San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - April 8, 2025
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San Francisco Port Commission Meeting - April 8, 2025
The San Francisco Port Commission met on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 10:30 AM. The meeting covered a wide range of waterfront issues including cruise operations, safety concerns raised by longshore workers, a proposed extension of the Central Waterfront Navigation Center, and updates on port projects. The commission also approved consent items and set new business items for future reports.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 2518 (Item 10A): Approved a second amendment of lease L1302 granting Martin Marietta Northern California Aggregates LLC a one-time retroactive rent credit of $335,000 for delays outside their control during window work operations at Pier 94.
- Resolution 2519 (Item 10B): Authorized advertising for competitive bids for a low-bid maintenance dredging project (contract 2885) with a five-year term.
- Both resolutions were adopted unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Comment on Items Not Listed on the Agenda (Item 8): Demetrius Williams, President of ILWU Local 10, raised safety concerns about two incidents. First, on March 31, 2025, at Pier 35, the cruise ship Koeiing Dam broke loose with lines launching into the bay, causing the gangway to fall into the water and requiring a tugboat recall. He stated this created significant danger to longshoremen and passengers. Second, he described unsafe working conditions at Pier 80 on March 22–23, 2025, during sailboat launches where workers were observed without hard hats, safety vests, or shields. He read a letter from May 25, 2023, warning Metro Cruiser against allowing crew members to perform gearmen work in violation of union agreements. He urged the port to use ILWU dock workers to ensure safety. President Kimberly Brandon thanked him and asked Executive Director Elaine Forbes to update the commission on discussions with ILWU Local 10.
- No public comment was offered on the Executive Director’s Report, the Consent Calendar, or the Navigation Center presentation.
Discussion Items
- Executive Director’s Report (Item 9A): Elaine Forbes reported that the port’s staff recognition event (“Breakfast of Champions”) was held March 21 with Mayor Lurie. April is peak cruise season: a cruise call occurs every four days in April, every other day in May, with 91 calls and an estimated 365,000 passengers booked for the year – a steady growth reflecting trends of fuller ships. The port secured an emergency dredge permit to maintain cruise operations. A sculpture “Sound Turns to Noise” was moved to New York; a new sculpture “Revolution” from Burning Man will be unveiled April 10 at Embarcadero Plaza. The BIPOC Women Makers pop-up at the Ferry Building (12 events since 2022) continues successfully. The Pier 50 career fair is scheduled for April 16. The Mission Rock development earned a partnering award; new businesses include Bakery Artist Cult and Flower Plus Water. Fisherman’s Wharf Benefits District hired Brie McLaughlin as executive director.
- Commissioner Questions:
- Commissioner Stephen Lee asked whether the San Francisco Visitors Bureau provides information to cruise passengers beyond Pier 39, to direct them to other businesses. Forbes agreed to look into it.
- Commissioner Stephen Englum requested an updated economic impact report (last data found from 2006/2020) to better communicate cruise’s economic contribution (estimated 5% of tourism economy). He emphasized telling a powerful story about jobs and the waterfront.
- Commissioner Willie Adams expressed concern about the Pier 35 incident and urged a good relationship with ILWU Local 10, 75, and 3491. He stressed safety for passengers and workers.
- Vice President Gail Gilman requested an informational report on developing Pier 80 as a secondary cruise launch site, noting the trebled asset at Pier 35 may be unsuitable. She also asked for a breakdown between full-turn cruises (passengers starting/ending in SF) and intermediate port calls, as they represent different economic drivers.
- President Brandon praised the staff and noted the importance of the cruise sector.
- Commissioner Questions:
- Central Waterfront Navigation Center Proposed MOU (Item 11A): Assistant Deputy Director Kimberly Beale and HSH’s Emily Cohen presented a proposed five-year MOU to continue operating the 64-bed low-barrier shelter at 625 Third Street (on a temporary street vacation site). The current MOU expires at the end of April 2025. Occupancy was 98% last month; the operator Five Keys has met or exceeded all service objectives, including 100% intake/assessment and 100% of guests offered referrals. The MOU would generate about $7,400/month in rent plus $29,000 for the Southern Waterfront Beautification Fund. The port can terminate with six months’ notice if the site is needed for a public trust purpose.
- Commissioner Questions:
- Commissioner Englum asked about physical facility condition (eight years old, well-maintained, no capital needs anticipated) and outcome data. Cohen highlighted the shelter’s role in reducing homelessness system-wide.
- Commissioner Adams voiced strong support, citing the social conscience of the port and the reality that homelessness can happen to anyone.
- Commissioner Lee asked about average length of stay (approximately six months) and noted positive community reception despite initial pushback.
- Vice President Gilman emphasized prioritizing District 10 residents for placement and asked why five years instead of longer (it was always intended as temporary). Staff confirmed outreach teams focus on District 10.
- President Brandon noted the unanimous letter of support from the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association and expressed support overall. However, she raised a process concern: the MOU will be signed under delegated authority but was presented as an informational item without prior input from the Southern Waterfront Advisory Committee (SAC). The SAC meeting is April 23, after the next Port Commission meeting on April 22. Staff acknowledged the oversight and will send out a notice to solicit comments.
- Commissioner Questions:
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved unanimously (Resolutions 2518 and 2519).
- New business items added:
- Report on Pier 80 viability for cruise operations.
- Update on economic impact report (last from 2020, needs updating and posting on website).
- Update on the meeting with ILWU Local 10 (per Commissioner Adams’ request).
- Maritime projects update, including offshore wind (from a recent trip to Long Beach) and federal policy trends from the AAPA conference.
- Navigation Center MOU: The informational presentation was received; staff will notify the SAC and report back at the next commission meeting if substantive comments arise. The MOU will move forward under delegated authority unless concerns warrant commission action.
Meeting Transcript
Meeting of the San Francisco Port Commission for April eighth, twenty twenty-five. Roll call. President Kimberly Brandon. Vice President Gail Gilman. Present. Commissioner Willie Adams. Commissioner Stephen Englum. Commissioner Stephen Lee. Here. Item two is approval of minutes for the March eleventh, twenty twenty-five Port Commission meeting. So moved. We have a motion and a second. All in favor? Any opposed. For callers on the line, please dial star three if you wish to make a 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. Second. And from Gov TV. San Francisco government television. We are now an open question. Next item, please. Item six is the land acknowledgement. The San Francisco Port Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Rama Chalone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Rama Tishalone 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 seven 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 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 1 415 655 001 and enter access code 2660 72721 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 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. Meet your device and listen to the meeting from your telephone, which has no delay. Item 8 is public comment on items not listed on the agenda. Is there any public comment on items not listed on the agenda? Come on out. My name excuse me. My name is Demetrius Williams. I'm local 10's president, ILW local 10 president. I'm here to address a few concerns about the uh the uh Pier 35 that we've been addressing with the Poor Commissioners. Um Monday, March 31st at Pier 35, the Koeiing Dam uh cruise ship with passengers aboard baller broke loose with lines launching into the San Francisco Bay. We cause uh significant amount of danger to longshore and to the passengers. The coings went to sail about some 50 feet into the ocean, and the bridge broke away and fell into the ocean. The tugboat had to be recalled out, and the concerns of the ILW was underneath scrutiny, especially with the concerns and welfare of passengers and with this uh longshoremen. I want to read some of the letters that was written uh to address these issues. Uh May 25th, 2023.
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