San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - March 9, 2021

The Port Commission met on March 9, 2021, in a regular meeting that included an executive session, public comment, and several informational presentations. Key topics included updates on the port's COVID-19 response, a revised Five-Year Strategic Plan, a second incremental bond issuance for the Mission Rock project, and the Waterfront Resilience Program. The commission also heard public comment from a property owner regarding a title dispute with the port. All votes on consent items and the motion to adjourn were unanimous. The meeting lasted from approximately 2:00 PM to 6:09 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Roll call established a quorum with all five commissioners present (President Brandon, Vice President Adams, Commissioners Burton, Gilman, and Wuho).
• The minutes of the February 23, 2021 meeting were approved unanimously.
• The commission voted unanimously to go into executive session and later reconvened with no reportable actions.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Marie Cole, owner of a Davidson Street property, stated that the port made a claim on a paper street under her land, delaying and potentially killing the sale of the property. She noted she had held a clean title since 1968 and argued the paper street was abandoned in 1917. She requested the commission reach a satisfactory conclusion. No other members of the public commented on non-agenda items or specific agenda items.

Discussion Items

Executive Director's Report (Item 9A)

• Director Elaine Forbes reported that San Francisco moved to the state's red tier, allowing indoor dining and reopening of attractions. Alcatraz will reopen the following week.
• At Seawall Lot 337, a fraternal organization administered COVID-19 vaccines to approximately 100 members using port space with a fee waiver.
• The port's Micro LBE Emergency Loan Program has approved 12 loans totaling $476,000 out of $1 million; seven loans went to MBEs (including five black-owned businesses) and two to women-owned businesses.
• The fourth annual Contract Opportunities Open House will be held virtually on March 18, 2021; 110 RSVPs received as of the meeting.
• A petroleum seep at Hyde Street Harbor has been traced to red dye diesel from port tenant Maxim Petroleum. The EPA issued a cleanup order on March 1, 2021. The port removed over 2,500 gallons of oily water since July 2020.

Port Support for COVID-19 Response (Item 9B)

• Communications Director Randy Casada presented an overview: 75 port staff deployed as disaster service workers; a testing site at Piers 30-32 has administered tens of thousands of tests; a shelter at Seawall Lot 344 housed over 150 vulnerable individuals; emergency food distribution at Seawall Lot 337 serves about 790 families weekly distributing over 41,000 pounds of food; and PPE distribution has provided 1.5 million face masks, 600,000 face shields, and 21,000 gallons of hand sanitizer.
• Tenant rent relief measures include deferrals, repayment programs, and forgiveness totaling up to $13.65 million.
• Commissioners noted the port's exemplary response and stressed the need for enhanced signage on the waterfront, tourism recovery strategies, and attention to long-term homelessness solutions.

Five-Year Strategic Plan Update (Item 9C)

• Executive Director Forbes presented an updated plan for 2021–2025 with seven goals: Economic Recovery, Productivity, Equity, Resilience, Sustainability, Evolution, and Engagement.
• The plan shifts from "stability" to "economic recovery" given COVID impacts, aiming to return real estate revenues to pre-COVID levels by 2025 and secure external funding. Equity now includes a Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP) with 125 actions to be completed by 2024. Resilience goals include completing a multi-hazard risk assessment and partnering with the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Commissioners supported the plan, requested quarterly deep-dives into specific goals, and emphasized embedding equity across all goals.

Mission Rock Community Facilities District Bond Financing (Item 10A)

• Project Manager Phil Williamson and staff described the first phase of the Mission Rock development (Seawall Lot 337): up to 2.8 million square feet including 1,200 housing units (40% affordable). Phase I infrastructure is 25% complete, with two buildings under construction.
• Staff proposed a second issuance of up to $68 million in CFD special tax bonds to replace expensive developer equity (18% return) with lower-cost public debt. The total phase one bond capacity is $111.3 million, based on an updated appraisal of $334 million.
• The first bond issuance of $43.3 million is expected to close in April 2021; the second is targeted for summer 2021.
• Commissioners asked about interest rate risks (currently 4% expected) and noted the project's 40% affordable housing commitment.

Waterfront Resilience Program (Item 11A)

• Waterfront Resilience Director Brad Benson presented the Adapt Plan framework, including a draft vision statement, principles, evaluation criteria, and Proposition A funding guidelines.
• A youth-produced video highlighted the need for resilience against earthquakes (72% chance of major quake by 2043) and sea level rise.
• The program uses $425 million in Proposition A funds for life safety and disaster response along the northern seawall.
• Commissioners provided feedback: add "financial" to economic criteria; include LBE opportunities and community health considerations; and clarify geographic distribution in funding guidelines. They agreed not to use numerical scoring, favoring qualitative analysis.
• The commission expressed appreciation for the thorough work and requested regular updates.

Key Outcomes

• The commission unanimously approved the consent calendar (minutes, executive session) and the motion to adjourn.
• No formal votes were taken on informational items (9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 11A), but staff received direction on the strategic plan, bond financing, and resilience program.
• Staff will report back on the status of the Embarcadero Navigation Center at the next meeting.
• The next commission meeting was noted as April 13, 2021 (not specified, but based on typical schedule).