certifications, including the ada. all of your representatives, all of you working through this large budget, ask yourselves, what are the chances of another representative being elected in the city and county of san francisco, coming into this chamber in a wheelchair? having said that, there are about 12 points in this area that need changes, the heavy doors, [inaudible] i mentioned that before.

you guys are just going with the flow. do you think, today, with the dire economic budget that we face, that you can truly expand and over 4 order dollars is the right thing? if you do, that is fine. having known the person before you in the opposition, i do not feel at this time, with what the city is facing, that so much money should be expanded over the year. sincerely, i do not believe that is the right thing to do. thank you very much. supervisor chu: is there anyone from the public that would like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is

closed. supervisor mirkarimi? supervisor mirkarimi: thank you. maybe it would be best to refrain the discussion on the history and why we are motivated to do this now. the fact is, when this originally came to us, it was a surprise at $1.1 million, which added to the raised eyebrows. since then, we have reduced costs by 50%. maybe you could give some back trap? >> supervisors, mayor's office on disability. the legal setting the we are thy government, that renovation, if above a minimum threshold

trigger is access improvements. it is part of the americans with disabilities act, part of the california state access codes. as i stated in the introduction, the city hall innovation -- renovation was excellent. it was an historic building that is now considered one of the best examples of providing disability access in historic buildings. access to the president's podium and clark's area is not just a matter of whether there would be a supervisors member who uses a wheelchair. it is any supervisor and any employee of the clerk's office who might need access to the president's podium and clerk

area. we also have visiting dignitaries who had used the chamber to address the public and board. we have several other bodies that use this chamber. to answer a member of the public's question, the likelihood of having someone in a wheelchair is actually pretty high over the life of the building, really over the next 10, 20 years. as medicine improved and our lives extend, we have more and more people that use mobility devices and wheelchair's and more and more integration of the disability community, and more and more of us are taking positions in city government and taking elected positions. so i see it as a fundamental issue. it is also an important symbolic issue for the disability community to have the second most powerful seat in city

government be inaccessible is a strong and that message that we do not want to send to the disability community. i am happy to answer more questions. specifically, the doors are at five and half pounds of pressure. they are on old hinges that we have to adjust. that is not the primary gate where supervisors enter. this really is the last remaining access issue we have in city hall. supervisor chu: susan, just a question for you. there are folks who would argue, why would we spend this money here, as opposed to someone else? i know the city has aggressively been funding our ada improvements across the city.

can component work. the rest is mostly labor, construction labor associated with carpenters, electricians, carpenters, masons doing the hard work putting the facility together. that is something to note. supervisor kim: i had a couple of questions and comments. our costs estimated for the moving now -- of our meetings, the $800,000? >> those costs were based on data provided by mr. lane.

i will defer in terms of the exact back up as to how they got those costs to the city officials. we reported based on our m4 -- information that we obtained. supervisor kim: i think for the public, because i've done questions, one question i have gotten number of times is why, even with construction on going, we could not stop construction -- these are practical questions i get asked. why couldn't we stop it and do details of construction work? >> again, we made inquiries about this in the department. it was testified today that they felt that it could not be done, or would be extremely difficult

to do, without such a move. we were not aware of this until we started working on this item. we then presented -- we ask for the estimated cost, and that is the result of this report. mr. riskin or the department may be able to explain why it is necessary. supervisor kim: people understand it is an obstacle that maybe we could have meetings here, even if the room does not look its best, for the savings. that is what i got asked a couple of times. >> this whole area will be a construction site. it won't be safe for people to be entering and leaving. it won't be so -- won't be functional. desks will be moved aside. the desks would be unavailable. it would not work logistically. it would not be safe. the cost to have meetings

elsewhere will accrue to the city of verdun in place that is not already set up to have meetings, such as in rooms 400 or 416. while it is feasible, there are logistical challenges in terms of fitting me via and city staff. i think city hall management -- the light courts provide a better option, much better for the public, because they are not permanently set up in this room and the other hearing rooms are for the av for sfgtv, there is marginal cost for the setup for each meeting. supervisor kim: thank you very much. i know this has been somewhat of a controversial issue prior to me coming on to the board of supervisors. i am still not convinced this is

a highly prioritized project. i appreciate the commissioners' comments about how members of the public use these and other boards. i want to see the list of unfunded ada projects. it is not that i don't think this is important. i would like this to get funded at a certain point in the road. when i look at the time line, i would prioritize facilities that serve the larger public. if i could get a list of those projects that are public facilities in the city, that would be helpful for me when i make my final decision at the full board. supervisor chu: thank you. the item of is before us. there are a couple of recommendations year, one of which is to adopt the budget analyst recommendation to incorporate the the $51,042 into

the c.o.p.'s. i suggest we do put that on reserve. i am of the mindset of supervisor can, reducing the cost as much as possible. we can see what the plans are before approving it. supervisor mirkarimi: question. i agree with the recommendations. did i hear supervisor kim suggest that maybe we wait for that information so that then you can are arrive at a more effective decision? supervisor chu: would be possible for the department of mayors this ability to provide that information to supervisors? supervisor mirkarimi: or a continuance of one week or two.

no one spoke to the point of timeliness. >> if i may, as i mentioned, the funding for this will be the certificates of participation the board approved in november that were appropriated as part of the fiscal 2010-2011 budget. those bonds are part of this year's capital program for streets, curved ramps, and other improvements. it to scheduled for march. we are close to bumping up against a time when the delay and decision on this would potentially delay the sale of those, which then, in turn, would delay projects. there is somewhat of a timing issue associated with this. supervisor mirkarimi: with the

window closed in february or march? >> give me a minute. let me get an answer. >> this may inform your discussion. if the plan is to increase the amount of the appropriation to incorporate the relocation costs, this item would have to be continued again for additional notice. supervisor mirkarimi: that is self-explanatory. supervisor chu: why don't we have the department of public works tell us if there is a hindrance in terms of your timeline? >> a one-week delay would not be a problem. supervisor mirkarimi: i think it is self implied that we would allow that information from the office of this ability to share with the committee.

supervisor chu: why don't we take first the amendment of adding in the $15,000? there it is, and motion to accept the recommendation to add the additional amount to the item, and also to put that on budget and finance reserved. we have a motion to continue the item for one week. that will be without objection. [gavel] why don't we go to item seven now? >> item 7, ordinance approving a waiver of the competitive bidding and solicitation requirements of chapter 6 and chapter 21 of the administrative code for a contract with environmental science associates for california environmental quality act review of the 34th america's cup event and coordinating in developing some medals for associated federal and state permits. supervisor chu: thank you very much. there has been from supervisor

mirkarimi request to get additional information about the america's cup and the final financial conditions. it is not that item. we plan to hold a meeting later this month on that issue when the analyst has had time to review some of that information. today's peace is really dealing with the environmental study component of it, primarily one of the issues that we are facing on the quick timeline to complete our environmental report and analysis. i believe we have bred to present. -- we have brad to present. >> sure persons, brad benson. thank you for hearing this item. i am co-presenting with edgar lopez from the management bureau at the department of public

works. we will be splitting a brief presentation on this item. as you know, the hosting of the new agreement between the city and county of san francisco and the america's cup event authority, along with san francisco america's cup organizing committee, was signed in december 31. it set forth a number of time lines for being able to deliver the 34th america's cup in 2013. the key date we are here to talk about today is that we are on track to deliver compliance with the california environmental quality act in 2011. the ceqa study work that we envision over the course of the next year is going to look at the impacts associated with all of the visitors who would come

to san francisco to watch the events, and and all of the different locations where they will go to view the race on the bay, as well as construction activities for improving port property that are needed to be undertaken in 2012 in order to be ready for the 2013 event. it is quite a large amount of analysis. it is also a forum for public participation in the design of the event. we will talk about that a little later. the timeline to undertake a secret document like this in san francisco is 18 to 24 months. we are trying to accomplish a lot in about half the time. the proposal before you today would waive the competitive bidding requirements associated with professional services contract in to support the ceqa work. it would allow the city through

the port to enter into a contract with esa, environmental sciences associates, to conduct this work. the reasons for that request to raid the competitive bidding requirement do have to do with the ceqa timeline. the normal time to bid professional services contracts like this is 5 to 7 months. our goal is to have a draft environmental impact report for public consideration in the summer of this year. the competitive bidding timeline does not quite work. we also -- fortunately, the city recently bid ceqa consultants' services for the cruise terminal project at pier 27. that cruise terminal building

will be a key focal point of the america's cup event as part of the america's cup village. we already conducted a solicitation process consistent with the administrative code. we will talk a little bit about that process. we think there are additional cost savings associated with combining the work associated with the america's cup and the pier 27 cruise terminal. both analyses will rely on underlying studies that should be performed once, looking at both projects together from a cumulative impact perspective. there are potential savings of up to several hundred thousand dollars associated with that combining of the work. in addition, the ordinance would permit state and federal permiting to be folded into this

scope of work. port and the city will have to do outreach for a variety of agencies that have purview over the bay. army corps of engineers, noah, the regional quality control board, through this process, they will make sure we are using best practices to approach any construction activities and that we are avoiding any significant impact. with that, i would like to offer edgar to talk about the competitive selection process that was undertaken. we are both available to answer any questions you may have. thank you. >> good morning, supervisors. edgar lopez. on april of last year, dtw issued a competitive solicitation for professional services for firms that could

complete an environmental impact report for the terminal project at pier 27. four firms applied and submitted qualifications. we establish a selection panel that reviewed written proposals and conducted interviews. at the end of that process, esa was deemed the most qualified firm. after that, we began contract negotiations for those services. it is worth noting that it is a san francisco-based firm. there are 300 employees. over half of the staff are residents. the rfq had a subtracting goal of 15% established. they doubled the participation request, up to 30%.

there was clear criteria established for getting people with local experience, maritime. esa offered the local experience. they completed a waterfront eir. also, the san francisco marina eir. the firm is highly qualified. they have a depth of skills and knowledge to meet the city's addressed scheduled to meet the eir by the end of this year. if you have other questions, i would be happy to answer them. supervisor chu: thank you. supervisor mirkarimi? supervisor mirkarimi: mr. benson, thank you for being here. it really has to be, for extraordinary reasons, we elect to waive against the process of

competitive bidding for of this contract. i would like you to expound just a little bit more. i think that the pursuit of us making sure we have our ducks lined up on ceqa is companion to the notion that the city and this event has to be in full ceqa compliance. there can be no mess up in timeline. there can be no mess up in teaching the process so the net effect is san francisco and america's cup is in full compliance. it is a big role of the dice, one that i co-sponsored and am willing to make happen, but i want to hear more about the fact that we're not just gambling on this idea that san francisco along the way, because we sold- sourced, somehow we decide we have to cut corners. i want to hear more on that.

>> sure. i think that our recommendation to the committee -- and i thank you for your cosponsor ship on this ordinance -- is that getting the city ceqa and permiting team on board now, we will be able to do robust analysis that i know that you and others have been looking to make sure that the city is thinking through all of the potential impacts. as edgar mentioned, we did go through this competitive selection process. we found esa of the respondents the most qualified because they have done analysis of the waterfront land use plan. they have done marina analysis. they completed the problematic eir review for the water system improvement project for the

public utilities commission. they have a kind of experience needed to look at what we are most concerned about, in-water construction activity and how the transportation impacts are, and how people are congregating in sensitive park areas. esa has that experience. we are expanding the city staff side of the equation as well. it is not going to be a consultant-driven effort. we have been looking to our sister agency at the puc. there are qualified staff working on the permiting for the list of projects. they're coming on board to oversee this effort. by avoiding the additional five months -- that is a best case scenario for being able to start fresh and bid a new the

america's cup ceqa work -- we are able to hit the ground running now. the goal is to finalize what is called the first step in the process, the project description. regular meetings with port and city staff and the america's cup event authority and race management to develop a detailed project description describing all the activities on the different areas along the waterfront and the parks, and estimating the number of people that would be using those areas, thinking through all the construction activities, and the goal would be very shortly to publish that project description as something called an n.o.p., a notice of preparation of an environmental impact report. that will happen in february as

we meet the current timeline. following the notice of preparation, there will be public scoping meetings. this goes to your point, supervisor mirkarimi. we have such great public interest in the america's cup. there's concern that we go about its the right way. supervisor mirkarimi: on that point, relative to us shortening the solicitation for contract by four or five months, in my opinion, only then that adds more challenge and pressure on the city to do everything just right environmentally. that is why i framed my earlier remarks. i don't want us to roll the dice and be wrong. this is about so much more than san francisco and an event. i traveled to sacramento last saturday to speak to the planning conservation leak in

the state conference. there were hundreds there to talk about the america's cup process. they see this -- it is interesting to hear the perspective of environmental leaders and elected officials who affiliate intimately with the environmental community from california. they see this event in san francisco as a one and only kind of the event that they want to assign a brand, maybe this will be, a kind of dream event. carbon neutral, perhaps carbon negative, perhaps a zero waste, something they would love to have the super bowl subscribed to, or the olympics, or world cup soccer. that level of thinking is not really mainstream. it really does not happen.

they have elevated the expectation that san francisco will put that kind of caliber of green credential into this event. i responded to them that the ceqa process is going to require groups like psl to be right at the table with us, holding us and obligating the city and the organizers that much more responsible, or else, it will just be another gimmicky, novelty kind of thing. in this day and age, people like to pitch it has green, but in reality, it is not that green. this might seem a little pro forma in trying to exempt from the contracting process on the front end. on the back end,