fare inspection program, felt that they were being targeted, and i think that that alleviates some concern. i am glad to hear that change was made. supervisor olague: along the lines of what supervisor avalos just said, it seems to me that there is a concerted effort to avoid the profiling of youth, and i am heartened by that because that has always been a concern of mine. i am glad to hear that you are committed to it. >> absolutely, supervisor. like i said, it is important for us to be everywhere in our system and no single demographic should ever be targeted or have the perception that they are being targeted. a lot of times, perception is 9/10. it seems to be working well, and like mr. mason said, moving

them really stops the sort of piling on of the t line. in order to go anywhere in the course of their workday, they had to get on the t line, and they get on en masse. it created the perception that we were targeting that line when they were simply getting from point a to point b. we put us on the line when it is part of our operational mode only, and second, it is the effect of morel. they are happy to be centrally located and going all throughout our system easily. i thank you for your comments. >> also, the work you're doing with the captain in with the station also seems to be effective. as you mentioned, there has been a decrease, so hopefully, you just keep on that. >> part of that, too, was we have seen a bit of an uptick in

the electronic device larceny and death of those devices -- staffed -- theft of those devices. we're working with schools on a campaign. within a couple of weeks of introducing a major campaign at mta, which is designed to educate all members of the public's to be aware of your surroundings when you're using electronic devices. we are in this mode -- i was on a bus the other day, and almost every seat had someone looking down and texting with had bones in their ears. clearly, they are not paying attention to what is going on around them. the importance is to educate the public fully about when they use their devices, just to be aware. we are moving in that direction and look to have that campaign out in the next couple of weeks. i am excited for that to hit our

transit system. supervisor olague: given that this program seems to be moving in a very successful direction -- there are a lot of successes you could point to -- the collaboration between the sfpd and the mta, to the extent that a successful, it alleviates some of the burden from the operators. that has been something i have always been concerned about, just as a rider. so much falls on their shoulders. so glad to see this is moving in a positive direction. supervisor avalos: thank you for your presentation. we will go on to public comment, and we might have other questions that, after that. thank you very much. very informative. this item is up for public comment period and a member of the public who would like to comment, please come forward.

>> good morning, supervisors. i have lived in san francisco for 59 years. i would like to thank supervisors cohen -- supervisor cohen for having this hearing. it was a little strange that i noticed it was assigned to public safety back in july but it did not come up for hearing until today. i am wondering why it took six months before today's hearing. i just wanted to bring that up for discussion. second, i would like to question why there was only one item on today's agenda, given the state of san francisco. we think that we should have at least five items. then, in order to be proactive, i would like to make a suggestion for the public safety committee has a possible hearing. i would like to bring up the

subject of why a gay man and city employee died at san francisco general under mysterious circumstances that in 1999. to this day, i still have not found one person inside city hall willing to even discuss the situation. in my opinion -- supervisor avalos: this is not general public comment. it is, on the hearing we have before us. >> i am trying to relate to that. i feel this is a public safety matter because in addition to muni's long history of crime, i see that there are other crimes in san francisco that deserve the attention of the public safety committee, and i feel that muni is long overdue for the beneficial programs it has now. i think we ought to start in some other areas. thank you. supervisor avalos: thank you very much.

any other members of the public who would like to comment? seeing no one come forward, we will close public comment. want to thank supervisors cohen -- supervisor cohen for bringing the item forward pierre just a question of whether we want to get an uptick in the future or continue it to the call of the chair. >> [inaudible] supervisor avalos: ok, that is what we will do. we will continue this item to the call of the chair. also want to thank again commander aye. -- commander myra tello and mr. mason. thank you very much. and the other items before us? >> no, mr. chairman. supervisor avalos: we are adjourned. thank you.

>> you probably think you know all about the exploratorium. but have you ever been after dark? did you know there was a monthly party called after dark? science mixes with culture and adults mix with other adults. no kids allowed.

every week there is a different theme. to tell us about the themes is melissa alexander. tell us about some of the previous themes we have had. >> we have had sex ploration, sugar, red, blue. many things. >> what is the theme tonight? >> rock, paper, scissors. we are having a tournament tonight, but we have also used as a jumping off point to explore lots of different ideas. you can find out about rock, paper, scissors as a game as a reproductive strategy. you can interact with a piece of art created by lucky dragon. you can get your hair cut from a cool place called the public barber's salon. they use scissors only.

you can find out about local geology, too. >> that sounds like fun. let's check it out. >> this is the most common rock on the surface of the earth. interesting thing is, most of this rock is covered over by the ocean. >> error congested a cool presentation on plate tectonics. tell us about what we just saw. >> we wrapped up a section of a lesson on a plate tectonics, here at the exploratory and -- exploritorium. >> are you excited to see people here having fun and learning about science? >> the people that come here are some selected to begin with, they actually enjoy science. i teach teachers to have fun with their kids. the general public is a great audience, too.

they're interested in science. >> we have a blast every time. they have different names. >> they have a bar and a cafe. everything i need. we are excited for the speaker. >> it is nice to be in the exploratorium when there are not a lot of kids around. >> before tonight, i never knew there were major league rules to rock, paper, scissors. i am getting ready to enter into a competition. sarah's here to give me some tips. what do i need to do to win it? >> this is a game of chance, to a degree. one of the best ways to bring it home is a degree of intimidation, maybe some eye contact, maybe some muscle. it is a no contact sport. sheer i contact is a good way to maybe intimidate to see if you can set them off, see if they throw something they did

not mean to. >> i am going to see what happens. >> i got kicked out in the first round. [applause] >> given up for sunni. the rock, paper, scissors champion. >> what are you going to do now? >> i have been having so much fun. i got my tattoo. before we go, i want to thank melissa alexander for having us here tonight. how did you know san francisco needed a night like tonight? >> thank you for coming. everybody loves the exploratorium. we are reluctant to push the kids out of the way in the day, so i knew we needed to create one evening a month just for the rest of us to have a good time, the adults. >> absolutely.

where can we find out what is coming up after dark? >> that is easy, exploratorium .edu/afterdark. >> thank you. thanks for watching >> i am very pleased to welcome our newest board member.

he will be introduced in just a moment. we have one seat on the board that is currently vacant. the board made hold a meeting when there is a vacancy. the board may overrule an action by the department by a vote of three members. go for votes are not required. -- four votes are not required. i am the executive director. we are also joined by representatives of some of the department's who have matters before the board. joseph duffey is the senior building inspector. he is representing the department of building inspection. carlos short is representing the bureau of urban forestry, and john fong thiis representing a

district mapping. if you would please go over the guidelines and conduct the swearing in process. >> the board request that you turn off all cellphone and pagers so they will not disturb the proceedings. please carry out conversations in the hallway. appellants, permit holders, and department representatives each have seven minutes to present their cases and three minutes for rebuttals. people must include their comments within that time. members of the public who are not affiliated with the party have up to three minutes each to address the board and no rebuttal. members of the public who wish to speak on an item are at but not required to submit a speaker cards to board the -- are asked but not required to submit a

speaker cards. speaker cards and pans are available to the left of the podium. there are survey forms to the left of the podium. if you have questions about requesting a rehearing or hearing schedules, please speak to the board staff during a break or after the meeting or call the board office in the morning. this meeting is to broadcast live on sentences go government to television, -- san francisco government television. these are available for purchase. we will conduct our swearing in process. if you intend to testify and wish to have the committee give your testimony wait, please

stand, raise your right hand, and say, i do. any member of the public ney speak -- may speak pursuant to the ordinance. do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth. >> we have two housekeeping items. the parties have jointly requested this be continued on august 15. they are continuing to undergo efforts to resolve the matter of side of the board. good we do need a motion to move this matter. >> so moved. >> is there any public comment on this item?

if you could call our role. >> we have a motion to continue item seven on august 15. [calling votes] the vote is 4-0. this is continued on august 15. >> the other item has to do with item #8 from on a withdrawal came in before the board meeting, so about will not be heard this evening. we are moving on to item number one, public comment. for anyone wishing to speak on an item that is not on the calendar year ago -- on the calendar. >> i want to apologize for

being late. >> i will take this moment to exercise a distinct honor to introduce our newest commissioner. he was appointed five miserably. he has had a wide ranging service to the city -- he was appointed by mr. lee. he is currently part of the cultural center located on the waterfront. prior to this, he served as a public director to the -- as deputy director to the department of economic and work- force development, where he oversaw a acquisition and development of treasure island as well as creating a strategy for development of octavia boulevard. additionally, he served in senior management positions with the assessor's office and the

mayor's office. he holds a master's degree in public policy from the university of chicago, and he lives in nova with his wife and three kids, and we welcome him to our born during your -- to our board. good >> is there any public comment on this item and? seeing none, we will move to item three, which is the adoption of minutes. before you are the minutes of january 18, 2012. >> i see so comments, so i move that we adopt a comments five written during your >> any comments? simenon, if you can call the roll please. >> -- seeing none, if you can call the roll please. [calling votes]

>> the vote is 4-to zero, those votes are adopted. >> we will call item no. 4. gothe subject is that commonweah avenue, and it is appealing of permit to remove and replace one treat your ego -- one tree. we will start with the appellant, or the appellants agent year ago -- the appellants agent. >> i am married to linda. i am here to talk about the two trees in front of the house. it was approved for removal of the country. the other is not approved, and

we are protesting but it was not approved for removal. our reasons are threefold in. one is safety. the tree does helene 20 degrees towards our neighbor's driveway. good and -- it doesn't mean -- it does lean 20 degrees towards our neighbor's driveway. our neighbors to put up a wire to hold it up, and they are in a lawsuit as a result. good we have had significant new sidewalk damage from the tree. dpw marked our sidewalk. and we do not want to go through that again. from of beauty point of view, we would like to put trees in. there are a lot of trees on the block.

cbc suggest we have a pear tree. these do not do well in front of the house. we do not believe this one is safe. we would like to start over with two new trees. that is my presentation. >> you might not want to make a point about if the tree were trimmed it would be below a size that would require permission. >> that is correct. we knew about in the beginning. good and we went to the people we would have hired. we have not trimmed it to your good region we have not trimmed its. it is over the size, when it comes to the canopy. the trunk and the measurements of the trunk are well within the

boundaries. g>> 3 you have a picture? >> yes. >> would you put it on the overhead? >> yes. is it faceup now? you can see the lean of the treat your gut -- aline of the tree. the sidewalk was done within the last few months, so it looks really nice right now. >> the other tree, what was the reason for granting approval? >> the tree is diseased. gooyou can see in this picture f the tree on the left is very small compared to the tree we are asking for.

there is agreement it is diseased and should be removed. the one on the left has been approved for removal. >> is a disease contagious? >> i have no idea your gut >> i assume that is the neighbor's driveway. an -- i have no idea. >> i assume that is a neighbor's driveway. have cars hit it, or has there been any issues? >> there has been. we had to cut off of brownish -- a branch because it was hitting the car is going into the driveway. there has been an issue. what perturbs us is not so much inconvenience but possible safety problems. >> you mention a wire that your

neighbors put up. >> our neighbors to the south had issues with the trees, and they put a wire to hold the trees oup, reading it in the ground some distance to have the leverage they need it, and a person got out of the car at night, a trip, and sued them. over the years we have done all lot to try to get the trees to go correctly. we have made an effort, but clearly unsuccessfully. >> were these trees planted by you? >> they were planted by us in 1997 during a -- in 1997. a >> thank you.

>> should i wait to be called? good evening, commissioners. i do not have too much to add a. i want to clarify, i am not sure when the question of the wire came off. and we do not think the tree is going to fall over. give we think it has grown into the lean. there is plenty to work with. you can prune to get necessary clearances. i did not mention of wire. if it was mentioned, it may have been mentioned by someone.

if you have concerns the tree might fall over, you could cable ... to reassure property owners. the tree that was approved had decay of the base. it is not a contagious disease, but it should be removed. you heard me say larger trees provided more benefits in the form of environmental service, so we tried to preserve mature trees. the highest mortality rate as during the first five years of planting. granting removal of a tree that does not need to be removed reduces the benefit from those trees and increases the likelihood the new tree may need to be replaced before we get those benefits. the department's policy is to

look for more solutions. we of the tree could be pruned to get necessary clearances. we thought they could correct the form of the tree, so we deny the application to remove it. if they want matching entries, -- matching trees, they could plant another pair. i am looking at everybody. the aesthetics should be considered during your they can -- should be considered. they can keep the tree. i think the benefits outweigh the aesthetic benefits. i am available for questions. >> and when you address the

issue president garcia out and the appellants to discuss -- of the appellant to discuss, which is should be pruned it would get to a size where permit for removal would not be required. >> there is question about a significant tree and a street tree. any tree planted in the right- of-way is protected by code. those signs relate to trees on private property. if there are trees on private property within 10 feet of the right of way, in order to be protected, they must meet one of three size criteria, but any tree in the public right of way. it requires a permit for removal and is protected. go