Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association

Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting

September 26, 2008

Ferry Boat Santa Rosa, Pier 3, San Francisco, CA 94111

 

 

The meeting began a 6:05 p.m. and was called to order by President Bill Sauro.

 

Board members in attendance in addition to President Sauro:  Fred Allardyce, Bill Benkavitch, Carol Parlette, Felix Rodriguez, Linda Schwartz, Diana Taylor, Joe Wyman.

 

Board members who were absent:  Morton Beebe, Jonathan Middlebrook, Lee Radner.

 

1.  Quorum Call.  When the meeting was called to order, eight Board members were present.

 

2.  Approval of Minutes.  The minutes of the August 21, 2008 meeting were approved as amended, by unanimous vote.

 

3.  Treasurer’s Report.  Carol Parlette distributed the Balance Sheet, Income Statement and Budget Summary Report as of 9/25/2008.  The current balance is $4,415.24, about $550 lower than last month.  Carol stated that BCNA needs to get contributions or we will not make budget.  Linda Schwartz asked about the $100 she discussed at the last meeting.  President Sauro suggested she submit her request in writing – that it had been a discussion item and no motion had been offered at the last meeting.  The Board agreed unanimously that new members who join between October 1st and December 31st will get the remaining time of 2008 as no-charge membership.  The Board adopted the Treasurers Report unanimously.

 

4.  Committee Reports.

            a. Waterfront Action Committee

            Draft Development Review Guidelines.  Diana Taylor led a discussion on the current draft.  The Board discussed EIRs and NegDecs in some detail, including who would pay for a ‘peer review.’  The consensus of the Board was that it would be too complex to add such details to the Review Guidelines.  Felix Rodriguez stated that developers should show their intention for EIR or Negative Declaration application so that the community will know what they are thinking and planning.  There was further discussion about parking, specifically for commercial operations and the need to replace existing parking.  Joe Wyman talked about the Embarcadero Transportation Task Force and the City’s Transit Effective Project (TEP).  President Sauro suggested that the Development Review Guidelines could be issued as Version 1.1 and put into use until any changes were deemed appropriate and then a new version could be issued.  The Board unanimously approved the draft guidelines as amended at the Board meeting.  Diana will email to the Board the final copy.  Guidelines will be put on the BCNA web site.  The Board thanked Diana, Jonathan Middlebrook and Jan Holloway for their excellent work on this project.

 

            8 Washington Street Condo Project.  Discussion was deferred.  Bill Benkavitch stated that the Seawall Lot 351 RFP proposals are due on October 30th; and that FOGG was receiving responses from the District 3 candidates to the three questions submitted to the candidates on open recreational space legislation, rezoning, and the Public Trust Doctrine.  Responses will be on the FOGG web site.

 

            b. Newsletter Committee

President Sauro reported that the Fall 2008 Newsletter will be coming off the press.  He requested that Board members email him any story suggestions for the next Newsletter.  The Board heard several suggestions.  Joe Wyman will send information regarding the SFMTA vote.  NOTE:  The SFMTA Board of Directors September 30 meeting has been cancelled and rescheduled for October 21, 2008, per an email from them dated September 25th.  Carol Parlette mentioned the Yellow Bus Shuttle, Linda Schwartz mentioned the J Line Extension and the Exploratorium development.  Linda will send information on the Exploratorium meeting she attended earlier in September.

 

            c. Membership Committee

Linda Schwartz stated that she felt BCNA earned points at the Candidate’s Forum.  Further Committee discussion was deferred to the next meeting.  The Board then had a discussion about the Exploratorium meeting Linda attended on September 8th along with Morton Beebe and Felix Rodriguez.  They felt that there was a rehash of the ‘same old stuff’ about things such as parking, and the feeling that the design review is not moving forward.  As mentioned in Item 4.b above, Linda will send information on this meeting to the Board.

 

5.  Old Business

            a. Supervisor Candidates Forum

The Board briefly discussed the Forum.  Consensus is that the Forum was a great success.  About 130 to 150 people signed in.  Information will be used as part of BCNA’s membership drive.  President Sauro had previously sent the KGO-TV Forum link to the Board.  The link is available at:  BCNA/KGO Forum.

 

            b. Community Benefit District Progress Report

President Sauro informed the Board that the Greater Downtown CBD is not interested in expanding its boundaries to include the BCNA area.  He plans to talk to a consultant about forming a BCNA CBD.  The Board discussed the downside of not being a CBD.  The BCNA would be surrounded by other CBD’s, which could create a ‘have and have-not’ situation with a possible increase in litter, homeless people and crime for the non-CBD areas.

 

            c. ‘Sunday Streets’ Discussion

            President Sauro led a discussion on the two ‘Sunday Streets’ events held on August 31st and September 14th.  He felt that overall, there was good BCNA name exposure, and that it was worth the effort.  Joe Wyman stated that the signage for traffic flow needs to be better, and that the event seemed like a street fair.  Diana Taylor met an organization named The Planet Drum Foundation (www.planetdrum.org) that maps open space (www.planetdrum.org) and suggested having a forum with them and the neighborhood.  Diana agreed to send a summary to the Board.

 

6.  New Business

            a.  8 Washington Meeting with GGC1 Homeowners

            President Sauro told the Board about a September 15th meeting with several homeowners.  Among the attendees were District 3 Supervisor Candidates Tony Gantner and Mike DeNunzio.  Many ideas were put forth during the meeting including  a law suit against the SF Port for issuing an RFP for land zoned ‘P’, a ballot initiative for city-wide open space preservation, and toxicity from a gas station previously on the Seawall Lot site and debris in the landfill.  Another meeting is scheduled and Bill said he would keep the Board posted.

 

            b.  110 Embarcadero – Preliminarily Mitigated Negative Declaration (PMND)

            President Sauro told the Board about the proposal at the SF Planning Department to construct a 123 tall building next to the Boulevard Restaurant.  The Board discussed the merits of getting involved as this is out of the BCNA area.  Bill stated that this is a bad precedent as these increased building heights could work their way up the northeast waterfront.  An appeal is being filed against this project by attorney Sue Hestor.  The Board consensus was to keep and eye on this project and see what happens.  The SF Planning Department Notice is available at:  110 The Embarcadero Notice.

 

7.  Next Meeting

The next BCNA Board Meeting was scheduled for Thursday, October 23, 2008.  Diana Taylor requested the meeting focus on membership development.

 

10.  Adjournment.  The meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Bill Benkavitch

Secretary