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SF PUC Declines Rec & Park's Lake Merced Deal
Is Joint Management With Rec & Park Off the Table?
The October edition of the Observer had a detailed story describing the problems at Lake Merced. The heart of those problems is that for years, the lake has been the subject of a failed management system under which the SF Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the SF Recreation and Park Department (RPD) shared unclear management responsibilities, resulting in what a recent opinion piece in the Chronicle called a "two -headed monster." SFPUC owns the lake and surrounding lands, and Lake Merced activists have long believed that SFPUC should be the sole manager.
Recently, staff at SFPUC submitted to the five Commissioners of the agency a proposed Memorandum of Understanding with RPD that did no more than perpetuate the two-headed monster. At its November 8 meeting, the SFPUC Commissioners declined to approve the MOU. That was the first sign in many years that the top people at SFPUC may be willing to step up to the plate and fulfill the agency's responsibility to properly manage the lake.
Encouraged by the SFPUC Commissioners' refusal to perpetuate the two-headed monster, Lake Merced activists have submitted to the Commission a proposal under which SFPUC would be the sole manager at the lake (with the exception of Harding Park golf and RPD's successful Natural Areas Program), but would receive advice from RPD on recreational matters, and at SFPUC's option, RPD might manage specific recreational programs.
It is hoped that at some point in the near future the Commissioners at SFPUC will act on the recommendation of the citizen activists who know Lake Merced the best.
Jerry Cadagan is a long-time Lake Merced advocate.
December 2011
SF PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION SHIRKS ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AT LAKE MERCED
For years there has been media coverage of various problems and issues at Lake Merced, including the water level crisis of the 80s and 90's, the disrepair of docks, piers and buildings, the departure in 1999 of the last fishing concession, and the recent failed effort to find someone to invest millions of dollars in the Boathouse building and operate a "destination" restaurant. But despite considerable publicity over the years, the public is generally unfamiliar with the ownership and management arrangements (and problems) at the lake.
The Lake Merced Tract (the lake and surrounding land) is owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), having been acquired from the Spring Valley Water Company in 1930. In 1950 SFPUC made a serious mistake by passing a resolution conferring upon the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department (RPD) the right to occupy the tract "for park and recreational purposes" and to "grant concessions or leases….for the use and patronage of the public." That was the extent of the detail about what RPD's actual responsibilities and duties would be. There was no detailed memorandum of agreement or understanding between the two agencies.
The joint management arrangement simply has not worked. When the water level crisis became severe, the two agencies did virtually nothing. Aggressive activists forged a solution. Infrastructure is in a very serious state of disrepair. There has been no fishing concession since 1999.
On March 23, 2005 the San Francisco Budget and Legislative Analyst released an exhaustive audit of SFPUC's operations1.
Buried in Chapter 12 was a recommendation that the two agencies should develop a Memorandum of Understanding as "an initial step in identifying responsibility for and solutions to the Lake Merced land and property management." SFPUC's response to the audit report simply said that the agency agreed. It may have agreed, but it did not act.
Then in January 2007 the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution (http://www.sfbos.org/ftp/uploadedfiles/bdsupvrs/resolutions07/r0014-07.pdf) reciting that SFPUC had made a commitment to manage the tract and to obtain and allocate the resources to do so. The resolution urged the agencies to work together to modify the terms of the 1950 resolution. Between January 2007 and May 2010 SFPUC had four consultants produce a 187 page Lake Merced Watershed Report that cost the SFPUC rate payers $588,434. (http://sfwater.org/index.aspx?page=197). At page 10 the Watershed Report says the intent of the Board's resolution was "to transfer primary responsibility for management of the lands surrounding the lake back to the SFPUC." The Board's resolution requested a report back in 90 days. That did not happen. Instead, some 1,180 days later the agencies did release a draft Memorandum of Understanding which, incredulously, essentially left the confusing, muddled co-management situation in place. At a public meeting in July, ably reported on by Jonathan Farrell in the September issue of the Westside Observer, the public expressed dismay over the fact that nothing was going to change.
Attempting to justify RPD's continued involvement, SFPUC staff has made vague statements to the effect that RPD's experience in recreational matters is needed at the lake. There are significant problems with that line of reasoning. First, RPD has done nothing at the lake of late that would be thought of as enhancing recreation. What it has not done is the only thing that has been needed since 1999 — replacing the essential fishing concession which rented boats and sold fishing licenses, tackle, bait and snacks at the lake. Second, the other recreational activities at the lake are well-handled by participants and volunteers. The crew, sailing and Dragon Boat programs are supported by local high schools, the Dolphin Club and other organizations that provide the needed supervision, coaching and equipment. For SFPUC to suggest that it doesn't have the skill and expertise to oversee recreational matters at the lake is disingenuous. Surely an organization currently involved in administering billions of dollars of contracts in the Hetch Hetchy rebuild should be capable of finding someone to run a simple fishing concession.
SFPUC's protestation that it has no experience in recreational matters is beyond disingenuous. It has an ongoing program of docent-led outdoor excursions for hikers, bicyclists and equestrians along the Fifield-Cahill Trail on the San Francisco peninsula. It issues permits for private events such as weddings at its Pulgas Water Temple on the peninsula. And just recently, SFPUC received kudos in a Huffington Post story about an Earth Stewards program co-sponsored by SFPUC involving at-risk young adults from SF working in and enjoying both the Peninsula and Hetch Hetchy watersheds.
What is the point of all this? Simply that there has been a total lack of accountability at the lake for years. Ask RPD about the dilapidated Boathouse and they'll say, "Ask SFPUC." Ask SFPUC why fish aren't stocked regularly and they'll say, "Ask RPD." An appropriate division of responsibility would be for RPD to retain full responsibility for Harding golf and the Natural Areas Program. SFPUC could contract with RPD for gardening services. SFPUC should be responsible for everything else, particularly the deplorable infrastructure. Then we might have some accountability. That could be accomplished by a simple revision to the ambiguous 1950 resolution. If you agree call Mayor Lee (554-6141), Supervisor Elsbernd (554-6516) and SFPUC General Manager Ed Harrington (554-3155) and tell them.
I am appreciative that the Westside Observer is giving me some space to shed some light on the subject. In a nutshell, the problem is confused responsibilities, resulting in a lack of accountability.
Jerry Cadagan co-founded the Committee to Save Lake Merced in 1993.
1 www.sfbos.org/index.aspx?page=3991
October 2011
Lake Merced: Irate Citizens Give PUC Bureaucrats No Respect
By Jonathan Farrell
Over 50 people showed up at the Harding Park Golf Course Clubhouse on July 19 to listen to Steve Ritchie, Assistant General Manager of Water Enterprises for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. His presence was well-received by the audience, as he knows many in the community. Residents and community groups have expressed skepticism about the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission plan to extend the conservatorship responsibilities of Lake Merced to the SF Recreation & Parks Department.
Yet when several in the audience, like Jerry Cadagan, were critical of Rec. & Park's continued conservatorship of Lake Merced, Ritchie seemed to become reserved and eager to finish the meeting quickly.
Cadagan established one of the first local groups back in 1993 concerned about Lake Merced's future and care. He fears that since that time not much has changed for the better. He was among the most vocal at the meeting, and asked most of the critical questions.
Precise details about how much money is or was appropriated for repairs were not clear. Ritchie said that the Boathouse will be repaired, and a work schedule will be in place by the fall of 2011. Cadagan and others were skeptical and questioned the actual figures in the funding, causing obvious uneasiness in the flow of answers from Ritchie and others speaking on behalf of Rec. & Park.
Most of the criticism focused on the fact that, apart from the golf course and new clubhouse, most of the recreational venues around Lake Merced are poorly maintained.
The lake itself needs more attention. Water levels are receding and algae are multiplying. Ritchie noted that the water levels in the lake have been a long-standing issue. Water and environmental issues are SF PUC's responsibility.
Residents noted that trees are withering and need of more care. Dead trees are cut down and then simply left to decompose along the edges of the lake.
Rec. & Park representatives Lev Kushner and Lisa Wayne were among the other officials present at the meeting. They pointed out that the City is struggling to meet maintenance costs. In addition to overseeing the waterfront of the lake, Rec. & Park must manage over 1100 acres of Golden Gate Park as well as other neighborhood parks in the City. Budgets in every division and department are limited.
Residents told Ritchie that workers from Rec. & Park seem absent in attending to the needs of over 200 acres of lake, marsh and park, but that the golf course gets lots of attention since its upgrade to PGA status more than six years ago. Some said the reason why the golf course and its clubhouse got more attention over the Boathouse and fishing docks was because the sport of golf is a moneymaker.
The SF PUC has jurisdiction over the lake as a water resource and must work with not only San Francisco, but also adjacent Daly City in its use and care. Ritchie reassured the audience that attention to the water levels, as well as erosion issues, are being addressed on an on-going basis.
Even though recreation use has increased, the quality of the lake's recreation facilities seem to be much less than what it was in previous years. Hippo Lau said, after the meeting, that "fishing on the lake used to be shoulder to shoulder. It used to be the lake, a choice spot, to fish at in the 1950s and '60s. Over the years the lake has gone down in quality and maintenance." Kelly Zito in the SF Chronicle observed. "Many of those docks are rotting under water. Fish stocks hover well below historical levels," Zito's article noted.
Most were concerned that the Memorandum of Understanding regarding Lake Merced was not complete, and that most of the handouts were drafts still in process.They expressed concerns about the political maneuvering between the City and the SF PUC, the MOU created decades ago will be undermined and rendered meaningless.
The MOU document governing the use and maintenance of Lake Merced is a 1950 era resolution. The 60 year old document notes that the SFPUC adopted Resolution No. 10,435 giving the Rec. & Park Dept. the right to "occupy, use and improve, for park and recreational purposes" the entire Tract, along with the right to grant concessions or leases.
It is the leasing and use of the lake and surrounding acreage that worries some residents. They fear Rec. & Park will "privatize" the lake as a way to create revenue, and limit public access in favor of events and venues that make money.
There was general agreement among those attending the meeting that the SF PUC will be unable to hold Rec. & Park accountable if their joint conservatorship of the Lake Merced area continues.
Jonathan Farrell is a freelance San Francisco journalist.
September 2011
Lake Merced and the Boathouse
Rowers Get the Short End of the Stick
A vital sport for kids, and affordable recreation for folks
of all ages, gets no respect from City Hall.
You don’t have to ask the kids who get up before dawn to go to rowing practice what they did last night—they went to bed early. Literally hundreds of young people from around the city show up—ready to row—at dawn. Their commitment is ignored by City officials.
Rowing has been described as the “ultimate team sport” because each rower’s motions must harmonize with the others to create a smooth, synchronous flow. Starting out with exercises to warm-up, teams of four to eight boys or girls hoist the heavy boats and carefully maneuver them past the rickety and decaying ramp to the dock, adroitly planting them in what remains of Lake Merced. Then in a few minutes they’re off, speeding across the water until they become a mere speck in the distance. The boys and girls who take part in the supervised programs all agree on one thing—it’s worth the effort.
“It’s such a thrill to be out on the water working shoulder to shoulder with my teammates,” said one novice as the sun rose behind him, “I look forward to this day all week.” Programs sponsored by the Pacific Rowing Club are open to high school students of any age. Known as “novices” these are students who have not yet participated in a regatta. Rowing is a pathway to the best colleges in the country. Besides being a full-body, low-impact aerobic workout involving all the body’s major muscle groups, it is a valuable skill, prized by ivy league colleges.
But rowing is not just for kids. At 75, Mary Allen rows three days a week. She is a very active senior, who has been rowing on Lake Merced for over 20 years. She navigates the decrepit docks and expertly deposits her boat in the water, mounts the bobbing vessel from the lurching dock, then rows the four mile course. Refreshed from her adventure, she repeats the process backwards until the “shell” is safely back in its cradle. Mary also gives lessons to students and donates her spare time to the SF Rowing Club. “It keeps me in great shape,” she says. The club is affordable, at about $250 per year, allowing unlimited access to any of the club’s 14 boats.
Boathouse Languishes in Shameful Neglect
The Boathouse has an uncertain future. It houses the programs of the Pacific Rowing Club, the SF Rowing Club, St. Ignatius Crew, South End Rowing Club and the Dolphin Club in its subterranean levels. The restaurant above has been vacant for over three years and the SF Recreation and Park Department plans to demolish the building, but no concrete proposal for a replacement project has been adopted. This has the coaches wondering where they will relocate their services.
“The lake itself is in better shape than it was ten years ago,” says Dick Allen, a stalwart and former Planning Commissioner. “It has regained some of its previous level. It is at about 25 feet now, whereas it had been at 14 feet at its lowest point, but it took a lawsuit and political will to force the City to return the lake to its current level.” The lawsuit against the City’s golf courses, Daly City, and San Mateo County stopped the unmetered draining of the lake. Allen now serves on the SF PUC’s Lake Merced Task Force.
One of those who expended considerable political capital to restore the lake was former Supervisor Tony Hall. He notes that the lake was at 27 to 28 feet when he left office, the highest level in 40 years, in keeping with a campaign promise. He blames the current administration, including the current District supervisor, for neglecting what could and should be the best family recreation facility in San Francisco. “With no active supervision, Rec and Park has allowed the boathouse and the docks to slip into disrepair,” Hall said. “The Boathouse and its boating and fishing facilities should have been repaired or put out to bid at the same time as the Harding Park Golf Course rebuild. It could be open and operating safely right now if my successor followed through with the Harding Park and Lake Merced improvements that I initiated. Rec and Park’s current ruse—“to get community input”—is just a stalling tactic, another smoke-screen for delay, just like the stables. We’ve studied the heck out of this and there’s been plenty of community input. I’m concerned about what will happen to the rowing clubs if the plan to demolish the Boathouse Restaurant is carried out. Since there is no plan for the rebuild and relocation of these clubs that provide such a valuable service, I fear the community we will lose a real treasure.”
Lake Merced is an emergency source of drinking water and fire fighting. Rec and Park manages the recreational areas of the Lake under a 1950 agreement with the SF Public Utilities Commission, which manages the water in the Lake.
In the past, Lake Merced was replenished by storm water runoff from the surrounding watershed. But new development has depleted the runoff and the underlying aquifer. Daly City, SF and San Bruno, as well as several golf courses, cemeteries, and private users, rely on groundwater extracted from the Westside Basin for drinking and irrigation. As more groundwater is pumped from deeper aquifers to meet growing water needs, water in the shallow aquifer that is a part of Lake Merced now flows towards San Mateo County. Global warming has also slowed stormwater flows to the shallow aquifer, which are now, for the most part, routed to the Ocean or to the Oceanside Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Time is running out for the rowers, and they deserve some help from City Hall.
www.pacificrowingclub.org
www.sfrowingclub.com
www.dolphinclub.org
