Resolutions 2003

11/18/03 Supporting NAPCAC's Management Plan
10/21/03 Resolution Opposing 300 Spear and 201 Folsom Streets
10/21/03 Resolution Joining Lawsuit to Appeal Negative Declaration of the Secondary Units
9/23/03 Resolution in Support of Sign and Handbill Ordinance

8/19/03 Opposing the "Intent to Adopt" the Housing Element
5/20/03 Opposing the Closure of the Mental Health Rehab Facility
5/20/03 Preserving Old Growth Trees in the Music Concourse
5/20/03 Resolution: CSFN to Appeal Negative Declaration of Housing Element
5/20/03 Urging an EIR for the Housing Element
5/20/03 Supporting Broadcast of the Planning Commission

4/15/03 Opposing Planning Commission Revisions
3/18/03 Balboa Pool and Balboa Park Resolution
2/18/03 Airfield Development Bureau Audit Resolution
2/18/03 Requesting SFPUC Monthly Report on Recycled Water Program

2/18/03 Resolution Concerning Lake Merced

1/21/03 Joint Housing Authority and Redevelopment Project at Eddy and Ellis Streets


SUPPORTING NAPCAC'S MANAGEMENT PLAN
RESOLVED: that the CSFN endorses said document entitled “Management Plan for the Natural Areas Program Developed by the Natural Areas Program Citizen's Advisory Committee, NAPCAC as per Resolution 653-02, November 14, 2003. The resolution carried: 18-0-1.

RESOLUTION OPPOSING 300 SPEAR AND 201 FOLSOM STREETS
Resolved: That the CSFN opposes these two projects, 300 Spear Street and 201 Folsom Street as presently proposed and urges the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisor to not approve the projects as proposed. A motion to pass carried: 15-0-1.

RESOLUTION JOINING LAWSUIT TO APPEAL NEGATIVE DECLARATION OF THE SECONDARY UNITS
WHEREAS THE SECONDARY UNIT LEGISLATION passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors denying the Appeal to require an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to be required to determine the necessity of Secondary Units in certain neighborhoods, “transit corridors”, and “commercial transit impacted corridors”; and WHEREAS once adopted, the General Plan amendments will mandate those rezoning amendments, and will dictate all residential land use in certain neighborhoods in San Francisco and will consequently affect the health, safety, and quality of life for all of the citizens of San Francisco.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED
that the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods oppose the vote by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ taking their vote to oppose an EIR to the Secondary Units and finally amend that proposal to be found in such a form as is acceptable to San Francisco’s residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
that the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods request that all property owners and residents in the City and County of San Francisco, including the Planning Department and the Planning Commission will be noticed of CSFN’s intention to join in legal action to oppose any legislation passed by the Planning Commission and/or Board of Supervisors regarding the denial of an EIR regarding the Secondary Units Legislation.
RESOLVED: that the member organizations of the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods join in legal action in the capacity in opposing the Board of Supervisors vote against any EIR requests for Secondary Units in any neighborhood in San Francisco and that member organization should be asked to pay, in attorney fees, as such in that capacity which may be bound by their member organization’s by-laws. Motion carried: 17-1-1 10/21/03

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF SIGN AND HANDBILL ORDINANCE
RESOLVED that CSFN support Supervisor Ma’s proposed “Signs & Handbills” ordinance as written.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that CSFN support an amendment to this ordinance to prohibit the delivery of handbills containing commercial advertising. Motion to support passed: 9/23/03 16-2-1.

OPPOSING THE "INTENT TO ADOPT" THE HOUSING ELEMENT
WHEREAS Housing Element proposals to amend the General Plan call for citywide rezoning in order to markedly increase residential densities along “Transit Corridors” and throughout all city residentially-zoned districts while at the same time reducing off-street parking requirements for new units constructed; and
WHEREAS once adopted, General Plan amendments will mandate said rezoning and will dictate all residential land use in San Francisco and will consequently affect health, safety, and quality of life in San Francisco,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods oppose the Planning Commission’s taking an “Intent to Adopt” action on the proposed Housing Element until such time as the Housing Element is fully and finally amended and is found to be in such form as is acceptable to San Francisco’s residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the CSFN request that all SF property owners be given both Notice regarding the document and the opportunity to participate fully in the development of and the evolution of the document since all San Franciscans are impacted by the changes proposed by the Housing Element.
8/19/03

OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH REHAB FACILITY

Regarding closure of the MURF (Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility) and its devastating impact on San Francisco neighborhoods leading to an increase in homelessness.
WHEREAS, the Mental Health Rehabilitation Facility (MHRF – pronounced “Murf”) is the only facility in San Francisco that provides comprehensive long-term treatment for people with severe mental illnesses including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and after opening in 1996, the MHRF has achieved recognition as a national model in psychiatry that now graduates 90% of its residents back to the community by providing them with psychiatric services, medication and job training; and,
WHEREAS, treatment provided at the MHRF is needed to help eliminate the dangerous revolving door between living on the streets and costly inpatient emergency treatment; and treatment at the MHRF is much cheaper at $257 per day, versus more than $400 per day at jail psychiatric services, or $2,000 per day at the acute psychiatric wing of SF General Hospital; and,
WHEREAS, closure of the MHRF would thwart the will of San Francisco voters who overwhelmingly approved bonds to build the MHRF in order to care for the mentally
ill in a humane setting designed to lead to recovery, by a vote of nearly 80%, and would contravene the promise made to San Francisco voters then by the Director of Health
and Board of Supervisors that “Proposition C would allow us to build a greatly needed long-term psychiatric facility in San Francisco. Currently there is no such facility in San
Francisco. As a consequence, family and friends of our San Francisco patients must go to other counties to visit them. Our staff cannot closely supervise the patients and
best determine their needs.”
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that CSFN opposes the closure of the MURF and requests that it be fully funded to serve the population for which it was designed. Passed 5/20/0
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PRESERVING OLD GROWTH TREES IN THE MUSIC CONCOURSE
Wheras the RPD as proposed to cut down historic 100 year old pollarded trees in the GG park music concourse bowl, and
Wheras it is important to preserve the historic formal garden grid design of the existing polarded old growth trees in the Music Concourse Bowl, and to preserve the historic views across the Music Concourse Bowl, the Hall of Science, and the new De Young Museum.
Therefore be it resolved that the CSFN supports the position that no existing trees be removed from the Music Concourse Bowl, rather, that every effort be made to preserve and enhance the life of these trees. Further, that the proposed additional 80 new trees be pollarded to match the existing (old growth) polarded trees.
5/20/03

RESOLUTION TO APPEAL NEGATIVE DECLARATION: HOUSING ELEMENT
RESOLVED, That the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods file an appeal of the Negative Declaration and Certificate of Exemption regarding the proposed legislation to permit the installation of Secondary (Ancillary) Units in residentially zoned districts of San Francisco. 5/20/03

URGING AN EIR FOR THE HOUSING ELEMENT
RESOLVED, That the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods strongly urge the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Commission to require a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the proposed revision of the Housing Element. 5/20/03

SUPPORTING BROADCAST OF PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS
WHEREAS, The active participation of citizens in the deliberations of the agencies, legislative bodies, commissions, etc. of the municipal government of San Francisco is essential to the effective functioning of our city government, and
WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors recognized that the telecasting, webcasting and webcast archiving of the meetings of the Board of Supervisors, its committee meetings, meetings of various city commissions, etc. would inform and educate San Franciscans about the issues and challenges facing our city government, and
WHEREAS, During the reconstruction and seismic upgrading of City Hall to repair damage caused by the 1989 earthquake, telecasting and videotaping facilities and equipment were installed making possible televising and taping the meetings of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and many other city commissions, and thereby encouraged much more in-depth and broader-based citizen involvement with our municipal government, and
WHEREAS, During the past several years San Francisco Government TV (SFGTV) has been telecasting live the meetings of the Planning Commission, replaying tapes of the telecasts of those meetings within 24 hours, and replaying the taped telecasts of those meetings during the weekends immediately following those meetings, and
WHEREAS, During the past several years there has been a link from the Planning webpage to the City SFGTV webpage to easily access the Planning Commission meeting webcast archives, and
WHEREAS, After April 3, 2003, SFGTV stopped telecasting the meetings of the Planning Commission, stopped replaying the Planning Commission meetings on Fridays, and stopped their replay on the weekends, and
WHEREAS, After April 3, 2003, the SFGTV webpage stopped archiving the webcasts of Planning meetings, and broke the link from the Planning webpage to the SFGTV webpage, and
WHEREAS, The Planning Commission is considering not only many sweeping land-use changes in San Francisco’s residential and neighborhood commercial districts, but also changes in the Demolition and Discretionary Review Policies as well, all of which will greatly impact all San Francisco citizens, and
WHEREAS, These proposed changes are being put before the Planning Commission for consideration in the absence of adequate Notice and information outreach to the San Francisco citizenry, and
WHEREAS, San Francisco Administrative Code §2A.53.(b) mandates extensive public participation in the formulation of amendments to the General Plan which continued telecast and webcast archiving of SF Planning Commission meetings serve to inform, now therefore be it
RESOLVED That the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods strongly urge the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to take immediate action to resume telecasting live all meetings of the Planning Commission, replay the tapes of those meetings within 24 hours, and replay the taped telecasts of those meetings again during the weekends immediately following those meetings, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED That the CSFN strongly urge the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to take immediate action to resume the archiving of Planning Commission meeting webcasts retroactive to April 12, 2003, and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED That the CSFN strongly urge the Board of Supervisors to hold a public hearing on the practices and policies for the ûlming, taping, programming, telecasting, broadcasting, webcasting, and webcast archiving the activities of the San Francisco municipal government.

RESOLUTION OPPOSING PLANNING COMMISSION CODE REVISIONS
Code: (1) Supervisor Peskin’s Secondary Unit legislation which would change land use controls in all R-zoned districts Citywide to allow 750 sq.ft. units ( five 10 x15 feet rooms) in three situations — on lots 1250 feet either side of a “primary transit street in historic buildings and for seniors or disabled persons: off-street parking requirements would be eliminated for these units, open-space requirements halved, and density increased;
(2) demolition policy changes would eliminate required notice at the time of demo permit filing and also would redefine “demolition” so that notice at time of filing is no longer required for proposed alteration of 2/3 or more of an existing structure’s interior elements (walls, partitions, floors, ceilings)-- thus, interiors could be “gutted” and density/use intensified without preliminary notice given. Emergency declared. CSFN voted to oppose said Planning Code amendments 4/15/03.

RESOLUTION URGING THE PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO RETAIN THE BALBOA POOL AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION AND KEEP BALBOA PARK CONSISTENT WITH OTHER PUBLIC PARK USES
Submitted by: New Mission Terrace Improvement Association
WHEREAS, The Recreation and Park Department has been in the process of developing a Master Plan for Balboa Park which involves significant improvements to the park; and
WHEREAS, A major part of Balboa Park is the Balboa Pool; and,
WHEREAS, An overwhelming majority of residents in the Balboa Park neighborhood including the New Mission Terrace Improvement Association have expressed their desire to retain the pool at its current location and object to an diversion of funds dedicated to the renovation of the pool to City College of San Francisco for use in the construction of the CCSF Health and Wellness Center; and,
WHEREAS, Neighborhood residents also object to the locating of a child care facility on Balboa Park land as well as any conversion of Balboa Park for uses not consistent with public parks; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods urges the Park and Recreation Department to focus their energy and resources on renovating the Balboa Pool at its current location to better serve neighborhood residents and not enter into any agreements with CCSF involving the use of money designated for the renovation of Balboa Pool; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Park and Recreation Department consider the following suggestions for the Balboa Park Master Plan: the construction of a recreation center with community room, a full time park director, improved landscaping on Ocean Avenue, improved drainage of baseball and softball fields, installation of benches and water fountains, lights for the stadium and tennis courts, renovation of the children’s playground and its restrooms, renovation of the basketball hoop, bocci ball courts, horse shoe pits and the removal of overgrown vegetation from the north end of Boxer Stadium.(NMTIA). Resolution Passes (16-1-0) 3/18/03

AIRFIELD DEVELOPMENT BUREAU AUDIT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Office of the Budget Analyst is currently conducting an audit of SFO’s Airfield Development Bureau.
WHEREAS, the workplan for the Airfield Development Bureau audit includes a section titled External Communications and Transparency .
WHEREAS, a statement in the External Communications and Transparency section states that the Office of the Budget Analyst will Interview selected staff, stakeholders, local government officials and community representatives regarding community input process and effectiveness.
WHEREAS, the Coalition For San Francisco Neighborhoods identifies itself as one of these community representatives.
THEREFORE, be it resolved that, the Coalition For San Francisco Neighborhoods wishes the following comments to be included in the Airfield Development Bureau audit:
1) That SFO did not adequately discuss the full range of options at its community meetings, but rather focused primarily on a series of runway reconfiguration options.
2) That the emphasis in community meetings has been for SFO to portray filling San Francisco Bay as the only real method of reducing delays.
3) That SFO has publicly dismissed any and all non-bayfill alternatives at its community meetings.
4) That the community input process conducted by SFO suggests that the airport has arrived at a predetermined outcome. Such a predetermined outcome would violate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements
a) That SFO s overall community input process has serious inadequacies.
b) That these inadequacies are based on the perception that SFO has subverted the intent of the community input process and has used the community input process primarily to promote its proposed runway reconfiguration plan to the public.
c) That SFO has attempted a number of different community meeting formats and strategies ranging from:
- Presentation only with no community input.
- Presentation with community input in written statements only.
- Presentation with community input from question cards only.
- Presentation with limited community input. In certain circumstances, it was limited to
to one minute per person.
d) That SFO community meetings apparently were designed more to satisfy legal
requirements than for genuine dialogue with the public.
e) That community meetings were controlled to avoid or limit community input as much as possible.
f) That the community meetings where SFO did respond to questions, the answers were often vague or were no answer at all e.g. “That has yet to be determined.” (SPEAK) Resolution passes (18-0-1) 2/18/03.


RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE SFPUC PROVIDE MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE RECYCLED WATER PROGRAM
WHEREAS the Sunset/Parkside Education and Action Committee (SPEAK) has a history of involvement with and support of the lake Merced water issue; and
WHEREAS it is important to use recycled water as part of the plan to maintain the watershed and aquifer in San Francisco; and
WHEREAS San Francisco is the only major county in the state without a recycled water program; and
WHEREAS the voters have approved the Prop A water bonds in November 2002 containing $103 million for development of a recycled water program; and
WHEREAS it is desirable to establish a level of accountability in administering the Prop A bonds visible to the citizens, then

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the SFPUC is requested to prepare a monthly status report on the use of the $103 million Prop A bond money earmarked for developing a recycled water program for use in San Francisco, and that this report be issued each month describing what action, or lack of action, took place since the previous report, and that copies be sent to:-Sunset/Parkside Education and Action Committee (SPEAK),-Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods, and-Those neighborhood organizations within the Coalition who identify themselves as desiring to receive the report. (SPEAK). Resolution passes (21-0-2) 2/18/03.

RESOLUTION CONCERNING LAKE MERCED
Resolved: That the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods shall join the Lake Merced Task Force as an active member in order to work for the protection of this City asset and to encourage users of the acquifer to convert to recycled water for irrigation.
That the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods shall study and monitor future activities designed to protect the Lake, including more than $100 million in City bond money designated to create a recycled water program for irrigation in San Francisco. (GGHNA). Resolution Passes (21-0-2) 2/18/03

RESOLUTION OPPOSING SFRA AND SFHA HYBRED HOUSING AT SCOTT BETWEEN ELLIS AND EDDY STREETS
Resolved:
That the CSFN oppose the hybrid housing experiment proposed by the SFRA and the SFHA for the A-2 project area lot located on Scott between Ellis and Eddy streets, adjacent to the Jewish Community High School of the Bay, as incompatible with the surrounding neighborhood housing and uses, the goals of SFRA, and common sense. (BANG) Resolution Carried (19-1-1)1/21/03.

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RESOLUTION TO CREATE A RECREATION, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE
Submitted by SPEAK
WHEREAS, it has been proposed to create a new Task Force within the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods to oversee the development of a Management Plan for the Natural Areas of the City of San Francisco;
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors has newly constituted a Natural Areas Program Citizens Advisory Committee in order to study a current issue of controversy which has a limited focus and a definite life span, requiring a report to the Board in November 2003;
WHEREAS, the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods has a vested interest in a whole gamut of parks and recreation areas as well as the thirty- one Natural Areas;
WHEREAS, it is in the long range interests of the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods to develop a committee structure that is more permanent in nature and can address the broad range of problems to the recreation, park and open space areas of the City;
WHEREAS, there are numerous important issues that are currently creating great public controversy, such as:
• diversion of the Open Space Acquisition Fund to other uses;
• public accounting of the budget of the Recreation and Park Department;
• formulation of priorities relating to the Recreation and Open Space Element;
• revision of the City’s Master Plan goals and policies;
• monthly oversight of the actions of the Recreation and Park Commission;
• environmental impacts of the Music Concourse Garage development;
• environmental and operational impacts of the expansion of the deYoung Museum and the Academy of Sciences;
• implementation of the goals and policies of the Golden Gate Park Master Plan;
• enforcement of parking restrictions in the parks.
WHEREAS, the Housing Element of the Master Plan is also undergoing revision at this time; and, there is need to balance the need for additional housing with the need for preservation of residential open space and the acquisition of new open space;
WHEREAS, a permanent standing committee of the Coalition would be ideally suited to address the broad range of recreation, parks and open space issues, as well as the shorter range problems regarding the Natural Areas raised by proponents of the Coalition Task Force;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods hereby establishes a Recreation, Parks and Open Space Committee to have its first meeting as soon as possible and continue to meet on a regularly scheduled basis throughout the year; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Management Plan for the Natural Areas be the first of the major issues to be studied and recommended by the Committee.


RESOLUTION OPPOSING CHANGES TO SAN FRANCISCO’S ZONING AND PLANNING CODES
Submitted by: Twin Peaks Council and Open Space Conservancy

WHEREAS, the CSFN helped to create and pass “PROP M” and continues to steadfastly support it and
WHEREAS, the CSFN has worked 30 years for “reasonable density” in many other ways and
WHEREAS, the CSFN has always opposed the “illegal units” which have helped to cause our dangerously congested streets
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the CSFN opposes any change in San Franciso’s Zoning and Planning Codes (including the “Housing Element and Land Use Element” which are segments of the “City Wide Action Plan”) which would allow for the addition of living units now prohibited and/or allow for less off street parking than is currently required.


...Introduced Jan 21, 2003 SPEAK

REGARDING LAKE MERCED

WHEREAS, the volume of water in Lake Merced has steadily shrunk in recent years;

WHEREAS, the water quality in Lake Merced has declined during this same period;

WHEREAS, the lessened volume of water in Lake Merced constitutes a threat to recreation and enjoyment of the lake by San Franciscans, and use a water reserve in emergencies;

WHEREAS, numerous studies have documented that water drawn from the local aquifer by nearby golf courses and local government agencies contributes to this shrinkage;

WHEREAS, San Francisco is one of only two counties in the state of California that does not recycle water for irrigation;

WHEREAS Lake Merced is a jewel and an asset for the enjoyment of San Francisco that requires protection;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE COALITION OF SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS
1. That the COALITION FOR SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS shall join the Lake Merced Task Force as an active member in order to work for the protection of this City asset and to encourage users of the aquifer to convert to recycled water for irrigation.
2. That the COALITION FOR SAN FRANCISCO NEIGHBORHOODS shall study and monitor future activities designed to protect the Lake, including more than $100 million in City bond money designated to create a recycled water program for irrigation in San Francisco.
...Introduced by GGHNA, January 21, 2003

 
   
 
 

BENEFACTORS
San Francisco Apartment Association
San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798
Residential Builders Association


PATRONS
Retired Firemen & Widows Assn of SFFD
Law Offices of Steven F. Gruel


SPONSORS
Hon. Leland Yee, Speaker Pro Tem
California Assembly
Hon. Quentin & Mara Kopp
Buena Vista Neighborhood Assn
East Mission Improvement Assn
Excelsior District Improvement Assn
Friends of the Music Concourse
Laurel Heights Improvement Assn
Miraloma Park Improvement Club
New Mission Terrace Improvement Assn
North Beach Neighbors
OMI Neighbors in Action
Panhandle Residents Organization/Stanyan-Fulton
Richmond Community Assn
Russian Hill Improvement Assn
Russian Hill Neighbors
Sunset Parkside Education & Action Committee (SPEAK)
Van Ness Neighbors
San Francisco Taxpayers Union
John Bardis
Judith Berkowitz
Mary Helen Briscoe
Sue Cauthen
Karen & David Crommie
Joan Girardot
Al & Mary Harris
Ed Jew/SWEAP
Fiona Ma for Assembly
Barbara Meskunas
Dick Millet
Frank Noto
Janet Reilly for Assembly
Richard Shadoian
Patricia Vaughey

THANK YOU!

 

Ballot Recommendations


Prop A..............................No

Prop B............Not Considered

Prop C..................No Position

Prop D...........................Yes