. >> commissioner levitan. >> just a comment, the reason that operations put this on the general calendar was to make sure we all had an opportunity to hear, just as mr. o'grady said, the extreme value this partnership brings us and that event brought us and we're very grateful to everybody. >> with that is there a motion. >> so moved. >> seconded. >> moved and second, all in favor? >> aye. >> so moved. >> we're on item 8, union square parking garage lease. >> good morning commissioners, property management for the department. the item before you is approval of the lease with the uptown garage association for the management of the union square parking garage. uptown parking garage association was formed to assist the city in building the union square and sutter stockton garages. it remits all of the revenues above expenses back to the department for use and they are managed the garage diligently for the last 60 plus years. they have been operating it under an agreement that was signed in 1999, for the past 13 years. that 1999 agreement included provisions that if certain debts that were h

. >> and commissioner levitan is on her way. we are -- let me just make a upleof announcements. first of all, item 6 and 6a will be heard as one. and 6 is only a discussion item and 6a is to be voted on, but the two will be heard together. as a reminder, we ask that you turn off any electronic-sounding devices that may go off during the proceedings. we would also ask that you please take any secondary conversations outside in order for the meeting to proceed as efficiently as possible. if you would like to speak on any item, please complete a blue card unless otherwise announced by the president, each person will have three minutes for public comment on each item. if there is any item of interest to you not on the agenda, it is under the subject-matter jurisdiction of the commission. you may speak under general public comment, which is item 4, and then continued on item 13. last, please address your comments to the commission during public comment on items in order to allow equal time for all, neither the commission, nor staff will respond to any questions during public comment.

levitan and the palestinians territories and a rock and syria. -- iraq and syria. you see them try to push back the influence. that is why it is such a nasty conflict. it is a secretary and regional conflict, that has ethnic and tribal elements. the united states is in the middle of it. it is not something that will be solved in a few years. it has been playing out for a long time and is likely to. when secretary gates talked about getting involved in the cereal war, it is more than the just that, getting involved in a regional conflict. and how much can we really shape it. and a lot of ways we are still trying to police it. because of the religious element, there is no easy answer and a lot of ways. host: david from arkansas. you are talking to jay solomon of "the wall street journal." go ahead. caller: as an individual watching things happening in washington, i would never forget when barack obama made a statement that i did not really quite understand, and that is he was going to transform america. when he said that, of being conservative and not supporting his

. >> and commissioner levitan is on her way. we are -- let me just make a couple of announcements. first of all, item 6 and 6a will be heard as one. and 6 is only a discussion item and 6a is to be voted on, but the two will be heard together. as a reminder, we ask that you turn off any electronic-sounding devices that may go off during the proceedings. we would also ask that you plse

. >> and commissioner levitan is on her way. just to a few reminders for those joining us this is the rec and park meeting for march 21, 2013. we welcome you today but we ask that you turn off electronic devices that may go off during the proceedings. we ask if you have a secondary conversation take it outside for the meeting to run as efficiently as possible. unless announced by the president of the commission each person has tee minutes to speak under public comment. as a reminder we have public comment on item four and then -- and that is for 15 minutes total and then again continued on item number 10. please address your comments to the commission during public comment on items. in order to allow equal time to all neither the commission or staff may respond to questions. the commission may ask questions of staff after public comment is closed so with that we have one announcement and that is item eight, the america's cup permit at the marina green and small craft harbor has beeny removed and not heard today. with that we are

senator laurence levitan sponsored the bill to raise usury limits.weren't only hearing from lenders and developers during the interest crunch, where the interest rate hit and went above the ceiling. we heard from the average citizen who wanted to buy or sell his house. the ceiling prevented them from entering the marketplace. senator julian lapides opposed lifting the ceiling. when people need or want money, they're unconcerned about the cost at that moment. and that's why the state has to be almost in place of the parent. we have to really be responsible to protect the public from themselves. the bill passed easily, clearing both houses by february 21, 1979. governor hughes signed it the next day. what happened? mortgage interest rates went to 12%, then gradually came in line with rates across the nation. so we had frozen these people in their property. they couldn't move. they couldn't sell. once we raised the ceiling, that changed. people could sell their houses and did. money flowed into maryland. i think the consumer lost badly that year and sub

. >> commissioner levitan. >> i am just echoing what some of my colleagues already have said and i expect that we'll work on this and staff will work on this before it gets to the board, just on name especially. you know, to make sure that we're totally consistent in this lease, and that we are clear about the location of the strybing arboretum to make sure that is included correctly. and the subleasing, because cell towers are not an option and i want to make sure that we're really, really clear when we work that out. thank you. >> seeing no other questions from commissioners, i want to ask the general manager then to work with the society and the staff and put together a response to the recommendations in the letter that can go to the board of supervisors recommending that changes be done there rather than here. >> okay. >> with that, can i entertain a motion. >> move to approve. >> second. >> moved and seconded. all those in favor? >> aye. >> thank you very much. >> we are now on item 12. state grant lack merced boat launching facility improvemented. >> good morning commissioners, my n

commissioner levitan, you had a question. >> it was very interesting to hear how the artwork is between two pieces of glass. that is the floor? >> commissioner bonilla? >> i guess it's difficult to really conceptualize this, because we're not really looking at visual from the standpoint of how this design is viewed when we're seeing the reflections. you know, light changes and so on. so aesthetically, it's difficult to kind of wrap myself -- i can't wrap myself around it because i'm not really seeing the practicality, meaning how does it look when there is light reflecting on it? and what are people seeing and will they comprehend what it means in terms of all -- the intent of the design. you know? >> i can speak to that a little and i would also be happy to bring a material sample when i come back and we could both hold it up to the window and then hold it on other side of the wall, so you can see differences. but with regard to the meaning of the artwork, the arts commission does install interpretative plaques for all of our installations that does give a brief explanation of the artw

. >> and commissioner levitan is on her way. we are -- t

levitan and the palestinians territories and a rock and syria. -- iraq and syria. you see them try to push back the influence. that is why it is such a nasty conflict. it is a secretary and regional conflict, that has ethnic and tribal elements. the united states is in the middle of it. it is not something that will be solved in a few years. it has been playing out for a long time and is likely to. when secretary gates talked about getting involved in the cereal war, it is more than the just that, getting involved in a regional conflict. and how much can we really shape it. and a lot of ways we are still trying to police it. because of the religious element, there is no easy answer and a lot of ways. host: david from arkansas. you are talking to jay solomon of "the wall street journal." go ahead. caller: as an individual watching things happening in washington, i would never forget when barack obama made a statement that i did not really quite understand, and that is he was going to transform america. when he said that, of being conservative and not supporting his

levitan and the palestinians territories and a rock and syria. and syria. see them try to push back the influence. that is why it is such a nasty conflict. secretary and regional conflict, that has ethnic and tribal elements. the united states is in the middle of it. it is not something that will be solved in a few years. it has been playing out for a long time and is likely to. when secretary gates talked about getting involved in the cereal war, it is more than the just that, getting involved in a regional conflict. and how much can we really shape it. and a lot of ways we are still trying to police it. because of the religious element, there is no easy answer and a lot of ways. david from arkansas. you are talking to jay solomon of "the wall street journal." go ahead. caller: as an individual watching things happening in washington, i would never forget when barack obama made a statement that i did not really quite understand, and that is he was going to transform america. when he said that, of being conservative and not supporting his liberal viewpoints