ADOPTED MINUTES

SOUTHEAST COMMUNITY FACILITY COMMISSION

Community Programs Advisory Committee

Monday, April 11, 2022

12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Virtual Meeting - Teleconference

 

1.  Call to Order:  12:03 p.m.

 

2.  Roll Call:

Present: Murphy, Posey, Tran, Wade-Thompson, Summers(arr. 12:05)

Absent: ONeal, Spicer

 

3.  General Public Comment:  None

 

4.  Adoption of Minutes – March 14, 2022.

Moved: Wade-Thompson   Second: Tran

Ayes:  Murphy, Posey, Tran, Wade-Thompson

 

Public Comment:  None

 

5.  Presentation  (discussion only) (Berry)

Update on Access Program

Larry Berry, SECFC Deputy Director

Mr. Berry provided an update on the Access Program which will be a technology checkout and co-working space program provided at the new Center.  Staff is working to identify a non-profit partner to take charge of checking laptops and iPads in and out to community members as well as hosting the co-working space.

 

Staff has been working with the Mayor’s Office of Digital Equity and has received clearance to move forward with an RFP and will roll out the Request for Proposal before the end of the month.  When the proposal is ready it will be shared widely.  Mr. Berry encouraged the committee members to distribute it to their networks.  He noted the program was developed in direct response to the surveys provided by the community outreach in 2020.

 

Questions from Commissioners and Community Committee Members:

The Commissioners asked under what circumstances would the laptops and iPads be available for checkout?

• Staff advised it would be a membership driven program where community members working on-site in one of the designated co-working spaces would have free access to the equipment once their membership was confirmed through information they would provide in advance.  Mr. Berry advised the program would be designed by the non-profit and based on the popularity of the program it could provide learning opportunities for digital training, literacy training, and other technology training.  Staff will track the participation rates and usage.

 

Public Comment:  None.

 

6.  Presentation (discussion only) (Ly)

Secondary Land Use

Jennifer Ly,  SFPUC Environmental Justice Manager

Ms. Ly the Environmental Justice and Land Use Manager of the SFPUC shared information about secondary land use brainstorming for the education building footprint at the new Center.  She reported she has been in the position for 4 months and oversees the implementation of the environmental justice policy and the secondary land use program.  Ms. Ly advised she has been asked to provide ideas of how the education building space can be activated for temporary use until the education building is available.  The SFPUC is interested in brainstorming with the Commission to find creative ways to use temporarily use the space. 

 

The space itself is a large area of 15,000 square feet and Ms. Ly said the goal is to activate the space in a way that supports the mission of the Southeast Community Center and enriches the health, well-being, cultural, political, educational, and financial empowerment of the Bayview Hunters Point African American residents and the community at large.  It is very important for the Commission to provide input.  Ms. Ly provided some examples of various activation uses that would align with youth development programs and there was a discussion regarding logistical questions since the use would be temporary.  The plan is to provide a low-cost installation that can be removed when the education building is constructed.  Ms. Ly reported one of the main ideas is an open-air court or pavilion that would facilitate a variety of outdoor uses.  Ms. Ly provided slides of a shade structure with movable tables and chairs.  A community survey indicated the community’s desire to provide additional spaces for community or small business uses, such as a black-owned business marketplace with food stalls or a nighttime art market.  Because of the Covid era more thought is being given to outdoor gathering spaces.  Ms. Ly provided slides of a restaurant type space with a Pergola as another option.  There were also examples of trees and a water feature as well as a space for pop up artwork and video projection.   

 

After sharing these ideas Ms. Ly noted the secondary land use program traditionally served urban agricultural uses and because Bayview Hunters Point is a food desert another idea is to look into programs that could help serve healthy food needs.  Potentially there could be a farmer’s market and even onsite food production with hydroponics, as well as a vertical garden.     

 

In closing Ms. Ly said this is all preliminary brainstorming and she noted the SFPUC is looking forward to continuing to work with the Commission to ascertain what use of the space will best meet the needs of the community

 

Questions and Comments from Commissioners and Community Members:

The Commissioners thanked Ms. Ly for the presentation and said they appreciated the thought put into the ideas of the farmer’s market and the outdoor event space with movable chairs.  They also expressed interest in the vertical garden and hydroponics.

 

Commissioner Tran said water conservation continues to be necessary and she would like to see more educational programs for the community.

• Staff responded there will be educational programming around water conservation and watersheds.  The pavilion concept will be hard scape and won’t need water which will help facilitate more water conservation on the site.

 

Community Committee Member Ms. Emily Wade-Thompson had a question regarding the expected date for the groundbreaking of the educational building?

• Executive Director Pharr responded the educational building is still conceptual.  There are no draft drawings or tangible plans at this point, however the team is still pursuing funding and planning for the space.  It was noted the new Center was scheduled for groundbreaking in August and the educational space would not be available until next year.

 

Community Committee members had questions regarding how long they would have to think about how the space could be used while waiting for the educational building?

• Staff advised it could be anywhere from a few years to many years, however the space should not be left vacant, and this was the purpose of brainstorming for secondary land use.  Ideas such as a market space where artist can sell their art, and there can be a community component where potential business owners can sell their products.  Staff noted these are all preliminary ideas to see what resonates with the community.  

 

Public Comment:  None.

 

7.  New Committee Business: (Discussion & Possible Action)

Director Pharr announced the Community Programs Analyst was onboarded.  Bayview resident Ms. Victoria Bryant will be the primary person working on the reservation system and will be on the agenda for June.  Updates on the Access Program will be provided as well as information regarding the Business Plan possibly in May.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

8.  Announcements: ( discussion only)

Ms. Wade-Thompson announced the following events where Bayview youth will be participating:

• Monday, April 25, 6 pm – 7:30 pm “Sounds of Explosion” at Davies Symphony Hall - Featuring New Traditions Fourth/Fifth Grade Choir/ Lowell High School Choir & Chamber Singers/ St. Monica School Fifth Grade Choir
• Sunday, April 24, “Discovery Day” at Oracle Park
• Saturday, April 30, “Stem Frenzy”, at City College

 

Staff acknowledged Community Committee Member Ms. Kathryn Summers.  Ms. Summers advised she was happy to participate.

 

Staff requested the names of community members that might be interested in participating.

 

Public Comment:  None

 

9.  Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 12:43 pm.

   

The next meeting of the Community Programs Advisory Committee is scheduled for May 9^th.

 

Assigned Commissioners:  Susan Murphy/ Damien Posey/ Marlene Tran

Community Members:  Tandia O’Neal/ Lionel Spicer/ Emily Wade-Thompson/ Kathryn Summers