Changes the Board made to improve the Facilities Master Plan for City College
In the recently passed Facilities Master Plan, I found that the Plan, while quite good, could be improved in a number of areas. After reading the Plan quite carefully, I met with the planning team, and offered comments and suggestions for improvements. Although a number of these were included in subsequent drafts, the Plan still did not do enough to offer protection for environmental or neighborhood concerns. My comments submitted during the public comment period of the EIR brought us closer to what I wanted to see in the Plan, but it still was not enough. I called together a group of experts in planning, historic preservation, transportation, and to work with me on more changes, many of which were adopted. Though it took three stages of advocacy to make the Plan better, I was pleased with the results from my efforts even though there were still some elements of the Plan with which I did not agree. I felt we made some important improvements together. These include:
- CCSF shall incorporate building deconstruction and recycling techniques where and when feasible.
- CCSF shall commit to implementation of the Transportation Demand Management program outlined in the Master Plan (to the extent feasible and in compliance with State law) in order to reduce operational emissions related to vehicles traveling to and from the Ocean Avenue Campus. The goal of the TDM program shall be to reduce the number of auto trips to and from the campus by at least 15 percent from the number currently observed.
- Implement free transit passes (e.g., MUNI/BART Class Pass) to full-time faculty, staff and students provided agreements can be reached with the transit providers and to the extent financially feasible. [Note: later changed to include subsidized passes for part-timers after I requested that.]
- The following measure is intended to minimize the potential increase in combined wastewater/stormwater flows from the Main Campus. Individual Master Plan projects shall incorporate features to minimize the generation of wastewater and stormwater runoff. Measures to minimize wastewater generation include waterless urinals, low-flow toilets and showers and use of motion sensors for toilets and sinks. Measures to minimize stormwater runoff include the use of drought-tolerant landscaping and the use of pervious pavements (such as in plazas).
- As a commuter college, CCSF has a student population that resides throughout the City and adjacent cities [Note: the importance of this change was that the original plan said that people resided too far away to bike which isn't true.]
- Prior to the final design of each project, a landscape architect shall review the construction footprint of the project. All feasible measures, such as changes to the building footprint, shall be used to preserve and protect healthy mature trees on all District campuses. [Change was in making this apply to all campuses.]
- If the removal of healthy mature trees is required on any District Campus, a certified arborist shall evaluate the trees and determine their "value" using the criteria developed by the Council of Tree and Landscape Architects. CCSF shall relocate the trees, to the extent feasible, based on recommendations from a qualified arborist. The trees shall be moved to locations consistent with the College landscape plan. [Same reason for change as above.]
- CCSF shall replace mature trees that cannot be saved (as the result of Measures a or b above) with new trees of the same species at a ratio of at least 1 to 1 (or higher if recommended by the arborist). The value of the new trees the District plants shall equal or exceed the value of the removed trees. [This change requires the District to replace trees based on their value and not just on the number of trees.]
- Provide a bicycle station or improved provisions for bicyclists on campus to encourage bicycle ridership;
- Support the San Francisco Bicycle Master Plan to encourage the use of bicycles for transportation to all campuses
- Review the District's parking policies to determine if they encourage driving to college, and if so, make changes to such policies to discourage driving.
- The District will make every effort to avoid the need to work on weekends. However, should weekend work be deemed necessary, the District will comply with the City Noise Ordinance and coordinate with local neighborhoods. [Note + the Plan originally allowed for work 7 am- 5 pm Sat. and Sun.]
Other suggestions I made were not included in the Plan, but will be considered in its implementation by staff. The Board should monitor these:
- In compliance with State law, the State Historic Building Code will be used on all qualified buildings throughout the District.
- Prior to undertaking the planning for the construction activity on any District-owned or occupied facility, the District will engage a qualified historic preservation specialist to conduct an independent assessment of the potential historic value of the resource. Should the assessment conclude the likelihood that the facility should be listed on any register or survey of historic resources (making it eligible for utilization of the State Historic Building Code), the District shall further engage this historic preservation specialist to undertake the necessary actions for this listing and/or designation.
- On construction activity on any historically-significant District-owned or occupied facility for which architects and/or construction contractors will be submitting bids, the District's Request for Qualifications will require expertise in historic preservation for the team awarded the contract(s).
- The District reaffirms that "works of art" in the District includes buildings as well as paintings, sculptures, and other objects that contribute to the vitality and richness of the built environment
- Subsidize public transit passes to the level where parking at District facilities is more expensive that using public transportation.
- Limit District parking passes to one per person.
- Increase parking fees to recover at least 50% of the cost of construction and 100% of the operating costs of structured parking.
- Increase bicycle use by 10% every five years. Conduct annual surveys to determine what would increase bicycle usage to all campuses and implement recommended actions.
- Analyze residency and class schedule choices to determine if scheduling classes at other campuses would result in decreased travel time for faculty and students.
- Review and update environmental policies including the Energy and Water Conservation Policy of 1977 every five years.
- Adopt landscape maintenance standards using the International Society of Arboriculture and other established organizational guidelines.
- Require at least LEED Silver Rating on all new buildings and renovations.
- Expand language defining sustainable practices to include decreasing dependence on the automobile, designing buildings that minimize energy use and generate
their own energy, use water efficiently, minimize and recycle waste, and provide healthy and productive indoor environments for students, faculty, administrators, and visitors.
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