Express Bus for N-Judah Extended Past Trial Period

By Jonathan Farrell

The bus shuttle express that was introduced to supplement the Muni N-Judah streetcar line this past summer has been extended past its six-month trial period. The bus picks up passengers in the Outer Sunset and takes them directly downtown, and vice versa.

Muni created the service because N-Judah streetcars were already at full capacity at rush hour when they arrived at Inner Sunset and Cole Valley locations. With Outer Sunset commuters riding the express buses, there is now room for those passengers.

According to the SF Municipal Transportation Agency (Muni), the N-Judah streetcar is the most heavily used light-rail line in the Muni system. It serves as a main artery of transit from Ocean Beach, at La Playa and 48th Avenue, to Fourth and King streets at AT&T Park.

The streetcar line has almost 40,000 people boarding daily.

As a working middle-class neighborhood, the Sunset relies on the N-Judah as its transit lifeline to the Financial District. Delays and “switch-backs” during peak commuting hours have caused problems and frustration for residents who use public transit.
The goal of the Judah Express Route is to provide residents in the Outer Sunset with an additional transit choice while helping relieve crowding. The morning bus operates every 10 minutes inbound from Ocean Beach starting at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays. The bus makes all 11 local stops along Judah Street between 48th and 19th avenues. Then, it continues nonstop to Bush and Montgomery streets in the Financial District. The last eastbound bus leaves Ocean Beach at 9 a.m.

The afternoon commute for the Judah Express going outbound begins at 4 p.m., picking up passengers at Montgomery and Bush streets on weekdays and making its way to the Sunset District while stopping at all stops between 19th to 48th avenues.

According to the SFMTA, the Judah Express has exceeded expectations. Since its pilot program implementation in June of last year, the express bus has increased ridership on the N-Judah line by about 2,000 passengers a week.

The SFMTA considers the shuttle express so successful that it is considering using it as a model for future service expansion.
According to Cammy Blackstone, a legislative aide to SF Supervisor Carmen Chu, there has been some talk about expanding the bus shuttle service to the Muni L-Taraval streetcar line, but Muni officials concede they do not have the money to do that at this time.
“Customer response was based on feedback we received through 311. A large majority of all responses were positive. Others indicated that they would like to see the time period extended, which we did,” said Paul Rose, a media representative for SFMTA. Rose said most responses were positive and many people wanted to extend the express service, which Muni did.

According to the report, in the initial planning phases for the shuttle bus express different groups within the Transit Division worked together to map out the route. A comprehensive customer information program was developed in which transit ambassadors were deployed in the initial days to introduce customers to the service. The express route along Judah Street is served by a dedicated fleet of Gillig motor coaches painted with a distinctive blue stripe along its top. The N-Judah Express logo is fixed on the bus’s exterior to alert riders of its arrival along the route.

Political consultant and transit blogger Greg Dewar sees the new shuttle bus as a good effort.

“It’s a smart public relations move on the part of the SFMTA and worthy of some applause,” he said.

But, Dewar pointed out that a shuttle is only a short-term fix to Muni’s overall transit failures serving the avenues. Dewar, who lives in the Outer Sunset not far from La Playa, knows the frustrations of residents as they struggle to rely on a transit line that has been plagued with troubles for years. To document those troubles, Dewar maintains a blog on the Internet called “The N-Judah Chronicles.”

“This shuttle is really a hack solution. It was never mentioned in the Transit Effectiveness Project (TEP), which is estimated at a cost of $3 million,” Dewar said.

For more information about the Judah Express Shuttle, visit the website at http://www.sfmta.com or call 311.

Lawsuit Filed for Taraval Marijuana Permit

By Jonathan Farrell

Supporters of a medical marijuana dispensary proposed for Taraval Street are disappointed that an initial permit approved by the SF Planning Commission in 2010 was later rescinded by the SF Board of Permit Appeals.
Opposition to the idea by the local community has been steady.

Supporters of the dispensary say the recent crackdowns by federal authorities has prompted them to “step away” from the effort. However, a lawsuit has been filed in SF Superior Court by Greg Schoepp to re-claim the original permit.
Schoepp, and Paul Hansbury, who worked on the effort, said much of the opposition to a medical marijuana (or cannabis) dispensary (MCD) proposed for 2139 Taraval St., near 32nd Avenue, is due to preconceived or misconceived ideas. Hansbury believes the process got stalled and “delays seemed predetermined because of local political games.”

Schoepp, who owns Crown Hardware on Balboa Street, declined to make any further comments due to fear of reprimands by the federal government.

While the effort has been thwarted, supporters like Hansbury and others say a medical marijuana dispensary is still needed for the western part of the City.

Many in the local community, especially along Taraval Street, disagree. Even SF Supervisor Carmen Chu sees the establishment of an MCD on Taraval as problematic.

“Even though the proposed site at 2139 Taraval met all the criteria, (including being more than a 1,000 feet from a school), Supervisor Chu respects the community’s wishes,” said Cammy Blackstone, Chu’s legislative aide.

Blackstone said the supervisor’s office received more than 4,000 letters and phone calls opposing the idea of an MCD on Taraval. Only 40 people contacted the supervisor’s office to support it.

Blackstone confirmed that complaints about the smell of smoke emitting from the site were reported, but Hansbury and others say such complaints are “a lie.”

“There is no adjacent wall from which the smell of smoke can be detected,” Hansbury said.
Neighbors say the MCD is not welcome because it would be located next to a church, tutoring center and within a short distance from the Parkside Branch Library and St. Ignatius and Lincoln high schools. The influence of a MCD, some officials fear, would only lead to more trouble in the neighborhood.

City officials have struggled to establish guidelines and enforcement policies for marijuana dispensaries.
Since Proposition 215 was passed by 56 percent of California voters more than 10 years ago, the controversy regarding the medical use of cannabis has raged on, with a conflict between local and federal law. Most of the concern centers on the increase of MCDs in residential areas.

Supporters of the MCD noted that security measures, like the installation of surveillance cameras, etc., would be included for the proposed Taraval MCD. But residents and community leaders doubt this will deter potential crime.
Opponents question the extent to which marijuana is being used for medical purposes, namely pain-management. Marijuana has been used to help those getting chemotherapy treatments for cancer to alleviate nausea. Claims that marijuana helps relieve back pain, arthritis and other common pain conditions, like fibromyaligia, were noted.

But the validity of such claims is debated, with documentation being varied and inconclusive.

Those in favor of a MCD on Taraval say it would be operated like a pharmacy, not like a pot club. A doctor’s prescription would be required. But, what type of doctor? And in what form would the patient or recipient take the medicine? Marijuana can be administered in a variety of forms, not just by smoking. Opponents question the dosage and the duration of the prescription as with any drug. And, who will enforce and manage the cost of regulation?

Still, those in favor of a MCD on Taraval insist that people with ailments alleviated by cannabis find it unfair that they must travel a long distance to reach one of the 22 MCDs in the City.

While Hansbury said he has “lost heart and should step away,” he and Schoepp hope those opposed will see the medical benefits and reconsider their opposition.

Fight to Create Green Hairstreak Butterfly Habitat Continues

By Ryder W. Miller

In an effort to help create more habitat for butterflies in San Francisco, students from Hoover Middle School have been conducting habitat restoration in the Sunset District.

Kids In Parks has returned to Herbert Hoover Middle School for the fourth consecutive year to work on the Green Hairstreak Butterfly Habitat Restoration Project.

Much of the school work has been done during school days, but there has also been community work over the weekends. The site is at Hawk Hill, which is adjacent to Hoover Middle School, located at 14th Avenue and Rivera Street, on SF Unified School District property.

The primary goal of the project is to restore habitat for the Green Hairstreak Butterfly. The plan is to remove invasive plants and replace them with native species.

Nature in the City posts: “Discovered by modern science in the late 1800s from ‘the hills of San Francisco’ the Green Hairstreak (Callyphors dumetorum) is a small, nickel-sized butterfly isolated in three remaining remnant habitats within the City: Hawk Hill, the Rocky Outcrop overlooking the Sunset District and the coastal bluffs of the Presidio.”

“We are creating a native plant demonstration garden and an outdoor classroom,” said Jeffrey Brown, the lead organizer for the restoration project.

The educational aspect of the project is very important. Related topics include “watershed biodiversity,” “bird watching” and others.

Brown said the students present a Green Hairstreak Festival each spring, and maybe this year it will be open to the public.
Liam O’Brien, one of the compilers for the “San Francisco butterfly count,” said he thought the students should get credit for the work they have done.

“A truly wonderful amount of work has been done there,” O’Brien said.

Such projects can provide opportunities for students to learn things in non traditional ways by providing an impetus to explore a variety of disciplines. The project also teaches stewardship.

Sarah McConnico, the site steward at 14th and Pacheco, explained that it is important to note that even though they are active at sites during the winter months, they are careful not to disturb the sensitive areas, which are located around buckwheat. There is always the possibility that there are green hairstreak instars just below the surrounding leaf litter. Wikipedia posts that an instar is a developmental stage for arthropods, such as insects, between each molt (ecdysis) until sexual maturity is reached.
McConnico pointed out that it is this potential that gives them hope and propels them to move forward as stewards of the sites. They do their best to recreate the mosaic patchwork of upland dune communities that where present before urban expansion. McConnico said it is exciting when they are able to tell people about the butterfly and the habitat restoration that is going on right in their neighborhood. 



“We saw our first adult Hairstreak in the spring of 2010 at 14th and Pacheco. It was evident by the pristine nature of his wings. He had just emerged and was basking on a buckwheat leaf on one of the most blustery, cold days you could imagine for April. This glimmer of hope stands as an example of how it is possible to restore what has been lost and provide a habitat corridor for not only the Green Hairstreak, but other native biota that have been edged out,” McConnico said.

Signs have been ordered and the corridors being restored will allow butterflies to more easily fly from floral site to floral site in the City.

Assisting with numerous restoration projects in the City is SF Parks Alliance.

University to Decide Fate of UC Hall, Oldest on Campus

By Ed Moy

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) held a community planning workshop on Nov. 16 to discuss options for the re-development of the UC Hall site at the Parnassus Campus, including the potential for its retrofit and reuse.

According to UCSF, the original long-range development plan called for the demolition of UC Hall, both because of seismic safety requirements and to help bring the campus closer to its space ceiling, which – in addition to campus boundaries – was established by the UC Regents in 1976 to control growth at the campus.

The UC Hall structure is not up to current seismic standards for withstanding an earthquake, and if the building is to continue being used, it must be retrofitted to meet current seismic standards.

Since 1996, several surrounding buildings at the campus have been demolished, including the old central services, generator, heating plant, laundry storehouse, and medical research sites.

New buildings that have been erected or rebuilt include Aldea Housing, Aldea Center, Kirkham Child Care Center, Parnassus services building, central utility plant and Regeneration Medicine Building.

Built in 1917, UC Hall is the oldest building standing on the UCSF Parnassus campus. The building currently houses offices, labs, clinics and classrooms.

UC Hall currently stands as a six-story building located on the south side of Parnassus Avenue, between Third and Fourth avenues. It was constructed as UCSF’s first teaching hospital. The steel and concrete structure was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by local architect Lewis Hobart and originally occupied 141,700 gross square feet. Various additions to UC Hall, including an elevator tower on the west wing, have increased the overall building’s square footage to 146,900 gross square feet.

UCSF Community Relations Director Barbara Bagot-Lopez stated that a study group made up of members of the UCSF Community Advisory Group has been meeting with UCSF staff over the past several months to research, analyze and discuss various options, which will be made available for review during public meetings with the local community before decisions are made.

At this time, UCSF’s current timetable calls for further analysis with a developed “preferred plan” ready by the end of 2012, which would then be presented to the general public along with holding an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) scoping meeting. The project would move on to the release of a published draft EIR at the end of 2013 along with further public hearings, leading up to a published final EIR in 2014. Then, UC Regents would vote on the final EIR.

Issues surrounding the proposed retrofit and reuse of the site include financial costs, historical preservation value, seismic standards, traffic, energy and use sustainability, and future faculty office needs.
To be kept informed about UCSF projects, call 476-3206.

Prescriptions at Walgreens could end

by Aaron Goldsmith

Some west side neighbors may no longer be able to use Walgreens drugstores after Dec. 31 of this year if they participate in prescription drug programs run by Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI).

At issue is a contract dispute between the retail pharmacy and ESI, the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) for many government and private health plans. According to Walgreens, ESI is insisting on contract terms that will make it unprofitable to serve patients in ESI plans.
The loss of Walgreens as a participating pharmacy will hit senior citizens in some Medicare Part D plans especially hard, as well as active and retired military covered by TRICARE and employees in some employer-provided health plans, like Anthem Blue Shield.

Walgreens has 68 retail pharmacies in the San Francisco area, many of which are open 24 hours. Ten stores are located within easy access of Sunset and Richmond residents, from West Portal to the outer Sunset, Parkside and Richmond districts. Details about exact locations are available at the website http://www.Walgreens.com.

“A vast majority of our pharmacy customers live in the neighborhoods adjacent to our stores in the City and stop by often. Walgreens is committed to serving local needs with unique services like San Francisco’s only 24-hour community pharmacies,” said Shawn Houghtaling, a San Francisco district pharmacy supervisor at Walgreens.

Pharmacies like Walgreens are filling in the gaps in access to health care by offering a variety of expanded health-care services, such as flu and other immunizations shots, in addition to filling prescriptions. According to the website http://www.Napb.org, pharmacists play a key role in helping seniors make effective use of their medications through one-on-one counseling about prescriptions, side effects and drug interaction.

Because of Walgreens services, numerous locations and convenient hours, their departure from ESI health plans could result in serious pharmacy access issues.

Seniors age 65 and older fill more prescriptions, on average, than younger age groups, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services, so any change in pharmacy care will affect them. On San Francisco’s west side, many seniors have mobility issues or rely on public transportation to get their shopping done, so it may be inconvenient for them to find a new pharmacy.

For example, ESI’s pharmacy locator suggests that when Outer Richmond residents can no longer use a Walgreens pharmacy their closest options are the La Playa Safeway and a CVS store on 32nd Avenue near the Palace of the Legion of Honor – each location is at least one mile away.
In the Outer Sunset, several local pharmacies on Noriega and the pharmacies at Lucky’s, off Sloat Boulevard, or the Noriega Safeway will be the neighborhood’s only fallback options. In any case, a short walk turns into a $2 Muni ride and a transfer to another line to reach a pharmacy.

Walgreens is advising seniors who wish to continue to have their prescriptions filled at their stores to select a Part D plan, which includes Walgreens, during Medicare’s annual sign-up from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

Contra Dancing Alive and Well in Sunset District

By Judith Kahn

“Swing your partner,” “do si do,” and “circle left” might be familiar words to those who know square dancing, but these words are also used in contra dancing – square dancing’s cousin.
This lively dance is done with long lines of couples paired off, called a set. Two couples dance together as a group of four, going through a sequence of moves for one round of the dance. Then, the two couples change places up and down the line, facing the next couple and ready to start another round of the dance.
Sets are generally arranged so they run the length of the hall, with the top, or head, of the set being at the end closest to the band and caller. A fundamental aspect of contra dancing is that the same dance, one time through, is repeated over and over, but each time you dance with new neighbors. Each dance runs 10 minutes, long enough to dance with 15 to 20 partners. The mood of the dance is usually upbeat, with a quick tempo.
Musicians who accompany the dancers are often top-notch musicians, performing music from Irish, Scottish, English, Canadian and American folk traditions and led by dance callers with local and national followings.
The most common dance repertoire is rooted in the Anglo-Celtic tradition. Tunes in contra dance are always “square,” with 64-beat tunes. Until the 1970s, it was traditional to play a single tune for the duration of a contra dance; now the contra dance musicians typically play tunes in sets of two or three related, and sometimes contrasting, tunes.
Although single tune dances are becoming popular with some northeastern bands, in the Celtic repertories it is common to change keys with each tune. A set might start with a tune in G, and switch to a tune in D. An old-time band might play a set of tunes in D, then use the time between dances to retune for a set of tunes in A. But whatever tunes the musicians decide to play, the music is always upbeat, lively and quick-paced.
Contra dancing dates back to the 17th century, when English country dances were taken up by French dancers. The French called these dances contra-dance, or contredanse, and would incorporate steps from French court dances into their country dances.
As time moved on, the English country dances spread and were reinterpreted throughout the Western world. Eventually, the French form of the name came to be associated with American folk dances. Contra dances were highly popular in the United States until the early- to mid-19th century, when they were supplanted by square dancing. The “quadrille” and “lancers” were two of the most popular square dances.
By the 1930s and 1940s contra dances were only done in small towns and in widely scattered parts of northeastern North America, the maritime provinces of Canada and northern New England.
It was Ralph Page who maintained the New England tradition until it was revitalized in the 1950s and 1960s.
Today, contra dancing is alive and well in San Francisco and all over the Bay Area. There are contra dance weekends and camps.
In San Francisco, in the Sunset District, at St. Paul’s Church at 43rd Avenue and Judah Street, contra dance enthusiasts dance every first, second and third Saturday and every fourth Friday of the month, from 8 to 11 p.m. A lesson is given for beginners starting at 7:30 p.m., which is then followed by dancing from 8 to 11 p.m. Since it is a group dance, a partner is not needed. The calls are often and come quickly, so first timers usually pick an experienced partner to help them navigate dance moves.
Charlie Fenton organized the San Francisco contra dance in 1981. It was originally held at Fort Mason but moved in 1984 to St. Paul’s Church. On any given night the crowd can range from 30 to 50, depending on the band. If the band is “hot” and well- known, the crowd is larger. In the past they have had some very popular bands and expect more in the future, says Maria Markoff a regular at the dances.
On Oct. 28, The Retro­spectacles appeared. The group of young contra dance musicians have torn up dance floors all over the Northwest with their enthusiasm and powerful playing. They are inspired by the eclectic music of today’s contra dance scene, as well as old-time Irish, Scottish, French and Canadian traditions. They played many of their own compositions, arranging their music into densely woven and highly-rhythmic beats and sounds.
In April, Perpetual e-Motion from Maine played at the San Francisco contra dance. This duo band was described as “captivating, passionate and progressive.”
The price of admission to San Francisco contra dance events is $10 for non-members and $8 for members. Students and low-income participants pay $5. For more information about contra dancing in the Bay Area, visit the website at http://www.bacds.org. For more information about dances at St. Paul’s Church, contact Maria Markoff at (415) 566-1789 or Mmarkoff@yahoo.com.

Supervisor Shines Spotlight on Muni’s Light Rail Service

By Ed Moy

Supervisor Carmen Chu addressed concerns over Muni light rail service in the Sunset District during a hearing at the SF Board of Supervisors’ City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee in October.
Chu said the hearing was productive because it included a review of performance data gathered on Muni light rail service for the N-Judah and L-Taraval lines between February and April of this year. Her office is analyzing the data.
Among the concerns Chu covered were the number and reasons for missed train runs, on-time performance, frequency and causes of train switchbacks, and how the SFMTA plans to address those issues.
Muni management claims it is working to alleviate or minimize disruptions to the public.
Chu pointed out that a key reason for delays along the N-Judah and L-Taraval lines is a recurring problem with malfunctioning stairs aboard the light rail trains coming out of the downtown tunnel to street level. She stated that repairs have been on-going to correct the stair problems.
She also stated that a lack of qualified Muni light rail operators will be addressed by SFMTA through the hiring and training of new operators.
Chu said the new N-Judah shuttle buses operating as a downtown express bus route have helped improve service during peak commute hours.
Earlier this year, Chu addressed the issue of Muni light rail train switchbacks, a policy of “short-turning or early turn-around” of trains headed to the Outer Sunset, with the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee.
The early train turnarounds are a cause for concern for many elderly and disabled passengers, who are sometimes left stranded along the N-Judah line waiting for the next train to arrive in order to continue with their commute.
Other topics up for review included the bus service along 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on Muni’s 28 and 29 bus lines.
Chu said Muni conducted an extensive analysis of the two bus lines to monitor on-time performance, frequency and passenger loads. The data compiled is being utilized to improve the service along both the 28-line and 29-lines, which run along the two major commute corridors linking the Sunset and Richmond districts.
Sunset and Parkside residents with Muni concerns can contact Chu at (415) 554-7460 or chustaff@sfgov.org.

McCoppin Square Re-opens with Memorial for Taraval Officer

By Thomas K. Pendergast

When San Francisco acquired the land we now call the Sunset District in 1868, people already lived there. A part of the deal to get them off the land was that a certain portion of it would be set aside for parks, said local historian David Gallagher. That is how the 8.9-square-acre McCoppin Square, located at 24th Avenue and Taraval Street, came to be.
After a $3.8 million renovation, McCoppin Square was dedicated once again by city officials and local citizens on Oct. 22. It is the first project funded by the Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond to be completed. San Francisco voters passed the bond in 2008.
On an unusually hot, summer-like Saturday, about 100 people gathered next to the new playground for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, which began with performances by the Abraham Lincoln High School band and drill team.
“What you see before you is a beautiful playground renovation, new sport court renovations, new field renovations, new pathways, new ADA accessibility, and a brand new restroom,” said Phil Ginsburg, general manager for the SF Recreation and Park Department. “And the best news of all is that this project came in over a million dollars under budget. This was another project done with great cooperation amongst our city agencies, so we’re really incredibly excited about it.”
District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu, who represents the Sunset District, began her speech with some historical trivia.
“When they first opened McCoppin Square in the 1930s, they actually had a huge parade that came down Taraval Street, with drill corps, drum corps, marching bands, everything. And today it’s only fitting that we actually have Lincoln’s presentation here,” she said.
She noted that in the area of the square sitting across the street from the San Francisco Police Department’s Taraval Station, there is a garden memorializing police officer Bryan Tuvera, who was killed in the line of duty in December of 2006 while trying to arrest an escaped prisoner in the Sunset.
“We really wanted to make sure that we honor his memory and create a contemplative garden in that area so we can remember him always,” Chu said.
“We have today a beautiful opening. We have a newly-renovated library and a beautiful playground. But the hardest part of all this is really how are we going to maintain this playground and park over time? So, I really want to encourage you to get involved with the Friends of McCoppin,” Chu said.
Ginsburg said that 146 years ago Frank McCoppin became mayor at the age of 34 and is considered one of the founders of the city’s public park system.
“Under Frank McCoppin’s tenure the city and country of San Francisco purchased from the federal government an area in this City known as the ‘Outside Lands,’ which included Golden Gate Park. So, this is one of the reasons why this particular plot of land is called McCoppin Square,” Ginsburg said.
Supervisor Scott Wiener, who has been involved in a number of library and park renovations throughout the City, was also at the opening.
“When you look at what the library and Rec. and Park have been able to do in delivering these projects under budget, saving the taxpayer money and being able to make those capital investments to improve our community, it’s been pretty amazing,” Wiener said. “Spread the word on that so people understand how effective our parks department is.”
David Gallagher of the Western Neighborhoods Project noted the square’s history goes back much further than when it was named after McCoppin during its first dedication in 1935.
“This park is one of the oldest in the Sunset District. It was laid out and set aside for public use in 1868. That makes it the same age as Golden Gate Park,” Gallagher said.
Local residents Tyson Jue and Judy Riggle are starting a citizen’s support group called Friends of McCoppin Square. They are looking for volunteers.
“We really need your participation to make great stewards for this park and to have a clean and beautiful playground for us to play in and for the kids to really enjoy,” Jue said.
Kevin Martin, vice president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, talked about the memorial for officer Tuvera.
“We’re very, very happy to have a memorial plaque for Brian,” Martin said. “Although Brian, a young man when he was taken from us, was married, he never had any children. But it’s only fitting that there will be a memorial plaque dedicated to him just beyond where children will be able to play and grow for generations to come. So, on behalf of the police department and the San Francisco Police Officers Association, we’re very, very grateful to be a part of this project. Thank you.”

Beach Preservation Plan Released

By Thomas K. Pendergast

The future of Ocean Beach is beginning to take shape and the first glimpse of it came when the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research association (SPUR) made its recommendations for a new Ocean Beach Master Plan at an Oct. 29 community workshop.

The recommendations include rerouting the Great Highway around the east side of the San Francisco Zoo, avoiding a section of the beach starting at the end of Sloat Boulevard that’s been eroding severely over the last few years. Both that intersection and the intersection at Sloat and Skyline boulevards would be completely reconfigured and that section of that Great Highway would be reduced to one lane in each direction with another lane between them for a turning lane.

If this draft of the plan moves forward, the Muni L-Taraval light rail line would be extended to a new terminus at the San Francisco Zoo.

The Great Highway would also be reduced from four lanes down to two starting at Balboa Street and running all the way south to Sloat. With the two southbound lanes no longer being used, the open space would be used for public amenities, like bathrooms, etc.

Parking along the beach would be revamped, with small pockets of parking distributed at key access points and the Zoo.

“With the road absent in the area immediately in front of the Zoo … we then get the opportunity to withdraw from the existing bluff’s edge, the existing revetments and so forth, and incrementally demolish the roadway, restroom and parking at Sloat and really pursue a managed retreat strategy,” said Benjamin Grant, program manager at SPUR.

Grant explained that the process for coming up with a new Ocean Beach Master Plan, which started in January, is now nearing the end.

“We are actually coming toward the end of the process,” said Grant. “We will take your input from these draft recommendations and work to develop a draft document by the end of the calendar year. There will then be a period in which that’s open for comment by the public and by all affected stakeholders and agencies and so forth. We will be trying to finalize that by the end of February of next year.”

The Army Corps of Engineers regularly dredges a section of sand from a sand bar off the coast of the San Francisco Bay to keep a large ship channel open. The Corps is planning to use that dredged sand to create sand dunes in the heavily eroded area, essentially sacrificing those artificial dunes to the ocean forces and hopefully taking pressure off the cliffs and bluffs to help preserve them.

“The dredged sand from that ship channel represents one of the major opportunities in terms of managing sand at Ocean Beach because that sand can be placed directly on the beach,” Grant said. “There’s a process underway with the Army Corps of Engineers to permit that and figure out a way to deliver a lot of sand right on the beach.”

Another issue is the sewage and utility infrastructure south of Sloat that is being threatened by erosion. Grant said the most visible part of this system is a wastewater treatment plant with most of its infrastructure below ground.

There is the Lake Merced sewage tunnel, a 14-foot-diameter sewage and storm drain pipe running from north to south though the bluff at about the same level of the nearby beach that’s being eroded.

There are also two transport boxes that handle water overflow from storms about where Lincoln Way ends at the beach and another where Wawona Street ends.

“The reason that’s so important is that infrastructure is also immediately adjacent to the coast and hence very, very threatened by the erosion that’s taking place,” said Grant.

There are also two bird species listed by the federal government as threatened that use the beach around that area as a breeding ground, the snowy plover and the bank swallow. The former uses the dunes for nesting while the latter burrows into the bluffs near the southern end of the beach.

Alma DuSolier, a principal landscape designer with AECOM, a consulting company advising the planners, said a balance between all these issues and the public’s desires for using the beach needs to be struck and this in turn requires public input and dialogue.

There is also the challenge of coordinating this plan with several different, local, state and federal agencies, including the city’s Department of Water and Power, California Coastal Commission, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and National Park Service, which runs the publicly-accessed areas of Ocean Beach.

“This is why we have a combined system of outreach, so there’s public events like this workshop, this is the third one that we’ve had,” said DuSolier. “We have a steering committee that has representatives from all the different agencies. We have a PAC, which is a planning and advisory committee that provides a lot of input at the staff level, gets into the details and keeps us in check. We’ve had a lot of work sessions with them that are separate from these public meetings. We also have input that we collect through the SPUR website.”

Grant added that the PAC includes representatives from advocacy organizations and local community group leaders.

Although most of the Lake Merced sewer tunnel is drilled through the hard material of the cliffs and bluffs near Fort Funston, some of it is not and instead it is covered with sand and therefore is especially vulnerable to further erosion, especially when rising sea levels due to global warming are taken into account.

For this section, SPUR is recommending the sewer pipe be covered by a cobblestone berm, which in turn will be covered with more sand by the Army Corps of Engineers.

“We would use a revetment made of softball-sized stones,” Grant said. “It’s excellent at diffusing wave energy but it also can move and can take shape according to the natural process.”

Cost estimates for the alternative, moving the entire pipe, run up to $160 million.

Mayoral Candidates Take On Park Issues

By Thomas K. Pendergast

In front of a standing-room-only crowd at a recent community meeting, most of the San Francisco mayoral candidates talked about two controversial proposals for the western end of Golden Gate Park that city government is advocating for.

There is a project by the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), which wants to build a $152 million water treatment plant, in which partially-treated water from the Oceanside plant near the SF Zoo would be subjected to additional treatment before being distributed for non-potable irrigation uses in the park. The water would be used at the Golden Gate Park Golf Course and the California Academy of Sciences.

As well, the plan calls for the pumping of water from an underground aquifer to augment water the City gets from its Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Then there’s a proposal from the SF Recreation and Park Commission to install artificial turf and 60-foot-tall lights at the soccer fields near the Beach Chalet restaurant.

Both the water treatment and turf replacement projects are currently under environmental review.

“I would oppose the water plant,” SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi told the forum crowd. “It’s 40,000 square feet. It’s got 30-foot-tall walls. It’s got lights and it’s going to be owned by Homeland Security. That’s not exactly why we come to the park. In terms of the artificial turf and the soccer fields, I don’t think that it’s a good idea to have seven acres of Astroturf; I think that it should be grass.”

Many in the audience burst into applause at this and shouted their approval, although at least one person booed.

“I don’t favor having all these bright lights out there. This is Golden Gate Park. It’s not just a parking lot somewhere.”

Another candidate, Cesar Ascarrunz, said he used to play professional soccer.

“I hate artificial turf. You can kill yourself on it,” he said. “The 60-foot lights, it’s not very proper for Golden Gate Park. San Francisco is a tourist town. Tourists come because San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the world. Millions of people come to see Golden Gate Park. Artificial turf in the Golden Park, I don’t think so. It’s not healthy.”

San Francisco Supervisor John Avalos also expressed a dislike for the proposed artificial turf and lights.

“I’d feel like I was right smack dab in the middle of civilization. We certainly are a civilization, but we would lose a lot by having a park with lights on at night. That could cause a lot of glare for people who live in the area,” Avalos said. “I also don’t really think it’s a good idea to put an industrial use, the water treatment plant, within Golden Gate Park. I think we’d be losing a lot in terms of what the park has to offer.”

Terry Baum, the Green Party candidate, said the water treatment plant went against the goals of those who created the park and she also did not think the artificial turf was healthy for people.

“I have a report here that was done that summarizes the toxic effects of the artificial turf, potentially,” Baum said. “Some of it’s been proven, some of it’s not: severe irritation of the respiratory system, systemic effects on the liver and kidneys, irritation of the eye/skin, cancers, developmental affects. We need these kids to be playing on real grass.”

Board of Supervisors President David Chiu was approaching both issues with an open mind.

“I have a very healthy skepticism of both of these projects,” Chiu said. “With regards to the water treatment plant … I have serious questions about whether we want to put such a heavy-duty industrial use in our park. I’m going to be looking at the EIR (Environmental Impact Report) when it comes to us, through that lens.

“With regards to the soccer fields, I got to tell you, when I was a kid in elementary school I did play soccer as well. I was not a professional soccer player like my fellow candidate but I got to play on real grass. If we can find a real alternative, which is what an EIR is supposed to do, we should look at that very seriously.”

Former SF Supervisor Bevan Dufty did not directly answer the water treatment question but he supports the concept of artificial turf and said a parcel tax would be a good idea to pay for Rec. and Park needs.

“We passed park bonds to renovate our facilities but we don’t have staff at them,” Dufty said. “Now, I’m willing to have an honest conversation, and there’s not a lot of that when you run for office in this town, that we need to talk about a parcel tax dedicated for our Recreation and Park system. … I think we have a responsibility to either pony up and stand up and say you’ll support a parcel tax for the parks or step aside and let’s have fields that kids and young adults can play on because they need something positive.”

Former SF Supervisor Tony Hall, who is running as an independent candidate, joined the majority of the candidates in opposition to both proposals.

“I’ve got seven children. Five of them have gone through college on athletic scholarships. I was very careful as a parent to watch the surfaces they were playing on,” he said. “Cesar’s right. You can’t cut when playing soccer. You can’t curve. Your knees go out on you. And those growing ligaments, it’s so important to play on natural ground. In Golden Gate Park, artificial turf, are you crazy?

Hall would not pump water from the underground aquifer in the park. As a member of the Board of Supervisors Hall helped create a plan for raising the water levels at Lake Merced.

“I know all about water treatment plants. They do not have to pull water from the underground aquifer. In fact, the way we replenished Lake Merced was stopping the extraction of water from the underground aquifer.”

Entrepreneur and candidate Joanna Rees said she’s been canvassing the city in her election campaign.

“What I’ve heard loud and clear from all the neighbors is: ‘We don’t want big bright lights and we don’t want Astroturf.’ And these are the people we should be listening to and supporting,” she said.

“So much of this is due to how we budget because we don’t do bottom-up budgeting in San Francisco, where we go department by department to figure out what’s the investment we have to absolutely make, because we have to support critical services for the community, and what are some things that we’re funding that are no longer meeting their intended purpose and we should not continue to fund,” Rees said.

“There’s no reason in a budget of $6.8 billion, granted we’re a city and a county, for a city of 800,000 people, that we can’t afford to keep our parks and make great open spaces for all in our community,” Rees said.

Other candidates attending the forum, which was held at the Richmond Recreation Center on Sept. 19, included SF Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting, state Sen. Leland Yee, SF City Attorney Dennis Herrera, SF Supervisor John Avalos, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Paul Currier, and Wilma Pang.

Two candidates, Michela Alioto-Pier and SF Mayor Ed Lee, were invited to the forum but did not attend, citing previous commitments.