nature in a variety of ways at this site. the western end of golden gate park was intended to be a naturalistic grassy field. later, the golden gate master plan of the general plan were approved to retain the naturalistic landscapes in connection to ocean beach. today, the area fulfills the recreational needs of many people. this proposal is for a single use and the eir does not address the impacts. it will be a 9.4 acre loss to visitors. the proposal would be -- would decrease the number of birds and other wildlife that live in or migrate through golden gate park. a local birder conducted a

casual survey. completely missing migrating and nesting species. the eir has no mitigation for birds or other species. there is no other place in san francisco for these birds and wildlife to go. the lighting was not properly evaluated. the adjacent -- species depend on dark skies for navigation. darkness is needed for resting and nesting. san francisco boasts of being a green city, but this proposal is not a sustainable project. >> thank you. >> i urge you to make a thoughtful decision. >> thank you.

>> good evening, commissioners. thank you for spending your evening to listen to all of our concerns. i am a native san franciscan. i am a mother, grandmother, and a great-grandmother. i am in full support of the parents and children who came here today to ask for what they want for their children. however, i oppose the eir and die welt spend a lot of part- time because there are so many -- and i will not spend a lot of our time tonight because there are so many others who want to speak. the people who oppose it had already spoken eloquently about the problems with the eir. i am here to tell you that i oppose it and i am hoping you will vet the information that

you have. this eir is not complete as it has been presented to you. we knew it -- we need to preserve the wild places in golden gate park. and i thank you for your time. >> anyone else whose name i have called? let's keep going down the list. [reading names] >> good evening, commissioners.

please do not certify this eir. the draft motion fails to discuss whether the city filled foundation has refused to fund the project if the artificial turf were not installed and the lights were not included. if city field has said those terms on the funding, it is essentially dictating the terms of the project, which is a public works project. the terms have compromised the ability of the department and the planning department to conduct an independent analysis of the project and its alternatives. none of the environmental review documents fully explained city field roll despite the fact that the organization originated the design and dictated the terms for its construction. neither the public or the decision makers have been fully informed to understand the root analysis of the preferred alternative on the projects.

the foundation and though you does not mention the golden gate park at all -- mou does not mention the golden gate park at all. this has not been done before the beach chalet sote. -- site. it is part of the mou and is required to use on used funds to be carried forward to the next fiscal year. we have time to do the right thing with an alternative. another point i wantwith the co- the product is inconsistent with the local coastal plan, because it fails to protect the naturalist the quality of the park, and because it will have negative effects on other resources in coastal zones but said the project boundaries.

this point is definitely appealable to the california coastal commission. you need to hear that. please do not approve this permit. thank you for your time, and hang in there. >> please do not certify the eir. i am beth lewis. it is flawed. it is inadequate. the eir claims the only adverse effect is it will impair the historical significance of a very small portion of the park. i really do not think that cutting down 55 trees and paving over 7 acres near a beautiful ocean, essentially changing the character of the west end of the park, is significant. the benefits of this project to not outweigh the damage and loss

this will conflict. please locate this project elsewhere. the eir does not address the fact that there are alternative places to locate the project. someone brought up earlier that the west sunset soccer fields would be an ideal location. we have heard from many soccer players. we are all for sports and children. clearly, some would prefer to play on grass and some would prefer to play on artificial turf. switching the turf and natural grass is a no-brainer. the project is inconsistent, and the eir does not address the fact that the project is inconsistent with the 1998 golden gate park master plan, the national registry listing,

the coastal plan, the 2012 ocean beach master plan. please do not go down in history as the commission that paved over golden gate park. it is a terrific asset. people come from all over the world to marvel at its beauty. president buell: thank you. anyone else whose name i have called? we will keep right on going. christine not banner -- christinna banner, [names are read]

>> my name is judy berkowitz. coalition for san francisco neighborhoods. please do not certify this eir. it is deficient and inadequate. please reject it. improvements could be made with thought. the golden gate master plan designates that one thing we have not heard so far is it designates the the shell lay -- the commissioner borden: -- the beach chalet field as multi use. once the field goes down with markings on it, it is single usage. i live close to the golden gate park fields. it is completely soccer.

before, it was artificial turf. it used to be soccer, softball, anything. once those markings are on the field, that is it. rain does not wash it off. it does not get mowed down. the children that came and said they were excited that they could play any time they wanted in the rain and everything -- that obviously do not realize that these fields, for their own good, are fenced off. in the rain, there is no playing. but the lights are on until 10:00 p.m., even though there is no action. what was once an open area in garfield park is now completely closed off. it is fenced.

i am sorry. i lost my place. although we have been told that the life of the turf is anywhere from 8 to 12 years, the garfield turf was pulled up within eight or nine months. i do not know why. but it was. thank you for your consideration. please reject.commissioner bord. got the message. anyone else whose name i have called? let us keep on going. [names are called] . these might be soccer people.

anybody who's name i called want to say anything? you are pointing somewhere. is somebody back there ready? did i call a name. did mr. 0 leavis -- olivas come back? we are going to keep going through these names. [names are read]

they have to be hearing this. >> good evening. my name is nancy. i am a parent of two children who play soccer. i am a resident of western san francisco. i am very concerned about the priority of playing soccer over the value of the environment, and the preservation of the character of the western part of golden gate park. i would like to reemphasize -- i

know many things have been said over and over again. i would like to reemphasize that artificial turf never goes away. it has a 12 year life, they say. but during that time it deteriorates. as it deteriorates, the robber gets into the environment. it gets into the water runoff. artificial turf never goes away. the chrome rubber is what the kids fall on. it gets into their scrapes and cuts as they fall on the field. this is not a safe thing for children to play on. i would not send my children out to play on plastic. when i send my children out to play, i want them to have a natural environment. i believe that everything else i say it would be repetitive. i urge you to reconsider this.

thank you. >> i am a public high school chemistry, astronomy, and theater teacher in san francisco. i am exhausted, because i just finished finals. a request that you not certify, for the following reasons. it fails to adequately are honestly address many of the concerns raised in the session. i was at both. i put in multiple commons. i did not have time to go to the huge thing with the exam. this profoundly changes the experience of the park, negating the articles extolling the quality of the slammer. soccer leagues do not represent the majority of the humans who use and appreciate this part of the park. i go through it every day. even though we are less organized, we have significant interest in this area.

humans present a small fraction of those who use and rely on this part of the park. for them, this is a life and death decision. their needs are being ignored. specifically, the birds, but there are more. there are coyotes, skunks. the eir makes the common mistake in economics of ignoring the great value of functioning ecosystems. the eir repeats the tragedy of the commons by not recognizing the complex, layered reality these grassy meadows present. calling meadows athletic fields renders them one purpose use. the functions they fulfill our negated because of this. it makes it that much easier to steal these resources, and to diminish the park as a whole. i strongly urge you not to certify it this eir.

thank you. commissioner borden: [ -- president buell: [names are called]

if you are ready. >> good evening, commissioners. my name is steve. i am a father of two soccer girls. i have lived in san francisco for 32 years. i would urge you to accept the eir. it has set aside any reservations we might have about what this is going to be. i love the san francisco sense of community. i find the recreational facilities are a big part of that. this will only build on that.

i have gone to see my daughters play. you discovered it is not only for kids. it is for people who do not play soccer. it is a community-building facility. i think this will do the same thing for what is pretty much an underused area of golden gate park, particularly because it cannot be used for soccer often. i appreciate your time. please accept the eir. i appreciate your attention. >> there is a group of girls here who need to get home. i was trying to see if they could speak first.

>> good evening, commissioners. we came here in fourth grade to talk about turfing these fields. in the same room we are in today. our passion for this sport has driven us to come back three years later to discuss these fields. >> as female athletes, we are taught to stand up for things we believe in, and fight for causes that are important. we are here to fight for these fields. we are asking you, since you are in voting positions and we are not, to please vote on our behalf. >> here are our reasons. when the fields are wet, we practice on the beach and cut ourselves. when we play on soccer fields, we like the ball to go straight.

>> our teammate broke her ankle. she had to have surgery and is unable to play for the rest of the season. this means that when we go to denver for regionals, she will not be able to play in what is potentially the biggest match in our lives, all because of a grass field. >> when we play, we focus on our improvement. when we play at beach chalet, the only thing we focus on is our safety from pot holes. >> as a goalie, and frequently fall on dirt, holes, and rocks. >> as young athletes, it is very important that we get as much practice and exercise that we can. >> please, be our voice. [applause] >> i am debbie. i have two girls that are 16 and 18. they have been playing soccer

since the were in kindergarten. we have a lot of experience on virtually every field in san francisco. the concern at the beach l.a. has always been the safety. i do not just mean the gopher holes. there are a lot of unsavory characters. i want to read an e-mail i got from their middle school coach on april 14, 2009. >> i want to report to everyone an incident that occurred at soccer practice today. the girls witnessed a police capture of an armed gunmen. when we saw the police circling the field, everyone was wondering what was happening. the assistant and i spoke with the other parents at the field. police were searching for someone in the bushes with a gun. we immediately moved all of our players to the middle of the park and had them sit together with the other team and their coaches. the officers captured the man and hauled him away.

i commend the girls for being, and cooperative. -- for being calm and cooperative. this is an unsafe area. lights and activity can only help to make it safer for everyone. thank you. >> my name is pat murphy. i was born out in the sunset and and still living there. i played athletic field soccer. sometimes, i wonder if we are talking about the same field. i think we are talking about the same field with the last speaker. it has always been kind of sketchy out there. i have a hard time believing, if there are families out there, people playing soccer at night, you will have similar activity. i am wondering if we will have the same status quo, or if we are going to move forward and

have something constructive. thank you for your time. president buell: other speakers who we have called their names already? i will call some more names. [names are called] >> thank you. hello. good to see you all again. i am a father. i am abraham simmons, the father of three children, now ages 13,

15, and 21. all three are taking their stab at being student athletes here in san francisco. we know in the fields we are dealing with now. that are doing so as part of a family that is fighting tooth and nail against the same well- publicized pressures that forced so many other families out of san francisco. the increased availability of the fields is something we look forward to. it is no answer that the deficit is so large that it is still going to be a great need. the beach l.a. is in -- the beach chalet is in my backyard. i say yes to families in my backyard. i say yes to children learning, playing, and using my backyard. i come with the greatest respect for the people who are here, my

neighbors, who are speaking against the project. i have stood with them, fighting for and against other projects in the city. i would prefer that my children play on grass. but i know from experience they are being asked not to play at all. this project is very important to us. i implore this joint committee to say yes to the project. the project is sorely needed. it is long past due, and is extraordinarily well thought out. it reaches a balance, and we need more balance. please help us take this step forward. thank you for my minute and a half. >> good evening, commissioners. my name is mike sullivan, and i am here with my son, joseph, and one of his best friends. i am here in my role as a soccer

dead. it is my first time i have been to speak in front of either commission. this is important to our family. joe and rocky have been playing on these fields for about five years. they have played on grass and turf fields. the kids love them, because that are great to play on. the family's love them because that are available. we are a traveling team. in the last year, we have not been able to play on rec and park fields. we play in brisbane, because there was no feel for us. you cannot make everybody happy. we know that. as you weigh what to do, with passionate people on both sides, i urge you to think about the families. somebody earlier tonight said it is not going to push people out of san francisco if you do not do that. but people say it is not the

schools, the crime, or the housing. this is an opportunity to tip the scales in favor of family is staying in san francisco. we are huge environmentalists in our family, big supporters of the natural areas program. joe and i volunteered every month. i do not think this is a big environmental issue for the west side of the park. this is an urban park. we have paved parts of the park for tennis courts. we have put art museums in our courts. this is a modest thing to do. it will be a big help to our family. i urge you to support the program. i want to ask if the kids want to say something. >> our fields are fun to play on because they are never rained out. whenever we come to grass fields, there are differences in the ground to mess up our shots.

>> right into the microphone. >> i am joseph. i played goalie for the revolution. i am 8 years old. i want you to build the fields, because i do not like getting hurt. >> an icon is about to be destroyed. that is golden gate park. i am a native san franciscan. my mother was going here also. -- was born here also. i do not know if that makes the third generation are not. my mother was brought up in sunset, on noriega's street