UPDATE: San Francisco Fire Department's 30 Day Posting for New Proposed Administrative Bulletins

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - As of December 27, 2010

NOTE: There have been further revisions to three of the Administrative Bulletins that were posted.  They are 2.01, 3.05, and 5.08.  Please click here to review and comment on the amended proposals if you wish.

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Original Post

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) is posting a large number of revised Administrative Bulletins for your review on the SFFD website.  Please take a look at them and feel free to comment on the proposals, in accordance with the instructions therein.

Please email Ken Cleaveland, at kenc@boma.com or John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com with any questions or concerns you may have.

A Look Ahead: Transbay Demolition and Construction Activities

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Weekday Work: Weekday work between Monday, December 27, 2010, and Friday, December 31, 2010, will focus on the continued demolition of the Terminal building using the wrecking ball. The contractor will work between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM.

PLEASE NOTE: As per our notice earlier this week, night demolition work is required for public safety on Monday, December 27, 2010, and Tuesday, December 28, 2010, and will focus on the continued demolition of the high walls adjacent to First and Fremont Street. The contractor will work between the hours of 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM.

Street and Sidewalk Closure: Sidewalks on the west side of Fremont and the east side of First Streets will be closed to pedestrian traffic between Mission and Howard Streets on Monday, December 27, 2010, and Tuesday, December 28, 2010 between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM only. Pedestrians must use the sidewalk on the opposite sides of the street.

Pedestrians will be diverted from the sidewalk on the east side of Fremont Street between Mission and Howard Streets into the east parking lane due to demolition activities occurring nearby. Pedestrian protection will be provided.

Lane restrictions will remain on Minna and Natoma Streets. Lane restrictions will be in effect on both Fremont Street and First Street between Mission and Howard Street between the hours of 7:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

What to Expect Next Weekend (12/31/10 - 01/02/11): Next weekend, no work will be performed.

Should you have any general questions about the Transbay Transit Center Project, please call Courtney Lodato or Adam Alberti, Transbay Outreach Team, at: (415) 227-9700 or via e-mail at: info@transbaycenter.org.

If you have any urgent questions regarding site-specific demolition or construction activities, please call our construction activity number: (415) 409-TJPA (8572).

Please continue to check our website for the most up to date schedule of activities at: www.transbaycenter.org/demolition

Controller's Office Report: October 2010 Economic Barometer

Click on the image to enlarge.

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The following includes a discussion of the October 2010 Economic Barometer highlights:  

• The October unemployment rate in San Francisco was 9.3%, unchanged from the prior month, and down from 9.6% a year ago.
• After declining for three months, overall employment in the 3-County Metro Division has increased modestly in each of the past two months, on a seasonally adjusted basis.
• Housing prices  in San Francisco have been inconsistent. Average prices fluctuate month-to-month, but remain  virtually unchanged from the year-end 2009 average of $650,000.
• In contrast to for-sale housing, apartment market conditions have improved steadily in 2010. Average asking rents have increased 11%  compared to a year ago. However, rental rates are still about 10% below their peak in September, 2008.
• Domestic and international airport traffic at SFO continues to strengthen with both indicators showing healthy monthly and annual increases in October.
• The hotel average daily rate declined in October, while  occupancy levels  posted  a modest increase. In October, Revenue per available room night was 3.0% lower than it was in October 2009. RevPAR had been showing annual growth for most of 2010.
• Retail traffic indicators-City parking garage use and Saturday BART visitors to Powell Street-are still at or near their low points of the recession.

Please click here for the full report.  Thank you to Ted Egan, San Francisco's Chief Economist for producing this report.

UPDATE: Improvements Continue for California Street Cable Car Line and Roadway: Phase Two includes closure of California Cable Car Line starting in January

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - As of December 27, 2010

Phase Two of California Street Cable Car Infrastructure Improvement Project to Start January 3 through Summer 2011

During the months of construction, Muni’s California Cable Car Line will be closed. However, the SFMTA will provide bus shuttle service to substitute for the regular California Cable Car Line daily from 6:30 a.m. until 12:30 a.m. 

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) will continue collaborating with the Department of Public Works (DPW) during Phase Two to replace aging electronic and mechanical components underneath the cable car trackway in order to ensure the safe operation of the cable car system. Work will also include reconstruction of concrete streets between Mason Street and Kearny Avenue and street repaving along 17 blocks of California Street between Van Ness Avenue and Drumm Street. 

Majority of the work started as Phase One such as sidewalk curb repairs, sewer replacement and curb ramp installation will continue into Phase Two.  

OTHER KEY ELEMENTS:

• The construction schedule may change due to weather or unexpected conditions.
• San Francisco’s signature cable cars will still be available to local residents and visitors on the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines.  However, these two cable car lines will undergo safety improvements during a shutdown of approximately four days for each line in March and April and shutdown of both lines in June 2011. Details to follow.
• The 1 California trolley coach route will remain in service.  
• Construction is scheduled for Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although night and Sunday work may be necessary. 
• During construction, at least one traffic lane will remain open for traffic in each direction at all times. Traffic controls will be in place; however, expect slow traffic at intersections. 
• Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum.  
• Street parking will be prohibited in and around construction zones. Please be alert to and adhere to No-Parking signs.
• Local businesses are open for business during construction, so please continue to patronize them. 

The SFMTA thanks you for your continued support and patience as they renew your Muni system.  For more information: www.sfmta.com/cablecar or call 311. 

You can also contact any of the following project staff for additional information and assistance:

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 

Lisa Chow - 415.701.4310/lisa.chow@sfmta.com

San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency 

Jay Lu -  415.701.4387/Jay.lu@sfmta.com

Department of Public Works

Alex Murillo - 415.437.7009/alex.m.murillo@sfdpw.org

(se habla español)

NTK Construction, Inc., Contractor

Sammy Kwok-415.760.6765/skwok@ntkconstruction.com

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Original Post

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates the Municipal Railway (Muni), reminds BOMA San Francisco members that Phase Two of the California Cable Car Infrastructure Improvement Project will require the closure of the California Cable Car Line for six months from January to July 2011. The SFMTA and the Department of Public Works (DPW) began Phase One of the project in September 2011. For this project, the SFMTA and DPW will replace aging underground components of the cable car line and repave 17 blocks on California Street between Drumm Street and Van Ness Avenue.

The California Street Infrastructure Improvement Project is a result of years of planning and coordination between City agencies that will:

• Replace necessary electrical and mechanical components to support the safe operation of the cable car system (i.e. conduits, pulley brackets, switches)
• Reconstruct concrete streets
• Repave street
• Perform construction and installation of curb ramps at every intersection (excluding Van Ness Avenue and Stockton and Sabin streets) to comply with the Americans with Disability Act requirements
• Repair sidewalk curbs
• Replace sewer

Phase One of the California Cable Car Infrastructure Project began in September and started work on sidewalk curb repairs, sewer replacement and curb ramps installation along 17 blocks of California Street between Van Ness Avenue and Drumm Street. A moratorium on street excavation and construction on commercial corridors will take place the day after Thanksgiving and into January. This routine moratorium helps minimize construction impacts to businesses and shoppers during the peak shopping season and reduces traffic congestion during this busy time of year.

Phase Two of the project will begin in January and replace aging electronic and mechanical components underneath the cable car trackway to ensure the continued safe operation of the cable car system. Work will also include reconstruction of concrete streets between Mason Street and Kearny Street and street repaving along California Street and any work remaining from Phase One.

Construction is scheduled for Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., although night and Sunday work may be necessary. Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum.  Local businesses will remain open for business during construction.

UPDATE: Effective Dates for Local Ballot Propositions That Passed in the November 2010 General Election - Transfer Tax Ordinance

BOMA San Francisco Members:

On December 7, 2010, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors certified the voter approved Proposition N (please click here for our blog posts on this issue), which took effect on December 17, 2010.  In short, Prop. N amends the San Francisco Transfer Tax Ordinance as follows:

• The transfer tax rate is increased from 1.5% to 2% when the “consideration for” or “value of the transfer” is $5 million or more, but less than $10 million.
• The transfer tax rate is increased from 1.5% to 2.5% when the “consideration for” or “value of the  transfer” is $10 million or more.
• The increased transfer tax rates also apply to leasehold interests having a remaining term (including renewal options) of equal or greater than 35 years. 

EFFECTIVE TAX RATES

                                                                
If entire value or consideration; tax rate for entire value or consideration is:

• More than $100 but less than or equal to $250,000
• $2.50 for each $500 or portion thereof;
• More than $250,000 but less than  $1,000,000
• $3.40 for each $500 or portion thereof;
• $1,000,000  or more but less than $5,000,000
• $3.75 for each $500 or portion thereof; 
• $5,000,000  or more but less than $10,000,000
• $10.00 for each $500 or portion thereof;
• $10,000,000  or more
• $12.50 for each $500 or portion thereof.

If you have any questions, please contact Phil Ting, Assessor-Recorder for the City and County of San Francisco by clicking here.

Transbay Demolition and Construction Activities - Notice: Night Noise Expected 12/27 and 12/28

BOMA San Francisco Members:

As the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) makes their way through the demolition of the old Terminal, they've found that it will become necessary to break the night noise moratorium for two consecutive nights in order to ensure the safety of the surrounding neighbors.

Beginning on Monday, December 27, 2010, demolition will occur on two consecutive evenings from 7:00 PM until 7:00 AM. In order to ensure the safety of the project's neighbors, the sidewalks and two lanes along First and Fremont Streets will be closed for the hours of these demolition activities.

Should you have any general questions about the Transbay Transit Center Project, please call Courtney Lodato or Adam Alberti, Transbay Outreach Team, at: (415) 227-9700 or via e-mail at: info@transbaycenter.org

If you have any urgent questions regarding site-specific demolition or construction activities, please call our construction activity number: (415) 409-TJPA (8572).

Please continue to check our website for the most up to date schedule of activities at: www.transbaycenter.org/demolition.

UPDATE: Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - December 15, 2010

The Board of Supervisors' Land Use Committee met for the second time this month on Monday, December 13, 2010 to discuss the details of the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance ordinance.

Please click here to read the Ordinance and here for the Legislative Digest.

This ordinance, the most comprehensive of any city in the nation, will require all commercial buildings in San Francisco to be benchmarked and audited within THREE years, and to report that information to the San Francisco Department of the Environment. We had originally worked out a compromise of 5 years for both the initial benchmarking/audit and a 5 years recertification requirement for same. That was changed to three years for the initial audit, with the recertification/audit update requirement staying at 5 years. The 18 months to begin compliance was also reduced to 12 months. Both of these amendments were suggested by Board of Supervisors President, David Chiu. Chiu has now added his name to the Mayor's as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The Department of the Environment presented a scenario for ramping up the benchmarking/audit requirement on existing buildings within a three year period, although they insisted that they needed to select buildings via a lottery rather than start with the largest properties and work downward. Department representatives also stated that there were approximately 630 commercial buildings in SF over 50,000 square feet, and over 2,500 between 10,000 - 50,000 square feet in size. This legislation will not cover buildings smaller than 10,000 square feet.

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UPDATE - November 30, 2010

BOMA San Francisco Members:

On  November 23, 2010, Mayor Newsom introduced the substitute Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance, which is scheduled to be heard at the Board of Supervisors Land Use & Economic Development Committee on December 6, 2010 at 1:00 p.m.:

Revisions from the prior version from July/August include: 

• Increased the minimum square footage of buildings required to comply from 5,000 to 10,000 sq. ft. (Section 2002, line 8);
• As described in Section 2004(a), for buildings submitting their benchmarking data for the first time, a window of time was added between when they are required to submit their data and when the data is made public.  This will allow some time for the facility to review and ensure the accuracy of the data before it is posted;
• Section 2006 was added to clarify compliance requirements for municipal buildings;
• The benchmarking requirements are much the same as those for commercial buildings, the primary exception being allowing the City to use a benchmarking tool other than Energy Star Portfolio Manager if it deems another tool to be more relevant for municipal buildings, as long as it provides the same type of data (Portfolio Manager is currently quite limited in the types of buildings it has categories for, and does not include many municipal building types, ie fire stations, etc.).
• However, because the City owns over 1,000 buildings and it would be impractical to expect the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to conduct energy audits in all of those buildings in the timeline required in Section 2004(b), this section allows the SFPUC to elect to develop a compliance plan, to be submitted by July 1, 2011, to develop protocols and a compliance timeline for conducting energy audits in municipal buildings.  The expectation is that the SFPUC will perform 20-30 municipal energy audits per year.
• An exception was added for unoccupied buildings (Section 2008(c)(2));
• Administrative fines were revised as described in Section 2009(b).

Thank you to Johanna Partin, Director of Climate Protection Initiatives - Office of Mayor Gavin Newsom, for this information.

Please review legislation as soon as you can.  Please send any feedback to Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com and John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com, and what positives/negatives aspects you see emanating from passage/implementation of this ordinance. 

Most importantly, if you would like to attend the December 6th meeting of the Land Use Committee to testify in support of this legislation and/or add any specific comments.  Please email us.   

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Original Post - August 12, 2010

BOMA San Francisco members have been working with the San Francisco Department of the Environment to craft the Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance. Click here to review the ordinance.

The proposal would require owners of nonresidential buildings in San Francisco to obtain energy efficiency audits, as well as to annually measure and disclose energy performance. It would also requires the Department of Environment to collect summary statistics about the energy performance of nonresidential buildings and make those statistics available to the public.

The proposal would require the owner of any nonresidential building in San Francisco with a gross area of 5,000 square feet or greater to conduct a comprehensive energy efficiency audit for each such building not less than once every 5 years. The audits would have to meet specified industry standards and be conducted by a qualified energy professional in accordance with rules promulgated by the Director of the Department of the Environment. The size of the building would determine the scope of the audit.

The energy professional would prepare a signed report of the energy efficiency audit meeting industry standards. The report would include, among other things: a list of capital and non-capital measures that would improve the building's energy efficiency; an estimate of the approximate energy savings, avoided energy cost, and costs to implement those measures; and an estimate of the economic value of the corrective measures. The ordinance would require the building owner to file with the Department of the Environment a report confirming that the energy efficiency audit had been completed.

Building owners would also be required to use the "ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager"— the Environmental Protection Agency’s online tool for managing building data—to track the total energy use of each non-residential building and obtain an "ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager Energy Performance Rating" for each entire nonresidential building. The owner would then file an Annual Energy Benchmark Summary report ("AEBS") for each covered building with the Department of the Environment. The AEBS would be based on an assessment of the entire non-residential building and related facilities made using Portfolio Manager.

No energy efficiency audit would be required for: (a) a building newly constructed less than five years prior to the date an AEBS was due; (b) a building that received the ENERGY STAR® label from the EPA for at least three of the last five years; or, (c) a building that was certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for Existing Buildings Operation and Maintenance, within the past five years. Owners of financially distressed buildings could apply for extensions of the deadlines for completion of an energy efficiency audit or for submittal of an AEBS.

The Department of the Environment would annually report to the public summary statistics on Citywide energy use in nonresidential buildings and on overall compliance with the Chapter. For individual buildings covered by the ordinance, the department would report whether the building was in compliance with the Chapter, what level of energy audit was required for the building, the date of the most recent audit, and whole-building information on energy use and efficiency.

The ordinance would require building owners to make the Annual Energy Benchmark Summary report available to all tenants occupying the building in order to engage tenants in efforts to save energy.

The ordinance would set a staggered, 3-year schedule for compliance with these new requirements, beginning April 1, 2011.

Violations would be enforced through a system of administrative penalties, after written warning to the building owner.

BOMA SF Op-Ed in the San Francisco Examiner - When Government Collaborates with Private Enterprise, Everyone Benefits

From Marc Intermaggio, Executive Vice-President for BOMA San Francisco:

In Economics 101 we learn that the private sector creates wealth and government taxes it -- and spends it judiciously, if public officials want to keep the business community thriving. To have a truly successful City, government must nourish the private sector to stimulate commercial activity and support a “civic experience” that fosters widespread urban appeal.

Wise governments provide a climate for job growth by performing services and making capital investments that stimulate a vibrant economy. They take a collaborative approach in working with the business community to build a strong private sector tax base.

A superb example of such a successful collaborative partnership is what we experienced when the San Francisco Giants brought the World Series Championship home. (Remember, we almost lost our major league baseball team a few years back to St. Petersburg when some city leaders were unwilling to back the Giants.) That was a distant memory when downtown San Francisco literally vibrated with the enthusiasm of a million fans who cheered the Giants and, in effect, also celebrated the successful public-private partnership of a privately financed team playing on public land in a stadium built with private funds.

But even that great day could be eclipsed if the entire world focuses on the America’s Cup sailing match in the San Francisco Bay. The return on that municipal-private investment could be enormous, generating more than $1.2 billion in economic activity, creating more than 8,000 jobs, $13.1 million in net benefits plus $31 million in long-range development tax revenues for San Francisco. The long-term benefit for our City’s “brand” would be substantial. Hosting the America’s Cup is something we can literally take to the bank, if we win the competition to bring it here.

While San Francisco is often listed as the No. 1 preferred tourist destination in the world, we cannot stop investing in urban development and amenities that attract both business and tourists. As a convention venue we have fallen to seventh place in the nation behind smaller metro areas like Dallas, Atlanta, Orange County, the District of Columbia and Las Vegas in rooms and meeting space. These are warning signs that foretell job losses and declines in city revenues.

People don’t have to do business in San Francisco. There are options—across the Bay, down the Peninsula or in business-friendlier states. Companies lease space here, workers seek jobs, tourists enjoy our sites and people choose to live here because it’s pleasurable. Our downtown is a happening place—at lunchtime, at night and on the weekends you can feel the buzz along Market Street, the Ferry Building Plaza, the lively Embarcadero, SOMA’s parks and museums and the razzle-dazzle of Union Square. Downtown is a beehive, but it must be sustained by enlightened governance and leadership at City Hall.

So the next time you talk with a city official, ask him or her just what they’re doing to keep San Francisco growing. Are they supporting a new cruise ship terminal? A downtown sports arena? Expansion of urban mass transit? Revitalization of the Embarcadero’s rotting wharfs? What are they doing to support companies and organizations that want to create jobs and lower our record unemployment rate? Or, are they planning new fees and taxes that discourage business formation here? Will they attempt to revive the ill-advised hotel tax hike? And you might also ask them if they ever took a course in school called Economics 101.


This opinion piece appeared in the San Francisco Examiner on December 13, 2010.

Senate Passes Tax Compromise - BOMA International Advocacy Brings Value to the Membership

BOMA San Francisco Members:

On December 15, 2010, the Senate passed the tax bill, by a vote of 81-19. The bill includes a 2 year extension of the 15 year depreciation period for leasehold improvements as well as a 2 year extension of current capital gains rates and no change to current carried interest tax treatment.

Thank you to our tireless advocates at BOMA International in Washington D.C. for their hard work! The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives where a vote will, most likely, be tomorrow.

10 Day Look Ahead: Transbay Demolition and Construction Activities

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Weekend Work: This weekend, the demolition contractor will continue demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Saturday, December 11. No work is planned for this coming Sunday. The contractor does not anticipate working between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. However, if work is required, it will not include jack hammering, wrecking ball usage or other excessive noise producing activities.

The final build-out of the Temporary Terminal Phase 2 configuration will be complete this weekend, and will go into operations for AC Transit tomorrow, Saturday, December 11, 2010 and for Muni on December 16, 2010. For more information, visit: www.TemporaryTerminal.org

Please Note: As previously noticed, Natoma Street, between First and Fremont Streets, has been reduced to one single westbound lane. The contractor will work with neighboring tenants to accommodate all deliveries.

Weekday Work: Weekday work between Monday, December 13, 2010, and Friday, December 17, 2010, will focus on the continued demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball. We expect to use the wrecking ball on the top of the front facade of the old Terminal building as early as Monday morning. The contractor will work between the hours of 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM during the weekday. Lane restrictions will remain on Minna and Natoma Streets.

The Temporary Terminal contractor will perform work on the Main Street median island between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Street and Sidewalk Closure: None.

What to Expect Next Weekend (12/17-12/19): 

Next weekend, the contractor will continue demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM, on Saturday, December 18, 2010. No work is scheduled for Sunday, December 19, 2010.

Should you have any general questions about the Transbay Transit Center Project, please call Courtney Lodato or Adam Alberti, Transbay Outreach Team, at: (415) 227-9700 or via e-mail at: info@transbaycenter.org

If you have any urgent questions regarding site-specific demolition or construction activities, please call the construction activity number: (415) 409-TJPA (8572).

Please continue to check our website for the most up to date schedule of activities at: www.transbaycenter.org/demolition.

America's Cup Host City Agreement: Economic Impact Report

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The Controller's Office of Economic Analysis has released its report "America's Cup Host City Agreement: Economic Impact Report."  BOMA San Francisco supports economic development and job growth in San Francisco and, as such, tacitly supports hosting America's Cup in the city.

It's important for our local elected leaders to remain cognizant of the long-term economic and social benefits that this type of event--including the infrastructure improvements that go with it--can do for San Francisco, e.g., international exposure and an accretion in tourist visits to our fair city, increased patronage of San Francisco's small businesses and sales tax revenue to fund city programs, and long-term employment opportunities for city residents.

Main Conclusions

Holding the America’s Cup in San Francisco will generate a positive impact on spending and employment, as detailed by the Beacon Economics report, and confirmed by other City departments. The event will also generate hotel, sales, and other tax revenue for the City.

The City would incur costs preparing for, and providing service during, the event that exceed the tax revenues generated by the event.

However, both the Original Host City Agreement (HCA) and the Northern Waterfront alternative will enable the redevelopment of Port property which would otherwise not occur. This redevelopment will generate possessory interest, payroll, and sales tax for the City.

Because of this redevelopment, on a Net Present Value basis, the fiscal impact to the City is positive under either scenario.

The Original HCA offers greater development risk, greater up-front City costs, and potentially higher long-term tax revenues. The Northern Waterfront alternative features less up-front City cost, less redevelopment, and less long-term tax revenue growth.

Click here for the full report.

Process to Abandon an Existing Sub-Sidewalk Basement

BOMA San Francisco Members:

If you wish to abandon your sub-sidewalk basement space, the process to abandon it would involve the following, according to our Department of Public Works Director (SFDPW), Ed Reiskin:

• Applying for a building permit to construct a shear wall below ground at the property line, and break out the floor space so that no water accumulation occurs;
• Removing all structural walls and members to a depth of 4 feet below existing grade;  
• Applying for Street Improvement Permit to reconstruct sidewalk & curb as necessary. 
• If an existing Minor Sidewalk Encroachment (MSE) exists for said basement, issue a new MSE rescinding the previous MSE and cancelling out the assessment fee.

If you have any questions, please contact SFDPW by clicking here.

Title 24 Survey: Egress Lighting Controls

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The California Utilities’ Statewide Codes and Standards Team is working to achieve the energy efficiency goals set forth by the Governor and state agencies.  The utilities have contracted with Heschong Mahone Group (HMG) to develop proposed changes to California’s Energy Code (Title 24 Part 6) for commercial buildings for 2011.

As part of this effort, the California Public Utilities Commission is gathering input from industry, designers and other stakeholders on the potential for requiring egress lighting controls to be installed in most commercial buildings under Title 24.  These controls would shut off the egress lighting when the building is unoccupied, i.e., overnight and/or at weekends.

The survey asks you about your professional experience with egress lighting controls.  Your input is essential to inform the technical feasibility of the proposed code change, so if you can spare 10-20 minutes to review and respond to these questions, we would greatly appreciate your time.  Please click here for a link to an informative memo that summarizes the existing codes and standards context for egress controls, the available technologies, and initial proposed Title 24 code language.

You're Invited to Two Receptions for Supervisor-Elect Mark Farrell - December 13th and 16th

BOMA San Francisco Members:

As you know, Mark Farrell, a venture capitalist and successful businessman, won the San Francisco Supervisor election for District 2 last month. He is a friend, and someone who will bring a much-needed voice for common sense and frugality at City Hall.  Mark thoroughly understands the need to grow our economy, help expand our local business community, bring in new business, and create more jobs in San Francisco.  He understands the best way to increase tax revenues is by expanding our economic base, not taxing the existing one more.

There are two events for Supervisor-Elect Mark Farrell this week:

Please join:

Lorna & Wade Randlett

Joe Alioto Veronese

Janan New, San Francisco Apartment Association

Art Swanson, Small Business Network

Brook Turner, Coalition for Better Housing

Kevin Westlye, Golden Gate Restaurant Association

for a reception in support of Mark Farrell

Monday, December 13, 2010

5:30 p.m.  - 7:30 p.m.

Home of Lorna & Wade Randlett

San Francisco Address Provided Upon RSVP

Suggested donation levels:

Gold $500 

Silver $250 

Bronze $100 

To RSVP please contact Marjan Philhour at philhour@calgroupinc.com or (415) 692-3556

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Please join fellow BOMA member Nick Dutto and Don Carmignani for a reception in support of Supervisor-Elect Mark Farrell

Thursday, December 16, 2010

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. 

Alioto's, 360 Jefferson St., #A San Francisco, CA 94133.

Suggested donation levels:

Gold $500 

Silver $250 

Bronze $100 

To RSVP please email Don Carmignani at dcarmignani@gmail.com

Helping Downtown Prepare For Emergencies Earns BOMA San Francisco Top Award

John Bozeman, Legislative Assistant with BOMA San Francisco and Peter Franklin, 2010 chair of BOMA San Francisco's Emergency Preparedness Committee

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The next time San Francisco has a major critical incident like an earthquake, a hazardous materials spill, a major crime or any other emergency, workers, shoppers, visitors and residents will be much better able to handle it, thanks to BOMA San Francisco's Emergency Preparedness Committee which just received an "excellence" award for its work.

The Business Recovery Managers Association (BRMA), made up of top corporate planning and business recovery emergency professionals, recognized BOMA for instituting a host of programs to help The City withstand major urban trauma.

Specifically, BOMA’s voluntary Emergency Preparedness Committee has conducted numerous critical incident management workshops and training exercises to help local business quickly and effectively respond and recover from an incident.   These activities assist BOMA San Francisco members educate the thousands of small business tenants that reside in their buildings about a commercial leaseholders’ responsibility to be prepared for an emergency.  They include:

• Business recovery and legal liability workshops;
• Workplace violence incident training;
• Earthquake preparedness drill to protect building occupants;
• Developed city-wide emergency reaction programs, formed close working relationships with all relevant public/private sector agencies, trained scores of people and authored preparedness materials to help save lives.

“Emergency preparedness depends heavily on open communication, protocol, adaptability and cross-pollination of information resources with other emergency preparedness associations like BRMA,” said Peter Franklin, chair of BOMA’s Emergency Preparedness Committee.

Please click here to view BOMA San Francisco's Emergency Preparedness Committee website for more information on what this dynamic group of BOMA members have accomplished in 2010.

Working Draft CAPSS Task 4 Report: Here Today—Here Tomorrow: The Road to Earthquake Resilience in San Francisco

BOMA San Francisco Members:

A working draft of the Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS) Task 4  report "Here Today—Here Tomorrow: The Road to Earthquake Resilience in San Francisco" is now available online for your review.  You can review this report by clicking here.

 The contents and text are near their final form, but your comments are still welcome and will be considered.  Please send them to to Laura Samant at  laura.samant@gmail.com or Tom Tobin lttobin@aol.com.

We have posted information on the CAPSS program previously.  Click here to review our past blog posts on the subject.

Sustainable Industries Webinar: Managing Green Buildings Holistically

BOMA San Francisco Members:


Please consider joining Sustainable Industries for their next webinar on December 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.  focused on the holistic management of green buildings, sponsored by UL Environment.

Reducing energy and water use in commercial buildings are where many green building managers begin and end their sustainability efforts. But to truly reduce buildings' environmental impact, they must be looked at as whole systems. However, small ticket items, such as using non-toxic cleaners, often fall by the wayside after a building receives certification. New software programs and a focus on the issue by the U.S. Green Building Council promise to make it easier, more economical and a better investment to manage green buildings holistically. Susan Steward, Executive Director BOMA Portland will discuss the benefits of such an approach and Christian Gunter, vice president for responsible property investing at Bentall Kennedy will talk about specific methods that work, pitfalls to be avoided and the savings the company has realized managing its portfolio this way.

Click here to register.

San Francisco Fire Department's 30 Day Posting for New Proposed Administrative Bulletins

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) is posting a large number of revised Administrative Bulletins for your review on the SFFD website.  Please take a look at them and feel free to comment on the proposals, in accordance with the instructions therein.

Please email Ken Cleaveland, at kenc@boma.com or John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com with any questions or concerns you may have.

10 Day Look Ahead: Transbay Demolition and Construction Activities

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Weekend Work: This weekend, the demolition contractor will continue demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. The contractor does not anticipate working between 11:00 PM and 6:00 AM. However, if work is required, it will not include jack hammering, wrecking ball or other excessive noise producing activities.

This weekend, the Temporary Terminal contractor will perform work on the Howard Street sidewalk between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Please Note: As previously noticed, Natoma Street, between First and Fremont Streets, has been reduced to one single west bound lane. The contractor will work with neighboring tenants to accommodate all deliveries.

Weekday Work: Weekday work between Monday, December 6, 2010, and Friday, December 10, 2010, will focus on the continued demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball. The contractor will work between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM. Lane restrictions will remain on Minna and Natoma Streets.

The Temporary Terminal contractor will perform work on the Beale Street median island between the hours of 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Street and Sidewalk Closure: None.

What to Expect Next Weekend (12/10-12/12): 

The final build-out of the Temporary Terminal Phase 2 configuration will be complete and go into operations for AC Transit on Saturday December 11, 2010 and for Muni on December 16, 2010. For more information, visit: www.TemporaryTerminal.org

Next weekend, the contractor will continue demolition of the old Terminal building using the wrecking ball between the hours of 7:00 AM and 11:00 PM.

Should you have any general questions about the Transbay Transit Center Project, please call Courtney Lodato or Adam Alberti, Transbay Outreach Team, at: (415) 227-9700 or via e-mail at: info@transbaycenter.org

If you have any urgent questions regarding site-specific demolition or construction activities, please call our construction activity number: (415) 409-TJPA (8572).

Please continue to check our website for the most up to date schedule of activities at: www.transbaycenter.org/demolition

BOMA San Francisco's Advocacy Team Meets with 2011 Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees

Ken Cleaveland and Joanna Rees

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Your BOMA San Francisco Advocacy Team met with 2011 Mayoral Candidate Joanna Rees today.  As a successful entrepreneur and founder of the firm, VSP Capital, Ms. Rees is a political Independent, and is interested in meeting with all the various organizations and community groups that comprise the diversity of San Francisco politics. Her top priorities are creating more jobs in San Francisco, making local government more efficient and accountable, and creating a world-class public school system.

Please click here to visit her website to learn more about her.

We will be welcoming Ms. Rees at the next monthly meeting of BOMA San Francisco’s Government and Public Affairs Committee (GAPAC) on January 5, 2011 from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at our office, 233 Sansome, 8th Fl., San Francisco. The GAPAC meets monthly with local elected leaders and decision makers and reviews proposed legislation and their impact on the commercial real estate industry at both the state and local levels.

Please email Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com and John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com if you would like to attend and learn more about Joanna Rees' Mayoral campaign.  

Supervisor Carmen Chu Selected as BOMA San Francisco's Public Official of the Year for 2010

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Carmen Chu was honored with BOMA San Francisco's Public Official of the Year award for 2010 at the November 18th BOMA general membership luncheon at the City Club.

The BOMA Public Official of the Year award is given each year to someone who epitomizes the principles of good government, which, in these recessionary times, means making job growth and building a stronger local economy a top priority. Supervisor Chu has shown a remarkable degree of sanity, and common sense, while being in the middle of a sea of progressive ideologies and egos on the current Board of Supervisors. While the majority were busy discussing ways to tax business, Chu was thinking of ways to make it easier for businesses to do business with the City. Supervisor Chu is a fiscal conservative, and has consistenly opposed raising taxes, and fees. Supervisor Chu has been a champion for small business, and for creating jobs and growing our city's economy. Supervisor Chu has pushed for more accountability from city government departments, and the services they provide. She supported the recently passed MUNI reform measure (Proposition G) and the civil sidewalks proposition (Proposition L). She opposed the two local tax measures (Propositions J and N).    Prior to being appointed to the Board of Supervisors by Mayor Newsom in September 2007, Chu worked in the Mayor's Office of Public Policy and Finance, where she served as his Deputy Budget Director. In that capacity, she was instrumental in creating the city's 311 customer call center.

Supervisor Chu has two, not one, degrees in public policy. She graduated magna cum laude and phi beta kappa from Occidental College, and earned her Master's degree from the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

Congratulations to Supervisor Carmen Chu: BOMA San Francisco's Public Official of the Year!

WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK! – Proposed Lease Accounting Standards will Hurt Commercial Real Estate

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Earlier this year the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) issued a joint exposure draft that, if implemented, will completely revamp the way leases are accounted for by both leasees and leasors.  Generally speaking, the proposed changes would move the cost of operating leases from a disclosure in the footnotes onto the balance sheet. Ramifications of the proposed changes could prove harmful to the commercial real estate industry. It’s imperative that you provide your comments on the draft, which are due Wednesday, December 15.  BOMA International has provided resources to help develop your original comments.  In addition to your critique of the exposure draft, we encourage you to ask FASB & IASB to extend this deadline for implementation to ensure the final standard is sound and thoroughly vetted.

Click here to learn more.