City and County of San Francisco
Commission on the Environment
SPECIAL MEETING
FINAL MINUTES
Thursday, February 24, 2005, 4:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 421
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: The meeting was called to order at 4:08 p.m. Present: Commissioners Nia Crowder, Christina Desser, Alan Mok, and Johanna Wald. Excused/Absent: Commissioners Angelo King, Paul Pelosi, Jr. and Arlene Rodriguez.
2. ACTION: Consideration and approval of Resolution No. 001-05-COE “Urban Forestry Duke Energy Settlement.”
Resolution approving the expenditure of $250,000 of the duke energy settlement for planting and maintaining trees in the bay view, POTRERO HILL, and visitacion valley neighborhoods of san francisco.
Sponsor: Director Jared Blumenfeld
Staff: Alexis Harte, Department of the Environment, Carla Short, DPW Urban Forestry
Staff member Alexis Harte presented background information on the Duke Energy Settlement and discussed the joint proposal of San Francisco Department of the Environment and San Francisco Department of Public Works that outlines how settlement funds would be allocated. The proposal is to plant trees in neighborhoods most affected by electric power generation. The settlement funds would be used for Arbor Day events/tree plantings on March 12 and for planting 528 new trees between Arbor Day and December 3, 2005 through a combination of Department of Public Works (DPW) and Friends of the Urban Forest (FUF) efforts. Carla Short, of DPW Urban Forestry discussed DPW’s role in Arbor Day Phase 1 and Phase 2 tree planting and maintenance, and species of trees to be planted. DPW and FUF would be subsidizing the cost of trees and maintenance to get a maximum number of trees planted.
Upon motion By Commissioner Wald and second by Commissioner Desser, Resolution No. 001-05-COE “Urban Forestry Duke Energy Settlement” was unanimously approved.
3. ACTION: Adoption of Minutes of the January 25, 2005 Meeting. Upon motion By Commissioner Wald and second by Commissioner Desser, the Minutes of the January 25, 2005 meeting were unanimously adopted.
Public comment from Alexis Harte, Urban Forest Coordinator commended the Commission Secretary for her work.
4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Members of the public may address the Commission on matters that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.
No public comment was heard at this time.
5. DISCUSSION: Discussion on selecting dates, topics and other relevant items for the Commission on the Environment Retreat.
The Commission Retreat was tentatively set for Friday, April 8 from 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at 111 Sutter Street, 20th Floor. Parking is available at the Crocker Galleria and the Sutter/Stockton garage. Commissioners would forward topic recommendations to the Commission Secretary. Recommended topics were (1) how to integrate public outreach into the work of the Staff and the Commission, (2) update on World Environment Day, and (3) how to develop green businesses in the Bayview. The Commission Secretary would be sending an email advising of parking, bus lines, and disability access.
- INFORMATION: Commission Secretary’s Report
Monica Fish, Commission Secretary
▪ Communications & Correspondence
· Annual Sunshine and Ethics Training Monday, March 7, 2005. Commission Secretary discussed the Annual Sunshine and Ethics Training that the City Attorney’s Office will be conducting at Herbst Theater, 401 Van Ness Avenue between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. Commissioners and Department Heads are required to attend this training or indicate on the Sunshine Ordinance Declaration Form that they would agree to attend a future training session when offered.
· Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) and Sunshine Ordinance Declaration. Commission Secretary advised the Commissioners that forms and a memorandum outlining the process for filling out the Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) and Sunshine Ordinance Declaration had been e-mailed to all Commissioners on February 18th. The Commissioners were requested to submit their completed original signed forms to the Commission Secretary at the March 22nd Commission meeting. Forms are due to the Ethics Commission by April 1st to avoid penalties.
· Life Safety Compliance at City Hall Meetings. Commission Secretary advised the Commission that City Hall Building Management has reported that large numbers of people standing in the meeting rooms was not allowed in accordance with access and egress safety requirements established by the Fire Marshall and the Mayor’s Disability Council. Overflow rooms are set up for meetings when a large crowd is expected.
· Commissioner Parking during Commission Meetings. Commission Secretary reported that Commissioners are able to park at the Civic Center Garage located at 355 McAllister Street with no charge for full Commission meetings. The process for parking was explained. A recommendation was made to supply Commissioners with bus tokens if requested.
▪ Update on Pending City Legislation
· Board of Supervisors Resolution on Local Shopping Bag Fee Nexus Study. Commission Secretary reported that the Board of Supervisors approved the Resolution on February 8, 2005. A copy of the signed Resolution was distributed to Commissioners.
President Crowder would be directing Commission members to contact David Assmann with scoping comments on the Nexus Study.
7. INFORMATION: President’s Announcements. President Crowder announced that additional topics for the April 8 Retreat would be to review short and long-range Commission plans and revisit Resolutions that were never finalized. Committee Reports would be discussed at the March 22 Commission meeting.
8. INFORMATION: New Business. Director Blumenfeld announced that Supervisor McGoldrick put forward an issue of congestion charging. The money to study this issue would come from funds the Department currently uses on transportation management programs (ex. commuter benefits program).
Supervisor Maxwell is working with the Mayor’s Office and the Department of the Environment on the Precautionary Purchasing Ordinance. Tom Hayden is pushing a somewhat related bill regarding an anti-sweatshop bill, which may or may not be merged into this ordinance.
The Electric Power Research Institute is talking to PG&E about a joint power initiative off Ocean Beach that would help provide power to the west side treatment plant. The Science Times would be doing a report on the technologies.
The Department of the Environment has been working with Treasure Island Staff and the developer of Treasure Island to develop a sustainability plan for Treasure Island. Director Blumenfeld will highlight the document at a future Commission meeting.
9. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Members of the public may address the Commission on matters that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and are not on today’s agenda.
No public comment was heard at this time.
10. ADJOURNMENT. The meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by,
Monica Fish, Commission Secretary
Approved: March 22, 2005
