anything. but i will. is this a boat house or not? it is a cafe. if you don't have the boats in the boat house, it is not a boat house. it seems like money and effort will be wasted on the starbucks- ization of stow lake, changing the atmosphere of the whole place. if it becomes an historical monument, which i hope that it does, a handmade boats that are there, they should be preserved. ithank you. >> michael, mary ann, christiana, raymond, suzanne, don gibbs, susan, and larry. if you could come up in that

order, please. come on up. >> commissioners, i am dennis. i have two points. one, what is going to happen to the employees, including the fellow that just spoke? what i just heard from the mackenzie is the staff was going to be expanded. does that mean that the current staff would be capped while additional folks are at it? have you considered that? i know that i it won't get an answer, but i want you to think about it. these are real live people. you should not lay them off. they're not going to bring people from new mexico. they're going to hire people who are there. the second point, you need to realize there will be a much bigger carbon footprint.

they have to fly back and forth all the time. they do that regularly. they're going to bring boats from carlsbad, new mexico, up here? that does not make sense. i know the whole thing is a cafe and increased revenue, but i heard a screaming and shouting match of the concessionaire's saying it would each offer more money. it is interesting that that was not taken up. anyway, thank you. and the next speaker, please. -- >> next speaker, please? >> hi, my name is gil. i worked as a registered nurse in san francisco. i have raised four children. i have been in the general area since age 50, and i think you are missing a very important

point. u.n. not really part of the community here. -- you are not really part of the community here. the community is not the boat house. the committee to me, architecturally, it is not particularly attractive to me, but that is not the point. the point is that the people who work there create an atmosphere for the elderly people there, and i am speaking on their behalf because they cannot wait. 25 people went home. they come not to spend not a lot of money at a cafe. i know this is unique, but what you are doing, basically you are chasing away the community by scaring away the irregulars. jeff has created an ambiance that has created something and i think you have destroyed that. [applause] >> ok, jeff, sandy, christine

hall, and nick. >> i have been gifted one minute from another supporter. >> margaret, would you pull those other cards? >> we don't have a card from larry lee. >> we are trying to be respectful. we have been here since 2:00. >> i understand that, but there are other people who have been here since 2:00 as well. move as fast as you can. >> think. i am suzanne, the save the stow lake boat house. i brought copies that margaret

give you earlier -- gave you earlier. president charles chase and vice-president of the historic preservation commission asked to be sure that you see their letter, because they are asking you to defer this vote today until they have time to consider the pending landmark domination of the boat house interior and exterior. they are very interested in the interior, no matter what your staff says. they're very interested in that. there is only one boat repair shop in golden gate park. they're very interested to evaluate it. in order not to be in conflict with their work, you must honor their request and for this vote. the outcome of the review may change what is possible for renovations, and that would imperil the city in costly litigation with a new tenant to signs of a lease only to discover later that what he was promised is impossible.

you are all appointed by the mayor and serve at his pleasure. it is important that you not betrayed the people of san francisco, for whom you are sworn to serve, an exchange for pleasing one man or his associates. you told us that you make your this is it -- your decision based on staff reports. these staff earn bonuses on new contracts they bring and by taking at face dow you reports from staff hoot -- at face value reports from staff who have a conflict of interest. you do not serve the public as you have a duty to do. i know that you are all dedicated san franciscans. but listen to your family and friends who realize this is a bad business decision for the city that will change stow lake and golden gate park forever. the whole process has been flawed, and with bad ingredients you get bad results, and this

lease is bad. giving the boat house to an out- of-state souvenir chain is not how you want to be remembered. seniors and others have little power at city hall and it will be harmed by these changes. at high prices will make it affordable for most. it listened to the community, protect your elders, and protect this historic elderly but house. upgrades, of course. gutting and changing, no. thank you. >> thank you. >> next speaker, please? >> commissioner, my name is ron schmidt. i have a problem with my vocal chords. bear with me. i have also been granted the next minute. >> who is it that you were representing? >> virginia. that we don't have a card for virginia. it just be as quick as you can.

>> i have something that i need your read on behalf of the coalition and my own comments. the save as stow lake but house commission has presented 3000 signatures to you in opposition to the ortega plan. it in just a few days we received more than 50 letters support without soliciting them. supervisor mar's office has been flooded with hundreds of phone calls and e-mail to take action on this matter. we are supported by the san francisco chapter of the sierra club, golden gate preservation alliance, the stove family, descendants of william stow, the park's superintendent for whom the stow lake was named. the san francisco preservation society, speak, sunset park neighborhood association, luis

restaurant, take back our parks, christopher public, author of a history of colgan gate park, ashley wolff, coordinator of. the audubon society never supported the ortega takeover, even though rec & park said they did to get more support. when contacted, the coal valley improvement association said they had not heard the full story when reckoned park asked for their support. -- when recreation and park asked for their support. i want to submit these. my own comments. in this morning's "chronicle," commissioner, you were quoted as saying that in its fundamental form, we're talking about

change, and there are always going to be some people who don't want to change. i deeply resent that. i deeply resent it. i meet all kinds of people walking around the liked on my several blocks in the week. i know that they are intelligent and thoughtful people. in eight days, i will celebrate the 30 years of sobriety. that happened in might conjunction as coming out as a gay man, father, a teacher, and an advocate i have embraced change. i have embraced change vigorously, but change with the purpose. there is no purpose in changing this lease to the ortega family. thank you. >> next speaker, please?

>> hello, everyone. i worked for the proposal at stow lake. iphone the cafe on eighth avenue -- i don't the cafe on eighth avenue from 1979. we were the first in the neighborhood to offer vegetarian meals with a focus on nutrition. regarding the preservation of the interior of the boat house, i thought the commission was set for preservation. instead it seems to be for transformation. regarding the annual. revenues offered by burress and myself, we're guaranteed $75,000 more than the ortega enterprises. that is to say or take that offers guarantees of $140,000,

compared with two other $15,000 by burress and myself. therefore, greater annual revenues. -- compared with $215,000 by burress and myself. it would be more money for san francisco, the committee, and the city, rather than going to new mexico, home of the ortega enterprise. it therefore, it seems to me if we would have been chosen, the city would be guaranteed to $75,000 more than the ortega enterprises, plus it would stay local rather than going out of state to mexico, there for helping the economy of the city and the citizens. don't ignore the economic needs of the city and its citizens. will this commission respect local concerns and wishes or go over to corporate interests?

democracy or hypocrisy? >> thank you. >> joan, jennifer, jocelyn, and joey. >> good evening. i hope everybody is doing ok. i want to basically say since we're talking about the lease, and that is all you are saying, myself as a private citizen, basically you read my letter. you know what i think about the lease. the other thing is i am standing here, but ray did not stay here. awe think the lease is good for basically the parks. there you go. >> thank you very much. >> next speaker, please?

>> hi, my name is kathy. i would like to read this letter. dear president, stow lake is in desperate need of a renovation. that is easy to see. i walked there all the time but never by a single thing. i cannot think of anything better than to go there for coffee. buying popcorn just does not cut it, even if historic. euna the benefits of organic food. -- you know the benefits of organic foods. as a huge part advocate, as you to approve this zoellick project. thank you. >> good evening. my name is kevin campbell. i am only 26 and originally from seattle, so i cannot claim any

deep historical ties to stow lake. i really enjoyed golden gate park. it feels like the voices of the people who live directly around the like are overshadowing those of us -- are over shedding those of us who live around the like. at that don't see how making huge improvements to a site with deep commitments to the environment as a bad thing. i don't see how bringing more people to park is bad. i don't see how bringing new people to the park is bad. i urge you to move forward. thank you. >> david, patty, richard, james, henry, time yet ortega. it -- tanya ortega.

>> good evening. my name is mark. from talking to the ortegas, i like their passion and what they want to do to work with the community. the way of preserving the integrity and the history of the building -- i think it is great. i am in favor of it. it is a place that will be new and serves the community. everything i have heard them say is they want to do things consistent with the community and work with the community. i think it is great. thank you. >> thank you. >> i will just repeat what i said earlier. once again, this decision to sign this lease may have been farmed the land tax. there is no discussion in your calendar item about ceqa or this

review. if they initiate a landmark designation, as staff indicated they will treat it as a landmark for the moment anyway, that is an historic research that would trigger a full eir, which would significantly delay or change the basis upon which you have negotiated this matter. i don't support changing the nature of the boat house operation. i would encourage you to reject this proposed lease and do something different. thank you. >> thank you. >> my name is patty. i just have to say a few things. i cannot believe that a family that has run a business for 65 years is being forced out by a

corporation. we are in the same situation, not necessarily with the ortega family, but we are fighting for our business to sustain for a future generation. we were fortunate enough to win that big it to sustain that lease another 10 years. -- we were fortunate enough to win that bid to sustain that least another 10 years. i remember playland. i remember still like the way that it was with the boats and the boat house with the hoist. i don't think we need another restaurant. this gentleman said something, that the cost, for $60,000, it would be the cost of a gardener. i think a family that has run a business 65 years is worth more than $65,000 in revenue. thank you. it [applause] >> next speaker, please?

>> my name is richard. i am a native san francisco. i have been going to stow lake since i was a child. now my five kids out and grandkids i take there. if you have ever experienced any time there at all, and has a special charm that you only get with time. it is a special place, and it is one of the few places i could still take my kids and grandkids and enjoy the day and not have to mortgage the house to pay for it. it is one of the few places left that i know of in the park that still has that charm that you just cannot buy or build or duplicate. i just wanted to express that. thank you. >> thank you. >> next speaker, please? >> good evening.

the one at stow lake is a gem. it has been unfortunately neglected. when i have friends visiting from overseas, i always take them to the other location. i just treasure the gifts they have over there. honestly, i am confident that you will take a family to restore this facility with elegance we will all be proud of. i urge you to approve this lease. thank you. >> next speaker. >> good evening, commissioners. my name is it time at ortega. my job for my family's company is to engage the local committee to insure that we form a solid, long-lasting community partnerships. i come here on behalf of ortega

enterprises. our goal is to build a network of partners from local businesses to neighborhood associations and nonprofit organizations. we are acutely aware of the importance of stow lake. one of our goals is to make community corner where partners can benefit from a boat house. we are committed to retaining the historical nature of the boat house and food suppliers and local businesses, making many community partnerships. we want to become part of your community and we hope that you will approve our lease further so that we can proceed to make the historic but house more attractive as a golden gate park destination -- but the historic but house more attractive as a golden gate park destination. >> next speakers, please?

>> the commission actually approved a srow lake rfq that says the department has no capital funds for this facility. the company proposal be put out saying there are no funds available and then all of a sudden there are funds available? the lease states as is without -- with all faults. if you dig deeper, it says the city is responsible for allada -- for all ada upgrades. they will also provide a financing plan. seismic upgrades will more than likely be mandated when changing the use to public occupancy. and, nick, it does not say all new boats, it says no new or as

new boats. i encourage everybody listening to call in your supervisor to stop this lease from being approved. unless the commission takes the right approach and stops it themselves. there are many errors and this lease and many things overlooked. >> thank you. >> next speaker, please? >> my name as maggie. i am a san francisco resident. at the san francisco commissionaires bureau is in full support of this. the wooden boat house has undergone very few renovation since 1956. that needs a paint job, mold is growing, the building interior has become damaged. insuring this building is adequately restored requires a new lessee.

the ortega family has been selected and i am full support of it. >> next speaker, please? >> commissioners, i will use an extra minute. you will be pleased with this. >> go ahead and start. we will grant the extra minute if it sounds interesting. >> he told me to tell you that is a waste of time since you already made up your mind and this whole process has been a mess. what i would like to say this house sad is that our state playground has been turned into a battleground. for the direction of migration, i extend an invitation to join me in silent meditation. peace in our hearts, peace and

the parks. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> that was kind of nice. >> good evening. my name is james. i'm a resident of san francisco. my concern is primarily, what is the fiscal impact to the city? we are already short of cash. is the city in any way obligated to pick up the tab for any of the upgrades or retrofits to the boat house?

i was scared to death at the hall of justice for about six years. i know that ada expenses are extremely expensive and they get more expensive as the project goes on. my question is, is the commission aware of any cost that could possibly have to be picked up by the city? >> hello, commissioners. today i want to focus on finances in my brief time. basically, i'm talking about the least. staff has this been going on this. they keep comparing the least 20 years ago to the proposal that we put in this year. the proposal before you guarantees a minimum rent of

140,000 less per year. are guaranteed rent was going to be $215,000 per year. after factoring in the escalations, the difference over the term of the contract would be just over $2 million in guaranteed rent, averaging out to about $100,000 per year according to the $60,000 per partner. that is quite a few partners. there are also dramatic differences in the percentage of front that we have offered. the lease you are considering requires the or take up only needs to pay 33% of boat rentals. we had offered 36%. they only have to pay 10% of food sales. we offered to pay 27%, three times higher, and we had the full service cafe they talk about. it was not limited staff. they offered to pay 7.5% on

merchandise. we offered 27%. basically, what you are doing by accepting these low or rats, you are sending a clear message to the city administration that you have sufficient funds in your budget, and as you go forward next year with the new budget trying to get limited resources available from the city, but this is going to come back and haunt you. the city will look at recreation and park and say here they go, the gave up $2 million on this lease from the 67-year concession air, rigid concessionaire, and it sends a clear message. a storelly, -- historic lee, this is a boat house. i also have a letter here that think your behalf. i just want to put this on the record. >> thank you.

>> would anyone else like to comment on this item? if so, please come forward now. >> good evening. i hope you understand i have a couple of friends who gave me a couple minutes. i should be given five minutes. i defer to your authority. one minute. mr. chairman, i am a native san franciscan. i have lived here my entire life, raised four kids. colgan gate park was one of the primary places we went out as a family. i think it is an embarrassment to have the concessionary out there basically doing nothing to give back to the community. golden gate park is the crown jewel of the system, and i think this is a world-class city that deserves ain