>> welcome to the meeting. the time is 5:35 p.m. the meeting is being called to order. if you could please turn off cellphone and pagers. please sign up if you would like to be added to our mailing list. speaker cards are available at the front table. and we would like to thank sfgtv for support of our meetings. item number one is roll-call. commissioner items is excused. good -- commissioner adams is excused. [roll-call] mr. vice president, we have a

quorum. >> next item. goodbye 5 and no. 2 is presentation of the small business commission cert -- >> item #2 is a presentation of the small business commission certificate of honor. goo[applause] >> it is my honor to give this award to the most deserving fellow, joseph fink, owner of the cafe. i do not know if you have been there, but it is a wonderful old school cafe, a great place to have a tuna sandwich and ice cream. it is a neighborhood institution, and you should definitely make it out there.

good >> we just celebrated our 30th anniversary. >> let me read the presentation. on this monday, august 13, 2012, the small business conditions is proud to acknowledge the contribution the cafe has made to the city of san francisco. over the past 30 years, the company has provided an exciting cafe with desserts. ++p

culture, making it one of the most enjoyable eating establishments in town. the proprietor is recognized for championing the value of small businesses and for impacting policies citywide. goothe commission thinks him for his tireless efforts and wishes him a annd toy boat success for many years to come. >> thank you. i will say a few words. i should they my wife, who is also my partner, and my wife, who is my daughter. my son is not here, but he is my son, and i am glad you showed up for this wonderful meeting. i have been doing this for 30 years, and it has been a blast. i have enjoyed it. it is nice to get a pat on the back and feel the small business commission is helping small businesses as much as they can, so thank you. the you have something to say?

>> i think it is very nice there is a face the increase of nicely everyday commo, and he has beena positive active member, and he is very deserving of the support. >> thank you very much. thank you. >> congratulations. thank you very much.

>> i want to thank you all very much.

>> next item please. commissioners, item number three, approval of the july 9, 2012 minutes, explanatory documents. do you need a couple minutes to read this, or do i have a proposal to approve? >> thank you again. >> i moved to approve the minutes. >> do we have a second? >> second. >> so approved. >> next item. >> item #4, the general public comment. it allows members of the public to comment generally on matters

with the commissioners and suggest new items. >> do we have anyone who wishes to make a public comment? seeing none, next item. >> discussion of possible action to make recommendations to the board of supervisors, permitting of five-foot ground floor height increase for active ground-floor uses in the castro street and 24th street noe valley neighborhood commercial districts. in the package is the criteria for legislation. also the committee met and voted for approval. >> thank you. i am with supervisors got wiener's office. i will be here talking very

briefly on this legislation, because i know similar items have come before you in the past. this is the height code change for the castro district and also for the noe valley district of would allow for a five-foot height increase for active ground-floor uses only, so retail, all the types of uses and we like in our commercial districts the provide vitality commo, so this does not allow fr increased development potential. it only allows for an increase ground floor, which we know businesses want to make the space more agreeable, more keeping with the historic pattern of these commercial districts, and so i open up to

any comments from commissioners. commissioner dooley: this is pretty much the same as supervisor mars? >> yes. >> it looks good to me. >> this has been part of market, some of the district's but are not part of a large and rezoning -- some of the districts that are not part of the large rezoning. good ultimately, i think it would be great for the planning department to take on a comprehensive look of the neighborhood commercial district to see where the height increase is appropriate, but for now it is left of to the discussion of the supervisor's office. >> any other questions, commissioner emm? commissioner riley: chris

mentioned we have heard it at the committee meeting and recommended approval. taiex i am trying to remember -- >> i am trying to remember how we dealt with that. does it just result in the taking of so did, or does it result in potentially raising it? >> the entire building depends on the amount. the floors above do not become smaller, or they would become uninhabitable, because of tight controls -- because height controls for levels. the entire building can be

pushed up by that height, so the ground floor is 12 feet and building height can be 2 feet higher. if it is 12 feet, it can be 2 feet higher. >> it will literally with a whole building tops -- lift the whole building up? >> correct. >> i do not know what they are for commercial versus residential, but i know it is- that is standard for parts of the city, so if it was -- is a height that is standard. it would trompe. >> it would not trump, but it allows it to go up 5 feet. if there is a garage or something not considered in active use, they cannot access

height increase. >> let's say it was 45 height already. would they be allowed to go up? >> they would. >> thank you. any other questions? i think we all agreed to approve this before fairly unanimously. >> first we need to call for public comment before the commission makes the motion. >> i have not been president for a while. we are still in commission comments. as i understand, commissioner or teas has some comments. >> i was going to make a comment. we should probably take public comment. >> any public comment on this matter? seeing none, a public comment is

closed. >> i have some notes on specific references. the majority of the commercial districts are rezoned, leading to typically a ground level commercial space underneath three or four residential spaces. with the financial pressure and ceiling heights, they are between eight or 9 feet, and there are some other comments i referenced, but do i have to mention to make a recommendation? >> it would be great if you'r ne key points. >> noting that commercial spaces feel cramped, it varies from

various neighborhood commercial districts. gooi think in order to encourage ground floor ceiling heights, perhaps no more than five additional feet should be used, because i think in certain neighborhoods this could be a problem. considering these recommendations, i motion this be amended, too, for the staff work to address future legislation to address the five does foyt increase in all commercial district. good -- thought would also increase and all -- in all commercial districts. there may be an instance where a commercial district wants to opt out. gooit would apply to a great nur

of areas in the city. that is my first motion. am i doing ok? >> do we need to take a roll call? without objection, the motion is approved. next item. >> commissioner, that motion passes, 5-0. >> next item. >> item #6, and who discussion and possible action to make recommendations to the board of supervisors permitting of five-

foot -- for public works construction contracts. we have a presentation by the department of public works. >> i am the deputy director for public works. last year they approved who stayed bill 293, which calls for retention on construction projects from 10% to 5%. san francisco is a charter city. at the recommendation of a bully and in order to support small businesses -- who recommendation and in order to support small businesses commowe anticipate t.

currently, we are allowed to retain 10% of invoices submitted. up to 50% of the amount of the contract commo, which means we e and which from 10% to -- we reduced from 10% to 5%. we are hoping this will provide more cash flow, including performance. i will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

but i think it is a good idea. reducing this will really help contractors reduce cash flow. >> any other commissioner questions or comments? i cannot see anyone on the small business commission having a problem with this one. goothis is strictly to try to hp them. have we had any negative comments? when the state introduced this bill, there was some opposition. some said this would reduce the leverage the city would have on making sure contractorspe