CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY PROGRAM
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
___________________________________________________________
Meeting Minutes
for
Monday, March 20, 2006 at 4:00 PM
city hall
1 dr. carlton b. goodlett place, room 408
Present: Chair James Reilly, vice-Chair Jay bradshaw, Supervisor Chris Daly, Mr. Bruce Engle, Ms. Jill Fox, Mr. Doug Shoemaker (sitting in for Mr. Matthew O. Franklin), Sister bernie galvin, Ms. Ana B. Gutierrez and Mr. Richard Lee
Absent: Ms. Jamie Armstrong, Mr. Scott clark, Mr. Leroy Moore, Jr. and Ms. Noelle Simmons
Staff: Mr. Joel Lipski, Mr. Scott Madden and Ms. Lynn Hua
- Roll Call
Chair Reilly called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM. Roll call was conducted and a quorum was recognized, with four members absent. Supervisor Daly arrived at 4:20 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting
A motion to approve the January 17, 2006 meeting minutes was made by Vice-Chair Bradshaw and seconded by Ms. Gutierrez. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
3. Director’s Report
Mr. Lipski updated the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on the status of the Broadway and Sansome site and the proposed legislation before the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Lipski explained that the proposed legislation would authorize the sale of the site at a price of $1.5 million to the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) and would require SFRA to develop the site as affordable housing. It would appropriate the sale proceeds to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for the purpose of maintaining the Embarcadero roadway. This appropriation would help resolve the budget issue involving DPW's financing obligation to the Transportation Authority as it relates to the sale of this site and the maintenance of the Embarcadero. The Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) has an informal arrangement with SFRA to maintain the development of the site. MOH plans to seek proposals to develop housing at the site, particular homeless families or families that are inadequately house in Single Room Occupancy (SRO). MOH supports the proposed legislation and think that it will enable the city to move forward with developing affordable housing at the site.
4. Consideration of Main Menu
(a) 2nd Draft of Recommendations from Committee to Board of Supervisors
Mr. Scott Madden, from the Mayor’s Office of Housing, present for Committee review the second draft of the annual recommendations regarding surplus City properties to be made by the Committee to the Board of Supervisors in accordance with Section 23A.9 of the Administrative Code. Mr. Madden explained that at the request of the CAC at the January meeting, the status portion has been removed from the report.
I. The CAC recommends that the following surplus City properties be sold or leased and urges the Board of Supervisors to appropriate the proceeds of any sale or lease to fund the development of affordable housing, with priority given in housing for people who are homeless: 341 Corbett, Junipero Serra @ Shields, Lawton & 20th Ave., 301 Wilde @ Alpha, 395 Justin Dr., San Jose @ Cuvier, San Jose @ Milton, 949 Vermont St.
Ms. Fox recalled that at prior meetings, the CAC had discussed and requested that an organization like Habitat for Humanity be given an opportunity to look at the 301 Wilde site. Mr. Madden responded that MOH had discussions with Habitat for Humanity regarding the site and Habitat felt that the site is not appropriate for a single-family home.
II. The CAC recommends that MOH solicit proposals for the development of the following properties as housing for homeless persons: 150 Otis St., 155/165 Grove St.
III. Properties transferred or recommended to be transferred from MOH to other city jurisdictions: Geneva & Ocean, Roosevelt Way@ Henry.
A motion was made by Vice-Chair Bradshaw to adopt the report as presented by Staff. The motion was seconded by Mr. Shoemaker and unanimously passed.
There was no public comment on item 4(a).
(b) Review of FY06 Surplus Property Report
Mr. Madden presented for Committee review and comment the FY06 list of surplus and underutilized properties compiled by the City Administrator in accordance with Section 23A.6 of the Administrative Code. Mr. Madden explained that Staff has done preliminary review of all the properties on the list and believe that most of the properties are not developable as affordable housing due to their very small size and shape.
Glen Park General Plan Legislation Proposed, Should Not Be Transferred: 600 Bosworth, Bosworth and Burnside
The above two parcels have been identified in the draft community plan for the Glen Park Area as potential open space. Ms. An Marie Rodgers, from the City Planning Department, made a presentation on the Glen Park General Plan. Ms. Rodgers explained that in 2002, the City Planning Department, in partnership with Caltrans, BART and the San Francisco Public Library worked with the Glen Park Neighborhood Association to identify appropriate housing sites in the neighborhood. From the collaborated work, a couple of reports were produced, one of which is the draft “Community Plan”. Ms. Rodgers explained that originally the stripe along Bosworth was to be part of a cross-town highway system, but the neighborhood was very active and stop the freeway development. Islais Creek, which is located in Glen Canyon Park, is one of only two above ground streams in the City and County of San Francisco. Periodically, the neighborhood would have flood issues due to the creek. The community plans to bring the creek back to the surface and hopes to address the flooding issues by using some innovated storm water management techniques. The draft plan was presented to the Planning Commission in 2004 and was endorsed by the Commission. This fiscal year, the City received funds to begin environmental review for the area. A consultant has been hired and will begin the environmental review work in a few months. Once the review is completed, the City can adopt the plan with the land use and transportation charges. Supervisor Bevan Dufty has worked closely with U.S. Representative Tom Lantos to take some of the ideas in the plan to Congress and has received $3.5 million to do some transportation changes.
Supervisor Daly inquired as to whether the two parcels were on last year’s surplus properties list. Mr. Lipski responded that they might have been on the surplus properties list prepared by the Department of Real Estate two years ago, but were not transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction. Supervisor Daly requested to look at the original surplus properties list and to find out why the two parcels were not transferred if they were on the list. Mr. Lipski responded that staff could provide the committee with the preliminary list of surplus properties.
Mr. Madden commented that as long as the PUC’s right-of-way exist on the two parcels, nothing could be constructed on top of the easement, which would take away a fairly significant portion of both sites. Supervisor Daly requested for a follow-up on the exact location of the easement to determine the developable space on the sites.
Dufty Legislation Proposed, Should Not Be Transferred: 840 Clipper
The above site is located in the Twin Peaks/Noe Valley area. Currently the site is used as a community garden. Staff felt that the existing use provides an important resource to the community and recommended that the parcel not be transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction. Mr. Madden noted that MOH has confirmed with Supervisor Dufty’s staff that there has not been any legislation proposed by the Supervisor for the property as of yet and no immediate plan to do so.
Vice-Chair Bradshaw commented that he would like to take a look at the parcel before he makes a decision. He felt that a community garden is great but the crisis of housing is greater.
Removed: Rutledge and Brewster
Mr. Madden explained that the above site was on the surplus property list by mistake and the City Administrator has removed it from the list. The site is used as slope protection for Bernal Heights and need to remain as open space for that purpose.
Cannot Be Developed For Housing Or Services, Should Not Be Transferred
Chair Reilly commented that the parcels located at Jerrold Avenue and Rankin, 2627 Cesar Chavez and 900 Cesar Chavez are large enough to be developed and inquired as to why those parcels are under the “should not be transferred” list. Mr. Madden responded that all the parcels are located in very industrial areas and Staff felt that the sites are not in an area that is appropriate for housing development. The 2627 Cesar Chavez site is a portion of a parking lot that includes another larger parcel on the west and a smaller parcel on the east side. The parking lot is city owned. Both Chair Reilly and Ms. Fox commented that if a large site is not suitable for housing development but has some other value, then it should be transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction.
Sister Galvin commented that maybe the Surplus City Property Ordinance need to be revised if it is permitting many sites that are small and unsuitable for development to be transferred.
Recommend Transferring Jurisdiction to MOH for Further Analysis
Alemany and Ocean
Staff recommended that the above property be transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction. The site is located in the Excelsior/Cayuga neighborhood. It is approximately 3,500 sq. ft., but is extremely narrow. The site is not developable as housing, but the adjacent property owner to the west of the parcel has expressed an interest in purchasing the site to be used in connection with the new development on his property. If the site is transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction, MOH could sell the site and use the proceeds from the sale for affordable housing elsewhere.
195 Portola
The property is located in the upper market area. It’s approximately 50,000 sq. ft. and is currently vacant. Staff recommended that the site be transferred to MOH’s jurisdiction since it has potential for housing development or be sold for market value.
Chair Reilly made a motion to recommend that the following properties be transferred from the Department of Public Works’ jurisdiction to the Mayor’s Office of Housing’s jurisdiction under the Surplus City Property Ordinance: Alemany & Ocean, 195 Portola, 2627 Cesar Chavez, 900 Cesar Chavez, Jerrold Ave & Rankin and 840 Clipper. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Bradshaw and unanimously passed.
(c) 1051 Palou Avenue Site
Ms. Fox requested for information regarding the owner of the adjacent church property. Chair Reilly made a motion to continue the item to next month’s meeting. The motion was seconded and unanimously passed.
5. Committee Members’ Questions and Matters
None
6. Public Comment
None
Public Comment Closed
7. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM.