can go into a refinery and we can use it again. they do oil changes and sell it anyway, so now they know when a ticket to a. hal>> to you have something you want to get rid of? >> why throw it away when you can reuse it? >> it can be filtered out and used for other products. >> [speaking spanish] >> it is going to be a good thing for us to take used motor oil from customers.

we have a 75-gallon tank that we used and we have someone take it from here to recycle. >> so far, we have 35 people. we have collected 78 gallons, if not more. these are other locations that you can go. it is absolutely free. you just need to have the location open. you are set to go.

>> san francisco's buses and trains serve many riders who are blind or how low vision. muni is their lives line to get around. simple act of courtesy can help them access muni services safely. it is not just courtesy. it is the law. >> i used to take the 21 airlock. >> lot of times, when i would be

waiting at the bus stop, the door would open and the driver would announce the bus line. >> 71. >> it is easier and preferable when a driver sees someone who is obviously visually impaired if they stop in front of me and say "this is the 71," "this is the seven." >> our buses are setup to announce the lines when we pull up. when i see a customer with a guide dog or cane, make sure i let them know what line i am. >> every time i get on the bus, i tell the driver where i need to get off, even if i think there digital voice system is going to announce that. just so they know in the event that it is not working. i would say a good amount of the time, i do get acknowledgment, actually. >> good morning. >> morning. is your announcements system

working? >> i'm sorry, it is not. >> could you let me know when we get to van ness and sacramento? >> i sure will. >> i have had a number of drivers be really helpful in terms of getting passengers to move down a few seats so i can sit in the front. >> can somebody give this lady a seat? >> the bus driver was say, "please wait a moment. i want to make sure you have a seat." and i hear him or her announced that he needs a seat for a person with a disability. >> as soon as the person gets on the bus, i ask the passengers if we can have a seat for this person. >> anybody help us? thank you, sir. >> thank you. >> sides, federal law requires that the customers give their seats to the elderly and disabled if they should need it. >> buses should stop in zones that can accommodate multiple lines will stop behind one another. i cannot see what bus is behind

-- i'm not even sure if there is a bus behind. the second bus does not come up to the front. oftentimes, it has caused me to be passed up by bosses, by trains, and again, it makes me late for appointments. it makes me late for my job. >> i'm often anxious that i'm going to miss the bus that i need, simply because i'm not fast enough to scamper down and find out which bus is lined up behind the bus that is currently in front of me. what i'm going to work and i take the van ness street buses to work, sometimes, one of them will pull up right next to the other one. not in a bus stop, but parallel to it. and i do not know it is there. i also do not feel comfortable walking out into the street.

>> is that my boss over there? i think that is my boss -- bus. i'm going to miss it. i don't know how many times i have missed buses because of this. >> i do not double park. it is not safe for our customers, and especially the visually impaired. anything could happen, and it is muni's policy not to double park. normally what i do, if i can safely go in behind, i pull in the zone, offload my customers, load the customers that are waiting for me. when the bus in front of the leaves, i will pull to the front for the customers that did not see me. >> sometimes, the bus pulls up, and there is stuff in my way because the boys -- bus has not pulled up right in front of me. i have to figure out how to get around or through.

i have to navigate through all of that in order to get onto the bus. >> when i pick up a visually impaired customers, i like to pull up right in front of them, make sure nothing is in the way so they can walk right on the coach. >> okay, take one big step forward. >> when i drop off a visually impaired customers, make sure you do not pull up at the shelter. you want to give them a straight shot so they can go to the left or the right. you want to pull in front or behind the shelter. never around any trees or pose. i usually let them know that they have about 10 feet before you. a straight shot, and wallace 10 feet away, and they can make the decision what they want to do from that point. every now and then, and visually impaired customer wants to be dropped off right at the shelter. so they can go to the left or the right from there. >> ok, you want to take one big

step when you step off. the shelter is straight ahead. >> if i get on the bus and asked a bus driver to please tell me when to get off at seven straight, the bus driver very often will tell me to just look at the sign, and i will say that i cannot see the sign because and visually impaired. sometimes, the bus driver gets it. some of the time, the bus driver does not get it at all. it is really difficult when you do not see well to understand where things are. it is one of those issues where people do not see it from the outside. so when they see me having problems stepping off of curbs or stairs or running into the side of a building or things like that, it would appear to them as though maybe i had been drinking, but the problem is that there is no contrast between a great building and a

sidewalk. >> it is difficult for some drivers i think to understand that i am blind. although i may look like i'm getting along very well, and it did happen to me on several occasions with drivers, questioning my ability to see. they would say, "well, you really are not that blind." not only is that infuriating, but it is just something that cuts to my core. >> there are times that visually impaired customers get on the bus, and they are moving so well that makes me wonder how blind they are, but that is not for me to decide. i'm just here to take them some point a to point b safely. >> i moved all the way across the country specifically to live in san francisco because i knew they had great public transportation. i had the greatest interactions with muni drivers because i was thrilled to be on a bus and be able to get some more independently. i think the drivers can really

feel proud that they are making people's lives possible in a way that it is not possible in other parts even of this country. >> the americans with disabilities act of 1990 is a wide-ranging federal civil- rights law that prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. title two of the ada addresses access to public services, including public transportation for persons with disabilities. tips for respectful communication for people with disabilities brochures are available. call sfmta accessible services at 415-701-4485 for copies.

>> welcome to culturewater. in 2001, the san francisco arts commission and tampa does go public library established an arts master plan for the city soon to be renovated branch library. almost 10 years later, the san francisco arts commission has integrated a collection of vibrant new artworks by bay area artists into five new libraries, and there is more on the way. here is a closer look at some of the projects.

>> the branch library improvement program is a bond funded program undertaken by the san francisco public library to upgrade each of the branch libraries throughout the neighborhoods. one of the great benefits of this opportunity is that each of these branches has a unique artwork that has been created specifically for that branch, based on input from people who live near that branch, in the surrounding neighborhood. >> trur- minded. there was a lot of community support for the project. i try to make it about the true hill and its history.

they were something that natives used for making houses. the construction of the pond is based on abalone house construction. at the bottom of the form, it is woven into a rope which transforms into a manufactured rope. that is a reference to the cordish company, a big industry at the waterfront that went along with the shipbuilding industry. other examples of art work in libraries that you might be interested in seeing it is dana zed's glass shatters in front of a library. there are a wall sculptures in the lobby of the glen park branch library. and then there is an

illuminated book on the wall of the mission bay library. >> "ocean current." we are on ocean avenue, so there is a connection to that. that is what this is about. culmination of all lot of dialogue, processing over a five-year period. that is longer than most art projects take, but i really feel like the product was enriched from that. making the sculpture involves forging and fabricating steel. we used to deal to create this flowing, central sculptor, heating, bending, grinding, painting, bending, and adding a patina to it. layers and layers of craftsmanship that went into

this. >> of the artists who participated in this project are all bay area of projects. they work in a wide variety of media. metal, glass, natural elements, photography, just a range of different approaches and aesthetics. so we have created a nice collection of art work that is reflective of the current date. art scenes. and we invite everyone to participate and to see the unique art works that have been developed. >> to learn more, visit

during the meeting -- text during the meeting. >> call to order. item number two, approval of the minutes of the december 14, 2010 meeting. >> public comments? are there any? item number four, executive session. >> all those in favor? >> second. aye.

[inaudible] >> vote for executive session dempsten?

>> those in favor? aye. any opposed? >> move not to disclose the items discussed in executive session. >> aye. >> item #6. please be advised that the ringing in use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. the chairman order the removal from the meeting room and the person responsible for the ringing of a cell phone or similar sound producing device. please be advised that a member of the public has up to three minutes to make permanent public comments on each agenda item. item 7a. >> i would like to open the floor for the nomination of port commission president.

>> i would like to nominate kimberly brandon. >> are there any other nominations? the nominations for board commission president -- port commission president is now closed. >> congratulations. [laughter] >> that was quick. >> thank you. >> we have to vote. >> those in favor? any opposed? hearing no opposition, by support it as unanimous. i would like to thank you for your continued support. last year was a wonderful year for the port. we had a lot of changes and i think there will be even more this year with the america cup. maybe the giants will win the world series again. we look forward to more revenue,

there is so much going on. i am just happy to be a part of it. i am happy to serve on the commission. thank you for your support. i would like to open up nomination for port commission vice-president. are there any nominations? >> ann lazarus. >> i would second that. are there any other nominations? are there any other nominations? hearing none, let's vote. >> aye. an ny opposed? congratulations. >> i look forward to working with you, madam president, and our soul other commission member. [laughter]

anyways, i second everything the board commission -- port commission president just said. thank you. >> item 7 b, executive directors report. >> good afternoon. thank you for joining us today. thank you very much for being willing to take on the role as officer. this is a fantastic thing. we have had it now once before. i was commenting to someone else earlier, there are 85 public ports in the united states and there are not 85 women in officer positions at those ports. we are proud to have you as our leadership. it will be an exciting time. we have a lot of work ahead of

us and thank you for being willing to serve. i look forward to seeing two bodies in this empty chairs someday soon, i hope. coming up will be our budget items that will come to you next month. the ideal is that we can have all five of you in those chairs. i have a couple of items on the executive director's report today. the first is a very prestigious one. the environmental protection agency has announced that ito center at heron's head park as being recognized for bringing environmental justice and education into neighborhoods. the partnership being awarded here is the literacy for environmental justice award, as well as the city and county of

san francisco through the department of the environment and the port itself, and the state of california through coastal conservancy with industry partners. i would like to acknowledge maleek, pamela, as well as the chairwoman overact pledge for their incredible work in putting together the application for the award. so, i would like to say a little bit about what this board is. these awards are made to recognize partnerships of governments, nonprofit, an industry that address local concerns and it -- and result in something positive. you may recall that the ecocenter is the only environmental justice center in the bay area. it is a very popular one and is

100% of the grid. we are very proud of it. it has taken 10 years in the making, right? to get to this era. i might say that this would be one of the greatest spots to watch the america's cup in 2013. and hopefully it will be a very popular and become very well now as a result. what else do i want to say? off the grid, as i mentioned. renewable energy, pollution, greenhouse gas production -- reduction. it has been a terrific partnership for all of us, funded with coastal conservancy money and with the lease from the port of san francisco.

we are all extremely proud and numerous departments have become off the grid, including the department of public health and san francisco public utilities commission. this is really a great effort and congratulations to them for winning such a prestigious award. we wish them well. next is the news we have all been awaiting, the response to the pier 70 waterfront site rfq. as you recall, the request is for a 25 acre site at pier 70. we received six responses. fantastic news. the mission bay development group, san francisco waterfront partners, tmg partners, and the

san francisco medical center. we have a lot of very interesting and qualified teams. the job of the panel is to make sure that they are qualified proposals. i am very happy to see so many of our local partner showing interest in what is such an incredible sight. a great view in place for the america's cup. again, we offer this competitive solicitation after we did our years of community processing. now they will be going to and auguste body to review and we hope to come back either in the late february or early march meeting. does that sound good to you, kathleen? equally exciting as the pending 40 anniversary of the san francisco heritage.

today we have with us mark dealer, the executive director, who has brought an example of their cell laboratory work. most appropriately entitled port city. an amazing piece of work that reminds us all of the fact that there was a port, then there was a city. that we really are a very integrated part of the city's heritage in many ways. like -- sorry, mark -- i am married to him like, got to get that right. in august 2010 he was appointed as executive director, moving here from the los angeles conservancy where he led the organization's advocacy program. he was successful in the preservation of historic resources in the port of los angeles.

thank you for doing that. he is a regional attorney for the national historic western office and is on the board of trustees for the california foundation since 2006 and has published two publications on their behalf. award winning design solutions and what is in it for you. he has his from the santa clara university of lot and has come to our fine city to lead an organization that is very important point in history. one of the most interesting things i have found so far in the book is the point where the port was influential in the city. equally important was the court's role or the role of our partners in the rebuilding of the city after the 1906 earthquake. a very intriguing book.