[ gavel ]

>> welcome everyone to the san francisco board of supervisors budget and finance committee, regular meeting for wednesday, feb6th, 2013. my name is supervisor mark farrell, i am the chair of this committee and we're joined by supervisor eric mar, the vice-chair and supervisor avalos and joined by board president david chiu. i would like to thank the members of sfgovtv, who are covering this meeting and also the clerk of the board, victor young. mr. clerk, do we have any announcements? >> yes, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices and completed speaker cards and copies of any documents to be include as part of the file should be submitted to the clerk. items acted upon today will appear on the february 12th, board of supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated >> thank you, mr. clerk, would you call item no. 1. >> ordinance amending the san

francisco administrative code section 14b.2 and related provisions to increase contracting opportunities to certified public utilities commission local business enterprise and to make corresponding technical changes >> thank you very much, president chiu. >> thank you, mr. chair and colleagues, i appreciate your consideration of the legislation in us today to continue changes to our city's local business enterprise ordinance to increase contracting opportunities for so-called certified puc lbe, which are small businesses located within our regional water service area, but outside of the boundaries of san francisco. the puc lbe program was created in 2006 to allow small business that operate within our puc water service area to compete for work on the water system improvement program; as know the wisp program has two-thirds of costs being paid by regional water customers of the sfpuc and so the thinking in 2006 it

was appropriate for those communities that pay for our water systems improvement to also yield the local economic benefits that are certified puc lbe contracting program can provide. since the wisp program is nearing completion, but the sfpuc has additional projects within the water service area that are not part of wisp construction, the changes in this legislation would allow puc it to continue to support the small businesses by expanding the program to other areas in the region to include the same lbe contracting procedures successfully implemented through wisp. the sfpuc, the human rights commission and small business commission support the changes. here to discuss the legislation is radicka fox from the sfpuc and miss dick-endrizzi from the small business commission and i have included language to

ensure our foreman lbes will not be disadvantaged. miss fox. >> thank you, supervisor chiu for your leadership on this issue and good morning, chair farrell and members mar and avalos, thank you for considering this item today. supervisor chiu really provided you with a great overview of the changes that we're seeking. just wanted to report that since 2006, when the puc lbe program was established, it's been very successful in creating regional opportunities for small businesses. we have about 225 puc lbes that have been certified through the same process, that san francisco lbes go through. so the program is working really well and as supervisor chiu said we think with these proposed changes, we think we can continue to be successful in opening up contracting opportunities to small businesses throughout our

service territory. as supervisor chiu mentioned that the changes that we're seeking are two things. one is that as you know, even though the wisp, the water system improvement program is winding down we're about 80% through that capital program. we continue to have many cost-shared projects with other jurisdictions. ongoing maintenance, et cetera, for both our water system on the -- with our power enterprise as well. and so this would allow us to continue the program with those projects. as we were going through the process, and thinking about the changes to the definition of the "pc lbe regional projectsing." we thought it made sense to add the sect change, which is that any projects 70 miles outside of san francisco, even if they are not a cost-share projecting, meaning that they are funded by city and county of san francisco. we want to extend the puc lbe discount. the thinking behind that

provision is because the pc lbe program really applies on the construction side, projects that are that distance away from san francisco, that the travel costs and the travel implications for local business enterprises sort of makes it not worth it. if they do compete for those projects, they would continue to get the lbe benefits that they would -- that they typically. as far as the amendments that supervisor chiu is recommending, one is a non-substantive technical amendment. where environmental findings are required. so there is a small non-substantive technical amendment and we wanted to make it very clear that san francisco lbes sort of get first priority benefit. and so there is an additional language change on the last page of the ordinance that

basically says that if there is of a situation on a project that is 70 miles outside of san francisco, where the puc lbe discount would affect the ranking of a san francisco lbe, that the puc lbe would not get that discount. so we felt that was a good way to sort of strike a policy balance of making sure that lbes in san francisco first get the benefit of this program, and that they would never be disadvantaged in potential future projects. so happy to answer any questions that you might have. thank you. is regina dick-endrizzi here? oh, chris schulman is here. >> very briefly on january

14th, 2013 the commission heard this ordinance and recommended approval by a 7-0 vote. while this ordinance primarily benefits small businesses outside of san francisco, the commission still weighed in strong support and the commission appreciates the protections put in place for san francisco lbes. the commission would like to thank supervisor chiu and the puc for working with the commission over the past month. as we heard this ordinance and made our recommendation. thank you. >> mr. chair, do you want to open this up to public comment? >> with that, i would like to open up public comment. any members of the public who wish to comment on item no. 1 please step forward and if you would line up behind mr. paulson. >> good morning budget and finance committee. look at what happened to we? i'm walking on budget puc air. i never thought i could feel so budget-free, flying away on a

budget wing and a prayer. who could it be? it's the puc. and it's a business opportunity. believe it or not, i'm walking on budget air. i never thought i could feel so budget-free. flying away on a wing and a prayer, who could it be? the budget is coming back with business opportunities. thanks. >> thank you. mr. paulson. my other members of public who wish to comment? please step forward. >> good morning, committee. my name is brian phils. the chairman of the san francisco public utilities commission small affairs committee for the puc. i would like to thank you guys for having this committee meeting in order for the -- excuse me -- for this

committee for the support of the legislation. alameda county and all of the contractors in alameda that i represent look forward to this passing. it will stimulate a lot of work. laborwise and contractorswise. we look at the puc as being on the forefront of extending this out to the rate-payers out of the local area here in san francisco. so thank you very much. >> thank you. any other members of the public wishing to comment? please step forward. >> good morning. my name is lisa vigil. i am also a small firm advisory committee member. but i kind of wear two hats here. i also am with carpenter's local 152 in manteca and so in in that area i cover seven counties, san joaquin, stanislaus, mer yesterday

calaveras and tuolomne counties. i am here to speak to 14b.2 amendment. i think it's a great opportunity. as i have sat on the board i have seen a lot of good things and a lot of good opportunities come for contractors and through these opportunities, these contracts being small lbes or micro business contractors, we're able to grow their companies. that is really great because that is what we're looking for here is creating opportunities and the puc has done a great job at doing that, but part of my area also covers that part of that area. also, we do have cbos in our community in which we have been able to utilize the local high school students coming out of graduating high school and

geting an it up to work on the projects. i think you have done a great job and i would like to continue and doing that. thank you. >> thank you any other members of public wishing to comment on the item? if not, public comment is closed. [ gavel ] >> mr. mar. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i wanted to thank supervisor chiu, but especially miss fox and julie ellis from the puc in making sure there is equity especially for the small contractors and business. i know we have had hearings on the pep of color and women-run contracts and how there need to be more opportunities for them. so i am hoping with measures like this we make sure there is more opportunity, especially our most vulnerable communities in san francisco. so i would

be like to be added as a co-sponsor as well. >> thank you. supervisor avalos. >> thank you, chair farrell and i would like to thank the puc and president chiu for this legislation. it's in the context of seeing the puc and the projects that we build to the puc as regional and having a partnership? the region and that was something at we wanted to consider in the local hire ordinance and we have people who are actually here who see benefits from local hire ordinance and this ordinance as well. the idea is that where we're making investments and actually people and rate-payers and people around the region are making investments in our water system and there should be benefits spread around the region and not just san francisco trying to gobble up all the contracts that move forward. that is in that vein and i support and i would vote for it. >> thank you. president chiu? >> thank you, colleagues and i appreciate the support

indicated by my colleagues and the members of public. as i mention there had before there where with there are a couple of technical amendments to ensure that san francisco-based lbes won't be disadvantaged by the ordinance and colleagues, if you could pass this out, i would appreciate it. >> we'll do that without objection and can have i a motion to move item no. 1 forward to the full board with recommendation. >> so moved. >> and we'll do that also without objection. [ gavel ] >> thank you, president chiu and mr. clerk, would you call item no. 2. >> resolution authorizing the rec and park department to accept and expend a gift from the san francisco parks trust for $189,494.24 for urban

trails construction, signage and mobile recreation for a period to remain in effect until complete. >> we have a representative from the rec and park department here. mr. clerk, could we get the microphone turns on? thank you go ahead lisa. >> good morning, supervisors, i'm lisa of the rec and park to ask your committee to accept and expend a gift from san francisco parks trust known as san francisco park alliance for $189,494.24 to support urban trails construction, signage and mobile recreation. these are parts each and every grant rewarded to the park trust by coca-cola refreshments and it lous the park department

to introduce thousands ofoum to trails for the best of all san franciscans and visitors. mobile recreation is a relative life new program of the department that included skateparks and includes in-kind donations of mobile rock climbing wall, which you see picture hered here. just a little bit about the program. there are two new and popular elements of the mobile recreation program. on saturdays the rock climbing wall, skateboard ramps and bmx bikes go to neighborhoods across to san francisco for

free drop and use from 10:30 generally to 2:00 in the afternoon. on wednesdays, this equipment is used by staff to provide an enriching outdoor activity for youth in rec and park department after-school programs. to-date that has generally included kayaking trips on the san francisco bay and the pictures you see are youth from our potrero hill program at the indian basin. so the equipment that's been very busy this school year. the mobile rec equipment through the school year will make about 50 visit as round san francisco and staff estimated nearly 1200 youth have climb up the rock wall so far this year. the second part of the grant will go to fund trail

improvements in golden gate park. this is in the northeast corner of golden gate park, runs along fulton street from 6th avenue to down to stanyan street. this portion of the grant includes an in-kind donation of approximately $42,000 for signage and in-kind donation of $2,859.24 for design services. and cash grant of $50,000 for construction. this is a significant portion of the project's budget. and i just wanted to say that these sorts of gifts along with the volunteer efforts happening at oak woodlands and other trail projects around the city are extremely significant because they allow the department to stretch its public trails funding to improve a wider network of trails through san francisco,

including elsewhere in golden gate and other regional parks, like mcclaren. this is particularly important to the department, trails were identified as the most desired park amenity by san franciscans in the 2004 recreational assessment n. summary this grant will support two programs and help the department fulfill its mission of providing enriching activities and caring for our parks. thank you very much. i would be happy to answer questions. >> thank you. supervisor avalos. >> thank you for your presentation. i think it's great that we're getting this money for these purposes, trails and for the recreation programs that are mobile. i have seen the programs and they are really great. this is from coca-cola and i think it's great that coca-cola

is providing us these funds and making sure that we're reducing obesity in san francisco. is there any kind of advertising that we do for coca-cola? >> >> these grants do not require any advertising at all. >> >> thank you. thank you miss branson. any members of public wishing to comment? you can line up on the far wall behind mr. paulson. >> does any trail last forever? i don't know. maybe we're near the budget end, i don't know. does any gift last forever? i don't know.

maybe we're going to have the end, but money's hard to hold. we're going to have it maybe and bring it on, and they will be singing songs on the trails and it's the real thing with this item gifted today. it's coke and budget. >> thank you, next speaker, please. >> good morning, thank you. i'm robert bakewell an enrichment resident who lives right next to this area of the oak woodlands and we have been working on this area for a long time and i'm also co-founder of the friends of the oak woodlands park, whh