million. we obtained an environmental review and the project average was done in 2010. -- the project out reached was done in 2010. we have regular updates on the project posted on our website. [unintelligible] and we have no opposition buknon for this project. that is the presentation and the findings. if you have questions, i'm available. gregg's thank you. let's try public comment. >> we do have public comment.

>> thank you, commissioners. i am representing the friends amcabrillo playground. we are very excited about the renovations. we would like to invite you to a ground breaking ceremony divide june 9th at 11:00 a.m. at that time we will be raising funds to buy furniture for the clubhouse and a palm been -- ping-pong table. come on by and enjoy yourselves. gregg's any other public comment? seeing none, public comment is closed. -- >> and any other public comment? seeing none, public comment is closed. >> mr. ginsberg? brecht's i want to give a shout out to be friends of the playground you have been very patient. it is helpful to have friends

and groups around particular playgrounds and clubhouses and parks. thank you for everything you do. >> with that, seeing no comments come i cannot entertain a motion? >> so moved. greg second. >> all in favor? opposed? it is unanimous. >> item 9, memorandum of understanding and gift acceptance for water from playground at ssu beman ssusue bierman part. >> the afternoon. i'm abigail from the rec and park's renovation team. i'm asking you to approve a memorandum of understanding between the san francisco park alliance, the friends of waterfront playground and the wrecked part for the

construction of the waterfront playground and to accept a gift on behalf of the friends group. it is valued in thesupport the a new playground at the park. the proposed mou, which is in your packet establishes a framework for collaboration between park alliance, the friends, and rec and park and assigned roles and responsibilities to expand design and construction of the playground you have a full copy of the mou but i would like to talk about a few of the highlights. the friends, acting through parks alliance of its fiscal agent proposed to provide funding and services necessary to implement the conceptual plan in one pays. the french group, in collaboration with rec and park and supervisor chu went through a committee process to build some consensus around this plant and it was approved by the commission on march 15. the primary funding sources for the project will be private

funds. friends will not rely on public funds to complete the project and rec and park will not be responsible for any responsible -- shortfall in the funding project. so it is a pretty major kick to the city. the city shall be responsible for maintaining the project according to the proposition fee parkman's standards. in the event that gift funds remained unspent at the conclusion of the renovation project, those funds will be used for the exclusive purpose of maintaining the improvement to the sue bierman park playground. the gifts are outlined in mou as well. the friend, acting through parks alive as its fiscal agent, shall provide funding and services harry to implement the conceptual plan, and that budget of the playground is about $832,000. they will also contribute a cash gift toward the cost of services for 1 rec and park project manager, and that value is 37,005 under dollars. i presented this mou and gift

exceptions at the operations committee on may 3, and during that meeting there were meetings -- questions about this item. i believe, at this point, rec and parks that has answer those questions. last may, i would beg to say one of the founding members, bill, is not able to be here today, but he will be the signing member of this mou. his daughter is graduating from nursing school in new york. so congratulations to hurt. he has submitted a letter that i would like to read out loud. commissioners, as founder and managing manager of the friends of the playground, i wholeheartedly support the memo of understanding that has been crafted between the san francisco recreation and parks department, the san francisco parts alliance, and our volunteer advocacy alliance. i am sorry i cannot attend the may 3 or may 17 meeting to approve the mou, but as a signer of the agreement for the friends, i believe it is a fair

and complete agreement for all parties concerned. lastly, i would like to say i've been a pleasure working on this project with other members of the friends group, including ronnie, who is wholeheartedly dedicated. and also with staff from the parks alliance, matt o'grady, meredith thomas, and maria have been wonderful to work with. of course, my own colleagues, lisa and mary hobson. everyone is hard work to make sure this is a subject -- successful project. if you have any questions, let me know. >> thank you. >> we do have public comment. meredith thomas and ronnie land. >> good morning, commissioners. welcome, commissioner low. i am the director of policy and to -- at the census corporate clients. we're asking that the fiscal

sponsor to the friends of the water and put a gun in their effort to provide a playground where there currently is none. we have talked about this project in number of times at the commission but i want to reiterate, as our neighborhoods and on and families come into spaces, we have to make sure there is good access to safe playgrounds within walking distance of those families. this group of neighbors is getting together and partner with the department to provide a wonderful place for their neighborhood and to meet a need that they have had otherwise go unmet. so i think you in advance for working with us on this mou, and we look forward to remain an active partner on this project and insuring we deliver a gift in time to the department that you can to prop them and can be well maintained and that meets the hopes and dreams of the parents and kids and grandparents and everyone who will enjoy this playground. thank you. >> thank you. >> run the land. >> good morning, i am with friends of the waterfront playground. i want to thank all of you for your ongoing support of our

efforts to bring a playground to our neighborhood. since the march commission meeting, when all of the unanimous approved the plan drawn cause of design as well as our donor recognition plan, the community has been harder work raising the funds for this project, and in addition, we have been moving forward on -- documentation, construction documentation, so we can get bids for the construction of this project. things are moving fast. the mou is a great document that lays out all of our roles and responsibilities for all parties involved. i urge you to approve it, and thank you again for your support. >> thank you. >> is there any other public comment for this item? being none, public comment is closed. >> thank you. i might, before i ask for a vote, the only reason this but not on the consent calendar was because there was one member of the public that had some issues

the last time and they did not show up for this. i think those issues have been resolved. i think the french support for the hard work they are doing, which the best in reaching their financial goals. think it to the park lies for their assistance. i will entertain a motion. moved and seconded. all those in favor. aye. it is unanimous. >> item 10. plaque installation and gift acceptance. >> hello, again. i am here to ask you to approve the permanent installation of a commemorative plaque at boxer stadium in balboa park. d bettyvorson -- betty dvorson submitted a request to honor her late husband. upon review, rec and parks tavis

and supervisor ellsberg came to the conclusion that recognizing mel dvorson was a fitting honor to a man that was dedicated to enriching the lives of many with his dedication to recreational activities. for over 40 years, he was a soccer referee in san francisco, refereed numerous games, including the trust for the 1976 olympic soccer games. in partnership with the san francisco soccer league, he was instrumental in the campaign to remain -- renamed balboa stadium after boxer. he won local awards. on a more personal note, he graduated from local high school, and then from uc- berkeley. you may know him. he was a world war ii veteran, char businessman, and a loyal family man. i believe, as does the department, that a plaque at boxer stadium in honor of him

would commemorate his contributions to the game of soccer and inspire players on the field to remember the great importance of sport and spit, values that dv mr.orson valued on and off the field. during the may 3 operations, other members of the community and a family who spoke in honor of the plaque. including a rabbi. today there are other folks here as well to speak in honor and in support of this plaque. please let me know if you have any questions. thank you. >> thank you. >> we do have public comment on this item. betty dvorson, ellen wall. >> good morning, commissioners. thank you for putting me on the agenda yet again. and think it to my supervisor, sean elsbernd, without losing valuable support i might not be here. my late husband mel dvorson was

passionate about soccer. he was an extraordinary athlete and an exemplary soccer referee. he started playing when he was a little kid and he played for lowell, and by the time he was 16, he was all-city. the century club changed their bylaws so that he could be a member of their team when he was just in his teens. he went on to the army, as you have heard. when he became a referee, he was highly respected by other referees, and by players themselves, many of whom he had issues with, yellow cards, but they all said that they deserve them and that he was always fair. mel was always on the ball, literally and figuratively. he did not wait for the ball to come down to the other end of the field. he was at the side of the action.

they clocked him once -- i do not know how many miles he did during one game -- but it was extraordinary. soccer was his passion. he refereed all over northern california as part of the collegiate games. he buried all ethnicities, gay and straight, and he showed them all the same dignity and respect and demanded that of his players, that they walk off the field after shaking hands, that they respect themselves, their opponents, and conduct themselves in a good sportsmanlike manner. he said, play your hardest, but play by the rules. that was his credo. one of his dreams was sunday soccer would be recognized more in the united states, more widely, as it was in europe, and that is actually coming to be. so, i think, a plaque in his memory at boxer stadium, where he spent 40 years -- it was his home away from home -- would be very fitting and would be an

inspiration to soccer players, two soccer referees, and the entire soccer family. i think you for your consideration and i brought some pictures. in case you want to see who you are honoring today. i will just pass these around. >> thank you very much. >> my name is ellen wall. i asked to speak because i know absolutely nothing about soccer. but i knew mel. just hearing her speak makes me weep because he was a great guy. in honoring him, i think, otters all the people of san francisco who try to make a difference in the way the city works.

so, thank you very much for your consideration of this. i am very enthusiastic about having something like this happen. thank you. >> thank you. >> is there any other public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. >> commissioner levitan and? >> there are items that can go on a consent calendar or items that we think we have to put on the general calendar, if their issues or concerns, or matters that need to be heard by the full commission. obviously, this is not a controversial issue, but we wanted to bring betty and this matter before the full commission so that we could have the opportunity to hear how wonderful and fitting this honor is. so my colleagues on the operation committee feel the same way, that this was a good thing for us to do, and it was nice to hear from you, betty, and thank you for the photographs.

at a time of corporate, i would move that we approve staff's recommendation. >> i want to say, it sounded like not only did mel have a lot of support on the field, but also at home. i would second commissioner levitan's opinion that we wanted to hear more about his exemplary life. with that, we have a motion and second. all those in favor. aye. it is unanimous. thank you very much. >> item 11. cayuga park, a memorandum of understanding with public utilities commission. >> good morning, commissioners. i am the project manager with a capital division of the recreation and parks department. as you may remember, back in may, the commission approved two recommendations to the board of supervisors to approve a

jurisdictional transfer of the parcels from dpw to the recreation and parks department. this is in conformance with the renovation plan for cayuga park, which is funded under the 2008 parks bond. the board of supervisors approved the jurisdictional transfer, however, prior to that, they have to approve a street vacation. the plan on the overhead shows the areas of st. vacation and jurisdictional transfer. the areas shown in stripes are areas that when the jurisdiction of the transfer to rec and park, and the bold red area of cayuga st., and that ari would need to be vacated and jurisdiction of the transferred to rec and park. as a condition for the st. vacation of that portion of cayuga st., the board of supervisors pledged a couple of conditions. one is to approve a series easement to the neighboring properties. that is currently underway.

the other condition is to an mou between the puc and recreation and parks department for the sewer lines that are in the dpw parcels, to allow puc to continue to maintain the renovations. that is subject -- that is the subject of today's agenda item. the proposed mou maintains sfpuc's access to maintain, replace its underground waste water lines and sewer box, as well as above for ground clearance for equipment and vehicles. furthermore, the proposed mou, which requires preparation parks department to notify the puc of any future tree and shrub plantings and any future proposed installations in order to protect the puc's interest in the operation and access to its facilities. however, the recreation and parks department reserves the

right to operate and maintain cayuga park for public use, including the puc's access, insofar as it is consistent with the puc's access rights prescribed in the mou. just as a reminder, this is our renovation plan approved by the commission for cayuga park. i am available to answer any questions. >> thank you. >> is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. >> commissioners? motion? moved and seconded. all those in favor. aye. unanimous, thank you. >> item 12. general public comment. at this time, members of the public may address the commission on items that within that the subject matter jurisdiction of the recreation and park commission and that do not appear on the agenda. is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is

closed. item 13, commissioners matters. >> seeing none. >> is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. item 14. new business agenda. >> is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. item 15, communications. is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. item 16, adjournment. >> moved and seconded. all those in favor. aye. that is unanimous. thank you, one and all. welcome, commissioner low. the next meeting may not be as short.

>> good morning, and welcome to the regularly scheduled meeting of the city operations committee. i'm joined by supervisor carmen chu, vice chairman of the committee. we will soon be joined by vice -- supervisor christina olague madam clerk. the could you please call item no. 1. >> a resolution of the secretary of the navy to christen a ship

the u.s. as harvey milk. -- the uss harvey milk. >> would you like to make some introductory mark -- introductory remarks? rex before the committee is it -- >> before the committee is a resolution to name names battleship in memory of harvey milk. this idea came from the lgbt community in san diego, and a proposal from bob filner, who serves on the house resolution committee. supervisor milkha, of course, with a civil rights icon. a true leader in san francisco and in the lgbt community. among the first out of elective officials in the country, a fighter for civil rights and a role model for young people. he was also a naval officer in

the korean war. while supervisor milk come out like most people, who later opposed the vietnam war, it does not take away from his career or military service. this honors one of the most prominent gay man ever to serve in the united states military. lgbt people have served in the military since our country's birth. we have always been there. of course, through the vast majority of that history we have been oppressed, forced to stay in the closet, expelled, and at times criminally prosecuted. but we have always served because lgbt citizens, like all americans, come from all walks of life and career. last year, president obama signed a repeal of the don't ask, don't tell legislation. lgbt people can now serve openly in the military. i cannot think of a better honor

than to name a shift -- a sheet -- a ship after an lgbt military icon. harvey milk served in korea and oppose the vietnam war ended not like war as a general matter. the naming of the ship is supported by stuart mill, harvey's son. it is also supported by the veterans affairs commission, the american legion alexander hamilton post four hundred 48. -- 448. naming civil-rights -- ships after civil rights leaders is not just a brick, but sends a loud message that our country opposing military is for defense, and not -- our country's military is for defense, and knocked -- not

foreign exploration it will also be encouraging for young soldiers to see his name on the side of a battleship. he used to talk about inspiring lgbt people to have hope and to know that they can succeed in life. how better to do that for kids in the neighbor than to have the uss harvey milk battleship. and many of us oppose war. many of us chose not to pursue military careers. but many lgbt people have made the choice to serve in the military even when it was illegal to do so. i can think of no better way to support those members of our community and the many more lgbt young people who will follow in their footsteps than to support the naming of this ship as the u.s. as harvey milk. -- uss harvey milk.

gregg's i know supervisor olague has comments, but i know she said she wants to hear public comment first. please line up in the center aisle after your name has been called. we will go with two minutes for public comment. jackie collins followed by john caldera, followed by julien chain, followed by robert docking doors. -- robert dockendorf. >> good morning. we totally oppose this idea, because harvey later in his life was about fighting for the -- for those who face all forms of injustice. there has got to be a better resolution to support him than to name a ship after him. this is going to be a controversy to the progressive

lgbt communities across the country, and across our own state. i totally oppose this and i ask you to do this -- to do so also. >> thank you. mr. caldera, followed by julien chang, robert -- mundorf -- robert dockendorf. >> good morning. i present three letters that were drafted >> my name is john caldera and i am the president of the san francisco commission. i am pleased and honored to stand before you and say that our commission voted in favor of this resolution. as the only member of this commission that is a member of the lgbt community, i felt it important not only to deliver those letters in hand, but to

speak on behalf of this resolution. i am also a member of the harvey milk democratic club, and i believe it did not go through the process of the club as a card-carrying member appeared to say that the harvey milk democratic club is not a supporter is inherent. i am the executive director of veterans for peace. i believe in peace. harvey believed in peace. if the united states navy ever wants to name a ship after me, let them go ahead. but we're not talking about that. we are talking about harvey milk to " former supervisor, this is an honor that should be given an recognize. i realize and respect every voice of the community and civilian sector, but speaking as an lgbt veteran, this is appropriate. i know our brothers and sisters

in san diego or carrying the torch. let us carry this torch with them. >> thank you. >> my name is julien chang. i am a member of the board of directors of the lgbt democratic club. i'm here to support the resolution calling for naming the ship the uss harvey milk. i thought really hard to repeal don't ask, don't tell, along with a lot of other people in this room. at the core of that was equality. part of the quality message was that we cannot be invisible in any part of our lives, including the military. as supervisor wiener said, there are many lgbt people who choose to serve their country to military service. we do a great honor to be able to show a well-known gay icon on the side of a ship