president buell: thanks, tom. questions i'd just observe i can't imagine a more appropriate thing to do. and thank the community for coming forward and making this recommendation. thanks, tom. have a motion. >> so moved. president buell: moved. seconded. all those in favor. aye. it is unanimous. thank you. >> item number 11 is the new park at 17th and folsom. >> hello. i'll also try and follow those two presentations. i am very pleased to be before you to present an opportunity for this commission to recommend to the board of supervisors that we build a new park. it's a pretty special day i think for the recreation and park commission and for our park system which is old and always needs new things like this. the item before you was originally presented at the july capital committee and received a recommendation to approve. we were working on some of the details of the m.o.u. and so that's why we're bringing it back to you today. we've been working very closely with a lot of partners, clubs the p.u.c., which is th

commissioner buell: entertain a motion? >> so moved. commissioner buell: seconded. all those in favor. opposed? hearing none, it is unanimous. thank you. >> we are on item 9, a gift acceptance from henry mayo newhall foundation. >> good morning, commissioners, nicole avril. i'd like to present a gift of $15,000 from the henry mayo newhall foundation in support of camp azure, a summer camp for children on the autism spectrum. every family -- every summer families of children with autism in san francisco face a critical challenge. the well structured environment provided during the academic year has come to an end and the need to maintain and improve upon the skills gained turing the year is crucial. unfortunately the expensive summertime options are despairing. at the same time the need for services is growing as rates of autism increase. in response to this community need, r.p.d. created and incorporated camp azure into its regular camp programming. it is based on the philosophy that all children, regardless of ability, can successfully participate in and benefit fr

president buell: commissioner lee. commissioner lee: i just want to commend you all on the work that you're doing here. i have a close family friend who also has a child who's autistic. and, you know, it's a growing problem in san francisco. you see a large population that i think is growing and there is some research that shows there's a correlation with the demographics of the city, given our city is older, becoming an older city and as parents are starting families later and later in their lives that autism just seems to be on the rise. so this is something that is needed and maps with the trajectory of the demographics in the city. i was amazed to see that this program is essentially entirely privately funded. through foundation grants. and that you are able to put a program together funded almost entirely from donations. i don't recall another program like that that was started up so quickly and that you managed to pull together. this is really a great testament to your work. president buell: i have a question, if

president buell: thank y

president buell: thank you. >> we do have public comment. mara blitzer, oscar grande, francisco ramos. norma. enrique delvilla to start with. >> hi. actually, mara had to go back to a meeting so i'm here in lieu of her. my name is serena. i work for a 30-year-old nonprofit housing development corporation that develops, owns and operates and provides services for 3,000 low-income individuals and families in 30 buildings within five neighborhoods throughout san francisco. we own and manage mosaic apartments and mosaic senior housing which is located at 18th and alabama which has nine apartments for families and children and 10 specific to seniors. these families will greatly benefit from this park, and community programming that is being planned for the 17th and fomsom site which is less than four blocks away from the building. we really urge the commission to continue its support and the community's effort to convert this site into a park and we really continue to support all the energy that has started with the eastern neighborhoods and is c

commissioner buell: thank you. i think that includes the general managers' report. >> we have public comment. catherine, jean, and tom. >> good morning, commissioners. catherine howard, golden gate park alliance. i'm here with the annual report. this report is also available through our web site, golden gate park preservation dot org. we have a summary on the first page, but it's always more fun to go through and look at the pictures. on -- the second first of all, we did a preliminary walk through. we went through the parts of the park. >> could we please have everybody move away from the door? we need you to take your seats. >> on page two, there is a light standard. the weight was distributed unequally, which could damage the lawn. for some reason, the vip's seem to be the only group that does not understand you cannot park on tree roots. the chain of lakes were closed to parking. it looks great. perhaps it's time to start thinking about across-the-park tunnels, as was proposed a few years ago. >> here, here. >>

commissioner buell: motion? >> second. commissioner buell: opposed? hearing none, it is unanimous. >> we are in item number six which is a san francisco zoo. >> director of the san francisco zoo. i'm pleased to report that the zoo is having a good summer. this has been in large part to a terrific response to the zoo's temporary tarantula exhibit, sea lion exhibit, and arrival of the siberian tiger. specifically in july we had over 109,000 visitors when we had budgeted only 103,000 visitors. and as of august 14 the zoo had 51,000 visitors versus a budget of 50,000. since the start of fiscal year on july 1, our year to date attemptance is over 161,000 visitors versus budget of 153,000. because of its success i'm pleased to report the zoo is extending its exhibit until halloween this. way the creepy crawlers will take part in our annual boo at the zoo festivities. this summer the zoo's youth programs also did well. and internships like the nature trail and young zooologists were completely full. and in fact this week the san francisco bay guardian listed

commissioner buell: thank you. commissioner lee? commissioner lee: i have a question. i have heard from a number of members from the advisory board and i have made our general manager aware of some of the e- mails and phone calls i've received. with regards to the hot line that you have set up, a number of members complained about calling the hot line and not getting through, or talking with a representative of the hot line and not getting any kind of response in terms of the noise level. i'm just wondering. when you receive calls to the hot line, how are those calls recorded? how do you respond to them? >> when people call into the hot line -- we are bilingual, as well, so that we can answer questions from non english speakers. we take everyone's phone number down. we take their name and their address. we record their complaint or their comment. some people are asking for directions or asking questions. if it is the parking issue, we direct that to a parking patrol officer. we have officers on two sides of the par

commissioner buell: moving along. i would now like to bring up simpson's sister youth works to make a presentation to the commission about -- >> are you going to do power point? >> i do have one. my name is betsy bertwick. i am the director of san francisco youth works. here we go. a couple of weeks ago i went to meet with phil and ginsberg to present an award to the recreation and park department for our long-standing partnership that has benefited at this point hundreds of youths in the city of san francisco. when i presented as he asked me to come here and speak briefly providing an introduction to our organization and partnership. we are city internship program created by willie brown in 1997 to address a tremendous demand for youth employment opportunities, demand that is still among young people the highest-rated demand that they have four resources from the city. we place hundreds of youths annually and have placed 4500 use over the past 13 years. this program exposes young people to careers in city government

>commissioner buell: two quick items. i want to wish commissioner erraarata a happy birthday and e have a certificate of appreciation for mr. ben ito. he was a standout volunteer, due to his ability to blend in to the day to day life style. he walked to the lake daily, sometimes twice a day. he noticed a need for improvement. instead of complaining, he just took care of it. ben picked up trash around the lake daily without worry or concern of the why or who. ben's extraordinary work was brought to our attention by another civic-minded friend, john draco. john share the story of how ben was in the late one day just to reach a loose plastic bag. if ben walked in the same direction, he would take time for small talk. if he was walking in the opposite direction, he would kindly nod. sadly, he passed away this past june. however, his honor will always be shared with the community of stone lake by a single cherry tree that was planted with his family on june 1, 2011. on behalf of all his civic stewardship, we honor anhim. [appl

>commissioner buell: i will be brief. that is the general manager and i and abroad committee and community work with a spur for the last six months on a report on the funding of the public parts and challenging financial climate, and i want to acknowledge the work they did and think them for taking the initiative on it, and managing the process. i think the record they came out with is a good one and will inform the public on where we would like to go, because as many of you know over the past five years, $41 million has been cut from the general fund, and it has been challenging to say the least. this was an effort, and will be an ongoing effort to try to find solutions to that problem -- term. i want to acknowledge spur. the chinatown resolution -- recognition center, we had a ceremony, which was really quite nice. in the process of preparing for that, i concluded that i think that is the largest expenditure for recreation center in the department's history in terms of the amount of money that is being put into that bea

commissioner buell: think you very much. >> in the public comment on the general managers' report? seeing none, public comment is closed. item number four, the general public comment. at this time members of the public may address the commission better with and subject matter jurisdiction of the commission and that do not appear on the agenda. with respect to agenda items, your opportunity to address the commission will be afforded when each item is reached in the meeting. excuse me, we have one card, and that is talcallie wats. >>>> sftv, i have a video only feeds, no audio. i have been doing corporate ego audits for over 20 years. this year here in san francisco, a 10-year-old elementary soccer player named clear is standing up to bob fischer and his brothers, political business associates, paid lobbyists and other profiteers and corporate representatives for the synthetic industry. from day one city feel lobbyists have exerted their considerable influence around town, convincing the people of san francisco that the plastic neighbor parks were sick. clare and her teammates did no

, catcher can then patrick by a latthyolates, dioxin, -- commissioner buell: you have gone past or time. how long is your list? 3 minutes. >> 2 more seconds. >> that is ok. i am used to being interrupted. thank you. >> anyone else that would like to comment under general public comment? come on up. >> good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, members of the recreation and park commission. our nation is under attack, specifically our parks, neighborhoods, and the citizens of san francisco. they are under attack from political and terrorist-alike coast. a lot of these people work for recreation and park department. the effects of the hijacking of our parks is evidence in this simple day-to-day functions of the city. this crime against the united states and the city and county of san francisco transpired september 2001 when the board of supervisors for the city and county of san francisco introduce a resolution to close golden gate park staples and we open in the most efficient way possible. that was 10 years ago. here we are still, no public or sporting facilities in the city and county of sa

president buell: thank you. >> thank you. >> raul and charlie. >> good afternoon, everyone. my name is raul. this is my fifth year in the u.s. it's really interesting how like it's really sad to see even in a country that has almost everything there's no like services for kids or for children. which are the most important -- especially because they're groipping and learning all these things from their environment -- they are growing up and learning all these things from their environment. i got accepted to training -- to the poder organization and it's really like -- it's really hard to get in those organizations. there is a few, there is poder, mission, and they have really limited spaces. if the city is not willing to offer spaces for kids, for children, at least make parks where they are able to get in those programs are able to like share their experience or leave -- in open spaces like parks. i feel like a park on 17th street where it's really crowded, is really dense, is a really important place to put a park in that space because it's really crowded and everything. ki

. >> bryant grew up in italy 'cause his dad played pro buell bawl there of course this deal is con athis point gent on the nba lockout continuing. it could be a make or break session this season. >>> look how san diegos chargers defensive lineman antonio garay pumped his ride, not enough a 340-pound man is squeeze nothing his smart car, it is a hello kitty drop top car. that is what he drives around town. i wish i had four hands to gift hello kitty drop top smartcar four thumbs up two will do. >> why hello kitty? >> actually a really funny guy, his way of having a laugh. >> i thought the lunch box was cool, takes it to a whole other level. thanks, jeff. >>> this hour, we begin with the biggest blow to al qaeda since the killing of osama bin laden. and it maybe just as devastating to the terror group. yemen says that american-born muslim cleric anwar al alack ski dead. in recent months, he had been dubbed the new bin laden and the bin laden of the internet. the u.s. says he was a master at online recruiting, finding and motivating radicals to kill americans around the world. al alack s