, and we actually received it -- the actual notice after the 15-day window. assuming that we were served properly, at the time we were involved in three different lawsuits, two of them against two pairs of tenants that were living upstairs. the main one was actually against the land for himself. all of these lawsuits basically involved in commercial property. wee