department and an extension for three years. the initial agreement was for one year. given the success of the first year, we would like to extend the agreement for an additional three years. there are a couple of changes in the agreement and i apologize -- the first time i appeared before the committee, i give you a copy of the agreement that only reflected a two-year extension. the intention was three years. you have that with you now. the first year was extremely successful between the friends of the sharon arts studio and the department, and that we were able to leverage about a doubling of the program we were offering at the studio. even better than that, all of the residents in the data points that go with offer programs

were collected in the system data base. friends of the sharon arts studio relationship with our department has been around for a long time but was never formalized until this mou approximately one year ago. one of the benefits of the mou it is we are able to track and the programs together in the same database, so we know month over month, year over year, exactly how we are doing. i also have with me the president of the board of friends of the sharon arts studio. i have our rec and park manager of the facility as well, and the administrative director. if you have questions for them. the new agreement basically continues but we were doing before with one fundamental change, and that is, in the

past, the department was picking up the cost of publishing a brochure that goes out to about 2000 people. friends of the sharon arts studio has 500 paying members. they have a mailing list with 2000 people on it. those folks get the catalog mailed to them. in addition, the catalog is made available at as many rec and park facilities as we can so that people that are not members have access to their programs as well. the change in the new agreement is friends of the sharon arts studio is picking up the cost of printing and mailing the flyers, which amounts to a significant amount of money, over $20,000 a year. they do that four times a year. in addition to leveraging programs, they are not picking up the cost of publicizing those programs. that is the significant change

in the agreement. that concludes my presentation, if you have any questions. >> is there any public comment on this item? been none, public comment is closed. >> commissioners? >> i move to accept staff recommendations. >> moved and seconded. all those in favor? it is unanimous. item passes. >> item 11, lafayette park. >> good morning, commissioners. product manager from the recreation and parks capital division. the item before you is an award of construction contract for the lafayette park renovation project. lafayette park is one of the parts being renovated under the 2008 clean and safe neighborhood parks bond. we are recommending that you wore this contract of

landscaping and construction, as well as two other actions, which are to relieve construction and builders from their bids. this project was advertised for construction in january. we opened bids on very 22. after the bids were opened, we received two protests, two requests for relief of the contract. therefore, we were unable to come to the capital committee with the recommendation at their meeting last week. that is why this item is before you today. since that time, the department of public works has completed their review in repaired to make a recommendation to you on this matter.

the first is the relief of the bids. we are recommending that this commission believes the two bidders because they did provide documentation that they had made a clerical error in their bid. this is not surprising since this package was a very complicated package which included not only a basted with multiple lines, but also 12 alternates that were involved with the enhancement to the playground, which is described in the bid package. with the relief of the bids, only one of the two protests would be applied. we review the protest of the bid and determined it was not significant, and that we have denied that protest and are now recommending that the bid be

found to be the lowest responsible bidder. therefore, we are hopeful you will award the contract to bauman today and allow the project to move forward. we are prepared to begin construction in may. this is a 10-month construction period. we anticipate having the park opened in march 2013. one other item associated with this project, which i wanted to give you an update on. we do have a partnership with the friends of lafayette park playground to fund the enhancements to the playground. in the bid package there were 10 playground enhancements, and we will be before you within the next two months with a gift from the friends of lafayette park playground, in order to find, if not all, a large number of the enhancements to the program. that concludes my report.

happy to answer any questions. >> is there any public comments on this item? being none, public comment is closed. >> entertain a motion? moved. seconded. all in favor? unanimous. thank you. >> item 12 open space contingency reserve fund. sunnyside playground club house. >> good morning, a capital improvement program. this is an expenditure of the reserve fund. we made a presentation a few weeks back to the capital committee which they approved. what we are looking for, it was a request from the friends and neighbors of the sunnyside playground to renovate a small storage space underneath the club house which is adjacent to the renovated plaza at that facility. currently, it houses

miscellaneous equipment. they requested that the modified into a kitchenette to support the plaza space. it could be programmed and functions as a venue for birthday parties and other activities. in your packet, who on the back page, you see a rough sketch of that. we will be using our job order contract system to complete this work. proposal from synergy for 33,006 and $45. that will allow us to complete the minor renovations to the space. this will be carved into two spots. one will remain a storage space for our operation vote in the field and then the other space will be utilized as the small kitchenette space. >> thank you. >> is there any public comment on this item? please come forward.

good morning, commissioners. >> on behalf of the sunnis are part families and neighbors who have been representing, for over 20 years, and dedication to the neighborhood park, we ask that you approve this unique addition to the already successful and renovation. we thank the capital committee and especially commissioner buell for launching the solution. the plaza concept surfaced about 15 years ago when the community was dreaming about a renovated sunnyside park. of primary interest was reflecting a long cultural history in the neighborhood who wanted a gathering place in the neighborhood known as la plaza. a small room was included in the renovation providing access to

utilities so that hon beverages and simple food service is possible. specific two outdoor events, sunnyside's plaza is less formal but would provide similar convenience. here is an opportunity to have a sense of being in the community within earshot of children, yet far enough away to create a serene environment. the plaza is of particular interest to the adult, teens, and civic groups in the neighborhood. the proper room when an appellee appointed plaza and a marketable addition to the parks portfolio for residents who would not choose to hold a party and the part can now enjoy being outdoors. picnic tables in the middle of a field are not always everyone's preference for holding a special gathering. the process of choosing how to spend this surplus of capital dollars was very long. we had numerous large community, smaller advocacy planning,

neighborhood associations, and department meetings. every idea was explored. lists were prioritized. in the end, some ideas were excluded by the department and the remaining community choices were always included at the top. even the best of planning processes, not everyone agrees, but in the end, we understand how we got where we are. some insisted on including things that were -- like portable toys or things that would need tearing out, already renovated things, like a small field, which did not want. we think we have a legitimate collection of people in the department who are supportive of this idea and are looking forward to holding their community group of men sit there in a more sophisticated environment. we are very excited about this. we thank you and invite you in advance to our first party.

we will have shish kabob and my special lemonade. >> is there anyone else that might to make public comment? bill? >> i just wanted to thank commission buell and lee for listening to us. i just really appreciate the fact that this has been followed through to its conclusion. i look forward to its completion. we have been here before. i just hope that it is now finished and we can enjoy it. >> thank you. >> is there any other public comment?

and being none, public comment is closed. >> commissioners? >> move, seconded. all those in favor? it is unanimous. >> item 13, general public comment continued. is there anyone that wants to make the general public, and that has not already done so? >> this is a problem that i was not aware of in our neighborhood until we were preparing for the concert last friday night at the sunnyside conservatory. i am waiting because i'm trail was parking her car across the street. as a major she got across safely, and there was a group of skateboarders coming down monterey. i was amazed at the noise they were making and the fact that

the first time through, i counted six people in both lanes. the pact and it was 6:00, it was rush hour did not deter them. then there were more coming. eventually, i counted 13 kids on skateboards skating between cars, between buses. i know there is a skateboard park planned for the corner of san jose and ocean. i am really hopeful that that will draw people to a safe environment where they are not arguing with buses and cars at 6:00 in the evening. i have to confess, perhaps that is a wild wish, but i was just

amazed. i was at the bart station. i had never seen them. it was as loud as motorcycles and certainly a lot more dangerous. when you are propelling yourself down, and a bump in the road means that you can go sideways. even if the car was inclined to slow down and stop for you, it would have been somebody seriously hurt. i just want to bring that up. i know the solution is in the works. if there is anything you can do to facilitate that happening sooner rather than later, there are lives that are at stake. thank you. >> is there anyone else who would like to make general public comment? being done, this item is closed. item 14. commissioner's matters. >> commissioner lee.

>> i am sorry i got here late i wanted to commend the general manager on a very successful ping pong tournament, table tennis, that was held at the county fairgrounds -- county fair building. we had a professional tournament for two days. some of the best players in the country were there, including an olympic hopeful from the bay area, and barney read. it was just amazing to go to the building and to see all of the tables set up, people, five years old up to 95 years old playing ping-pong. we also had disabled people,

people in wheelchairs', and it was a tremendous sight to behold that we were doing this. this is the second tournament we have held. the first was last year. this is a sport that is really taking off commack and it has always been a big sport in the asian-american community, but it is expanding beyond, particularly among the senior population, because it is a sport seniors can play late into life and it helps their conative abilities and keeps their hand eye coordination active and engaged. i would like to see more of these events be held by rec and park and that we should consider for commissioners matters possibly having another

tournament at the opening of the chinese recreation center now known as betty hong recreation center. that would be a great way to celebrate a new recreation center. perhaps this is something we can discuss further at a later meeting. >> thank you. >> are there any other commissioners? public comment on this item? and being none, public comment is closed. item 15. new business, agenda settings. is there any public comment? the none, public comment is closed. 16 is communications. is there any public comment? being none, public comment is closed. item 17, adjourn. >> i believe we want to adjourn in the memory of carter church.

we will know that in the record and entertain the motion. move, seconded. all those in favor? thank you very much.

>> 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 tried to think about this room as the dream room, where we dream and bring some of those dreams to life. i feel very blessed that i have been able to spend the last 31 years of my life doing it my way, thinking about things

better interesting to me, and then pursuing them. there are a lot of different artists that come here to work, mostly doing aerial work. kindred spirits, so to speak. there is a circus company that i have been fortunate enough to work with the last couple of years. i use elements of dance and choreography and combine that with theater techniques. a lot of the work is content- based, has a strong narrative. the dancers have more of a theatrical feel. i think we are best known for our specific work. in the last 15 years, spending a lot of time focusing on issues that affect us and are related to the african-american

experience, here in the united states. i had heard of marcus shelby and had been in join his work but never had the opportunity to meet him. we were brought together by the equal justice society specifically for this project. we were charged with beginning work. marquez and i spent a lot of time addressing our own position on the death penalty, our experiences with people who had been incarcerated, family members, friends of friends. pulling our information. beyond that, we did our own research. to create a picture that resonated with humanity. it is the shape of a house.

in this context, it is also small and acts like a cell. i thought that was an interesting play on how these people make these adjustments, half to create home. what is home for these people? the home is their cell. people talk a lot about noise -- very noisy in prisons. that is interesting to me. looking at the communication level, the rise of frustration of being caged, wondering, where does redemption fit into the equation here? [singing]

i think both of us really believe the death penalty is wrong, and is flawed for many reasons. the list is as long as my arm -- about several others. we feel this is important for both of us, personally, to participate in the debate of this issue in a way that we can help people frame it for a conversation.