SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
and
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
 
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING 

Monday, May 20, 2019
2:30 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 125

Minutes

Commissioner Kimberlee Stryker called the meeting to order at 2:40 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Dorka Keehn
   Linda Parker Pennington
   Abby Schnair
   Barbara Sklar
   Lydia So
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Paul Woolford
   
   Commissioners Absent
   N/A
   
   Staff Present
   Aleta Lee, Program Associate, Public Art Trust & Special Initiatives
   Rebekah Krell, Deputy Director of Cultural Affairs & CFO
   Tom DeCaigny, Director of Cultural Affairs
   
   
   
   Jonas Ionin, Director of Commission Affairs of the Planning Department, gave notice that due to lack of quorum of the Historic Preservation Committee, the joint Civic Design Review and Historic Preservation Committee commission meeting would be cancelled.
   
   Commission Chair Kimberlee Stryker shared with the public the intention for the periodic joint Civic Design Review and Historic Preservation Committee commission meetings. The desire was to help streamline the review process for project teams that would need review by both Commissions and to have both Committees give consensus to help project teams move forward. Though the lack of quorum, it was agreed that the meeting would proceed as a Civic Design Review Committee public meeting with guest, Aaron Hyland, Historic Preservation Committee President. 
   
    
2. Public Comment
   N/A
    
3. Civic Center Public Realm Plan: Informational Review
   Nick Perry, Project Manager, SF Planning Department
   Patrick Race, Landscape Architect, SF Planning Department
   
   The team presented the project’s planning history, planning team that included multiple city agencies and consultants, the plan area, and current timeline. They shared the project’s three goals of re-establishing the Beaux-Art plan as a landmark district; to create a flexible, accessible, and democratic space; and for Civic Center to be an inviting place for everyone. The team then showed a vision plan and went over sections of each part of the programmed area, including the Civic Center Plaza, Fulton Mall, and United Nations Plaza. The Civic Center Plaza consisted of a mirror fountain that could be drained, flexible lawns, Gardens of Delight, Helen Diller Playgrounds, Grove Street Promenade, and new pavilions and underground access. For Fulton Mall, the team highlighted flexible lawn and plaza space, and civic porches at the main library and Asian Art Museum. For the United Nations Plaza, the team highlighted the market plaza, new Bart station building and pavilion, Leavenworth gateway, and plans for the UN Plaza Halprin Fountain. Lastly, the team discussed rescource stewardship and future plans for a district water reuse system for potential future potable water use.  
    
   The Committee commended the team on the project and the intelligent and artful presentation provided. They thought it was a beautiful plan and were in support of the concepts presented. The Committee had concerns regarding ADA for the mirror fountain, the wind, the safety of the area, and the Halprin Fountain. Specifically, the Committee was not in favor of having the Halprin Fountain turned into a planter but understood that it was a difficult project due to social and water problems around the area. Director of Cultural Affairs, Tom DeCaigny, also mentioned needing to review CAPA and VARA laws regarding the fountain artwork. He also mentioned the absence of the Pioneer Monument in this concept plan, and shared that the Art Commission was working with the project team to see what scenario of the monument’s placement would be feasible. 
    
   The team responded that the mirror fountain was still conceptual, but thought the flexibility of a fountain that could be drained would work in this multi-use space. The team shared that the mirror fountain would also fit with the history of Beaux-Art design, yet there were still many technical questions about the fountain that were being considered. If the mirror fountain ended up not being an option, the team considered some type of pavement pattern solution or playful pavement that would activate the space. Regarding the wind, the team shared that the design had multiple areas of protection and plantings that would help with this issue. Regarding safety, the team shared that there was no one entity managing the Civic Center area; however, there were currently multiple groups keeping watch of the space, including the stewards, park rangers, and police department. The team also shared that they are working on a public space management plan.  
    
   Commissioner Aaron Hyland commented that Fulton Mall felt like the most successful space presented so far. He thought the market and Bart entry and pavilion were good ideas; however, felt that these were grand design gestures would need to be done well. Commissioner Hyland also mentioned that the food trucks on Grove street were a good programmatic idea, but was concerned about the location and separation of the auditorium to the Civic Center.  
    
4. Better Market Street Project: Informational Review
   Ophelia Lau, Project Designer, Public Works
   Cristina Olea, Project Manager, Public Works
   John Dennis, Landscape Architect, Public Works
   
   The project team presented the project goals, timeline, funding, project schedule, and community engagement. The team went on to present an overview of urban design elements, including paving, greening, lighting, and public art. For paving, the team showed a section of the street from property line to property line which expressed the delineation of transit lanes and pedestrian zones. The team showed the linear paving pattern selected, and shared that they were creating alternatives of this option, as well as reviewing color and finish. For greening, the team said they were involved with a working group of arbor culture that would make recommendations of best planting. They also discussed working with SFMTA to have an alternate roof color of the wave bus shelters, such as clear, and eliminating the amount of free standing ad panels. For lighting, the Path of Gold was discussed along with the process of replacing the bases of the lights due to problematic imagery reported by the Human Rights Commission. Lastly, the team discussed public art opportunities in this project, which include refurbishing existing monuments, rotating artwork, the art on market series, and art opportunities on street railings. The team shared that the conflicting comments of Civic Design Review and Historic Preservation Committee include paving and the incorporation of the current brick material, the Path of Gold lights, and the bus shelter roofs.  
    
   Regarding the Path of Gold lights, Commissioner Aaron Hyland clarified that the Historic Preservation Committee did not have an opinion or specificity regarding the Path of Gold lights, except for finding its original color which was obtained. Commissioner Hyland commented that the team should define a process for determining how to assess alternative options for the Path of Gold lights. The team responded that they already had a plan which included meeting internally with associated City agencies first, then meeting with representatives of the native community. From there, alternative artworks or decision to remove the image would be determined, the team would then come back to the related city agencies for review and approval of the proposal, and the team would submit a Certificate of Appropriateness for the final decision. The Art Commission would be involved with the review and approval of the alternative artworks proposed for the Path of Gold light bases.  
    
   Regarding the pavement and current brick material, Commissioner Aaron Hyland expressed that their Committee’s direction was not to reuse the brick per se, but to maintain this character defining feature of Market Street. Since the pavement will change, Commissioner Hyland asked how the team could lessen this impact through pavement pattern, materiality, and other design solution studies. Additionally, Commissioner Hyland felt that the undulating bike lane made of asphalt was too starkly different and contrasting in color, broke up the promenade walkway, and did not maintain the curbline. The Civic Design Review Committee suggested keeping the pavement simplified and changing paver sizes.
   
   Regarding planting, the team shared that the planning department staff wanted them to include alternative plans besides having only plantanus trees in the corridor reported in the EIR. The Civic Design Committee commented that horticulturally, there is a need for more variety in street trees. Though the singular nature of the Sycamore species is a significant part of the design, if there is a hierarchy of planting, then that singular nature would still be maintained while integrating species of similar canopy size and height.
    
   Lastly, the Civic Design Review Committee endorsed the suggested neutral clear frosted wave roof on bus shelters for the Better Market Street project. Staff from the planning department said they would follow up with MTA regarding this topic.
   
   The Civic Design Review Committee also asked for consisitency of material, color, form, and shape for the street furnishings and transit elements throughout the project.
   
   Commissioner Linda Parker Peningtion and Commssioner Barbara Sklar left the meeting at 5:18pm.
    
5. Adjournment 
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:21 p.m.
   posted  5/31/19, 4:30 p.m., akl
   updated 7/30/19
   ​approved 8/5/19
    

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Associate Aleta Lee, 415-252-2251, aleta.lee@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助，Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Associate Aleta Lee, 415-252-2251, aleta.lee@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Associate Aleta Lee, 415-252-2251, aleta.lee@sfgov.org.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Associate Aleta Lee, 415-252-2251, aleta.lee@sfgov.org.