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. >> this is one of the museum's longest art interest groups. it was founded by art lovers who wanted the museum to reflect new directions in contemporary art.

it has been focused on artists in this region with an eye toward emerging artists. ♪ it is often at the early stage of their career, often the first major presentation of their work in a museum. it is very competitive. only a few artists per year receive the award. it is to showcase their work to have a gallery and publication dedicated to their work. ♪ i have been working with them on the last two years on the award and the exhibitions. the book looks at the full scope of the awards they have

sponsored. ♪ it has been important to understand the different shifts within the award program and how that is nearing what else is going on in the bay area. -- how that is mirror beiing wht else is going on in the bay area. ♪ there are artists from different generations sometimes approaching the same theme or subject matter in different ways. they're artists looking at the history of landscape and later artists that are unsettling the history and looking at the history of conquests of nature. ♪ artists speak of what it means

to have their work scene. often you are in the studio and do not have a sense of who is really seeing your work. seeing your own work at the institution have gone to for many years and has an international audience is getting the word out to a much larger community. ♪ >> good afternoon petraeus i am hearing to present -- i was told over the weekend, no, i would go present and entered as the person who will be receiving the award this year.

i said, when is that coming at the lunch? the end, the grand finale? she said, no, it is the first award. i said, isn't this the international women's day and we're giving a man the first award? she said, oh, they have to go back to work. i said, we have heard that before. so the man of the year. when we think about who the right person should be and is deserving of such an honor, believe me, we're not looking for a man who is in high political office or the ceo of the major companies. instead, we're looking for someone who has demonstrated over time that he is committed to advancing equal rights and opportunities for women and minorities, someone who has talked the talk and walked the walk. i know we have a number of guests from other countries at this year's women's summit. and at many levels.

and it is universal. we're talking about advice for education. jobs and economic opportunities. and in the political arena. when i first became active in this community, thanks again to many of my friends who are in this room who are my inspiration and give me all the encouragement that i have had, i have come to learn that we must have a place at the table. that is what was referenced issue today. this should be the theme this year, to be at the table. we're talking about in the corporate world, the board room, the state legislature, the halls of congress, or at city hall. well, i am very proud of the recipient of this year is a man of the year award, our mayor, mayor at least pujols -- mayor ed lee.

[applause] the mayor is the chosen one. not because you have the title of being the mayor. the mayor was the chosen one because over the last 30 years, he has a history of promoting justice and advancing equal rights and opportunities for women and minorities in the city and beyond. when he graduated from law school across the bay, and instead of adding to a corporate law office, he decided to work for the asian law caucus, fighting against discrimination, against women and minorities. when he became the first asian- american to be in that position in this great city, again -- that was less than three months ago that when the mayor was sworn billion, he took every

opportunity he had to advance women. when there is an opportunity to appoint a member to the board of supervisors, and for those of you who do not live in san francisco, that is our city council. among the list of qualified candidates, he elected christina olague . i believe supervisor olague is with us today. [applause] and in a short three months when he has had an opportunity to nominate and appoint somebody to the very important position which he firmly held as the chief administration officer of the city and county of san francisco, and again he immediately nominated noami kelly to be our cao. [applause] we're living in a city that we're very lucky, and we know that women around the world and in many other cities are not as

lucky. when i look around their room, i see that we have many city departments headed by women. of course there can always be more. but i see melanie, miriam, emily. i mean, there are quite a few and we're very proud. i am looking at the next four to eight years, and i can see there will be more and more women leaders in our city government. so we're very fortunate to have somebody at the top of the city that really believes in making room for women at the table. now i would like to invite the one and only surely bell to join me in presenting this award, and please join me in representing the man of the year, mayor ed lee. [applause]

>> wow, thank you, claudine and shelly. thank you for this distinguished meant. very much appreciated. i am is sitting here listening to the introductory remarks, and i have flashbacks of decisions that made in the past. but if it begins with i think having different attitude because i had a strong mom who had to raise kids by herself and understanding how single mothers have to survive and raise a whole family gives you life lessons. i also need toothache -- to thank anita because she

appointed me her husband. so i have to return the favor. [applause] but you know, i can go on about a lot of things we have done, but i am more excited to signal to all of you to really work hard with us. there is just a lot more to do. because there will be efforts that tried to hold us back as a society, but then we have to continue moving forward. we cannot let the the kind of radio talk-show hosts and things like that hold us back. i, too, have to express my personal shock and just in this day and age how such a vicious language can be used that when someone is invited to present their expertise as a law student about the needs of women, and it has been such almost spoiled, i

guess, to be in san francisco, because this is often our culture, to listen and to follow-up with the articulation from advocates, from people who have served in all kinds of government and business, educational institutions, the private sector, the public sector, to listen carefully to the needs that our children, our young girls and our women in need to not only survive but to go well beyond that and succeed in society. i am often reminded who holds half of the sky up in the city. so i am going to continue inviting all of you, particularly speaking to the women here who do have experience and knowledge and foresight to advise me and advise my administration of how we can do better in all aspects. nationally, locally, and

internationally to keep advocating strongly how we can protect and nurture and how we can make sure that our society is of equalness. that is why i said at the beginning that the flashbacks of being at the dpw and human rights commission, recalling the advocates the came to meet with me and said how important it it is for a city to sign on to united nations convention to eliminate all forms of discrimination -- [cheers and applause] that is still important. and then a decade later, to realize we're still one of the only cities to have done that. how can we still be alone in this effort? realizing we have got a lot more work to do. and to say to you that if you do not continue advocating, if we do not have opportunities for you to speak out enough for us

to listen and to absorb and to integrate into our policies, then you are god have voices of their that suggest -- then you're going to have voices out there that suggest that the issues you bring out are private matters. that cannot be accepted in a city like san fran. -- like san francisco. [applause] i join recognizing international women's day. i personally thank you for this award and recognition. but i also want to make sure you're challenged and you are invited and you are encouraged to advocate with them and to this administration, because we will listen and we will act on it those things to make sure that we're more of an equal society and that we can provide perhaps leadership to other areas of the country that have yet to catch up. thank you very much. [applause]

>> we are going to make a presentation that all the honorees are going to get today. it is from an incredible artists, wanda whitacre, who was over in the corner. she has done a series of portraits murals of each of our honorees, and it is are a gift to you for all that you have done. >> wow. >> so we present to you the ed lee mural. [applause] >> well, thank you, ms. what occurred -- whitacre. i read your bio, so i understand you have other skills i might