San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - January 23, 2024
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - January 23, 2024
The Port Commission convened on January 23, 2024 at 10:15 AM, with Vice President Willie Adams presiding. Commissioners present: Gail Gillman, Stephen Lee; Ed Harrington absent. The meeting included election of officers, the Executive Director's 2024 lookahead, consent calendar approval, an economic recovery update, and endorsement of a term sheet for the Piers 30-32 and Seawall Lot 330 project.
Consent Calendar
- Item 10A: Amend and restate Lease No. L-16997 with YMCA for Building 49 in Crane Cove Park (Resolution 2401).
- Item 10B: Accept and expend $7,800,000 grant from California Coastal Conservancy for Southern Embarcadero Resilience and Enhancement Project (Resolution 2402).
- Item 10C: Accept improvements, approve amendment to DDA for Pier 70 Phase 1 (Resolutions 2403 & 2404).
- Item 10D: Conditional no-cost transfer of abandoned historical artworks to a cultural institution (Resolution 2405).
- Item 10E: Accept and expend $200,000 grant from MTC for multi-space parking pay stations (Resolution 2406).
- Item 10F: Award $2,117,010 construction contract for South Beach Marina Repairs to Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction (Resolution 2407).
- Item 10G: Award $1,558,275 construction contract for Hyde Street Harbor Repairs to Yerba Buena Engineering & Construction (Resolution 2408). All consent items were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Election of Officers (Item 9A): One caller initially misunderstood the item but did not comment. No other public comment.
- Executive Director's Report (Item 9B): No public comment.
- Consent Calendar (Item 10): No public comment.
- Economic Recovery (Item 11A): No public comment.
- Piers 30-32 & Seawall Lot 330 (Item 12A): Multiple speakers expressed support:
- Dan Torres (Sprinkler Fitters Local 483, Building Trades trustee) spoke in favor, citing union jobs and the pool.
- Alan Dundas raised concerns about state density bonus law compliance and Prop C requirements.
- Mike Gowerty (San Francisco Bay Ferry/WETA) thanked the Port for partnership and emphasized the facility's importance for emergency response.
- Zach Montesis (water polo coach, real estate professional) strongly supported the aquatic center and housing.
- Greg Hardiman (Elevator Constructors Local 8) supported, noting job creation, sea level rise, and public fishing.
- Rudy Gonzalez (San Francisco Building Trades Council) urged adoption, praising the developer's community engagement.
- Alice Rogers (South Beach community) appreciated extended community outreach.
- Joe Riley (emergency manager) supported for maritime emergency response capabilities.
- Julie Rome (SF Travel) supported for tourism, cruise ship berth, and economic benefits.
- Eddie Reyes (Iron Workers Local 377) supported for union construction jobs and infrastructure.
- Tyson Bell (Tsunami Swim Team) supported for aquatic sports access.
Discussion Items
- Election of Port Commission President and Vice President (Item 9A): Commissioner Adams nominated Kimberly Brandon for President; seconded and approved unanimously. Commissioner Brandon nominated Gail Gilman for Vice President; approved unanimously. Both gave acceptance remarks.
- Executive Director's Report (Item 9B): Director Elaine Forbes presented the 2024 lookahead, highlighting priorities: clean, safe, vibrant waterfront; economic recovery; Fisherman's Wharf revitalization; waterfront leasing; development projects (Piers 30-32, 38-40, 45); resilience (flood study, Prop A bond); equity (REAP 2.0, psychological safety, data, hiring/promotions). Staffing increases and new technology tools were noted. Commissioners praised the report and discussed labor, housing, and safety.
- Economic Recovery & Expenditure Plan (Item 11A): Megan [last name not given] presented an overview of $64.4 million in combined funding sources (including $10 million harbor funds, $10.4 million tenant attraction/retention, $36 million in port infrastructure grants, $8 million Southern Waterfront beautification). The plan focuses on Fisherman's Wharf (activation, beautification, ice machine, gangway/float) and Southern Waterfront (maritime improvements, parks, Blue Greenway). Commissioners discussed the need for clearer reporting on Southern Waterfront Beautification Fund spending and safety concerns. The commission approved the expenditure plan for the $10 million economic recovery project (Resolution 2409) to be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for release of funds.
- Piers 30-32 & Seawall Lot 330 Term Sheet (Item 12A): Wyatt [last name not given] presented the project: up to 713 residential units (25% affordable including on-site inclusionary and a dedicated 100% affordable building), 375,000 sq ft office, 70,000 sq ft retail/market hall, aquatic center (50-meter pool), deep water berth, and reconstruction of piers and seawall (estimated $460 million horizontal improvements). Financing includes CFD/IFD, and a $125 million gap may be filled by market improvement or public sources. Ground leases: 66 years for piers ($900,000/yr), 75 years for seawall lot ($600,000/yr with CPI adjustments, increasing to $1.8 million if milestones missed). Port participates in upside (20% of net proceeds above 18% IRR). DEI plan includes swim access, BIPOC artisan retail, affordable housing partner selection, LBE/WBE goals, and project labor agreement. Two ENA amendments: 18-month extension and allowance for strata to transfer investors without commission approval (provided Strata retains control). Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive. Commissioners endorsed the term sheet and approved the ENA amendments (Resolution 2410) unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Elected Kimberly Brandon as Port Commission President and Gail Gilman as Vice President (unanimous).
- Approved consent calendar items 10A-10G (Resolutions 2401-2408) unanimously.
- Approved Resolution 2409: Endorsed the economic recovery expenditure plan for the $10 million fund and authorized staff to seek release from the Board of Supervisors.
- Approved Resolution 2410: Endorsed the non-binding term sheet for the Piers 30-32 and Seawall Lot 330 project, and approved amendments to the Exclusive Negotiating Agreement with Strata-TCC Partners (18-month extension and investor transfer provision).
- Directed staff to provide a report on security of abandoned Southern Waterfront buildings and to present a proposal for future allocation of Southern Waterfront Beautification Fund with project-level details.
Meeting Transcript
Vice President Willie Adams. Here. Commissioner Gail Gillman. Present. Commissioner Stephen Lee. Here. Commissioner Ed Harrington is absent today. The San Francisco Court Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded 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 Ramatish Alone 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. Item two is approval of minutes for the December twelfth, twenty twenty-three port commission meeting. All in favor? Motion passes unanimously. If you wish to make a public comment. That we talked about in close session. Second. We have a motion and a second. All in favor. Any opposed. Motion passes unanimously. We are now in open session. Item six is the Pledge of Allegiance. 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 comment 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 2663 453 8406 pound pound. Then dial star three to raise your hand to comment on the item being discussed. And audio prompts will signal when it is your turn to speak. If you are watching this meeting on SFGup 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 the telephone, which has no delay. Item eight is public comment on items not listed on the agenda. We will now take public comment on items not listed on the agenda. Is there any public comment in the room? If not, Lucinda, do we have anyone on the phone? There are no callers for public comment at this time. Thank you. Public comment is closed. Next item, please. Item 9A is the election of Port Commission President and Vice President. Thank you. I call for nominations for the port commission president. I would like to nominate Kimberly Brandon for port president. Are there any other nominations? Hearing no other nominations. Nominations are now closed. Do we need a second? Second. Okay. We will now take public comment on uh commission president nominations.
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