[♪] >> good afternoon and welcome to the land use and transportation committee of the san francisco board of supervisors for today monday june 17, 2019. i'm the chair of the committee. my name is aaron peskin joined by sasha safai and matt haney. clerk. >> clerk: be sure to silence all electronic devices and produce

items submit ford the file to the clerk and item will appear on the june 25th agenda. the clerk's office would like to thank supervisor peskin for his service to the city and wish him a happy birthday. >> commissioner: please your heart. thank you, madame clerk. colleagues, last week i warned you we'd have a super long land use committee today. it turns out that that is not the case for three items the subject of a continuance so as a matter of housekeeping madame clerk can you please read items 1, 5 and 6 together? >>reporter: item one a hearing to receiving a report from the puc on options for electric service through acquisition, construction or completion of public yutilities.

item number 5 an ordinance to establish a legitimization program for a certain non-residential uses at 3150 18th street and affirming appropriate findings. item 6 requires building setbacks for building front being on narrow streets modifying front yard requirements and residential districts and affirming appropriate findings. >> commissioner: thank you, mismajor. i've had a request to continue item 1 to the call of the chair which is in no way a sign we're not all seriousajor. i've had a request to continue item 1 to the call of the chair which is in no way a sign we're not all serious about the desire to acquire some public utilities that are owned by pacific gas

and electric to the call of the chair. as well as item 5 to the chair and item 6 the sponsoring supervisor asked for a one-week continuance. are there department personnel who would like to say anything as to any of these three items, mr. sanchez? >> commissioner: i'm happy to make a continuance for next week. >> commissioner: i was asked to continue on the dhaufl chair but you're welcome to set forth what the submission of the planning commission was wen they -- when they heard the item. >> i'll give you the recommendation and come back next week. >> perfect. >> they interested considered the ordinance and moved to

recommend approval with a few modifications the first was to modify the front setback requirement for properties in the rh, r2o districts from 10 to 15 feet and the second modification was for the non-conforming structure and the third was to further study the effects of i am -- imposing the new distance and proposed language regarding the purpose of real yards for green spaces. that concludes my presentation and we may be chatting next week. >> commissioner: thank you, mr. sanchez. so yes, as to item 6, we'll be chatting next week. is there any public comment on items 1, 5 and 6 which are all proposed for continuance. >> height limits. i made a demonstration pertaining to building complexes at 144 units at the best rate of

the charge to build by any developer in any building built in san francisco at $56 million -- >> commissioner: i don't want to cut you off but none of these three items have to do with ite limits. >> you're talking about height earlier. you just said heights and a want to use that as an example. >> commissioner: go ahead. >> pertaining to my demonstration of going up 27 stories will cut into the reduction of homeless people out in the streets and open opportunities for been to expand -- businesses to tone ground level and instead of building the navigation center in each of the supervisor's district locations by doing like i said you'll have housing of 22,770 apartment unit complexes that can be used for mental

disabilities, for the police department and i want to point out how it came across to me that the suicide rate of the police officers is increasing to people in the combat zones in iraq and afghanistan. i want those floors for people in law enforcement to give them mental services they need to pre vent the you side -- prevent the suicide rate and the behavioral services they claim they want to provide to people out in the homeless in the street by giving them permanent housing in the buildings as a high income level high height level to get rid of the homeless problem. >> commissioner: thank you mr. wright. are there any other members of the public who would like to testify on items 1, 5 or 6? seeing none, we'll close public comment and i will make a motion to continue items 1 and 6 to the

call of the chair and continue items 6 for one week to the meeting of june 24 and we'll take that without objection. i'm sorry -- i will re-open public comment. i'm sorry. if there's any other members of the public that would like to testimony to my left, your right, the floor is yours. >> at this point what are you allowing us to speak on? >> commissioner: you can speak on any of those three aforementioned items. >> so i'm here for number 5 for the legitimization program for the 18th street. as me information we'll do a continuance. >> commissioner: yes, the sponsor of the legislation, supervisor ronin asked me to continue the matter.

>> my request is we have it scheduled for two weeks out so people in in our hofs -- office to reschedule clients. >> commissioner: the way it works here is i respond to the sponsoring supervisor. so if the sponsoring supervisor wants it in two weeks -- hold on, there is no meeting on july 2. i suggest you go to supervisor ronin's office and whatever you guys work out, my office will accommodate at her request. >> as for now it would be one week's continuance? >> commissioner: as for now it's continued to the call of the chair which means i can schedule it at any time in the future per me request of that supervisor. >> okay. thank you so much. >> commissioner: thank you. so we will now close public comment and i will again make a

motion to continue items 1 and 5 to the call of the chair and item 6 for a one-week continuance to our meeting of june 24 and we'll take that without objection. inas far as item 2 supervisor safai's call with your permission take item 3 out of order which will be relatively quick. madame clerk can you please read item 3 out of order and if folks from real estate want to come up get ready. >> clerk: a resolution approving and authorize a master lease agreement as a land bord for the city and the yerba buena lease.

>> i'm the director of real estate. thank you chair peskin i appreciate your courtesy in taking this item out of order. i'm here before you seeking your positive recommendation on a resolution authorizing a master lease of the property generally known as yerba buena gardens bordered generally by market street, 4th street, folsom street and 3rd street which can be seen on the slide up on the display. the agency developed and managed the yerba buena gardens using a

block grant or cbg funds and they manage the valuable asset over 40 years. the agency was resolved by law on february 1, 2012 and the successor or ocii was required to dispose of all the agency's property including the gardens. in may of 2018, the board of supervisors authorized the resolution authorizing the transfer of oci to the city. it occurred june 27 of 2018. the gardens is currently under the jurisdiction of the real estate division which has been managed it on an interim basis until such time as a master tenant composed of community stakeholders and city staff can take over on a long-term basis. the goal was to develop a

long-term lease with a master tenant to manage the garden as a single unified asset. under this proposed lease, there is no fiscal impact to the city. its brings us to the master lease before you today. the tenant under the proposed master lease is a yerba buena garden conservancy with a permanent board to be comprised of eight board members and five representatives right now it's composed of city representatives. the permanent board will take over upon the final approval and execution of the proposed lease. the term runs from the time it's approved to september 1, 2061 or approximately 42 years. the base rent is $1 per year. the tenant is obligated to

operate and manage portions of the garden all as set forth in the lease. in addition to managing the leases there are also requires to manage the property manager which for a long period of time has been mjm. however, the conservancy will have the ability to continue that relationship or seek new property management. if approved by the board today with a positive recommendation this will go before the full board tomorrow for review and approval. if approved the mayor will sign it within 10 days and the lease

is anticipated to take effect on or before july 1 in time for the 234u -- the 24th, before the fiscal year. >> thank you. a couple things quickly. one is on page 2, line 20, you need to put the quotation after the parenthesis in order to properly define that term and on page number -- >> so the resolution? >> commissioner: yes, sir, not the lease.

page 2, line 20, move the quotation mark past the parenthesis on the ybdgc properties. and one other correction on page number 5, line 14, modifications to insert the lease and then i have two policy questions one for my district number six colleague wherein the seven appointees of the city administrator include one individual representing district 6. is are you okay with that supervisor or would you like that to be something that is determined by the district 6 supervisor?

>> i had spoken to the city administrator and it would be the district 6 supervisor. what is intended by this language? representative of the supervisor of the ybdg? >> commissioner: the way it's written is within the authority of the city administrator as written. >> supervisors, i would in the meeting with the city administrator and supervisor n hanney this was to represent the understanding the city administrator would select one city representative on this board in consultation with the

board but in consultation. >> commissioner: consultation is missing and provided one city representative will be representative of the supervisors. i could be representative of the supervisorial district. >> does it comport with your information of our meeting earlier? >> i hadn't followed up the preference but my understanding is it would be an appointment of the supervisor or that the supervisor themselves would be one of the city representatives. it would be my preference we did one of those two things rather than consultation. i don't know what consultation would require.

>> deputy city attorney john gibner. >> i'm not sure the supervisor himself or herself could serve in this capacity under our city structure. whether the board can make an appointment to this position i don't want to say off the top of my head. i can look into it before my next meeting or before the board meeting if you decide to forward this out today and can consult with you supervisor haney on that answer. >> whether the district 6 supervisor or supervisor representing that area at the time because this say very long lease. this isn't about me so much but in the future. whether the supervisor could be the one that makes the appointment or that it could be a board appointment when a

supervisor is playing a steering role we still set it up so the board makes the moment with the nomination from the supervisor. i don't know whether we could fit that model into this particular board but can figure that out in the next day or two and let you know. >> i don't think it's next day or two but next day. >> already. the next one day. >> commissioner: and that would not re-require re-referral. >> the appointment structure will not. >> commissioner: so you will subject to public comment as long as the board has 24 hours and 44 minutes to figure that out. >> i think we can do that. >> commissioner: and my second policy issues, colleagues, is boiler plate language that is often included in and set forth

on page 5 and usually in these types of resolutions. but given the length of this $1 lease for approximately 42 years, if do i the math right, it is the provision on page 5 of line 12 that says the board, which would be this board authorizes the director of board with the city attorney to enter into conditions, amendments or modification to insert lease the director of property determine are in the best interest of the city and do not materially increase the obligations for the city beyond those in the resolution. colleagues, are you comfortable with that for a 42 year lease. we've done various things. we've taken this section out and modified the section.

i assume the lessee will never -- leasee will never agree to more than $1 and if they agree to more money it would not materially increase the city's obligations or liabilities out but there's a huge a huge amount of latitude, no disrespect it gives you and the successors over the next four decades. i want to throw that out to the supervisors whether you and the to modify the boiler plate language. >> before we hear from your colleagues, if i may, can i be heard on the point? >> commissioner: yes, sir. >> this lease is very unique in that we're trying to basically maintain a unique situation from the redevelopment agency where you have a multitude of assets

governed as a single hole and worked successfully over the course of 40 years. wa we tried to do with this lease was to make it very durable but also very flexible. and i understand the reluctance that might be given to delegate such authority to the director of real estate whether it's to myself or my successors but i think the delegation serves a purpose and comes with checks and balances. the checks and balances built in this relationship are threefold and the budget that goes back to the tenant that is one level of board oversight. secondly, there's representatives that will be on the governing body of the conservancy. depending on how we resolve this issue with the district 6

supervisor representation. then lastly, there is the regulation that the city has through the lease itself through the landlord be the person in my position. if we have a situation where we find the gardens aren't maintained to the high level we expect, we need the flexibility to be able to modify provisions of the lease in order to respond with the parameters set forth in the resolution. i'd make to take away that flexibility to address that issue and be left with either a termination of the lease or remedy for default. i just want to put that on the table for your consideration. >> commissioner: to say to my colleagues and you and your department, look, this is a 123-page lease without dozens of pages of exhibit. i get that relative to the

history and support that. maybe the way to deal with this and i'm looking at deputy city senior gibner is to put in language that gives the board the right to re-open. so if something is going back between a future division of real estate and leasee, the board can have a re-opener. as compared to, mr. gibner, coming back to us for every amendment they want to make this as they want it flexible and durable figuring it over over the next 40 years.

>> how do you envision that in practice there's an amendment to the lease the board and leasee are discussing. >> commissioner: there's the amendment proposed and the board would be informed of that amendment and can choose in an a affirmative action to bring that amendment before the board within a constrained time frame. the same way pursuant to section 311 of the charter the board can weigh in if it chooses to do so. >> the challenge here is that under section 9.118 of the charter, the board has an up or down vote on contracted brought to it by departments.d brought to it by departments.sd brought to it by departments. brought to it by departments. i don't know that's a workable fix maybe that's another one i can get you in the 24 hours and whatever minutes. >> i'm sorry, supervisor safai

and members to the public. let's talk about that. let's open this up to members of the public who want to testify. mr. wright, the lease to yerba buena gardens and if there's more speakers line up to my left, your right. >> this is another example of differential treatment and 100% demonstration of being a hypocrite. you're charge yourselves a dollar a month's rent with the rent as high as it is that's a better deal than twitter and the high tech companies have been getting it. you'll charge yourselves a dollar's month rent. that's preferential treatment. that's a scandalous treatment where immigrant get a brand new

tv for $3 a month for first and last month's rent and $3 for a studio apartment stole from the citizens of the united states at $3,000 a month. now, here you are wanting to charge yourselves an a dollar a month for 42 years? that's disgusting. you got 8,011 homeless people out in the streets of san francisco. a total of 28,200 in the overall bay area and none have enough knock afford to be a tenant in none of the buildings from the mayor's office of housing because you set a requirement to be a building higher than the income of the people of trust funds, requirement funds, social security benefits. then you turn around and want to charge yourselves a dollar a month rent? that's disgusting.

furthermore, have you the nerve to take airbnb to support and claim they're contributing to the shortage of housing in san francisco. i make that demonstration in front of that judge. went before airbnb and show you how got undocumented immigrant paying $3 a month for and that will blow your claim out of the water. you should charge the same you charge everybody else. a dollar a month. >> clerk: thank you, mr. wright. >> commissioner: next speaker. >> threw for the opportunity to -- thank you for the opportunity to speak. i'm the interim executive director for the yerba buena garden conservancy. you'll hear from stakeholders and the strength of this interconnected community. as many are aware over the past many years, there's been an

extensive community planning process where the yerba buena businesses and non-profits have worked together with ocii and city department of real estate to develop and plan this long-term vision for the yerba buena gardens. the outcome was the new non-profit organization with the sole intent to operate the yerba buena gardens. we work in conjunction with commercial tenant and the city and county of san francisco for the civic and public health and enjoyment of visitors and residents. i want to touch on key points. the city will maintain the role as landlord but it's a true public private partnership as the owner of the gardens and landlords and city would have the ultimate authority.

leadership and the conservancy made of garden stakeholders by community and civic leaders. it brings the strength of community and the city into one governance structure and from an administrator perspective it the aud audit annually and comply with the standards of hud and have open-meeting compliance. you'll hear from others in the community but it's an important community asset and we thank you for your support and i have 26 letters of support i want to submit to the official file. >> commissioner: thank you, we'll collect those in a moment. next speaker, please. >> good afternoon. i'm the executive director of the yerba buena community direct and serve on the garden's conservancy. the neighborhood of yerba buena is an interesting eco system

with a variety of uses including a large cultural, residential, you have gardens in the middle and the convention center, etcetera. the gardens serves all the populations as a respite in a concrete jungle of downtown. it's incredibly important to the residents that live in that neighborhood and employees and i don't think we can overstate the importance to the conventioneers. when redevelopment absolved we were surprised that we were meeting regularly for seven years to get to this point. i want to thank the neighborhood. i think you can see there is strong neighborhood buyin'. not only to get to this point but continue the operations forward. so much so that you have seen most the neighborhood institutions or a large percent ac put their money with their

mouth is and contribute to costs getting to this point. i don't want to take that too lightly. we've also enjoyed work with the department of arrest and other departments to get us to this point. we look forward to that moving forward and feel we have a strong infrastructure in place and the future looks good for the neighborhood if this goes through and a want to thank you for your support. >> commissioner: thank you, next speaker, please. >> good afternoon, chair peskin and supervisors. i'm mary mcccugh. we have been the property managers of yerba buena garden since it opened and we're looking forward to sustain the garden as the cultural and convention heartbeat. as property managers we'll continue to manage in ways that

help the conservancy to succeed and ensuring the continues to contribute to the economic and social fabric and a place of inclusion for all so people continue to come back again and again. the practices we maintain will help the entity flourish. we do this in several ways. partnering with the community and other gafrdens operators -- gard en operators and bring inning assets that generate interest and revenue and continuing with place making and important management practice. here's a few examples. the permitting process is holistic and has an approach that takes in the consideration of all of the operators in community and examining the property closely to make sure everything is protected and also plans for any possible renovation can begin

immediately. the yerba buena garden festival, the children's learning garden, our safety group and many other community organizations that grew out of the gardens itself sustainable practices that involve zero pesticides and comprehensive recycling programming. we're very excited and the planners and public space experts from all of over the world study this award winning garden. we're excited about this next chapter in the gardens success and urge you to approve the master lease. thank you for your consideration. >> i'm ine active user of to the yerba buena garden. i urge you to support the ratification of the lease. i ask for you to approve it in the role of my mother and i have

a 3 1/2-year-old daughter that's attended the local school. the gardens and amenities provide an active safe and popular community resource with exceptional range of free public events and celebrations, play areas and cafes and public art. i also speak on behalf of san francisco travel association and the expansion project on the community-based management model this group has worked hard to form. the yerba buena gardens provides substantial public benefits to the millions of visitors that pass through each year. the collaboration on putting this lease together will be a model for others. the outreach and ongoing communication and leadership has been strong. again, i fully support the lease agreement in front of you today. thank you.

>> we have had live art on youtube and isn't -- 1.3 million visitor and we want to foster collaboration and no different than 20 years ago. the importance of having creative problem solvers and literate citizenry and children who can express themselves is key to the future success of san francisco and beyond. however that is challenged today for struggling families. the opportunity gap has never been given where enriched learning is available to wealthy families. here at the children's creativity museum we have access programs where families with

public assistance can come at any time not just on special days, not just for special programs but they're able to enjoy the museum like all wealthy families do. 50% of field trips come from title 1 schools and for free especially those from san francisco title 1 schools. we know we're one their last place where's families of all backgrounds can come together and play and sing and make a movie and build a community together. we've built our organization to be able to do that where 50% of people of color and staff and board and visitors and we had a record-breaking attendance year despite the challenges in the neighborhood and with the end of the mosconi center we know we're set for success and the resolution will allow us to have the stability and the environment to thrive for families and the future of san

francisco. >> commissioner: the next speaker, please. >> i'm with the yerba buena alliance. it's a 28-year-old neighborhood organization that was actually founded by the former re-development agency to create buy-in to the redevelopment of the yerba buena gardens. we've worked hard with community stakeholders in the process of the yerba buena conservancy. we feel this model is the best way forward after seven years of diligent planning and community input we feel confident in what we're doing today and we appreciate your support. thank you. >> commissioner: thank you.

>> in 1976 newly elected mayor george mosconi embraced the vision of a gardens in downtown san francisco for everybody for all san franciscans put forward by the architect and civil leaders and other community advocates the the time. and thanks to the work of the agency that did embrace it the redevelopment agency and thanks to the chief city administrator it got build and opened in the 1990s. today when you go to the gardens, it's a nice day outside, you'll find in the summertime the playground is full and the tot bot is full and the esplanade will have workers and local residents and seniors that live in the local housing

there. people playing chess even about a dozen homeless persons resting peacefully on the lawns. the goal to make it a place for everybody in san francisco been achieved. it's hard to find places like this anywhere in the united states and even the world where everybody's welcome and engaged. and we want to continue this into the future with a strong community presence and oversight to make that he'lly -- that really happen. i'd like to support the master lease and the chief administrator who's been supportive of this effort and the team at the department of real estate. they've worked with us closely to put together a complicated

lease and it looks great. >> commissioner: next speaker, please. >> if you have to visit the gardens out and golden gate park, locals and people who live in the bay area get in for free but if you do not live here, you have to pay a very minimal fee and i don't really understand why this garden will stay the same if it's for everyone locally. all the programs for the children will stay the same but i don't understand if there's even one person homeless, you don't make a little revenue on this park, on these gardens. even if you just charge the tourists and don't live here a

dollar it would help and go towards a fund for people who are in need and you do this at golden gate park. why can't the yerba buena gardens follow this as well. people just show their i.d.s and they get in for free if they live here. to give this away for a dollar a year for 42 years is $42, to me seems kind of neglect for city planning. the golden gate park has a better program. i've lived here 25 years. i'm a home owner. the property tax i pay is a billion times more than this huge park, not that ma matter -- that that matters but think of what your doing with the park. it could be great revenue for the homeless, i'm actually in favor with this gentleman here with what the jersey said. it's inexcusable to give this

away when you can make a little bit of renew on it. >> commissioner: thank you. are there any members of the public here on this item? seeing none we'll close public comment. sorry, that took a little longer than i thought. so while two things need to be deliberated over the next 24 hours, there are two very minor amendments the parenthesis and the quotation mark and the insertion of "the" before "lease" and i think we can take those without objection. sir. >> if i can be heard once again on the supervisory representation. i consult with the city attorney's office and have two alternativ alternatives that may address one issue and two remaining issues off the table hopefully. the city administrator has no objection to the district supervisor selecting the

representative for the board of the con ser van si. -- conservancy. the only question is how it's to be accomplished. the first alternative in the resolution would read along the lined -- lines that that representative will be selected in consultation with the city administrator and the person is nominate the district 6 supervisor and appointed by the board of supervisors. i'm told by the city attorney and they can correct me if i'm wrong, the individual supervisor cannot nominate a person to the board. >> commissioner: it's kind of an executive function and why we do it as a body. supervisor haney. >> is the second alternative there in your information is that something we can do? >> yes, the second alternative

would be workable nominated by the district 6 supervisor and appointed to the board. >> we have no objection to that amendment. >> commissioner: okay. obviously that language will have to be developed between now and tomorrow and made without remany of referral tomorrow on the board of the floor, correct gibner? >> you can do it tomorrow or right now inserting the word nominated by the district 6 supervisor and appointed by the board. >> commissioner: already. then we will do that. we'll insert said words in that section without objection leaving us with the issue about increased obligations and liabilities that mr. gibner and i will work on between now and 2:00 p.m. tomorrow with the item as thrice amended can we send it to the full board as a committee

record, supervisor haney. >> thank you to everybody who came out and your work on this. i think there's an incredibly exciting future for the yerba buena and all the folks here maintaining it and making sure it's thriving and inclusive and i want to thank you and i look forward to working with you all. >> thank you, one and all. with that we will send the item as amended with recommendation for a hearing tomorrow at the board of supervisors without objection. all right. >> thank you, supervisors. >> commissioner: all right. so supervisor safai asked know schedule item 2 at the top of the agenda. we did a little house cleaning i thought item 3 would be faster we're now 43 minutes into the meeting and i know supervisor brown has an item number 4 that may take a little while. supervisor, safai, what is your pleasure?

>> commissioner: sounds like supervisor brown has to leave very quickly so if we can get it done quickly, i'm happy with allowing her to do it, if not, is this time sensitive, supervisor brown? >> commissioner: i think this is going to be about 30 minutes, 35 the most. >> commissioner: i think we can accommodate that. >> commissioner: who is here? >> supervisor brown? >> commissioner: can i ask who is here for item 4 for the stream lining small business permit streamlining. >> commissioner: supervisor brown, i appreciate it and i really apologize for taking item 3 out of order, just so you

know, though monday the 24th is budget all day long, fortunately i think none of us, am i correct, serve on the budget committee and the clerk of the board has indicated we can have a land use committee meeting on monday the 24th. we can not have it in these chambers or room 263 but upstairs in room 416 or 408. ta -- if it's not time sensitive we can go one more week and resolve this issue and have supervisor safai's constituents here in voluminous amounts here to hear item 2 next if that's okay with you.

i'm trying to make everybody as happy as possible. it's what we get the big bucks for. supervisor brown? i'd put you as item 1 on the agenda of june 24, you would be the first item. i will not take anything out of order. that's a solemn promise. >> thank you, chair peskin. i know i have small businesses here today and sad and sorry but i don't want you to wait for this hearing and i definitely have to be here so i will agree to have it go on the 24th and we have owd and the city attorney and hope it work out for everyone. yes, thank you.

madam clerk can you read item 2 >> clerk: do you want me to call item 4 to dispose of it? >> commissioner: we'll get to that at the end of the agenda. >> clerk: item 2 the hearing of status on parking attendance working in city-ownered garages and the number of existing employees plans to prioritize the safety and well being of customers and playoff or job reductions in the last three years as well as planned reductions in the future and the move to automated system and requesting the san francisco full transportation agency to report. >> commissioner: thank you, madam clerk, supervisor safai i'll turn it over to you. >> thank you, mr. chair and for coming out today. i want to thank members of the community reaching out to 43 over the last number of months and teamsters and sfmta and

want to improve the environment in which people feel safe and what i hear is when we're moving and we have 15 city owned garages and moving away from employees on the front lines to an automated system, people generally feel like they're losing something. they're feeling a body to interact with. they're losing a body and human being to interact with for safety and questions and confusion and guidance. and i understand it's easy to argue in this environment the issue that we're a transit first city. maybe people aren't using cars as much as the past but the truth is people are still using cars and parking garages are still important and they're important for retail and if we're going have that, you can't have a parking garage that's only operated by machines.

i can tell you from going down to union square and seeing across from john's grill there's a completely automated system over there and heard nothing but car break-ins and heard people complain about safety and i'm thinking about people in the elderly community, the disabled community and women. because a lot of women will come up and i heard from a lot of female constituents saying they don't feel safe if they're in a dark environment and statistics show that is exactly where a lot of violate crime and crime directed towards women and elderly and disabled happens. i called the hearing because i think it's important we hear from the sfmta. there hasn't been a clear statement on how many more staffing positions will be cult and there's been a major cut and we want to think about the human

beings in these jobs and the families they support and the role they play in san francisco. these are working families. these are good frontline jobs. many of these folks have been in these jobs for decades and have relationships with the people that come in and the customers that come in. in many ways they're often the frontline and face of our city. so these are about real people. this conversation is about real people and it's about thinking about the direction of this city. and if we care about the direction of our city that's about automation that's one thing and think about cost savings it's another thing but if we think of balancing the two and thinking how we can grow as a city and balance the needs of everyone, that's an important reason why we have the hearing today. i'd like to have the sfmta present on this issue and then we have a whole series of questions and i know there's a number of people that like to speak on this and also the

timeliness of this and i want to pus this on the record, we're in the budget process right now. sfmta is going to have to present their budget, board of supervisors will have to approve that budget and hearings will be happening in the next two weeks. that's also a very important important context in which that is happening. you'll present the budget as approved by the sfmta bort of commissioners and i -- board of commissioner and i heard from committee members and constituents and i'd like to read that was sent to me by someone that was hear today. i'm going to summarize it but i think it's important for the record because it really epitomizes many of the letters and information that i've received from constituents over time. dear supervisor safai, i'm writing in advance of this afternoon's hearing on the status of parking attendance, planned layoffs and reduction to city-owned garages. i'm a native san francisco

person and lived and worked here my entire life. i've been a monthly parker at a particular garage and the staff have been unfailingly helpful, kind, trustworthy and skilled offering tireless assistance to locals and visitors alike. they're presence inspires a sense of safety and professionalism to the city garage. often working long hours, they're supporting themselves and their families while provide service that facilitates a higher quality customer experience in the garage. i was appalled to learn their jobs were in peril especially during a time in which this city's budget is so robust. we just crossed the $11 billion budget threshold for the first time. i firmly believe it should be a

role of our city government to protect and preserve jobs such as head to helped by these dedicated workers. rather than veering towards hyperefficiency and automation the city should value and promote civic life which includes civic lives. this means value and promoting the work, wages and well being of individuals who are a viral part of the fabric of our city. the city governance would be derelict in our duties instead it had a role in jobs. i hope all involved in the hearing will recall their ethical responsibility to promet the general welfare of the city inhabitants and nothing will be gained by reducing the employment rather something priceless something lost. i couldn't have said it ann --

any better. >> i'm the park director nor sfmta. i agree with everything safai stated. i think the key word i'll focus on through the presentation is finding the right balance. i'm happy to be here to present as something near and dear to my heart. i started my career in the parking industry.

we created new policies. improved equipment reduction in demand and changed the use of off-duty officers changing staffing in site garages. -- city garages. to give a quick outline, we oversee 27,300 parking garages and 6.5 million parking sessions and we'll focus on the garages here today. you see the geographic overview of the system and the blue ps are offstreet garages and the gray are off-street lots and we won't focus on those today. a notable point. here's our transient tickets.

we've seen a reduction in our parking portfolio. parking access and revenue control system is anticipated well in advance. we do not foresee impact on the off-street portfolio. tickets are down nearly 17% down year over year and continuing to decline. the staffing level changes there's been a reduction of parking fasts. while some have been realized through normal attrition and retirement and others most reductions can be attributed to a handful of valet parking programs. 30 valet shifts and 15 fewer post-fixed cashier shifts and 10

additional cashier shifts will be reduced again once the parks program is completed. however, approximately 10 full-time employees will be transitioned or added to staff our command centers i'll talk about which will be a 24/7 operation. the valet demand could return if demand returns but fixed post cash ers -- cashiers will not. and a couple changes happening city wide. there's development scheduled to start late this year, early next year. the lot will go away and we're seeing that across the parking industry in the city not just city garages but in public garages as well and the mosconi center garage could have an impa