Planning Association for the Richmond, SF

News from San Francisco Beautiful

 

 

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San Francisco Beautiful Welcomes Kearstin Krehbiel September 16, 2011 Looking Forward                                                      Letter from the Executive Director    I'm proud to join youin serving our city as the new Executive Director of San Francisco Beautiful. For more than 60 years, San Francisco Beautiful - a group of citizens, neighbors, friends, and philanthropists - has been integral in making San Francisco the extraordinary place it is today. The city we call home has been rated one of the cleanest, greenest, happiest, and healthiest urban centers in the world.   As we look to the challenges and opportunities that the next 60 years will bring - a shrinking economy, reductions to state and city budgets - there is much work ahead for San Francisco to stay livable, green, and beautiful.  I hope we can count on you as we build a strong base of supporters with the creative resourcefulness needed to ensure the future of our city.   I look forward to meeting the challenges ahead. I'm proud to work with you, together for San Francisco.       Become a member today!   AT&T Applies for Utility Box Permits AT&T has started applying for individual, site specific utility box excavation permits from to the Department of Public Works. San Francisco Beautiful has received a number of emails and inquiries regarding these applications, posted within 300 feet of the proposed AT&T cabinet site.   To contest these site-specific permits, SFB has created a quick, go-to flier for you to use. Happy Park(ing) Day! Today, pedestrian activists around the world will set out to reclaim a small portion of the public sphere from the automobile. Started in 2005 by the San Francsico art and design group Rebar, the project turned a parking space into a temporary public park, which soon evolved to become world-wide celebration of public space known as Park(ing) Day.   Park(ing) Day has effectively re-valued the metered parking space as an important part of the commons - a site for generosity, cultural expression, socializing and play. Although the project is temporary, we hope Park(ing) Day inspires everyone to participate in the civic processes that permanently alter the urban landscape.   Take a moment to review with a discerning eye the underutilized potential in our public realm. Our sidewalks, parking spaces, alleyways and even fire hydrants all have the potential to enhance the pedestrian experience to make our cities more fun, enjoyable and better places to live.    Celebrate "Together for San Francisco!"    Get your costumes, masks, and attitudes ready to embody your favorite San Francisco icon at our Inaugural Masquerade Soiree, "Together for San Francisco." Held on October 14 at the Palace Hotel, we invite you to celebrate San Francisco's unique sense of urban beauty with this year's award winners, theEcoCenter at Heron's Head Park,  the Pavement to Parks/Parklets Programs,     Sunnyside Conservatory, and Off-the-Grid.   To purchase your ticket to San Fransisco Beautiful's much anticipated fall event, visit our ticket purchase webpage or send your contact information todinner@sfbeautiful.org for a formal invitation.     About San Francisco Beautiful   San Francisco Beautiful is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization that works to assure that the city retains and enhances its unique and memorable sense of place, balance and diversity as a beautiful, livable, green and vibrant urban center.   Instructions to Contest a AT&T Utility Box Permit   Purchase your Dinner Tickets Today!    Donate to San Francisco Beautiful    www.sfbeautiful.org         San Francisco Beautiful 100 Bush Street, Ste. 1812 San Francisco, CA 94104 kearstin@sfbeautiful.org    jonathan@sfbeautiful.org

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Board of Supervisors: AT&T Utility Boxes

 

To: SFB Coalition and Utility Box Working Group

Tomorrow, June 28th, the Board of Supervisors will take up the AT&T Utility Box issue once more at 2PM. It is widely expected, per aides to Supervisors and by an article in the San Francisco Examiner, that the AT&T Utility Box EIR vote will be continued until July 12.

http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2011/06/att-supes-stalemate-utility-boxes

Since Planning, Department of Public Works and the Public Utility Commission department heads have yet to respond to Supervisor Wiener's inquiry on the conformity of DPW Order 175, 566 with the General Plan: Urban Design Element and the Better Streets Plan, we expect department heads to report their findings at the Land Use and Economic Development Committee on July 11, one day before the tentative vote on AT&T's EIR. 

In the mean time, San Francisco Beautiful will be launching a window sign campaign (roughly 15" x 24") to demonstrate support for an EIR for AT&T's utility box blight. We hope to have these signs ready by the end of the week. These signs demonstrate grassroots community support for an EIR, efforts that truly sway the votes of Supervisors.

 - How many window signs would you be willing to place/distribute in your neighborhood or in your neighborhood commercial district?

 - Can you distribute window signs to your neighborhood and community members?

 - Are there volunteers to table in front of neighborhood businesses or at community events to distribute signs, write letters, postcards, etc.?

We want to ensure that there is more than adequate window sign coverage in Supervisor Farrell and Supervisor Wiener's districts. 

Thank you for your continued support! 

Regards,

Jonathan Goldberg
Associate
San Francisco Beautiful
100 Bush Street, Suite 1580
San Francisco, CA 94104
T. 415.421.2608 x13
F. 415.421.4037
jonathan@sfbeautiful.org
www.sfbeautiful.org

SF Beautiful will be moving to Suite 1812 on July 1. Please make a note in your address book.

Mark your calendars!

Our Annual Awards Dinner will be held on Friday, October 14, at the Palace Hotel.

Join us as we celebrate and honor neighborhood projects from throughout the City!

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Urban Water Management Plan for SF

 

FYI

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Subject:  Notice of Availability – Final 2010 Urban Water Management Plan for the City and County of San Francisco

On June 14, 2011, the SFPUC adopted the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) for the City and County of San Francisco. The 2010 UWMP update includes county-wide demand projections to the year 2035, compares available water supplies to meet demands and presents water demand management measures to reduce long-term water demand.  Additionally, the UWMP update includes a discussion of the conservation requirement set forth in Senate Bill 7 (SBx7-7) as passed in November 2009 mandating a statewide 20% reduction in per capita water use by 2020. The updated UWMP includes a quantification of the SFPUC's water
use reduction targets and plan for meeting these objectives. 

The Final 2010 UWMP is available at the links below.  A copy of the document is also available at the San Francisco Public Library, Government Information Center, 5th floor (100 Larkin Street, S.F., CA 94102), (415) 557-4400.  

2010 Urban Water Management Plan for the City and County of San Francisco
https://infrastructure.sfwater.org/fds/fds.aspx?lib=SFPUC&doc=684573&data=263560605  

Appendices to the 2010 Urban Water Management Pland for the City and County of San Francisco
https://infrastructure.sfwater.org/fds/fds.aspx?lib=SFPUC&doc=684574&data=263560990 

 

Neighbors Want SF to Continue Maintaining Street Trees

See link to Chronicle article.  Former PAR Board member Cheryl Schultz appears before SF Board of 

Supervisors to urge City to continue to maintain trees:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/13/sports/s161201D42.DTL

Department of Public Works Walks

SPRUCE UP by SUN UP   2011 Corridors Program Newsletter                   Spring Edition   Get Daily Updates through DPW's Social Media      Get involved in your community with these volunteer opportunities!                       Dear Community Corridor Partners,   For 22 weeks, the Department of Public Works staff, along with Recology staff, has been walking the streets of San Francisco during the pre-dawn hours.  These walks are part the Community Corridors Partnership Program inspection campaign called "Spruce Up by Sun Up".  The purpose of these early morning inspections has been to monitor the contributing factors to the city's visual blight as well as compare the changes that have occured since the Community Corridors Partnership Program began in 2007.  I would like to share the discoveries made during these walks.  Many deficiencies were noted and then sent to the rightful owners  who are responsible for correcting the defects.  This includes city agencies, private agencies and private property owners.    DPW is committed to doing its part for the betterment of San Francisco and its citizens.  Thank you for your  continued partnership and support.    Mohammed Nuru Deputy Director for Operations Department of Public Works Spruce Up by Sun Up - A Community Corridors Program   The campaign to help improve the look and cleanliness of San Francisco and safety for its residents has concluded.  "Spruce Up by Sun Up"  is a 22 week inspection campaign lead by the Department of Public Works (DPW).  From September 7, 2010 through February 24, 2011, staff walked the Corridors before the break of dawn to report deficiencies such as missing or inadequate refuse service, sidewalk cleanliness issues such as gum stains, grime and litter; trees that require attention; and graffiti and blight issues on both public and private properties.       DPW reported over 9,000 deficiencies in five months. These deficiencies include broken or sunken curbs; public furniture that need paint; bent, faded or defaced signs, clogged catch basins, and tree basins.  Information is sent to the correct property owner including public and private agencies.     SPRUCE UP INSPECTION SUMMARY REPORT     Graffiti remains the number one issue in the Corridors. Percentage from the chart on the right includes graffiti both on public and private properties. Private property owners are notified to abate the graffiti. DPW removes graffiti on public furniture.     The 24% of tree issues reported include mandatory pruning, over pruning, missing, or dead trees.   17% of business owners and residential properties do not have garbage service or have insufficient or inadequate service. Refuse service in the city of San Francisco is mandatory.         Sidewalk issues include dirty, grimy or unsafe pedestrian walkway. It also includes litter on the sidewalk such as trash, debris, cigarette butts, or missing vent covers.          Top 5 Deficiencies Reported Instances of graffiti (both on public and private properties) No-garbage service Trees with clearance issues Grime, litter or cigarette butts on the sidewalk Mandatory recycling compliance   Top 5 Areas in Corridor with Most Deficiencies Potrero Avenue, Glen Park area, Mission Street (18th to 22nd Streets) 24th Street, Mission Street (22nd Street to Cesar Chavez), South Van Ness (18th to 22nd Streets) Larkin, Polk and Otis Streets West Portal Avenue, Ocean Avenue (Phelan to Capitol Streets), Noriega Street (19th to 25th Avenues) Van Ness Avenue (Bush to Greenwich Streets), South Van Ness Avenue (14th to Mission Streets)   Top 5 Areas in Corridor with Least Number of Deficiencies 3rd Street (23rd Street to Galvez Avenue), Mission Street (Foote to Lawrence Streets Broadway (Powell to Kearny Streets), Van ness Avenue (Greenwich to North Point) Noriega Street (30th to 33rd Avenues) 3rd Street (Galvez to Oakdale Avenues), 3rd Street (Williams to key Avenues) Polk Street (California to Vallejo Streets), Grant Avenue (Broadway to California), Columbus Avenue (Powell to Pacific Streets)      The Dirt on Garbage Service   Education about the need for garbage service was one of the main focuses of the "Spruce Up by Sun Up" campaign.  Garbage service is mandatory in San Francisco.  Refusal to establish service can lead to $100 minimum fine per incident.  The concern for no-garbage service goes beyond just the property.  No-garbage service leads to illegal dumping which costs the city millions of dollars to clean up.  Additionally, illegal dumping can be a burden on the neighborhood, adds to the visual blight, and attracts vermins which can lead to some health concerns.    Over 800 business and residential properties received a citation for no-garbage service during the Spruce Up campaign.  The good news is, once property owners were made aware, 89% of those cited started service.    If you'd like more information about what illegal dumping can do to you and your neighborhood, please check out this presentation.     Community Corridors Partnership Program Quick Facts    The Corridors Program began in October 2007. The goal of the program is to build a partnership among all stakeholders including public and private agencies, business owners and property owners. There have been three scheduled inspections in the Corridors. There are now 78 Corridors which equals to over 300 city blocks. Most Corridors are in a merchant block.            Don't Leave it on the Sidewalk!  DPW recently began a campaign to end illegal sidewalk dumping: a practice that costs taxpayers millions of dollars every year and increases blight in your neighborhood.     It is illegal to leave furniture, appliances, garbage bags or any thing on the sidewalk at any time unless you have a scheduled pick up from a licensed hauler or donation facility.   Find out more about DPW's campaign as well as the many options available for you to properly give away or get rid of your junk.   You can help!  Please print out this flyer and distribute and post throughout your community. Thank you!