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. these are the folks that got together, and those who have never graduated. we graduated 23 gentleman and one lady. the program started out doing the basic things that we do. these gentlemen in women that came through this program actually did some actual work. i wanted to make sure that the commission was able to see the actual work. there is a gentleman here that was a graduate of part two. this is going into the tunnel. [applause]

if you look at these pictures, ey are real. we wanted to give you a view of how heavy this whole program is. seriously, we were in a tunnel. in the side of the mountain. ron, who is your friend here? >> [inaudible] >> right, ryan is the professional that takes you into town. that box there? that is dynamite. those are your actual laborers from the program that learn how to set to dynamite in the side of the a mountain in a blow holes through the actual mountain.

for the there is actual on the beat -- there is actual on-the- job training that these folks have. several of them are working on tunnels throughout the projects are here in the bay area. a lot of times, and there is actually a young lady was a part of that program. this is a tough field. they can tell you, 99% of it is men, but with your support we made sure that we had the misrepresentation in the program. we have more visual moments for you all, if you would like.

i want you to understand that i go around the country and i tell people, these other classmates, and i go around the country and tell people -- they say they use their francisco folks always have unbelievable stories. you are representing america in a way that no one else in america represents. i want to say thank you, ron meyer is. this is your day. i want to say thank you, ron. if it would not be for you, rocco, and the rest of the laborers that went outside -- folks, my salutes. i have been around here for 35 years now. this is my best day.

you all need to be proud of you are setting the standard for america that no one else in america is doing. thank you very much. [applause] i wanted to say that if it had not been -- i just left off to vote -- two people that i do not want to leave off, the leader of the northern california laborers. the first thing he did was get together with this young man over here. that is how the whole thing started. thank you all. >> thank you for that clip. it was wonderful. >> we have more for you, if you want. >> the next item, i believe, is

the report of the general manager. >> actually [unintelligible] >> ok. >> i thought you would like to say nbc picture of our newest hire. -- you would like to see a picture of our newest hire. [applause] >> nice logo. >> you noticed that. she is 3 days old and maybe in the tunnel program. [laughter] >> i did not know that we had water powers to work one sees -- onesies. [laughter] >> actually, in the agenda, you will notice that there are no items for the general managers' report. we can move on. waxed thank you. we have a full agenda today.

we have some time constraints as well. what i would like to do is try to get to the budget section, i would like to wrap up that business. >> all matters listed here in the consent calendar are considered to be routine by the san francisco public utilities commission in will be acted upon by a single vote of the commission. there will be no separate discussion of these items. first, the sunnyvale sewer tunnel project, second, approval of the right of way services, up three, the selection of the amount ford group for system

development and maintenance of meter data management system, and the hunters point reservoir upgrade. e, except the work performed by the monterey market -- mechanical for waste water enterprise. f, except work performed by hardy pipelines for waste water enterprise. g, approve the plans and specifications and award wastewater enterprise renewal and replacement program funded in department of public works pavement renovation program pavement renovation program funded contract number 500.