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Commission backs parks general obligation bond; public commenters urge excluding Natural Areas Program
Summary
The Port Commission voted to support placing a neighborhood and waterfront parks general obligation bond on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot. Public commenters representing the San Francisco Forest Alliance and others urged that the bond explicitly prevent funds from being used by the Natural Areas Program (NAP) because of tree removal, herbicide use and trail closures.
The Port Commission voted to approve a resolution supporting Mayor Edwin Lee and the Board of Supervisors placing a neighborhood and waterfront parks general obligation bond on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot.
During public comment on Item 8A, Sally Stevens of the San Francisco Forest Alliance urged the Commission to ask city leaders to exclude the Natural Areas Program (NAP) from access to any of the bond money. Stevens said that NAP plans would cut down "thousands of healthy, safe trees," relied on "huge amounts of truly nasty herbicides," and risked closing miles of trails; she said the Forest Alliance had gathered roughly 2,500 petition signatures opposing NAP's approach and warned that many voters would withhold support for the bond unless NAP were barred from receiving funds.
Arnita Bowman, another member of the public, echoed Stevens' concerns and said she personally supports the bond but would be reluctant to back it if NAP could draw from the restoration funds. A commissioner (SEG 14) responded by pointing to existing city legislation and a pesticide-reduction policy that requires the use of the least-toxic options and suggested that any herbicide use should be highlighted and alternatives pursued.
The Commission withdrew the item from the consent calendar to allow discussion and then adopted the resolution supporting ballot placement. No amendment excluding NAP was adopted on the record during this meeting. Commissioners and staff noted they would take the public comments into account in the city and supervisor outreach.
