they were representing the department along with the rest of the staff. i had some pictures i've brought along to share. this is of the volunteers -- -- with the interior of the store. my husband and i stayed on for the senior camp, which is a success, and i just wanted to tell you about one of the successes. normally i come before with a lot of complaints but this is going very well. >> we have time for one more. >> morning, mr. president. i am here on behalf of the friends of joe dimaggio playground and the over 1000 north beach residents who support the plan for the new library.

last week, the board of supervisors ruled unanimously to approve of this project. with the funding secure, we have to move forward on the playground innovation. i asked to approve this resolution, to extend this for the renovation of the playground. on a different matter, from the parents and children who use the playground, i would like to thank the general manager for finding a way to reopen the clubhouse. this is very appreciated during the summer holiday. >> this includes general public comment. we are on the consent calendar and one person would like to speak.

this is just an inquiry, perhaps. i wanted to know if it was possible to get a copy of the lease for the playground, for the children's nursery school. is this something -- >> did you look into the general public information? >> this is in the consent calendar for today. >> is there someone else would like to make public comment on the consent calendar? public, disclosed. commissioners? >> i entertain a motion. >> all of those in favor signify by saying aye. >> we are now on item 6, the san

francisco zoo. >> thank you. >> good morning, commissioners. it is a pleasure to be here. this will come up on the screen? >> can you state your name for the record? >> before i go into the presentation, i would like to give you updates about what is happening at the zoo right now. we have lots of exciting programs and opportunities for everyone to learn about wild places. we have about 300 volunteers in the youth program, with the junior zoologists program. we have the teaching assistants to help with the program, and they are waiting to have an

encounter with you and tell you about wild places and wild things. we have a couple of exciting things going on. you may remember that we have a new sea lion cool, and they are doing fantastic. these are the blind sea lions that came with the marine mammal center, and they are adapting very well. i want to talk a little bit about the exciting news -- the tarantulas. this is not your favorite animal but they are a very misunderstood species. we have a fantastic exhibit with 20 species of these animals. please learn something about tarantulas. let me go into the conservation report. i want to talk about the global

programs. the first of these is about living with lions. these programs -- they are programs funded by the san francisco zoo, a conservation group that works in kenya with the people that live with clients, and traditionally they would kill lions for our right of passage, and also when they killed the cattle. this is changing their thoughts to save lives, and there is an economic event hitch in tourism. by supporting these groups, lions are being protected. we have donated close to $30,000. this is not the san francisco zoo.

we have a donation jar from when this opened in 2002. these are contributions made by the public to this project of over $30,000. this is supporting snow leopards and this conservation group is working with the communities where the snow leopards are found. they have traditionally killed snow leopards and their yaks -- were killed by snow leopards. we're helping them understand the importance of snow leopards and giving them tools to protect their cattle more successfully. this is a great partnership. the next one is the sahara conservation fund. the reason we chose this group is because there is not a lot of conservation organizations

working with this area, and we have a couple of species that represent this zone. this is an important conservation group that is wanting to make a difference in this very critical space. we have a couple of red necked ostriches. and we support the conservation programs with this species. since the opening of the lemur forest, we've been working to save the important species in madagascar. we are working witht madagascar since 2002. if you don't know about the iucn, the united states government has the endangered

species act. this is a global consortium of zoos, aquariums and governments that were to establish the status of wild places and wild things. this is a very important group, and as a biologist and a scientist, people go there to get the status of the wild places. this is a very important group. the conservation strategy funding was taken in 2011 and this is building on the domino effect. people tend to work for the other third world countries. they are brought to stanford and

they are taught economics and economic analysis to get a tool belt, so they can stand in front of the decision makers and really talk about the language of development, which is economics, and help make important decisions. this is a very unique model and this is a collaboration that we have just gotten into. the conservation strategy fund. if you are not familiar with earth watch, this assistance, science and action. you can help scientists do real work, to advance the science and conservation. you go to -- she is working with leatherback sea turtles, measuring them and getting important information. this is one of the most

misunderstood animals, one of the largest reptiles on this planet. you can help the scientist do real conservation work. what is amazing is that we have board members who have come up with this concept of the staff on earth watch, the research trips and over 20 years, since 1991 we have sent almost 40 members of the staff to go help. this is a great group. if you've never thought about this, think about it. i would like to talk about the local projects. this is our only native pond turtle, the only native freshwater turtles found in the united states. the san francisco zoo is working

with -- working to determine scientific data that will help this turtle in the wild places. we're actually had starting turtles that have been taken out of the wild for genetic research and we grow them up and release them into the wild. this is an important project, with the oakland zoo and the san francisco zoo, working to help this turtle. this is a very exciting one, and we're just not getting involved with this. it turns out there is a global collapse of amphibians, they're disappearing globally for a lot of reasons. one of them is a fungus, sweeping through california in the high sierra. it has obliterated population

of -- populations of the yellow legged frog. what we are doing is collaborating with the scientists, one of the premier scientists, and we're working with him and his population of frogs that were taken out of a while before this fungus swept through, and these are the only remaining species from this population. we will work on a breeding and release program, and we'll be taking the frogs into the high sierra and releasing them. this is a unique collaboration with san francisco state. and we have a working with the san francisco garter snake, one of the most beautiful snakes, only found along the coast here in northern california. we're working with california state to continue moving the

conversation about this important species. and a new and exciting program, we were approached by u.s. fish and wildlife and national park service to help them with the management of california condors. there would like to use our veterinary expertise to help with the annual medical procedures with california condors. in the past, they were taken from the wild, they would take the populations that they were working with, in the tentacle wilderness population that they are referring to. they would take a couple of them out every year and much of them for poisoning. many of these animals have been shot with these lead bullets, and so -- they have a medical technique where they will leach

out the bloodstream. we are delighted to be partnering with the fish and wildlife service. and the fish and game on this project. and i would like to talk about the san francisco zoo. like all of the communities and all of the city governments, it is important to deal with the waste stream, and people can help to select this and go to compost or garbage. we have been working with parks and recreation about this and we are up to 75% right now. we have biodiesel. we have these vehicles going out into schools.

i saw on the news today, the bay area transport commission is trying to get people to take public transportation. we have the employees -- if they get public transportation, we provide them a couple of money for the passage, and we also encourage people to come to the san francisco zoo by giving them a dollar off. this is a corrective action that will make this a better place. i went to a conference in seattle in march, and this was a conservation conference. this was from committees and zoos across the world talking about global conservation. what was emerging that wanted to bring to you is over half of the populations of the united

states, -- we have an opportunity to really advance the conservation conversation, with these visitors. this is part of a growing in the bidding partnership, with a local and regional governments. people like you. this is an important action that we can make. thank you for your support. >> thank you for your important work that you are doing at the zoo. >> and is there any public comment on this item? public comment is closed.

>> as the parks and recreation department. i would like to introduce the executive director who is here to tell you about the parks and recreation -- the parks and recreation center. we are thrilled about the partnership, and this is a critical and instrumental partner for the program offerings to kids and adults. >> let me introduce this item for you today. i want to finish on a high note with another presentation to the department.

this is something that we talk about a few years ago. we will continue to raise funding, and we collaborate together to create this request. this is excellent teamwork and collaboration between the parks and recreation staff, and this is from the global community grants fund. this will provide hardware, including laptop computers, we have a digital arts mobile program that will give digital arts training to children and adults in recreation centers across san francisco. this is based on experience from

the harvey milk recreation center. this enables us to respond to the need for training to overcome the costs barrier of every -- this is the result of the great work of chris and jamie from rpd and christine gardner. it took a lot of hard work and patience, to make this proposal to google. i have not seen the make a lot of guests here, so this is encouraging that they are thinking of doing this. the second is the $20,000 giftit from sports basement. this funding is for equipment and supplies for any and all rec

centers. rec directors, working with their manager, can apply to us. it is a simple process that is approved by both rec park and sfgtv. some new and innovative projects we recently funding include a lego education robot kit to expand their randall museum's robotics course for fifth through 12th grades students in rec center city-wide. also, safety equipment. pads, ramps, and more for the new action sports program. i think you saw some of that today. it is fun to think of all the kids at summer camp who are being protected by this. i would like to recognize bob and his staff for the great work this year. and michael taylor of san francisco parks trust, and our trusty, christine gardner, who encouraged sports basement to

keep up their support. if you accept this gift, we can do even more. sports basement provided give certificates in support of a fine contest call the name your favorite rec center, going on now through june 30. these are $250 gift certificates that will go to the winners of the contest. over 125 people had voted for their favorite rec center. all you have to do is go to our website, sfpt.org, and vote for your rec center, and the winners are going to get these gift certificates. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> is there any public comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. commissioners? >> entertain a motion. >> obviously, these are very important gifts to the department. my question is, how do we

acknowledge these partners, these individuals, that give us these gifts? do we give them a sign ainge or promotional consideration, -- do we give them signage or promotional consideration, or do we give them certificates of appreciation? i want to be clear on how we thank these individuals appropriately. >> we have a number of different strategies for recognizing the philanthropic and corporate sponsorship that we get. the sentences go part trust in our print -- the san francisco parks trust and our own staff collaborate closely to cover -- together. everyone who gives to this department is due recognized by the department. >> thank you. commissioners, i will entertain a motion.

all those in favor? the ayes have it. >> item 7 is off calendar. we're on item eight, general public comment continue. at this time, members of the public may address the commission. is there anyone who would like to speak during general public, and that has not already done so? general public comment is closed. item nine is commissioners matters. >> commissioners, anything newb -- new? what's in the public comment? seeing none, public comment is closed. item 10, new business agenda setting. commissioners? >> anyone have anything to add? >> any public comment? seeing none, public comment is closed. we're on item 11, communications. and we do have public comment. we haven't barbara and judy. --

we have barbara and judy. you have three minutes each. >> good morning, commissioners and general manager. i am barbara s -- i am barbara sadr, -- sutter. i noticed there was not the supporting documents on file, so i brought my supporting documents with me for you. there are two letters. one of the letters is a 1990 letter written by rec and park to peach growers, which put an

agreement in place for us to be able to swim at camp mather for a separate fee for the full summer. as far as i know, it is still in effect, because we never got anything to fill us in differently than that. the other letter is the letter i wrote back in september to mr. ginsburg. it is asking for this an agreement that was done in 1990. some of the cabins -- it was treated like it was a donation, and that was fine until last year. all of a sudden, they wanted us to do a day use fee, which is $13 a day, at least it was last year. that equals a $91 a week for one person.

for a total of 27 hours, that is all the pool is open during one week. that is just way too high for some families. for two people, it is $182 per week. if you have a family, children, i mean, it is still $30 a day. too expensive. also, it takes about 20 to 30 minutes, because i had to do it, to fill out the paperwork to get the wristband for the day use the. -- for the day use fee. i did it on a weekday, but if it was a saturday when people are checking into the camp, it would really hold up the camp. it took 30 minutes for each person from peach growers who wanted to go swimming to fill out the forms. and they are in the same line. anyway, that, and that is

probably why we were given the flat rate to start with. it is easier on everybody. still have paperwork. you have to check things off. you still pay. not all of our cabins use the swimming facilities, but i would say half or three-quarters of them probably do. anyway, we had hoped to settle this matter before camp opened, but we're too late. as soon as possible would be good. thank you. >> thank you. with the general manager please meet with those folks? -- would the general manager please meet with those folks? >> good morning, commissioners and general manager. i am judy. i also represent the peach growers. peach growers has a long-term relationship with been mather. we're fortunate enough to have had these happens in our families for several generations, and we have

provided mutual support back and forth with mather for a great number of years and assistance locally. many at the camp had family members, and history dating back to the construction of hetch hetchy. my family goes back to 1927. i do not go back quite that far, but i have 60 years in, and i learned to swim there. i have a selfish interest as well. i am describing this so you understand we're not casual tourists in the area, that we have a long-term relationship. we want to be able to resume the structured arrangement that we had and to come up with a fair arrangement to both. it will be a little bit of a revenue source for the city. instead of every once in a while getting a few day passes, you'd get some amount. the rate we had before was about $100. that was 1990's money, and we support a fare increase to that. that is half or a third of somebody's salary, and every little bit helps these days. we would like to respectfully

ask that we find a way to work with park and rec to see if we can resume this, and hopefully fairly quickly because summer is here. thank you very much. >> is there anyone else would like to make public comment on this item? if so, please come forward. >> good morning. my name is andrea, and i am here on behalf of the peach growers residents tract also. i grew up at camp mather. my father brought there for 25 years. he was a truck driver for park and rec. they sent him up there for a number of years, 25 +. i worked in the general store, and my siblings worked in the dining halls. my mother ever done in the store with myself. my father retired and purchased a cabin down a peach growers, in the hopes that he would always be of to do to camp mather. occasionally we go up and sit by the lake, but we feel like we