June 5, 2012 VOTER GUIDE - BOMA SF-PAC Candidate Endorsements & Positions on City Propositions

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BOMA San Francisco Members:

The BOMA San Francisco Political Action Committee (BOMA SF-PAC) has endorsed candidates and taken positions on local ballot measures that will appear on the June 5, 2012 ballot:

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

Congresswoman Jackie Speier

California State Senator Mark Leno

California Assembly District 17 – No Endorsement

California  Assembly District 19 – Michael Breyer

Propositions

San Francisco Proposition A – Anti-Recology Measure - NO

San Francisco Proposition B – Coit Tower set-aside resolution - NO

Democratic County Central Committee – Assembly District 17 – 10 Candidates (for 14 seats)

David Chiu 

Malia Cohen 

Bevan Dufty 

Zoe Dunning

Leslie Katz

Hydra Mendoza

Marily Mondejar

Joaquin Torres

Christopher Vasquez

Scott Wiener 

Democratic County Central Committee – Assembly District 19 – 10 Candidates (for 10 seats)

Kat Anderson

Bill Fazio

Karl Hasz

Tom Hsieh

Mary Jung

Susan “Suki” Kott

Meagan Levitan

Trevor McNeill

Arlo Hale Smith

Jim Weizel

Click on the image to visit the San Francisco Elections Department Voting Toolkit

UPDATE: Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings - BOMA Recognized by the SF Bicycle Coalition

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 26, 2012

BOMA San Francisco is honored to be the recipient of the prestigious San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) Golden Wheel Award.  This honor will be bestowed upon the organization on June 5th from 5:30-9:00 p.m. in the Green Room, War Memorial Building (401 Van Ness Avenue).

From the SFBC:

For leading the business community in support of groundbreaking local legislation that will significantly expand bicycling as an option for employees in San Francisco. We were proud to partner closely with BOMA on the Employee Bicycle Access Bill, which was signed into law this year and ensures secure bicycle parking for San Francisco Employees. Thanks to BOMA’s support, San Francisco has the strongest bicycle access legislation in the country.

Thank you BOMA for building bridges and partnering with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for a stronger economy and a healthier workforce.

Please consider attending this event!  Click here for more information.

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UPDATE - April 12, 2012

BOMA San Francisco's President, Meade Boutwell, recently authored an opinion editorial that has been published in Buildings Magazine: San Francisco Approves Bicycle Parking Ordinance.

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UPDATE - March 19, 2012

On March 13, 2012, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance on a 9-2 vote.  The measure now goes to Mayor Ed Lee's desk for his consideration.

NOTE - the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance will take effect thirty days after Mayor Ed Lee (potentially) signs the measure.  Please be sure to review the ordinance and the FAQ sheet to understand what will be required of building owners and managers regarding tenants' employee bicycle parking in an existing commercial building.  If you have any questions regarding this legislation please contact John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com or Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com.   Representatives from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition are also available to conduct a site visit of your existing bicycle parking facility to determine if it is acceptable under the requirements of the ordinance.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition distributed a press release on this news which quoted Meade Boutwell, BOMA San Francisco's President and part-time bicycle commuter: 

Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association are concerned about the environment and promote the use of sustainable transportation options, including bicycles. With many companies expressing the desire for bicycle parking and storage, BOMA recognizes the need to provide safe, secure parking for bicycling employees....[t]he opportunity to work closely with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Supervisor John Avalos' office to increase the availability of bicycle parking options for tenants' employees, and help sustain the environment made sense.

On behalf of Mr. Boutwell and the BOMA membership, thank you to the Board of Supervisors - especially John Avalos - and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for their leadership on the issue of bicycle parking in existing commercial buildings.

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BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards Luncheon Highlights Environmental Sustainability in the Industry

BOMA San Francisco Members:

BOMA member buildings in the Bay Area whose tenants composted their organics, slashed energy use and promoted alternative transportation methods won the top honors this year for sustainability in the BOMA Bay Area EARTH Award competition.  Thank you to the 37 BOMA member buildings from across the Bay Area who submitted their applications. 

Click here to view pictures of the event on the BOMA San Francisco Facebook page.

Bay Area EARTH Awards were presented on April 16, 2012 to commercial buildings with top-rated sustainability programs at an event hosted by BOMA San Francisco and BOMA Oakland/East Bay. This was the sixth annual awards event and the second year that BOMA Oakland/East Bay participated.

The EARTH Awards recognize commercial property owners and managers for the most comprehensive resource management practices – including recycling, energy and water conservation, air quality and toxic reduction programs, support for public transit and tenant education programs that promote sustainability. Eighty-seven criteria are considered in the judging. Some specific practices include: composting hand towels in restrooms, motion sensors in stairwells and environmentally favorable purchasing standards.

The EARTH Awards is a multi-purpose program designed to analyze, educate, recognize and repeat. The program analyzes the most sustainable building operation practices, educates properties about methodologies through the application process, recognizes properties that are excelling, and repeats the process.

The awards are grouped by building size (large, medium and small).  Below are the buildings and their respective management companies.

Winners of the 2012 BOMA EARTH awards are:

Large Commercial Property Winners (over 600,000 square feet): 

• 1st Place – One Sansome Street (San Francisco) – Baker Pacific Group
• 2nd Place – Federal Building (San Francisco) – General Services Administration
• 3rd Place – One Market Plaza (San Francisco) – Paramount Group, Inc.

Medium Commercial Property Winners (300,000 to 600,000 square feet): 

• 1st Place – 2100 Powell Street (Oakland) – Hines Interests Limited Partnership
• 2nd Place – 100 Pine Street (San Francisco) – CB Richard Ellis
• 3rd Place – Pleasanton Corporate Commons (Pleasanton) – Hines

Small Commercial Property Winners (under 300,000 square feet):

• 1st Place – 180 Grand Street (Oakland) –  CB Richard Ellis
• 2nd Place – 505 14th Street (Oakland) – CB Richard Ellis
• 3rd Place – 1300 Clay Street (Oakland) – CB Richard Ellis

The EARTH Awards are just one of many innovative green programs offered to BOMA members. The BOMA Energy Efficiency Program (BEEP) seminars teach principals of energy management and use of the Energy Star® Portfolio Manger Tools. The BOMA 360 Performance Program recognizes buildings that show excellent performance in the areas of energy efficiency and management, sustainability, operations and other practices. BOMA also offers classes towards LEED professional accreditation.

BOMA San Francisco and BOMA Oakland/East Bay are not-for-profit commercial real estate trade associations. BOMA’s labor, legislative and public affairs services create better business conditions for commercial real estate owners and managers. Its training programs enhance effective building operations, which add value to the bottom line. The associations are members of BOMA California and federated with BOMA International, an organization consisting of 100 local associations throughout North America as well as several affiliated BOMA groups worldwide.

Upcoming PG&E Workshops on May 8th - Benchmarking Energy Use in Commercial Buildings

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Please take note the following workshops offered by PG&E:

Benchmarking Energy Use in Commercial Buildings
May 8, 2012 

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center, 851 Howard Street, San Francisco CA 94103

California law (AB 1103) will soon require the disclosure of an energy performance benchmarking score prior to selling, refinancing or leasing certain whole buildings. Learn how to benchmark your building's energy performance with the help of PG&E's Automated Benchmarking Service - a free, easy-to-use service that automatically sends your commercial building's energy use information to the EPA's ENERGY STAR(R) Portfolio Manager every month. This class will include a hands-on benchmarking exercise using portable Wi-Fi hotspots so that attendees can evaluate an actual building from start to finish and see the ENERGY STAR score. Credits: AIA 4.0 HSW/SD; 4.0 GBCI CU (LEED)

Register here


You've Benchmarked Your Building: What's Next?
May 8, 2012 

1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center, 851 Howard Street, San Francisco CA 94103

Getting your building's benchmarking score is just the beginning. This course explores how to set targets for improvement: estimating the actual amount of energy savings needed to reach a higher score; which low-/no-cost or capital upgrades might produce various magnitudes of savings; which utility incentive programs could help identify or finance those improvements; etc. It's not about what your building's score is today -- it's about what you want that score to be and how to get it there! Credits: AIA 3.5 HSW/SD; 3.5 GBCI CU (LEED)

Register here

Division of the State Architect - Access 2013 Public Participation Forums

BOMA San Francisco Members:

The California Division of State Architect (DSA) is preparing for an update of the state accessibility codes.  As such, the DSA is seeking input and comments from accessibility stakeholders, interested parties and the general public through a series of forums to be held in May, June and July of 2012. The forums will be held throughout California with the following discussion topics, dates and locations:

• Forum No. 1 – Chapter 3: Building Blocks and Proposed Emergency Items 
• 24 May 2012 in Sacramento 
• Forum No. 2 – Accessible Routes and Chapter 5:General Site and Building Elements
• 31 May 2012 in Oakland 
• Forum No. 3 – Chapter 6: Plumbing Elements and Facilities
• 7 June 2012 in Sacramento 
• Forum No. 4 – Chapter 7: Communication Elements and Features 
• 14 June 2012 in Los Angeles 
• Forum No. 5 – Chapter 8: Special Rooms and Spaces and Chapter 9: Built-in Elements 
• 21 Jul 2012 in Los Angeles 
• Forum No. 6 – Chapter 10: Recreational Facilities 
• 10 July 2012 in San Diego 
• Forum No. 7 – Chapter 1: Application and Administration, Title II State and Local Government Facilities and Title III Public Accommodations and Commercial Facilities
• 17 July 2012 in Sacramento 

The scoping requirements of ADA Chapter 2 will be reviewed as their associated technical guidelines as discussed.

DSA’s goal for the 2013 access code update is to produce an integrated document with the most stringent provisions from the 2010 California Building Code and the federal 2010 ADA Standards.

Interested parties may participate in person at the forum location and by video-conference at the other DSA Regional offices. A call-in teleconference line will also be available. Draft language will be posted on the DSA web-site and distributed to interested parties on the Access 2013 Stakeholder e-mail list, with alternative formats provided upon request.

Requests for alternative formats should be directed to Beth Sanchez at 916 322-1912 or by e-mail to: beth.sanchez@dgs.ca.gov.

E-mail comments may be returned to: DSAAccess2013@dgs.ca.gov

Written comments may also be submitted to:

California Division of the State Architect
Access Code 2013
1102 Q Street, Suite 5100
Sacramento CA 95811
Attn: Beth Sanchez

Forums will be hosted by the DSA Regional Offices at the following locations:

Sacramento Regional Office Oakland Regional Office
1102 Q Street, Suite 5100 1515 Clay Street, Suite 1201
Sacramento CA 95811 Oakland CA 94612

Los Angeles Regional Office San Diego Regional Office
700 North Alameda Street, Suite 5-500 10920 Via Frontera, Suite 300
Los Angeles CA 90012 San Diego CA 92127

The forums are planned to begin with a morning session. They may continue into the afternoon as necessary to allow for full discussion. The exact times will be announced with the draft language and agendas as they are released approximately two weeks before the meeting dates.

Join the San Francisco County Transportation Authority's Citizen Advisory Committee

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Join the Citizens Advisory Committee to help the San Francisco County Transportation Authority's Citizens Advisory Committee (SFCTA) Optimize Mobility in San Francisco.

Interested in the Transbay Transit Center? Central Subway? Safer streets and sidewalks? Bike lanes? Over the past decade the CAC has helped the Authority Board guide the investment of nearly $1 billion in transportation funds into projects that improve mobility for all.

Your voice is needed on the CAC. Help them plan for the future of transportation in San Francisco.

Opportunities

There are currently three vacancies on the Authority's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The Plans and Programs Committee will be considering the incumbent and other applicants to fill this vacancy in May 2012. The SFCTA strives for ethnic diversity and district representation and will seek representatives for Districts 4, 5, and 11 in May 2012, but accept applications for all districts on a rolling basis.

Requirements

The Authority accepts applications on a continuous basis. Applicants are required to attend one of the Authority's Plans and Programs Committee meetings to speak on their own behalf. Note that appearing before the committee is a prerequisite for appointment, though not a guarantee. The Committee will then make recommendations for appointments to the full Authority Board of Commissioners, which makes the final decision.

New applicants will be notified about the time and location of these meetings. Once your application is received, it will remain active for two years. Your application will be considered for any openings, unless you submit a letter withdrawing your candidacy. You must be a San Francisco resident.

Role of the Citizens Advisory Committee

The Authority has appointed a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of eleven members representing a broad spectrum of transportation and community concerns. The CAC's mission is to assist the Authority by reflecting community values in the development of the mission and programs of the Authority; and communicating information about the Authority's mission and programs back to the community. The CAC accomplishes this mission by providing the Commissioners and staff of the Authority with input on nearly all matters that go before the Authority Board and its standing committees.This includes providing comments on transportation plans, programs and studies; the Prop. K (half-cent sales tax) Expenditure Plan and Strategic Plan; project funding priorities; transportation-related legislation; and community transportation concerns. The CAC also assists in publicizing transportation projects and plans to neighborhoods, and solicits the neighborhoods' input for feedback to the Authority.

How to Apply

Applications are due Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The Plans and Programs Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall, Room 263. For more information or to download an application, visit www.sfcta.org/cac, or contact the Authority at (415) 522-4800 for mailing options.

UPDATE - San Francisco Small Business Network - 2012 Small Business Awards Gala

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 24, 2012


The San Francisco Small Business Network (SFSBN) will be celebrating its 28th Annual Small Business Recognition Awards May 10, 2012, at the City Club of San Francisco. You are invited to help them honor the awardees in six categories.

You may sign up to be a sponsor, purchase a table ($1,200.00) or an individual ticket ($150.00) - Click here to see all of your available options.  Click here for a response card.

Thank you very much for your kind consideration!

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Original Post - February 6, 2012

Please save the date for the San Francisco Small Business Network's (SFSBN) Awards Gala on May 10, 2012.  The Gala will highlight the winners of the SFSBN awards so nominate a small business owner you know today!  To do so, please complete the nomination form and return it to the SFSBN by March, 15, 2012 at 305 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 or fax to 415-934-0864 or scan and email to execdirector@sfsbn.org. 

UPDATE: PAC at the PARK - What a FUN Event!

Ken Cleaveland with BOMA San Francisco and Mike Freeman (McCarthy Cook & Company) BOMA SF-PAC Board Member  

'Like' the BOMA San Francisco Facebook page to view more pictures from the event!

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Thank you to the BOMA San Francisco members who attended the 12th Annual PAC at the PARK event on April 19, 2012 to kick off of the San Francisco Giants baseball season!   The patio party was, as always, was a lot of fun  -- hot dogs, chips, garlic fries, beverages and good conversation were served -- at China Basin Wharf, 185 Berry Street, courtesy of McCarthy Cook & Co., followed by the Giants vs. Phillies game (the Giant's won!)

To learn more about the BOMA SF-PAC, please click here.

The Conference for Commercial Real Estate Professionals

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Commercial real estate's premier professional event, convening in Seattle, Washington in June 2012, is a collaborative meeting of the industry's best minds—a three-day learning and networking opportunity that connects professionals representing all building types with a wealth of new offerings and learning potential designed to increase operational performance, reduce costs and boost NOI.

This year, BOMA International is pulling out all the stops to make sure you get the best new information, tactical know-how and revenue-building strategies to help BOMA San Francisco members create and maintain high-performing assets across your portfolio.

Attend the 2012 Every Building Conference & Expo and take advantage of the many career—and business—enhancing opportunities available to serious CRE Professionals:

• Increase your knowledge, build your skills and earn continuing professional development credits at the most important conference in the industry. More than 40 expert-led sessions, addressing all skill levels, include topics and issues that are vital to your profitability and success.  Education Sessions.
• Find products and solutions to help you save money, add efficiencies and increase property values. The Every Building Expo features more than 450 exhibits showcasing the full range of innovative solutions, new technologies and service offerings to help you do more with less. Expo.
• Cultivate the relationships that will strengthen your future. Our many high-caliber networking events provide valuable opportunities to connect, collaborate and expand your profit-building contacts. Program.
• Learn from the experts. Acquire insight and understanding from business' top achievers, innovative thinkers and most brilliant minds. Don't miss this year's Monday General Session featuring a distinguished panel of leaders from the real estate, architecture and technology fields who will explore Real Estate 2020: The Shape of Things to Come, and the Sunday General Session, featuring former Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
• Join other BOMA San Francisco members and staff in Seattle. This year, the Every Building Conference & Expo is held in Seattle, Washington. Sophisticated and progressive, Seattle's vibrant CRE community is second among the U.S. markets predicted to be best for investment in office and retail properties, and is the ideal venue for commercial real estate's foremost professional event. Travel information.
• Benefit from the support of commercial real estate's leading association. The Every Building Conference & Expo is presented by BOMA International and BUILDINGS. Whether you are a member of BOMA or not, you are welcome to take advantage of the many BOMA-fueled opportunities to learn about the issues that will impact your business. Make plans now to attend.  Registration information.

Does your company know why you should be at CRE's premier event?  Make the case for attending.

UPDATE: San Francisco Redistricting Task Force - Final Redistricting Map

Click on the image to enlarge

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 18, 2012

The San Francisco Redistricting Task Force (SFRTF) has adopted a final supervisorial redistricting map based on the 2010 census data.  Please click here (or above) to review the map.  Click here to learn more about the SFRTF and how the members of the task force arrived to their decision. 

What is redistricting?

Every ten years, the Federal Government conducts a census to determine the number of individuals living in the United States. After the census is completed, the Charter requires the Director of Elections to determine whether the existing supervisorial districts meet the legal requirements established by federal, state and local law.

If the existing supervisorial districts no longer comply with these legal requirements, the Charter requires the Board of Supervisors to convene an Elections Task Force to redraw the supervisorial district lines. The process of redrawing the supervisorial district lines is known as redistricting.

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UPDATE - March 7, 2012

At the head of the table from left to right: Hal Brownstone, GAPAC Chair and Eric McDonnell

BOMA San Francisco's Government and Public Affairs Committee (GAPAC) met with Eric McDonnell, Chair of the San Francisco Redistricting Task Force (SFRTF) on March 7, 2012 at the BOMA San Francisco office.

BOMA would like to thank Mr. McDonnell for his time in explaining the SFRTF's role in the redistricting process.  Please click here to review the SFRTF in detail.  

UPDATE: Service and Support Animals in Places of Business and Other Areas

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 17, 2012

A number of BOMA members have been requesting information regarding service animals in commercial buildings.  BOMA San Francisco's Government and Public Affairs Committee (GAPAC) organized a public affairs forum in 2011 that addressed this topic.

In the forum, Mr. Arthur Eidelhoch with the Littler law firm kindly provided a brief overview of service and/or support/comfort animals in commercial buildings. Click here to download Mr. Eidelhoch’s presentation.

You may also review the information that we've previously distributed, below, to help with any questions you may have.

Please feel free to email your BOMA San Francisco Advocacy Team - Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com and John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com - if you need further assistance with this issue.

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UPDATE - June 9, 2011

We've had a number of inquires about the updated regulations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that are in effect as of March 15, 2011.  The new regulations affect access for people with various service or emotional support animals. Below are some key points you should be aware of.  Please note that the City and County of San Francisco's Policy Remains Unchanged.

Changes to the Definition of Service Animal

• ONLY dogs (and in some rare cases miniature horses) that are trained to perform tasks for an individual with a physical or mental disability, are now considered service animals under the ADA.
• This means that other trained animals such as cats or monkeys or birds are no longer allowed in public as service animals.
• Likewise emotional support or assistance animals that help alleviate symptoms for people with psychiatric disabilities are NOT covered under the ADA.

However, San Francisco policy will remain the same for all city services and for all housing. Both the Fair Housing Amendments’ Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which cities are required to comply with, has a broader definition of service animal. With this broader definition, our current policy will remain in effect for most situations. This means:

You CAN Bring Your Service / Support Animal (of any species) into

• City and County buildings, agencies and departments such as City Hall, Department of Public Health or the County Clerk.
• Contracted agencies and programs such as public health clinics, case management or mental health services.
• Public or private housing, including SROs, homeless shelters and residential treatment programs funded by or contracted with the City.

Under the new ADA Definition, however, there may be some places that will choose to restrict access to service animals that are not dogs, and other support animals. These places include:

• Restaurants, cafeterias or retailers
• Hotels, motels, art galleries, movie theaters
• Offices of private doctors, lawyers and other practitioners not contracted with the City.

Resources

• For more information regarding these new changes, please contact the intake staff at the Mayor’s Office on Disability at mod@sfgov.org or (415) 554-6789.  
• Please click here for the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) Technical Assistance document that addresses common questions regarding service animals; and here for California's definition of service animals and additional resources.

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Original Post - January 10, 2010

As an addendum to the information we posted on the blog related to service animals in commercial buildings and places of business recently, please click here to view the guidelines for service and support animals in San Francisco including:

• Who qualifies to own a service or support animal?
• What is a service animal (those that are trained to do work, e.g., dogs, monkeys, birds and miniature horses)?
• What is a support animal (those that support people with psychological disabilities, e.g., a cat or snake)?
• An individual's rights with a service and/or support animal.
• The difference between a service or support animal or pet.

If you have any questions concerning a service or support animal in your building, please contact the Mayor's Office on Disability at mod@sfgov.org or (415) 554-6789.

BOMA International Advocacy Update - Sprinkler Requirement, BOMA on Capitol Hill, and BOMAPAC

Sprinkler Requirement Proposal to Come Before ICC

The code change process is officially underway and BOMA staff is pouring over thousands of proposed code changes in preparation for the International Code Council (ICC) hearings scheduled to begin in late April. BOMA's Director of Codes and Standards Dave Tyree recently attended a meeting of the ICC's Code Advisory Committee to preview some of the proposed changes and hear testimony on some of the issues. There are a number of proposed code changes that will potentially have an enormous impact on our industry, including a proposal to require the installation of sprinkler systems in all existing high rise buildings. BOMA staff will be on hand to protect BOMA members against onerous and costly code changes. Stay tuned for further developments.  A complete report will be provided in May following the hearings.

BOMA Vice Chair Greninger Presents Retrofit Case Study on Capitol Hill

BOMA International Vice Chair Richard Greninger, CPM, was on Capitol Hill yesterday to present a briefing on creating a business case for multi-tenanted office buildings that's a win for owners, managers and tenants. Greninger spoke on behalf of the High-Performance Building Congressional Caucus Coalition and was joined by other real estate sustainability experts, including Michele A. Russo, LEED AP, director, Green Content & Research Communications for McGraw-Hill Construction and Bruce D. Hunn, Ph.D., ASHRAE Fellow and Consultant in Building Energy Analysis.

The briefing discussed ways that the industry, policy makers and others can influence the increased adoption of energy efficiency retrofits and renovations in the existing building stock in the United States. The briefing also covered a review of the retrofit and renovation market and key factors on how to make the business case and influence decision makers to invest in energy efficiency.



BOMAPAC Supports Congressman Steve Stivers

BOMAPAC recently lent its support to Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio-15), who is running for his second term.  Rep. Stivers, whose district includes The Ohio State University and part of Columbus, was joined by four BOMA/Columbus members at a local fundraising event. Gary Calliari and Jeff McDonald, CBRE; Janine Roffe, Continental Realty; and Bob Sutton, NAI Ohio Equities LLC, were on hand to thank Congressman Stivers for his continued support of the commercial real estate industry. Rep. Stivers serves on the Financial Services Committee, which oversees the real estate industry as well as the banking and insurance industries.

UPDATE: Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings - Op-Ed in Buildings Magazine

BOMA San Francisco Members:

UPDATE - April 12, 2012

BOMA San Francisco's President, Meade Boutwell, recently authored an opinion editorial that has been published in Buildings Magazine: San Francisco Approves Bicycle Parking Ordinance.

UPDATE - March 19, 2012

On March 13, 2012, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance on a 9-2 vote.  The measure now goes to Mayor Ed Lee's desk for his consideration.

NOTE - the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance will take effect thirty days after Mayor Ed Lee (potentially) signs the measure.  Please be sure to review the ordinance and the FAQ sheet to understand what will be required of building owners and managers regarding tenants' employee bicycle parking in an existing commercial building.  If you have any questions regarding this legislation please contact John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com or Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com.   Representatives from the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition are also available to conduct a site visit of your existing bicycle parking facility to determine if it is acceptable under the requirements of the ordinance.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition distributed a press release on this news which quoted Meade Boutwell, BOMA San Francisco's President and part-time bicycle commuter:

 

Members of the Building Owners and Managers Association are concerned about the environment and promote the use of sustainable transportation options, including bicycles. With many companies expressing the desire for bicycle parking and storage, BOMA recognizes the need to provide safe, secure parking for bicycling employees....[t]he opportunity to work closely with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition and Supervisor John Avalos' office to increase the availability of bicycle parking options for tenants' employees, and help sustain the environment made sense.

On behalf of Mr. Boutwell and the BOMA membership, thank you to the Board of Supervisors - especially John Avalos - and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for their leadership on the issue of bicycle parking in existing commercial buildings.

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UPDATE - March 5, 2012

On February 28, 2012, Supervisor John Avalos introduced a number of amendments to clarify minor issues within the legislation:

• Clarifying that secure bicycle parking is already defined in the Planning Code  (page 6, line 4-5);
• Cleaning up the filing exemption requirement to allow for the Department of Environment to establish online filing (page 6, line 7-9);
• Making accommodations if the SFMTA ever renames their bicycle division (page 6, line 19-20).

Please click here to review the amended legislation.  

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UPDATE - February 23, 2012

Please note that the Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance will be heard at the Board of Supervisors meeting on February 28, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 250 in City Hall.

Please email John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com if you'd like to attend in support of this measure.

Thank you for your time and kind consideration!

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UPDATE - February 16, 2012

The Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance was heard today at the San Francisco's Board of Supervisors' Public Safety meeting at City Hall.  The committee members voted unanimously to forward this ordinance to the full Board for their consideration.

You can watch a video of the hearing by clicking here and selecting ‘video’ referenced next to today’s date of 02/16/12.

BOMA San Francisco's Advocacy team was honored to voice BOMA members' support for the legislation and we would like to thank the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and Supervisor John Avalos' office again for their early outreach efforts to BOMA members for their input.

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Original Post - January 25, 2012


BOMA San Francisco leaders have been meeting with representatives of the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC) and Supervisor John Avalos' office to work on an ordinance that would allow tenants' employees to have a secure place to store their bicycle during the workday.  BOMA would like to thank SFBC Executive Director Leah Shahum, Program Manager Marc Caswell and Supervisor Avalos' staff for reaching out to our members for their input.

The current draft of the legislation, Tenant Bicycle Access in Existing Commercial Buildings Ordinance, is now available for BOMA San Francisco and SFBC members to review and submit their feedback.  Click here access the ordinance.

To help understand the intent of the legislation, BOMA and SFBC staff have worked together to create a helpful Frequently Asked Questions sheet.  Please click here to access that document.

Your feedback is paramount as the first committee hearing at City Hall for this ordinance is tentatively scheduled for mid-February   Please email John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com and Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com with any comments you have.

Thank you, as always, for your time and consideration!

Building Owners and Managers Help “Mobilize the Earth” on Earth Day

BOMA San Francisco:

The Earth Day theme this year is “Mobilize the Earth” and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and BOMA San Francisco are helping to mobilize the commercial real estate industry by encouraging its members to benchmark their buildings’ energy performance.

In January 2011, BOMA International launched BOMA STARS, an initiative that promotes the importance of benchmarking energy consumption in commercial buildings through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager and sharing that data with BOMA’s Master Account. To date, more than 3,000 facilities, representing more than 830 million sq. ft. of space, have shared their energy management data with BOMA. 

BOMA STARS is part of BOMA’s larger Market Transformation Energy Plan, also known as the 7-Point Challenge, which calls on BOMA members and the commercial real estate industry to reduce the use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production. Since its introduction in 2007, the 7-Point Challenge has been widely embraced throughout the marketplace, with endorsements from more than 130 member companies and BOMA local associations, representing more than three billion sq. ft. of office space.

Almost 60 percent of properties that benchmarked and shared data with BOMA have an ENERGY STAR rating of 75 or greater; this represents 70 percent of the total square footage of benchmarked buildings. Since baseline, BOMA-benchmarked buildings have shown greenhouse gas emission reductions equaling the carbon dioxide emissions from 171,272 passenger vehicles or from 2,031,364 barrels of oil consumed.

This past March, BOMA International received its fifth ENERGY STAR award and in 2009 BOMA was honored with the EPA’s Climate Protection Award, the agency’s highest honor. 

Resources:

• For more information about BOMA’s green initiatives, visit BOMA’s Ever-Green site;
• For more information on BOMA San Francisco's green initiatives, please visit our Energy & Environment Committee website.

SFDEM Executive Director Anne Kronenberg Speaks to BOMA Members

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Anne Kronenberg addresses the EPC members

BOMA San Francisco's Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) was honored to welcome back Anne Kronenberg, Executive Director for the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM)  recently.

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (DEM) manages disaster preparation, mitigation, and response; 9-1-1 dispatch; and homeland security grant distribution for the City and County of San Francisco. DEM was created in 2006 by local legislation that reorganized the Emergency Communications Department and the Office of Emergency Services into a single agency.

Director Kronenberg spoke about the following:

• America's Cup Events;
• Bay Area  Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Funding; 
• BayWeb;
• And the FEMA - National Disaster Recovery Framework.

BOMA San Francisco members appreciate the relationship the association has with SFDEM - especially the private sector representation in the Department's Emergency Operations Center.  BOMA San Francisco, along with other private sector partner organizations, are fortunate to share our expertise with San Francisco public sector emergency responders when called upon to do so.

Stay connected with SFDEM:

• Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter

Register for These BOMA Events: Bay Area Earth Awards & PAC at the PARK

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Please consider attending these two upcoming BOMA San Francisco events!  Seating is limited so be sure to register by Friday, April 13, 2012:

2012 Bay Area Earth Awards

Click here to register for the 2012 EARTH Awards program on April 16, 2012.  Thank you to the 37 BOMA member buildings from across the Bay Area who submitted their applications.

The BOMA Bay Area EARTH Awards Program is the premier event for BOMA members to showcase environmental stewardship and have their properties recognized for their energy and water conservation efforts, recycling, and other sustainable practices. The winners will be announced at the April 16, 2012 EARTH Awards luncheon at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.

The BOMA Bay Area EARTH Award recognizes member buildings that utilize the most comprehensive resource management programs, including commercial recycling programs, energy and water conservation efforts, air quality and toxics reduction programs, support for public transportation, and effective use of tenant education programs geared to promoting sustainability practices in commercial office buildings. The EARTH Award program is an opportunity for BOMA Bay Area members to consider the entire spectrum of programs and practices that constitute an effective 'sustainability program' for office buildings including what policies and procedures should be adopted that can help move a property toward becoming 'green'.

Please click here to review the 2011 BOMA Bay Area Earth Award Winners

PAC at the PARK

Click here to join the BOMA SF-PAC members for the 12th Annual PAC at the PARK to kick off of the San Francisco Giants baseball season!  The patio party will be between 4 and 7 p.m. -- hot dogs, chips, garlic fries and beverages -- at China Basin Wharf, 185 Berry Street, courtesy of McCarthy Cook & Co., followed by the Giants vs. Phillies game.

All proceeds from this event benefit BOMA's Independent Expenditures Political Action Committee (BOMA-SF-PAC-IE). Game tickets plus the patio party are $75 each. If you already have game tickets, you may purchase patio party only tickets at $55, under separate registration. A limited number of tickets are available and tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. A maximum of 20 tickets may be purchased at one time. NOTE: This is a POLITICAL CONTRIBUTION. Contributions to BOMA-SF-PAC Independent Expenditures (ID#870449) are NOT tax deductible.

Survey - Tell the SFCTA Your Business' Transportation Concerns

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Are your customers unable to find parking? Are there no open loading zones for your deliveries?

The San Francisco County Transportation Authority wants to know how these and other issues affect your business, and what transportation improvements you need the most. Please participate in a short survey that will be used for planning initiatives such as the San Francisco Transportation Plan update.

Go to http://sfbusinesscongestion.limequery.com/47721/lang-en to take the survey.

Three participants will win a $50 MasterCard gift card. Please direct any questions or concerns to mbomberg@berkeley.edu.

Transbay Transit Center Project - Construction Update

BOMA San Francisco Members:

Last Chance! Visit the Archaeology Exhibit at its current location in the lobby of 201 Mission Street before it travels to its new location at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in Oakland, CA on April 2, 2012. The exhibit will be open at MTC's offices, located at 101 8th Street, Oakland, CA, during business hours from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The exhibit will be featured at MTC through the end of June 2012.

Weekday Work (4/2/12 – 4/6/12):

Night Shift:

Eastern Transit Center Site (Between Beale and Fremont Streets): The buttress wall installation operation will continue in the eastern transit center site between Beale and Fremont Streets between the hours of 6:00 AM and 1:00 AM. There will be minimal work on site between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. If there is a problem, work on site could extend into the hours between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

First Street Temporary Bridge Preparation: First Street temporary bridge preparation work will require work at night between 8:00 PM and 3:00 PM the following day. There will be multiple lane closures each night as this work progresses through late May. Work includes heavy equipment set up, excavation and the drilling of piers in preparation for the First Street temporary bridge scheduled over Memorial Day weekend.

PG&E will be performing utility work along Mission Street (between Beale and Main Streets). This work is scheduled to begin in early April and take place through the end of May. This work is not under the control or authority of the TJPA.

Day Shift:

Buttress, Shoring & Excavation Work:

First Street Temporary Bridge Preparation: First Street temporary bridge preparation work will require work at night between 8:00 PM and 3:00 PM the following day. There will be multiple lane closures each day and night as this work progresses through late May. Work includes heavy equipment set up, excavation and the drilling of piers in preparation for the First Street temporary bridge scheduled over Memorial Day weekend.

Western Transit Center Site Excavation Work: Installation of trestle piers, cross lot steel bracing and welding work will continue on the western transit center site. Excavation for the new Transit Center Building (including demolition of underground structures) will continue through the end of 2014. The contractor will be excavating to an average depth of about 60 to 65 feet as the excavation progresses from the west transit center site and continues to the east end. NOTE: In the future this work may become a 24 hour activity. Soils will be removed from the western transit center site, exiting from a construction gate located on First Street between Howard and Mission Streets.

Fremont Street Shoring Wall Preparation: Fremont Street shoring wall installation and temporary bridge preparation work will require multiple lane closures each week through June. Work includes heavy equipment set up, excavation and the drilling of piers – Day Shift in preparation for the Fremont Street temporary bridge scheduled over Labor Day Weekend.

Eastern Transit Center Site Buttress Wall: Installation of the buttress wall will continue in the eastern transit center site inside the construction fence each week between the hours of 6:00 AM and 1:00 AM. There will be minimal work on site weekly between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM.

Underground utilities/ trenching work:

Howard & First Street Intersection: Underground trenching and utilities work will commence – Day Shift. The installation of the AWSS system will commence Monday, April 2 and continue through the beginning of May 2012 along Howard Street between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

Howard Street (Between Beale and Fourth Street): City DPW will be performing utility work and paving on Howard Street through the end of May. This work is not under the control or authority of the TJPA.

What to Expect Next Weekend (4/7/12 - 4/8/12):

Eastern Transit Center Site (Between Beale and Fremont Streets): Buttress construction activity is expected to continue in the eastern transit center site on Saturday, April 7 between the hours of 6:00 AM and 1:00 AM. There will be minimal work on site between 1:00 AM and 6:00 AM. On Sunday, April 8 the hours of operation and level of activity may be reduced.

Detours, Street and Sidewalk Closures:

The following streets will be temporarily impacted due to project activities. So you can plan ahead, please review the affected streets below:

Howard & First Street Intersection: Underground trenching and utilities work will require Howard Street west bound traffic lane closures each week through the end of May 2012.

First Street (Between Mission and Howard Streets): First Street temporary bridge preparation work will require multiple lane closures and sidewalk closures between 8:00 PM and 3:00 PM the following day. Work includes heavy equipment set up, excavation and the drilling of piers in preparation for the First Street temporary bridge scheduled over Memorial Day weekend. First Street sidewalks between Mission and Howard Streets will be closed at times during this work with pedestrians diverted onto a temporary sidewalk in the parking lane or directed to the opposite sidewalk.

Fremont Street (Between Mission and Howard Streets): The east sidewalk of Fremont Street between Mission and Howard Streets remains closed. Pedestrians are directed to the sidewalk on the west side of Fremont Street. Fremont Street (between Mission and Howard Streets) shoring wall installation and temporary bridge preparation work requires lane changes and restrictions starting Monday, April 2. The buttress installation extends into the eastern traffic lanes of Fremont Street which requires these traffic lane changes. Traffic lanes changes will remain in place until August 2012, with installation of the Fremont Street temporary bridge scheduled to take place over Labor Day Weekend.

Natoma Street (Between Fremont and First Streets): Natoma Street (between Fremont and First Streets) has been reduced to one lane, one way (west bound), all vehicles will enter from Fremont Street and exit at First Street for the life of the project. First Street temporary bridge preparation work will require multiple traffic lane closures on First Street between Natoma and Minna Streets. Fremont Street temporary bridge preparation work will require traffic lane closures on Fremont Street between Howard and Mission Streets – three traffic lanes will be open at all times on the west side of Fremont Street.

Natoma Street (Between First and Second Streets): Natoma Street (between First and Second Streets) has been changed to a dead end street for the life of the project with no vehicle access to Natoma Street from Second Street. Local access to 500 Howard Street is available to and from First Street. Local pedestrian access from Second Street to businesses on Natoma Street will remain available.

Minna Street (Between First and Second Streets): Minna Street has been reduced to one lane, one way (west bound), all vehicles will enter from First Street or Shaw Alley. There will be no parking along Minna Street between First Street and 130 feet east of Second Street for the life of the project.

Reminder: Community Meeting

Join the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 to learn more about construction activities, buttress and shoring wall construction, trestle bridges, street closures and hours of activity. The community meeting will be held from 12:00 noon until 1:00 PM. The meeting will be held at the TJPA’s offices located at 201 Mission Street, Suite 2100. We appreciate that you are taking your lunch hour to learn more about this exciting project, and would of course welcome you to bring food or drinks to this meeting.

What: Community Meeting: Transbay Construction Update

When: Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Time: 12:00 Noon

Where: Transbay Joint Powers Authority

201 Mission Street, Suite 2100

San Francisco, CA 94105

Questions?

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

Construction Hotline:

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

Website:

Please continue to check our website for the most up to date schedule of activities at: http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates

Construction Activity Map:

Check out the construction activity map at: http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/construction-activity-map

Public Transit:

The TJPA encourages the use of public transportation. Please click on the link provided to assist in all of your public transportation travel needs: http://511.org/ or visit www.temporaryterminal.org