tv Government Access Programming SFGTV January 15, 2019 11:00am-12:01pm PST
11:00 am
and to both sides, it is not about for or against the project it is just the impact of the shadow on the park. i think the decision of whether we choose housing versus parks, that is for the colleagues on the planning commission to make that decision. i'm sure it will be repeated again this afternoon, but our focus is just the impact of the shadow on the park there are some impacts to certain evictions and that is of no concern in our decision and deliberation, and we should have a blind eye to whatever deals or evictions may have occurred in the past, and attempts to resolve it.
11:01 am
this is the second time we have heard of a hundred 50,000 dollar contribution to the recreation and parks department. our city attorneys in the office is here with us and he will advise us that we cannot accept cash foreshadows. so that should be eliminated from any decision that we may make here and should not weigh on our decision. and the slide referencing what appeared to be a planning commission agenda item, i think that is a typo. certainly they spelled recreation wrong. i think that is a typo and i don't think the general manager would have made the recommendation without our authority. i believe that is the case. >> you can confirm that? [laughter] >> i just want to lay that out
11:02 am
and clear it so that we kind of focus the discussion on the shadow on the park. thank you. >> first i would like to have stacy come up. that is the shadow that we rejected in 2016. it shaded the basketball court which was an active recreation and to the entrance to the park. that was unanimously rejected in 2015. the finding being that it was significant and adverse. is that correct? >> that is correct. >> now let me show you at the same time, this is june 20 thursday 7:36 pm.
11:03 am
if you put them side-by-side, isn't that a greater impact on the park? encapsulates the entire basketball court, not just a portion. and the oval area which is an unsanctioned dog play area. is at the shadow greater than what we had -- rejected in 2015? >> that is correct. >> i think that is some precedent. don't you think? >> yes. >> i think that should be considered in our deliberations. i understand the need of the public served -- public good served by the shadow caster. is how it relates to the
11:04 am
quantitative analysis of how you allocate shadow within the absolute limit, but i don't think it eviscerates our analysis as it relates to the qualitative nature, and certainly we have heard from the community and those who use the park that the shadow would have a significant adverse impact on the park and then who use it. >> i very much appreciate all the passion that is behind this. i lead a labour union and an intimately familiar with community organizing and how important it is to have a voice. their other voices here too of people who live in the area and work in the area, and people who are friends with her, and people who knew her, and we have to consider all those voices together i looked at the shadow analysis and i am particularly
11:05 am
drawn to page 16 of the vision design document, because my children are born and raised in san francisco and i have raised cumulative years in our parks with children and i am a program manager myself with youth. so the observations were that the park's picnic benches which are community gathering spaces, community gardens, ballfield, and southern children play area would receive no new shadow any time throughout the year with this project. the greatest impact of the shadows on that day in june begins at about 6:15 pm, and maximizes about 7:15 pm. my children and i are usually
11:06 am
trying to make our way home to have dinner around that time. at 7:15 pm, part of a basketball court, a walkway, and a portion of a corner with no playground is what gets those shadows. which to me it is not really a shadow because the sun is going down anyway. it is not a barrier to youth, it will may be just have you walk in a different or use a different part of the park if you happen to be there between 6:15 pm and 7:15 pm. by the way, i work in the neighborhood and i don't want to be there between 6:15 pm and 7:15 pm, now the way it is, but i do feel like if that project goes forward, it will bring a hundred 50-180 new residents who want to use our parks and will use our parks which will help shed light in that park.
11:07 am
we build homes and then we build parks for the enjoyment of the people in the homes. we don't use parks to have people from being in homes. >> i appreciate those comments from my colleagues. i still believe that our findings in 2015 have some precedent and that this shadow that will be cast on the park will have a significant and adverse impact. i would like to move to direct our general manager, which you will have to do very quickly since planning is hearing this this afternoon. i would like to move to direct the general manager to advise the planning commission that the shadow cast by this project will have a significant and adverse
11:08 am
impact. before i ask for a second, i will recognize one of our commissioners. >> thank you for stating our situation here so clearly, and speaking to the heart of the matter. the question that i have has to do with the some total of the use of this park. i presume, and correct me if i am wrong, i am sure that staff will correct me if i am wrong at this, but i presume that the use that the park has is from 9:00 am to approximately 8:00 pm or 9:00 pm at the latest. is that correct?
11:09 am
>> sunrise and sunset. >> i believe the park closes at sundown right now. >> at least until we install light. >> actually, i was just going to raise that. let's just not talk about lights >> i am just speaking to the active use of the park and those hours. what would those consists of. >> beginning with any programming, whether it be starting up at nine or 930 and going on throughout the day. how many -- what would be the some total of the hours that is
11:10 am
spent in the park by the community? utilizing. >> the park is used throughout the day. there is a variety of activities it is a well used and much used park. the community garden is a great asset for the community. there is the restrooms, the ball field, the basketball courts gets a lot of use, there is the children's play area, there is a variety of activities throughout the day. >> i understand that. what i am trying to get at is i am trying to see, what is the some total of the hours that are impacted here?
11:11 am
>> the park opens -- >> from the time that the park opens to when it closes? >> let me see if i can help. >> let me get the hours. >> 6-10. the park commissioner is open to , if my meth eight -- if my math are correct, 16 hours a day the shadow obviously changes throughout the year, and the scope of the shadow changes throughout the year. i understand that the period of shadow was between february and october. and usually the shadow stays around 6:00 pm. >> that's right. it comes in around 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm. >> how many minutes a day? >> on average it is just over an hour. the longest time is 110 minutes.
11:12 am
>> the average shower -- shadow is about an hour a day from february to october. nine months a year of an average shadow of an hour a day. it's about 270 hours of average shadow. >> about 270 hours of average shadow out of a total park usage between -- it is 16 times 365. if anyone has a calculator, we can figure it out. >> rather than do this in our head to, may be we should have adam noble to prepare the shadow report to present those figures.
11:13 am
>> it is about 5% of the total hours would be shadowed by this project. >> about 5% of the total hours. >> i think that is significance. i think this is in the sense that i do not feel there is any intent whatsoever to take away from the leisure activities that we are providing at this park. i believe we would be fulfilling our responsibility to the community. we would continue to fulfil responsibility to the community, even if we supported and
11:14 am
approved this project. the way i see it is there is ample opportunity for involvement, engagement, whatever in our park, but there is minimal opportunity, the way i see it now in terms of the overall city politics and the struggles that we are having in many different neighborhoods, especially the mission district and the bayview district in san francisco, to have any housing. it is a constant struggle. it is such a critical need. i believe that as a citizen of san francisco i have to defend
11:15 am
the rights for individuals to have shelter, as well as defend the rights for them to have leisure activities. so i feel that there has to be a compromise here, and the compromise is that for all those individuals who participate in leisure activities, for a sacrifice to be made so that there could be other benefits such as the rights for people to have a home to live in, so it becomes a win when all across the board. we need to make things better all the way around, not just in
11:16 am
terms of leisure activities, but in terms of housing, jobs, transportation, there are so many responsibilities that we have. we would be remiss in fulfilling this responsibility of having additional housing. >> i respect the comments, but is that our decision to make on prioritizing housing over a shadow in the park? our question before us is a recommendation of whether the shadow has a significant and adverse impact, it is only a recommendation that goes to the planning commission who will accept our recommendation or reject it and will weigh in and make the decision of whether the shadow, regardless of it as a significant adverse impact outweighs the need for housing.
11:17 am
>> the questions that i raised had to do with -- for me to discern how much impact there would be, the question that i raised in terms of overall use from that perspective, i do not see there would be an adverse impact, and that is the interpretation that i am making to this. >> this is within acceptable limits with the numbers. am i correct to assume that? it is within acceptable limits? >> it is within the limits from the 1989 memo. >> so we wouldn't even have to be making a decision here that we will depart from that we would be in compliance? >> it satisfies the quantitative respect. >> thank you.
11:18 am
>> seeing no other comments, let me say something before we seek a second of the motion. this really gets down to trying to prioritize between housing and recreation and park facilities. as the commissioner accurately pointed out, and i think was echoed by commissioner anderson, it is the work of this commission to look at the recreation facilities. at the very act of increasing a multi- -- the multifamily units in the neighborhood, none of which will have a backyard of their own, is to place further demands on the parks. in a place of the city with a price of the land makes it impossible to consider larger or better parks talk so what do we look at? we look at the quality of the parks we have and protecting them. so with that, i have to make this other observation. to begin to deviate from that
11:19 am
priority is simply to encourage other developers in other places to think that they can come here and haul the -- have all the best intentions and best design and best product, but if it infringes on the quality of the park, we have to weigh that in our consideration. it is a serious one. i am a long-standing proponent of high-density development in cities. i think it is part of the solution for a whole host of reasons that he won't bother you with now. having said that, i will second the motion and call for a vote and a roll call vote. >> okay. [roll call] >> i just want to make sure i am voting correctly here. >> yes means no. [laughter] >> i respectfully oppose the motion. >> okay [roll call] >> likewise.
11:20 am
>> commissioner harrison? >> opposing. >> so all three of you are opposing his motion? >> that means that we are saying -- >> that is what you heard. >> it does not? >> he is saying it does. >> write. >> remember, yes means no. >> i told you that. >> can i ask a question before i vote? >> absolutely. >> i wasn't here in 2015 when this got turned down by the board, but was the only reason because of the shadow? >> actually it never went to the board or the planning commission
11:21 am
in 2015 when it became before the recreation and parks commission, the recommendation was unanimous that it did pose a significant and adverse impact. since then, different things developed, and the project sponsor went back to develop a new project. as you heard in a reference, i think by the project sponsor, there was another agreement reached with the city. a lot of things happened in between when in 2015 to today where the project that was proposed in 2015 stalled out and was withdrawn, and this new project was resubmitted. i looked to my mentor to make sure i got the procedure correctly. >> okay. i've heard testimony on both sides this morning, and both
11:22 am
have swayed me. i think the fact that from what i've read in our documents that the planning department has found no additional shadow and that it would not have an adverse effect, and that we are still below the allotted shadow threshold, if you said it right earlier. i think that would lead me to vote against your motion. >> no vote? >> no vote. >> commissioner low? >> yes. >> commissioner buell while. >> yes. >> the motion fails 4-2. >> does not require that we have a motion in the other direction? >> that is completely up to you.
11:23 am
>> heavily sufficiently given them instructions to go to the planning commission? >> i thank you have to make a motion so that a general manager has clear instructions. >> i would like to move that we find that this project has no significant adverse impact on the park. >> i will second that. >> it has been moved and seconded. please call the role. [roll call] >> that motion passes 4-2. >> thank you all. we will take just a minute to let everybody exit that came for this item and then we will ask the general manager for his most valuable general manager's report.
11:24 am
11:25 am
11:26 am
community members for the inaugural tree lighting event. since the renovation in 2014, the city has been committed to activating the park and finding partners to share the vision. the event on tuesday was a testament to all of the love and attention we have received recently. i'm proud of our work together. we made it a clean and safe place for kids and residents to enjoy. it made the park look great. it was a really happy place and you should all be really proud of the renovation work, and the subsequent programming commitments that we have made in partnership with the neighborhood. more, tis the season for ice-skating. the graceful -- for the graceful and not so graceful to celebrate the holidays. the civic centre, union square, they are all open daily until january. featuring some really
11:27 am
breathtaking views of city hall, particularly at night. the plaza looks beautiful. and downtown along the waterfront, you can log on to our website for more information winter registration is happening now. you can spend your winter with us. winter classes is going on online and at 14 registration sites across the city. as we do every season, we have something for everyone. it is the best place to start to browse our catalogue. will be hosting three city job fairs on saturdays in january. january 5th at the recreation centre in january 26 of the county fair building. information on job opportunities will be listed. we will also have job-training
11:28 am
resources and application assistance. more information is available on our website. if winter has you down and we are just starting, let's talk about summer for a second. it is the middle of december and we are talking about ice-skating of course, let's think about summer. the 2019 lottery is open now through january 13th. due to the effects of the ferguson fire and subsequent fires of the camp last summer, families whose reservations were counselled were given the early opportunity to book spots next summer. because of that, there are fewer spots available this year, but still plenty. the lottery will be as lottery like as ever -- it will be as lottery -like as ever. you can find more information on our website. and very briefly, it is also the official kickoff of budget season. while we will be back with a generalized items in january and february to give you updates on
11:29 am
the development of our budget process, and ultimately ask for you to support our budget recommendation at the full commission meeting in february. i have asked our director of finance and administration to come up and present a very brief overview on the mayor's budget instructions and where we are headed when we come back from break in the budget conversations. >> all right. commissioners, i am the general manager. i'm the director of admin and finance for the recreation and parks department. the office released them budget instructions and outlook for the upcoming fiscal year. briefly, not much has changed. there is still a structural deficit. the mayor's office is still projecting budget deficits in the next five years. cost pressures continue along the salary and fringe benefit and pension increases. labour negotiations, 28 new mo use will be sent set by june 30
11:30 am
th of the coming year. they are not in that group. there are currently affairs of a recession, as well as state and federal budget legislative changes that could affect revenues coming to the city. the mayor has set her priorities , building more affordable and low income housing, reducing homelessness, providing behavioural health services and cleaning up our streets and making them safer, creating equitable opportunities for everyone in making -- and making government more accountable. specific instructions to our department and other departments in the city are focusing on accountability and equitable outcomes and reprioritizing funding and budgets for highest and best use. new positions may be considered if they align with the mayor's priorities. she has also asked for departments to propose savings
11:31 am
or revenues of 2% in the first year, four% in the second year, and 1% contingency proposal in the first year and a 2% contingency in the second year. those two last measures do not apply to us due to prop b. key dates will be coming back to you in january for a budget preview at your commission and we will also be presenting the operation committees in fairbury 21st. will be presenting to you the final budget proposal for your review, and a hopeful approval to be submitted to the mayor's office. thank you. >> there is a request to speak. >> yes. the question i have is that projected, at this point i guess it is not projected, i assume it is real that 470 million or
11:32 am
471 million windfall, how is the department perceiving that law is the department going to be engaged in and making recommendations? >> the monies that we received through property taxes are allocated first before it is calculated. we do not benefit. the mayor did announced today that the discretionary part of the revenues are going to be invested in housing homelessness
11:33 am
, mental health services and part of that funding -- there is a very small percentage of that funding which is being directed towards public works for the expansion of its pitstop program. we work in close partnership with public works on pitstop on -- it is possible depending upon the locations of the program that that might indirectly affect the benefit by having more staff bathrooms and communities. >> we don't have the type of set-aside funding that benefits directly. i do believe m.t.a. and the school district and the department of youth and the family benefits did receive some benefits. but again because of the the open space fund is calculated, we do not.
11:34 am
>> okay. thank you for that information. >> commissioner low? >> it is not necessarily related to the budget but i would request that the department give this commission an idea of a park bond which i am assuming is not occurring in 2019, it would be included in the park bond. >> sure thing. >> the city's capital planning committee will do its work in january to amend the ten year capital plan, and we will know more at the conclusion of that process, and then we are happy to come back. i gives it with relative certainty, we will not be in 2019. >> you may be part of your general manager report in february or whenever you have the information. there is a lot of folks who are
11:35 am
11:36 am
11:37 am
and to the recreation and parks staff. you did a wonderful job. >> commissioner anderson, did you want to see something? >> i want to wish everyone a happy holiday and to thank the general manager phil for your enthusiastic and comprehensive vision, and how gracious you always are to your stuff. to market for keeping us on the straight and narrow, to my fellow commissioners for being great colleagues and such great stewards of our parks, to the entire recreation of the parks department, they are so joyful and so professional and they do such magic is our parks and open space is a want to thank you for all of that. more importantly, to the citizens of san francisco. without you, we will not all be here. happy holidays everyone. >> thank you. >> commissioner harrison? >> i want to commence the general manager and a great staff that we have for that great christmas tree lighting event. i remember when it was just the tree lighting, and now it has
11:38 am
grown into a city fair festival. >> it is just great. thank you. i attended the employee's christmas party the other day. what a great improvement in the museum up there. that is just terrific. and the party was wonderful. everyone was having a great time accommodation to you. i want to wish each and every one of you a happy and a healthy new year. >> thank you commissioner. >> it goes without saying that without phil, where would we be? what i would like to do is to thank my fellow commissioners for being such outstanding volunteers. this is a volunteer position that we take very seriously, and that we are very passionate
11:39 am
about. and i would like to commend our command president for his extraordinary leadership, he has really and truly being a guiding light for us and for many years. i sincerely hope he will continue to be our guiding light >> thank you very much. that is very nice of you. i second what everyone said. i think under the general manager's leadership, and under the staff management and employees and margaret, the entire crew makes us look good we appreciate it very much. thank you. >> is there anyone who would like to make public comment on the general manager's report? seeing none, this item is closed
11:40 am
we are now on general public comment continued from four. is there anyone who would like to make general public comment? >> two things. one, would you please schedule the information hearing so you know what is being evaluated by the environmental review for the rebuilding of the playground, which includes childcare facilities, and childcare has an open space plan, and secondarily , i want to enter into the record a draft staff motion for the planning commission to approve on the park shadow? it is a staff recommendation. it is not a planning commission action. and despite the corrections that were made verbally, that is not
11:41 am
on the staff recommendation. thank you very much. >> thank you. >> please continue and have a hearing publicly. don't weight until the e.i.r. is done to give input and to have an idea of what is going on. thank you. >> thank you. >> okay. is there anyone else who would like to make general public comment? seeing none, this item is closed we are now on item nine, closed session. is there anyone who would like to make public comment on closed session? okay. seeing none, public comment is closed. commissioners, we need a motion and a second on whether to go into closed session. >> move to go into closed session. >> moved and seconded. >> all those in favor? >> aye. >> okay. i need to ask everyone[laughter]
11:42 am
>> we have reconvened into open session. commissioners, there are two items you will need to make a motion and second and vote on. one is that possible report of actions taken in closed session, and the second one is a vote on to elect whether to discuss or disclose any discussions in closed session. >> okay. we entertain a motion on whether or not to report it out. >> correct. >> move not to report. >> second. >> so moved to. >> and then a vote on whether to
11:43 am
disclose any or all discussions. >> move not to disclose. >> second. >> seconded. >> all those in favor quest. >> item ten. commissioner matters. >> just to thank the city attorney to for coming and explaining all of that to us. >> is there any public comment on this item? this item is closed. item 11 is new business. >> no. >> any public comment? at this item is closed. communications? any public comment? this item is closed. item 13 as adjournment. >> so moved. >> second. >> all those in favor? aye. >> so moved. thank you. >> thank you, commissioners, and a very merry christmas. >> merry christmas. happy new year. >> good job.
11:45 am
my name is sophia, i am a founding chair of women's rights san francisco. [applause] this is the first time i am the emcee, and the first time i am at an inauguration. it is the best one. it is my distinct honor to be the m.c. of the inauguration of san francisco's assessor recorder, carmen chu. loblaws. we have many distinguished guests in attendance today who had like to acknowledge. welcome to mayor london breed. [applause] former mayor, willie brown.
11:46 am
11:47 am
on behalf of u.s. senator kamala harris, daniel chan. [applause] >> state assembly member david chiu. [applause] >> on behalf of state assembly member evan lowe, patrick aarons [applause] >> san francisco board of supervisors peskin, tang, brown, he, mandelman, and walton. [applause] the treasurer. the city attorney, dennis herrera, district attorney
11:48 am
georgia gas stone, and his wife -- george gus cohen -- george gascone, and his wife fabiola. the former assessor, mabel tang. [applause] >> city college board members, rizzo, randolph, selby, and lee. [applause] >> bart board director, janice lee. [applause] >> honorable judges, tang and lee. [applause]
11:49 am
>> former california state senator, art torres. [applause] former district supervisor, bevan duffy. [applause] >> as well as the many commissioners, department heads, and community leaders who have joined us this morning. [applause] to begin this morning's ceremony i would like to introduce the lincoln high school jrotc drum corps. [applause]
11:54 am
>> how amazing was that? thank you all so much. we definitely did not need a wake-up call. that woke me up for sure. i did not have coffee this morning, i am awake now, we are good. thank you, carmen. i first connected with carmen when her team e-mailed to me prior to the first women's march , with a simple ask of what can we do to help? the first thing i did before i replied was google, what is an assessor recorder? [laughter] >> i'm sorry, carmen. once i educated myself on the recorder's role, i connected with carmen. i never have really known any politicians before, and it was very refreshing meeting carmen. she was authentic from the beginning, very passionate,
11:55 am
driven, and she had some of the best work ethic i've ever seen. we have a lot -- we have some similarities. we both grew up as daughters of immigrants, and we are most the -- both the first in our families to go to college. she is truly about inclusion and intersection analogy. she supports and mentors women, especially women of color to be leaders. she is a mentor to me, and she mentored me today by making me face my fear of public speaking. thank you, carmen. as our city's assessor, carmen's work generates revenue that supports vital city services, and public education. during her time in office, she has let her department to excel
11:56 am
beyond businesses usual. under her leadership, the office has vastly surpassed revenue expectations, bringing almost half a billion additional dollars into city budgets. this funding goes to support our city and facing some of our toughest challenges. carmen is active in the community, host educational forums for san francisco families, seniors, and first-time homeowners to help them understand property taxes, and a state -- estate planning. at a time when we have so much divide, and we need people to become more civic lee engaged, as she started the w. challenge, a nonpartisan effort to encourage women to register to vote. i know her best as a supporting
11:57 am
force for women's march san francisco from the beginning. she was a true embodiment of women empowerment, and what we need to see of all over. it is now my pleasure to introduce our state controller, betty he -- yee, a lifelong california in the group in san francisco, she has over 35 years of experience in public service. specializing in state and local finance and tax policy. she was elected to this job in 2014 after two terms on the state board of equalization. she was reelected last november. she is the tenth woman to be elected to statewide office in california history. [applause]
11:58 am
>> she will now share some remarks and lead us in our pledge of allegiance. [applause] >> good morning. i am really thrilled to be here, and i was just thinking as we are all gathered here to celebrate the accomplishments and to support the continued work of our accessory -- accessory recorder, how i can actually speak about carmen as someone who knew her when. i first met her when she was a student at the golden public policy school. i was a member of the state board of equalization at the time, and was invited to guest lecture one of her classes. and as classes would go, there were lots of questions about what i did as a member of the board, lots of questions about politics, lots of questions about what some good career choices might be, and i remember
11:59 am
carmen asking specifically about my own journey and giving her advice that whatever you do in public service, and particularly in serving in any kind of public sector role with any municipality, the state, federal government, get some finance and fiscal experience under your belt. i never thought anything of that conversation after that. [laughter] >> and she actually did it. we meet so many young people who have aspirations to serve in public service, and so many young people are afraid of numbers. i actually find them fascinating , as carmen does, but she really has excelled in her discipline. and as someone who serves with the highest degree of excellence , but more importantly , the highest degree of integrity. i think we are all here because we are celebrating just what a stellar public servant we have
12:00 pm
in our accessory recorder here, but more importantly, her role in continuing to mentor others, and mentor others to come into this discipline because we know that something -- some of the more important decisions that we make as a matter of public policy, have to do with the allocation of resources, and how we maintain the integrity of our regular -- revenue systems. fast forward to now, being the accessory recorder, i enjoyed a working relationship with carmen was still at the board of equalization to really partner with her on a number of initiatives, and to be able to say to her, we are a true partner is administering the property tax for the state of california. what a tremendous job she has done. i also have tapped into carmen's strengths. she has served on my committee on county tax collecting procedures, and nobody likes to talk about taxes. does anyone here like to talk about taxes?
58 Views
IN COLLECTIONS
SFGTV: San Francisco Government Television Television Archive Television Archive News Search ServiceUploaded by TV Archive on