February 20, 2009                                               Volume 14, Number 7
This Issue of the BOMA San Francisco Advocate is Brought To You By: 

Lightner Property

Group

MAKE SURE TO TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR EARTH HOUR 2009 ON MARCH 28th
BOMA San Francisco asks for your participation in the symbolic Earth Hour 2009 event.  Cities around the world, with San Francisco as one of the flagship cities, will participate in this event by doing one simple thing: turning off the lights for one hour in commercial buildings, small businesses, and homes.  Please make sure to turn off the lights in your building (as well as those in your home) on March 28th from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. as a sign of your concern about global warming, as well as to show your support for practical solutions to counter climate change.  Please click here to view the motivational Earth Hour 2009 movie.

Please note that the Earth Hour 2009 event is part of a larger effort, the Earth Hour 24 x 7 Challenge, to make everyday changes in reducing energy consumption and to combat global warming. Click here to learn how you can help with this endeavor.

BOMA’S SUSTAINABLE “GREEN” BUILDINGS SUPPLEMENT IN THE SF BUSINESS TIMES
BOMA San Francisco will have a special supplement oriented to sustainable building practices in the April 24, 2009 edition of the San Francisco Business Times.  Consequently, we are looking for BOMA members who are interested in submitting an article related to the topic of sustainable “green” practices in their buildings.  In addition, the supplement will carry the listing of all the entries in BOMA San Francisco’s 2009 Earth Awards program (you might recall the very successful 2008 Earth Awards program), as well as pictures and descriptions of the winning buildings. For more information please email Ken Cleaveland at kenc@boma.com, or John Bozeman at johnb@boma.com or call the BOMA  San Francisco office at (415) 362-2662.

BOMA’S WINTER BUSINESS MEETING REPORT: ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
The BOMA San Francisco team attended the BOMA International Winter Business Meeting and Leadership Conference in January where important topics were discussed—especially at BOMA International’s Energy & Environment Committee meeting.  Please click here for a brief synopsis of what was presented at the meeting.

BOMA’S CONSTRUCTION CODES & STANDARDS RESEARCH REPORT
Please click here to view BOMA’s California’s most recent Construction Codes and Standards Research Report.

UPDATE: THE EXPERIENCE EXCHANGE REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
The commercial real estate industry's best benchmarking tool, the Experience Exchange Report (EER) is now available online for BOMA members.  Developed in conjunction with well-respected industry research firm, Kingsley Associates, the new EER's data will be available via the Web as the book and CD versions will no longer be available.  This new Web-based resource is easier and faster to use, completely interactive and offers tremendous flexibility.  BOMA members can now submit data more quickly and efficiently than ever before.  Please click here to start submitting data now! 

UPDATE: BOMA SAN FRANCISCO - MEETINGS WITH NEW SUPERVISORS
The unpredictable nature of San Francisco politics tends to produce a discordant effect between factions with differing views, especially with San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  Add a budgetary disaster and a future special election with revenue enhancements—some of which, as you are aware, adversely affect the commercial real estate industry—and you have the makings of a potentially nasty political relationship.
 
With that in mind, your BOMA San Francisco advocacy team and member leadership have been meeting with the newly elected Supervisors to discuss your concerns, and are pleased to report a positive overview of the discourse.  Most importantly, the Supervisors have mentioned that they want to maintain an open dialogue with BOMA going forward and are open to considering our concerns.

Please click here for a synopsis of the meetings. 

TREASURY ANNOUNCES TALF TO APPLY TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
The United States Department of the Treasury recently announced that it would be expanding the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF) to include new commercial real estate securities.  Under the plan, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York will have the ability to lend to holders of AAA-rated securities backed by new and recently originated commercial real estate loans.  Please click here to view the official press release. 

AIR QUALITY IN YOUR BUILDING CAN INCREASE EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY
Did you know that the ventilation in your building has an impact on employee health, productivity, and retention?  Your BOMA San Francisco advocacy team recently attended a SPUR Forum on “Fresh Air In Your Building”, which presented data on the benefits of indoor air quality and employee productivity.  You can view a PDF of the presentation here, and a link to the full report can be found here.  For questions please contact Andrew Corney with Advanced Environmental at (415) 398-3833 or at andrew.corney@lincolnescott.com. 

If you aren’t too keen on reading reports, then you’re in luck!  Mr. Corney has kindly agreed to present his data on indoor air quality and its impact on employee productivity at BOMA San Francisco’s April 7th Environment Committee Meeting, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Ferry Building, Port Commission Hearing Room, 2nd Floor.  If you are interested in participating in the committee, please contact the committee chair, Zach Brown, at Zachary_Brown@equityoffice.com.

NEW REGULATIONS: YOUR BUILDING’S BOILER EMISSIONS MAY PUT YOU IN HOT WATER
Do you have a boiler or hot water heater in your building?   There are new air quality regulations that will impact all boilers and heaters over 75,000 Btu per hour!  Regulation 9, Rules 6 & 7 from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will impact most everyone who has a water heating device.  You may now need a permit from the BAAQMD if you own a boiler greater than 2,000,000 BTU per hour.  For more information on these new BAAQMD Rules, click here, or contact Guy Gimlen at (415) 749-4734 for Reg.9, Rule 6; or Julian Elliot at (415) 749 4705 for Reg. 9, Rule 7.

MAYOR NEWSOM’S ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
Mayor Newsom recently announced San Francisco’s local economic stimulus package.  You can read the details in the executive summary and white paper.

LATEST NEWS ON THE SFMTA’s SFpark and SFgo PROGRAMS
Your BOMA advocacy team recently attended a presentation at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to hear the latest news on the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) SFpark, and SFgo programs.  SFpark is a parking-based congestion management program (no, not congestion pricing) that manages parking both on and off the street.  SFgo is a citywide transportation management system that compliments San Francisco's Transit First Policy.  Please click here to view the SFMTA’s presentation of the two programs.

SAN FRANCISCO’S CLEAN ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM NOW A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
Please click here to view Mayor Gavin Newsom’s recent press release announcing his request for a private sector partnership to fund, and assist with administrating, the San Francisco Clean Energy Loan Program.  The private financial support for the program will allow residents and businesses to have access to flexible funding options to install solar panels on their roofs, and improve overall energy efficiency.  In addition, to counter the lack of available credit—even for those homeowners with good credit—the loans will be backed by the buildings, not the individual borrowers. 

REPORT: SAN FRANCISCO’S EMERGENCY WATER SYSTEM IS NOT DISASTER READY 
To help defend against earthquake related fires, like those that engulfed San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake, the City must upgrade its emergency water system according to a new report.  You can read the Chronicle article here. 

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING  INSPECTION’S LIBRARY OFFERINGS ON EARTHQUAKES
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection’s Community Action Plan for Seismic Safety (CAPSS) has an extensive quantity of reference materials and books available dedicated to earthquake issues in the CAPSS library.  You can search the offerings here.  If you would like to review or borrow any of these materials, please call Cora Ella at (415) 558-6638.

PG&E’s RETROCOMMISSIONING INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Would you like to save energy in your building by using your currently installed equipment?  Of course you would!  Then please consider PG&E’s Retrocommissioning (RCx) Incentive Program.  The program is designed to help improve energy efficiency without retrofitting (i.e., replacing) outdated equipment.  Please click here for a fact sheet on the RCx Incentive Program.  If you would like more information, or would like to obtain an application for the program, please call (800) 468-4743.

PACIFIC ENERGY CENTER CLASSES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION
The Pacific Energy Center’s (PEC) educational calendar for the Spring of 2009 is now available. You can search for trainings by market sector, topic area, location and audience here.  The PEC has two showcases planned for the Spring: The 6th annual Water Conservation Showcase is scheduled for Tuesday, March 24 and A Light Affair VII is scheduled for Thursday, May 21.  In addition, the PEC has been working with ASHRAE to plan the "Net-Zero and Beyond Conference" which will take place in San Francisco, March 29 - 31. Please click here for registration and more information. 

UNION SQUARE BID’S RENEWAL AND EXPANSION CAMPAIGN
If you are part of the Union Square Business Improvement District (BID), a map of which can be viewed here, you should be aware of the Union Squire BID’s renewal and expansion campaign to have existing owners renew their commitment and to encourage property owners adjacent to the existing BID to sign up.  The renewal campaign would allow the BID to continue providing its invaluable services and add additional marketing and advocacy services for existing members.  If you would like more information, please contact Karin Eklund at (415) 477-2600 or Linda Mjellem at (415) 781-7880. 

REAL ESTATE WOMEN OF INFLUENCE PROGRAM – NOMINATE YOUR COLLEAGUES
Real Estate Southern California has introduced—on the heels of their successful Southern California program—the Women of Influence, Northern California program, which recognizes leading women Real Estate professionals across various disciplines: architects, attorneys, brokers, developers, lenders, and owners. 

Professionals will be honored for their achievements, including deals and transactions they were involved in during 2008, at the Women of Influence Awards luncheon in April/May 2009, and through online and printed editorial coverage. Please consider nominating those colleagues that you feel deserve recognition within your field by contacting Sonia Ranson with Allen Matkins at (213) 622-5555, sranson@allenmatkins.com; or Allison Gorelick with Sares Regis Group of Northern California at (650) 377-5806, agorelick@srgnc.com. 

With your support, this first-time event in Northern California will be a great success. 

SAVE THE DATE: SUPERVISOR ELSBERND’S CRAB FEST
Please consider purchasing tickets at the Benefactor Sponsorship level ($2500)—or any of the other donor levels—for Supervisor Sean Elsbernd’s Second Annual Crab Fest on February 27, 2009.  All proceeds for this event are benefiting the Laguna Honda Foundation and are tax deductible.  Supervisor Elsbernd’s letter regarding the event can be found here; details about the event can be found here; and the reply card can be found here.

SAVE THE DATE: CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION SUMMIT ON FEBRUARY 24
Do you feel there is a lack of governance in Sacramento?  Does the current budget process in the California State Legislature cause you indigestion?  If so, then the Bay Area Council may have a prescription that might offer some relief: A California Constitutional Convention.  The Council is holding a California Constitutional Convention Summit on February 24 in Sacramento to address current government processes, which the Council feels are broken and are overdue for reform.  Click here for more information on attending this important event and click here for a recent San Francisco Business Times article on the subject.  Please contact Melanie Paulos at the Bay Area Council with questions: (415) 946-8725 or mpaulos@bayareacouncil.org.

SAVE THE DATE: THE SF SMALL BUSINESS NETWORK’S MEET THE SUPERVISORS EVENT
The San Francisco Small Business Network will be co-hosting, along with the Council of District Merchants, a “Meet the Supervisors” event at the Old Mint Building on March 16th from 6-8 p.m.  This event will allow small business owners and advocates to voice their issues and concerns to the members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, and show that small business is a powerful and influential voice at City Hall.  For more information, please contact Art Swanson at (415) 267-2900 or art.swanson@lightnergorup.com.

FORBES LISTS SAN FRANCISCO REAL ESTATE MARKET A ‘BUY’ IN 2009
With all of the seemingly never-ending demoralizing economic news, it’s nice to hear that Forbes has listed San Francisco as one of the top ten places in the world for real estate buys in 2009.  Please click here for more information.

BILLBOARD BAN IN LOS ANGELES UPHELD BY 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS
The California Real Estate Journal reported recently that the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a lower court’s ruling and upheld Los Angeles’ billboard ban ordinance in Metro Lights v. City of Los Angeles.  Please click here for the full story.

REP. WAXMAN MOVES AGGRESSIVELY WITH BILL TO STEM CLIMATE CHANGE
Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, recently stated his intentions to pass a bill through the committee by Memorial Day that would counter climate change.  Read the story here. 

BAD ECONOMY GOOD TO WASHINGTON LOBBYISTS
The bad economy affects everyone.  Well almost everyone: Washington lobbying firms raked in the dough in 2008.  Two sectors, according to www.opensecrets.org, have seen a drop in lobbying spending: finance (no kidding?), automakers (shock!).  On the other hand, pharmaceuticals and electric utilities were the two sectors that spent the most on lobbying in Washington.  So what does that tell us?  I’m not sure.  You be the judge.

TOILET PAPER CAN DO THAT?
Everyday, thousands of partially used toilet paper rolls go to waste as cleaning crews replace them with new rolls for use the next day.  Thankfully, there is a program that can help transport the harvested partial rolls for distribution to various non-profit organizations throughout San Francisco.  Your generous participation in the program provides a triptych benefit: you’ll help save the environment by making sure the entire roll of toilet paper is used; a local non-profit organization can use the money saved from toilet paper purchases and redirect those funds to continue to help those in need; and last but not least, you’ll be helping to reduce landfill waste.  It’s a win-win for all.  For more information, please contact Jo Licata, Community Projects Manager with Hilton San Francisco at (415) 923-5069 or at jo.licata@hilton.com.

UPCOMING BOMA EVENTS – CHECK THEM OUT!
Please click here to view BOMA San Francisco’s calendar of events—BOMA committee meetings, education events, seminars, social events, and workshops—for 2009.

“I would rather have it said, He lived usefully, than, He died rich.”

-- Benjamin Franklin

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

THIS ISSUE OF THE BOMA SAN FRANCISCO ADVOCATE WAS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY

Lightner Property Group

For more information about Lightner Property Group, please click here.