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Meeting Information



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MINUTES

Thursday, February 9, 2006

6:00 P.M.

1800 Oakdale Avenue

San Francisco, CA 94124

 

1.0               Call to Order
Commission President Bobbrie Brown called the Thursday, February 9, 2006 meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. in the Alex L. Pitcher Community Room at 1800 Oakdale Avenue.

Commissioner Brown read the Sunshine Ordinance aloud.
 

             1.2            Roll Call

Commissioners Present: Brown; Fuentes; Jones; Kennedy, Parker, Sampson
Commissioners Excused: Person

Staff Present: Toye Moses, Executive Director; Annette Price, SECF Comm-Sect

 

             1.3                    Consent Calendar

(a)           RESOLUTION (SECFC-2005-49)Be it resolved that the minutes of the Southeast Community Facility Commission meeting of Wednesday, January 25, 2006 were approved as submitted.

2.0               PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment at this time.

3.0               COMMUNICATIONS:
Dir. Moses reported the following correspondence as having been sent/received: Correspondence to Mr. Nathaniel Ford, General Manager of MUNI re: Invitation to present re: Third Street Light Rail Project; Letter to Mr. Brian Fitzpatrick, Caltrain re: Homeless encampment; Letter to Mr. Louis Garrett, CSOS re: security issues.
 

4.0               PRESENTATIONS
Mr. Adam Gubser, Transportation Planner for Municipal Transportation Agency (MTA) reported: The Traffic Calming Program was established 5 or 6 years ago funded by sales tax to address some of the challenges San Franciscans expressed regarding neighborhood quality of life issues, i.e., reckless driving, pedestrian safety, etc. The process to apply to the program is as follows: 1) submission of application; 2) investigation of complaint; and 3) recommendation of traffic calming measure based on application.

Referring to a poster board display, Mr. Gubser explained that his department will conduct an area wide study east of 3rd Street from Evans down to Jamestown due to the number of applications submitted for that area. Each year MTA does two or three area wide projects in the City and approximately a dozen site-specific projects. Mr. Gubser explained projects are categorized into three types: a) site specific; b) area wide project; and c) corridor projects. Mr. Gubser reported one of his biggest challenges is outreach to community residents, given that there have been low turnouts at the two meetings MTA has held. For individuals who have concerns of traffic issues along 3rd Street due to the Third Street Light Rail project, Mr. Gubser gave the following contact information: Mr. Al Hersey, Traffic Engineering Division, (415) 701-4552.


Mr. Gubser explained that traffic calming projects are primarily performed within residential areas when there is concern of speeding, pedestrian safety, or reckless driving. There are several traffic calming measures used: a) speed humps, chokers (street narrowing), traffic circles, curb bulb-outs, and median islands. Mr. Gubser reported there is an outreach program being initiated by the health department for BVHP residents from Bayshore east relating to pedestrian safety and personal safety. That program will assist in identifying challenges and link residents to agencies that work with those specific issues.

Mr. Gubser concluded by making available applications and surveys to anyone who wished to have specific issues addressed on problem streets and/or intersections. Individuals wanting information about the Traffic Calming Program can call the hotline number at (415) 554-2398. The Traffic Calming website address is:
  livable.streets@sfgov.org.

Commissioner Brown asked whether particular attention has been given to schools. Mr. Gubser responded that measures have been taken to organize and improve pick-up/drop-off procedures, encourage/educate parents on pick-up/drop-off procedures, pedestrian measures, etc. Measures are tailored to whatever challenge is present. Commission Brown asked whether those measures are coordinated between MTA and the individual principal. Mr. Gubser responded in the affirmative.

Mr. Gubser also explained that within MTA’s planning division, the traffic engineering section has a school safety program manager as well as a school safety program educator who perform school surveys (funded by the state). In response to whether that information is routinely disseminated to the administrators of schools, Mr. Gubser explained in the event there is a grant application deadline, MTA will send information through the Weekly Administrative Directive (WAD), which is a packet of information developed by the school district that goes out to each school. 

Commissioner Jones expressed concern about the challenges Dr. George Washington Carver Elementary school faces when picking up and dropping off students. She questioned who would perform that training and where would that training take place. Mr. Gubser explained that that is one of the biggest challenges MTA faces; however for those parent groups who are organized, it makes distribution of information easier. There is also challenge when a turnover of new parents takes place within a 2- or 3-year period, which necessitates starting the process all over again.

Commissioner Fuentes asked what criterion is used in determining which streets get evaluated and whether there has been success with the current program. Mr. Gubser explained once the application process is complete and complaints are compiled/investigated, speed analysis is conducted and appropriate measures are initiated if warranted. Mr. Gubser continued that the program has had success in several locations including the Bernal Heights area.

Dir. Moses asked whether there would be a faster response if an application were submitted by a group of individuals versus one individual.  Mr. Gubser explained petitions are for site-specific locations. Although MTA will accept individual applications, when there is more than one individual involved it presents less of a challenge. Mr. Gubser explained because the program is citywide, the funding source allocates money based on projects that basically compete against themselves with the Transportation Authority approving and/or disapproving projects.

In referencing the traffic-calming circle that was installed near Whitney Young, Commissioner Sampson asked whether statistical data necessitated installing some type of measure to reduce speeds at the bottom of the hill near Newcomb & Newhall. Mr. Gubser explained he does not have information of those specific intersections as the Whitney Young, Cashmere, and LaSalle projects were completed by DPW prior to implementation of the traffic-calming program. Those particular circles installed cost approximately $150,000, whereas the less expensive circles cost about $45,000.

Commissioner Parker asked to what extent does the auto accident rate and pedestrian injury rate affect moving forward on these different common projects. Mr. Gubser reported all injury or high property damage crashes are reported, information is compiled and sent to the State, which comes back to MTA and location, is determined.

During public comment, Mr. Charlie Walker commented about prohibitive “no left turn signs” along the 3rd Street corridor and the traffic calming measures installed at Whitney Young Circle.  Mr. Gubser explained all traffic calming measures used are by state guidelines in terms of identifying marks. Mr. Cedric Jackson remarked that there is no city official to address the many automobile claims that have been submitted against the City because of damage caused by potholes in the Bayview. Mr. Herb Dang, SFPUC interjected that any claim against the City can be submitted to the City Attorney’s Office.

5.0                 SECFacility Committee Report & Recommendation:
Commissioner Willie Kennedy
reported the primary concern at the Earl P. Mills facility is the commingling of younger children from WYCDC with older children from JMAC. Commissioner Kennedy reported that during the Facility meeting, a tour of Whitney Young was conducted to familiarize everyone with the layout of the building.

Commissioner Kennedy reported the following terms were agreed: Ms. Gloria Hampton, Executive Director of JMAC and Ms. Karen Wing, Board President of Whitney Young Child Development Center will collaborate in the drafting of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which will propose that JMAC will vacate Building B and will occupy the west wing of Building C offices and restroom. There will be shared use of EPM auditorium and adjacent kitchen area during specifically scheduled times (except during scheduled community events). JMAC students shall enter EPM auditorium through the west-side door facing the parking lot. Access to courtyard will be prohibited until a fence is installed.

WYCDC shall occupy solely Buildings A and B.   JMAC & WYCDC shall share the use of EPM auditorium area during specifically scheduled times for before/after school care (except during scheduled community events). WYCDC latchkey students shall enter EPM from the west-side door facing the parking lot.

An MOU will be submitted to SECF Commission with copies to the Department of Social Services Community Licensing, S.F. Dept. of Youth, Children & Families, and the Mayor’s Office of Community Development. Once the MOU is signed and agreed upon by the appropriate agencies, i.e., Dept. of Children, Youth & Families, and the Dept. of Social Services, the SECFacility Commission will take action. The MOU will be incorporated in both tenant agreements. The City Attorney will review the MOU agreement and ultimately present it to the full Commission for approval. Whitney Young Child Development Center is on a provisional license until October 2006.

MOTION: Moved by Kennedy, seconded by Parker to accept Commissioner Kennedy’s report. Motion passed unanimously to accept report as presented (6-0).

  6.0            Director’s Report:
Dir. Moses reported that: Clean Water & General Fund budgets are still with the PUC but will be finalized soon. Senator Carole Migden will honor two BVHP residents, Ms. Doris Vincent and Ms. Toni Battle on February 23rd. Both Commissioner Person and Attorney Roddy met with Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to discuss Commission insurance benefits. Dir. Moses suggested that item be calendared at the next meeting, when Commissioner Person and Attorney Roddy are present.

MOTION: Moved by Jones, seconded by Parker to accept the Director’s Report. Motion passed unanimously to accept report as presented (6-0).

7.0               Introduction of New Business By Commissioners:
Commissioner Jones asked for an update regarding the underground wiring taking place in the BVHP district. Dir. Moses reminded that the application deadline was extended and a follow-up letter was sent to Matthew Franklin, Director of Housing; however, no response has been received.

Commissioner Sampson interjected that churches and businesses were excluded from any type of grant funding. Commissioner Fuentes informed that several people in his neighborhood have had problems getting selected contractors to come out and perform the work and have therefore had to return checks to the City. Fuentes further explained that his neighbors are now in the process of selecting another contractor. President Brown directed staff to again contact Mr. Franklin for follow up meeting.

Commissioner Fuentes asked for an update on Bayview police station Captain Albert Pardini’s presentation, in light of the many newspaper articles that have surfaced. Dir. Moses stated that since there has been no response from the Captain, staff will send a follow-up request to the Captain and copy Chief Fong.

Dir. Moses also suggested that the acting superintendent of schools, Ms. Gwen Chan be invited to present. Commissioner Brown directed staff to send a letter to Ms. Chan to discuss school curriculum among other things. President Brown was curious as to whether this new service in the Mission that provides health care to people without insurance would be available to all San Francisco residents. 

8.0               Public Comment:
There was no public comment at this time

9.0               Announcements:
Mr. Herb Dang, SFPUC announced that the PUC will hold an emergency preparedness fair on May 13th, which will be coordinated by Mr. Samuel Murray, SFPUC community liaison.

10.0               Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

         _____________________

Commission Secretary