San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - October 26, 2021
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - October 26, 2021
The Port Commission of the City and County of San Francisco met on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, starting at 2:00 PM and adjourning at 5:53 PM. The meeting included a consent calendar, public comment, several informational presentations, and votes on real estate and homelessness issues. Commissioners present: President Kimberly Brandon, Vice President Willie Adams, Commissioner John Burton, Commissioner Gil Gilman, and Commissioner Dorian Wuho (joined later).
Consent Calendar
- Item 10A (Resolution 2144): Authorized staff to advertise with competitive bids for a two-year Maintenance Dredging Program (construction contract 2842). Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Comment on Items Not Listed on the Agenda: Three callers spoke about workers at San Francisco Bay Railway attempting to unionize with the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way (a Teamsters division). Benjamin Lockheed, a worker, requested the commission's support. Doug Block (Teamsters Joint Council 7) and Carrie Dahl (organizing director) also spoke, asking for a card-check neutrality process to expedite union recognition. The commission directed staff to follow up.
- Public Comment on Item 11A: Meg O'Neill (Five Keys) spoke in support of the Embarcadero Navigation Center extension, highlighting its community services.
- Public Comment on Item 12A: Multiple callers addressed the proposed expansion of retail fish sales. Angela Sentata (Alia Delazio family, 80-year tenant) opposed, citing health/safety concerns and unfair competition. Nick Krieger (fisherman) and John Barnett (Crab Boat Owners Association) supported the expansion, noting other ports allow it. Dan Strazulo (Pier 45 tenant) requested a level playing field regarding regulations.
Discussion Items
- Item 11A (Resolution 2145) – Embarcadero Safe Navigation Center Extension: Staff (Kim Beale, Emily Cohen, Randy Cassada) presented findings that the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH) met all four conditions for a 24-month option extension. Key metrics: a 90% decrease in unsheltered homelessness within the outreach zone (area bordered by Market, Fourth, and Bay streets) since the center opened; a 32% decrease in crime incidents in the safety zone (Folsom, Second Street, Embarcadero to Ferry Building) between March 2019 and August 2021; dedicated SFPD beat officers (four officers, 11 AM–9 PM, 7 days/week); and enhanced cleaning by Five Keys (3–5 times daily). The center operated at 91 beds (down from 200 due to COVID-19). Commissioner questions addressed the citywide homeless count (last official count January 2019: ~8,000; next count January 2022), cost per bed (~$100/night), and the need for more supportive housing.
- Item 11B (Resolution 2146) – Lease Negotiations for Building 49 at Crane Cove Park: Staff (Jamie Hurley) recommended authorizing lease negotiations with the YMCA of San Francisco, the highest-scoring respondent in the RFP. The YMCA proposed partnering with Dog Patch Paddle (water sports) and Daily Driver (food/beverage). The Port Southern Advisory Committee expressed strong support. The NICE building RFP was terminated as no proposal adequately met objectives. Approved unanimously.
- Item 12A – Informational Presentation on Retail Fish Sales Expansion: Dominic Moreno (Maritime Division) presented a proposal to make the retail fish sales program permanent and expand it to include Dungeness crab (originally excluded). The pilot program began in 2017; currently two boats participate. The expansion aims to support fishermen impacted by COVID-19 and the Pier 45 fire. Commissioners discussed health/safety oversight (California Department of Fish and Wildlife, not the port), potential competition with existing businesses, and the need for a pilot program. Guidance was given to return with a one-year pilot for crab sales and a permanent program for fish sales.
- Item 13A – Informational Presentation on Equity in Construction Project Delivery Methods: Rod Iwashta and Stephanie Tang presented strategies for incorporating equity (LBE goals, community benefits, workforce development) into contract selection. The port has used low-bid, JOC, design-build, and CMGC methods. The presentation highlighted trade-offs: larger contracts favor community benefits but fewer LBE primes; smaller contracts favor LBE participation. Staff noted the maintenance dredging contract (Item 10A) was structured as a two-year term to prepare the market for future non-cost criteria. No vote taken.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2144: Unanimously approved (5-0) – authorization to advertise for maintenance dredging.
- Resolution 2145: Unanimously approved (5-0) – affirmed HSH's compliance and extended the Embarcadero Safe Navigation Center MOU for 24 months.
- Resolution 2146: Unanimously approved (5-0) – authorized staff to enter lease negotiations with YMCA for Building 49.
- Item 12A: Commission directed staff to return with an action item for a one-year pilot expansion of crab sales and to make the existing fish sales program permanent.
- Item 13A: Informational only; no action taken. Staff will continue to use equity considerations in selecting delivery methods.
- Public comment follow-up: Commission requested staff to assist workers at San Francisco Bay Railway with their unionization efforts.
Meeting Transcript
President Kimberly Brandon called the meeting to order at two PM. Item number one is roll call. President Kimberly Brandon. Here. Vice President Willie Adams. Here. Commissioner John Burton. Do see him online here. Commissioner Gil Gilman. Here. Commissioner Dorian Wuho. Not present currently. Commissioner Burton. Try to get Commissioner Burton. Madam President, you do have a quorum. Thank you. The San Francisco Port Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded home ancestral homeland of the Ramatushalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramatoshaloni have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders and relatives of the Ram and Tushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Second we have a motion and a second. Carl, can we please have a roll call vote? President Brandon? Yes. Yes. Commissioner Burton with us. Commissioner Gilman. Yes. I don't think we have Commissioner Wuho yet. Thank you. The motion passes the minutes of the October twelfth, twenty twenty-one meeting have been adopted. Next item, please. For members of the public, please be advised that executive session item one. Item number three is public comment on executive session. Thank you. We will now open the phone lines to take public comment on executive session from members of the public who are joining us on the phone. Jenica will be our operator and we'll provide instructions now for anyone on the phone who would like to provide public comment. At this time, we will open the queue for anyone on the phone who would like to make public comment on executive session. Please dial star three if you wish to make public comment. The system will let you know when your line is open. Others will wait on mute until their line is open. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person. The queue is now open. Please style star three if you wish to make public comment. Thank you, Jenica. Do we have anyone on the line? President Brandon, at this time there are no members of the public on the line wishing to make public comment. Seeing no callers on the phone, public comment is closed. Carl, next item, please. That would be item number four, executive session.
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