San Francisco Redevelopment Agency


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MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE

REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY AND

COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO, HELD ON THE

1ST DAY OF NOVEMBER 2005

 

The Commissioners of the Redevelopment Agency of the City and County of San Francisco met in a regular meeting at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 416, in the City of San Francisco, California, at 4:00 p.m. on the 1st day of November 2005, at the place and date duly established for holding of such a meeting.

 

President Richard H. Peterson Jr. called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.  Mr. Peterson welcomed members of the public and radio listening audience, and asked that cell phones and pagers be turned off during the meeting.

 

President Peterson called for a moment of silence to reflect, commemorate and celebrate the passing of Rosa Parks, and asked if Commissioners would like to make remarks.

 

Commissioner King stated he was very fortunate to have met Ms. Rosa Parks and recalled that a school across St. Francis Square was named after her.  Mr. King stated that his grandson went to that school and at five years old, he learned a valuable lesson about equality.  Mr. King stated that Ms. Parks was a lovely lady and he wanted to give credit to President Peterson for honoring her.

 

Commissioner Covington thanked President Peterson for the moment of silence in honor of Ms. Rosa Parks.  Ms. Covington stated that Ms. Parks was a wonderful person and taught everyone about a courage that did not necessarily require a loud voice.  Ms. Covington stated that people may not remember that at that time in Montgomery, people had to enter the front of the bus, pay their fare, get off the bus and enter the back door, and it was sport for a lot of the bus drivers, particularly when it was raining, that when one got of the bus to enter the back door, the bus driver would take off.  Ms. Covington stated there were a lot of mean-spirited attitudes, and on that bus where Ms. Parks made her stand, she previously had had problems with that particular bus driver before, so she did her action fully aware that there may be physical repercussions on her person.  Ms. Covington stated that not only did Ms. Rosa Parks do what she had to do, but thousands of black people whose names were not known, made the Montgomery bus boycott a success, because for more than a year, they walked to work, no matter how far it was.  Ms. Covington stated that it was their quiet determination that led to the gains that African-Americans have today, and out of the civil rights movement came the women’s movement, and Ms. Parks had left everyone an incredible legacy.

 

Commissioner Breed thanked Mr. Peterson for providing an opportunity for reflection on the life of Ms. Rosa Parks.  Ms. Breed stated that she was raised by her grandmother and that when she was young, she did not realize the importance of having someone that was very spiritual, grounded and came from an era that had a lot of suffering.  Ms. Breed stated that her grandmother, even as she raised her grandchildren, still had a fear of speaking to certain people in a certain manner, and that she respected Ms. Rosa Parks for her tenacity and determination, especially for a woman of diminutive stature standing up to all those folks.  Ms. Breed stated that she did not realize the importance growing up until she noticed that if it were not for people like Rosa Parks, she would not be in the situation she presently was today.  Ms. Breed stated that Ms. Rosa Parks started a movement not just for African-Americans, but also to preserve the values that the United States was founded on, and thought that her courageous stance brought about a constitutional push for equality.  Ms. Breed stated that she would always respect Rosa Parks and shared that she had attended Raphael Weill Elementary School before it was named after Rosa Parks.  She recalled that she was at the naming ceremony and had taken a lot of photographs to remember the event.  Ms. Breed stated that Ms. Rosa Parks was very sweet and quiet, and recalled telling her that she had never been more proud to be an African-American and wished that she had attended the school as Rosa Parks Elementary School.  Ms. Breed stated she wanted to thank President Peterson again, and that the Agency Commission represented the diversity of a lot of the struggles that Ms. Rosa Parks had to endure throughout her life and that she really appreciated her very much.

 

Commissioner Yee stated that actually, he had spoken with President Peterson and suggested that the Commission pay its respect to Ms. Rosa Parks, a world renowned civil rights pioneer with a moment of silence.  Mr. Yee stated that the tribute was very appropriate not only for African-Americans, but also Asian-Americans and other ethnic groups, and her efforts were greatly appreciated by all.

 

 

1.      RECOGNITION OF A QUORUM

        

The Commission Secretary announced the presence of a quorum with the following Commissioners present:

 

Richard H. Peterson Jr., President

London Breed, Vice-President

Francee Covington

Leroy King

Ramon E. Romero

Darshan Singh

Benny Y. Yee

 

Marcia Rosen, Executive Director and staff members were also present.

 

 

2.      REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN AT PREVIOUS CLOSED SESSION MEETING, IF ANY.  None.

 

 

3.      MATTERS OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

 

 

CONTINUED FROM THE OCTOBER 18, 2005 COMMISSION MEETING

 

3 (a)     Resolution No. 160-2005, Public hearing and approving a Disposition and Development Agreement with The Regents of the University of California, a California public corporation, for the purchase of a portion of Block 7, and adopting environmental findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, for the development of an affordable housing project; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

After reading the item into the record, Commission Secretary Erwin R. Tanjuaquio stated that item 3 (a) would be presented with the related items on the regular agenda items 4 (d), (e) and (f) regarding the UCSF project.

 

 

4.      MATTERS OF NEW BUSINESS:

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

4 (a)     Approval of Minutes:  Meeting of October 18, 2005

 

4 (b)     Resolution No. 173-2005, Authorizing a Second Amendment to the Tax Increment Loan Agreement with the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation, a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, to modify the sources and use of funds and the loan disbursement budget for the construction of 18 low- and moderate-income first-time homeownership units and ground floor commercial space at 4800 Third Street; Bayview Hunters Point Redevelopment Survey Area; Citywide Tax Increment Housing Program

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MR. ROMERO, SECONDED BY MS. COVINGTON, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 4 (a) APPROVAL OF MINUTES:  MEETING OF OCTOBER 18, 2005, AND 4 (B) RESOLUTION NO. 173-2005, AUTHORIZING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE TAX INCREMENT LOAN AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, TO MODIFY THE SOURCES AND USE OF FUNDS AND THE LOAN DISBURSEMENT BUDGET FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 18 LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERSHIP UNITS AND GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL SPACE AT 4800 THIRD STREET; BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT REDEVELOPMENT SURVEY AREA; CITYWIDE TAX INCREMENT HOUSING PROGRAM, BE ADOPTED.

 

 

REGULAR AGENDA

 

4 (c)     Resolution No.174-2005, Authorizing the issuance, sale and delivery of multifamily housing revenue bonds in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $12,500,000 to assist Banneker Homes Partners, L.P., with, the financing of the acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable residential rental facilities known as Banneker Homes Apartments at 765 Fulton Street and authorizing and approving related actions and authorizing the execution and delivery of related documents; Western Addition Redevelopment Project Area A-2

 

Presenters:  Sally Oerth (Agency staff)

 

Commissioner Covington stated that there were a lot of very good plans for services including tutoring and computer classes for adults, and asked what kind of follow-through would be available to ensure that the programs would be implemented and maintained for an extended period of time.

 

Ms. Sally Oerth, Senior Development Specialist, stated that the funds from the seller’s note that would be used to pay for the planned services would be monitored through an agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and those moneys could only be used to pay for the services.

 

Commissioner Breed asked if the plans included a color-scheme for the building that had a lighter tone than the current color.

 

Ms. Billy Hutton of Alton Management, showed a color palate of the proposed color scheme, and stated that the existing darker green color would be replaced by a softer green color that would only be used for the gates and building appurtenances, and would be complemented by a lighter beige color with a rust-colored accent.  Mr. Hutton stated that the proposed color scheme would provide for a lighter and softer color scheme for the buildings.

 

Commissioner Breed asked if there planned street closures during the construction work.  Ms. Breed asked if there was opportunity provided to tenants for employment and training on the rehabilitation project.  Ms. Breed asked for an explanation of the affordability levels and if the units would remain affordable for 55 years.

 

Mr. Al Reynolds of Alton Management, stated that he did not think there would be street closures during the construction work because the garage would remain operable and would be the last component of the work.  Mr. Reynolds stated that they were very much aware of the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity program and that as many residents as possible would be offered employment and training.

 

Executive Director Rosen stated that under the project-based Section 8 program, units with residents eligible for the Section 8 program would pay no more than 30% of their income towards the rent, regardless of how low their income was, and HUD would pay the remainder towards the rent.  That would apply to 96 of the units, which were project-based Section 8 units.  In addition, there were several residents with tenant-based Section 8 vouchers that would also pay no more than 30% of their income towards the rent, with HUD paying the remainder.  For the units that were not under the Section 8 program, the rent levels were set to be affordable to people at 50% of median income for 20% of the units and the remaining units set at 60% of median income.  Ms. Rosen stated that was the guaranteed affordability levels should HUD not renew the Section 8 in the future, but while the Section 8 subsidy was there, the residents would be protected by it.  Ms. Rosen stated the units would remain affordable to people at 50% and 60% of median income for the full time period, and would remain at much deeper affordability so long as they remained as Section 8 units.  Currently, HUD would continue renewing the Section 8.

 

Commissioner Breed stated that she understood that a number of tenants had just received notices for a meeting and wanted to know what meetings had been scheduled and what outreach to the residents had been made, because she had heard from some of the tenants that the outreach was not done.  Ms. Breed requested verification that the existing tenants would not be displaced during the construction.

 

Mr. Al Reynolds stated that they had made efforts to meet with the residents, but the problem was that people did not turn out for the meetings.  Mr. Reynolds stated the rehabilitation project was not a secret, and everyone in the building knew what was going on.  Mr. Reynolds stated that they recently mailed out notices to all the residents to walk them through the whole process, and they would set up a model unit to show the residents the remodeled units.  Mr. Reynolds stated that no residents would be displaced, and the only possibility was that a resident may have to be moved for a period of ten days while the unit was being worked on.

 

Commissioner Breed stated she would ask that the communication with the residents was clear and outreach efforts be made to all the residents, because she did not want the residents expressing to her their concerns that they were not made aware of the what was happening.  Ms. Breed asked that there be good attitude and compassion in the approach when communicating with the tenants.  Ms. Breed put forth a motion to adopt item 4 (c).

 

Commissioner Romero seconded the motion to adopt item 4 (c).

 

President Peterson stated he would urge that Commissioner Breed be kept in the loop and sent the meeting notices, because her office is right across the street from Banneker Homes.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. BREED, SECONDED BY MR. ROMERO, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT ITEM 4 (c) RESOLUTION NO.174-2005, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF MULTIFAMILY HOUSING REVENUE BONDS IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $12,500,000 TO ASSIST BANNEKER HOMES PARTNERS, L.P., WITH, THE FINANCING OF THE ACQUISITION AND REHABILITATION OF AFFORDABLE RESIDENTIAL RENTAL FACILITIES KNOWN AS BANNEKER HOMES APARTMENTS AT 765 FULTON STREET AND AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING RELATED ACTIONS AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF RELATED DOCUMENTS; WESTERN ADDITION REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA A-2, BE ADOPTED.

 

Items 4 (d), (e) and (f) plus 3 (a) were presented together and acted upon separately.

 

4 (d)     Resolution No. 175-2005, Adopting environmental findings and a statement of overriding considerations pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act in connection with the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding and associated documents with The Regents of the University of California, a California public corporation, related to the implementation of The Regents Long Range Development Plan Amendment #2, Hospital Replacement Program, the University of California, San Francisco Campus; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

4 (e)     Resolution No. 176-2005, Approving a Memorandum of Understanding with The Regents of the University of California, a California public corporation, and acknowledging the Executive Director’s findings of consistency with the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Plan, for the expansion of UCSF facilities in the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

4 (f)     Resolution No. 177-2005, Authorizing a Second Amendment to the Mission Bay South Owner Participation Agreement with Catellus Operating Limited Partnership, a Delaware limited partnership, and FOCIL-MB, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to allow for the transfer of Blocks 36-39, the Expansion Parcels, to The Regents of the University of California, a California public corporation; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

3 (a)     Resolution No. 160-2005, Public hearing and approving a Disposition and Development Agreement with The Regents of the University of California, a California public corporation, for the purchase of a portion of Block 7, and adopting environmental findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, for the development of an affordable housing project; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

Presenters:  Amy Neches (Agency staff)

 

Speakers:  Norman Pearce, Corinne Woods

 

Commissioner Covington asked that the representatives from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) be introduced.

 

Ms. Amy Neches, Senior Project Manager, introduced representatives from UCSF.

 

Commissioner Covington asked for additional background information on the design approval process for the UCSF projects because she recalled Ms. Neches stating at one point in her presentation, that the design approval rested with the Agency Commission, and at another point, it did not.  Ms. Covington stated she wanted to express her concerns with the proposed hospital fronting on 16th Street, and was reminded that UCSF recently built a parking garage whose rear façade faced Third Street, and the huge structure was an eyesore on Third Street, which the City was trying to revitalize.

 

Ms. Neches explained that the affordable housing project, under the Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA), was subject to Agency control, just like any other development within a redevelopment project area would be.  When the project design begins, the developer would work with Agency staff and the Citizens’ Advisory Committee (CAC), and the design would be submitted to the Agency Commission for review and approval.  Unlike the affordable housing development, the ultimate design of the proposed hospital would not be subject to Agency Commission approval, but instead, would be approved by the Regents of the UCSF.  However, as part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Agency staff had negotiated a design consultation process that staff believed would be meaningful.  It would require UCSF to work with Agency staff to work with the citizens to hold public meetings as they had on the design standards, and to hold at least one public hearing before the Agency Commission to make sure that the design was publicly considered.  Ms. Neches stated that staff shared Commissioner Covington’s concerns about the design of the hospital, particularly its frontage on 16th and Third Streets.  Ms. Neches stated that Mr. Tom Evans, Assistant Project Manager and now lead Planner, along with the Agency’s architectural staff, had spent a lot of time with UCSF’s planners and discussed the height and bulk issues of the proposed hospital.  Ms. Neches stated that staff believed it was entering into a better collaboration on the hospital than it had been able to achieve for the UCSF campus.

 

Commissioner Covington thanked Ms. Neches for her explanation and stated that UCSF was a wonderful institution and that she particularly enjoyed the stem cell panel that included the Nobel Laureates.   Ms. Covington inquired about Parcel X-3 and asked for clarification.

 

Ms. Neches stated that Parcel X-3 was a parcel adjacent to the UCSF parcels, owned by a separate property owner and not subject to the overall Owner Participation Agreement for Mission Bay.  Ms. Neches stated that parcel contained a warehouse building that was used to store furniture.  Ms. Neches stated staff understood from UCSF that they were in negotiations with the property owner and potentially might acquire the property and add it to their parcels.  As part of the Agency’s agreement with UCSF, the Agency had an agreement to negotiate in good faith should they acquire that property, relative to the types of concerns that Ms. Corinne Woods raised.  Ms. Neches stated that the Agency did not currently have an agreement nor did UCSF have a contract to purchase the property; however, the agreements that the Agency had established in the MOU about design process and standards, explicitly covered Parcel X-3 as well as the central parcels, so that the height and bulk standards that the Agency had agreed to, including the architectural standards and design consultation process, would cover the parcel if and when it was acquired.

 

Commissioner Covington requested verification that 112 units of the proposed affordable housing project were designated for people at 60% of area median income, and the 48 units would be designated for UCSF house staff.

 

Ms. Neches affirmed that 112 units of the 160-unit affordable housing project would be designed for people at 60% of area median income and 48 units would be designated for UCSF house staff.

 

Commissioner Covington put forth motions to adopt items 4 (d), 4 (e), 4 (f) and 3 (a).

 

Commissioner Singh stated that he also attended the stem cell research conference and that it was very informative.  Mr. Singh stated it was a privilege for the Commission to vote for the UCSF project.  Mr. Singh seconded Commissioner Covington’s motions to adopt items 4 (d), 4 (e), 4 (f) and 3 (a).

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. COVINGTON, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT ITEM 4 (d) RESOLUTION NO. 175-2005, ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS AND A STATEMENT OF OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT IN CONNECTION WITH THE APPROVAL OF A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AND ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS WITH THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC CORPORATION, RELATED TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGENTS LONG RANGE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT #2, HOSPITAL REPLACEMENT PROGRAM, THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO CAMPUS; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. COVINGTON, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT ITEM 4 (e) RESOLUTION NO. 176-2005, APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC CORPORATION, AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S FINDINGS OF CONSISTENCY WITH THE MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, FOR THE EXPANSION OF UCSF FACILITIES IN THE MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. COVINGTON, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT ITEM 4 (f) RESOLUTION NO. 177-2005, AUTHORIZING A SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE MISSION BAY SOUTH OWNER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH CATELLUS OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, A DELAWARE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AND FOCIL-MB, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, TO ALLOW FOR THE TRANSFER OF BLOCKS 36-39, THE EXPANSION PARCELS, TO THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC CORPORATION; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPED.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. COVINGTON, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED THAT ITEM 3 (a) RESOLUTION NO. 160-2005, PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVING A DISPOSITION AND DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, A CALIFORNIA PUBLIC CORPORATION, FOR THE PURCHASE OF A PORTION OF BLOCK 7, AND ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

4 (g)     Update on Mission Bay Program in Diversity/Economic Development Program

 

Presenters:  Amy Neches, George Bridges (Agency staff), Chris Iglesias (MOEWD)

 

Speakers:  Dr. Edith Leonhardt, Christopher Hanif, Raymond Brooks, Derf

                              Butler, Cindy Mendoza, Jaime Jones, Shahla Davoudi, Arnold

   Townsend, Zamir Zuraek

 

Commissioner Covington inquired about the outreach efforts and how people were made aware of training opportunities and asked if staff did public service announcements and advertised in the ethnic presses, other than the San Francisco Chronicle and Examiner.

 

Mr. George Bridges, Senior Contract Compliance Specialist, stated that for the particular project, Safeway worked with the South of Market Employment Center, who worked with other community-based organizations to let them know about the employment opportunities.  Mr. Bridges stated that to his knowledge, Safeway did not advertise in the ethnic newspapers.

 

Commissioner Covington stated that she would suggest that advertisements be placed in the ethnic newspapers to ensure the broadest outreach possible.  Ms. Covington asked staff to provide a description of the training provided at the South of Market Employment Center and Young Community Developers (YCD) and if the training provided led to union apprenticeships and for what trades.

 

Mr. Bridges stated that YCD had an apprenticeship program, which was called “boot camp” and was designed for people interested in construction jobs to get them working at 5:30 in the morning.  Mr. Bridges stated that the training provided led to union apprenticeships.

 

Mr. Chris Iglesias from the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development stated that YCD had an apprenticeship program in conjunction with the Building Trades, and the primary trades they trained for were carpenters, laborers and hazardous materials specialists, which was the main focus of YCD.  South of Market Employment Center, on the other hand, focused on job-ready individuals, but through the work with the Agency and City College, the City helped develop the construction administration program, which had been one of the most successful programs in getting people placed in administrative positions on Agency projects for the last five years.  Mr. Iglesias stated that in conjunction with the Four Seasons Hotel project, the South of Market Employment Center developed the hospitality training program and also the fitness certification training program.  Mr. Iglesias stated that all of these programs were developed in conjunction with developers and operators, and for Safeway, direct outreach was conducted.

 

Commissioner Covington asked if there was a breakdown of the 600 jobs for Mission Bay projects.

 

Mr. Bridges stated that there was a breakdown of the jobs from 2001 to 2004, with some that were apprenticeship positions, but that typically the jobs were carpenters, laborers and cement masons, and other trades that included operating engineers, ironworkers and electricians.

 

Commissioner Covington stated that her great interest was in helping people gain employment that would permit them to work anywhere in the world ultimately, so that the acquired skills would be transferable and not necessarily geographic specific.  Ms. Covington stated she would be asking a lot questions about employment, jobs and permanent, well-paying jobs during her tenure as an Agency Commissioner.

 

Commissioner King stated that he raised the issue at the previous Commission meeting because he was disturbed with the new owner and remembered the struggle with Catellus years ago to try and get them to comply with the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity program.  Mr. King shared that he went on a two-hour tour at Mission Bay earlier in the day and was very pleased with what he saw with the diversity of the workers.  Mr. King stated he saw engineers, laborers and carpenters and spoke with an African-American carpenter who received training under the Agency’s programs.  Mr. King stated that the training they received and the skills they learned allowed them to work anywhere in the country.  Mr. King stated the Agency had fostered good apprenticeship programs and that he was very pleased, and the tour he took opened his eyes because he saw the diversity in the construction workforce in Mission Bay.  Mr. King stated he spoke with one carpenter that was on the second year of his apprenticeship and another engineer who operated the big construction equipment, and what he saw was quite different from what he thought previously at the last Commission meeting.  Mr. King stated he wanted to make sure that the developer and new owner continue to maintain the diversity he saw at the tour, and urged the Agency’s Contract Compliance staff to stay on top of the workforce diversity.  Mr. King stated he recalled that when Mr. Chris Iglesias was with the Agency, he had always provided the Commission with a report on the contract compliance of every developer and he would urge staff to continue that practice.  Mr. King stated he believed that the new owner in Mission Bay understood the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity program and that he was glad he raised the issue because now everyone could see the improvements in creating diversity in the workforce.  Mr. King stated he believed that the Agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity program was the best in the country and certainly in the City and was much better than the City’s Human Rights Commission.

 

Commissioner Breed stated she had concerns with the information provided by staff because she expected to see a similar breakdown for the minority and women-owned business enterprises as for residents of the City, and that she also expected to see a breakdown of the actual positions within the job categories.  Ms. Breed requested staff to provide a chart that would show a breakdown of San Francisco residents employed specifically under the listed job categories, and would also like to know for companies doing business with the Agency, what type of positions people were in what job categories.  Ms. Breed stated she recalled that the Commission recently approved a panel of redevelopment plan adoption consultant firms where the Commission requested a workforce breakdown of each firm that showed the gender, position and job category held by each employee, and that was the same information she would like to see for the Mission Bay project.  Ms. Breed stated she appreciated members of the public who came to the meeting to let the Commission know what was happening, and from her personal experience when visiting Safeway, she did notice a very diverse group of employees.  Ms. Breed stated that what she had ask people who work and/or lived in the Mission Bay area, was to look for what type of minority people actually worked on the projects, because based upon her own personal experience, she did not see a variety of people working on those particular projects.  Ms. Breed stated that on the few occasions she visited the area, she personally did not see the diversity and that was why the matter was brought up by the Commission.  Ms. Breed stated that although the project looked good based upon the information provided, the workforce numbers did not match up with the Agency’s requirements, and best faith efforts was not good enough for her, and the Agency should work harder to meet the stated goals, because as an example, the Gap had 44.9% minority participation that far exceeded the Agency’s goals, but others did not even come close to that percentage.  Ms. Breed stated she just wanted to see more efforts with outreach to groups and organizations and thought that was not asking for too much, especially with San Francisco ’s diversity.  Ms. Breed stated she did not mean to put a damper on any spirit, because she knew and had good working relationships with many of the organizations, including Mission Hiring Hall and Young Community Developers, but Mission Bay was a massive project, and the few organizations simply could not do all of it, and other organizations in other parts of the City must be involved in such a huge undertaking.  Ms. Breed stated she would encourage more outreach and involvement from San Francisco residents.

 

Commissioner Romero thanked staff for preparing the report and presenting the workshop, and acknowledged their hard work.  Mr. Romero stated that Commissioner King should be recognized for being a Commissioner who always pushed for ensuring that the Agency had good equal employment opportunity policies, hiring goals in all of the Agency’s projects, and that was a critical component of the Commission’s responsibilities.  Mr. Romero stated as Mr. Chris Iglesias stated, the Commission set the Agency’s policies, the Executive Director then oversees the implementation, and the project managers set the tone, and the staff had done a wonderful job in implementing and setting the tone for the Commission’s policies.  Mr. Romero stated that the results varied and some were good, some were in between and some were not so good, and that had been his experience his entire life when dealing with equal employment opportunity issues.  Mr. Romero shared that he dealt with this issue in his first year as a law student at U.C. Berkeley back in 1977, with the Backe decision, which was one of the major Supreme Court decisions that cut away at some of the affirmative action plans that had been developed in education around the country, and since then, there had been a tremendous backslide through court decisions and ballot propositions and laws that had been passed.  Even when he was a member of a committee at the law school to rewrite the admissions policy for the law school, he was the only Hispanic represented on that committee, and none of these issues were quite as simple as they appeared and were very complicated.  Mr. Romero stated that in his own experience as a member of the La Raza law students, where there were Chicanos, Mexican-Americans, Puerto-Ricans and Cubans, they could not even decide if they should call themselves Latinos or some other name.  Mr. Romero stated that he believed that the Agency’s equal employment opportunity program was a leading example, not only in the City, State and probably the nation, in reaching out to all peoples, and it would not stay that way if the Commission did not push constantly for accountability and enforcement.  Mr. Romero thanked Agency staff for their hard work and members of the public who came to the meeting.

 

[At this time, approximately 6:00 p.m., Commissioner Breed departed the meeting.]

 

Items 4 (h) and (i) were presented together and acted upon separately.

 

4 (h)     Resolution No. 178-2005, Adopting environmental findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and approving the Blocks 2-7 and 13 major phase application in the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area pursuant to the Owner Participation Agreement with FOCIL-MB, LLC; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

 

 

4 (i)      Resolution No. 179-2005, Adopting environmental findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and approving the schematic design for Mission Bay open space parcels P5, P6, P11a, P12, P13, and P15 in the Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area pursuant to the Owner Participation Agreement with FOCIL-MB, LLC; Mission Bay South Redevelopment Project Area

 

Presenters:  Tom Evans (Agency staff), Jacinta McCann (EDAW)

 

Speakers:  Corinne Woods

 

Commissioner Covington thanked staff for the nice presentation and stated that layout of the open space was lovely and particularly liked the butterfly garden.  Ms. Covington asked if there were any schematics of the interactive water play feature.  Ms. Covington asked how the open spaces were being maintained.

 

Ms. Jacinta McCann from EDAW, pointed to the illustrative rendering and stated that the water play feature would be a three-foot wide, one foot deep channel, with a couple of inches of water depth.  Ms. McCann stated that the idea was for children to be able to get their feet wet, and there would not be any danger of submersion.

 

Mr. Tom Evans, Lead Planner, stated all of the parks in Mission Bay were maintained by the Redevelopment Agency through a contract with MJM Management Group, and that funds for the maintenance of the parks came from a community facilities district for all of Mission Bay that provided long-term funding commitment for the maintenance of all the parks.

 

Commissioner Covington asked if UCSF contributed to the community facilities district, and how much.

 

Mr. Evans stated that UCSF contributed to the community facilities district.

 

Ms. Amy Neches, Senior Project Manager, stated that the community facilities district established a maximum tax per acre, which was established in 2000 at $14,400 per acre, but the tax escalated every year based on the consumer price index, and was currently at $16,000 per acre for the private properties.  The Agency’s affordable housing sites and other City-owned sites like the school, police and fire parcels were exempted from the special tax, but all of the private property including UCSF, paid at that rate into the fund, as would the hospital site.  Ms. Neches stated that the amount of the tax was set based upon projections of operations and maintenance of the parks to allow the Agency to adequately maintain them.

 

Commissioner Covington asked if the water feature would have still or running water.  Ms. Covington asked if there any traditional play structures planned in the park and if there would be kiosks for refreshments.

 

Ms. Neches stated that the water feature would have running water and would be designed in such a way that if the running water was turned-off, it would still look nice.  Ms. Neches stated the water would be a couple of inches deep, and obviously, when you have children and water, parents must be careful, but the park would be designed with seating areas that faced onto the central portion of the park that would allow parents to watch their children play.  Ms. Neches stated that the sight lines from all the bench areas were all oriented towards the play equipment and water feature areas to make sure that parents could maintain the proper surveillance of their children, while still being independent.  Ms. Neches stated that a similar water feature was designed and constructed in the Guadalupe River Park in San Jose by the Agency’s park specialist, Cheryl Barton, and it had been extremely successful.  The Agency and members of the community were excited to have a water feature in the Mission Bay parks.  Ms. Neches stated that there was a strong community desire to not have traditional play structures like swings, but to have a more natural environment and more creative play.  Ms. Neches stated that swing sets were not planned, but there would be climbing and sliding structures, but they were quite creative and different-looking than in traditional playgrounds.  Ms. Neches stated there would be a couple of opportunities for refreshments near the children’s park: one would be a small pavilion building at Parcel P-1 at Mission Creek and another small kiosk for seasonal refreshments at Parcel P-15.  In addition, the area adjacent to the children’s park would become the major retail corridor in Mission Bay and would provide refreshments.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MR. ROMERO, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (MS. BREED ABSENT) THAT ITEM 4 (h) RESOLUTION NO. 178-2005, ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND APPROVING THE BLOCKS 2-7 AND 13 MAJOR PHASE APPLICATION IN THE MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA PURSUANT TO THE OWNER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH FOCIL-MB, LLC; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MR. ROMERO, SECONDED BY MR. SINGH, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (MS. BREED ABSENT) THAT ITEM 4 (i) RESOLUTION NO. 179-2005, ADOPTING ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT AND APPROVING THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN FOR MISSION BAY OPEN SPACE PARCELS P5, P6, P11A, P12, P13, AND P15 IN THE MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA PURSUANT TO THE OWNER PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT WITH FOCIL-MB, LLC; MISSION BAY SOUTH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

4 (j)      Resolution No. 180-2005, Authorizing a Personal Services Contract with Forster & Kroeger Landscape Maintenance, Inc., a California corporation, for a term of 1 year with two 1 year options, in an amount not to exceed $252,220, with a contingency of $25,000 for extra work on an as needed basis for a total aggregate amount not to exceed $277,220 to provide landscape maintenance services in Community Facilities District No. 1; Rincon Point-South Beach Redevelopment Project Area

 

Presenters:  Audrey Kay (Agency staff)

 

Commissioner Romero thanked staff for a thorough presentation and put forth a motion to adopt item 4 (j).  Commissioner King seconded the motion.

 

President Peterson asked why the bid from Robert Poyas was so high.

 

Ms. Audrey Kay, Property Management Specialist, stated that the bid from Robert Poyas included substantial capital improvement costs.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MR. ROMERO, SECONDED BY MR. KING, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (MS. BREED ABSENT) THAT ITEM 4 (j) RESOLUTION NO. 180-2005, AUTHORIZING A PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WITH FORSTER & KROEGER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE, INC., A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION, FOR A TERM OF 1 YEAR WITH TWO 1 YEAR OPTIONS, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $252,220, WITH A CONTINGENCY OF $25,000 FOR EXTRA WORK ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS FOR A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $277,220 TO PROVIDE LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SERVICES IN COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT NO. 1; RINCON POINT-SOUTH BEACH REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

4 (k)    Resolution No. 181-2005, Authorizing a Fourth Amendment to the Grant Agreement with the Yerba Buena Alliance, a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation, to authorize three annual contributions of $25,000, for a total aggregate amount of $325,000, and to extend the term for an additional three years from November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2008; Yerba Buena Center Redevelopment Area

 

Presenters:  Cathy Pickering (Agency staff)

 

Speakers: Natalie Berg, Sean Jeffries

 

Commissioner Singh put forth a motion to adopt item 4 (k).

 

Commissioner Yee seconded the motion and stated that Ms. Natalie Berg was doing a great job at Yerba Buena Gardens.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MR. SINGH, SECONDED BY MR. YEE, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (MS. BREED ABSENT) THAT ITEM 4 (k) RESOLUTION NO. 181-2005, AUTHORIZING A FOURTH AMENDMENT TO THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE YERBA BUENA ALLIANCE, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT MUTUAL BENEFIT CORPORATION, TO AUTHORIZE THREE ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $25,000, FOR A TOTAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF $325,000, AND TO EXTEND THE TERM FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE YEARS FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2005 TO OCTOBER 31, 2008; YERBA BUENA CENTER REDEVELOPMENT AREA, BE ADOPTED.

 

4 (l)      Resolution No. 182-2005, Adopting an Agency Public Records Policy requiring the Agency to provide enhanced public access to records

 

Presenters:  James B. Morales (Agency staff)

 

Speakers:  David Pilpel

 

Commissioner Covington requested verification that there had been no denial of public records requests.  Ms. Covington asked what kind of retrieval system the Agency had in responding to requests for public records.  Ms. Covington asked if the proposed policy would require additional Agency staff.

 

Mr. James B. Morales, Agency General Counsel, affirmed that there had been no denial of public records requests.  Mr. Morales stated that all communications to the Agency would be reviewed by executive staff and routed to appropriate staff and logged in the Agency’s Central Records Division.  If the communication was a request for public records, it would get a special notation, in light of the 10-day period in which the Agency must respond, and assigned to the appropriate staff to respond.  This would be followed by an inquiry as to how the request was being responded to, but ordinary, straightforward and routine requests would generally be handled by project management staff or division heads to provide the appropriate information.  Mr. Morales stated that under the proposed policy, routine or simple information that was already prepared would be made available on an expedited fashion, by the close of business of the next day, under an immediate request basis.  Mr. Morales stated he did not think that the proposed policy would require additional Agency staff, because staff was already assuming greater responsibility in providing the public with access.  Mr. Morales stated there would be some new assignments.  For example, the Agency’s website, within six months of the effective date of the proposed policy, would have to be updated to have all of the Agency’s meeting agendas and minutes for the past three years, and maybe as part of the website update, to include commission memoranda and other relevant documents.  Mr. Morales stated the requirement that oral information be provided was already a function that the Executive Director’s office undertakes, which includes the Commission Secretary as well.  Mr. Morales stated that in the next two months, there would be staff training provided for the public records policy, and there had already been a meeting with all staff on the proposed policy.

 

Commissioner Covington stated she thought it was wonderful that the Agency would be in sync with the City in terms of Sunshine Ordinance issues.  Ms. Covington stated she liked the idea of updating the Agency’s website to include meeting minutes, memoranda, redevelopment plans and other documents, because with the volume of paper that she had accumulated in her short time on the Commission, she would like to have ready access to archival information.  Ms. Covington encouraged staff to update the Agency’s website as soon as practicable, and put forth a motion to adopt item 4 (l).

 

Commissioner Romero seconded Commissioner Covington’s motion and stated that he almost lost a spare bedroom in his home with redevelopment material he had accumulated.  Mr. Romero asked if the website update would have a significant cost to the Agency.

 

Executive Director Rosen stated she was consulting with Agency’s Information Technology staff because the Agency currently used the City’s server, which did not have the capacity for the voluminous Agency documents, but staff was looking at that in conjunction with the Agency’s office move where there may be new technology available.  Ms. Rosen stated that the Commissioners may not know, but the Agency’s Housing Division launched a separate website that was linked to the Agency’s website, to promote the Agency’s affordable housing program.  Ms. Rosen offered Commissioners who chose not to keep archives in their homes, that staff could easily provide them background information on any of the actions items before the Commission, and staff would be happy to do so.

 

Commissioner Romero stated he thought that the resolutions and meeting minutes were the most important things for the public to have access to, and although it would be good to have the Commission memoranda as well, that may be problematic.

 

ADOPTION:  IT WAS MOVED BY MS. COVINGTON, SECONDED BY MR. ROMERO, AND UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED (MS. BREED ABSENT) THAT ITEM 4 (l) RESOLUTION NO. 182-2005, ADOPTING AN AGENCY PUBLIC RECORDS POLICY REQUIRING THE AGENCY TO PROVIDE ENHANCED PUBLIC ACCESS TO RECORDS, BE ADOPTED.

 

[At this time, approximately 7:30 p.m., Commissioner Breed returned to the meeting.]

 

4 (m)    Workshop on the proposed Market-Octavia Neighborhood Plan; on proposed affordable housing development programs for Agency-owned Central Freeway parcels: G, K, O, Q, and U; and on a proposed amendment to the Western Addition A-2 Redevelopment Plan regarding conformance of certain land use controls with the Market-Octavia Plan; Citywide Tax Increment Housing Program and Western Addition A-2 Redevelopment Project Area

 

Presenters:  Kate Hartley (Agency staff), Ann Marie Rogers (Planning Dept.)

 

Commissioner Romero thanked staff for the presentation and stated it was good to see that a lot of affordable housing units would be built on the Central Freeway parcels.  Mr. Romero inquired about the traffic flow because he had experienced some delays when trying to get on the freeway lanes driving from the north on the side streets, where the signal lights did not seem synchronized.

 

Ms. Ann Marie Rogers from the Planning Department, stated that the Department of Parking and Traffic was still conducting traffic flow and signal studies to refine the timing and flow of traffic.  Ms. Rogers stated that she would inquire about the traffic signal timing, and informed that the Board of Supervisors was sponsoring a public hearing on November 2nd to hear the public’s comments about Octavia Boulevard.

 

Commissioner Covington thanked staff for the update, and inquired about the parcels that were not included in the workshop and requested an update.

 

Ms. Kate Hartley, Development Specialist, stated there were 15 parcels that the City owned, which the City’s Department of Real Estate and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development had been facilitating the pending sale of the parcels.  Ms. Hartley stated that the City did not want to sell the parcels yet until the Market-Octavia Plan could be adopted so that potential developers would know what could be built on the sites and the valuation of the properties could be appropriately determined.  All of the revenue generated from the sales of all 22 parcels would go to fund not only the boulevard, but also all of the ancillary transportation projects that were part of the Octavia Boulevard Replacement Program.  Ms. Hartley stated that if the Market-Octavia Plan was scheduled to be adopted in the spring of 2006, the market rate parcels would be sold shortly thereafter.

 

Commissioner Covington inquired about Parcel Q at the corner of Oak and Octavia, and stated that corner was a very busy corner especially with the freeway open, and asked for staff’s line of thinking on the proposed housing for the disabled on Parcel Q.

 

Ms. Hartley stated that in the Request for Proposals (RFP) for Parcel Q, developers were asked to specifically address the locational issue, and staff would await the responses.  Ms. Hartley stated that Parcel Q was particularly well-suited for a small development because the parcel was on 4,650 square feet, and the Agency wanted to fund it with a HUD 811 financing, which was funding specifically for disabled individuals.  Ms. Hartley stated that under the HUD 811 program, only 15 units could be built, 20 units with a waiver, so the site size lent itself to the type of small development beautifully.  Ms. Hartley stated that staff would be working very closely with the developer to institute design elements that deal with safety and they would be expected to work with the community and other City agencies like the Department of Public Works, MUNI, and the Department of Parking and Traffic to make sure that all possible safety elements related to traffic, pedestrian and wheelchair use would be incorporated.

 

Commissioner Covington stated she wanted to voice her concerns because all of the traffic would now be turning right into that corner, and it was hard to navigate for able-body people, and she was concerned with the prospective disabled folks that would live there.  Ms. Covington asked if there were any thoughts on uniformity of design for the proposed developments along Octavia Boulevard.

 

Ms. Hartley stated that the community had expressed their desire for a diversity in design within the larger framework articulated by the design guidelines of the Market-Octavia Plan.  Ms. Hartley stated the main reason for holding the design competition, which the Agency co-sponsored, was to generate really creative ideas and to essentially, identify a short list of architects who had thought through the Market-Octavia Plan, had considered the neighborhood and its context, and had come up with winning designs that included active streetscapes, including active commercial uses on the ground floor, in lieu of blank wall of parking garages.  Ms. Hartley stated that the Market-Octavia Plan set the parameters for the basic design, but within that framework, the community would like to see some creative diversity in design.

 

 

Commissioner Breed stated that she was a member of the Western Addition Citizens’ Advisory Committee when the Market-Octavia Plan was presented and recalled the discussion on the diversity issue, and also the discussion about concerns with where the senior housing would be located, and that she still had those concerns.  Ms. Breed stated she would like more information on how the traffic issues would be addressed, specifically how the seniors would be picked-up and the related traffic safety.

 

Ms. Hartley stated that for Parcel A, there was legislation pending that was authored by the Department of Public Works, that would create a pedestrian bulb-out at the corner of Turk and Gough Streets, in order to provide a safer pedestrian crossing.  Ms. Hartley stated that the Agency had also requested, and believed that it would be granted, a drop-off indentation on the sidewalk on Turk Street, so that vans and cars dropping off senior residents, could actually pull out of stream of traffic, drop off at a white and blue zone, and re-enter traffic without blocking cars driving on Turk Street.  Ms. Hartley stated staff believed that the pedestrian and vehicular safety were addressed, and hoped to bring similar elements to all of the developments to the extent feasible and available.

 

Commissioner Breed stated she wanted to echo Commissioner Romero’s concerns about the signal light at Octavia and Fell, that the timing was lengthy and asked staff to make inquiries.

 

Ms. Hartley stated that was why the hearing was being conducted because of, among other things, traffic signal timing.

 

Commissioner Breed inquired about Parcel G and asked what would happen to the mosaic public art on the parcel.

 

Ms. Hartley stated that in the RFP, developers were requested to make every effort possible to save and retain the mosaic, which was a beautiful piece of public art and was worth saving.  Ms. Hartley informed that staff would be bringing an informational memorandum on the RFP for Parcel G later in November.

 

Commissioner Breed stated that there was a lot of new affordable housing development projects going on in Western Addition, and that she had heard a number of complaints from residents about the outreach for the workshops and community meetings.  Ms. Breed stated that she knew that workshops had been conducted at the Northern Police Station, but she was hoping for a little extra outreach and having some of the workshops outside of the Northern Police Station to talk about some of the affordable housing opportunities, and to make sure that the Agency was using its best efforts to provide information to native Western Addition residents.  Ms. Breed shared that she had spoken to Mrs. Mary Rogers, who could not be at the meeting, but that the CAC would be making recommendations on the Central Freeway parcels developments.

 

 

 

5.      MATTERS NOT APPEARING ON THE AGENDA  None.

 

 

6.      PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE MEMBERS ON NON-AGENDA, BUT AGENCY RELATED MATTERS  None.

 

 

7.      REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT

 

  • President Peterson reported that earlier in the day, a number of Commissioners and staff were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Hotel St. Regis, a high-quality building with great architecture, and definitely a good addition to the Yerba Buena Center area.  Mr. Peterson commended and congratulated the Commissioners and staff who had worked on the project, which he heard was a tremendous undertaking for the Agency.

 

  • President Peterson stated that with respect to the Commission retreat, he was awaiting word from the Mayor’s office on his availability for three or four dates in January and February 2006.  Mr. Peterson stated that once the dates were made available, the Commissioners would be asked to select one and schedule the retreat.

 

 

8.      REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

 

  • Executive Director Rosen stated that as the Commissioners knew, one of the features of the Hotel St. Regis was the Museum of the African Diaspora, which would be celebrating its grand-opening at the end of November, with events already scheduled to begin on November 26th.  For more information, the public could call the Museum at (415) 358-7219 or visit their website, www.moadsf.org.

 

  • Ms. Rosen stated she had a sad announcement; staff had received word the day before that a recently retired, valued friend and colleague, former staff member Cheryl Towns, who retired last month, died suddenly in Texas where she was moving to be with family.  Ms. Rosen stated that everyone was still reeling from the sad news, and funeral services were pending in Texas.  There may also be a memorial services scheduled in San Francisco, and the Commission would be kept informed.  Ms. Rosen stated that in Ms. Towns’ modesty, she did not want a retirement resolution presented at the Commission, but staff would be bringing a resolution in her honor, for the Commission’s consideration at its November 15th meeting.  Ms. Rosen stated she would request that the Commission meeting of November 1st be adjourned in the memory of Ms. Cheryl Towns.

 

9.      COMMISSIONERS’ QUESTIONS AND MATTERS

 

  • Commissioner Romero stated she wanted to acknowledge Ms. Cheryl Towns, and recalled the wonderful welcome she gave him when he came to the Commission, and the sensitivity she displayed towards all of the Commissioners.  Mr. Romero stated that as an example, when Ms. Towns was cleaning out her office, she came across some old pictures, when he was first appointed to the Commission, and she went out of her way to make sure that he had copies.  Mr. Romero stated that she did not have to do that, and he was very touched and saddened with her passing.  Mr. Romero stated that Ms. Towns would be sorely missed.

 

  • Commissioner Breed stated that she had known Ms. Cheryl Towns for as long as she could remember, and that she went to her first baseball game with Ms. Towns and her mother and the late Gloria R. Davis, which the middle school was named after, and that Ms. Towns was a great person with a no-nonsense attitude, and spoke her mind.  Ms. Breed stated that she had spoken with Ms. Towns before she left for Texas and that she was like a mentor to her.  Ms. Breed stated that Ms. Towns was a considerate and straightforward person, and they shared many mutual friends, and her incredible sense of humor would be sorely missed.  Ms. Breed sent her condolences to Ms. Towns’ family and friends.

 

10.    CLOSED SESSION  None.

 

 

11.    ADJOURNMENT

 

It was moved by Ms. Covington, seconded by Mr. Romero, and unanimously carried that the meeting be adjourned.  The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.  The November 1, 2005 Commission meeting was adjourned in memory of Ms. Cheryl Towns.

 

 

                                                   Respectfully submitted,

 

 

                                                   Erwin R. Tanjuaquio

                                                   Agency Secretary

 

APPROVED: