Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

October 18, 2007

At 117 Greenwich Street

The meeting began at 6:00 pm and was called to order by President Fred Allardyce.

Board members in attendance in addition to President Allardyce were, Debra Bleemer, Carol Parlette, Lee Radner, Bill Sauro, Bill Benkavitch, Felix Rodriquez, Linda Schwartz, Morton Beebe and Safety Committee Chairman Maria Matson. 

Board members who were absent:  Diana Taylor, Joe Wyman and Member-In-Waiting Jonathan Middlebrook.

1. The minutes of the last meeting on September 20, 2007 were approved as amended by unanimous vote.

2. Treasurers Report by Parlette was presented and she indicated that there was very little financial activity since the last meeting.

3. Committee Reports:

A. Sea Wall Lot SB 815 – Radner reported that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 815 on Saturday, October 13, 2007. The bill as amended would keep the Seawall Lots north of the Ferry Building in the Public Trust category, making development more difficult. Radner also noted that in working with Senator Carol Migden regarding SB815, FOGG underwrote the cost of legal services for the coalition group (BCNA, Telegraph Hill Dwellers and San Francisco Tomorrow), and would be undertaking a fund-raising program to raise money for additional legal efforts.

B. 8 Washington Street Condominium – Radner also discussed the public forums being held by Pacific Waterfront Partners. He indicated that little had changed since the last meeting and his Friends of Golden Gateway (“FOGG”) organization would continue their effort to make permanent the San Francisco Board of Supervisor’s Resolution requiring replacement of recreational facilities on a one-to-one basis when a property is developed, or face a conditional use hearing. Radner also stated that his “alternative” development plan, which would keep 100% of the Golden Gate Tennis and Swim Club in place, was continuing to be refined.

C. Other – The concept of a Community Benefit District (“CBD”) was discussed, in light of the fact that the North Beach/Broadway area was moving forward in developing a CBD.

Safety Committee Chair Matson reported that there was ongoing communications between MTA and the committee regarding BCNA's concerns over pedestrian safety in the neighborhood, specifically, traffic flow on Battery Street.

The proposed Pier 27-31 cruise ship terminal was discussed, including the fact that it appeared to being fast-tracked by the Port. BCNA Committee Members would be attending a THD meeting concerning the impact of this development on the immediate neighborhood.

4. Existing & New Committee Activities for 2007

A. Membership Committee – Sauro presented a report offering membership concepts including the idea of creating two classes of Association membership. The Board approved expenditures for postage for seeking renewals of current voting members for 2008. To increase membership, the following concepts were discussed:

1. Newsletter Mailings with strongly-worded coupon and reference to on-line PayPal membership option.

2. Bi-Monthly Social Events, as proposed by Jan Holloway in her report recently emailed to Board members.

3. Direct-mail solicitations.

4. Another “door-to-door” door-step drop distribution in the Golden Gateway Apartments.

B. Newsletter Committee – Allardyce proposed retaining a writer, June Osterberg, to create regular newsletters for the Association. She would initially be paid by Allardyce, but he would be reimbursed as new membership dues are received by the BCNA if the income was a result of Newsletter mailings. The proposal was approved unanimously by the Board.

C. Program and Social Event Committee – It was agreed that the Association should have a social event aboard the Hornblower Santa Rosa ship either Nov. 7 or Nov. 14, 2007, subject to available.

D. The next BCNA Board Meeting was scheduled for Thursday November 15, 2007.

E. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.