San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - May 10, 2022
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - May 10, 2022
The San Francisco Port Commission convened on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, at 10:30 AM. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, approval of minutes, an executive director's report on racial equity, a commendation for outgoing Commissioner Doreen Wuho, election of a new Vice President, approval of a consent calendar, and authorization of an Islais Creek interpretive program. Public comment was heard on several items.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 2224: Aligning the port executive director’s delegated authority with the administrative code.
- Resolution 2225: Authorizing a request for qualifications for as-needed engineering and related services (contracts up to $4 million each, five-year term) and creating a pre-qualified pool for two years.
- Resolution 2226: Adopting findings under new state urgency legislation to allow remote meeting attendance during the COVID-19 emergency for 30 days, with a directive to agendize a similar resolution within 30 days. All three resolutions were approved unanimously (voice vote).
Public Comments & Testimony
- On Items Not Listed on the Agenda: Alex Sobel, representing the grassroots group Grand Embarcadero, expressed full support for a car-free Embarcadero, describing it as safer, greener, and more resilient. He stated that the current roadway dedicates more than half of the space to cars, the bike lane is not protected, and a car diet would improve sustainability and resilience. He urged the commission to embrace the idea.
- On Executive Director’s Report & Commissioner Wuho’s Farewell: Multiple speakers—including Jack Bear (representing the San Francisco Giants and Mission Rock Project), Diane Oshima (former port staff), Mike (port staff), and Katie Petruccioni (port CFO)—offered public comment expressing gratitude for Commissioner Wuho’s 11 years of service. They highlighted her strategic thinking, financial expertise, and dedication to affordable housing (e.g., 88 Broadway, Mission Rock with 40% affordability) and resilience efforts (Proposition A in 2018). Jack Bear noted her role in a late-night negotiation that increased Mission Rock affordability to 40%.
- On Item 11A (Islais Creek Interpretive Program): Oscar James (Bayview native resident) expressed strong support for the project, emphasizing the importance of telling the Ohlone story and labor history. Derek Green (Archie Green Fund for Labor Culture and History) and Harvey Schwartz (ILWU and Copra Crane Labor Landmark Association) both spoke in favor, praising the inclusive community process and the design. Schwartz called the program “beautiful” and urged adoption of Resolution 2227.
Discussion Items
- Executive Director’s Report – Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP) Update: Executive Director Elaine Forbes and DEI Manager Tony Autry presented the 2022 REAP progress report. Key points:
- Since publishing the plan in December 2020, the port has made progress on all goals, including: creating a diversity calendar, applying racial equity lens to policies (e.g., COVID vaccine mandate), and establishing a relationship with the Office of Racial Equity (ORE) via an infrastructure cohort.
- In 2021, 20 of 30 selected REAP actions were completed. For 2022, the port used a collaborative division-based process to select 5–8 goals per division, focusing on equitable discipline, HR practices, and external partnerships (e.g., community benefit agreements for BIPOC tenants).
- Goals include: a mentorship program for BIPOC staff, hiring 10 interns annually from under-resourced neighborhoods, and exceeding the mayor’s goal of 40% contracts to LBE firms.
- Commissioners commended the effort, with Vice President Wuho noting the port is leading citywide. Commissioner Burton suggested sharing best practices with other city agencies.
- Election of Port Commission Vice President: Commissioner Kimberly Brandon was nominated by Commissioner Gilman and elected unanimously (voice vote). She expressed gratitude and commitment to continuing the port’s work.
- Islais Creek Interpretive Program (Item 11A): David Beaufray (Planning & Environment) presented the program, which uses $70,000 from California Coastal Conservancy and a $35,000 gift from Archie Green Fund, plus existing funds ($625,281 total). The program will install interpretive exhibits at three sites along Islais Creek, covering labor history, ecology, resilience, and Ohlone stories. The design includes perforated panels with hidden messages (e.g., “Bayview,” “We are still here”). Completion is expected by September 2023. Commissioners expressed enthusiastic support, with Commissioner Gilman urging use of resilient materials.
- New Business: Commissioner Gilman requested that future MOUs with other city departments include equity goals and actions. No formal vote was taken, but the request was noted.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar Approved: Resolutions 2224, 2225, and 2226 passed unanimously.
- Islais Creek Interpretive Program Authorized: Resolution 2227 passed unanimously, accepting the grants and awarding the design contract.
- Kimberly Brandon Elected Vice President: Unanimous voice vote.
- Acknowledgment of Commissioner Wuho’s Service: The commission adopted a proclamation from Mayor London Breed declaring May 10, 2022 as “Doreen Wuho Day” in San Francisco. Commissioner Wuho delivered farewell remarks summarizing her 11-year tenure.
- Staff Commendation: President Willie Adams praised staff for their work.
Meeting Transcript
Present the San Francisco Port Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatishalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula as the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland, and we wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatishalone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Item number two is approval of minutes of the April 26th, 2022 port commission meeting. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Motion passes the minutes of the April twenty-sixth, twenty twenty-two meeting or adopted. Item number three is public comment on executive session. We will take public comment on executive session. Is there any public comment in the room? Jenica will provide instructions now for remote participants. At this time, we will open the queue for anyone on the phone who would like to make public comments on executive session. Please dial star three if you wish to make public comment. Others will wait on mute until their line is open. Comments will be limited to three minutes per person. The queue is now open. All in favor say aye. Opposed. Aye. Opposed. Yeah, that I heard so. Item number six is the Pledge of Allegiance. A pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and the visible with liberty and justice for all. Item number seven is announcements. Please be advised that the ringing and use of cell phones and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that a member of the public has up to three minutes to make pertinent public comments on each agenda item, unless the port commission adopts a shorter period on any item. Public comment must be in respect to the current agenda item, and the commission will take in-person public comment first and then remote public comment. For remote public comment, please dial 415 655 0001 and enter access code 2480930 4715 pound. And then during each public comment period, the moderator will instruct you to dial star three to be added to the queue for that particular item, and then an audio prompt will signal when it is your turn to comment. If you're watching this meeting on SFGov TV, there's a short broadcasting delay, so to not miss your chance to comment, please dial in when the item you want to comment on is announced, and then mute your device and listen only through your telephone, which has no delay. And for remote presenters and participants, please mute your microphones when you're not presenting. That brings us to item eight public comment on items not listed on the agenda. We will take public comment this time on items not listed on the agenda. Is there any public comment in the room? Is there any public comment in the room? Seeing none. There's public comment. Okay. Sorry about that, didn't see you. Hi there, hello, commissioners. Can you hear me? Yes. All right. Hello, commissioners. Uh hello, Mr. President, Vice President. My name is Alex Sobel, and I'm here representing a grassroots group. We're called Grand Embarcadero. And we're envisioning what we think of as a Grand Embarcadero, which is a car-free embarcadero, where people of all ages, no matter their age, can walk, bike, and roll safely. A serious car diet, road diet for the embarcadero. We think the embarcadero is an incredible waterfront promenade and transit corridor.
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