us. our sander host incident, long delay on the system. some of you have the opportunity to make suggestions as to how we might improve our communications as a result of your experience that day. again, it is very important that we have continuing to make incremental improvements. i would submit to you we are never going to be at 100% because we are coming in off the street into the system. again, there are some things -- this is why i stressed the first of other projects to continue to bring before you to improve the performance of the train control system. first phase of this project -- by the way, this is a project that will be just over $900,000 to be completed. first phase is under way. we are doing it with our own in- house forces fear they have been

working in the subway at night. what they are doing is the preparation work to go through. the cable sits on a set of struts. they are replacing all the struts, building in new ones. by the end of the month, we expect the first phase to be completed. next week, on september 28, we will have engineers from the manufacturer of the system here who will over two or three nights go through the system, set up a testing plan. what they will do is walk through the system with something that looks like a divining rod that you look for water. as he will test the integrity of the cable. what they are looking for is any kind of splices and background noise that comes as a result of the slices in the cable. what they will then do is give us a baseline report. it is our intention because of

the nature and importance of this to -- the project approach to replace the cable with the splices. there is no need -- the splices have occurred in certain areas or segments of the line, so we will focus on cleaning up the segments. the work next week will give us a sense of a preparation plant and what we need to do to get ready for the third phase of the project. they will prepare this baseline and proof of concept plan. then, what we will do is prepare with their oversight -- they will play a role in this because of the significance of the signal cable. we expect some time later in the beginning of november to begin the work. we will work within the time windows that we have at night that works once we have our baseline. we identify where the areas are that we have to replace. we will do that -- each time we

replace cable, obviously, given the function of it, we have to test it immediately. we will have test trains in to test every section of cable that we go through. this will take place over approximately four months so that we should be done sometime in late spring, pushing towards mid-2012, four or five months. excuse me. what will we have when we're done? again, an improvement. in service reliability. it also positions us for the radio replacement project, which is coming down the road. there are probably three or four other train control projects in the queue that we will be bringing forward to you to keep the system in a state of good repair. splices remain the weak spot in the cable, in the sense that we want them to be absolutely as reliable as we can.

striving to keep all of the signal system in a state of good repair. we thought it was important to brief you on this project that is ongoing right now. given the importance of this project to the subway and the subway, of course, to our entire transportation operation. director nolan: thank you. excellent presentation. very thorough. members of the board, questions or comments? director heinicke: i have what i am sure is an easily answerable and dumb question, but the wire system -- is it rubber or plastic? what is the coaching? -- coating? >> it is plastic coating. director heinicke: we have seen antennas and sander hoses and things splice it. should we in case it in something else or something more

so that that does not happen or does that just make it too hard to get it to wire or repair and that sort of thing? can we not put some sort of kryptonite around it so it does not happen? [laughter] >> given the market value of kryptonite, from what i understand, it may blow our budget, but your idea is a sound one, and we are looking at how to protect perhaps the shield both as the top of the cable -- we are looking at a couple of things to do to protect it, yes. as well as to get at the source of the -- >> obviously, retrofitting the sounder hose is one thing, but the reality is a lot of these problems we do not know until they happen. retrofits are hard. it seems if we could protect the cable and prevent the problem, that is two ways to go about it comes to protecting the cable makes sense to me. director nolan: other members of

the board? members of the public? thank you. >> item 15, discussion and vote as to whether to conduct closed session. director nolan: is there such a motion? second? all in favor? we will >> bod discussed anticipated legislation but took no action. >> we are adjourned. thank you very much. good work, everybody. >> you even that the board running on time.

>> i was one of the founders of this market 30 years ago. i am very excited to be here today to welcome all of you and give recognition to our farmers. the market began with a grant from governor brown. in the first administration, there were $10,000 grants to organize an urban farmers' markets. at the time, i was working on a project called the producer consumer project. we wanted to link farmers in california with urban consumers. the market street association is also interested in what is happening on market street and in improving the quality of life for san franciscans.

we bonded together. bernie was my partner in getting this market launched. i used to be called the mother of the market. now i think i qualify more as the grandmother of the market. i want to introduce christine adams, the market manager and real mother of the market. >> thank you so much for coming. 30 years is a great accomplishment. it used to look like a war zone when we came. i do not know if you have looked at some of the pictures. now it is beautiful. people feel safe. we have lots of choices of food. we have very good people to work with. the commissioner in san francisco, dwo has been great. . dpw has been great. city hall has been great. we started with 15 farmers.

it has grown into this beautiful oasis in the desert. i do not know how many of you knew one of our farmers who sold right here next to the honey. she passed away about a year ago. i wanted to remember her for those who remember her also. i want to thank the new manager, john. he has just been named co- manager of the market. he has been here since he was 13. he has worked his way up from being garbageman, seller, and now being manager. i want to thank you for what is going on here. he makes the market work. another new person is kate crepps. kate put on his party. she deserves a hand. she is a wonderful person.

she loves what she is doing. and she loves this market. that is what makes it so great. i would also like to talk about a gentleman who has been working here for a little over 10 years. his name is michael cartwright. i hope that he is close by. this gentleman was found on the bricks somewhere. he needed a hand. the city did that for him. i want to introduce you to him now. >> hi, everybody. what she said was true. 10 years ago, she gave me -- i was out here on the streets homeless and smoking crack. i was shooting drugs and drinking anything to get high. i came down here and started

working at this market and loading the trucks. something in her gave me a chance. other people looked over me, she looked to me. she gave me a chance. that chance has led me to a solid foundation. if it was not for the grace of god, i would not be standing here right now. if it were not for his grace, i would not be standing here right now. she gave me a chance. she saw something in me. i had given up. she kept encouraging me. i went from unloading trucks to being on the staff. i found a place to live at the city ministry. as of the 25th of last month, i graduated from bible college. amen. i was homeless but i was not hopeless. i needed a hand up and not a handout. amen.

>> we are located in the tenderloin because this was the neighborhood that needed fresh food, quality food. part of our neighborhood is bordering on chinatown. we have a lot of chinese people come to our market. we're very happy about all the different ethnic groups that come. i want to welcome someone who will give a welcome in cantonese for our chinese visitors. >> [speaking cantonese]

>> another wonderful thing about san francisco is the language immersion programs. i have a granddaughter learning chinese. i wish she were here with me to translate. i want to welcome honorable mayor edwin lee.

we are very lucky that he has come to join us here today. >> thank you. good afternoon, everyone! i have asked supervisor kim of this district joining me in congratulating the heart of the city farmers' market. 30 years. thank you very much for your leadership. do you know what the secret is of having a successful farmers market? you have the farmers run it, for 30 years. look at what we have done. the hall plaza is activated -- the whole clause is activated. i want to thank the real estate division. you have done a wonderful job at keeping a good relationship with the organizers and the partnerships that we have. i see so many great members of

our community from the market street business associations, from the tenderloin. randy shot and aw and our soma s are here as well. this farmers' market brings fresh, a homegrown, sustainable farmers food to our communities in need. it keeps us healthy. we know that is at the center of a healthy city, to have a relationship with the farms around our bay area and throughout california, to make sure the fresh produce is made available in the freshest and most immediate way to our residents who do not want to have to drive to the market to get the groceries. they want to have it right here in the heart of the city. i understand that.

i want to make sure that you know that the people in need, 75% of people who use food stamps use those right here at this part of the city farmers' market. thank you very much for having a trust. you have fresh food and clean food right here. this is part of a general effort we have for the city. supervisor kim and i are working hard with our neighborhood associations to make sure that the mid market is alive, safe, full of the arts. we are making central market revived with arts, burning man, the great arts foundation, all of the performing arts. we will make sure the storefronts are alive with things to do and see. when we worked on the twitter deal to make sure the companies

got here and to advantage of helping us revitalize markets street, that was just the beginning. you are already seeing some of the tech companies coming in. these are tech companies that have the heart of our city as their interest. they want to create the jobs. we want them to create jobs. we want them to do it right here for our youth. we want to make sure our residents have a chance to work in the wonderful buildings they occupy, to work with the technology companies we want to bring in, and work with the arts to bring in a revised central market. we will continue making that i highest priority. i want to get chris and jen up here to present to them our part of the city farmers' market day in san francisco -- heart of the city farmers' market day in san francisco.

come on up. come over this way. >> it is my pleasure to be here today. i was just speaking with ran dy. and get to represent one of the most exciting and dynamic parts of san francisco. that is the heart of san francisco. it is important to note the gaps we have in the existing neighborhoods. we still do not have a grocery store in the tenderloin. this market has been a central part of being able to serve our residence in the neighborhood. we're so grateful this happens here every wednesday. our office is always out here getting food and buying groceries as well. since my time on the board of

education, food equity has been a very important issue. we know it is one of the reasons why not all kids succeed in classes. we talk about improving performance in school buildings, a lot of it is also the opportunities that young people come into the classrooms with. food is one of them. when i was at the school district, we worked to find spaces in our grants to sponsored school gardens so that our kids can learn about nutrition and fresh foods. it is amazing to visit the schools. the kids know more than i do about identifying seeds, leaves, and all of those things. i am really proud to be year today. 30 more years for the market. the board of supervisors also has a proclamation honoring the 30th anniversary festival. in recognition of the 30th anniversary and the important role of the market in providing a much-needed fresh food, we recognize the non-profit mission

to support farmers, run the farmers' market, to keep the fees low so that farmers can afford to offer affordable produce for our city. we want to commend the marketing manager for revision, passion, and dedication in founding the farmers' market almost 30 years ago. thank you very much, christine. [applause] >> congratulations.

>> thank you, mayor lee and supervisor kim. i want to introduce the other association that has been working these 30 years to make markets to a more pleasant place for us. keeping the market here is just one piece of that. carolyn? >> 30 years ago when this market opened, its purpose was to serve low-income, inner-city people with inexpensive and quality produce. over these 30 years, the market has not only fulfilled its promise. it has gone far beyond that. it has become an institution in the mid-market area. health education boostths have provided information, funds have been donated to local causes.

students come here as a destination for field trips. local musicians entertaining consumers. children parade through here in their halloween costumes. besides being a source of farmers' livelihood, the market has become a family. it is a resources committee cannot match. the market sits on this historic site, a united nations plaza. it has become what the united nations was intended for, a cooperative entity integrating workers, residents, and visitors of many nations. it is a dynamic gathering place where food, ideas, philosophies, and french ships. -- friendships are exchanged and grown. all of the workers and families know about the market and shop here with regularity. i hear people say, meet me at

the market, and i know where they're going. the success proves that mid- market can support economic revitalization. today when many revitalization projects are being formed in this neighborhood, the market serves as an inspiration the business and economic growth is not only possible, but it can thrive. in the beginning, the market share of this space with a homeless encampment. the market was not afraid of being here, sharing the space, or a failure. it is a tribute to many who have the early vision that a farmer'' market was a necessity in this neighborhood. we honor the market and those special people who had the vision and tenacity to carry it fourtrth, the founders and manager. we also honor those dedicated to

this market who are no longer with us. carl landin helped to manage it for over 20 years. berni was alsoe one of the founders. in the early days, we did not know what bok choy was and had never seen fresh fish being sold by the pound. fresh foods sustainability and not even been invented yet. the market was here for all of us. it is truly the heart of the city.

>> hello again, everybody. i would like to introduce someone who has given over 500 hours of volunteer time, who has embraced the market. she has been great. this is the first person who has been on our board of directors who became the president voted in by the farmers. she was a community member. she helped the market so much that we knew she would be great for the market. i want to introduce you to laura rodriguez. come on. go ahead. >> for her outstanding service, we would like to reward her with

the heart of gold award. you, too. one on each side. >> greetings, everyone. i want to begin by thanking the incredibly dedicated farmers who get up at an average of 2:30 in the morning to bring us this wonderful food. i like you to offer a warm hand to the farmers here today. of course, our great food producers. nutrition services is part of the sentences the department of health. it includes ic and the feeling

good project. we want to thank the farmers' market for bringing this wonderful food that is the foundation of good health to san francisco and to a community that really appreciate it. this place is buzzing from the moment the farmers arrive. at 7:00 p.m., people are already shopping. the farmers' market has been committed to feeding this community and has accepted food stamps from the very first day they opened. they have also supported the wic and senior voucher programs to make fruits and vegetables available to people to help them stay healthy. during the 11 years, we have really enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to share information about healthy eating and how to make that possible through cooking and referral to services available through the department of

health. i also want to highlight that this year, we took our collaboration to the next level with the campaign, a healthy heart of the city farmers' market. we collaborated in doing workshops for after-school programs and supported housing to provide a welcome to the market as well as give people nutrition information so that they can learn how to cook the healthy foods they are able to get here. it has been a wonderful opportunity to highlight how this market brings people together in a way that makes it possible for them to remain healthy and live better lives. we also offer tours of the farmers' market so that people can meet the farmers and learn about the things we have available. we look forward to future collaboration. i want to thank the farmers' market and staff for all their hard work.