>> that concludes the general manager's support, except for two worksds, go niners. you get to see the monthly video, and then we are done. ♪ ♪

♪ >> thank you, jamie. i could not have concluded that

without it. commissioner lee: a question and then a comment. i want to think the general managers for keeping the lights on. -- thank the general managers for keeping the lights on. this sunday we will need those lights. and my question has to do with the bond. the last bond that we did we worked -- this department invested in the class system to help manage the capital projects. we did an extensive grading of every single property in the department in terms of need and so forth. i am just a little bit -- i need a little bit of clarification, because i know now you are

already going out and meeting with folks. i know you were at par yesterday. i missed that meeting, but i've heard from some of the members. how are you approaching this through the same grading system? what kind of response are you hoping for from the community? are they being asked to suggest projects? what is your process? >> is a great question, commissioner. for the next capital meeting i want to do a presentation that goes in more depth. we are still using the same analysis that we use to divide -- guide the development for the 2008 bond planning process as well. we are using the same criteria and the comment analysis that helped us to identify which facilities were in the worst shape. we have identified -- i should say updated the list that was created in 2008 to reflect investments that have happened since then, because there are

parks that have been almost completely redone it since that time. so to keep them at their existing ranking does not make sense. and there have been a number of other properties as well but have received upgrades, and we are reflecting that. the presentations we are giving to the community are really more of a warm-up exercise period were as checking in with community groups to give them a status update on the projects that are in their neighborhood that were funded by the 2008 bond, and we are also asking, checking in basically to see how their experiences have been up to date. we're talking about the 2012 planning calendar so that no one is surprised, and giving them a sense of what the different opportunities will be for them to weigh in with comments. then we're taking the list we

created in 2008 and sharing the list of potential projects and saying this is the list from 2008, the priorities identified. do these priority still resonate change, and i think we want to be sensitive to that. we're not here simply to announce a bond program, but to work with the public during that period richmond and rocky were those identified in the past planning process. to those still resonate with you as priorities? we heard very clearly that they have had investments. but it could still really use some work [laughter] . similarly, the richmond playground, someone came after to me to say the park needs a lot of renovation.

then we also hear new things people are saying. they ask questions about argon playground. that was helpful because we are thinking of developing of citywide program. just like we have freestanding restaurants in the last bond, we're thinking of developing one around playgrounds. this is a warm-up conversation to get a sense from people of what has changed since 2008. are there new emerging priorities we did not capture in 2008 that we need to think about? in district 11 there is strong feedback about [inaudible] . if we do not think it seltzer is a priority, are you going to stick with it so sir? -- if we do not think excelsion r is a priority, are you going

to stick with it? we're going to listen to community members. we what many neighbor of meetings, as well as policy organization to check in with them and get a sense of priorities. anmy hope is that in march or april we will take the information and share it and do a first draft of our proposal that will then take the draft proposal backed out in april and do another round of, and then hopefully be ready by june -- really made. -- really may. >> what size bond are you looking at? >> it is identical to 2008. we're looking at $150 million for rec and park. $3 million for the port. that being said, the 10-year capital planning process for each of the departments, there

might be a little bit of wiggle room. so we're working with staff to determine if there is room to increase the amount, and by how much, while still increasing the promise of no additional taxes. >> you will bring this to the capital committee next month? >> yes. thank you. >> any public comment on the general managers' report? come forward. >> i intended to do this during general public comment, so if i am out of line, please tell me. what i wanted to talk about in general public comment ties into what don was talking about in terms of the bonds. i do not know if i am the only person in this room, but i received a phone call during the polling, so i do not know if i consider myself one of the

lucky 600 or however many they do. it was a rather bizarre experience for me, because the conversation went like this. i am so and so from so and so and i am calling about the bond. if the vote were today, would you vote for it? i said what are we talking about? she said the bomb that will be on the november election. i said i may be wrong, but i think there may be more than one, could we be more specific? let me ask you more questions. it became clear that we were talking about their recreation and park bond. it was not recreation come it was some bizarre pronunciation. i have no trouble understanding what she was saying, it was just all that accents were put on the wrong syllable. just for your information, evidently is possible to use

the word pier with three syllables. i do not know if anything can be done by that. i do not know how trustworthy the statistics will be. two things really bothered me. number one, one of the questions i was asked was the acquisition of waterfront property using bond money. i was sort of taken aback, and obviously she was not a person i could discuss policy with, but i said i would give this really low priority come only because it is my understanding it would be illegal to use on monday for acquisition. in thinking about that, i realized may be spending bond money needs to be specified in the bond, and did you could do anything that is voted on. i do not know that. the other thing that really floored me, is the

bond will benefit all neighborhood parks. i took great exception to the fact that it is all neighborhood parks. it might benefit parks in all neighborhoods. it might benefit -- i do not know how the freeze could be better. i have nightmare visions of going back to 2000 where we promised everything to everybody come in the first six projects in mind were a static. 19 projects of which are were involved in. to were put through hell. please, let's not repeat that mistake. i hope i am preaching to the choir. anyone else that would like to make comments under the general managers' report? cnnseeing none, public comment s

closed. next is general public comment up to 15 minutes. with respect to agenda items, or opportunity to address the commission will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting. >> good morning, commissioners. also, the general manager. i wanted to take this opportunity. i have two concerns that i wanted to bring to your attention. one, if there is a missed opportunity for class's -- a lot of glasses got cancelled for the winter session. there was a mistake that happened. it says winter 2011. a lot of people think that is the old brochure.

there was definitely a mistake, because it should say 2012. winter 2011 would have been 10 days. that is nothing. it should really be three months of glasses, and it should have said winter 2012 on it. in the future we have to make sure we're talking about the future. i wanted to call that to your attention. the second thing is i am on the advisory committee for the san francisco mta, you know, the transportation department. one of their big focuses is talking about bicycles and biking. they're really interested in having a new map. there are maps from private companies that put on their own maps, but that is really a conflict of interest. what i really wanting, and what

my committee is one thing is for a new mac -- this one is very old and out of date, but it relates to the whole city. i really want to put together biking trails and green areas in the parks throughout the city, people can go to places to get exercise and experience the outdoors. the people in the mta, our committee has been trying to contact different people within the recreation department, and we have had a hard time contacting anybody. we have been trying for a month. in we're really trying to offer our help to help your department and work together so we can develop a good map that will be mutually beneficial. thank you. wanted to bring those things to

your attention. have a good day. >> thank you. >> kelly what. -- watts. >> you have to speak and let them know. >> this past november this commission received a report from the planning department, which contained medical data on materials used in san francisco synthetic fields. the report showed it contains over 400 different chemicals including lead. a chemicals appear in chemicals known to cause cancer. this material was added to the california list of substances known to cause cancer based on

the findings of the world health organization. more and more cities are banning this material. new york's park department has a system that works this and they chose to be in this material. the unified school district has a serious budget crisis, and they also banned this material, stating you should never equate economics with help, and the help of our students is more important than any other issue. despite this information, this commission is considering authorize rpd to consider -- continue spreading this material in san francisco. well over 2,000 tons in golden gate park, as well as over 2500 in the sunset. the parks commission and management were not selected by the people of san francisco. the general public is virtually powerless by the decisions made here, yet citizens will suffer for years to come.

the people of san francisco are independent on officials here to assert their power and responsibility into wisely addressed the cancer risks. on a personal note, i think it would be a fantastic and truly meaningful way to honor mr. hellman's legacy and family to show respect for those we lost to this disease. i e-mailed this commission the hand of that speaks to this issue. i would like to add the key words, respiratory morbidity, acute toxicity, lead poisoning, archery poisoning bladder cancer, liver tumors, and that the sale marks. -- messythosilioma. >> anyone else that would like to make general public comment? if there is, if you could come

forward please. >> general public comment is closed. item #5, election of officers. we will first elected president for this year. i will need a motion and second to open the nomination for president. >> thank you. i now need a nomination or nominations for the office of president. >> i would like to nominate mark buelle for president. any other nominations? i need a motion and second to close nomination. >> move to close. >> second. >> and a bvote? it is unanimous. we are now going to office of

vice-president. we need a motion and second to open the nomination. >i need a nomination. >> i would like to move my good friend and colleague, tom harrison, the nominated and voted our vice president. >> and the other nominations? if not, i need a motion and second to close. >> so moved. to go second. >> all those in favor of commissioner tom harrison as vice president please say aye. any opposed? motion carried unanimously. congratulations to both of you. [applause] >> let me make a few comments now. first of all, i am flattered and honored and i want to thank my fellow commissioners.

i genuinely enjoy the work in the come moderate -- come moderate over, my fellow commissioners. comradery. i want to thank commissioner bonita for leading the effort. i think it has made a real issue in the quality of life on the commission. i want to thank commissioners lee and levitan for chairing the officers committee. i think is more work that we've made real progress on that commission as well. to commissioner martin, i want to thank you for attending to the zoo. that is the meeting that is farthest removed from us, but it

is always interesting. if you ever want to go to those meetings and see a dedicated staff the cares very bad about what they do, i recommend them. commissioner martin, i know you were very supportive of having more community meetings, so you can take certain pride in having that happen. i appreciate that very much. having said all that, where are we? commissioner harrison, the vice chairman, vice president. he stands in for me, in goes to many things that he might not otherwise want to go to. he spends a lot of time going to the meetings for me and distiller vice president. i am very thankful for that. where are we headed? we're headed once again into the 8 year of budget cuts. that continues to put an enormous challenge on everyone.

i want to say that i continue to be extremely impressed with the staff and leadership in this department. i do not think the public appreciates how much staff has to go to night meetings, weekend event, and cetera. i am always impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the staff. i take my hat off to you. and to the secretary of the commission, i would not get my job done if she did not do her job very well. i think on behalf of all of the commissioners, we thank you for being dedicated, and being very efficient in making sure we look good up here, so thank you very much. where are we headed? we're headed to more budget cuts. the only other comment that i would make is i would hope to try to make as a paperless

commission and move to ipads. we would not be chopping trees down, and there will be a small economic disaster, because there will not be the messenger services. with that, i think you all for the vote of confidence and look forward to another good year. thank you. >> any public comment on this item? cnn, public comment is closed. we are now on item 6, the san francisco zoo. >> first, congratulations president and vice president, and thank you for your kind comments. we want to acknowledge our friend that is very good to the zoo. she renovated the carroll and made substantial improvements elsewhere.

the oldest living black rhino in the world is named after her, ellie. a quick update on the attendants. both december and january have been fantastic. we have had the highest attendance ever in the history. actual attendance was over 54,000, while we budgeted just 20,000. we were over 60 percent signed on budgets for december. through january 16 we had over 41,000 victors -- visitors when we were just budgeting 21,000. we are over 9.78 percent signed. i know you have all heard of banana sam. i want to give you a pribrief update. we discovered a breach in the squirrel monkey exhibit. a breach of the gate by the

zoo's australian walkabout, whenever most benign areas of the zoo, but also dark. the police arrived on the scene once we discovered the breach. they examined the exhibit will stop continued to sweeps. once it was determined the monkey was not on site, at the police left collecting what evidence they could find. we then issued a press release offering $5,000. that was offered by an award member. the following saturday evening police received a call that someone had a monkey in a backpack. the police department picked up the animal. it was returned to our vet hospital where it was examined. he was hungry and trembling but in good health. the police investigation remains open. bananas and remains in quarantine. -- but the enougbanana sam reman

quarantine. if all goes well, he should be backed by february. nonetheless, this premeditated criminal act that can be difficult at best and impossible at worst to prevent. on behalf of the zoo community, i think everyone for their concerted efforts to make sure he returned safely. on a related note, at the request of a lot of members, he has been made part of this to adopt an animal program. proceeds for the sale of adopt an animal will go to his and others' care and in richmond. for $50 they will receive a certificate, and the manufacturer also made a banana sam stuffy. for you, i leave this. last, i wanted to report this to celebrity, jack hanna, visits on sunday at 1:30.

he is the director of the columbus zoo. he is an international conservation is. he also has his own television show. he is coming to talk about animal well this initiative anti some of the animals that are rescued. his shows are family-friendly. i encourage all ages to come. the proceeds from that evening will be for the care of the zoo animals. i think him for the gift he is giving us. there is more information on this news websites. -- the zoo's website. >> when they picked up the animal, was it with someone? >> the police are not telling even be that. i understand they have someone who called it in that was a young male. there is concerned there was also an inside job by either as to volunteer or employee.

they continue to come to the zoo and review the records. it is an unfortunate occurrence, but thankfully someone did the right thing at the end. >> thank you very much. all is well that ends well. >> anyone that like to comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. we are now -- now on number seven, recreation and park department budget for fiscal year 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. it is the budget. [laughter] thank you. >> 1 cup of coffee. not bad. [laughter] >> ok. good morning commissioners. i am here this morning with the

first of three presentations before the department submits its budget to the mayor's office. i will start this morning of a summary of the budget instructions we received from the mayor's office, and then give you an overview of the key revenue and expenditures to give you some context for the budget decisions that are to come. let me pause a minute and put up my presentation. this year for the first time the city is going to prepare a two- year budget for the general fund at the department. this means the budget we submit to the mayor's office actually has to balance