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 addition to the gates

and so on. so the new plan, which has been vetted and i think everybody is quite happy with, now we have 1600 square feet of planting and overall the balance is activity space and potentially art space. the detail of that includes how sitting edge should occur to the planter, the shape of the planter to encourage certain areas of activity, and we've also dealt with the fence behind and the landscape on the fence. so as to have visibility and openness to the park for safety. because we're all on the same boat on that one. the planting plan had that and

the latest piece that i think is very cool, we have been talking to the chinese cultural center and the historic society on the site and is this is a board from some of the preliminary research on the site was a temple, which i actually have heard -- -- cursed the site until we did something correct there. it was an important location and probably if it was there today it would probably never get torn down. we want to commemorate that and working with the historic society to get the proper research done on it. the latest idea with the cultural center, we had a meeting just yesterday -- the latest idea is perhaps a merging of the art and the historic aspect into something that is synergistically combined and unique to the

square and the place. we have asked the cultural center to work with us to come up with a proposal and also the historic society. to go through a process of artist selection, wherein, the cultural society and community participate with us and come to the idea of the appropriate artist for the site and this combination of things. and so everybody is very upbeat about that and the client is on-board. and again, reminding you, this is one of the first major projects in the city, where a major chinese company is the development partner on it. so they are totally supportive of all of this as well. it's been in recent times it's come to everybody on the same page on what is really the best thing for it? we wanted to certainly be at the end of the day, when it's open and dedicated and all,

something where everybody is really very, very positive about the result. as to the timeline, i think we have got that worked out. we have, like, ten months to go through the process and then the project would build-out for the artwork, that is, as appropriate after that. that is it. questions? all of us are happy to answer questions. >> thank you very much. >> do we have public comment on this item? come on up, sue. >> good morning commissioners, my name is sue lee, i'm the executive director for the chinese historical society for america and very pleased to be here and very pleased with the recent progress of the projection because somebody actually asked us about the history. you know, everybody knows about the history about portsmith square and know that portsmith

has a number of disparate historic markers in the park. st. mary's square is say little more quiet. and fewer people know it and yet the monuments in st. mary's are really more representative of the chinese america history. you have the statue by benny bufano that was a downtown sponsored project. there is also a monument to the chinese killed in both world war i and world war ii, fighting for this country. very few people know that and the site itself, where this new building will be built was the site of the very first temple in north america, established by chinese. there was a big battle in 1970s

about demolishing that gordon law represented descendants in 1972. so commemorate that in the park and we're pleased to work with the developer and jeff and his team. and look forward to something that will look forward to the public art piece and the dialogue that will ensue with the public engagement. i want to say that most of the chinese who live in san francisco now don't have any knowledge of that history that i just outlined. so it's really important that we continue to remind people about the important history of the chinese in san francisco.

thank you. >> thank you very much. >> name is tang chou speaking on behalf of the chinatown community center. i think we have come a long way since 2000 when the first concept came on-board and you two years ago, when they came to us. we were always excited to add new open space to chinatown. the purpose for us has -- we don't want a privatizeedd -- when you look at the first design today, we are very pleased that we have achieved some of those goals into the physical design that this park in the southeast corner of st. mary's won't be marginalized. and also grand avenue. so it really connects it to the neighborhood. i think we achieved it pretty well. also cultural -- i mean the purpose also is to make this

park truly benefit chinatown residents. that people feel welcomed that the way residents feel welcome at portsmith square and also the cultural element. as sue said, because we don't know much about history, but it's pretty exciting. at portsmith square there is nothing about chinese-american history and this is a pretty important park. i don't think we will achieve what we get without the support of commissioner low and phil and dawn for all of your leadership. also, grateful of the development team and also i know we can be a pain , but what we fight for is getting something better for the community. so we're truly

looking forward to continue the conversation and we couldn't wait for the opening. thank you. >> thank you >> is there anyone else who would like to make public comment on the item there is come on up, richard. hello. i was looking at the picture that you have on the laptop here. it's a pretty nice-looking picture. it looks nice and beautiful and all of that. it's just as simple as the principle architect, mr. heller said, is an extension.

-- please standby -- there is no clubhouse. there is nothing there and that particular piece of property is subject is to eminent domain. so i'm not happy with just the top-half there. if we had a place where people could play at, but i think the

cost is beyond the means of budgeting here in the recreation and park department. that kind of building the location, you shouldn't be going too much higher than the assessed value when there is a building on the land, as is already filed with the planning department. but i think i might be a little ambitious. i think i want to stay on that line. if this does not pan out, i hope that the department would look into means of trying to obtain the property. so if the property is obtainable, it shouldn't cost more than what it cost to upgrade the chinese recreation center, $15 million.

maybe inflationary $0 million and actually have the building. thank you. >> thank you. >> is there anyone else who would like to make public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. this was discussion-only. >> questions? commissioner low. >> i just want to say to dawn, thank you. as well as to acknowledge the great collaborative work of the community, led about by the committee for better parks and recreation in chinatown, tan chou, as well as sue lee from the chinese historical society. i want to also acknowledge and thank the law firm of reuben and rose, as well as lincoln properties, jeb dale and heller mansis. we might have disagreed, but we got it done. thank you. >> mr. ginsburg. >> i will say dito. i wanted to thank dawn and my

team for staying at this for as along as they did. it took us a little while to reengage, but the end result is a better product. i wanted to thank the community, and i wanted to thank the developer and the legal team, and jeffrey for facilitating such a positive outcome. >> i want to thank commissioner low for his participation in the process and with that, we look forward to a very unique design and we'll be interested in the art that ends up there, too. i think it's a great idea. thank you all for making that presentation. >> we're now on item 10, which is general public comment continued from item 4. if there is any here who would like to make general public comment that did not comment on item 4, please come up. being no public comment, item

10 is through. item 11 is commissioners' matters. at this time, excuse me, this item is designed to allow commissioners to raise issues that they believe the commission should address at future meetings. there will be no discussion of items at this time. commissioners? >> commissioner low. >> recently i was at the botanical garden opening anniversary party and had the opportunity to be able to tour the exhibition center, which i believe needs a little tlc and if we could figure out a way, mr. general manager, to give that a little nudge, a little tlc, a little money to fix that exhibition center up. i think that would bring a great deal more visitors, more revenue to the botanic center. so we could maybe discuss that in the august commission meeting. that would be greatly

appreciated. >> seeing no another comments >> is there any public comment on this item? being none, public comment is closed. item 12, new business agenda-setting. is there any public comment? being none, public comment is closed. item 13, communications. is there any public comments? being none, item 13 is closed. item 14 is adjournment. >> we are going to adjourn in memory of percy chu and i would like commissioner low to weigh-in. >> i just want to tell one store before story about percy chu, i remember trying to play basketball at chinese playground. i was slow and i couldn't play defense. i couldn't dribble and i always traveled. i threw bricks [laughter ], which were supposed to be shots. he pulled me aside and said, hey boy, you might -- you might have talent, you just need to find it.

[ laughter ]. i just wanted to say, if you listening up in heaven, percy chu, i never found that talent, but i'm still looking for it in other areas. >> thank you, commissioner. with that, richard? >> richard, did you want to make a comment on the adjournment? >> mark, this is about percy chu? he was a person that i was pre-adolescent and on the sweet nelson team winning championships three years in a row countywide. this is very -- he was going around the city and chinatown with his cane. each step he continued to persevere. he was with the army in the

korean war and mr. john blue, we call him hoorah ray, when we finally win a game. we only get one game, it was baseball. but percy, i see him a lot around chinatown and i was shocked when you told me that. i would like to take this opportunity to thank him for having him spent all of years helping people in the community and trying to guide people straight, even trying to shove a piece of paper that quit smoking richard. it's no good for you. he is that kind of person who would go around the community and i'm going to personally have to go and say a prayer on my own later on. god bless percy chu, thank you for being here for us and thank the holy father that we had your presence with us. thank you. thank you, richard with that i will entertain a motion to adjourn. >> moved >> second. >> moved and seconded. >> all those in favor? >> aye.

>> so maved. thank you all

>> hello. you're watching the show that explores san francisco's love affair with food.

there are at least 18 farmers markets in san francisco alone providing fresh and affordable to year-round. this is a great resource that does not break the bank. to show just how easy it can be to do just that, we have come up with something called the farmers' market challenge. we find someone who loves to cook give them $20 and challenge them to create a delicious meal from ingredients found right here in the farmer's market. who did we find for today's challenge? >> today with regard to made a pot greater thanchapino. >> you only have $20 to spend. >> i know peter it is going to be tough, but i think i can do

it. it is a san francisco classic. we are celebrating bay area food. we have nice beautiful plum tomatoes here. we have some beautiful fresh fish here. it will come together beautifully. >> many to cut out all this talk and let's go shop. yeah. ♪ >> what makes your dish unique? >> i like it spicy and smoky. i will take fresh italian tomatoes and the fresh seafood, and will bring them to other with some nice spoked paprika and some nice smoked jalapeno peppers. i am going to stew them up and get a nice savory, smoky, fishy tomatoy spicy broth. >> bring it on.

how are you feeling? >> i feel good. i spent the $20 and have a few pennies less. i am going to go home and cook. i will text message u.n. is done. >> excellent and really looking forward to it. >> today we're going to make the san francisco classic dish invented by italian and portuguese fishermen. it'll be like a nice spaghetti sauce. then we will put in the fish soup. the last thing is the dungeon as crab let it all blend together. it will be delicious. when i could, i will try to make healthy meals with fresh ingredients whatever is in season and local. those juicy fresh tomatoes will take about an hour to cook down into a nice sauce. this is a good time to make our fish stock. we will take a step that seems like trash and boil it up in water and make a delicious and they speed up my parents were great clerics, and we had wonderful food. family dinners are very

important. any chance you can sit down together and have a meal together, it is great communal atmosphere. one of the things i like the most is the opportunity to be creative. hello. anybody with sets their mind to it can cut. always nice to start chopping some vegetables and x and the delicious. all this double in view is this broth with great flavor. but your heart into it. make something that you family, and friends will really enjoy. >> i am here with a manager at the heart of the city farmer's market in san francisco. thank you for joining us. tell us a little bit about the organization. >> we're 30 years old now. we started with 14 farmers, and it has grown out to over 80. >> what is the mission of the organization? >> this area has no grocery store spiller it is all mom-and- pop stores.

we have this because it is needed. we knew it was needed. and the plaza needed somebody. it was empty. beautiful with city hall in the background. >> thank you for speaking with us. are you on the web? >> yes hocfarmersmarket.org. >> check them out. thank you. >> welcome. the dish is ready. >> it looks and smells amazing. >> thank you. it was not easy to meet the $20 budget. i checked everybody out and found some great produce. really lovely seafood. i think that you are going to love it. >> do not be shy. coyou know this can run you $35 to $45 for a bowl so it is great you did this for $20. >> this will feed four to six

people. >> not if you invite me over for dinner. i am ready to dig in. >> i hope you'll love it. >> mmm. >> what do you think? >> i think i am going to need more. perhaps you can have all you want. >> i am produce the that you have crushed this farmer's market challenge by a landslide. the first, we're going to have to tally of your shopping list and see what you actually spend that the farmer's market. >> and go for it. >> incredible. you have shown us how to make super healthy, refresh chapino from the farmers market on the budget, that for the whole family. that is outstanding. >> thank you peter i am glad that you like it. i think anybody can do it. >> if you like the recipe for this dish, you can e-mail us at

sfgtv@sfgov.org or reach out to us on facebook or twitter and we announcer: b dreams and good grades aren't enough to get into college. there are actual steps you need to take. finding someone who can help is the first and most important. for the next steps go to knowhow2go.org.

>> >>[gavel] >> i guess we are ready. okay. good morning. the meeting will come to order. this is the meeting of the government audit and oversight committee for july 16, 2015. i named his supervisor yee and chaired a committee to my right is supervisor christiansen, vice chair. and on my left will be supervisor read. the committee clerk and the sfgtv. we have jesse larson and cameron smith who recorded each of