I. Call to Order, Roll Call/Introductions Sue Cauthen, Chair 6:12 PM

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1 LIBRARY CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE FINAL MINUTES May 20, 2009 Room 278 City Hall Wednesday, May 20, PM City Hall: Room 278 One Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place San Francisco, California ORDER OF BUSINESS I. Call to Order, Roll Call/Introductions Sue Cauthen, Chair 6:12 PM Present: Ted Bamberger, Enne Braun, Sue Cauthen, Lucille Cuttler, Shanica Dismuke, Houston Garcia, Roger Kallen, Margaret Lee, Neil Mills, Michael Olinger, Stina Skewes-Cox, Peter Warfield, Dan Weaver. Absent: Linda Guitron, Clarice Moody, Jan Seeman, Gladys Soto II. Select minutes-taker (Michael Olinger, Margaret Lee) III. The meeting was opened to public comment on items not on the agenda; there were none. IV. North Beach Library/Park Plan: Citywide Impact LCAC Chair Sue Cauthen noted that in the North Beach community, the situation has boiled up, and offered copies of neighborhood groups letters. She referred to the unusual events that preceded this meeting, with the city librarian and Joe DiMaggio Playground advocate Julie Christensen phoning and ing LCAC members. She apologized for the pressure this imposed. PANELISTS: Liz Diaz, Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground: Ms. Diaz introduced herself and said that she also spoke for the library. She stated that hundreds of people were part of the process that led to the current North Beach library reconstruction plan. She attended all the planning meetings and heard what the community had to say. 1

2 Ms. Diaz read a prepared statement regarding the library plan. She noted that North Beach is a densely populated neighborhood with from four to six schools near the library. Howard Wong, AIA, Coalition for a Better North Beach Library & Park: Mr. Wong introduced himself as an architect and as a participant in many neighborhood projects. He is confident that there is a library plan which will satisfy all needs. He noted that in the 2003 fight to take the library site (the Triangle) by eminent domain, the issue of retaining public view corridors was significant. Mr. Wong believes the current library plan blocks view corridors. He estimated the cost of the plan at $1300/sq. ft, including the $2.8 million of Open Space Fund money to buy the land via eminent domain. Friends of Joe DiMaggio Playground: (Note: Chair Cauthen gave Ms. Diaz two opportunities to speak as she was the only representative of the library position at the meeting.} Cauthen submitted an from group representative Julie Christensen, who was unable to attend. The was critical of the LCAC panelists and their opposition to the library plan. Group representative Liz Diaz presented a copy of SFPL s plan for circulation among LCAC members. She stated that the city had made a great effort to accommodate all concerns, and that everything had been talked through and through. Sal Busalacchi, Save Mason Street: Mr. Busalacchi distributed a pamphlet put together by his group, arguing against the SFPL plan and offering their own design. He has collected over 400 signatures against the street closure. He noted that the city did not want the Triangle for a library site in the 1950s and did not want to close Mason Street either. PUBLIC COMMENT Joan Wood: 45 year resident of NB (North Beach) objects to plan. Prop C funds are for open space only, not to be used to buy land for eventual development. The eminent domain resolution clearly states open space. She proposes retrofitting existing library, distributed comparison of $4m retrofit and $10m new construction). Alexandra Kienker: Member of various parties against SFPL plan. States that there is $8 million dedicated to building new library, but none for rebuilding the park. Is member of SF Preservation Consortium. States that BLIP program was granted exemption from Califofrnia Environmenal Qualiry Act (CEQA) based on a planned retrofit of branch libraries, including North Beach, not new construction. Switching sites to the Triangle was not a public process, very much behind the scenes. 2

3 Ben Diaz: Husband of Liz Diaz. Advocates closing Mason Street, pedestrians over buses. For the park, for closure, for the library. Dorothy Danielson: Doesn t drive anymore, walks. Questions need for Mason closure, SF is different from Europe, NYC, etc. Mason St. is a good conduit to Bay St.. Notes that former city librarian Susan Hildreth proclaimed triangle too small in QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM LCAC Roger Kallen: What s the sq. footage of new library vs. retrofit: HW: Existing sq. footage is New design gives you 8500, renovation could be SB: Second floor of new design not accessible to most people. LD: Community meetings addressed this issue. Addition to existing library cuts playground down, losing tennis and bocce. Removing library restores playground to original size. Lucille Cutler: What happens if triangle becomes playground/greenspace? LD: Net loss of playground. SFPL plan is a compromise, expands green space. Lucille Cutler: How does current fiscal situation fit in? HW: New library cost is $ m. Add $3m for eminent domain. Cost is $1290 sq. ft., vs. $500 sq. ft. for Marina branch. SB: Add $2m to move toddler space. LD: City put much effort and care into design, is good process and good for community; where were these new drawings at community meetings? Dan Weaver: If we demo (demolish) old building, and build in triangle, isn t land swap a wash? HW: Initially agreed, but now believes SFPL plan diminishes softball field. Peter Warfield: Stunned by library sell-job at most recent meeting, vs. lowkey presentation for Park Branch. Troubled by use of triangle for building, a betrayal to the community. Two-story design blocks views of streets, views of park, and is not inviting open space leading into park. Cauthen (SC): distributes SFPL s picture of new building. PW: SFPL plan is mandate for Recreation and Park Department to fix up park, yet there s no money. What about plan for abandoned building, does Recreation and Park Department have money to demo? SC: SFPL has budgeted demo and cleanup of old building. LD: Agrees with SC, notes that SFPL plan would mean no library down time. Eminent domain is used for good of greater cause. Plan not perfect, but is a good plan. Neil Mills: If old library is torn down, will there be more green space? LD: Yes SB: No HW: No, consider decrease due to ramped pathways, circulation routes. 3

4 Dorothy Danielson: If the Marina branch managed to survive temporary closure, why not North Beach? Eminent domain was to be used for recreation space, not for library or building. LD: Property always had a right to buy clause. Sue Cauthen: To the panel: What would you like LCAC to do? LD: Process is moving in good direction, please support cause of greater good for neighborhood and city. SB: I did offer alternate plan in 04. Please meet with Save Mason expert library consultant who calls SFPL plan absurd. HW: LCAC can help neighborhood groups access City Attorney to explore legality of using open space funds. Roger Kallen (to LD): Could you address use of Prop. C open space funds? LD: Defends with equal or better green space swap. Peter Warfield: Cites language from eminent domain resolution, which specifically states intent for the property is open space. HW: Would like City Attorney to clarify legal issues, also seeks to preserve views of unique area. SB: Everybody chooses open space over buildings. BRIEF RECESS Meeting called back to order 8:00pm Sue Cauthen: Options for LCAC are to ask for EIR to address demolition, seek clarification of intent of Open Space Fund and eminent domain resolution, and consider alternative designs for a renovation of existing building and impact of Mason Street closure. Olinger moved to approve letter from SC to SF Planning Department to address these issues. Motion seconded by Bamberger. Motion carries on 13-1 vote (No: Mills). Chair SC will draft letter and post on web for members to comment. Deadline for public comments on content of EIR is 5/29. VI. Old Business Haight-Ashbury (Park) Library: The Park branch will remain open through centennial celebration. PW registers objections to SFPL design for Park branch, stating that it does not respect open floor plan of existing design. Discussion on Park branch will continue at next LCAC meeting. VII.. Officer Reports: New SFPL budget eliminates planned $1.1m increase in book budget. LCAC will address budget at next meeting. LCAC annual report is due June 30. SC will draft report in format of previous year s, and bring to next meeting. 4

5 VIII. Approval of April minutes: Motion by Weaver to approve, with many seconds. Motion carries unanimously. Bamberger Yes: Bamberger, Braun, Cauthen, Cuttler, Dismuke, Garcia, Kallen, Lee, Mills, Olinger, Skewes-Cox, Weaver VIII. Adjournment: 8:26 PM The next meeting is June 17, 2009, at 6 PM in Room 278 City Hall. 5