Professional Documents
Culture Documents
041907'www Parks Sfgov Org'wcm recpark'RPC Minutes
041907'www Parks Sfgov Org'wcm recpark'RPC Minutes
ROLL CALL
Present
Gloria Bonilla
Tom Harrison
Jim Lazarus
Meagan Levitan
Larry Martin
President Martin announced that item 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 were removed from calendar. He also announced
that items 9 and 10 would be heard before item number 2.
In the ScrapeEden Project, neighborhood groups are responsible for providing volunteers and neighborhood
contacts for project communications. The artist is responsible for creating the artwork on schedule and
providing opportunities for neighborhood participation. The Black Rock Arts Foundation will take
responsibility for project communications, funding, liability insurance, permitting and outreach materials
and events.
Mayor Newsom spoke of the very successful partnership the City had with the Black Rock Arts Foundation
he hoped the Commission encourage. He stated that he believed very strongly in the need for more public
art in San Francisco. Mayor Newsom also commented on the fees proposed by the Department and the
work that still needed to be done. He stated that he looked forward to working with the Commission and
wanted look at some of these fees to reflect some of the concerns that existed. Colleen Flynn from the
Neighborhood Parks Council stated that they were in support of this project. She stated they had been
working with the Friends of Parque Ninos Unidos and the Mission Parents to implement this process. They
had also gone through an extensive process to make sure that vandalism, ongoing community support and
stewardship of the art piece were addressed.
On motion by Commissioner Levitan and duly seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted: RES. 0704-015
RESOLVED, That this Commission does approve a request from the Black Rock Arts Foundation for the
temporary placement of “Casa De La Imaginacion” (House of Imagination), a play structure created with
the students and the community’s input at 23rd and Folsom from May 21, 2007 through September 21,
2007.
JURI COMMONS
Staff Report
Artist Jennifer Alexander proposes “Sol Flor”, a series of six recycled sunflower mosaics. The mosaics
smooth surface will be formed using tail light reflectors, tile, and other found objects in a base primarily
filled with broken concrete, sited flush in the grass of Juri Commons. The mosaics will be produced and
installed on a rolling basis during the period specified in the Recreation and Park Department permit and
will de-install with the site returned to its original condition by the date specified in the permit.
This is a first time event at Juri Commons. However, the Black Rock Arts Foundation has placed other
temporary art installations in Recreation and Park facilities.
Colleen Flynn stated that the same process NPC had followed with the last group was also followed with
this group working with the Juri Commoners. Laura Gladstein with the Juri Commoners felt this was an
opportunity to create something quite beautiful. The Commoners were able to get five of the schools in the
neighborhood involved in recycling and the corner store had bins for collecting recycling goods for this
project. Mike Farrah stated that Jury Commons was his neighborhood park for a couple of years. He
complemented Byron the gardener at Jury Commons and stated that without him the volunteering would
not be possible. He asked the Commission to support this item.
On motion by Commissioner Bonilla and duly seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted: RES. NO. 0704-016
RESOLVED, That this Commission does approve a request from the Black Rock Arts Foundation for the
temporary placement of “Sol Flor”, a series of recycled mosaics located at San Jose, Guerrero and 25th from
May 21, 2007 through September 21, 2007.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
On behalf of the Recreation and Park Commission, President Martin presented Barbara Ross Tate with a
Certificate of Retirement.
CONSENT CALENDAR
On motion by Commissioner Harrison and duly seconded, the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted:
RES. NO. 0704-013
RESOLVED, That this Commission does approve the minutes of the March 15, 2007 Special Joint
Meeting.
RES. NO. 0704-014
RESOLVED, That this Commission does approve the following animal transactions for the San Francisco
Zoological Society which were processed under Resolution No. 13572.
DONATION FROM:
SF Animal Care & Control 0.0.1 Marine toad NIL
1200 15th St/
San Francisco, CA 94103
USDA – N/A
DONATION TO:
San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park 0.0.10 Black-tailed prairie dog NIL
15500 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027-7017
USDA # 93-C-0040
Pueblo Zoo 1.1.6 Black-tailed prairie dog NIL
3455 Nukolls Ave
Pueblo, C0 81005-1234
USDA # - 84-C-0007
However, it was Eureka Valley Recreation Center that was the most meaningful for Vincent Callan, Jr. A
native San Franciscan, he grew up laying here, having lived only two blocks away at 4038 – 19th Street in
Eureka Valley his entire life.
Mr. Callan’s brothers wrote: “Vinny loved everything about San Francisco – the people, the parks, the
neighborhoods, the restaurants, and of course the sports teams. His love for San Francisco is the reason he
decided to live his whole life in one of it greatest neighborhoods – it’s also the reason he chose a job in
which he could help take care of some of the most precious parks in San Francisco. He took pride in the
City and took pride in his job.”
In memory of Vincent Callan, Jr. and his love of and dedication to the City, the Callan family and friends
are proposing to install a bronze plaque in his memory. I approved, the family and friends are proposing to
install the bronze plaque in a planting area immediately north of the play area in a highly visible area at the
park’s main entrance.
“ In Memory of
Vinny Callan, Jr. (1947-2002)
Dedicated Gardener
4th Generation Son of Eureka Valley
A True San Franciscan”
The proposal is in conformance to the Recreation and Park Commission Gift Policy ( Resolution No.
15586, amended by Res. Nos. 9716-230 and 0103-042), which states:
Any revision or modifications to the plaque design and wording would be subject to approval by the
Recreation and Park Department.
Mike Callan spoke fondly of his brother Vinny growing up in the family home at 19th and Hartford and
Vinny’s 30 years he spent as a gardener. He commented that of all the parks, Eureka Valley Receration
Center was closest to his heart. He believed this was a fitting place for a memorial to Vinny. On behalf of
the family and friends of Vinny Callan he thanked the Recreation and Park Commission and its staff for
considering this memorial.
On motion by Commissioner Harrison and duly seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted: RES. NO. 0704-017
RESOLVED, That this Commission does approve the placement of a bronze plaque in memory of the
late Vincent Callan, Jr. at Eureka Valley Recreation Center
PUBLIC COMMENT
Ernestine Weiss discussed the C+ rating that the Department had received, asked what was accomplished at
the Budget and Finance Committee and whether the Department had asked for a full compliment of
gardeners and park patrol. Patrick Skain with the Pine Lake Park Neighborhood Association stated that at
this point the contractors were beginning to hydro-seed the meadow and the Association was very
concerned that activities may be planned for the park, which may not allow for that hydro seeding to
actually establish itself. The concerns he had were: 1) the day camp, 2) parking on this area during the
Stern Grove concerts and 3) lack of signage. Andrea O’Leary discussed problems and frustrations with the
Department around a community meeting that the Sunnyside Park Families and Neighbors sponsored.
Doris Vincent stated that she was elected to the project area committee for Joseph Lee and they had been
doing planning around Joseph Lee and the Opera House. The beautiful mural on Joseph Lee had begun to
peal and she requested that the Department find money to allow Mr. Crumple to restore the mural.
On motion by Commissioner Harrison and duly seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted; RES. NO. 0704-018
RESOLVED, That this Commission votes not to disclose any or all discussions held in closed session.
(San Francisco Administrative Code Section 67.12 (a)).
In December 2006 the 49ers, the Mayor’s Office and Recreation and Park Department staff began to meet
once again to discuss deferred maintenance issues at the stadium. In January 2007 the 49ers filed a
government claim with the City alleging that the City is in breach of the Stadium Lease because of: 1) the
‘City’s failure to maintain the stadium and 2) the City’s failure to provide a rent reduction equal to any
amount by which the stadium admissions tax exceeds $1.50 per admission except to the extent that the
excess tax is dedicated to the “schools sports tax.” The City denied this claim.
Despite the claim filed by the 49ers, Mayor’s Office staff and Recreation and Park Department staff
continued to negotiate with the team to reach mutual agreement on a proposal addressing a list of repairs
and other maintenance items at Monster Park. Under the proposed rent credit agreement, the 49ers agree to
withdraw their claim against the City and will also perform $10.3 million of specified work at the stadium.
To pay for the work, the City will grant the 49ers $10.3 million in rent credits.
The 49ers intend to begin the repairs on the stadium as soon as possible and hope to complete the majority
before the start of the fall football season. Repairs to the stadium escalators are likely to require a longer
timeframe than the rest of the items on the list. The $10.3 million in rent credits will be allocation in the
following manner: $4.2 million of credit will be granted to the 49ers against current year revenue, reducing
the amount of revenue generated by the stadium in 2006-2007. The remaining $6.1 million, plus interest,
will be granted to the team over three years starting in the 2008-2009 fiscal year. A copy of the proposed
agreement is attached.
On motion by Commissioner Lazarus and duly seconded, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted: RES. NO. 0704-020
RESOLVED, That this Commission does authorized a settlement and agreement, subject to the approval
of the Board of Supervisors, between the City and County of San Francisco, acting by and through the
Recreation and Park Commission, and the San Francisco Forty Niners, Ltd. (the "49ers") to allow for a rent
credit to the 49ers in the amount of $10,310,000 plus interest for certain repairs and improvements to be
performed by the 49ers at Monster Park
Candlestick Point
• In June 1997, the voters approved Propositions D and F. Proposition D authorized the City to
issue lease revenue bonds to help pay for the construction of a new stadium for the San Francisco
49ers. Proposition F authorized a number of land uses on the site, including a new stadium for the
49ers, an entertainment retail mall and other conditional uses, including residential uses, subject to
the approval of the City’s Planning Commission.
• In November 2005, the 49ers determined that the previous stadium/mall concept was no longer
feasible and terminated their exclusive negotiating agreement with Mills Corporation. The 49ers
then selected Lennar Corporation as their new developer partner and began exploring the
feasibility of a dense, mixed-use residential and stadium development at Candlestick Point, in
cooperation with the Mayor’s Office.
• In May 2006, the Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment to the Hunters Point
Redevelopment Plan, creating the Bayview Hunters Point Redevelopment Project Area, which
includes Candlestick Point. The current Monster Park site is a part of the “Candlestick Point
Node” identified in the Bayview Hunters Point Redevelopment Plan.
• In November 2006, the 49ers announced that they no longer believed that a mixed-use
stadium/residential project on Candlestick Point was feasible and that they would shift their efforts
to developing a new stadium in Santa Clara.
• In November 2006, in response to the 49ers’ announcement, the Board of Supervisors called for a
hearing on the basic concepts underlying the Candlestick Point-only stadium mixed use
development plan. At the hearing on November 21, 2006, the 49ers stated that Candlestick Point
would not work for the 49ers as the site of a new stadium for three primary reasons: (i) the site
was too dense; specifically because it would require what the 49ers thought would be too large of
a parking garage for their fans and not enough tailgating opportunities, and because of potential
construction impacts at the site on existing operations at Monster Park, (ii) uncertainty about
funding the transportation improvements needed for the project and (iii) uncertainty about the
local and state entitlement process.
Following the 49ers’ announcement in November 2006, the Mayor and City and Agency staff, working in
cooperation with Lennar, began work on developing a new preliminary plan that includes both Candlestick
Point and the Hunters Point Shipyard to address the 49ers stated concerns while honoring the City’s core
requirements of fiscal prudence and keeping long standing promises to the City and the Bayview Hunters
Point community in particular about the revitalization of both of these sites. The Mayor outlined the new
integrated development plan with the potential for a new stadium at the Shipyard in correspondence to the
49ers in December 2006 and January 2007, which is attached as part of the Board of Supervisors resolution
described below.
In February 2007, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution, Res. No. 59-07 (“Board Resolution”),
which is attached to this memo, endorsing the efforts of Lennar, working in cooperation with the City and
Agency staff, to generate a new integrated plan for a mixed-use development on Candlestick Point and
Hunters Point Shipyard. Both the Mayor’s recent correspondence to the 49ers and the Board Resolution
provide for the possibility of a new 49ers stadium at the Shipyard but contemplate the creation of an
integrated project, with public benefits like parks and open space, jobs, and affordable housing that may
proceed whether or not the 49ers decide to build a stadium at the Shipyard.
The Board Resolution also urges the Agency to work with the City, including the Recreation and Park
Department, to amend its existing exclusive negotiations agreement (“ENA”) with Lennar for Phase 2 of
the Shipyard, which includes Parcels A-3 and B-E of the Shipyard to combine Candlestick Point, which
includes the Recreation and Park Property, and the Hunters Point Shipyard into a single, combined
redevelopment project. The amended ENA, if agreed upon, will not grant Lennar any actual development
rights or rights to City property. Rather, the amended ENA will provide a framework for the City and
Lennar to advance specific planning efforts for the project. Any final development agreements will be
subject to separate approval by many City and state agencies, including the Recreation and Park
Commission, each in their sole discretion, after environmental review under CEQA and significant
community review and participation, which is estimated to take approximately two years.
The Commission’s consideration and possible action to approve the proposed MOU and authorize the
inclusion of the Recreation and Park Property for planning purposes is necessary first step to allow the City
to begin the planning process for these two areas in order to deliver the City’s long promised public
benefits of affordable housing, jobs, and open space areas to the Bayview Hunters Point community.
Pros
The proposed MOU provides for coordinated City and Agency planning of the Candlestick Point and
Shipyard redevelopment areas and provides for the reimbursement of City costs, including the Recreation
and Park Department’s costs associated with planning the integrated development site. Moreover, any
future use of the Recreation and Park Property will require review and approval by the Recreation and Park
Commission.
Cons None.
Clarence Spears stated that he was overjoyed about the project and backed it one hundred percent.
Franklin D. Ross stated that he wanted to see the program go forward but also leave avenues for the
children and the young adults growing up in the neighborhood to benefit from jobs that could develop from
the projects. LaRonda Smith commented on the lack of affordable housing in the City and hoped that if the
project is accepted all parts would be integrated and that children growing up in the neighborhood might
be able to afford housing. She stated that she was very excited about the whole project. Brian O’Flynn
urged the Commission not to support this project as he did not believe it was in the public interest. He
believed that if redevelopment moved into the neighborhood it would end up displacing the local
community and the type of development promoted would be a corporate subsidy to very large mega-
developers. Doris Vincent a member of the Pack Project Area Committee and the Mayor’s Shipyard CAC,
believed that the project would enhance the 10 years of work that have been done. She asked the
Commission to adopt the plan and stated that it was the best thing that would happen for this area and for
the City. Emeric Kalman asked if the Marin or the Ferry Terminal were considered for these plans.
On motion by Commissioner Levitan and duly seconded, the following resolution was
unanimously adopted; RES. NO. 0704-019
WHEREAS, the Recreation and Park Commission has administrative jurisdiction on behalf of the City
over approximately 77 acres of property currently leased to the 49ers (the “RecPark Property”). Over the
last ten years, planning for the development of Candlestick Point, which includes the RecPark Property,
and the redevelopment of Hunters Point Shipyard (the “Shipyard”), has proceeded on largely separate,
albeit parallel paths; and,
WHEREAS, the City has been working with the 49ers and their development team on a potential new NFL
football stadium and a related mixed-use development on the RecPark Property, but in November 2006, the
49ers announced that they no longer believed that a mixed-use stadium project on Candlestick Point was
feasible and that they would shift their efforts to developing a new stadium in Santa Clara; and,
WHEREAS, following the 49ers’ announcement, the Mayor and City and San Francisco Redevelopment
Agency (“Agency”) staff, working in cooperation with Lennar, began work on developing a new
preliminary plan that includes both Candlestick Point and the Shipyard to address the 49ers stated concerns
while honoring the City’s core requirements and goals for the potential revitalization of both of these sites.
The Mayor outlined a new preliminary development plan with the potential for a new stadium site at the
Shipyard in correspondence to the 49ers in December 2006 and January 2007; and,
WHEREAS, in February 2007, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution, Res. No. 59-07 (“Board
Resolution”), endorsing the efforts of Lennar, working in cooperation with the City and Agency staff, to
generate a new integrated plan for a mixed-use development on Candlestick Point and the Shipyard. Both
the Mayor’s correspondence to the 49ers and the Board Resolution provide for the possibility of a new
49ers stadium at the Shipyard, but contemplate the creation of an integrated mixed-use project, with public
benefits like parks and open space, jobs, and affordable housing that may proceed whether or not the 49ers
decide to build a stadium at the Shipyard; and,
WHEREAS, the Board Resolution also urges the Agency to work with the City, including the Recreation
and Park Department, to amend the Agency's existing exclusive negotiations agreement (“ENA”) with
Lennar for Phase 2 of the Shipyard to add Candlestick Point, which includes the RecPark property, and
thereby create a single, combined redevelopment project for planning purposes; and,
WHEREAS, any final development agreements relating to the integrated project will be subject to separate
approval by many City and state agencies, including the Recreation and Park Commission, each in their
sole discretion, after environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act and significant
community review and participation, which is estimated to take approximately two years; and,
WHEREAS, to implement the Board Resolution, Agency and City staff, including the Recreation and Park
Department, the Planning Department, and the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development,
prepared a Memorandum of Understanding, a copy of which is contained in the files of the Recreation and
Park Department (the “MOU”). The MOU provides for the City and the Agency to cooperate with one
another to facilitate the planning of Candlestick Point and Phase 2 of the Shipyard as one integrated mixed-
use development project. The MOU also provides for the Agency to serve as the City’s fiscal agent to seek
reimbursement of the City’s costs from Lennar, including Recreation and Park Department staff costs; and,
WHEREAS, the Commission’s approval of the MOU and authorization to include the RecPark Property
for planning purposes is a necessary first step to allow the City to begin the planning process for these two
areas in order to deliver the City’s long promised public benefits of affordable housing, jobs, and open
space areas to the Bayview Hunters Point community; now therefore be it,
RESOLVED, that the Recreation and Park Commission approves the MOU, in substantially the form
attached to the Recreation and Park Department’s staff report, and authorizes the execution and
performance of the MOU by RecPark staff; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Recreation and Park Commission requests and authorizes the Agency
to amend the Agency's ENA to include the RecPark Property as part of the integrated project for planning
purposes and otherwise as consistent with the intent of this resolution; provided, any future use or
disposition of the RecPark Property will be subject to the review and approval of the Recreation and Park
Commission, and other applicable City and state agencies, after environmental review under the California
Environmental Quality Act; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that any and all actions taken consistent with this resolution are hereby ratified,
confirmed and approved.
COMMISSIONERS’ MATTERS
Commissioner Lazarus requested the following: 1) a detailed report on the JFK Drive situation and the
obligations of the Department and 2) that staff look at the issue of related to golf course tournaments
specifically family tournaments .
Margaret A. McArthur
Commission Liaison