of the playground. during the first two meetings, concern was raised by that liveh of the site, primarily what is the increase in noise and activity when the playground is renovated. there will be a lot of children there. it is very close to the street. we wanted to make a buffer between the residents in the play area. it is the most active, and noisy function away from the neighborhood. you will see the trellis. the structure is an additional feature intended to buffer those neighbors.

we witnessed the area to the south where people congregate. it is primarily the dog owners that congregate in that area right now. we are proposing a future area to the north. it would basically become the new gathering space for people that want to congregate, particularly dog owners. that is the thought process that came into real looking at the play area. >> be you envision people with walkers and cannes, those amenities would be able to not -- or they are able to enjoy a picnic? >> to the picnic area and the cellist areas are all level and they are all served by an

accessible half of travel. the picnic area will be flat. i don't know where that reception came from. president buell: let me make a statement. i am mindful of this as a conceptual plan. there are some valid issues surrounding the size of the way station and might be necessary. it should be evaluated in the context of today. the gathering area was a valid point. that is where everybody is meeting now. or they are going to meet is equally appropriate. the looks ambitious, but the fund-raising projects are great. they bring a lot of neighbors

together. that will settle itself based on the amount of enthusiasm and money. to the performance area, i would like to recommend a staff hold a special session with the residents and have some sound tests and to notify the residents. they are the ones most impacted. i think it would only benefit what ultimately comes before us for approval. i am also sitting here reflecting on something i have to mention. i would probably not be sitting here today if it wasn't for her because she showed up with this woman in san francisco and i had just retired and they thought they would take the advantage of me. i had no intention of getting

involved. by the end of the meeting, they on to me. as a result of that, i became a member of golden gate national park that i proudly chair. it was that involvement that caught the mayor's attention. it is all your fault and it is nice to see you back here. are there any other comments? can i get a motion? >> i make a motion to -- >> we need two motion. president buell: all in favor? it is unanimous. as go to the second item. it has been moved and seconded. all in favor? it is unanimous. >> we are now on item 11.

president buell: we will give everybody a chance to clear the room. we are getting there.

ok. >> good afternoon, commissioners. i am here to present a lease with segue tourists. this is to approve a lease with tourcorp.com. on march 5 of this year, [unintelligible] bonds and timber 16, the commission unanimously approved a diesel election of san francisco elector of your company. back up to a few years ago, i would like to remind folks that we conducted -- conducted the trial.

that was collaborative lead developed by department staff and neighborhood residents. the program was successful and users enjoy their experience. there was no known opposition or complaints from the surrounding community. the lease with san francisco elektra contains the following provisions. it will convince -- commence. the minimum rent is $37,000 a year with 5% increase each year. it is 18% of all gross receipts. the minimum hours of operation are from 9:00 until 5:00. 8:00 until 7:00 during spring and summer.

i want to discuss the route a little bit. as i noted earlier, the route has been developed in coordination with property management staff, golden gate park operations staff, and members of the surrounding community. we will actively monitor the route to see if any adjustments are necessary. it is virtually identical to the one used in 2008 with the exception of a few changes made in response to community concerns. did not receive any complaints and was approved by parks that commission at the time. it brings people with mobility challenges to areas of golden gate park and might not otherwise be able to reach. many of them commented that brought them to places even they had not ben.

it is an educational opportunity to let the public and tourists to get to know the golden gate park a little bit better. i would like to note is an opportunity to serve as ambassadors for the park. the jurors are guided. not only is the tour guide concerned with the safety of the operator, but they are also concerned with the safety of all park patrons as well as the landscape. of like to tell you about the code of conduct. the tour guide says the speed. the participants must ride in single file. everyone from a stroller to a bicycle has a right of way. the must wait for everyone to finish crossing. they are never to ride off of

the grass. they have a little bell and they are supposed to say which side they will be on. they are also supposed to slow down and stop when approaching had done. the improvements that are necessary are as follows. the operations will be behind the band shell. there will be storage containers and an area where there are already five existing areas of operation. the placement, it will be produced by the general manager to electrically charged segues. there'll be an electrical concessions in the area. the development implemented with the court nations staff. the projected financial benefit is six and a thousand dollars in five years.

the projected annual revenue is their median proposed to $7,000 going out to $144,000. the staff reached out to the following group. it is quite extensive the, i will not read them all. the following individuals have expressed their support. the california academy of sciences, the teagardens', the office of economic and work- force development, the following individuals have expressed opposition. [unintelligible] that's it. president buell: thank you.

shall we hear from the public? >> [reads names] >> good afternoon. it is good to be in front of you guys again. it has been an interesting few months since we last met. i want to thank you guys for this opportunity. working with the park staff, it has been a collaborative effort. i have taken many people on many doors down, and i have heard great stories about the park and

had fabulous input. that is one of the things we wanted to get down. also a safe route for us to operate. we are wanting to reiterate that we are following the similar route and was done six months ago. we made some changes in the said the letter to the staff about this, and changes we made based on comments from parks that, police, users, everybody has kind of way in on this -- weighed in on this. talking to our constituents, there is a great excitement for this opportunity. they think it is a great way to get around and see things. we have gotten some press, and it has kind of built up interest

in doing this. i can assure you that what of the things we have gotten, letters from the community and we would be blazing down the trails had knocking everyone in the bushes. i can assure you that our business plan and our business model is not to be -- we would be closed in about a day. we haven't commandeered trails, we have not been unconsciously blazing through facilities. and does not work as a business model. you want to make sure that you guys know that we are not going to be running over squirrels for the elderly or anything else. we'll be operating at a very low speed. the park staff has been great to work with and everybody that has

commented, we are really looking forward to this. >> i am the owner and operator. i have known him for about seven years. he is in his off-season. he sees me a couple of times a week. he runs the largest in the safest operation in northern california. he has to work at fisherman's wharf, the most crowded area to run a segue to were in california. -- tour in california. he has done a great job this whole time.

his reputation is the best in the business and we are really happy that he got golden gate park. i also started a pilot program. they were concerned about running an operation of there because we would have to share the trails with hikers. when we had to share the roads be parked vehicles. we did the pilot program for a year and the parks department saw that wheat generated more revenue with the segue to were then the bicycle rentals combined. we thought it was a very profitable operation. in addition to another 4500 people were already out there. the parks department was so happy with it that with any

year, they've brought their own rental police and they are running the operations of their right now. they went into the winter time which was the first time it was open because we are still generating people out there. the golden gate park is the ideal spot. it is so open and the trails are so big that i don't think they would interfere with anybody out there. the number of people taking the tour would be so small. it is no wider than a person. they share with hikers, joggers, people with baby strollers. they would be limited to such a slow speed that everybody would

be able to get around them. is the only vehicle out there that can balance itself when it is not moving up like a bicycle that would fall over. -- unlike a bicycle. [chime] president buell: thank you. >> good afternoon, commissioners. i have been a neighbor since they opened five years ago along the waterfront. i hope to soon be their neighbor behind the band shell. i have seen the business grow from the first year along the northern waterfront. the first thing that really noticed is the quality of the

operation. i have observed several times the required training procedures that are conducted prior to the departure and they are very extensive. what seems to have caused such popularity is that it is fun and really informative, especially regarding the aspects that i did not know was going to be such a large part of the two were -- tour. i learned a lot of history that is really important to me about the waterfront that i would not have known unless i had taken the tour.

more than most people, you will be able to appreciate that knowledge with the customers. regarding concerns about sharing the trails with other vehicles, and have always been conducted in a very strict manner. all forms of transportation's, t is really accurate. the tour guide and forces that with everyone that i have ever observed. i see them going by three or four times a day. i really would like you to

consider this important asset that will become part of the park if you approve the recommendation, and i hope that you do. it will be a real asset to the visitors and the locals. [chime] >> chris. >> i am here representing the california outdoor roller sports association. i was approached as a member of the sunset. we had a discussion and i said we welcome all forms of alternative transportation. but we have deep concerns that they stay on routes that are appropriate. i believe it was on monday or tuesday. the general manager met with

staff and they were assured that this would not be involved with a dedicated pedestrian pathway. they're going places that are barely narrow enough that has to be changed because of trees falling. the owner of segway died on a segway. we can say that we are just going to give the least to this operator, but what is to prevent any other operator riding into the parking and using -- it becomes access. it is now all-access for

segways. why is it going to be different? we are changing the park experience for everyone. we want segways, but we have issue when they are in areas that are quiet and pedestrian only. president buell: thank you. >> raymond. >> hi, happy holidays. i am representing the planning association for richmond park. i would like to clarify the recommendation. it is conditional in its support. first, i have to disclose to you that i was privileged to take a tour on that path that you saw at the first of the month.

it was a good tour. we have no problem with the recommendation for the company. you have been excellent candidate. they are professional, thorough, they train people well before you went up, and the procession through the park. our only concern is with regard to the route. the routes are totally inappropriate, especially for inexperienced riders. they have to stay in the center of a pathway. it is sort of like a baby stroller. there is a danger of to be over.

it was an explicit prohibition against using segways from one side to the other. our position is one that they belong in the park. not on the trails. the very recent signs, all of the groves north of jfk are off- limits to bicycles. stone lake is off-limits to bicycles. it was painted on the surface of the asphalt. the general manager and i compete for the southern pathway almost every morning. he always goes to the left and

he has began things stuck in his fourier so you cannot hear. hockey does not hear me. >> he has run the over three times. -- me over three times. >> the same is true for pedestrians. they've got the whole procession. we did not overtake a buddy from behind. they were very polite. they waited. that was fine. it makes the other party occupy the middle of the trail. if it is a wheelchair, a baby stroller, a bicycle, or skater -- president buell: we will control it from not here, thank

you. >> it is my organization, not just myself that is very concerned with this plan. we repeat our constant objections. we're hearing over and over again that it will devote itself to the golden gate park master plan. this concept is not in the master plan. it shows how the landscape for tables and chairs and a small kiosk for food behind the band shell. there is nothing about bicycles and nothing about segways. it is the wrong place for this. you will be looking and there'll be people going back and forth.

i tried to persuade a couple of my compatriots to wander back and forth behind me to give you an idea, but they had too much dignity to do that. if you are in the concourse at something is going on, you're going to have bikes and going back and forth. this is a stage you are looking at. this has to be moved. seriously, this drive for relentless revenue should not be given precedence over the value of our historic resources or the beauty of the concourse. >> is there any other public comment?

>> the afternoon. i don't know if any of you are aware of food john -- who john mclaren was, but he used to drive his buddy in the park, which the recreation and park department wants to call the music encores. not to modernize transportation of the future of places. this is a historical area. for over 185 years, it has been a horse park. in the last 10 years, our famous mayor introduced legislation saying he was going to renew, developed, and t