October 13, 2011
Glen Park Association
Fall Quarterly Meeting
7 p.m.
President Michael Rice opens. Treasurer not here, but finances are good. GPA is looking for neighborhood grant proposals to fund.
VP Carolyn Deacy says there are flyers about next park planning meetings process.
SF Safe is having a run on October 30.
Membership’s Sally Ross says there’s a greening group that will be planting on Monterey medians from the freeway through the Sunnyside village. They don’t want weed cloth. It’s been shoveled up, in the medians, waiting to be pulled up if you want it.
Planning Update, John Swae
What about the BART lot? BART hasn’t determined any plans, so the GP plan leaves that lot as it is. If BART wants to change it, they will have to come forward and do their own community process.
Any change in this plan since July? Height restrictions changed. They went from 40 feet down to 30 feet in the core downtown area of Glen Park.
What about the garages by Osha Thai? OT will be re-zoned for commercial.
After plan is approved, what are the next steps? At the back of the document is a list of the plans the city would start on once the plan is adopted: pedestrian improvements at Diamond and Bosworth, Arlington and Bosworth.
Daylighting Islais? We’ve heard a lot of concerns about daylighting the creek: flooding, erosion, pest control and maintenance. But there’s very little what we know about what that would look like, so plan calls for further study. That would then be debated after study.
There was a suggestion to reduce Boswoth to one lane heading toward Elk. We asked MTA to address that. They would have to look into that further. Can be looked at once the plan is adopted.
Merchants
Ric Lopez announces we have one more month left for Farmer’s Market. Then we’ll re assess its feasibility for the spring. Go on Facebook and join us because we do have events coming up at the end.
New sushi restaurant coming in.
Merchants Association will probably have some holiday events, and we’ll post them on a bulletin board.
The Cheese Boutique building is for sale, but there is a possibility that Rick will move out. Two units, Rick is on the bottom.
No on both C and D, Gerri Meister
(GPA has no formal position on these election matters.)
Geri Meister, representing a group called Protect our Benefits, a group of retirees from the city, the school district, community college district and courts system. We’re part of the Health Service System (107,000 members, retired and working employees and their families).
We are opposed to C not b/c of pension but the health services. Why? The change sounds small: all they are doing is changing who elects the board. Board makes recommendations on benefits plans, board makes final approval.
For many years HSS was a pot of gold for some in the city. There was a lot of political interference with the money situation during the Brown administration. She thinks there was political influence on that decision making process.
Before it was very badly managed, there was a lot of political influence prior to 2004. The prop then changed composition of the board. The board was able to choose the director (previously appointed by mayor) “It became much more autonomous and pretty nearly immune from political influence, and I would like to see it stay that way.”
C calls to return the make-up of the board from four elected by HSS and three appointed by mayor, board and controller to four appointed and three elected.
We like the way the governance system is set up, and we’re very sorry that the C group that has billed itself as the consensus group. They didn’t bring in the retirees.
SF GoSolar reiumbursement program
Jed Andrews, solar engineer in charge of SF’s city solar installations.
Angela Betine
There are different types of solar deals: solar leases, power purchase agreements. One Block off the Grid: pooling the resources of a neighborhood. There is also this city rebate program for your own solar installation.
We manage the GoSolar SF program, an incentive program, started our fourth year of this program in July. Since 2004, this program has made 1500 installations, spent $12.5 million.
The city wants to encourage the installation of solar power system. When considering solar, reduce your energy load as much as possible first. (Also check the shade situation, zoning situation to learn if a huge building could go up to your south.)
City offers money toward your installation: $2k to $3750, another $7k for low income (below median income). $2k is base incentive. Add on $750 if your installer is headquartered in SF. $3k base incentive (rather than $2k) if you live in Energy Justice District: 94107, 94124.
Two step process. Choose an installer, get a few bids. We have about seven participating installers betted by city and required to hire two disadvantaged SFans. Installer helps apply. We review and approve app. Funding is reserved for you for nine months. When project is completed. Installer helps you submit more paperwork. Check then comes within 30 days.
Also a state program, installer can help you apply for: California Solar Initiative. ($350 per kilowatt rebate)
There’s also a federal tax credit the year following your installation. Right now it’s 30 percent of project cost minus state incentive. (SF rebate is taxable.)
Income cap on federal rebate? No.
If you produce extra energy do you get credit? No, not at this time. PGE says it’s difficult for them to accommodate the flow of power back in their system b/c of protection systems. Would cost a ton of money. (Odd, though, b/c they already take energy back into their system.)
What happens when you have to have your roof redone?
The idea is that you would put an installation on a fairly new roof. Installer will help you analyze that. B/c you do have to take the panels down and reinstall them if your roof is re-done.
What is range of installation cost in SF? Average in SF going through our program has been 2.2 Kilowats. Average size. $8k a kilowatt. 2.2 should operate an average single family home.
What is a break-even period of time? Don’t know. Maybe 10 to 12 years, depending on factors that could easily change. Life of system is 20 or 25 years. Engineer does think they’ll last longer than that.
Prop C and D, competing pension reform measures
C person is not here. So here’s what SPUR says:
Prop C addresses many of the unfunded benefits and costs. $1.29 billion savings over 2 years. Created by consensus-based process best to avoid future litigation. (City staff, business , labor and nonprofit communities took part.) Reconfiguration of HSS board could yield long-term structural savings. “Although C does not save as much as D, we believe this proposal is more comprehensive b/c it addresses more aspects of the problem including retiree health care.”
Craig Weber
Chairperson for civil grand jury that was responsible for issuing first pension report in July 2009. July 2010 report “Pension Tsunami: Billion Dollar Bubble” Was used to craft Prop B (unsuccessful) and D (coming up).
There’s very little transparency and accountability in system.
D was crafted with 2010’s B in mind: B’s failure showed that SF voters don’t approve of changes in health benefits for city workers, so D focuses on pension.
(HSS committee: Retired city workers had control over that committee for many years. Elsbernd wanted to shift swing vote to controller. When you put a finance guy in that role, you can expect that health premiums will increase for retired city workers and services will be reduced.)
Pension fund declined about 30 percent by recession of 2008.
City workers fall into two categories: SEIU and safety. Latter are more costly (higher salaries). They will pay a higher rate for their pensions.
Prop D will increase city worker contributions rate. There are tables and rates. Prop D provides graduated progressive increase in city workers contribution rates based on salary. Exempts anyone earning less than $50k. Each $10k over that, there’s a percentage rate increase in rates.
Prop D has higher rates. 58 percent of SF workers earn 90k or more. Rate under prop D for misc employees, 20 percent city contribution rate, they will pay 12.5 percent. (Under C, same worker pays 10 percent. Right now pay 7.5 percent since July of this year.)
When Prop C folks talk about increasing city workers rate, they table they provide shows a give-back to city workers if city contribution rate falls to 10 percent. Prop D doesn’t have that b/c the very viability of retirement system is at stake.
Opposition will say C had consensus and D will not pass legal scrutiny. D was crafted by a former city attorney.
Hellman met with every union in SF to craft C. There were no tax payers or retired employees who participated in those meetings.
Adachi was not invited. 115,000 voted yes on B in 2010. They weren’t represented in these meetings.
If you look at C, first three pages are readable, talking about serious problem. But the measure is 265 pages. It’s totally incomprehensible. Will be challenged by someone in court, just as D will be challenged. That’s the way things work in SF.
Would D affect Board and Mayor? Yes.
Meeting adjourned.
Glen Park Association meetingJuly 13, 2011 7 p.m.
Sunnyside Conservatory
Police Capt. Dan Mahoney
Supervisor Scott Wiener
Supervisor Sean Elsbernd
Rec and Park Karen Mauney-Brodek
One more??
Jon Swae and John ???
Capt. Mahoney
When we have a change in top command, you’re going to see changes at the lower level, district station commands. I know that can be frustrating. I was the other finalist for the chief’s job, but losing out to Greg is fine. We rode in the same car in the early 1980s. We’re both big on community policing.
Previously commander of office of chief of staff: ran legal division, division of professional standards, media relations, community relations. Worked risk management, administration, lieutenant of special investigations. Was a lieutenant here in Ingleside before going back downtown in 2001. Now, ten years later, I see a lot of the former officers still at Ingleside, which is a sign of a happy district.
Contact info
Phone number: 415/404-4030
Challenges: an uptick in robberies, including near the Glen Park BART station. A lot of people leaving the BART station (Chenery and Thor seem to be hot spots right now), groups of people drive around targeting, apparently, lone people walking the streets, usually with an I-phone, I-pad, laptop. They’re looking for headphones. Robbers are coming here in vehicles, but we’re also focusing on major arteries up to Diamond Heights or out to Sunnydale. Be alert, and try to walk with someone. I’ve seen very few robberies if any where there were two victims.
Recently two more violent robberies: one on ?? street and one on Chenery. In both cases the victims resisted. In first, the woman was dragged into the street and had her shoulder dislocated. The man was pistol whipped. We know who the person is, he’s on parole, we’ve contacted his parole officer. Second suspect is a juvenile. A witness to the first robbery gave a description of the car, so officers saw the car when responding to Chenery robbery.
We could not have made that case—could not have known that was the car—without that witness description.
Here’s a tool that could thwart robbers: Mission robbery, phone taken but phone had the free GPS app (Mobile Me) that led police straight to the suspect. Arrested two suspects, all the property came back.
Uptick in locks being tampered with.
Targeted enforcement: increase in visible patrol starting with early day watch (some robberies at 8 a.m.), staggered hours for plainclothes crew. Every Wednesday have a team of eight, then fewer on other days. He’s putting out decoys coming out of the BART train with Ipads, putting GPS devices in decoy (?) cars. We’ve accelerated that.
If you dial 911 on your cell phone it goes to CHP center in Vallejo
Call 553-8090 instead.
Q: What about Joost?
A: It’s the profile of the victim more than the location: Walk briskly on lit streets, have nothing showing, you see an odd car, don’t be afraid to call police or knock on a door.
Q: What about the guy with the assault rifle down by Safeway
A: I think he’s in jail. He’s been charged.
I have a daily report. I am putting up updates on staffing, alerts, tips on our website www.inglesidepolicestation.com
He’ll have National Night Out celebration at the new bocce ball court WHERE? Tuesday, Aug 2, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Mayor Lee, Chief Suhr, mayoral candidates.
Q: We’ve lost a lot of parking. We can’t find a place in the street to park. We’ve gotten tickets in our driveways.
A: Look at citation: SFPD or DPT. His own officers aren’t actually good at doing that well on parking tickets. We have a liaison with MTA to see what’s going on. Maybe someone is complaining.
Q: What about people carrying pepper spray?
A: As long as it’s legal. You have to have gone to a class and be certified.
Q: People are pilfering recyclables. But he’s had two big trash bags disappear. Next week, one had been opened and most contents spilled on sidewalk. Have you heard anything about identity thieves?
A: That’s one of the ways they get their info, but I’ve heard very little about garbage theft.
Q: Is there still foot patrol in GP Village?
A: I have not seen one since I’ve been here. I know the last captain pulled the foot patrol off Courtland. Patrols are mostly on Leland, Mission streets. I am looking at the bicycle units.
Scott Wiener
Mahoney is an exceptional officer. City hall update:
I’ve been in regular contact with captain, but when these robberies happen please let me know and I’ll being in touch with the station.
I was on the budget committee, we passed a balanced budget out of committee and we’ll approve that next week.
$600k had been proposed to be cut form DPW for street tree maintenance, and more of the responsibility for trees going to property owners. I was able to get half of the cut restored. We are so short on what we need to maintain street trees. Also, RecPark has this problem. In Duboce park, two large trees fell over. Women killed in Stern Grove. I’m also working to develop a sustainable funding stream for trees.
We were also able to add back a police academy class.
Also have a charter amendment to reform ballot measure system, which in my view is broken. This will be a small first step. Ballot measures can only be changed by new ballot measures at present.
I’m also coming up with regulations for commercial dog walkers using city parks. Working with animal care and control, recpark and some of the dog walking organizations.
I have a monthly newsletter in which I give updates on what I’m doing it and what’s going on in the district. Call or email us to get on the list.
Q: AT&T boxes. Why are you trying to stop it?
A: I’m not trying to stop it. 726 boxes. People who want the product vs. people with concerns about the utility boxes being graffiti magnets, etc. Board had a hearing, at my request we’ve postponed it several times b/c support at the board is tenuous for it. It is my belief that on both times it came before the board, AT&T would have lost. That’s why I’ve delayed it. By continuing it, we’ve allowed for an opportunity to work out a resolution where the technology comes to the city. Scheduled for a vote next Tuesday. Seems to me that we can work out a solution that everyone can live with. AT&T has been working hard to come up with solutions to put money toward streetscaping, etc.
Q: Why do we have to have all these different boxes—can’t they be combined?
A: With cell phones, the FCC allowed different technologies and screwed up cell industry in this country. In terms of other types of utilities, we’ve very limited by the state as to what we can do.
Q: How are smart meters read?
A: It’s Wifi technology, and there is a way to opt out.
A: Parking issue. Cars in driveway encroaching slightly into sidewalk are ticketed. This is ticketable under state law.
Supervisor Sean Elsbrnd
Two big things I’ve been spending calendar year on.
1. Pension reform charter plan in front of board next week, then ballot in Nov. Six months of working together, will generate tens of thousands dollars annually without knocking city employees. He would be happy to talk about it at neighborhood group’s etc. The legislation is 265? pages long, so very complicated.
Shepherding the redevelopment of Park Merced. Property has 3,200 units of housing now. Over next 20 to 25 years, plan is to demolish half and build 8,000 units. Right now there’s no neighborhood-serving retail. Over next 20 years would look totally different: better public transportation (M would circle in), increased affordable ownership and rental properties, creation of 35,000 jobs for construction, 2,500 permanent when completed, pump nearly $2 billion into SF economy. General fund will see a net growth of $30 million. Approved by board, might go onto Nov ballot. If we’re ever going to do anything about transit in SW corner, we need something like this.
To get city approvals, the developer needed to make concessions for transit changes. Owner of entire property has agreed to increase its own property tax and dedicate it to transit in the area, in perpetuity. Then the reassessment alone will generate tens of thousands annually for city general fund.
Q: The garden courts will be demolished. Not one of those tenants will be displaced until a new unit is built and ready to be occupied. Guaranteed same number of bedrooms, same rent, new amenities. It’s not going to be fun to live in a construction zone of next 20 years. And if you’ve lived there for a long time, it’s hard to leave your home, but I think we’ve addressed this as much as we can.
There will be new high rises but nothing taller than is there now. Most of the two-story become four- and six-story units.
A: Sole issue at board over Park Merced (board vote 6-5) was human element.
A: It ends up as a ballot measure b/c opponents got 18k signatures (need 14k)
A: Board pension vs. Adachi’s pension plan. Our measure is both pension and healthcare. His proposal only deals with pension. He says his measure saves more money. Ours is legal. We don’t believe his will stand up to legal scrutiny. Ours has been signed off by city atty.
Email him: Sean.elsbernd@sfgov.org. He’ll send you the chart he’s done. As this campaign heats up, there will be plenty of comparison pieces.
GPA Business
Loss of firemen in June, fire on Berkeley Way. We lost Officers Vincent Perez and Anthony Valerio (sp?) Board very quickly set up a matching fund for donations. We said we would match up to $500. We’ve raised over $700 so far. Board took a further action to raise this match to $1,000.
[Text of Resolution needed]
moved by Ashley’s husband [name needed]
seconded by Carolyn
All say aye.
Karen Mauney-Brodek and XX
Glen Park Canyon Plan
Tried to focus the $5.8 million allotted bond money on recreational facilities. At the same time, tried to plan for larger projects that will hopefully get funding in the future. We identified first set of improvements: new tennis court, doubled play area, new entrance, basic improvements to rec center, including ADA accessible restrooms that are available even when rec center was closed, minor improvements to gym foundation. Then about $20 to $30 million additional on rec center, ballfields that we’d like to fund over time. Might be able to find additional funding from PUC. Lots of information on RecPark website.
Also a trails improvement plan.
Next step: going to rec commission to accept “gift” of plans, then come back to community this fall and talk more details (Two slides or more? What kind of climbing structure? Etc.)
Q: You should document tree removal.
A: Eucalyptus will be going, Monterey Cypress aren’t scheduled to go, but many have [??] Cankor and might need to go down. New, more appropriate trees (less droppage) would be planted.
Glen Park Community Plan
Schedule
September: they’ll have comments on the comments
Oct 20 EIR certification and plan adoption. Involves hearings before planning commission, land use committee of board of supervisors, then vote of full board.
Ric Lopez, Glen Park Merchants Association
CUP is opening for business: 6 Monterey
Bernie Kelley: a car ran into the building on the Bosworth side. A tree fell on Chenery.
Eggettes: the franchise itself changed. Same owners, but now it’s run by Rocket Swirl. Added gelato, took out the eggettes. Modern Past, Destination Bakery and Chenery Park Restaurant are celebrating 11 years of business.
