SAN FRANCISCO

PLANNING COMMISSION

AND

RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION

Meeting Minutes

Commission Chambers - Room 408

City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Thursday, June 5, 2008

11:30 AM

PLANNING COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Olague, Miguel, Antonini, Lee, and Sugaya

COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Moore

RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Lazarus, Bonilla, Harrison, Lee, and Sullivan

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Martin and Levitan

THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT OLAGUE AT 11:39 P.M.

STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: John Rahaim – Director of Planning, Larry Badiner – Zoning Administrator, Amit Ghosh – Chief Planner, David Alumbaugh, and Linda Avery – Commission Secretary.

A. REGULAR CALENDAR

1. SUE BIERMAN PARK - Discussion and possible action to approve a resolution allocating up to $1,812,000, from the Downtown Park Special Fund for Phase I renovation of Sue Bierman Park and a planning study for the Embarcadero Waterfront Open Space.

SPEAKER(S)

Ernestine Weiss, Golden Gate Center

- The connection bridge to Maritime Plaza should be demolished because it is dangerous and obsolete and nobody told us about the retention of the bridge. I find that disturbing.

Sue Hestor, Friends of Golden Gateway Representative

- There needs to be an inviting way to circulate from Broadway to Mission Street on the west side of the Embarcadero.

- My plea is that the planning study expands its vision on how to make it inviting to walk along the Embarcadero as opposed to just the bay side. Planning has the responsibility to take all of this into consideration.

Diana Taylor, Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association

- We support the granting of funds and planning efforts and would like to be involved in the planning process with any citizen's advisory and design review committee.

Vetica Puree, Telegraph Hill Dwellers

- We have a tremendous interest and are ecstatic that you will allocate funds for Sue Bierman Park as well as for the planning study because it would allows our citizens to be able to walk easily and freely.

Eula Walters

- There is nothing wrong with Ferry Park [Sue Bierman Park]. It is the most beautiful park in the City. Some of or a few sidewalks need to be leveled.

- The bridge should stay there because we need it for emergencies.

Chris Duderstadt, Open Space of San Francisco Tomorrow

- Looking at that part of the City, we have no spaces for unstructured recreational activities. Consider that in all of your planning efforts.

Dave Burnett, Golden Gateway Center

- There are a lot of drug activities in the park and I hope that whatever is done in the future you take that into account.

ACTION: Approved the expenditure of $100,000 to conduct the planning study for the Embarcadero Waterfront Open Space but to require more detailed information about the bridge and the expenditure of the additional $1.7 million from the Downtown Park Special Fund for renovation of the park.

AYES: Olague, Miguel, Antonini, Lee and Sugaya

ABSENT: Moore

MOTION: 17608

Adjournment: 12:37 P.M.

THESE MINUTES ARE PROPOSED FOR ADOPTION AT THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION ON THURSDAY, July 24, 2008.

SPEAKER(S): None

ACTION: Approved

AYES: Olague, Miguel, Antonini, Borden, Lee, Moore and Sugaya

NOTE: Per Section 67.18 of the Administrative Code for the City and County of San Francisco, Commission minutes contain a description of the item before the Commission for discussion/consideration; a list of the public speakers with names if given, and a summary of their comments including an indication of whether they are in favor of or against the matter; and any action the Commission takes. The minutes are not the official record of a Commission hearing. The audiotape is the official record. Copies of the audiotape may be obtained by calling the Commission office at (415) 558-6415. For those with access to a computer and/or the Internet, Commission hearings are available at www.sfgov.org. Under the heading Explore, the category Government, and the City Resources section, click on SFGTV, then Video on Demand. You may select the hearing date you want and the item of your choice for a replay of the hearing.