won the bid for the america's cup, it allowed us to accelerate the development of our cruise ship terminal. we have had to face some changes that involve relocating long- term tenants have been such an important part of the port vitality. two of those tenants had some real challenges in terms of their space and operational needs. we're here to talk about their successful transition to another port properties and the gratitude that we're keeping both of these institutions in san francisco. they employ hundreds. they work with thousands on a monthly basis. they greatly enhance the quality of life for san francisco residents and visitors. i like to introduce the mayor. then we will hear from the

president and ceo of bower. first, mayor ed lee. [applause] >> thank you, jennifer. welcome to our port. we're all getting ready for america's cup. i want to remind everybody that this is a great opportunity for our city to host one of the world's greatest events. in doing so, we needed to make sure we will leave a good legacy for the city. part of that legacy and responsibility is to work with our report. i want to start by thanking the port of san francisco, the staff, consultants, lawyers on both sides for all the work you have done together to help us begin a complex process. we're changing some of the tenancies and making sure we

make room for the new footprint. we want to announce today two very important tenants of our report -- port, bowers transportation and the other. they are here to speak specifically about it. i know from the beginning they were very worried. i would have been if i was a successful employer. gary has had over 100 people employed consistently and growing. norm has had 200 people artists and musicians that want to be the continued success of our ports and our food and entertainment industry. . supports that as well. there have been some really great tenants at the port.

we wanted to make sure we announced the initial moves as a signal that while we have other tenants to work with, these two were complex. they needed assurances. i remember as a city administrator with jennifer and monique walking the parameters trying to figure out which offices would be the best. today we're standing on the option we chose would be the best for lozani's for their hopefully permanent home. it will make a great investment. bower will be moving to. pier 50 along with other tenants and other things kept in

storage. these are two significant moves. they demonstrate the level of cooperation we have always wanted to have with our tenants at the port. we need to move them in a sensitive way. they are moving to new places. i think when you talk to them and into the details of this site and. pier 50, they're going into better sites that will allow them to grow and serve our city and visitors in great foer ways. i want to thank you for your wonderful stewardship of your companies and employees, working together with the port, our

office, our event authority, and organizing committee to make this even successful and do so in a sensitive and smart way. these are great, solid businesses for the city. they employ a good number of people. we want to keep the entertainment and transportation going. thank you for your cooperation. thank you to the port for their leadership on this. [applause] >> we would like to invite gary bauer to say a few words. >> i appreciate the kind words. we could not make this happen without the mayor and the rest of the port. we have been a tenant here for over 14 years. we have over 200 employees. if we were to move, we would be

putting those people out of work. we just finished a few weeks ago in san diego. this is a great thing for the city. it is a great opportunity. we think it is a great opportunity with the cruise ships coming in. we're looking forward to our new location at pier 50. thank you so much. [applause] >> now i would like to invite norm to say a few words. >> i would like to thank mayor lee, the former mayor, and others for all the hard work they have done in the city.

it cannot happen, these kinds of activities, unless we have help from downtown. we really appreciate that a lot. we're really excited about the new location. [applause] it is terrific for us. this was the city gate to san francisco. you are standing on what was called the clark. point pier, it was the beginning of the barbary coast. teatro zinzanni is proud to carry on the prague tradition of music in this city for many years to come. -- the proud tradition of music in the city for many years to come. there's a special order we have. it is the order of zinzanni.

>> i am going to pin that on. do not bend down too quickly. [laughter] [applause] >> thank you. congratulations to everybody. >> i guess that is it. [laughter] it is the beginning of a new day. we look forward to being here. we look forward to the mayor joining us. >> use gary bauer's transit and come to teatro. [applause] thank you.

>> we're going to get started before everybody freezes. we want to welcome everybody to the groundbreaking of cayuga playground. is an important milestone for us. it was built in the 1950's and renovated almost 30 years ago. we are long overdue for the next renovation of this park.

this particular neighborhood has become a family neighborhood. it is so important that we keep our playgrounds clean, safe, and fun. we're so grateful to the voters for supporting the 2008 neighborhoods park fund. the project is a $9.3 million project. about $8 million is from the bond. we're thrilled we received an $800,000 grant from the state to cultivate the open space. it has been a team effort. i want to acknowledge some folks who are here. this is in no particular order. i really want to thank barbara, josie, and all the folks from the cayuga improvement group.

mohammed will speak and make some introductions. i want to thank lizzie hirsch, richard yee, marvin yee, our capital planning director. i want to thank courtney representing the parks alliance. steve courier is here. thank you for being here. i want to thank the rec and park staff, bill o'brien, our new gardner. perhaps the biggest thank you and acknowledgment is to our beloved retired gardener at the cayuga playground, demnny.

he immigrated to the country in 1973. he worked in the law firm became a gardener and singlehandedly took over the park. you can see some of his work scattered throughout the trails and beautiful urban landscape. he crafted about 350 beautiful sculptures and characters. some of them have been safely tucked away for the renovation project. he will still see about 100. -- you will still see about 100 of them out here. you are a demigod to this park. thank you for being here. when the project is done, you will see a beautiful new clubhouse with a living roof. there will be landscape improvements. the street behind you will be part of the park. pavement to park. i want to introduce the park

champion in chief who will say a few words, mayor ed lee. >> phil has gone through virtually all of the details that need to be mentioned. i feel safer being here with the cia. [laughter] i know the cayuga improvement association was born back in the 1930's, 1937. it has been a stalwart group of volunteers in the community. i do not live far away. 10 years ago, i met demi. we did some cleanups here with you. i recall all the wonderful sculptures. i have snuck in here with my kids and visitors to show them how great it is to have these parks with people volunteering

to do special things. i want to thank you for your leadership and sacrifices, all of your wonderful years of work. the park's alliance for your wonderful relationship and support, and our arts commission. they will be commencing another great piece of our work here. it just goes to show all the city agencies working together and that we honor our parks in this city. this is a wonderful commitment. we are not leaving this district alone. you know that. we're coming out your for a great purpose. we want to show and demonstrate that every part of the city is worth every investment that we do, a special building strong neighborhoods. we have done that correctly here. this is well worth $9.3 million. it is a good investment. we will do more.

phil will make sure that the commitment carries on. we do that by finishing the things we have committed to in the future. i know the staff is excited to be out here making commitments. we are shovel ready with jobs. i want to thank mohammad for making sure that they work closely with the parks and a neighborhood association to do this. i am here to announce this but also to make sure that this is part of the long term commitment to every neighborhood in the city. we will continue this -- doing this and doing it well. >> you talked about the importance of jobs. there will be about 50 local jobs as a result of this construction project. you also talked about the

importance of art in the parks. i want to recognize the president of the arts commission. there is a profoundly between art and our parks. that is probably no better exhibited than in this park thanks to demi's great work. i want to call up susan to talk about that. >> this is a very unique opportunity for us here at cayuga park. we were called in to help preserve the unique sculptures. my colleague came out and catalog, photographed and catalog all 375 sculptures. within selected 130 to be taken and stored -- we then selected 130 to be taken and stored and

stabilize to be reinstalled on the park is reopened. it is no small feat to stabilize wooden structures in a damp park. they have to be cleaned out, debugged, and then a protective coat is put on them so they will be able to be in the park for years to come. it will continue the landmark status of this park. in addition to the conservation work, there is the new public art commission. eric was inspired by demi's work and has created these gateways sculptures that feature

vignettes drawn from these works. the design echoes of how the plant life enhances the sculptures overtime. crowning the opening day, it will have the name of cayuga on it. it will announce the injury to the park. it will be adorned with birds and wings. we're pleased to be part of a new park, new public commission, and preserving the work that came before us. thank you. >> thank you, susan. projects like this are all about partnership. i want to call up the director of public works. we work closely with them. we are incredibly grateful to you and your staff for all of

your support, the engineering work, and your assistance with the construction management of the project. thank you. >> it is always a pleasure to join the parks department, arts commission, cayuga improvement association, and community to celebrate this ground-breaking. we did relocate the street that leads into the park. as part of the design, there are a number of unique features. the first one is the living rooftop garden similar to ortega. dole be adding more green space and areas for butterflies and other creatures to enjoy. when i was raising my children, i came to the spark -- this part

many time with the kids. we watched demi carve many of the sculptures. there are many hidden trails along the hillside and all- around. those will continue. tdx will be the builder. it is a contractor we have worked together on a number of projects. they just finished the library at bernal and another library. they are a very good contractor. they work very well with the community. we have our team of architects, landscape architects, and the whole team along with our construction management team they will all make sure the project is finished on time and on budget. thank you for being here today. i am looking forward to the

construction to start. >> last but certainly not least, i want to bring up chris dillon , the president of the cayuga improvement association. they have been involved in the design and planning process from the outset. this is a neighborhood park. we will engage in our best efforts to make it what you want it to be. >> i wish i had the mayor's ability to speak so beautifully. i am going to lead. my comments are getting in thankfulness. this is testimony to the fact that collaboration among all stakeholders is possible and of the greatest value to the community. i am thankful that demi share his philosophy of life with the community. he transformed our failing part into a beautiful sanctuary full of amazing art. he has renewed our committee and

created a beautiful community in our park is treasured by the residents of the neighborhood. it is recognized throughout the world as a uniquely sacred site. his powerful design and philosophy are validated by the fact that there are many stakeholders that come to the park seeking peace, renewal, fun, exercise. it cannot be categorized. as a volunteer, i have witnessed the community to flourish. i am thankful for marvin yee's leadership. he embodies the best qualities of a civil servant. he has put together an expert team to focus on our shared vision. as a former leader, i know it is an almost impossible task. he has done it successfully. he has made this work appear easy. he is not only a consummate professional, he is a friend in

our community. because of his leadership, every aspect of the project has been blessed by a spurt of respectful collaboration. he has never wavered from the mission of enhancing our sanctuary well-respected and protecting demi's vision. i also want to acknowledge others for their many years of advocacy on the behalf of the park and playground. i am profoundly thankful to barbara and jesse -- josie the hours of hard work on this project. they have listened to committee members, they have mastered and grasp technical material. they've gone to meetings and hearings. they have made reports for our members and the committee. they've stretched far outside their comfort zone at times. as demi's chose an apprentice,

josie has provided a vision for our team to work with. barb's communication has been indispensable to the project. if they had not volunteered for the project, it would have been diminished. our community is a special part of the city. words cannot capture the magic of our part. it is a park in unique sanctuary. our community has been blessed by demi's vision, spirit, and artwork. we're blessed by community volunteers and residents. we're blessed to be served by our great city prepare to the park is at the heart of our city. -- request to be served by our great city. cayuga cairo the park is at the heart of our city. >> let's break some ground and

cut the ribbon. marvin? [unintelligible] the shovel. [laughter] are we ready? all right. [applause] >> so exciting. [applause] [laughter] >> where do you want it, marvin? [laughter]

chairperson nolan: good afternoon and happy new year. welcome to the january 3 meeting of the board of directors of the san francisco municipal transportation agency. please call the roll. director bridges: [resemt/ -- present. director oka: present. >> announcement of prohibition of sound-producing devices at the beginning of the meeting. pagersnd