may be affected by events. it includes everything from turf to parking to docks to trees, everything we could think of that might be affected. and how would they be affected? then we think about different steps we could take to minimize impact, and then we talk about what we could do after the event to make sure that any damage that does happen is changed and everything looks just as good as when we started. there was a specific discussion about what sort of site inspections we may do. the city is used to hosting shorter events. what we do is have a site inspection before, and after the event, we have a site inspection, and then we can discuss how to repair any damage that is done, but as the event stretches on, we want to

minimize the impact and make sure the city is well prepared. i have spoken to other staff. i spoke to dana and nick, so we have a good sense of what kinds of things can go on and what can be expected. since most of the event takes place in marina green, the focus is on marina green, but there is a bit at the end where we talk about other parts that will be affected. they are thinking of putting large video screens of in union square and civic center plaza. then, there's other parks that just may be affected by people wanting to come and see the race from of on high, since we have such wonderful typography -- wonderful topography. primarily, we are looking at the program spaces in the park, but we want to make sure we have a

full breadth of everything. so what are the next steps? this document is just a draft. you all have it in your package, and you can see certain sections are more fleshed out than others. partially that is because ggnra is in the process of going through nepa, and their timeline is different than ours. the ceqa document is going for appropriation today. the nepa process will stretch out into the spring. but we posted this document on december 1, and we are looking to get public input over the next month so that we can incorporate anything we may have missed or different perspectives from the community. we would also, of course, love to have input from the commission. ultimately, we will come back and present a final plan to you. also, it is important to note that drafting this document in some respects served as a

wonderful preparation exercise for us. we will be drafting parks special event permits both for the 2012 event and the 2013 events. this helps us get our head around what will be included in that period that will come back later because we will need much more detail, so we anticipate coming back with that later in the spring. and i think that is it. any questions you might have, i'm happy to answer. commissioner lee: does this come back to us as a permit application? >> yes. as i said, we will be drafting special even permits both for the 2012 and 2013 events, and it will be coming back to you guys for that. commissioner lee: what happens to soccer? >> we will not be able to have soccer on the marina green, obviously, during the life of the 2012 event, and plans are in

place actually to accommodate the teams also. >> i think it is a good report. i know you are paying close attention to keeping costs down, since some poor soul has to raise the money to pay for it. >> and he is keeping very close tabs on rec and park's costs. >> it does exactly what you said, gives us a chance to get our hands around what is coming. as you know, final plans are not yet in place. it gives a framework within which things will happen. congratulations. >> is there any public comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed, and we are on item 3, the general managers' report. >> i will be brief, commissioners. just a few short -- in the words

of warren hellman, hot dog. katie is going to give you a budget update. we are heading into the budget season. and to end our meeting and commence our holiday celebration, we have a short video here it quickly, volunteer program updates -- our stewardship program is in full swing. another positive example of our ongoing relationship with our city schools. by working with teachers to develop curriculum using our parks as an outdoor classroom as well as other traditional programming, ysp is working with the port authority and literacy for environmental justice to increase programming. volunteer program staff spent a day last week volunteering for the ggnra to get a better understanding of the volunteers point of view and provide better

service. it is a very exciting program. the petition program celebrates its one-year anniversary, one of the best choice to come out of the last year and something that definitely contributed to our park maintenance source as strong as they are. just yesterday, we had the pleasure of celebrating the program's first-year anniversary. the mayor has been supportive of the program, as have all of you, and in one year, the program helped keep our parks clean and beautiful. under the supervision of the coordinator, nine men and women have completed dozens of projects in 22 city parks, including printing and planting of the concourse, trail building at the interior greenbelt, restoring the baseball diamond, and obviously, there incredible work at harding in anticipation of the schwab cup. i want to thank a congratulate everyone who had a hand in launching this program.

helen diller playground update. i am very happy to report that in the center of banks in our park system, the construction is now 52% done. the contractors completing with concrete work and irrigation water lines are being installed. we anticipate the delivery of the bridge, the very iconic bridge that will be part of the playground in mid-january, with new play equipment arriving shortly after. we have got lucky with the weather, and i think some of the delays we could have experienced if we had gotten bad weather we have passed, so we are very optimistic. all this means we are moving ahead. the new playground will open to the public in spring 2012. the project represents a remarkable partnership model, and we are very excited about the prospect of opening this new playground in just a few short months.

to set up to bid on construction, members of the public can log on to our web site and click our capital improvements have, where they can find updated information on all of our capital products. winter registration begins this saturday online and at 13 sites across the city. this season with the new year coming up and plenty of resolutions being made to get in shape, we're offering a wide variety of classes and programs, including movement glasses for talks, sports leagues for youth, fitness class is for moms and dads, and dance class is for seniors. one program i want to highlight is a brand new partnership with san francisco unified school district where we are piloting -- we are bringing a basketball program to several of our public elementary schools for third- grade boys and girls. we bring the program to the district. practices are at district sites with games at district sites on the weekends. first time we have ever done this. i want to thank the

superintendent. and as a testament to our growing and strengthening partnership. browse our programs and learn how to register. also because the sunset recreation center is being renovated, registration will happen this saturday. i do want to recognize marty hackett, one of our partners who retired in november after almost 30 years. we thank him very much for his service. i want to bring up katie very quickly to give you just a preview of the budget instructions and some of the budget challenges which are better, but that we will nonetheless be facing in the coming months. >> good afternoon, commissioners. it is that time of the year. the mayor's office issued budget instruction to all departments last tuesday, december 6. for the coming two fiscal years,

in fact, because the city is about to enter into two-year budget cycles. they have asked us -- they have given us general fund reduction targets both for fiscal year 2012-2013 as well as for fiscal years 2013-2014. the budget office currently projects a general fund shortfall for the coming fiscal year in the amount of $263 million, which, oddly enough, is actually good news, compared to what they had originally projected and certainly what we have seen in the past number of years. the budget instructions for general fund departments this year come in four parts. the first is that we have been requested to submit a base budget reduction equal to 5% of our general fund support, which

is equal to a little less than $1.6 million. we have been asked to submit a contingency proposal for 2012- 2013, equal to 2.5% of our general fund support for an additional $796,000. then we have been asked to submit a base budget reduction for 2013-2014, equal to another 5% of our general fund support. again, $1.6 million. we have also been asked to reduce our budgeted and funded general fund fte by 1% in both years. it is still unclear in talking to the mayor's office exactly what they mean by this instruction, but i'm sure more information will be forthcoming in the next several months. the mayor asked departments to prioritize core operating functions, minimize service

impact, and pursue solutions such as revenue options, administrative efficiencies, and program or function consolidation. he is strongly encouraging the department to foster community engagement during the budget development which, for the recreation and park department, will not be a challenge at all. we make a really significant effort to interact with the community, our staff stakeholders when developing our budget. the budget assumption that the mayor's office is working with are likely to change over the next six months as we see the results of the state and federal budget processes. all but two of the city's labor contracts are open for negotiation this spring, so there are 27 collective bargaining agreements, and the outcome of those negotiations will have a significant impact

one way or another on the $263 million budget deficit. our budget is due on february 21 to the mayor's office, and we will begin to meet with staff, stakeholders, the community in january to solicit input on our budget proposals. we will be in front of this commission on january 19 and again twice in february to make the budget presentation, and then we will ask for your approval of our budget's mission at the second full commission meeting in february. i am more than happy to answer questions. >> is there any public comment on this? commissioner buell: margaret, we're not quite done. we have a video. a product of our work force by

one, started out in our san francisco state internships. she has done an amazing job. she put together about 60 in the last two years. we have a great partnership now with sfgovtv where a lot of events and activities are being shown. it is another great way to push out all of the fantastic things we do. let it rip. >> thank you. >> when this project is done, you will see the sports park that is going to be renovated, the great landscaping improvements.

>> 5 4 3 2 1 ! happy holidays, everybody! >> i'm not sure why, but it is

freezing for some reason. >> you are welcome. >> commissioners, on behalf of our staff, we want to wish you all a very happy holiday and joy is an exciting new year and thank you for all your support. commissioner buell: the same to you and all the staff. please convey that. public comment, go ahead. >> is there any public comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. we are now on item 12, general public comment continued. is there anyone who wishes to make general public comments? seeing none, and 12 is close. we're on item 13, commissioner matters. >> can i say one thing? i just want to say that i went to the tree lighting briefly -- i could not stay for the actual writing of the tree, but i can only imagine the amount of staff time it took to put that together. if you remember on the roof of

the emporium at christmas time, you see rights, and i had that same sense at maclaren lodge. what made me so happy was to see so many children and families, and those are our kids, our families, san franciscans who are raising their kids here, and we do that for them. i just want to commend you, and i want to thank you very much. commissioner lee: i want to echo what commissioner levitan said. tom harrison also went to the employee holiday party earlier this week and had a great time, and it was very rewarding to talk to the employees and how excited they are, particularly under the general managers

leadership, all the praise is that his employees keep upon him at this very happy event. i have one item for commissioners matters to consider. a number of people in chinatown come to me about an idea to build a stage. maybe the general manager has heard about this. at the portsmouth square mezzanine area. they often have events there, and each time, organizers have to actually read a stage to be put in. the idea would be perhaps to build a stage akin to what the japanese tea garden has done. where it would be a permanent structure, fixture in the plaza, and that when events happen,

they can use that stage, as opposed to constructing it every single time. anyway, i would offer that up for future consideration. commissioner buell: thank you. >> is there any public comment on this item? seeing none, public comment is closed. we are on item 14, new business agenda setting. is there any public comment? public comment is closed. item 15, communication. is there any public comment? public comment is closed. item 16 is adjournment. commissioner buell: all those in favor? >> aye. commissioner buell: happy holidays, everybody.

oh, my! haa ha ha! ha hha ha! [snortg]