JTF Board Meeting
October
27, 2003 @ 6:00 p.m.
1765
Sutter St.
TALC is a coalition of 90
member organizations that focuses on creating transportation improving transit
choices and livable communities. Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) is a form of transportation very similar to light
rail. BRT features may include
dedicated lanes, computer assisted steering, natural gas, “smart” traffic
lights, and easier and faster boarding among other things. BRT, unlike light rail, can also be
implemented relatively quickly, and can be upgraded to light rail. Proposition K, the half-cent transportation
sales tax renewal is supported by TALC would provide $110 million for BRT along
Geary, Van Ness, and Portrero.
1. Aki Matsuri
Staff attended and worked at Aki Matsuri, which had
good attendance and nice weather, and brought various groups together. Seiko remarked that there were too many
tickets for free games floating around, which made it more difficult to defray
costs of the event.
2. MTA Citizens Advisory Committee
If anyone is interested in serving on the MTA CAC
for the Geary corridor, they can apply with the Task Force. Deadline is November 4th, with 13
members and 5 alternates who can sit on the committee.
3.
Housing Element of the
General Plan
Linda shared the JTF Concepts Plan and Community
Plan with the Planning Commission regarding the Housing Element. Major concerns include the elimination of
the 1 to 1 parking space/housing unit ratio and exclusion from the discussion
process. Linda suggests discussion of
taking a position the housing element.
David suggests hosting a forum to share information on the Housing
Element and seek feedback for community members on the issue. Karen brings up the point that the Task
Force should not only break up the plan into small issues, but since it
includes such sweeping changes, should be looked at in a broad way as well. The Task Force will pursue looking into
putting on a community forum on the Housing Element.
5
Central Freeway Exit
Study
Linda was told that Sup. Bevan Dufty had gone to
the MTA to study the impact of not replacing the Central Freeway exits that
were torn down. However, Olivia Swilley
contacted Dufty’s office and told Linda that Dufty was trying to placate the
Bicycle Coalition and Tom Radulovich, and thus should not be concerned with the
request.
6
Signage Update
The second round of Japantown signs are now going up at through the Fremont Exit, Mission Exit, Fisherman’s Wharf area, and Van Ness Corridor to Japantown.
7
SB307 Update
At this point, the Task Force cannot fill out the application for SB307 funds. The Planning Department, which is the receiving entity, must complete the application. Larry Badiner had met with Marcia Rosen, but does not know how Planning can transfer the funds to Redevelopment. Linda is looking for a pass-through agency to receive the monies and bring that to the Task Force. David suggests not going back to the Board of Supervisors, but have Planning develop an MOU with Redevelopment for the purpose of transferring the funds between the two bodies.
8
Column in Marina
Times/New Fillmore
David Ish, who recently purchased the Marina Times and New Fillmore, contacted Linda requesting that she write a column on Japantown on a monthly basis in both papers. Mark suggests some sort of indication that the New Fillmore is not only a Fillmore neighborhood newspaper.
9. Yoshi’s
It has been announced that Yoshi’s Jazz club will be moving to the Fillmore district on Filllmore and Eddy.
10. Certificates of Preference
Recently
Shirley Wysinger contacted the Task Force regarding the agency’s certificate
program. In the past, because community
members were not able to get in contact with Harriet Starkes, (the agency
personnel assigned to the program) after numerous phone calls from formerly
displaced individuals, Shirley suggested sending letters on their behalf to
both Redevelopment and Stuart Scheinholtz.
At this point, displaced individuals must enroll in the Certificate of
Preference program with the Agency in order to obtain priority housing. Sandy also brings up that there are senior
housing opportunities coming up which certificate holders can take advantage
of. David suggests gathering all the relevant
information and disseminating through such vehicles as the local newspapers.
Motion made and approved
to accept the minutes of September 29, 2003.
1. Communications Committee:
Communications is looking at developing a 1-page
glossy brochure for conventioneers. At
this point, the committee is still exploring the viability of creating and
distributing such a brochure. The most
recent fall JTF newsletter has also been published and sent out.
2. Cultural and Historical Preservation Committee:
The Historic Context Statement was approved by the
LPAB. Tim Kelley is also asking that
the Task Force support his efforts to make the LPAB a commission rather than an
advisory committee through a charter amendment to Article 10.
3. Business and Economic Development Committee:
At this point, Arnold Chin is not offering the
Merchants Association any money for the Koban so there is no deal yet.
Regarding BIDs, Tak expressed concern that the
Merchants may not be supportive of the idea because the BID operates on a
reimbursement basis. Linda has spoken
with Kathy Sakamoto of San Jose’s Japantown, and the committee hopes to later
speak with a representative from the Union Square BID to see how viable the
idea is for Japantown. There is also
concern that working with the Fillmore may decrease the autonomy of the
Japantown Merchants Association.
Issues also arose within the JMA of individual
merchants who are not members of the Association, yet benefit from the services
they provide. Jeff points out that
security should be addressed as a neighborhood issue, not one that the
merchants should solely bare since it is something that everyone benefits from. Tak announces that a special committee with
Eddie Moriguchi, Akira Minamiura, Richard Matsuno, Rich Hashimoto, and himself
will be meeting to discuss the formula for JMA membership dues. Security costs for Japantown on an annual
basis are estimated at approximately $100,00, which is relatively cheap for the
city. Mark brought up the possibility
of using surveillance as a means to decrease the need for security guards. The Japan Center Garage will be soon
receiving a prototype of the iParking security system.
4. Health and Safety:
Marie
Cleasby from the Sequoias joined the meeting of the Health and Safety Committee
to discussed their clean up activities in Japantown and how they may work
together with the Task Force. The
committee also discussed the cleanup activities of the Buchanan merchants who
on a daily basis water down and clean their storefronts. It was brought up that the committee hoped
to publicize these efforts in the JTF newsletter. Although the merchants no longer come out on Wednesdays to clean,
Darryl Abantao is using the Litter Hawk to clean Japantown. Jeff brought up that a Japantown
representative was to approach AARS to see if some of their clients may be
interested in working to clean up the Buchanan Mall.
The
need for countdown lights also came up at the meeting particularly at Sutter
and Webster and Post and Webster. The
committee also pointed out the need for flashing lights at the pedestrian
crossing on Sutter St. in front of Hinode Towers.
Benh brought up the issue of the tree planting
ceremony. Tak reports that people are
under the wrong impression that the merchants are responsible the removal of
the trees in the Buchanan Mall. The
merchants have offered to give NPC some of the cherry trees to be removed from
the Peace Plaza to be planted in Buchanan Mall after the plum trees are
removed. Although Tak is a part of NPC,
he was not aware that they were planning to remove the trees. He invited Alan to explain in further detail
at today’s meeting, but he was unable to attend. However, it has come up that the contractor, John Nishizawa will
not be using the trees from the Peace Plaza.
Because there is no tree and no plaque prepared for the event, further
questions arose about what would occur.
Tak provides this explanation; Japan Week, which runs from October
27-November 9 is a celebration of 150 years of US-Japan relations. To celebrate this occasion, the Consul
General’s office decided to plant cherry trees. Upon hearing of the removal of trees in Buchanan, the Consul
General’s office decided to work with NPC to celebrate the occasion at the
Buchanan Mall. The merchants
association however, is concerned that there will be no trees to decorate for
the holiday season. At this point John
Nishizawa and Rumi Okabe are discussing the possibility of having new cherry
trees planted by early December so that the merchants can decorate them. The Mayor’s Neighborhood Beautification Fund
is paying for the cost of the trees.
Seiko reports that the tree removal and plating has been an
ongoing effort of the Friends of the Buchanan Mall. After the fountains were refurbished, the Friends decided that
the trees should also be replaced since they were nearing the end of their
lives. A discussion was held at the
former Task Force office with Seiko and landscape architect Bob Tanaka on this
issue. Seiko is concerned about the
Task Force’s approach to the situation, which she felt was inappropriate
especially given the recent deaths in Allen and Rumi’s families and the
involvement of the Consul General.
Concern also arose around the email sent on behalf of the Task Force
without consultation of all board members. Tak states that the merchants and
the Task Force members are concerned because no notification was received
regarding this activity. Sandy adds
that there was no communication mechanism which allowed various segments of the
community to get together to discuss what was going to happen to the Buchanan
Mall.
Issues also came up around the use of email copies being
sent out to various parties who may interpret what is said out of context. As the copies are sent out, they may be seen
as gossip, and may only worsen the situation.
On a separate issue, Jeff
was named to the redevelopment WA-A2 CAC.
Jeff will request that the position be slotted for the Japantown
community or the Task Force.
Finally, Tak announces
that the Cherry Blossom Festival Executive Committee is looking for a chair.
Executive: Monday,
November 17 @ 6:30
Board: Monday, November
27 @ 6:00
Preservation: Friday,
November 21 @ noon
Health and Safety:
Tuesday, November 18 @ 6:30
Business and Economic
Development: TBA
Communications: TBA