your heart, you can come to the rotunda at 12:00 noon and sing in whatever tone you wish. you will not be penalized. according to the mayoral decree that i will pass that morning. however you want to sing the song, as long as you come to the rotunda and do so within the confine its of that great place, where tony bennett will celebrate with us 50 wonderful years of you are always leaving your heart here, increasing its capacity. thank you very much. i invite you to be there next tuesday. thank you. [applause]

commissioner vietor: -- president moran: good afternoon. would you call the rollbacks -- role? >> i believe commissioners vietor and caen will be joining us momentarily. president moran: we have the minutes of january 12 in january 24 in front of us. any public comment on the minutes? seeing none, all those in favor? the motion carries.

mr. secretary, would you call public comment? >> general public comment. members of the public might address the commission on matters that are within the commission's jurisdiction, but not on today's agenda. we have no speaker cards. president moran: i believe you have a couple at the rail. >> sorry. i did not see you. president moran: welcome. >> happy birthday. i do not know the number. i would not dare to say. but from all of us. [applause] >> [inaudible] [laughter]

think you very much. as the knowledge jackson -- esp inola jackson. it is a pleasure to be here today. i have a package for you, mr. courtney. you can make sure the rest of the commissioners have it. this is something that goes back to 1976. also in that packet -- i cannot talk about it now, but i have my budget in there. you can take it off line and give me my budget. i want to thank you. i have been talking with the staff. i would like you to know that everything is going to be working out with the southeast sewage plant. as you know, i have been one of your persons that has been heavily involved making sure that the sewage plants do not

leave san francisco, because i am getting calls from people saying, "we don't want it." we have to have it. it was put there in 1952. i moved into the area in 1948. there will be a lot of discussions. i am glad i will be working with staff. we are coming to a solution. the fact that we are bonded, bayview hunters point and this commission, at the hip -- you cannot slack me off. you're going to have to work with me, and i am going to work with you, to make sure all of us are happy -- not only the commissioners, but the bayview hunters point community. thank you very much. president moran: we look forward to working with you for another 79 years. [laughter] >> good afternoon. david pilpel. if there is not an answer today, maybe staff can get back to me.

the new advanced water meter installation in the city has been continuing to progress. i have seen more pullbox covers replaced. my understanding is that the old covers do not allow the are of -- the rf frequencies to transmit. the new covers are made of some sort of composite. have resource them, such that they are using as much recycled material as possible, and when they become not usable, that they too will be recycled? and what are we doing with the previous covers? are those being ground up for reused concrete? just a question of staff can get back to me. president moran: we will get back. >> thank you very much.

>> good afternoon, president, commissioners. my name is bruce keene. i am president of the russian hill improvement association, and want to thank you for your time this afternoon, and bring to your attention the worsening problem and future promise of francisco reservoir. it dates back to the 1850's and is the focal point of our neighborhood, but has not been used in decades, has fallen into disrepair, and has become a collecting place for trash in the middle of our community. located on the hyde street cable line, the ongoing deterioration has long been a concern of residents, and has gained the attention of thousands of tourists who pass by every year.

physical structure aside, the reservoir property provides views of the bay, out patras, and the golden gate bridge, -- alcatraz, and the golden gate bridge, and are used by high school physical education class is looking for open space. as a favorite place to watch the blue angels and the fourth of july fireworks, the reservoir will surely be popular during the america's cup races. but in its present condition, the reservoir not only reflects poorly on our neighborhood and the city in general, but also presents a public liability. the russian hill improvement association has worked to remove this structure since the property was first designated surplus in 1958. we do not believe the removal can be put off any longer. we have had many community meetings and are currently working with other neighborhood

associations on cost-effective removal of the structure, and improvements that would benefit residents and tourists. to this end, and as trustees of this open space, we look for your support in adoption of the resolution we have drafted and submitted. thank you for your consideration. president moran: thank you. as i am sure you are aware, we cannot consider your resolution today. it needs to be put on the agenda. it is timely, in that we will be discussing today, and at future meetings of land use -- this commission will be considering those issues. your input to us is timely in that regard. >> would be happy to be involved. thank you. president moran: do we have a public comment? seeing none, commissioners, we

have a rich stack of communications for this meeting. and i think there is some of it that i think we will want to revisit at future meetings. the water supply levels of service are one. i think we have a full agenda today. i think if we have issues we want to discuss further, we should probably flag those for future consideration. any thoughts, comments, or questions about the communications? any public comment on any of the items of communication? seeing none, we will move on to other commission business. >> could we talk about the advance calendar? i wanted to verify the real estate issue. >> we have not finished the report.

we have a number of real-estate issues on this meeting. commissioner caen: ok. president moran: anything else? other commission business, we have a resolution honoring ron myers. i would like to make the comment that the endeavor we are currently involved in with the water system improvement program is among the most important things that this commission or the city has done in a long time. we have had some very aggressive budget requirements as well as performance timelines, as part of that. the key to that is making sure there is peace with in the family, that there is a common vision between the organization and the people we work with as to how we need to do our

business. i think the pla we have in place is instrumental in keeping that peace and defining the nature of a healthy relationship. i am delighted we have this in front of us today. as a matter of privilege, i think commissioner courtney would like to say a few words. commissioner courtney: let me start by thanking the members of the laborers' union, probably the most progressive trades union in san francisco. i see business leaders. i see community leaders. i see michael therriot. i see ramon hernandes. i see a lot of folks who worked to make is probably the biggest, most effective utilities district in the country. i am excited to be here today,

but i have to confess that this idea did not come from either my desk or my office. it did not come from our organization. this idea came from the public utilities commission management team. they recognize, as do we, that there is a tone in this administration that reflects not just labor solidarity, which to here as often talk about, but city solidarity, engaging in a way that is in the best interest of the city as a whole. we are not afraid of that as a labor organization. we know that what is good for the city of san francisco and what is good for the community is good for the men and women we represent. i think it is an honor not just -- it is an honor for me to be here, representing our union, representing wonderful community leaders. i see a brother in the room.

people who live in the community and our members of our organization, but also other labor organizations. because public utility stretches far and wide. we go all the way up. there are a lot of other local labor organizations that are impacted by this work. i want to commend not just my colleagues, but also the general manager, the assistant general managers, and all the general managers for working seamlessly with our organization, and taking time out of their day to recognize that people like ron myers are people we should promote. if we do not promote those folks, nobody will recognize those efforts. those are the people that fail every single time to promote themselves, because they are promoting the interest of the community and workers we represent. i would like to take a personal privilege. i would like them -- and am honored to introduce my brother,

roscoe david, and to ask our vice-president and regional manager to step up to the front and say a few things about ron. [applause] >> mr. chairman, commissioners -- a privilege and honor to be here today with you, as you recognize a true hero and champion within the laborers' union. i would like to say as an organization, we thank you for the opportunity to participate in the pla on this project, and for the opportunity it allowed us in the building trades to show how we can put our differences to the curb and show we deliver a project for the taxpayers and city of san francisco that is on time, on budget, efficient, done right, and will deliver quality water to the city for decades, if not longer to come. ron has been -- we have been

friends for pretty close to 20 years. for the last 10, he has been part of my staff. i do not look at my staff as my staff. i look at my staff as arm-in- arm, locked in battle, victories together, defeat together. the work we do, we do together. what makes ron myers unique is that he has never forgotten where he came from. he was a tunnel labor. he is a laborer's labor. you see all the orange shirts in this room today. what ron remembers is critically important. as a labor leader in any union, but especially ours, the day we forget that the most important part of our union is the members, we are in trouble. ron has never forgotten that,

and never will. the brothers and sisters in this room paris but to r -- pay respect to ron myers and the honor done to our union. he has never forgotten they are the most important part. about half the room is full of people who are here because ron is retiring and they are happy about it. the other half are here because they are not happy he is going. for those of you who are happy he might not be around as much, we have worked out an arrangement so that on these tunnel project, dealing with the sfpuc, working with our contractors, who the laborers' union understand the risk and capital they put out every day to make sure that we did project safely and on time,-- bid projects safely and on time -- ron will be working for the next 12 months with us as a consultant. he is retiring and slowing down

a little bit. but this project as an organization, with ramon's leadership -- we found it too critical to leave a vacuum there when it comes to finishing this project. i am torn by the fact that he is leaving -- happy he is still going to be around on a part- time basis, and deeply proud that as an organization that the staff of the sfpuc, who has been phenomenal to deal with in this project -- we deal with agencies not only all over california, but all over the country. as commissioners overseeing the operation of this body, you should know that your staff as phenomenal work. the work they are doing is done professionally, in an absolute manner that makes it easy to work with. we are going to be here. the labor is going to be here. ramon is going to be here. we are going to help this

project proceed through district council, to make sure this continues on time, on budget, and that our brothers and sisters from all the trades, particularly laborers, continue to be treated with respect they deserve for the work they do. thank you very much. [applause] commissioner courtney: if it is ok with my fellow commissioners, i will ask my brother ron myers to step to the front. i will also ask ramon and those who work with this organization and are proud of this organization to stand up here in front with brother myers as he addresses the commission. will you do that for me, please? >> ladies and gentlemen, i consider this an honor, a

pleasure. one of the things i would like to bring out that nobody has brought out so far is there is a gentleman by the name of gavin newsom. you guys, ladies and gentlemen, had enough foresight, even though there was almost a depression, but not quite -- you guys moved forward and created jobs for young men and young women in the city of san francisco and the county of san francisco, in alameda and san mateo. to me, that is the most important thing we have here, is jobs, especially for the young men and young women. it does not make any difference what union it is. one of the things i would like to say it is i was doing a job over in calaveras county, a tunnel job. we went down the bottom of the

tunnel, the shaft of a tunnel. this young man comes up to me and says, "do you remember me?" it is hard to miss a white man with a red ". he went to the tunnel trade -- a red goatee. he went to the tunnel training school. in the bottom of the shaft, he said, "i want you to know one thing. i lost my house. but i did not lose my family." to me, you guys have done that. it also took a lot of other people. there has always been a driving force who has been there when we asked for help. mr. gray did a wonderful job. of course it was for the money, and not the pride. carol was always there, always

pushing, always making things work. but most of all, some of the gentlemen that deserve a big round of applause more than anybody else is art shanks, training -- that is his thing. he has done an outstanding job. he has young men and women working throughout the sfpuc project. you have brian thomas, who has stepped to the plate every time we have asked him to. he has never step backwards. alonzo emery, another gentleman. a guy from arizona state. [laughter] he stepped forward. it goes on and on and on and on. with these ladies and gentlemen -- james bryant is another.

he stepped forward. the main thing is, to me, more than anybody else -- more than anything else, i am proud we found jobs for young men and women. we trained them. but to me, they are not jobs. they are a career. [applause] and to me, that is one of the most important things you can ever do to help your brothers and sisters out there, is give them a career, give them a future, and move forward. and like i said, you guys have done an outstanding job yourselves, in the fact that you do move forward. just because there was hard times, you did not step back. you saw what had to be done, and you have done it. my hat is off to you, because you had the courage to step forward.

i tell you what -- every time i see this stuff on tv about money here, money there, i am proud of the city of san francisco, because they always step forward. it always seems like this city is doing this, doing that. i have been here 25 years. i have never seen you take a step backwards, no matter how they criticize you, what they say about you. so what? we are the city of san francisco. get out of the way. [laughter] and i am serious. that is the way i see it. on tv every night, the thing about san francisco -- they have negative things to say about you, but it is the same thing. get out of the way. here we come. we are not waiting for somebody to do something. we take the bull by the horns. another gentleman who is

important and has been a good friend lately, because he has lately become on the scene, is chris iglesias. [applause] he is another gentleman that actually took the bull by the horns and moved forward. but that is what you ladies and gentlemen have here. you have a group of people, a group of unions, willing to step forward, take the bull by the horns, and get it on. like i said, the city of san francisco, proud to say, is a group of ladies and gentlemen that are not afraid to move forward to create jobs and opportunities and careers for a lot of laborers, a lot of engineers, a lot of electricians, a whole ball of unions. you have changed a lot of lives and careers. you are moving forward. that is the main thing. god bless you for that.

thank you. [applause] commissioner courtney: thank you. i did acknowledge that this is the commission resolution. i ask the president and commissioners join us up front. i will ask the general managers to also join us, and the principles for the laborers' unions, if you will indulge me, so we can take a nice big photo. come on up. >> mr. president?

[laughter] >> get up there. >> i am right behind you. president moran: i think we need a bigger room. >> could you get a little bit more closer? >> all right. thank you. thank you. [applause] >> will the main thing is, i am serious. you of made careers for a lot of people who would have never had an opportunity to have careers.

>> mr. president, before you all leave, i just want to make a very quick comment. back in 1974, i was the only united farmworkers union members elected to the legislature, and it was because of the laborers' union in los angeles, and all the work you did to help cesar chavez over those years, all the work you have done here in san francisco, my new home town. two years ago, we honored rocco davis, who i have known for 20 years. not only do you provide a tunnel and improvement work in san francisco, but your members helped build over 12 stem cell labs to house scientists that are discovering and researching for cures for the most deadly diseases in our society. itwith laborers who helped to

build those facilities. the laborers union goes beyond san francisco in terms of their contributions. congratulations on being a grandfather, rocco. [applause] >> do we entertain the motion to adopt the resolution? >> most certainly. >> motion to adopt a resolution honoring my brother, ronald meyers. >> all of those in favor? >> aye. >> opposed? thank you. the motion carried unanimously. [applause] thank you. we will now move on with the rest of the agenda.

>> [unintelligible] there is just a little 3 minute video that we wanted to make sure that the commission knows about. if you do not mind. i will not speak. i had a speech for you and i never write one, but today i will surely, in the honor of ron meyer is, i've been like for you all to see just where he has taken this commission and the people that you are now responsible for. if you do not mind. >> please, go ahead. >> this is the training center. that is ronald. he's the head of the training center for laborers in northern california. thes