-- stowe lake motels. it says the forces of this delta that have gripped the quarters -- the seemingly object to a series of improvements that will transform the boat house and are clinging to a concept of the past, and then, he cites the forces that were opposed to the academy of science. as a regular walker are around stowe lake, i can tell you that i regularly take tourists who are looking for the deyoung down to it and express my cry -- pride in that explicit building, and i take them also to the academy of science and express my pride in that. they were earthquake damage and had to be taken down. there is no earthquake damage that has been associated with a still lake that i'm aware of with the boat house. it appears that we are into a very definite money situation here, obviously, and i'm wondering if the ortega family with the effort to make this happen -- it has been said that is a beautiful park, a beautiful lake, and i concur absolutely that there will be huge problems with parking and the additi

what struck me stowe lake stowe lake is beautiful -- what struck me was that stowe lake was beautiful, but what struck me was that the boat house seemed dark and avoid of energy. a man who works here who testified previously spoke about how we need to see the kids -- it would be neat to watch the kids see the boat getting fixed, but i was never under the impression that that was an activity my kids could see. i am from detroit, and there is a fine line between installed and being number. this is an amazing place that could use a lot of love and attention -- there is a fine line between nostalgia and being dumpy. if a similar provision comes up about fixing the cavan's it can mazer, i will be back. thank you very much. -- fixing the cabins at camp mazer. >> commissioners, back again. before i let my friends speak here, i just have one question -- finally, after the sunshine ordinance being served, they are reaching out to the public, but what good is it if it is already a done deal? i get the feeling it does not matter what we say. i hope i'm wrong. i do not want to get my ankle, so th

transparent mendacity what about sunshine ordinance i guess it ain't worth two since and read my stowe lakeeat stowe boathouse is unique is a simple renovation that we seek we love the place the way it is is not just a hunk of real estate to be bartered is the san francisco way of life that is about to be martyred a local family-run business for over 60 years but the law says, or so it appears our heartfelt concerns fall on deaf ears so please, commissioners, support our petitioners from three generations to ensure the preservation of a landmark dear to our history dear to our heart in line i had my say the line now i'm walking to the bay to recruit my brothers they are not much into public comment they are into civil disobedience i leave it to you to tell what for and take their plan and " them, "never more." [applause] commissioner buell: thank you. >> [reading names] >> good afternoon, commissioners. i am director of san francisco animal care and control, and i was asked to weigh in on the issue of the wildlife by stowe lake, and i must admit that i am not an expert on blue herons, so i

i am the president of the stow lake corporation. our firm and family has been the concessionaire for the past 67 years since my grandfather reintroduced the boats. i urge you to reconsider staff's pending recommendation. over the years, we have responded to numerous bids. in each case, the process was competitive, but the evaluation criteria was known. that is not the case here necessarily. following a three of my concerns. throughout the process, the preservation of the boat house was in keeping. the boat house was designed to support the rental operations on the lake, not the cafe gift shop. we included the indoor seating that staff wanted, preserved the repair facility, thereby preserving the visual as well as functional historical character of the boat house, converting the boat house to a cafe gift shop, even with a nautical theme is a departure from the historical use. second, this is a voting venue, not with food offered as an additional amenity. the big you are creating creates a food give shop operation with boating as an a

like the focus seems to be all about a new cafe and gift shop, without taking notice of the fact stowe lake stowe is about recreation, and it is one of the tools in the u.s. -- one of the jewels in the u.s. stowe lake should remain very special, and the way it is run currently keeps that all in focus. i do not think it should be a gift shop and a cafe. there is plenty of those around in the area. the reduction of the boat fleet and the service area will only increase lines and frustration for the families trying to enjoy a nice day at the stowe lake location. it is not something that everyone needs. when you have a reduction in fleets and still have the same demand, you need to facilitate the man, so you really need to have more votes. the current operator has tried for over four years to improve the building. as you know, they are a month- to-month tenant. it is difficult to make the improvements that have been suggested when you do not have a contract long term. they have tried for four years, responding to all of the rfp's and to my knowledge have been quite competitive during that proce

it is clear from the proposal that ortega family enterprises has a thoughtful plan that stands stow lake to benefit stow visitors for you to come -- stands to benefit all stow lake visitors for years to come. we hope that you will approve this proposal and ensure that stow lake is once more an attractive destination. thank you. >> thank you. >> next speaker please. >> i am a parent of three young children, ages 9, 6, and 3. i have a letter here that pretty much summarizes my thoughts, which i would like to place into the record. i'm here to speak in favor of the stow lake renovation. i think that the benefits are really twofold. one small picture and one is fairly big picture. small picture is that, obviously, the building needs some work, and it would be fantastic for it to have local, organic food options for families. i think that kind of speaks for itself, maintaining the activities that are at the lake that will be there, but just having other healthy food options for families i think is plainly obvious. i think the bigger picture is thinking about family friendliness in san francis

selfishly, i want to be involved with this at snow lake. -- stow lake. we would like to know what this will look like. in san francisco, we are very open-minded and progressive. if you try to change something, everyone says do not. one side says, it is find a way it is, don't change it, it has character. the other side says, we can do this. i don't see why this is utility exclusive. this is where i disagree with the opponents. i think that we can achieve maintaining this. i would not be sitting here, i would not be on this commission if i did not feel strongly about maintaining the integrity of the assets in this department. i am all about family friendly. that is a very fair argument. people say that they don't want the magnets for tourists, i'm sorry for those who do not support the tourist industry. i want this to be an important destination or locals. i don't know that this is a fair thing to say. one of the charges of the commission is to bring people to the park. if the new and improved part does this, this is part of our commission. i don't want t

i don't want to see their -- there a lot of -- in stow lake. there were three very good proposals. this is extraordinary. this hit on a lot of things that are important to the department and san francisco values. this is affordable, this is enjoyable, i think if we can improve upon a treasured place, we can enhance the experience and they will preserve and respect the historical nature of that place, why wouldn't they do it? we don't have the money to restore the boathouse. we just do not. where's the money coming from, one of the most important numbers is the money upfront to restore that building. we don't have it. i think that that is incredibly important and i hope that people understand that. i think that that is all i want to say and i hope that this is a successful vote. >> for me, we have done at least three of these rfp's. having listened and reviewed and looked at these, i find myself in the place of asking staff and doing better. i think the financial aspect of this, as i recall the rfq first played the capital improvements. now we're looking at these and we are not cons

i'm a member of the stowe lake boat coalition. i was born and grew up in san francisco and and a current resident, and i'm here to express opposition to the commission's plan to offer the contract to operate the boat house to a new mexico company. with the disaster changes the plan entails. by that, i mean turning this place into a corporate tourist trap and providing food from somewhere like how grow creamery, which is wonderful, but it also stilled the ferry building. stowe lake as it stands is one of the city's last remaining peaceful places, one that neighbors have treasured for years. it draws neighbors from all ethnic and socioeconomic groups from throughout the world. why destroy that serenity? the area not far already attracts tourists to its restaurant and sculpture garden. another site to see in proximity to the museum would be a disaster for the thousands who visit the lake annually for a touch of quiet beauty, let alone for the already mobbed park. and what about parking?

lastly, the stow lake corporation has done improvements to the boathouse, they have rebuilt the boat quist system. the proposed improvements, they propose a cafe, outdoor patio seating, the existing snack bar window would be retained and the existing office where it would be converted into a kitchen. for or take it, they proposed to run as a sense all portions of the building. -- for ortega, the proposed to renovate all portions of the building. they would make the available to the public as a lounge area, comfortable seating for people to read or relax. they would also build an accessible bathroom. also the creation of a new indoor dining area and this would upgrade existing kitchen and also replace the floor. there was not too much disparity between the different respondence for the meal prices. as for the proposed menu, we have order established that all of the respondents error error. -- fair out there. this would feature predominately soup, salad, sandwiches. the ortega corp. would model their services on another salad bar that they operate which would have freshly made food fro

lastly, the stow lake corporation has done improvements to the boathouse, they have rebuilt the boat quist system. the proposed improvements, they the proposed improvements, they propose a cafe, outdoor patio

item work out right we are still here, make the item turn out right like ships that pass the night stow lake will be fixing up all right don't be out of sight with this item please fix it sailed away in the night please, make it right >> thank you. >> i will try to do my best. hello, commissioners. i'm a parent of two public school children. i am also the executive director of the activities leak. for over 50 years, we have partnered with healthy sports and activities. they have 5000 use every year and many are at the facilities. this has put severe pressure on our nonprofits and city governments. it is more difficult than ever to meet the increasing demand for services. it is necessary to find new solutions, new partners, and new ways to meet the needs of our partners. we are partnering with ortega family enterprises to make a much-needed improvements and to help attract new patrons. this'll go back into improving our system. i look forward to ensuring that this is an attractive destination. i want my kids to experience this as it was for their parents, their great grandparents, all of them

i mentioned that to members of the stow lake coalition and they somewhat insisted i vote. >> it is my understanding the city attorney tells us that is quite acceptable. >> all right. just for the record. >> the chair will entertain a motion. >> the chair will still entertain a motion. >> so moved. >> all move that we accept the staff recommendation. >> it has been moved and seconded. >> commissioner harrison. >> yes. >> yes. >> commissioner lee. >> yes. >> commissioner martin. >> yes. >> commissioner sullivan. >> yes. >> yes. >> the motion passes. thanks very much. thank you one and all. we are going to take a 10-minute break. i hope we don't need a >> item eight is the san francisco 49ers. >> the department, i am hoping people will come up on this item as well but perhaps not. the item before you is a proposed credit with the san francisco 49ers, the professional football team, they would be the sixth credit with them. it is a rent credit in the amount of $85,000, to not exceed $85,000 and those funds would be used to build a bridge crossing the hunters point expressway. it was initi

lake. penn -- stow -- which is stow l. >> commissioners, i am the concessions but cheer for the department. i am presenting the recommendations in response to the -- published by department. in 1991, the department and the current concession company entered into a 15-year agreement for the operation of the boat house. that agreement expired in 2006 and since that time, the tenet has occupied the boat house on a month-to-month basis. the department has four times issue competitive bids but we were unable to get a long-term contract for the operation. on december 17th, 2009, the commission approved the solicitation for the boat house and one that would perform capital improvements to the boathouse. prior to the commission directed staff to convene a series of public meetings. on january 12th, 2010, the department staff conducted a key town hall meetings at the county fair building so that seniors could attend. there were more than 100 people who attended the meeting in total. staff met with various leaders regarding this and this is pending publication. the leaders of the boathouse commission

lake. penn -- stow -- which is stow l. >> commissioners, i am the concessions but cheer for the department. i am presenting the recommendations in response to the -- published by department. in 1991, the department and the current concession company entered into a 15-year agreement for the operation of the boat house. that agreement expired in 2006 and since that time, the tenet has occupied the boat house on a month-to-month basis. the department has four times issue competitive bids but we were unable to get a long-term contract for the operation. on december 17th, 2009, the commission approved the solicitation for the boat house and one that would perform capital improvements to the boathouse. or

lake. penn -- stow -- which is stow l.