the commission phil ginsburg, london breed's office, alex, everyone here. so the trust for public land has been interested in the buchanan mall for over four years working with recreation and park for hayes valley and as you heard it's a challenging and often dangerous place, but has the [t-ufpbt/] to be a community space, vibrant, healthy, green and just a hub for community. it wasn't until we met green streets that we felt like it was the right time to start this project. they are a group that has deep connections with the mall. they really understand about organizing and the importance of community space. and they have nothing, but passion for this space. so we had green streets on board and then we were so fortunate to partner with the exploratorium, too. this really innovated and committed to community

engagement and skilled museum organization. so as alex said we're currently woring with the [stkao-eupbl/] design task force to develop the vision into a design and build this small installation project by the end of september. but we really hope that this project catalyzes a larger process. we have so much momentum with this partnership right now, green streets exploratorium and rec and park and hope it can turn into a larger planning process and capital improvement process and being even more of a great community space for the western addition, and for san franciscans. thank you. thank you. [ applause ] >> hi. i am shaun with the city for public spaces at the exploratorium. we started this work about ten years ago based on a national science foundation grant with

fort mason. their notion was that if the exploratorium is important to people about they come to the exploratorium, maybe we should try going out to where the people live and where they are all the time. so this started a trajectory of work working with communities and most recently with the boys and girls club and building a park in the mission. one of the ideas behind the work, we want to do work culturally relevant. we're a design-build group and you know the exploratorium, we build. we build early and we build fast and we prototype. what we are doing here with this remarkable collection of partners. , -- it's an honor to be part of this with the exploratorium. the process is enabling the folks to redesign their community. it's a design scale that we're prototyping as well.

i tell my team, a really hard-hit single up the middle will get us to the next stage. once we design and prototype the process, we'll go through the refinement process and looking forward to going to the next stage with this team. thank you. >> thank you. [ applause ] >> good morning. [ inaudible ] my name is randolph lee. i am of the western addition and as my team will say i'm the old guy in the group. my team is young. they are an amazing group for me to be older and connecting with them and making our community better, i am so proud. i just want to see our community really grow, get back

the essence of what we lost. like i said, i was once a person that seen good times and was creating bad times up in there. now it's time to fix it and help, everybody behind us, i just want to see this grow. thank you. >> thank you. >> is there anyone else who would like to make -- come on up, richard. >> good morning, chair buell. this is a project i kind of bumped into at community and i like it's proactive and social activities available for people in the community, as well as people who are there. there then would be the opportunity to take your time to leave your own home or walk around and be part of that very

important social aspect. no one is going to need to be staying at home, like in the picture earlier. the poor girl, she was a bit frightened after having been shoot. she got the initial sting to it the hot flash, but then how it continually grows on you. you get kind of needing somebody to take your hand and walk you back out in the street again. so when you have projects like this, a green streets project, as i said, it's pro-active and i think that is very important that we have such projects throughout the city and county of san francisco as well. but it's kind of like, wow, is there enough money? if there was something like only $187,000 and that is four-blocks of activity. i was glad to hear that the office of london breed is going to pony up some add-back money.

so i don't know how they are going to get any more money and i think there should be possibly other funding available through the department, this department, as well as other departments. criminal justice -- the police department and others. they should be able to pony up a few dollars into this type of stuff as well. when i look at this project, i like to say, on your mark, get set, go. i would say, hey, let's not go too fast on this, because it's going to take up a lot of space. i see that they have a section that deals with parks, the housing projects. it's very close to the senior center park there. it's not directly on buchanan, but it's nearby. so they are going to have seniors there as well. so they are going to have a place for old timers, old gals and so forth walking around and getting out of their house and getting out of their

room and enjoy the malay little bit. myself, i used to have a german shepherd dog and this isn't far from the square. it's a street-type place, but is it going to be off-leash? i don't know how to approach that with the n. thank you. >> thank you. >> come on up. >> my name is jackie henderson. good morning, commissioners. >> good morning. >> i'm a resident of a cooperative that borders on the buchanan mall. i lived there prior to it being shut down when it was a street, and it was hell. we finally got the street closed, and it continues to be a problem because there is nothing really positive going on there. and i was so pleased to find out about this project, because

i have known tyrone since he was a child. i grew up with his mother and his grandmother, and we were all neighbors and i'm so pleased that he is involved in something positive, something positive that a young person is trying to get done. as they say, we are old gees can say our peace, but sometimes it takes the young people to get in there, to make a project work. and i'm so happy that green streets and the exploratorium and all the others are involved in getting the buchanan mall some positive feedback, some positive things in that area. because it's long been neglected. thank you. >> thank you. [ applause ] >> is there any other public comment? being none -- are you going to make public comment? >> no. >> hold on a minute, being none, public comment is

closed. okay. >> commissioners, just to end on an evening more positive note on this very inspiring presentation, i do want to let you know through supervisor breed's support there was $75,000 added to the recreation and park department's budget to do a planning process and do an additional planning grant. we hope to put that grant out and we really encourage tpl and many other partners to apply. so that we can continue the work that has been started today. tpl and i have been talking about this particular spot for about seven years now. and it's very exciting to finally see this constellation of excellent partner and energy and enthusiasm finally come together to move us forward. we hope to put it out after labor day and continue the good work. >> thank you. commissioner mcgoldrick mcdonnell. >> really, really exciting and i would join valley with

somersaults and all. while supervisor breed was growing up, i was at the other ends of the mall and my mother won't let me go to plaza east, just foo too crazy and it's unfortunate it's been that crazy for that long, but at same time, very exciting to be at this moment. to have potential not to be changed for a moment, but to be changed forever. so really want to commend tyrone and the green streets team, while making it a safe place to step into, so we could land on a real concrete plan. really excited in the exploratorium. i remember as a child for me there was no disneyland because we couldn't afford to go there but there was a tactile dome at the exploratorium. that was the safe place to go and hang out and be in another world. so to have them as part

of this is really, really exciting. thank you to the partners and commend that we are in this movement and look forward to the fruition of all of this really really good work. >> commissioner low. >> when this came before the capital committee, you couldn't help, but be moved by this entire video, the entire efforts of the trust for public lands. citizen films, exploratorium and especially green streets. i just want to say this is a great example of how you might have differences but you can come together and make a transformative difference. my message to green street is think bigger. you are doing such a great job on recycling and open space, think about community and cultural preservation and development. and really become a strong community organization. because this is a great start. >> commissioner levitan. >> i just want to piggy-back on what my colleagues have just

said, and give an incredible shout-out to these partners. because this is a wonderful, yet again, so much of the great work that we do in this department is really collaborative. when we work with folks from the outside. thank you for that. what i think is interesting about this process is the process. and some of you gentlemen talked about what has happened just in the planning. never mind what the finished product is going to be, but getting there has been transformative and in the process you are taking back your neighborhood and you are owning all of this so you are an inspiration to the next generation this. is your process. this is going to be your victory and all for your own neighborhood. this is a pretty special story. thank you. [ applause ] >> commissioner bonilla. >> i just want to say congratulations and don't stop here. >> seeing no other comments i will add my congratulations and

supervisor breed for her vision in moving this forward and with that we'll entertain a motion. >> so moved >> second. >> moved and seconded >> i want to see the chart wheels commissioner mcdonnell. >> all in favor? >> aye. >> so moved. thank you. >> [ applause ] i understand alex, is this your last day -- do i understand? are you heading out? >> tomorrow. >> thank you very much for your services. this a great project that will go on your resume and we're very grateful for all your help. >> thank you very much. it's been a pleasure to work on this project and this project team -- it's really amazing and a testament to all the great folks that have come out today. >> terrific. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> [ applause ] >> okay, we're now on item 8, union square parking garage, recommendation of approval of lease.

>> we'll give everybody a chance to vacate the premises and then we'll take this item up. >> thank you >> thank you, appreciate it. >> good morning commissioners. >> powerpoint presentation. >> general manager phil ginsburg. my name is andrew smothers with property management division to present on the discussion and possible action to approve a resolution recommending that the board of supervisors

approve a new ten-year lease between the city and uptown parking cooperation for the operation of union square garage. the management of two cafe buildings on the premise, and the continued provision of supplemental maintenance services. i would like to start with a brief history of union square garage and i know the terms "history" and "garage" are not synonymous, but it's the world's first underground garage that was designed by timothy pflueger. it's a very popular destination. a little bit of the recent revenue history. it is a substantial source of revenue for the department. last year, or excuse me in fiscal year 13-14, nearly $4.5 million was generated through the operation of the garage and the cafe premises. in the ten years prior, that is

about a 98% growth. part of this is attributable to the economy rebounding and some bonds re[tp-fpb/]ed that saved the department about a quarter million dollar and rates were adjusted recently to reflect market rates. is it's a very important part of our annual budget and we hope to continue that. a little history about the lease itself. in 1999, the city on behalf of the department entered into a lease with uptown for 50-year term, or upon the expiration of bonds. in 2003, the city again on behalf of the department, entered into a lease with uptown for the provision of cafe buildings -- granting them the authority to sublease on our behalf. and they entered into an agreement with cafe rule. fast-forward a few more years,

the bonds expired and the 50-year term was not a 50-year term. it was 13 years. and so because it was going to trigger the expiration, our division came to the -- came to this commission and asked for an extension while we renegotiated a new lease that went to the board and this master lease before you is the product of those negotiations. in 2013, a lease was brought forward, but it did not include the cafe premises. it did not wholly after the scope of responsibilities under uptown and this current master lease does exactly that. it's the same terms in 2013 which were approved, but it untils the cafe premises as well. so we have one controlling document. we don't have dualing documents. it's for clarity purposes essentially. i would like to discuss the

terms of that lease before you today. it's a 10-year lease with two five-year options at the city's discretion. it's for the use of a parking garage and the cafe premises as well. all net revenues are provided to the department and each year the annual operating budget must be approved by sfmta. so there is some oversight involved as well. what is interesting about this particular lease, there will be a capital account established, so $250000 each year will be held in reserve for capital improvements. that account is capped at $750,000. another important part of this lease is the supplemental maintenance services. it's a very creative way to provide additional services which include janitorial, logistic, and structural engineer, which makes the plaza first-class -- if you have been to the plaza, it's in

tremendous shape. we still do work on the department's behalf we have a janitor and a gardener on-site. but this is a way to provide additional services beyond those that are already provided. a little history about uptown. they have been working with the city since 1959 through the sutter stockton garage and they have a proven track record of success as you have seen with the recent revenue from the last ten years. we anticipate continued upward path on those revenues as we move forward. i would like to open up to any questions about this matter. >> is there any public comment on this? being none, public comment is closed. >> commissioner low. >> andrew, i guess i'm just trying to understand the lease. rent is actually net revenues;

right? gross minus the budgeted operating costs? >> that is correct. >> that gets paid to the department. okay. because maybe the actual lease document refers to "gross revenue." but maybe that is just a mistake in terms in the lease. >> i think it's just a definition in the lease and we could certainly tweak that definition. >> yes, because that threw me off. before we get to the sublease, the general manager has a right to terminate this lease as provided in the lease. >> correct. >> does that right also include the termination of the sublease? >> correct. >> but the sublease is now on a month to month. >> that is correct. >> and the plans -- the plan is to do an rfp for a new operator? i just didn't follow that piece. >> that is correct. the current lease provides 12 months with the current sublessee, the cafe rule. and that would provide the

department time in discussions with uptown to begin the rfp process for a continue -- it would be a cafe -- at least the idea is to continue a cafe presence there, but it wouldn't necessarily be the same operator. it would be an open and transparent process. >> so it may not be the same operator. >> it may not. i'm sure they would participate in the rfp process. >> are you able to charge-back to the subtenant some of the costs for the supplemental services? other operating costs related to the garage? or is that different? >> the supplemental services are secured through the garage revenues. if we issued an rfp, we could certainly address that at that time. but as the current document stands, it's a net lease. so their rent does not extend to maintenance services. >> it might be something to think about. at the time you do an rfp for the sublease. and then -- sorry -- i was

bored and actually flipped through the lease. [laughter ] >> take another look at the lease, because i think the exhibits are screwed up. i mean there is not references. -- there are references in the lease and certain exhibits don't correlate to the current lease. >> are you referring to the depiction of the premises? >> i don't think we need to see it again. just go through the exhibits that are attached to the lease. the referencess to the exhibits, they are supposed to be attached to the lease and just have them track. because there is missing areas like the description of cafe premises, the garage premises, the common areas, et cetera. >> thank you, commissioner. >> commissioner harrison. >> yes, i noticed that you mentioned that there was a custodian/janitor and gardener on the premises to take care of

this, but looking over the maintenance, unless i read it wrong, about the lessee supplying a custodian/janitor and garden er. >> we supply one janitor and one garden er and to extend to logistic coordinator and engineer, that is secured through revenues from the garage. so it's a separate funding for additional services. it's the garage revenue. >> not a landscape or gardener? >> no the landscaping and gardener and janitor from the department is secured through our annual budget.no other questions, margaret, do we have a resolution on this? >> yes, the resolution in your packet, we would need approval of the resolution, please. >> is there a motion? >> so moved. >> second. >> moved and seconded. all those in favor? >> aye. >> so moved

>> thank you, commissioners. >> thank you. >> we are now on item 9, st. mary's expansion. this is a discussion-only item. commissioners dawn kamalanathan recreation and park department. i am here today to provide a long awaited status update on our negotiations with the owners of 500 pine. around finalizing the design for st. mary's square extension, as well as the status uh date on the agreemented that were reported as part of the deal to be placeplaced into escrow, et cetera and other necessary documents. no drum roll -- really? [laughter ] i'm happy to report that the agreements have been finalized. and we are in agreement. we are just now at this point going through the process of

collecting signatures for the various documents that need to be executed and placed into escrow. i think a few months ago one of the other issues besides placing -- completing the documents as required, we wanted to have a discussion with the community about ways that the design of the st. mary's extension could be tweaked to meet their need and ensure greater integration and make this a space that felt consistent with the rest of the park's feeling. and also trying to meet some recreational needs. so to that end we actually re-opened the design process and we had a very focused effort over two meetings to collect additional feedback from the community. and to revise the design for st. mary's square based on that feedback. the first meeting was a small focus meeting institutional

community organization to set the goals that we needed to see incorporated into the park's design. and some of those high-level themes were around integration with the rest of the park, visibility, making it clear that as you entered the rest of st. mary's square you could see there was an additional part of the park to go to, accessibility. making sure that the park felt open to all park users. safety came up as a theme as well so we met with the stakeholders and the architects for the you project and they are going to give a brief presentation on the feedback that they heard and how they responded to the feedback. then we had a larger community meeting where we met with any member of the public who wanted to come. we presented the revised design and collected additional feedback. the feedback was largely consistent with that provided by the original stakeholders. so we have been able, i think, to really chief achieve most

of what folks have asked to. there are a few issues still on the table, which i think is something for us to consider as well. there is say desire there -- two planters that function more than attractive nuisance, that are on st. mary's part of the square that we own and consistent feedback that people would like to see those removed, if possible. and with the removal of the fence that would separate the expansion area from the rest of the park, there are real concerns about safety at st. mary's square and some interest that we explore putting a fence around the parametererimeter of the entire park. that is something that as we engage in the planning process for chinatown around portsmith square and wong and we talked about how st. mary's square is developed with more of an idea

in mind could really compliment those other pace spaces and maybe help to absorb the areas that could be shifted to st. mary's square and to come back to you for the use of downtown park funds that could be used to meet some of the goals and requests from the community. so overall, i think it's been a very productive and focused process. and i would really like to thank the architects for the work that they have been doing on the project and their receptivity to the community's feedback and we look forward to it moving forward and finalizing the deal. the only other piece, major commitment made during the process was that the public art piece needs to continue to develop over the next year. so that piece, the arts commission works and oversees that process. the architect has been in close

touch with community stakeholders about change something of their ideas to reflect community feedback of what the nature of that art should look like. there has been a commitment made by the owners of 500 pine to continue to meet monthly with stakeholders to provide status uh dates on the public arts selection process and also encourage and solicit feedback to shape that process. so i think with that, at this point, i would be happy to turn this to the architect for the brief presentation on the design of the park. or jeffrey heller. >> jeff heller. so you have got a very good summary. in recent times we've been increasing our dialogue with the community, and i will go through the plan and just give you kind of the latest on all

things. i'm sure you are quite familiar with the original plan and the fact that the st. mary's extension was not only a compensating piece for the original approval, but is the place in the middle of the day, which will be in sunlight. whereas the rest of the park is heavily impacted by the shadow of the old telephone building. so it's a real opportunity for people, for usability of the space. the only access to the space is through the park. there is no access from below. so it's like a belvedere that overlooks, but it's really functioning as part of the park. the original plan, we had about 2300 square feet of planting. so there was less paved area or area for activity. it was very clear that was one of the issues in