yes, we love the trees in the botanical garden. the san francisco botanical garden at strybing arboretum, but some of those trees are there because the botanical garden society, funded by the society and we very much appreciate the cooperation that we have from the city and from the parks and recreation to help make the garden as good as it can be and better and world-class. some of the trees that are there were not there when my children were tiny. i bring my grandchildren there to see them, and something like the handkerchief tree, which is

yes, we love the trees in the botanical garden. the san francisco botanical garden at strybing arboretum, but some of those trees are there because the botanical garden society, funded by the society and we very much appreciate the cooperation that we have from the city and from the parks and recreation to help make the garden as good as it can be and better and world-class. some of the trees that are there were not there when my children were tiny. i bring my grandchildren there to see them, and something like the handkerchief tree, which is a beautiful tree with tiny flowers with branchs that float like a hand kerchief in the wind along with other plans in the cloud forest collection because of work done by the botanical garden society. morning aspect talked about is the library and justed yesterday in the garden i spoke with a young wo

that it acknowledge explicitly that the san francisco botanical garden was built to serve in many ways. the mission of the strybing arboretum and botanical garden is the california and san francisco bay area to provide educational and interpretative educations that promote public awareness of plants and environment and here is the crucial, offer a place of reflection, enjoyment and relaxation for the public. i also have read that -- [speaker not understood] to make it less accessible to is to further ereed what fredrick alstead felt was essential for democracy and space available to all regardless of economic status. so acknowledging that the garden is a place for the public and fees are just completely damaging and contrary to that spirit. so first, to acknowledge that it is not a living museum. it is a place for public enjoyment, reflection and relaxation. >> thank you. >> dennis david and we have sue anne. [speaker [ reading speakers' names ] >> good morning, commissioners. i am a native san franciscan and today representing take back our park a coalition of advocates and a group th

isn't the name of the tenant the san francisco botanical garden at strybing arboretum. is there any naming issues at the actual botanical gardens? >> in terms of? >> using that name? because that name is throughout the lease. >> yes, there is no intention to change the name of the arboretum. >> and then looking at the assignment and subletting clause it's pretty broad and it includes anybody using the gardens other than itself. it requires the consent of the general manager and it's sole and absolute discretion and wouldn't that include the concerns of cell phone towers? food trucks? vending machines and other concessions? >> yes. >> so maybe the way to address those points is to say that the general manager has the discretion to withhold its consent to those uses. those are my only points and i think that covers most of the issues in dennis' letter to us regarding use. because i think it is captured in the assignment and subletting clause. i'm leaving probably my colleague to address hours of operation and fees, but i think with respect to the concerns for other uses of

agreement would help facilitate the continued development of botanical garden into an evening more effective institution than today. the san francisco botanical garden has earned an international reputation of serving well the people of san francisco, the bay area, and beyond, with its collections of plant and it's programs. by adopting the agreement, the commission will affirm the intent of the community of supporters of the garden to continue to educate children and adults of the area, in this critical relationship of people and the world of plants. not only now, but in the future. thank you. >> thank you. >> lawrence. >> good morning, commissioners, my name is lawrence pitts, i am a 44-year resident of san francisco and profession of neurosurgery. things that struck me very on the fragrance garden with many plants with lovely smells and braille signs so poorly-sighted people can enjoy that part of garden and wandering through the garden one day, young german visitor wanted to see a rare plant and took him over to the chain link fence that is covered with the species. it's a remarkable place. it's a living museum. and it requires

the san francisco botanical garden luncheon was yesterday and it was a fine gathering of folks who enthusiastical support the work that they are doing and i want to add my congratulation tosses s to them and they have a large and enthusiastic following people who are helping achieve their efforts and it was a great lunch.a separate matter, but somewhat related at chrissy field, under the auspices of the national park service the san francisco museum of modern art and conservancy have jointly sponsored a viewing and installation of seven or eight major art pieces and i highly recommend that you all take advantage of seeing it. i think saturday is the launch date for it, they are being installed as we speak. the park service is lucky enough to have the art exhibits and to get this collection from around the world to be exhibited through the auspices of moma is a great deal. do you want me to read the friends the alvarez lake? >> please. >> and we'll have a ceremony for folks connected with that and today the san francisco recreation and parks commission recognizes the group's group and for their ex

so we're on item 11, golden gate park san francisco botanical garden lease and management agreement >> good morning commissioners, nick kinsey >> speak into the mic. >> sorry >> you are too tall for the mic. >> every time, nick kinsey, director of property management for the rec and park department and happy to bring before the commission today a new lease and management agreement with one of our longest and cherished partners the botanical garden society and since 1955 the botanical garden society has provided crucial support to the department as we have managed and operated a really living museum. the botanical gardens support for the garden has included building and operating the hellonen crocker library and funding the botanical garden master plan that was completed as a submaster plan to the golden gate park master plan and providing important educational programss for youth and outreach to visitors. also importantly paying for an 11th gardener each year at the gardens to help us maintain it in world-class condition. and then providing critical curatorial and plant collection dev

san francisco we unique. we have 11 workers that we have assigned and we have about three to four gardeners in the parks. there's a lot of staff that is assigned to the botanical garden. when we were in our worse times it was a controversial decision agreed to a non-resident fee for people investing san francisco and it was similarly our japanese garden. the botanical garden is free speech for san franciscan resident. it was a community comprises we're proud to have it but if we lose that fee it will impact our budget the numbers are up and they're working on their sustainable nursey. thanks >> just some follow-up questions. i know your finishing up but since supervisor farrell brought it up i want some clarity around the expense of managing the garden overall vs. the revenue it's taking in or maybe that could be brought up at the budget meeting >> the revenue piece doesn't really begin to address the total expenses for the garden alts and the botanical garden vista hundreds of - invests hundreds of thousands of dollars. we can bring that back some more information about the garden budget but it's not inexpensive to maintain >> does that necessarily mean you w