JTF
Board Meeting
June
23, 2003 @ 6:00 p.m.
1765
Sutter St.
JTF Board: Sheila Chung, Doug
Dawkins, Seiko Fujimoto, Colin Gomez, Rosalyn Tonai, David Ishida, Mark
Moriguchi, Tak Matsuba, Benh Nakajo.
Excused: Scott Belser, Caryl Ito,
Jeff Mori, Jon Osaki, Bob Otsuka
Absent: Pat Shiono
Advisory: Yo Hironaka, Kathy Reyes,
Karen Kai.
Guests: Shirley Wysinger (SFRA),
Don Capobres (SFRA), Denise Blades (SFRA), Winston Wong, Cathal Hennessy (DPT).
Don Capobres and Denise Blades came from the SFRA
to discuss with the Task Force the Business Improvement District (BID)
program. BIDs are a financial mechanism
assessed through property taxes to generate revenue to fund activities such as
maintenance, security, marketing, special events, economic development,
etc. Before starting a BID, the SFRA
would hire consultants to study the feasibility and desire for such a program. The BID is self-imposed through elections in
which property owners are each given a vote.
The amount assessed each property is based on the linear frontage of a
building, and the dollar amount per liner foot is determined by the community. BIDs are in place for 5 year periods, at the
end of which the process must be renewed of the program closed.
Since the Fillmore and Japantown have different
needs, separate “Benefit Zones” could be created, so that money could be
allocated to different projects in each area.
How the district would then be governed however, is unclear. Board members also brought up questions
regarding the administrative costs of a BID, and how it may work in a smaller,
more diverse community such as Japantown.
Cathal Hennessy looks at traffic handling for the
Department of Parking and Traffic and has been studying Japantown traffic as a
commercial arterial tract. He reports
that traffic on Post is quite ideal, with high compliance in regards to traffic
speeds. Recently, mast-arm and
pedestrian count-down signals have been installed on Pine and Bush
streets. Having read the Task Force’s
concepts plan, Cathal reports that DPT has been looking into the suggestions
contained in the plan such as bulbouts, street narrowing, street trees, and
sidewalk treatments for pedestrians.
The cons of such changes include high cost and loss of parking. Cathal requests Task Force input as to how
to proceed. The first option is for
city approval of concepts plan suggestions (keeping in mind that more detailed
design will come back at a later stage if suggestions are deemed feasible), or
continued study of design changes to reduce lanes of traffic on Post and
Webster streets. Colin brought up
concerns that a lane reduction might create problems for the delivery trucks
that park on Post. However, Cathal
states, yellow zones could be created to accommodate these concerns.
Quorum recognized
Minutes of April 28, 2003
and May 20, 2003 approved.
1. Prop. 40 SB 307 Agreement
Linda
thanks Kokoro and NLF for submitting their proposals for Prop. 40 at such late
notice. On Memorial Day, Allen Okamoto
and Paul Osaki met at Sup. Matt Gonzalez’s office with Jeff. Jeff agreed to support the Buchanan Mall
proposal that Paul and Allen had put forth, insofar as it met the criteria in
the Japantown community plan, held public hearings (on design and budget),
fulfilled Prop. 40 requirements and was completed in a timely manner. The Japantown Task Force, would then be the
recipient of SB307 dollars and become the planning entity for Japantown through
Board of Supervisors resolution.
Sandy
adds that one of the additional stipulations on the agreement was that Paul and
Allen do the necessary research to get approval from the Art and Redevelopment
Commissions, held public hearings in the community, and that NPC be part of the
decision making process.
Ros
expressed her discontent regarding the decision making process and states that
the committee received no proposals, and could not come to a
recommendation. She also emphasizes the
need for accountability and a process which provides time for groups and
committees to submit and review proposals.
Linda
adds that if there are delays, and the money is not spent, NLF and Kokoro are
not excluded from pursuing the funds.
Winston
also brought up his concerns at a lack of a defined community decision-making
process which also would provide for timely notification.
Motion
to approve SB 307 resolution approved with one abstention.
2. Nominations Committee
Motion
to approve nomination of advisory doard members: June-ko Nakagawa (KTSF Channel
26), Jongmin Paek (Korean American Women Artist and Writer Association) moved,
seconded, and approved.
1. Central
Freeway Signage
The Task Force will be
paying for half of the signs, the rest to be covered by Central Freeway
project. 20 additional signs have been
purchased to be placed at Task Force designated spots.
Linda also made
recommendations to DPT to make Laguna a two-way street so drivers can make a
right from Fell St. to Japantown.
David suggests having
signage from the Fremont exit to Front to Pine of the I-80 to Japantown.
2. Street
Signs
The
Task Force purchased 136 new street signs in and around Japantown in English
and Japanese.
3. MTA,
Nominees for Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)
Sandy had brought up the
possibility of having a Japantown representative to join the MTA CAC. If any individuals are interested in joining
the CAC, they should contact Linda.
4. Meeting
with Bike Coalition and MTA
Leah
Shahum, E.D. of the Bike Coalition, will be convening a community meeting on
Tuesday, July 15, 2003 at the JCCCNC from 6:30-8:30pm at the Task Force’s
request.
On
a separate note, Ros and Mark suggest a having a hard copy of the Director’s
report appended to the minutes.
1.
Communications
Committee
David
reports that the communications committee is trying to narrow down the
marketing plan, and is focusing on outreach to SF visitors. The committee is exploring developing
relationships with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, JCCNC, Conventions
and Visitors Bureau, etc, to increase the visibility of Japantown.
2.
Cultural
and Historical Preservation Committee
Ros
reports that the committee is in the final stages of completing the draft of
the historic context statement. The
committee will try and email the statement to the board prior to the next board
meeting for approval. In the future,
the committee will also be looking at getting more community involvement as it
moves into defining cultural preservation.
3.
Health
and Safety Committee
The
main concern in recent times of the Health and Safety Committee is to do
outreach and education on safety issues in Japantown. Benh reports that the committee is also hoping to have local
newspapers write an article covering Wayne and Kiyo, and emphasizing the
importance of reporting crimes.
4.
Personnel Committee
Seiko
reports that the Personnel Committee met June 2nd with Linda, and
Caryl will report back to the Executive Committee the results at their next
meeting.
5.
Nominations Committee
Although
typical terms for officers run from January to December, the Committee is asking
current officers to serve the rest of the current calendar year, the Jeff Mori
as President, Caryl Ito as Vice President, and Mark Moriguchi as
Secretary/Treasurer.
Motion to extend the terms of officers approved.
6.
Finance Committee
David
reports that a discussion arose in which it was requested that financial
information be presented as a regular item on the agenda, starting next
month. Linda was under the impression
that the Finance and Fundraising Committee were joined as one. David requested that Linda look at past
minutes to verify this.
Board of Directors
Potluck Dinner (Families and Children Welcome to Join)
Friday, July 11 @ 6:30pm at Caryl’s House
676 Miramar Ave (between Ocean and Monterey Blvd) San Francisco
Please RSVP by JULY 7th with Caryl Ito (334-6759 or
carylito@aol.com)
Main course, drinks, and dessert will be provided.
Sandy and Jeff Mori will also be honored at this year’s San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) Silver Spur Lunch for their many contributions. The event will take place Wednesday, October 29th at 11:00am at Moscone West (northwest corner of Fourth and Howard Streets). If you'd like to attend, please contact Caryl Ito at carylito@aol.com or 415.334.6759.
Board: Monday, July 28th
@ 6:00
Executive: Monday, July
21th @ 6:30
Communications:
Wednesday, July 9 @ noon
Preservation: Friday,
July 11 @ noon