San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - June 13, 2023
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - June 13, 2023
This meeting of the Port Commission on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, began with a land acknowledgment and approval of prior minutes. The agenda included consent calendar items, an executive director's report, an engineering item on underground utility locating, an informational update on the mobile vending program, and a report on Local Business Enterprise (LBE) contracting activity. Public comment focused on labor negotiations with Alcatraz Cruises.
Consent Calendar
- 7A: Approved a Memorandum of Agreement with the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure for temporary maintenance and operation of Mission Bay Parks (July 1, 2023, up to six months, reimbursement up to $510,028). Resolution 23-25.
- 7B: Approved the Port’s 10-Year Capital Plan for FY 2024-2033. Resolution 23-26.
- 7C: Approved a sole source grant to the Fisherman’s Wharf Association (Community Benefits District) and waived port license fees and the sugar-sweetened beverage prohibition. Resolution 23-27.
- 7D: Approved strategies to address food/beverage and retail vacancies, including a new broker policy, competitive leasing criteria, and rent abatement terms for short-term activations. Resolutions 23-28 and 23-29.
- 7E: Retroactively authorized modification to Construction Contract No. 2843 (Pier 70 Shipyard Grading and Abatement) to extend substantial completion date. Resolution 23-30.
All consent items passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Evan McLaughlin (International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Northern California) and workers from Alcatraz City Cruises (Jack Calvin, Parker) spoke about ongoing union contract negotiations. They reported that the company is not bargaining in good faith, citing long gaps between sessions (52 days), low wages (as low as $19.50/hour), scheduling issues, and refusal to include captains in the bargaining unit. They requested the Port Commission’s continued support for a fair contract.
- Councilor Moore (via phone) thanked Marcia Matham for her service on the Waterfront Design Advisory Committee.
Discussion Items
- Executive Director’s Report (Item 6): Elaine Forbes reported on economic recovery, noting revenues rebounding faster than expected and reaching pre-pandemic levels in key business lines. Megan Wallace, Economic Recovery Manager, presented the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which focuses on three pillars: administrative improvements (lease administration, grant-seeking, technology), activation and business development (pop-ups, Fisherman’s Wharf, maritime growth), and public-private partnerships. A detailed expenditure plan for $10 million in economic recovery funds (from FY 2021-22 budget) was shared. Forbes also highlighted a successful Juneteenth event at the Ferry Building, resilience work with the Army Corps of Engineers, an updated MOU with HSH for Pier 94 shelter (month-to-month), and the sale of two dry docks (minimum bid $2.5 million). She also acknowledged retiring staff (Carol Bach, 27 years) and departing advisory committee members Marcia Matham and Roscoe Maps.
- Commissioner Comments: Commissioners praised the economic plan, requested metrics, and emphasized activation across the full waterfront (not just northern). Commissioner Gilman expressed support for the Inland Boatman’s Union and concern over low wages. Commissioner Harrington asked about the $10 million tenant improvement fund—none has been spent yet; staff will bring individual deals to the Commission.
- Engineering (Item 8A): Paul Chazon presented a request to issue an RFP for underground utility location and marking services, with a proposed $250,000 contract over four years. This aligns with state law (California 811). Commissioners approved the RFP (Resolution 23-31) unanimously.
- Mobile Vending Program (Item 9A): Mike Martin provided an update on the Port’s mobile vending program and enforcement challenges. Since SB 946 (2019) decriminalized street vending, unpermitted vending has increased, concentrated at Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz Landing, and Oracle Park. The Port’s pilot program (with 50+ permitted vendors) uses a lottery system for high-demand spots. Enforcement has been difficult due to state limits (administrative citations only, no requirement for ID). The Port now uses deterrence operations (confiscation) and coordinates with police, ABC, and other agencies. Commissioners discussed escalating illegal vending (alcohol, cannabis, potential human trafficking) and the need for stronger law enforcement partnerships. New security manager Kyle Thomas (former SFPD Marine Unit) onboarded. No vote; informational.
- LBE Contracting Report (Item 10A): Elizabeth Alexander Tooth reported on contracting activity from July 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. Total payments of nearly $14.5 million, with $6.4 million (44%) going to LBEs. Of five eligible contracts, all were awarded to LBE primes or joint ventures. Private developments (Pier 70, Mission Rock) awarded $103.4 million to LBEs. Improvements in outreach, simplified RFP forms, and pre-qualified pools were highlighted. Informational.
Key Outcomes
- Votes: All consent calendar items (Resolutions 23-25 through 23-30) and Resolution 23-31 (RFP for utility locating) passed unanimously (President Brandon, Commissioners Harrington, Lee, Gilman; Vice President Adams absent).
- Directives: Staff to return with qualitative and quantitative metrics for the economic recovery plan, and a report on how the plan reaches partners port-wide. Commissioner Gilman requested an informational report on wayfinding/signage grants by September.
- New Business Discussion: Commissioner Lee inquired about the Ferry Building kitchen (former Opera Trust space). Staff will report back after broker tours; Commissioner Harrington suggested a cost-benefit analysis of demolition as an option.
- Meeting Adjourned at 5:09 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Harrington. Here. Commissioner Stephen Lee. Here. Vice President Willie Adams is absent today. The San Francisco Port Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homelands 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, the Ramatichalone 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 Ramatishaluni community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Item number two is the approval of minutes for the May 9 2023 Port Commission meeting. So move. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Aye. The motion passes unanimously. The minutes of the May 9th, 2023 meeting are now adopted. Item number three is the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God and indivisible liberty and justice for all. Item number four is announcements. Please be advised that the ringing of and use of cell phones and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. A member of the public has up to three minutes to make public comments on each agenda item unless the port commission adopts a shorter period on any item. Public comments must be in respect to the current agenda item. The commission will take in-person and remote public comments on each item, beginning with commenters in person. For remote public comment, dial 1415 655 000 1, and enter access code 2593 594 0240, pound pound. Then dial star three to raise your hand to comment on the item being discussed. An audio prompts will signal when it is your turn to speak. If you are watching this meeting on SFGov TV, there is a short broadcasting delay. To not miss your chance to comment, please dial when the item you want to comment on is announced. Mute your device and listen to the meeting from your telephone, which has no delay. Item number five is public comment on items not listed on the agenda. Thank you, Jenico. We will now take public comment on items not listed on the agenda. And I do have speaker cards. Good afternoon, Commissioners. My name is Evan McLaughlin. I am with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Northern California. I'm here today. We wanted to provide the commissioners with an update on the ongoing negotiations between the Inland Boatman's Union and Alcatraz cruises, and to ask the Port Commission for their continued support as we continue to try and get a fair contract here. We've had some significant issues with delays from the company over the past few months. We've had a slight improvement since then, which is that the employer has now agreed to sit down for two days of negotiations per month. This is a this is a really big issue for us because we are in touch with workers every day, talking to them about their issues every day, and we hear the same things that they've been dealing with since they contacted us in the first place, where they have schedules that don't allow them to plan their lives. We have some folks who are making as little as 1950 an hour. And if you're in San Francisco, that is really not livable. And we still have attempts to exclude some of the workers, including the captains, from being covered by the union. People are upset about this. And the more that we get into the summer season, the more we have frustrations, and the more we have people saying, hey, we gotta take action, we gotta do something here. And it's really difficult to tell people like, hey, we don't want disruptions, we don't want anything to happen. It's hard to tell them that when we're only receiving a couple days of negotiations per month. Very difficult to get what we need to do done.
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