JTF, Inc. Board Meeting
February 25, 2003 at 6 -8:30 p.m.
Attendees: Scott
Belser, Sheila Chung, Seiko Fujimoto, Rosalyn Tonai, David Ishida, Caryl Ito,
Tak Matsuba, Jeff Mori, Jon Osaki, Mariko Watanabe
Guests: Holli
Thier (Thier PR), Karen Kai (advisory), Manito Velasco (DPT), Mitchell Omerberg
(Thier PR), Sandy Mori (advisory), JK Yamamoto (advisory).
Excused: Mark
Moriguchi, Benh Nakajo, Bob Otsuka, Pat Shiono.
Absent: Doug
Dawkins, Colin Gomez
A. Recognition
of Quorum
B. Minutes
of January 27, 2003 unanimously approved.
Holli Thier, and
Mitchell Omerberg with Thier PR have been hired by Caltrans, DPW, the
Transportation Authority, DPT, and various city, state, and mayoral agencies to
facilitate the demolition process with the public. In 1998, Proposition E required Caltrans to demolish the Central
Freeway structure and replace it with an elevated structure which will touch
down on Market St. A new Octavia
Boulevard will be built in the process.
The freeway is scheduled to close at midnight of March 29, and
demolition will begin soon thereafter.
On March 30, there will be a demolition celebration at Octavia and
Market. For more information visit the
website at www.octaviacentral.org
or email info@octaviacentral.org.
Manito Velasco, of the
Department of Parking and Traffic, reports that, signage to Japantown will
begin coming off of Ninth St to Larkin and then to Geary to replace current
signage off the Fell Street exit.
Mayor Willie Brown Jr.
Dedication: March 21, 6:15-8:30 pm, Miyako Hotel. Junko
Nakagawa and Benh Nakajo
have been confirmed to MC the event.
George Yamasaki has committed to play music at the event. Admission to the reception is $25 per
person.
Tak Matsuba
Appreciation Dinner: March 10th, 6:30pm, Miyako
Mall
Executive Committee:
The new executive committee has yet to be confirmed, so a committee needs to be
appointed to review the current executive committee and make recommendations
for the next year.
California Japantowns
Preservation Committee February 24th meeting: Jon,
Sandy, and Linda attended a joint meeting of the California Japantowns
Preservation Committee and the California Japanese American Community
Leadership Council in Sacramento to discuss Prop. 40 and SB 307. Currently, San Jose is in the process of
re-submitting it’s application for SB307 funds, Los Angeles has submitted
theirs and San Francisco has yet do so.
Sup. Gonzalez has asked the Planning Department to hold off on applying
for the funds, so currently the money is not available although the funds are intact. The committee asked that all proposals from
each Japantown be similar although Task Force members supported Kokoro and NLF
projects. Sandy reports that she spoke
with Diane Chun from Parks and Rec who stated that they would preferably give
funds to a 501c3 nonprofit or a public agency.
Parks and Rec would also prefer to see something that has California
statewide significance.
Within the 3
Japantowns subcommittee, Sandy states that each Japantown has 3 votes, and there is one at-large vote by Laura
Takeuchi which will give a direction and concept to promote the proposals. San Francisco representatives also raised
the issue that all cities do not have to have the same proposal since each
community’s needs are different. Los
Angeles has decided to use their money on public art, educational markers and signage while San Jose wants to use the
funds for signage and landmarks indicating historic sites.
Karen Kai from NLF
reports that there is a need for the funds even if it is shared with the historical
markers project. Monies could be used
to fix the roof needs fixing, for restoration, or interior work, which is all
needed.
Linda states that
there is an upcoming meeting of the subcommittee on March 7. Benh, Jon, and Linda, are representatives of
San Francisco on that subcommittee, but Benh will not be able to make that
meeting. Linda requests that Sandy be
put on the committee so that San Francisco can use all 3 votes.
Accounting Software:
The Task Force is looking for affordable nonprofit accounting software. So far staff has checked out Nonprofit
Books, and is pleased with its functionality.
Linda will investigate further with Scott Belser, and Eric Ha of AARS.
Staff Resignation:
Chris Durazo will be resigning her position at the Task Force and will be
working at the South of Market Community Action Network.
DSL:
The Task Force will be signing up for a DSL account.
Communication
Committee: The
communications committee is looking into translation services, and Japanese
language software. In addition, they
are in the process of compiling information on events that are coming up during
the year so that the committee can distribute this information at the Cherry
Blossom Festival as part of their outreach and marketing. At the festival, the committee is asking
that board members volunteer their time to staff the booth. For the mapping project, the committee is
working with JCGC to ensure that they have input into the final project. Finally, they are looking at editing
previous documents to identify the core of
a community plan and doing the
same to create a marketing plan. Jon
mentions that he is having difficulty finding the JTF website using a search
engine. Rather than going to the JTF
website, it goes to the Nichi Bei Times website which contains certain Task
Force documents.
Cultural and
Historical Preservation Committee: Ros reports that the Cultural and Historical
Preservation Committee met and focused on verifying the accuracy and content of
the draft historic context statement created by Tim Kelley and Gerald
Takano. The document, which can be
modified, changed, or added to over time, mainly establishes the parameters of
the historical and cultural significance of Japantown. Suggestions were made to hold meetings to
engage the community and document the process.
The board suggested putting off submission of the document for another
month. There was also concern among the
board that the City Supervisors may be using the Task Force’s process to apply for
SB307 funds but ultimately leave the Task Force out of the use of the
funds. Ros requests that the board
review and the statement and submit any revisions or comments they may have.
Economic and Business
Development Committee: Tak reports that the 1600 Webster street retail space is available
at a 1.5 million dollar asking price.
At this time, no merchants are interested in purchasing the space
although a lease may be an option. The
committee also entertained the idea of having medical offices in the space if
it is subdivided. Tak also states that
they are approaching the Consul General’s office, who may be able to use the
space for an information and outreach office.
David suggested that NJAHS use the space to supplement their existing
exhibit space. Seiko will be meeting
with the Consul General to discuss the possibility of using the retail space.
Regarding the koban,
Tak reports that it was his understanding that the Merchants Association
purchased the koban and donated it to the SFPD. However, it was recently discovered that the Merchants
Association still owns the space. Caryl
raised a concern that NPC has certain rights over the use of koban since it is
on their property.
The garage is also
working with the Task Force and the Merchants Association looking into starting
a parking receipt program with advertisements from Japantown from
merchants.
Health and Safety
Committee: Since chair is absent, there is no report.
Finance Committee: No
report.
Fundraising Committee: No
report.
Personnel
Committee: Caryl reports that the personnel committee met
with Linda to establish the parameters for an evaluation process. In addition, the committee will be
distributing a short survey for the board at the next meeting.