San Francisco Port Commission Meeting – September 13, 2022
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting – September 13, 2022
The San Francisco Port Commission held its regular meeting on September 13, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. in the Port Commission Hearing Room at the Ferry Building. Vice President Kimberly Brandon presided in the absence of President Willie Adams. Commissioners John Burton, Gail Gilman, and Steven Lee were present. The meeting included a land acknowledgment, approval of minutes, and a series of informational presentations and action items covering economic recovery, resilience, seismic risk, and waterfront planning.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved four consent items (Resolutions 22‑43, 22‑44, 22‑45, 22‑46):
- 7A – Remote meeting authorization: Adopted findings under state urgency legislation to allow remote attendance during the COVID‑19 emergency.
- 7B – Environmental RFQ: Authorized issuance of a Request for Qualifications for as‑needed environmental and related professional services.
- 7C – Rent forgiveness for China Basin Ballpark Company (Lease L‑16410): The Port will forgive $523,133.81 in past due base rent (March 2020 – April 2021) and waive late fees, interest, and attorneys’ fees.
- 7D – Rent repayment/forgiveness for Seawall Lot 337 Associates (Lease L‑16417): The Port will forgive $100,000 in past due rent; the tenant will pay $644,078.21; and the Port will waive late fees, accrued interest, and attorneys’ fees.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 8A – Dungeness Crab Pilot Program: Two callers (Nick Krieger, fishing vessel owner, and John Barnett, president of the Crab Boat Owners Association) spoke in strong support of making the pilot permanent. They noted the program’s success in increasing public access, supporting small boat operators, and driving local visitors to Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Item 10A – Waterfront Resilience Early Projects: Diane Walton (Dolphin Club) expressed gratitude for inclusion in resilience discussions and requested continued visibility for water recreation users.
- Item 11A – Draft Waterfront Plan Revisions: Pia Hinkle (member of the Waterfront Plan Advisory Group and Dolphin Club) and Fran Hegeler (president of the South End Rowing Club) thanked staff for collaboration and urged that the plan better incorporate the needs of open‑water swimmers, rowers, and paddlers. They noted that the two clubs together represent about 4,000 people.
Discussion Items
- Executive Director’s Report (6A): Director Elaine Forbes reported on economic recovery, highlighting $140 million in state sea‑level‑rise funding secured for urban waterfronts. She announced upcoming events (Portola Music Festival at Pier 80 on Sept. 24‑25, movie night at Crane Cove Park on Sept. 30, and Fleet Week Oct. 8‑9). The Director also recognized Chief Financial Officer Katie Petrucione for her six years of service as she departs for the City Administrator’s office; several staff members and commissioners offered commendations.
- Maritime – Dungeness Crab Pilot Program (8A): Maritime staff presented results of the one‑year pilot, during which more than 15,000 pounds of crab were sold directly to the public from fishing boats. The program was reported to have no negative impact on wholesale fish sales and boosted foot traffic. The Commission unanimously approved Resolution 22‑47 to make the Dungeness Crab sales a permanent component of the Retail Fish Sales Program at Fisherman’s Wharf.
- Engineering – Southern Waterfront Earthquake Assessment (9A): Chief Harbor Engineer Rod Iwashta and project manager Matt Wickens presented the first comprehensive seismic hazard study for facilities south of Mission Creek. Key findings: high liquefaction and lateral spreading risk at Piers 50, 80, and 94/96. The port has allocated $13 million in the 2022‑23 capital budget for further assessments and conceptual retrofits, and a $3.5 million FEMA grant application is pending for Pier 94/96 seismic evaluation. Estimated full mitigation costs are roughly $100 million or more per facility. The presentation was informational; no vote was taken.
- Waterfront Resilience Program – Early Projects (10A): Deputy Program Manager Stephen Real provided an update on six Embarcadero early projects: Wharf J‑9, Piers 15, 9, Ferry Building, Piers 5‑22½ (Yerba Buena Cove coastal flood risk), and Piers 24½‑28½ (bulkhead and wharf seismic retrofit). The projects are in pre‑design; alternatives analysis will follow. The port is targeting a construction start in 2024. Public engagement continues, including a walking tour the following week.
- Planning & Environment – Draft Waterfront Plan Revisions (11A): Diane Oshima presented proposed revisions to the Draft Waterfront Plan (the port’s master plan, last updated in 2019). Revisions include alignment with the new Strategic Plan, Racial Equity Action Plan, and Waterfront Resilience Program. A public comment period runs through October 1, 2022. Staff is also working with the Dolphin Club, South End Rowing Club, and city partners on further refinements. The presentation was informational; no vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: The Commission unanimously approved the consent calendar (Resolutions 22‑43, 22‑44, 22‑45, 22‑46) and Resolution 22‑47, making the Dungeness Crab sales program permanent.
- Directives: Staff will continue to advance the six Embarcadero early projects, with a decision on which to priority within the next year. The Southern Waterfront assessment will inform capital planning and grant applications. The Draft Waterfront Plan revisions will be finalized after public comments and environmental review (CEQA), with a follow‑up briefing to the Commission expected later in 2022.
- Next Steps: The Commission is scheduled to hear updates on adaptation strategies at the October 11, 2022 meeting. A FEMA grant decision for Pier 94/96 is anticipated in fall 2022.
Meeting Transcript
Item number one is roll call. President Willie Adams will be absent today. Vice President Kimberly Brandon. Here. Commissioner John Burton. See you over there. Commissioner Gail Gilman. Present. And Commissioner Stephen Lee. Here. The San Francisco Port Commission acknowledges that we are in the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramata Shalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this place and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramatoshalone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as 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 Ramatushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Item number two is approval of minutes for the August 9th, 2022 port commission meeting. SEMO. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed. The motion passes unanimously. The minutes of the August 9th, 2022 meeting are approved. Item number three is the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Item number four 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 comment on each item, beginning with comments in person. And for remote public comment, please dial 1415 65501, and then enter access code 2483. 411 0155 pound. During each public comment period, our moderator will instruct you to dial star three to be added to the queue for that particular item, and an audio prompt will signal when it is your turn to speak. 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 when the item you want to comment on is announced. And then mute your device and listen to the meeting only from your telephone, which has no delay. And that brings us to item five public comment on items not listed on the agenda. Thank you, Coral. We will take public comment on items not listed on the agenda. Is there any public comment in the room? Seeing none. Jenica will be our operator and provide instructions now for remote participants. Thank you, Vice President Brandon. At this time, we will open the queue for anyone on the phone who would like to make public comment on items not listed on the agenda. 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.
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