CALL TO ORDER

Chair Wolgast called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

1. ROLL CALL

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Kamen, Smith, Kawczynska, Minasian

Windham, Thomas, Wolgast, Cobb

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Wozniak

STAFF PRESENT: Smith, Marchetti

2. COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

Chairman Wolgast announced that he would not be able to attend the special Planning/Waterfront Commission joint meeting June 23, 1999. He introduced new commissioner Michael Minasian.

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Stephen Dunn, a berther, asked the Commission to waive late fees and other charges that he had been assessed since being relocated from a berth in F dock to his current slip which is longer than his boat. Commissioner Smith asked that the issue of charging boaters for the length of the slip rather than for the length of their boats in cases where the slip is longer than the boat be put on the next meeting’s agenda. Commissioners Cobb and Kamen volunteered to be on a subcommittee to explore the issue.

Mr. Mike Barnett, general manager of Hs Lordships restaurant described the restaurant’s expansion plans. He said that phase 1 will convert a portion of the lounge into a dining area. Phase 2 will convert the old dining room space into 5 new banquet rooms and increase the total square footage. He said that in phase 3 the current building will be expanded to include a new restaurant facing San Francisco. Mr. Barnett gave the following revenue projections for the company’s planned expansion:

Current: $4,040,000

Phase 1: $4,375,000

Phase 2: $4,940,000

Phase 3: $7,800,000

Commissioner Kamen asked whether the expansion would mean changes to the building’s roof lines or footprint. Mr. Barnett said that phase one would not change the roof lines or footprint.

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES

Commissioner Felix moved approval of the agenda. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion, which passed 8-0-0-1. Several minor changes to the minutes of the May 12 meeting were suggested. Commissioner Felix moved approval of the minutes with these changes. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion, which passed 8-0-0-1.

5. BAY AREA ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED SAILORS APPLICATION FOR A FREE BERTH

BAADS’ commodore Mr. Tom Fowle described the organization’s history and current activity. He said that BAADS is run entirely with volunteers and operates on a limited budget. He said BAADS sails primarily out of San Francisco but hopes to obtain another boat to be dedicated to the Berkeley Marina. He said BAADS is especially interested in establishing a presence at the Berkeley Marina because of the City’s significant community of disabled people. He said that BAADS has collaborated with the Community for Independent Living in Berkeley. Commissioner Kamen said that BAADS would be a perfect customer for the new F& G docks.

Motion: Commissioner Kamen made the following motion which was seconded by Commissioner Smith:

(a) That the Commission recommend to the City Council that it allocate to BAADS a berth of their choosing up to 28 feet in length in “F” or “G” dock dependent on BAADS obtaining a boat to dock permanently at the Marina; and

(b) That until BAADS obtains an additional boat they receive free use of visitor berths at the Marina.

The motion passed 8-0-0-1.

6. AQUATIC PARK CLEAN UP ISSUES

The Commission discussed the problem of trash in Aquatic Park. Cliff Marchetti said that he has limited staff to dedicate to the park. The commission decided to place the issue of solving Aquatic Park’s chronic trash problem on the August meeting agenda.

7. WEST BERKELEY NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION “MERCADO” PROPOSAL

Mr. Zulu and Mr. Willy Smith of the West Berkeley Neighborhood Development Corporation presented a proposal for a (mercado) market to be held on Saturdays and Sundays at the old ferry dock. Commissioner Kawczynska asked how they would deal with competition from other similar activities such as the farmer’s market. Mr. Zulu responded that the mercado would not be in direct competition with the farmers market, and that he envisions a smaller more varied number of vendors than are at the farmers market. Commissioner Kawczynska also asked whether the mercado is subject to CEQA. Mr. Phillips responded that Patty Jeffery of the Planning Department is informally advising them on CEQA procedures. Commissioner Kamen asked whether the estimated 1,100 daily visitors would present a parking problem. He said the increased traffic from the mercado might oblige the Marina to adopt a parking pass procedure so that berthers could be assured of adequate parking. Mr. Zulu said that he hoped some means of discouraging automobiles and encouraging patrons to use public transportation could be devised. Commissioner Cobb said she liked the idea of the mercado but that its organizers had picked the wrong location. She said that the Marina’s cold, fog and wind would discourage many potential patrons. Commissioner Wolgast said that he believed the mercado violated the Council’s recent prohibition against any new large commercial developments at the Marina, and that Marina was an inappropriate location because the project was not directly marina related. Commissioner Smith asked that the organizers develop and present a response to the Commission’s concerns at the next meeting at which time the proposal would then be submitted to a vote.

8. TRASH ALONG FRONTAGE ROAD

The Commission discussed the problem of trash and refuse along Frontage Road. Commissioner Cobb noted that the Emeryville stretch of the road was usually clean. Marina Manager Cliff Marchetti said that nighttime parking along the Berkeley stretch of the road was the cause of the problem. He said that at night people camp, dump trash and discard personal items along the road. He asked that the item be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for further discussion and proposed solutions.

9. AN ALTERNATIVE TO A SALTWATER FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEM (SFFS)

Chair Wolgast distributed as an information item a letter and attachment from Mr. John Shively proposing a Hillwater Fire Fighting System (HFFS) as an alternative to the Salt Water Fire Fighting System (SFFS) currently being considered. Chair Wolgast asked that the topic be placed on the August meeting agenda.

10. Adjournment

Chair Wolgast adjourned the meeting at 10:00 p.m.