Planning Association for the Richmond

Mayor Gavin Newsom Hosts Online Budget Town Hall Wednesday, Feb 24 at 5pm

Mayor Gavin Newsom will host an online video "budget town hall" from 5 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24th to discuss San Francisco's projected $522 million budget deficit for the 2010-11 fiscal year. Veteran City Hall journalists Barbara Taylor of KCBS and Rachel Gordon of the San Francisco Chronicle will moderate the online town hall.

San Francisco faces an unprecedented budget deficit next year and there are no easy solutions or choices. Mayor Newsom wants to hear directly from residents online about their priorities and suggestions as we grapple with the budget challenges ahead.

You can view the online budget town hall on Ustream by clicking on this link at anytime tomorrow evening from 5 - 7 pm

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mayor-gavin-newsom-live .

There are a number of options for submitting questions. You can email them in advance to: BudgetTownHall@sfgov.org or ask them live on Wednesday on the Ustream page.

Questions can also be submitted via Twitter by tweeting them with the hashtag #NewsomBudgetLive . To ensure objectivity, the moderators Barbara Taylor and Rachel Gordon will select the questions that the Mayor will be asked from among all those received.

If you plan to participate in the town hall meeting or have any questions please contact: BudgetTownHall@sfgov.org . Feel free to pass this message along to your friends and family.

Save MUNI Community Forum

When: SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010 8:15am-1pm

Where: Women's Building, 3543 18th Street (between Valencia and Guerrero Streets).

Agenda

• 8:15 AM: Registration and Coffee / Breakfast
• 9 AM - 1 PM: Solving Muni's Problems: A Fresh Discussion by Community-based Organizations

PAR will be represented at this meeting. If you are personally interested in attending or representing another neighborhood organization, contact Joel Ramos joel@TransFormCA.org for information.

MUNI Vote on Budget, Service Reductions and Fare Increases -- Tuesday February 26 at 9am

PAR has received the following statement from MUNI regarding the proposed changes to MUNI. Read more about the MUNI budget and proposed cuts in the SF Chronicle coverage.

Please be advised that the SFMTA Board of Directors Meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 16 has been rescheduled to Friday, February 26 at 9am. The location remains at Room 400 of City Hall.

The SFMTA Board is expected to vote at the February 26 meeting on proposals to close the Fiscal Year 2010 budget deficit.

The rescheduled meeting date will provide the SFMTA with additional time to evaluate the extensive public feedback on proposals to balance this year's budget. Thank you very much to those of you who have provided comments thus far. As you know, the SFMTA Board of Directors confronts a challenging budget situation for both the current fiscal year and the next two-year budget cycle. After layoffs and other cost-cutting measures that began last November, the SFMTA still faces a current-year $16.9 million shortfall. The solutions before the Agency and those impacted by its decisions are both painful and unpopular.

Proposed solutions include:
• Reduced frequencies and shorter service hours for Muni
• Muni fare increases and parking fee and fine increases Your opinion counts. Please attend one of the following meetings to learn more and to provide public comment.

Updated Schedule of Public Meetings on SFMTA Budget

FY 2010 Focus
SFMTA Board Meeting, City Hall Room 400
Tuesday, Feb. 26 - 9 a.m. (public hearing and possible Board action)

FY 2011-2012 Focus
Town Hall Meetings, One South Van Ness Ave. @ Market St., 2nd Floor Atrium
Wednesday, March 10 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 20 - 10 a.m.

SFMTA Board Meetings, City Hall Room 400
Tuesday, March 2 - 2 p.m.
Tuesday, March 30 - 2 p.m.
Tuesday, April 6 - 2 p.m. (public hearing and possible Board action)
Tuesday, April 20 - 2 p.m. (public hearing and possible Board action)

If you cannot attend one of the meetings, visit http://www.sfmta.com/ for details or send an e-mail to sfmtabudget@sfmta.com or call 311.

Judson True
Communications Manager

SF VAMC Announces FONSI for Upgrade of Buildings 9, 10 13

 

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT for

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

BUILDINGS 9, 10, 13 SEISMIC UPGRADES

and CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDING 22

SAN FRANCISCO VA MEDICAL CENTER (SFVAMC)

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announces the preparation and availability of a document titled "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI) for the proposed seismic upgrades of Buildings 9, 10, and 13 and construction of a new Building 22 on the SFVAMC campus. The SFVAMC is located at 4150 Clement Street on a 29-acre site in northwest San Francisco and is a major tertiary care facility that serves as a VA regional referral center for specialized medical and surgical programs. 

The proposed action involves conducting a seismic retrofit of Buildings 9, 10, and 13, as well as construction of a new two story 8,600 gross square foot building (4,500 square foot first story and 4,100 square foot second story). This new building (Building 22) would be constructed between Building 9 and Building 10, and once constructed, would provide an interior connection between the two existing buildings. Retrofitting activities at Building 9, Building 10 and Building 13 would primarily involve foundation reinforcement of these buildings. Building 9 and Building 10 are currently used to provide Hoptel services to Veterans seeking medical care at the SFVAMC, while Building 13 houses the Center for Imaging of Neuro-Degenerative Diseases.

The FONSI has been prepared as a result of an Environmental Assessment (EA) accomplished in accordance with the regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 1508.13. The EA was performed to assess potential environmental consequences from the seismic retrofitting activities at Buildings 9, 10 and 13, as well as construction of a new Building 22.

The EA evaluated the potential environmental impacts of three alternatives, including a no action alternative.  The EA was made available for public review and comment from May 11, 2009 to July 17, 2009. The VA received five (5) comment letters during the public review period of the EA. Substantive issues raised in each of the comment letters were very similar and related to four main topics. Therefore, a master response was prepared to address the specific comments related to each topic. The master responses provided clarification and provided specific references to the EA to address each comment. The EA, together with these master responses, constitute the Final EA for the project.

Copies of the EA are available for review between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the SFVAMC, Bldg. 3, Engineering Office. The EA can also be downloaded at: http://www.sanfrancisco.va.gov/page.cfm?pg=207 (NOTE: This file is 18 MB.)

For further information and/or a copy of the FONSI or Final EA, please contact:

John Pechman, Project Engineer
San Francisco VA Medical Center
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: (415) 221-4810 Ext 4600
Email: John.Pechman@va.gov

Rec & Park Special Meeting Thursday, February 18 on Large Events in GG Park (Old Car Picnic)

Rec & Park will consider an appeal of its refusal to grant a permit for this year's Jimmy's Annual Old Car Picnic in Speedway Meadow, as well as a number of other topics, at a special meeting Thursday, February 18. Here is the full meeting agenda

http://www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_page.asp?id=116584

For more information, see the Examiner article

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/Car-show-tries-to-stay-in-park-84431987.html

Ramp Closure, Park Presidio to Doyle Drive 2010-2013

Long-Term Ramp Closure: Effective February 17, 2010 Through 2011 Northbound Park Presidio/Hwy 1 (19th Ave) to Southbound Doyle Drive/Hwy 101 Ramp Closure Beginning Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 8:00 p.m., the off-ramp from northbound Park Presidio/Hwy 1 (from 19th Avenue) to southbound Doyle Drive/Hwy 101 will be closed through 2011. Recent Activity The off-ramp from northbound Doyle Drive/Hwy 101 to southbound Park Presidio/Highway 1 (to 19th Avenue) successfully closed on January 10, 2010 and will be closed through 2013. These closures are necessary to construct the Doyle Drive replacement, the Presidio Parkway. The closure of these ramps does not affect traffic coming from or going to the Golden Gate Bridge. View a printable advisory, including closure and detour maps. Visit Current Updates and Notifications page for information on local Presidio road closures.

Geary BRT Meeting Thursday, February 4

The public is invited to attend Meeting #9 of the Geary BRT Citizens Advisory Committee for the environmental analysis this Thursday.  The meeting will begin at 6.00p, and will be held at the Authority offices located at 100 Van Ness Avenue, 26^th Floor.  The meeting agenda can be downloaded at http://www.GearyBRT.org   

For more information contact

Elizabeth M Bent, Principal Transportation Planner

San Francisco County Transportation Authority

100 Van Ness Avenue, 26th Floor

San Francisco, CA  94102-5244

v/  415.522.4819    |    f/  415.522.4829

elizabeth.bent@sfcta.org

 www.sfcta.org

Emergency Town Hall Meeting on Ocean Beach Erosion Monday, January 25 at 7pm

Lara Truppelli, former chair of the Ocean Beach Task Force and current chair of the Ocean Beach Vision Council, is convening a community town hall meeting Monday January 25th at 7pm at the Park Chalet (located behind the Beach Chalet at 1000 Great Highway). Frank Filice, DPW Project Manager in charge of the City's response to and management of current erosion situation south of Sloat Blvd., will provide information about the City's emergency declaration, short term strategy and process for engaging the public in the development of a long term solution. Everyone who has an interest in the preservation and future of Ocean Beach is encouraged to attend. The emergency declaration will go before the Board of Supervisors for ratification the following day, Tuesday the 26th. For questions or more information, please email Lara Truppelli at Lara@beachchalet.com.

The Park Chalet will be offering $2 pints and extending their $5 happy hour menu of appetizers all night for the event.

See also: SF CHRONICLE ARTICLE - Jan 21- EROSION FORCES CLOSURE OF GREAT HIGHWAY LANES

Great Highway - both southbound lanes closed through the summer.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/20/BANC1BL3DQ.DTL

La Playa Safeway – Contacting Safeway Representatives

At PAR's General Membership Meeting on January 20, Safeway representative Natalie Mattei led a long discussion about the remodeling of the Safeway Store at Fulton and La Playa. Many attendees shared comments and suggestions. Safeway is prepared to receive additional comments and suggestions from the community.

Address your feedback to

Ms. Natalie C. Mattei, Real Estate Manager

Safeway, Inc.

Northern California Division

5918 Stoneridge Mall Road

Pleasanton, CA 94588-3229

925.467.3063 Tel

925.467.2007 Fax

natalie.mattei@safeway.com

Update, Doyle Drive Closures as of January 21

Overnight and Weekend Morning Closures of Southbound Doyle Drive to Southbound Highway 1 In order to prepare for construction activities for the Doyle Drive Replacement Project, the Presidio Parkway, two short closures of the connection from southbound Doyle Drive/Hwy 101 to southbound Hwy 1/Park Presidio Boulevard will be necessary. Overnight Closure of SB Doyle Drive to SB Highway 1 January 21 or 22, based on weather • On Thursday, January 21 or Friday, January 22, from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. the southbound Highway 1/Park Presidio Boulevard ramp will be closed. The specific date will be determined based on weather conditions. Changeable message signs will be updated when the closure date is determined. Weekend Morning Closure of SB Doyle Drive to SB Highway 1 January 23 • On Saturday, January 23, 2010 from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. the southbound Highway 1/Park Presidio Boulevard ramp will be closed. Optional vehicle trips should be avoided during these closures. Closures times were selected due the expected low volume of traffic. Dates are subject to change due to weather and unforeseen circumstances. View a printable advisory, including closure and detour maps. Visit our Current Updates and Notifications page for information about local Presidio road closures.