While were averting one Public Health crisis, were unfortunately creating another. And so i know that depression is seting in with some people. Folks who had no income and no ability to take care of themselves and their families. We know that domestic violence, suicide, child abuse, all these things are a result of what we see happen and it is even worse for people in lowincome and poverty. On the one hand, we are lowering the curve and really been a leader in that effort but there is another Public Health crisis that is brewing as a result of the decisions that were making. How are we expected to sustain this . How are we expected to continue to live like this while, you know, there still are a lot of people suffering from something thats a different Public Health crisis. I agree. I agree with you completely. And i think thats really one of the challenges and, you know, when the Health Officers talk about the issues, we recognize that when you look at health in its complete way, the way youre describing, we absolutely have to take into account those tradeoffs. And that is for me. My personal commitment, i feel like im now on a mission. I feel like im on a mission to get us to open up as safely and as quickly as possible because we know that we have to have get back to work, people have to get back to seeing their doctors and people have to pay the bills, pay the rent, pay for schoolsment all of those things that all of us need are absolutely critical and that is one of the reasons why some people say to us why are we being so strict . Its because i want to keep moving forward and i completely appreciate everything that you are bringing up and that is what makes these decisions very difficult. And what about the seniors living in isolation and need to see their family members in what about the kids who are maybe, you know, only children who havent played with another kid for this long . Like this is not sustainable. Like emotional, its having an impact on peoples lives so i think it is going to be important that we give guidance. Like what kind of guide . The fact is, people for the most part r going to see their parents or their relatives or scheduling playdates and i know that we have said that is not a good idea. But people are probably going to do it anyway because they have probably had it. And i honestly dont blame them. So tell us a little bit about how people can do these things safely. I think human behaviour, we cant help ourselves. We want to be around one another. And we want to interact one another. I guess that we want to stop the virus, but we also have a you know, if my grandmother were still alive, she were at laguna honda, if she were still alive it would literally kill me not to go up and see her. So i just need you to help us understand, how are we going to see our relatives and other friends and folks safely. What is the solution to . To this . You are bringing up a really important issue and actually the Health Officers right now and actually the Health Department is going to design new strategies to bring people together, to bring households together for just the very reason that youre saying. And so in some ways we feel like can we dodge this bullet . And now we have time to do this right and youll be seeing over hopefully over the next week, well be coming out with recommendations for the region on how families, just the way youre describing, can really come together. But we want them to really think through and make sure that they do it safely so we want them to be a aware of the physical distancing, wearing the Face Covering and washing their hands. Its really important for social connections to stay strong and so we will were moving in that directionful and youll hear more about it in the next few days. Because we also know that, for example, there is going to be limitations to our summer quafrp and limited capacity for child care so what about those families whose kids dont make it into child care or summer camp . What are they going to do with, you know, their children. How how how are we going to make sure that they have access to other kids . And they have access to the abilities to be around one another and be around one another. I think i noticed that i see a lot of teenagers Walking Around together with one another. Some of them are wearing masks, some of them arent, but its really tough. I do think it is going to be important that, as we continue to try and push forward more health directives, if we expect people to follow them, you know, we gotta also think about human nature to provide them with safe guidelines to do so. So that, as you said, we dont see a surge and we dont go backwards. So, i know folks are going to be looking forward to those guidelines because this is going to be critical to our ability to meet the goals of waiting for things to open and get back to work and the other things that we need to do. And im expressing the frustration of the people of San Francisco because we know it is a fluid situation and i know people are tired. And it is really hard to sustain it and now there is another Face Covering requirement. Can you tell us about that requirement and why is it now 30 feet, why are the requirements a lot they seem stricker. Can you talk about what the new requirements are around Face Coverings . Yeah. Let me just really quickly just give a very quick background and why were very concerned. When you think of covid19 disease, we know that its more infectious than the flu. Its 10 times more deadly than the flu. And so were very concerned as we begin to open things up, how do we do it in a way that we continue to move forward . That is the first thing. Because there is no vaccine and no real effective treatment, we only have a few tools available to us. One of them was the hammer, which was shelter in place. We dont want to go there. We want to move away from that. We have only a few things left, which is physical distancing, Face Coverings and hand washing. And so now we want to make sure, as we lift shelter in place, that were doing the best we can in those areas. To give you an idea about Face Coverings. So, we know from the science thats emerging and from the mathematical models that have been developed that, if 80 of people wear face masks or Face Coverings consistently, we can prevent outbreaks. That is humongous. And so its really important for us to appreciate that. The countries that are being successful in keeping their economies open are the countries that have universal Face Coverings so we have to have we have for the next year, until we get a vaccine, this is only temporary, it is not going to be forever. Until we get to the place where we have a vaccine and we can safely have everybody most people immune, this is the bridge that is going to get us there. It turns out that the risk is very low, but the benefit is very high and it is going to allow us to have more movement and families to getting to and, over time, as the infection goes down and the risk goes down, were going to more and more people will be able to come together. So, it is going to have a big impact. So, why 30 feet, i guess. Compared to initially six feet. So, heres the way that i want you to think about it is that if every time you walk outside whenever you go outside the home, and there down, were going to more and more people will be able to come together. So, it is going to have a big impact. So, why 30 feet, i guess. Compared to initially six feet. So, heres the way that i want you to think about it is that if every time you walk outside whenever you go outside the home, and there is a good chance that youre going to have contact with people who are not part of your household, we want you to have a Face Covering. That is the first thing. Easy to remember. When im outside my home and there is a good chance that im going to have contact with people that are not part of my household, then i should have a Face Covering. And theres two basis scenarios that that ha. That that happens. Theres moving around, walking down a crowded street and hiking down a path. So the 30 feet is being hindful that as you approach 10 yards is to put your Face Covering on. Its about using common sense l. You have enough time to go ahead and put on your Face Covering. 30 feet, some people like to think of 10 yards if you like football or soccer or think of two average cars. So, when youre walking down the street. The other one is when youre stationary and this is really the more common one that you are talking about and that is six feet. So, if youre in the park with your family and youre away from everybody else and eating lunch or having a picnic, go ahead and put that down. This morning, when i got when i was leaving my house to work, across the street was a father and a daughter. He was holding her hand and they were walking the dog. Theyre totally outside and they didnt have to wear a mask and that is exactly how it should be. We give people plenty of opportunities to go ahead and pull it down so they can get fresh air. As long as youre not close to anybody, go ahead and pull it down so you feel comfortable. So, one of challenges weve had are runners. I noticed it, too. For some reason there are people who are running and i would say, you know, 50 of the time theyll get out of your way and move away from you. But sometimes they just run right past you and are so tell us why that people are saying im a runnerment im not going to run with a mask on. That is ridiculous, right . And im not a runner, but i know that it is hard enough to breathe in a mask sometimes. So, how do you expect people who are outdoors who want to exercise to wear a . Afk a mask . What are the guidelines . Basically follow the same common sense guidelines. Ill give you the example that i do. I like to run up to twin peaks and so what i do is actually just have my mask right here and most runners actually, this is some of the runner magazines that they recommend to folks. Run around when theres no people. When theres nobody around you you dont have to have it on. But when youre running by a family, lets say, go ahead and put it on. That is the 30foot rule, the 10yard rule. And when you pass them and no one else around, go ahead and pull it down. Were trying to make sure its really common sense so that people do it in a way that is respectful of other people as they come close to each other and come near each other for a short period of time. The 10yard rule is to remind them to slip it on and then when youre past them and alone again, slip it down. Were not expecting people to wear it the whole time. If im at the park and having a little picnic in one of my circles, then most likely i can leave mask off. Correct. Exactly. Yes. Ok. All right. I get that there is a lot of confusion there and sounds like were telling people be on your best behaviour. Use common sense. Dont police other peopleful just do the best you can. Were all in this together and we want to make sure that we keep people safe and keep ourselves safe and keep other people safe. Exactly. And the way you described it is perfect. Ok. Heres the other question. Say, for example, woe see the numbers blow us away and surprise us and go down considerably. Is there any chance that, based on the timeline of the dates of reopening, is there any chance that we could see that timeline moved up or things moved out of the timeline and up into the forefront . So, you mean moving the intervals closer . So, for example, if we see all of a sudden over the next week, we see a sharp decline, right, in the number of hospitalizations and we already see testing has gone up considerably. Were doing a great job with testing. So, we see a sharp decline and whatever you need to see a decline in. All of a sudden, you know, theres a strong desire for people to see more happening faster. Do you think there is a possibility that this safe reopening plan could be moved up so that is some of these things are available sooner rather than later . Ill give you a perfect example. Museum, right . Its not because i want to go to a museum, but i think about the people who work at the museum, the security who works at the museum and the fact is you dont need to touch anything at the museum and there is ways in which we can guide people in the restrooms and so on and so forth. The academy of sciences, theyre furloughing employees. But these are locations where theres a real possibility to limit capacity and theyre in phase three. Im using them as an example. Youre asking a really good question. And i think for us the way that weve been thinking about this is because its because San Francisco just we know that were we know that were just higher risk. That is the baseline. And so thats why weve been really anchoring to the state road map and the state road map is moving very fast and is very likely for some of the things that youre mentioning, is very likely to allow more and more of these things to happen. And so if the state allows that to happen, we will look at we will if the state starts moving faster, well look at our number and if it looks like we can do it, then were going to go ahead and implement it safely in San Francisco. That is what were allowing the state to really be that [inaudible] that they [echoing [ yeah. And i want to express my appreciation again for your leadership and also for the timeline and giving the people of San Francisco a lot more certainty about what to expect. It is not what we want, of course. We want more. And i will continue to push for more. But, you know, i appreciate the opportunity to have this open discussion. You know, i just want to say to the people of San Francisco, again, thank you for all that you are doing to help us through this. The better that you follow the guidelines around masking, around social distancing and hand washing, the safer we will be faster which will give us an opportunity to do more. And i know were asking a lot of the people of San Francisco and we appreciate that for the majority of you, you follow these protocols and were also well aware that some people are really suffering. And that is at the forefront of our minds when trying to push for changes faster. But we also want to make sure that we are safe and we dont roll back the gains that we made so far. Its difficult. It requires a lot of sacrifice. Its easier for us to ask you to do it than i know it is for you to actually do i. But we appreciate everything that all of you have done to take part in helping to keep San Francisco safe and healthy. You know, i know it is one thing to be a leader and another thing to be the person stressed out and whether or not they will be able to hold on to their shop or hold on to their apartment after this is over. So, we are keep, those things in mind and i appreciate the work that you are doing, doctor. Thank you for joining us here today. Please feel free to continue to submit your questions. These conversations are really about trying to get to the heart of the questions and concerns that people have. Rather than to do just a regular press conference. This is an opportunity for us to have a discussion about everyday questions that people have. You can definitely call 311 for testing or other questions and concerns or feel free to email me, mayor london breed sfgov. Org and thank you for joining us here today. Thank yoit. Shop dine in the 49 promotes local businesses and challenges resident to do their shop dine in the 49 within the 49 square miles of San Francisco by supporting local services in the neighborhood we help San Francisco remain unique successful and vibrant so were will you shop dine in the 49 chinatown has to be one the best unique shopping areas in San Francisco that is color fulfill and safe each vegetation and seafood and find everything in chinatown the walk shop in chinatown welcome to jason dessert im the fifth generation of candy in San Francisco still that serves 2000 district in the chinatown in the past it was the tradition and my family was the royal chef in the pot pals thats why we learned this stuff and moved from here to have dragon candy i want people to know that is art we will explain a walk and they cant walk in and out it is different techniques from stir frying to smoking to steaming and they do show of. Beer a royalty for the age berry up to now not people know that especially the toughest they think this is i really appreciate they love this art. From the cantonese to the hypomania and we have hot pots we have all of the cuisines of china in our chinatown you dont have to go far. Small business is important to our neighborhood because if we really make a lot of people lives better more people get a job here not just a big firm. You dont have to go anywhere else we have pocketed of great neighborhoods haul have all have their own uniqueness. The Bicycle Coalition was giving away 33 bicycles so i applied. I was happy to receive one of them. The Community Bike build program is the San Francisco coalitions way of spreading the joy of biking and freedom of biking to residents who may not have access to affordable transportation. The city has an ordinance that we worked with them on back in 2014 that requires city agency goes to give organizations like the San Francisco bicycle organization a chance to take bicycles abandoned and put them to good use or find new homes for them. The partnerships with organizations generally with organizations that are working with low income individuals or families or people who are transportation dependent. We ask them to identify individuals who would greatly benefit from a bicycle. We make a list of people and their heights to match them to a bicycle that would suit their lifestyle and age and height. Bicycle i received has impacted my life so greatly. It is not only a form of recreation. It is also a means of getting connected with the community through bike rides and it is also just a feeling of freedom. I really appreciate it. I am very thankful. We teach a class. They have to attend a one hour class. Things like how to change lanes, how to make a left turn, right turn, how to ride around cars. After that class, then we would give everyone a test chance chance to test ride. We are giving them as a way to get around the city. Just the joy of like seeing people test drive the bicycles in the small area, there is no real word. I guess enjoyable is a word i could use. That doesnt describe the kind of warm feelings you feel in your heart giving someone that sense of freedom and maybe they havent ridden a bike in years. These folks are older than the normal crowd of people we give bicycles away to. Take my picture on my bike. That was a great experience. There were smiles all around. The recipients, myself, supervisor, everyone was happy to be a part of this joyous occasion. At the end we normally do a group ride to see people ride off with these huge smiles on their faces is a great experience. If someone is interested in volunteering, we have a special section on the website sf bike. Org volunteer you can sign up for both events. We have given away 855 bicycles, 376 last year. We are growing each and every year. I hope to top that 376 this year. We frequently do events in bayview. The spaces are for people to come and work on their own bikes or learn skills and give them access to something that they may not have had access to. For me this is a fun way to get outside and be active. Most of the time the kids will be in the house. This is a fun way to do something. You get fresh air and you dont just stay in the house all day. Iit is a good way to exercise. The Bicycle Coalition has a Bicycle Program for every community in San Francisco. It is connecting the young, older community. It is a wonderful outlet for the community to come together to have some good clean fun. It has opened to many doors to the young people that will usually might not have a bicycle. I have seen them and they are thankful and i am thankful for this program. Good evening. Welcome to the may 27, 2020 meeting of San Francisco board of appeals. President ann lazarus is the presiding officer joined by Vice President honda, commissioner swig, tanner and santacana. Commissioner tanner is here . I just want to confirm . Is that correct . I didnt see her enter the meeting. Okay. She is expected to be here. So just one moment. She just entered the meeting. Wonderful. Okay. So commissioner tanner is present and commissioner santacana. Also present is deputy city attorney, who will provide the board with any needed legal advice. At the controls is the office clerk and im julie rosenberg, the executive director. Well also be joined by representatives from the City Department of cases before the board this evening. Scott sanchez, deputy zoning administrator, also representing the Planning Department and commission. Joseph duffy, chief building inspector, representing building inspections. Chris buck. Urban of forestry and trent, with San Francisco public works. The Board Meeting guidelines are as follows. The board requests that you turn off and silence all phones so they will not disturb the proceedings. Appellants and permitholders are given seven minutes to present their case and three minutes for berebuttal. Members of the court not affiliated have up to three minutes to address the board and no rebuttal. If you have questions about requesting a rehearing, please email board staff at board of appeals. This is broadcast live and will be rebroadcast on friday on channel 26. The video is available on our website and can be down loaded from sfgovtv. Now well swear in or affirm all those who intend to testify. Please note that any member of the public may speak without taking an oath pursuant to their rights under the ordinance. If you intend to testify at any of tonights proceedings and wish the board to give you evidentiary weight, please say i do. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I do. I do. Thank you. Now if the participants will please put your zoom remind our Public Comment will be taken by phone. To block the phone number when calling in, first dial star 67 and then the phone number, 833 5480276. You enter the meeting i. D. , and enter the participant code, 172092. And enter the password, 172092. Then you will listen for the Public Comment portion of the item to be called. If you want to speak, press star 9 and well select you when its time. As a reminder, if youre watching on your tv or computer and you call in, please turn down the volume as it interferes with the public hearing. Item number one is general Public Comment. This is an opportunity for anyone who would like to speak on a matter that is within the boards jurisdiction, but that is not on tonights calendar. Is there any member of the public who wishes to provide general Public Comment tonight . If you called in, press star 9. And then i will know that you want to speak for general Public Comment. Were going slowly because this is a new format for us. So im going to give people a little more time. Were now on general Public Comment. This is item number 1. I see one person. Okay. We do have one caller. Hello . So the phone number ending in 4739, were in general Public Comment. Would you like to speak . Im sorry, i just joined. Im here to comment on 44 bond view street. So this isnt the right time. I apologize to you. Thats later, were not taking Public Comment via zoom. If you can go to the website, youll see the instructions on how to call in. I did call in. You did call in, im sorry. Okay. I dont see any other general Public Comments so well move on to item number 2. Commissioner comments and questions. Commissioners . President lazarus seeing none . Yeah, julie. I raised my hand. You didnt see it. Is mr. Commissioner, can you turn up your volume a little. I dont know if i can do that. Ill try. Id like to ask a question please. Im going to try okay. Since we have heard hearings in the area, can you brief us as to the some of the details as you know them with regard to the Washington Square park tree tragedy yesterday on what could have been a great tragedy. Do you have any information on that . The tree wasnt in the context of what you told us before. Chris brock, Public Works Bureau of urban forestry, i was in a meeting today and it was referenced indirectly. Ive actually had my nose to the grind stone all day today, so i actually dont have any information about that as of this moment. I heard, again, oblique reference to it, but i dont have information about that at all. I can try to find out and provide that reply a little later this evening. Thank you. What type of tree was it again . You know, i dont know. Ive literally had my nose to the grind stone all day. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. We have a comment from commissioner santacana. Commissioner santacana mr. Buck, i have the same question. Im interested in the answer to the question. We had an appeal last year, maybe seven ficus trees in Washington Square park. And some of the photos that you provided us, that the appellant provided us here to include the tree that had an accident yesterday. So i would also very much like to know whether the tree was in addition to the question that commissioner swig asked, whether that tree was the subject of that appeal or not, which i believe was resolved by the parties before the board ever voted on it. Commissioner swig correct. One thing i can say, there was kind of a split settlement in that. Several of the trees were removed and several trees remain. And so i can provide that information in just a little bit. Commissioner swig i would like to know, yeah, if the subject tree was one of the ones that the public works department, or your bureau had decided they wanted to cut down. Sure. I will find out. And you know director rosenberg, at your discretion, ill let you know once i have that information. Perhaps i dont know procedurally if that can be done between items . Thank you. We have a question or comment from Vice President honda. Vice president honda i want to congratulate my daughter for graduating high school today. Class of 2020. Can you hear me . Thank you. Congratulations. Congratulations. Okay. Thank you. Are there any other commissioner comments or questions . Is there any Public Comment on this item . So were going to go slowly through. Any Public Comment on this particular item . Julie . This is lance. I have some information on the tree in Washington Square park. Its just from a kron tv broadcast done last night. The tree is actually quite a ways back from the ficus trees. Its over closer to the church and that part of the park. Apparently five people were injured when the limbs fell. None of them terribly serious, but they all were treated. Thats about as much as i know. It wasnt the ficus trees, thank you. Okay. Thank you. Is there any other Public Comment on this item . Yes. Okay. Can you hear me . Yes i can. Who is this, please . Pardon . This is stacy. And i want to say this to i cant tell who is talking. And its not ms. Bowler, can you please turn down your tv . There is a little interference. Are you there . Yes, im sorry. Is she calling on the phone . There. I turned it down. Can you hear me . Thank you. Yes, i can. Can you hear me . Can you hear me . Yes, i can. Go ahead. Yes, i can hear you. Im commenting that i now see an additional reason why i object to remote hearings. Its too hard for me to understand what is happening because i cant tell who is talking. I cant tell one voice from the other. When youre in the room, you can see who is talking. So this isnt worth it. Thats my comment. Thank you. Is there any other Public Comment . Commissioner santacana the commenter makes a good point. To the extent we can, we should identify ourselves at the beginning of our remark and i already have violated that in this remark, but this is commission santacana. Okay. Thank you. This is commissioner tanner. Do you know for the broadcast, is it on the spotlight view, so the speaker is the one that comes up in the screen . Yes. Commissioner tanner okay. So, ms. Bowler, i think there may be a little bit of a delay on what is happening on the phone that youre listening to and what you see on the broadcast. There is a little bit of a delay and echo. But the person who is speaking should come up on your screen. It may be hard to know who they are, but primarily, it will be the commissioners and then the appellant and permit holders, ms. Rosenberg and any other staff. But we can point out if were a commissioner or who we are when speaking. Theyre not showing on the screen. All i see is julie rosenberg. Do you see commissioner tanner now . No. Ella, can you check into this . Im getting reports as well im the only one showing on the tv screen. I just put commissioner tanner on spotlight. That is fixed now. It is fixed now. Go ahead. Proceed. Okay. So can you see commissioner tanner . No. Commissioner tanner hello, mrs. Bowler, this is commissioner tanner, do you see me on the screen now . Now i can. Commissioner tanner there is a little delay between the audio and what you see on the screen. That cant be helped through this format. But we thank you for your comments. I see you. Its coordinated with your mouth. There is no delay. Before i couldnt tell who was talking. Who was talking didnt show on the screen. There may be a delay of the person showing up if they start to talk. Commissioner tanner okay, thank you so much for your comment. Appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. I believe we are now on item number 3, which is adoption of the minutes. Before you is the minutes of the may 13, 2020 Board Meeting. President lazarus commissioners, any changes, additions or deletions . We have a motion from commissioner swig to adopt the minutes for may 13. Any Public Comment on that motion . Alek . Can you let me know . I dont see any Public Comment for that. Okay. On that motion, commissioner santacana . Commissioner santacana aye. Im sorry, right now there is no commenting from the public. President lazarus said aye. Vice president honda aye. Commissioner tanner aye. So that motion carries 50 and the minutes are adopted. Were now moving on to item number 4. This is appeal number 19 143. Mar rehn kramer versus department of building inspection, subject property is 2242 35th avenue, appealing issuance on december 162019 to gene lau of an alteration permit to comply with 201965971, add 11 inches. This is permit 2019, 11, 14, 7331. Note on march 4, 2020 motion by Vice President honda the board voted 401, president lazarus absent to continue this matter to april 15, 2020 so that d. B. I. And the Planning Department can conduct an inspection of the property. The purpose of inspecting the property is to clarify the inspecting permit conditions. Stress cracks caused by the construction work given that the april 15, 2020 meeting was cancelled, the matter was rescheduled to may 27, 2020. Well hear from the department of building inspection first, unless you wanted mr. Sanchez has anything to say from the Planning Department . Did you want me to state i have reviewed the case . Yes, thank you. Im prepared to participate in todays discussion. Thank you, president lazarus. So mr. Duffy, mr. Sanchez, who would like to go first . Sanchez from planning. I dont have anything to add. I know duffy did a site visit on the matter and i dont recall any issues from the previous hearing. That appears to have been abated, but im available for questions. Okay, thank you, mr. Sanchez. Well now hear from mr. Duffy. Mr. Duffy, were actually going to give you six minutes so that the interpreter can interpret for you. So if you could say, you know, speak a few sentences, give her an opportunity to interpret, that would be great. Okay. Commissioners, joe duffy, d. B. I. I was at the site yesterday. I met with ms. Kramer and the permitholder, mr. Lau. I first went into ms. Kramers home. She was there with her friend. I walked the main floor. Ms. Kramer asked was there anything that with damage to the property. She showed me a very, very small crack over by a window away from the older property. Mr. Laus property. It was very minimal. There was a little crack in the plaster. Something like you would see in a home. I could not say it was caused by the work. It was very, very slight. I then went down stairs to the basement and i was interested in looking along the Property Line next to ms. Kramers Property Line. Adjacent to where the work had taken place. We would be looking for separation on the concrete slab. I didnt notice anything there. She showed me a small crack, again not on the Property Line. I wouldnt have said it was from the work. It may have been, but i dont think it was. And the [inaudible] concrete slab pardon me for interrupting. Would you allow for the translator to translate at one shot . Thank you. Sorry. Translator . Im sorry. Monica . Sorry, my mic was off. Please go ahead. [speaking Foreign Language [ ]. Im sorry, did you say concrete slab and then something garage closed to i missed the last part. Sorry, yes. I probably did say too much, sorry. I was talking about the concrete slab on the Foundation Next to mr. Laus property. Okay. Translator [speaking Foreign Language] mr. Duffy, continue. I then proceeded to inspect the rear yard area of ms. Kramers property. That might have been where some of the excavation was done at the rear wall. Mr. Laus property, if you can imagine, the backyard, they excavated the full width of the lot. And they put in retaining walls to create like a lower patio area. Then there were steps up to the rear yard is at a different level. So there would have been some excavation next to ms. Kramers property there. I didnt really notice settlement there. They may have taken good care when they done it. Again, it was something i noticed, but i didnt see anything that would alert me to say, you need an engineer. Its typical of what we see in those areas. Not really something it wasnt anything that rose to the level that i need a d. B. I. , or tell ms. Kramer she needs an can we have the interpreter . Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. Yes. So ms. Kramer did show me photographs of the time they were doing the work. I hadnt been at the property before yesterday. I wasnt involved in the investigations or any of the permit inspections before. I was grateful for the photographs because it brings you back to when they were doing the work. That was helpful for me. But i then proceeded to go into sorry, ms. Kramer brought up other issues with regards to venting on the roof of the property. Ill give the interpreter a chance. Interpreter thanks. [speaking Foreign Language]. Okay. So i took those under consideration. And i did take the photographs under consideration. I took photos of the photos, so i have some documentation and of the work that was done at the rear yard. I then proceeded to go next door to the permitholder property. The contractor was there, i believe it was mr. Lau the owner. They have done work on the ground floor, putting in rooms on the ground floor. And you know the usual bedroom, family room and bathroom. That work has been completed. As a matter of fact permits are all signed off on that. They are using that area, living in it. Okay. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language] . There are six completed Building Permits on the property since 2017. D. B. I. Has issued the permits, inspected them and signed them off. During that time, there was some complaint there was actually the six minutes have passed. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. President lazarus, so inspector duffys time is up, but do you feel that he needs more time . President lazarus yes, i think he needs to complete his report in as timely a fashion as he can. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, these arent easy for me to be honest with you, because im going on six permits over three years and were now dealing with a Building Permit with 11 inches on top of it. Its already been poured and in place. What id like to say, the Building Permit under appeal, if that permit can go ahead and be issued, there is another Building Permit that is currently issued for work on another retaining wall at the rear and some work on the front yard. I would like to follow up with the permitholder and deal with some of the issues that ms. Kramer brought up in this appeal on this permit. Possibly a notice of violation. The permitholder may need to bring his engineer back and address some of the concerns i had yesterday on the site. But for the 11 inches on top of the retaining wall, i do believe there is not any harm in letting that permit go on. And d. B. I. Can look into the issues that this [inaudible] back to ms. Kramer on the permits [inaudible]. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. Okay. Thank you. So we will now hear from the permitholder, mr. Lau. Alek, if you can spotlight mr. Lau, please . We dont have much to say, the inspector had covered everything. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Ms. Kramer . You have six minutes. Were doubling your time. I would appreciate it if after several sentences, you allow the interpreter to speak to translate what you say. And im going to unmute you. Okay, so ms. Kramer . Yes. I just have a few additions that i shared with inspector duffy yesterday. I had complained about cooking odors coming through my light well in the bathroom. And the inspector had previously said that the oven was vented incorrectly and it was then corrected. I would like to show you what all of this means to me personally. And the only way i can do it is by holding up the new roof that was interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. So they eventually got the permits for seven skylights on a new roof. You can see that they raised the roof and did not include the vents for the plumbing systems. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. I then showed inspector duffy the corrected vent pipe that was added because the initial vents that popped up through the brand new roof were too close to the edge of the Property Line. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. And again, another one with the extensions that needed to be added in order to get the vents away from three feet away from the edge of the Property Line. So initially, they were not vented to code and thats why i was smelling cooking smells entering my house. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. And in addition, this was done very quickly after the board of appeals suspended the 11inch height to the rear to the front of the rear retaining wall. I notified inspector duffy on january 8th i think that there was work continuing after the board of appeals suspended this permit. And this is what he saw when he visited their house. I assume this is what he saw when he visited their house yesterday. This was after the board of appeals suspended the work. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. So are you finished, ms. Kramer . No. Go ahead. I am hoping that the commissioners will continue to see through what has been going on. And again, i hope that they deny the added height on another retaining wall close to my property. These added ons are always continuing and i never know what to do except appeal to the board commissioners to help me put a stop to whatever they have in mind next door. Thank you. Okay. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. There is a question from commissioner swig. Commissioner swig . Commissioner swi commissioner swig let me unmute you . Commissioner swig can you hear me or no . I was having a problem. We can hear you, but if you could speak a bit louder. Ill do my best. Im almost screaming. Ms. Kramer, given that this is about permit related to the window and also a rear yard wall, but you were then victim to either a contractor who doesnt understand what the law is, or a developer who is trying to bend the law. Somebody is guilty of it. Were not about to be judge and jury on that today, but is there, along with the one wall that you pointed out at the end of your presentation, is there anything else that we should be aware of or that the Building Department be aware of because once we move in our direction tonight, unless there is a new permit applied for, this is the last this is your last chance at this conversation unless there is a blatant violation. Do you have any other things you would like to make us aware of . May the interpreter interpret this for us. Commissioner swig yes. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. Mrs. Kramer . I would put myself in jeopardy, along with my neighbors if i continued adding onto any further information. Interpreter [speaking Foreign Language]. Okay. Im sorry, this is really funny. I dont understand what this has to do with the permits about the roof, about the kitchen smells . Ms. Kramer seems to be arguing about im sorry, its not time for the permitholder to speak. Im sorry. Im going to have to put you on mute. I didnt see who was speaking immediately. At this point, were moving on to Public Comment. And president lazarus, i wanted to check in with you because i see a very long agenda. President lazarus yes, limit Public Comment to two minutes each, please. Given the long agenda, Public Comment will be limited to two minutes. Is there anyone here to speak to provide Public Comment for this item . Im just going to go slowly. This is item number 4. Kramer versus department of building inspection. Anyone here for Public Comment . Im going to press star 9 if youve called in and want to provide Public Comment. Im not seeing anyone here for Public Comment on this matter. Alek, do you see anybody . I see one caller, okay. So the caller whose phone number ends in 8446 . Can you hear me . Yes, thank you. Welcome. Oh, okay. So i wanted to say that having such that the Public Comment is limited to three minutes, thank you. Anything further . No. I just object to the Public Comment being limited. Okay. Thank you for your comment. Is there anyone else here for Public Comment on this item . President lazarus . President lazarus no. Id like this speak when the matter is in our hands. Okay. So is there anyone here for Public Comment . Alek, do you see anyone else . Going slowly . I do not. Okay. Commissioners, this matter is committed. President lazarus okay, since i can speak for myself and dont have to have my name taken at vain at it was in the meeting in march 4th, to remind the commissioners there is this one matter in front of us about which i believe inspector duffy has made a recommendation. And that any other matter is between the department of building inspection and the other parties and is not within our purview at this time. Okay. Any commissioners . Vice president honda . Vice president honda i have one last question for inspector duffy. One, i really appreciate that you did the site visit. And you, you know, can give us firsthand information. On this particular wall that was given, i mean, is it that the permitholder does not understand the process . Or is there Something Else going on here . Thank you, commissioner. Joe duffy, d. B. I. , yeah, there is a little bit of that going on. They shouldnt have had this many permits for the work that was done. I dont think it was planned properly at the start with the retaining wall and ended up at the level of the yard, higher than what was [inaudible] probably wasnt