president goh: ok. >> [unintelligible] president goh: ok. thank you. i'm going to -- commissioner garcia: miss li? commissioner fung: i asked the appellant whether they had done any form of approaching community boards where neighbors can discuss things and see if they can find some common basis to have a neighborly relationship. would that be of interest to

you? to see if there is an ability to reduce complaints and lived to get there? -- and live together? perhaps your daughter can translate that. >> no. nobody called me. commissioner fung: would you consider that? volunteers service that in the city. >> it's a good idea, but let them come to me and let me do the stairway. commissioner fung: the stairway is the issue before us.

the community boards thing is voluntary by the parties themselves. >> i think that for today's case, we would like to let us do the stairway thing and in the future, she would like to go to the -- commissioner fung: community boards. ok. thank you. president goh: i was going to give you another minute if you have any for one -- a need for one. if you'd like.

>> i would like to ask michael if a new permit is granted for the stairway to be rebuilt that the area be removed so there is not an eagerness to my roof and is -- egress to my roof. the entire stairway should be certified by a structural engineer. president goh: anything more? commissioners, any questions? commissioner hwanpeterson: at wt point will they be warranted?

>> i think it will be required by drawings. the picture showed it at the bottom. >> how would they know it is more than 50% needed to be replaced? we heard lumber being brought into the backyard. it certainly happens in this city. a lot of times, the have done more than 50%. there are engineering drawings. >> what about the stoop issues? they go to planning.

>> i think plan and would do an entire landing structure. it is required out there. and it will be replaced in kind, you are not changing the configuration. there are planning requirements that is the process. >> it will be very hard to pick up. i don't have that as possible. there is tram on the window. i think it is hard to prove. but they changed the size by 3 inches.

president goh: the matter is submitted if you have no other questions. comments? commissioner garcia: i invoke rodney king, why can't we all get along? it seems like we don't really know what is going on. i feel as if i don't really know what is going on. i have great sympathy for the neighbors of all of these issues took place and they were filing these complaints because things were happening that were not dakota. -- up to code. i would feel sympathy for the homeowner and someone was looking over every single thing they ever did. it seems a shame, i love the idea of community boards.

as for this permit, they can go back and ascertain whether or not it has exceeded the 50%. there is no nov issue attached, so that's not an issue. i feel like it would be reasonable because sa picture depicts plants on a roof from another house. the very fact that they have access and someone has done that means they have not respected somebody else's property rights. it is perfectly reasonable for this board and to require that a screen be erected on that's to -- that stoop on that wall, and i don't see how it will do any harm to the enjoyment of that stoop to the neighbors. all you can ask is to realize who lives next door. they are sensitive to noise

and other things that take place on that property. maybe you have been of great neighbor already, but be a little more sensitive to their issues. commissioner peterson: since you suggested the screen, what are you -- commissioner garcia: they can take the form of a trellis. anything that would prevent someone from standing on that's due to be able to reach over and place things on the roof of the appellant cozy house that is right next door. -- the appellant's house that is right next door. if you put a large plant there, it is not that big of a steoop o

begin with and you are limiting the amount of space available. commissioner hwang: i would say that a lot of the comments by vice-president garcia would be the same as mine. i think what is very difficult is how we live. i live in vernal heights. i try very hard to avert my eyes when i see my neighbors eating their breakfast and i try not to look at them. not because all we are unfriendly, but just affording privacy and consideration that we would like for ourselves. that is something that i think everyone should think about. i agree that it has also been said. neighbors have gotten into it over un-permitted work.

it is hard to dial back what might be a hostile relationship and work together as neighbors. i can understand the appellant's perspective once the on permitted work -- un-permitted work, they're not in position to see it or see as a fair response has been incredibly frustrating. i understand that is what brought you here today. i can also see the neighbor's trying to fix a set of stairs that is rotted and dangerous . they hnhee -- need to fix those stairs. it is difficult. when you see the wood and the work starting, instead of saying, what is going on, pickup

the phone and call dbi. it brings dbi into it. everybody should go the mediation and figure out how to get along. it might be helpful in this situation. president goh: do we have a motion? commissioner garcia: i don't know if i am failing on the issue for some sort of device to prevent people from reaching over. president goh: i think it is a good idea, but i could not tell from the pictures where it would go and how it would function. commissioner fung: cumene the vertical screen so that one can't go over? commissioner garcia: that would be fine. would you, as an architect, suggests something? commissioner fung: it is

relatively easy for us to suggest these things, but i am not sure is the root cause. if they had any desire at all to initiate some form of dialogue, they have to bring that force themselves. commissioner garcia: it seemed of all the problems that exist between those neighbors, the one that could be easily dealt with -- i certainly did not think that would solve all the problems and these people would skip into the sunset together, hand in hand. but there seems to be no support for the screen. perhaps the neighbors have not heard the board. they might decide as a good neighbor gesture to do it on their own. but i would move to uphold the permit.

>> on that motion from the vice president to deny this appeal and uphold the permit on the basis it is code compliant. commissioner fung: aye. president goh: aye. commissioner peterson: aye. commissioner hwang: aye. >> the lotus 5-0. department is upheld. >> item 7 was withdrawn. there is no other business. president goh: ok. we are returned. -- adjourned.

mayor lee: thank you, everyone. i wanted to be here to welcome the prime minister from new zealand's. i know he is here. he is on a stopover in preparation for the america's cup, on his way, of course, to meet our president obama and talk about our two countries' mutual support and help. i would like to think that the prime minister was here primarily co view the competition -- was here primarily to view the competition that will be between us in 2013, with washington being a stop over. i want to welcome him here. i know he is here to not only

speak for himself, but knowing that team new zealand has won the america's cup twice before, and in 1995 and 2000. they are going to be a very helpful. i am very excited about the america's cup. it will bring in some 8800 jobs to this city. it will really result in $1.4 billion of economic in come for our city, and that is why we're working very closely with michael thompson, are america's cup authority, as well as the president of our rec and park commission. and we work as a team and we know that team new zealand will be a tough competitor, but we also know as winners tell much this means to their economy and

how much it means to was in san francisco. we enjoyed the prime minister's visit here. we have just discussed what this america's cup means to our bay area. perino it will be a great competition and a friendly supports -- of release sports competition as well. as you know, new zealand has experienced a very devastating earthquake. i want to continue to extend san francisco's support for their immediate recovery. we have joined people in christchurch and all over new zealand to help with their recovery. just recently, we held an earthquake management seminar here in san francisco that was attended by new zealand's officials to share our expertise and make sure we're doing everything we can, from sending

over engineer help to talking to and exchanging the best earthquake management -- earthquake recovery management techniques that we have. we will continue to do that. charlotte shells, our protocol officer knows, we will keep our position as an international city, and the best way to do that is to offer all the help we could to areas lies -- like christ church in new zealand and to be a city that is supportive of their recovery and helping to instigate any ideas for a quick recovery. i know as prime minister key visits president obama our countries will work together and our mutual cooperation will be cultural and economic, but the city and council of san francisco is also there for new zealand. we look forward to from the

competition, but we also look forward to help them recover as well. with that, i wanted to present a proclamation to his occasion to visit us and visit our bay, and by the way, prime minister, every day in san francisco is like this. [laughter] clear, enough when it for the sales. prime minister, if we want to present to you this proclamation, declaring it to be prime minister john key day in san francisco. [applause] prime minister. >> thank you for welcoming me, mayor lee, and my delegation here to san francisco. we have had a grave -- we have had a great 24 hours in san francisco and the bay area. we are getting a sense of what

our team is doing in their san francisco home. yesterday and in the bay area, we've visited some of those very fast-growing companies to get a sense of how rapidly the opportunities are emerging. also, the people of christ church except the good wishes. with had three major earthquakes within the last nine months and aftershocks. i think the people of san francisco know from their tragic experience of 1996, the challenges that result after an earthquake, the great difficulty of dealing with that situation, and also we can see what a wonderful city you have built

from the ruins of that quake in 1996. the people of christ church appreciate the heart and soul of the people on in san francisco. we look forward to competing in need -- in the louis vuitton and ultimately the america's cup. we hope to return that cup. we are up against very tough competition, i expect. obviously, i wish team america luck, but not too much luck. thank you for that. be enjoyed our experience. we are hosting another cup onion new zealand over the next couple of months, -- in new zealand over the next couple of months. lot of people have come to your city and to your town. finally, i want to congratulate

the giants on their tremendous performance in the world series. i took my son here 18 months ago to watch them. at&t stadium has to be the model stadium. a beautiful stadium, packed to the rafters, obviously. we look forward to when football season starts up again later in the year. i am going to take my son to washington after the. we're going to take 48 hours, seeing president obama and a range of other individuals. it is an interesting and challenging time as far as what is happening in washington at the moment, and we look forward to looking at the challenges that face the united states and also the great opportunities. we thank the united states for its partnership. thank you very much.

do you have any quick -- >> [unintelligible] >> absolutely. i think we can learn from each other. that is the significance of these relationships that we have, changing both engineers and professionals. we can definitely learned from christchurch. san francisco has been doing all it can. i have been the head of recovery planning since the last mayor. it takes a lot of partnerships and good planning and a focus on the vulnerable aspects. like we are focusing on our soft story buildings in the bay area. we will continue to also have a healthy city. a healthy city is one that is not as vulnerable. and economically healthy city. the have to invest in our infrastructure. that is not only a debate in the

bay area. is also a debate nationally. how do we make sure of our infrastructure, whether it is bridges or roads. >> [unintelligible] >> you will find it takes a lot longer to rebuild a city? what's it generally does take a lot longer -- >> is generally does take a lot longer to rebuild. you can expedite recovery. you can literally cut it in half. that is what we're trying to also instill in other cities that we talk with, exchanging information. recovery is about preparation. it is a mind-set that right now, i am actually educating residents of san francisco to think about recovering now, for its people, as well as its communities and the buildings themselves. investing in infrastructure, making sure they are safe is one

part. the other part is -- people do not have to leave the city. they can rebuild right away and know that local government is there to want to build. said the investment is important. -- so, the investment is important. i know in new orleans, one of the big criticisms is that no one met with the business community to suggest that they stay and rebuild right there. we learned that lesson, and we are here, right now, suggesting to our businesses, we want them to stay. we want the infrastructure. we want our utilities to recover immediately. >> [unintelligible] what are the examples? mayor lee: i think at an average it would take at least 10 years to rebuild san francisco after the major earthquake they are predicting. we are working on a plan that

would be three to four years maximum. that is what we would like to see. >> [unintelligible] mayor lee: absolutely. otherwise you lose all the other major businesses. may have to know we are working on this right now. >> [inaudible] [laughter] >> we certainly have the wind. we have the wind at our back. it is gorgeous. it is amazing. you will display the america's cup to an audience that will pack in on the shores your. that is quite an opportunity. it is wonderful to visit the city and the region. it is a magnificent place. racing between the golden gate bridge and alcatraz must be one of the most beautiful parts of the world. >> [unintelligible]

[laughter] >> i was hoping they were going to give us google. [laughter] mayor lee: by the way, we do intend to keep the america's cup here. [laughter] mayor lee: ok. thank you, everybody. >> thank you. >> hello. welcome to "culturewire." we are here today with bay area artist jody chanel, and we are here to see the plaza where

your piece has just been installed. >> i have been doing large-scale paintings in the galleries and museums, and the idea that in the future, i could do something that would hang out a little bit longer than the duration of the installation the kind of appeal to me. i quickly found out about the san francisco arts commission school and realized there was a pre-qualified school you had to apply to, so i applied to the. >> how long did it take you to develop this work for the plaza? >> this was a fast track project. design development was about a month. >> let's look at the beautiful mural. i have never seen a mural created on asphalt. >> the heat of the asphalt, a new layer of asphalt.

then, these wire rope templates that were fabricated for the line work get laid down and literally stamped into the asphalt, and then everything was hand-painted. >> maybe you could talk about some of the symbolism, maybe starting in the middle and working out. >> [inaudible] the flower of industry. >> it is like a compass. there's an arrow pointing north. >> within the great bear consolation, there are two pointed stars here. they typically lead one to the northstar, otherwise known as polaris. so i thought it has a layer of theme. >> let's talk about some of the other elements in the peace. we are walking along, and there is a weather vane. there's a sweet little bird

hanging on the side. what kind of bird is that? >> [inaudible] the smallest of the gulf species, and it lives around the bay area. >> you want to talk about the types of flour patterns that you send? >> [inaudible] around 1926 or so by the dahlia society. >> what is this bird here? >> that is the california quail. >> coming up here, we had a little blustery theme. what is this area here? >> this is supposed to be the side view, the expense of the golden gate bridge. >> there it is. >> there are really beautiful elements of architecture still around, i would say