Meeting Minutes - June 29, 2010

Potrero Boosters ~ General Membership Meeting ~ June 29, 2010

Audrey Cole, President ~ Meeting Minutes

Police Report – Police Captain Greg Suhr

Developments on the Mesherle trial. Tomorrow morning judge will decide whether jury can consider charges other than first degree murder. Difficult charge to make but only charge right now before the court. Concern is that group that might be upset with a lesser like second degree murder or manslaughter would feel that jury was directed to a lesser charge if a lesser charge given as an option. So it’s either going to be 1^st degree murder or acquittal. Anticipation is that the streets will be like they were after the Rodney King verdict.

Victim in Castro last night was identified as a Bayview gang member.

Car burglaries – do not leave anything visible in car – not even FastTrak; #1 item being taken right now is GPS by smashing a window. If they break a window and take it right away it’s felony 1, if come back a couple of hours later it’s stealing from an unlocked car, a lesser charge. If they can’t see anything inside the car, they won’t smash a window, that’s it.

Bayview email list tries to keep up to date three times a week; any one who gives email address can be on the list for updates in the community.

Captain mentioned his granddad was Tadich of Tadich Grill; he’s from long time family in San Francisco.

Membership Update / Meetings / Issues – Audrey Cole

Boosters are incurring some additional expenses with child care at meetings, food, etc. A number of people have paid up current membership plus prior years.

Mission Bay is getting ready for another round of putting up buildings.

High speed rail is warming up as an issue including high speed rail including whether to depress and trench 16^th Street at 16^th – 7^th intersection.

High Speed Rail

Dick Millet attended presentation at City Hall this morning from high speed rail team. Concerns raised about splitting Potrero from Mission Bay, and not really seeing true consideration of how best to transition and safeguard the intersection. Sophie supporting neighborhood comments asking to not go underground, in a neighborhood that’s already cut off in various edges and dimensions.

John de Castro: To accomplish underground, construction would have to start as far back as Connecticut Street. Only 48 feet to work with. Dick: Would have to go up in the air to bring it down again underground. Would screw up land use in the neighborhood, including negatively impact new Eastern Neighborhood zoning of areas to UMU. Might affect 280, even some talk of taking 280 down north of that intersection. Cost of boring under 280 would be astronomical, even in the billions of dollars that could be used for other things. Mission Bay representatives at high speed rail meeting didn’t speak up much.

Tony: High speed rail team presented at Boosters 6-7 months ago, and still aren’t showing much about connecting effectively into SF and along or through Potrero / Mission Bay.

Joe Boss: Real issue is that as of the end of this month (June) comments on preferred route will be due and that will be the basis for their EIR scope; what’s first out of the chute is usually what comes across the line before anything else. Example of potential impacts: imagine Mississippi being dropped down from Mariposa on down, property owners having to give up their land and homes in exchange for cash settlements, etc. According to report will still be coming into area at 100 mph – that’s going to generate a lot of noise. Better to focus on taking 280 down later. Trenching deep, even below sewer lines, would work best. Proper reporting has not been provided in push to focus on getting funding. Letters brought to sign and send. Dick: Let’s have letter read and vote on whether to send as the Boosters. Audrey reads. Motion for Boosters to send letter carries unanimously.

Fix MUNI Now / Transit Riders Union

MUNI reps will be at future Boosters meeting(s).

Gillian Gillette Fix MUNI Now / for Sean Elsbernd (who wasn’t able to attend). MUNI drivers are second highest paid in country, which is fine, they likely deserve more, but the way that contracts are negotiated is stalling ability of City to fund needed improvements. Also addressing regulations that are favorable to drivers at expense of safety and efficiency; example: sick days policy which allows drivers to call in too late to replace them for the day, or being able to choose if they prefer to drive a bus or light rail (light rail is nicer to drive) vs. ensuring needed ratio to serve riders. Circulating a petition (going rate in SF is $4 a signature).  Only able to get one supervisor, Sean Elsbernd; need 4 Supes or else circulate petition; met grassroots petition goal.

School District moves 4300 school kids a day on yellow buses, which have been getting removed from the fleet, making routes longer and longer. Example of impacts: Gillian’s not-yet-five year old daughter would have to catch bus at 6:03 a.m.; Gillian bought a car, not her preference. Requirement that to circulate a petition you have to bring relevant code with you; this would be the size of a phone book; so not yet able to address all issues; brought a copy of the City Charter only. Why not other Supes sign on? SF is a very strong union town, concerned about being seen as anti-union. Police and Fire unions stood up and threatened non-support in general for any Supe that signed on. Elsbernd: it’s supposed to be collective bargaining, but if drivers are paid by a formula, not really collective bargaining. Joe Boss: there are also routing issues that aren’t really union issues but get caught in union process.

Dave Snyder, Transit Riders Union; group is similar to bicycle coalition in purpose. Another reasons other Supes didn’t sign on - Elsbernd also wanted to let Mayor keep control of MUNI and kept a provision not allowing split appointments (some appointees by Mayor some by Supes). Would like to see Mayor not have such absolute control. Gave examples illustrating favoritism by Mayor on assigning routes; current General Manager could be more effective as GM if not as beholden to Mayor; etc. Mentioned work rules that might make some sense but add expense and might de-motivate efficiency, such as paying drivers more for being caught behind a late bus.

Re split appointments, Gillian would like to de-politicize MUNI altogether; neither Mayor nor Supes are transportation experts. Supes competing legislation proposes an annual $40M set-aside from General Fund at a time when General Fund is especially stretched, puts other agencies in jeopardy. Elsbernd’s measure addresses logjams that occur when there’s mediation but no binding arbitration; Elsbernd’s measure requires binding arbitration so contract negotiations can be resolved rather than just roll over from prior years; antiquated documents use arcane language from bygone eras including “bankers hours” which was out of date with arrival of ATM’s in 1982.

Joe Boss / John de Castro: Charter Amendment by then Supe Barbara Kaufman 1996 eliminated Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) role from San Francisco, overly strengthening role of Mayor. Would be great if we had a Mayor who’s benevolent and smart. Large counties run by a CAO; blown out at the request of Willie Brown; we’ve suffered for lack of professional management for the past 15 years.

Potrero Hill Festival Saturday October 16^th – Keith Goldstein, President, Potrero Merchants

Nabe just lost $300K of its funding and laid off 75% of its staff, which will severely impact youth and other programs. We need to have a successful Festival and raise money to keep this great place going.

And Potrero Merchants have under way a Locals First Campaign – PotreroHill.biz.