BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY – April 23, 2008
DRAFT MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
8:08 A.M.: Chairman Miller, presiding
Commissioners Present: Commissioner Richard S. Claire; Commissioner Ralph A. Garcia, Jr.; and, Chairman, Lewis D. Miller
Commissioners Absent: Secretary Larry R. Aikins; Vice Chairman, Richard A. Dodge
Staff Present: Executive Director, Michael J. Giari; Special Counsel to Port, Francois X. Sorba; Director of Finance & Administration, Cynthia D. Hampton; Manager of Operations, Donald K. Snaman; Assistant Manager of Operations, Eric Napralla; Accounting Clerk, Linda Hawkins; and, Executive Assistant, Rita F. Artist
Commissioner Garcia led the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A Motion to Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 9, 2008 was made by Commissioner Garcia and Seconded by Commissioner Claire. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
III. ORDINANCE
A. ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SALARY PLAN FOR THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE PORT OF REDWOOD CITY, AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES, OR PORTIONS THEREOF, IN CONFLICT HEREWITH – 2nd Reading
Executive Director Giari stated that this Ordinance was introduced at the April 9th Port Commission meeting. At that meeting, the Port Commission set the range for the Executive Director’s salary at $0-$175,000. The other ranges are specified in the Salary Ordinance and are used to set the annual salaries that will be part of the FY-2009 budget. The Ordinance was published in the Examiner-Redwood City Tribune on April 18th and no changes have been made since its introduction.
Chairman Miller requested that the Port Commissioners hold a Closed Session in the future to evaluate the Executive Director’s performance and to set his salary.
A Motion to Adopt the Ordinance and Waive the Reading Thereof was made by Commissioner Claire and Seconded by Commissioner Garcia. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
IV. MOTIONS
A. MOTION AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF LETTER PERMIT TO PENINSULA CELEBRATION ASSOCIATION IN CONNECTION WITH FIREWORKS DISPLAY – (4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION-YEAR 2008)
Click here to view the staff agenda sheet and documents for this item
Executive Director Giari explained that PCA has requested a permit from the Port to hold a fireworks display on the 4th of July. PCA is proposing to conduct the fireworks display in a similar manner to those that have been held at the Port in recent years. A safety zone of approximately 1,000 feet in radius will be maintained around the barge and the barge will use a GPS system to remain on station. PCA will be responsible for all of the parking and traffic control along Seaport Boulevard and the parking in Seaport Court. The Police Department will close Seaport Boulevard at Blomquist Street once PCA has advised them that the parking areas are full.
Public access areas at the Port will be available for spectators’ use. The launch ramp will be open for use by boaters except during the fireworks display when it will be closed. The blue public fishing pier will be closed from 6:30 PM – 10:30 PM. Security guards will be posted at Hinman Road, Herkner Road, and the launch ramp. All Port industrial areas will be closed to the public at 6:00 PM.
The Port has coordinated with the Civic Cultural Commission and the Parks & Recreation Department to provide live music by a band named “Live Wire”. The band is a crowd favorite that plays hits from the 70's to present. They will play for a couple of hours prior to the fireworks display.
A Motion to Adopt was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Claire. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
MOTION
B. MOTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT – (RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS, LLC)
Items IV-B and IV-C were discussed as one item.
Executive Director Giari explained that the first item, IV-B, is a motion to execute a reimbursement agreement with Renewable Energy Products, LLC in order for them to reimburse the Port for costs of environmental studies related to their proposed bio-diesel facility. The second item, IV-C, is the professional services agreement to conduct the environmental study/CEQA analysis with TEC, Inc.
Both items were discussed at the April 9th Port Commission meeting. REP is proposing to operate a bio-diesel production facility on approximately 4.4 acres of the former Texaco tank farm facility. The facility will have about a 3-million gallon capacity and vegetable oils will be brought in from various sources. The oils will be treated in order to be available for use as bio-diesel.
If the Commission approves Items IV-B and IV-C, the CEQA review process would be started. The Port has worked with TEC before on other CEQA evaluations for port projects. They are qualified and experienced in CEQA reviews for other bio-diesel facilities.
Chairman Miller expressed his concerns about the possibility of bio-diesel spills. Miller suggested that TEC, Inc. and REP be informed that their facility must be built in such a way that there would be no possibility of contamination as a result of a spill. Another issue Miller was concerned with is odor, suggesting that TEC, Inc. and REP be informed that odor impacts have to be evaluated and minimized, if necessary. Giari explained that staff will suggest that their proposed truck and rail loading rack be fully contained. REP is sensitive to the fact that the Port has experienced contamination from spills in the past. Giari explained that REP handles products other than vegetable oils in the bio-diesel production process that may be hazardous. Staff will make sure that Miller’s concerns are investigated. In addition to the CEQA review, TEC, Inc. is proposing to perform a noise and traffic study. We will ask them to evaluate the odor impacts as well.
Commissioner Claire requested a full report on the costs for cleaning up the former Texaco liquid bulk storage tanks and site. He suggested that before the Port enters into any agreement for a facility such as the proposed bio-diesel, or any hazardous material handling facility, the Commission be given an update about the costs to the Port for the LBT clean up including litigation costs.
Commissioner Garcia asked whether or not staff has had any discussions with companies interested in bringing in recyclable materials. Giari replied that staff has discussed the possibility of a lease agreement with FERMA to operate a waste wood recycling facility at the Port on a month to month basis. One of the purposes for having this operation at the Port is that it is a short term use that would occupy a portion of the LBT site while the environmental studies are being performed for the biodiesel facility and other uses. FERMA is also looking at the possibility of using the wharf to barge the recycled wood from the Port to Sacramento. Regarding long term leases with other waste handling companies, we have informed them that the Port’s highest priority use of Port property is for marine related uses.
Commissioner Garcia asked if there were any other bio-diesel facilities in operation locally that could be visited in order to research odor impacts. Giari said, to the best of his knowledge, there are not many operating in the Bay Area with a 3-million gallon capacity. He proposed that we visit REP’s bio-diesel facility located in Santa Fe Springs.
Giari commented that staff is under discussion with Lafarge North America, Inc. for use of the remaining half of the property. Commissioner Claire asked about other alternatives if Lafarge does not lease the site. Giari explained that there is a definite demand for industrially zoned areas but the challenge for the Port is to find industrial marine related operations. We have begun discussions with other potential marine related users of the LBT space.
Chairman Miller asked Giari to provide the Commission with a summary showing the dates when all leases, including Portside I and Portside II office complexes, will be up for renewal at the Port, indicating any options to renew by either party.
A Motion to Approve was made by Commissioner Claire. It was seconded by Commissioner Garcia. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
MOTION
C. MOTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT FOR INITIAL STUDY/CEQA ANALYSIS for the Reusable Energy Project Bio-Diesel Facility – (TEC, Inc.)
Items IV-B and IV-C were discussed as one item. Please refer to Item IV-B.
A Motion to Adopt was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Claire. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
VI. MATTERS OF BOARD INTEREST:
Chairman Miller thanked Rita Artist for being a judge at the 2008 South Bay Opening Day of Boating Season. Miller asked Giari to send a letter of thanks to Mayor Foust for her participation as a judge on Opening Day also.
VII. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT:
Executive Director Giari reported that 2008 South Bay Opening Day of Boating Season was held on Saturday, April 19th, at the Port. The Sequoia Yacht Club did a good job organizing the events including the U.S. Coast Guard cutter, Hawsbill, which visited the Port and was open for public tours. The cold, windy weather limited some of the participation by spectators and boats in the boat parade but it was still a good event. Besides acting as a judge, Rita Artist coordinated publicity with the Yacht Club and Don Snaman helped with the use of F-Dock and other Port facilities.
Giari distributed a report summarizing the meetings held recently in Washington, D.C. with federal officials and Congresswoman Eshoo, which were attended by Commissioners Aikins, Dodge, Executive Director Giari, and the Port’s representatives: Peter Friedmann and Kathy Beaubien. A major focus of the meetings was about the upcoming Channel maintenance dredging, which will for the first time incorporate the beneficial use of the dredged material for marsh restoration on Bair Island. The need for adequate funding of this project was stressed in the meetings as well as the need for appropriations for funding maintenance dredging in FY09. The feasibility study for Channel deepening and improvements was also discussed in terms of the project schedule and funding needs. Giari said the Corps of Engineers has gone out to bid on the maintenance dredging for the Redwood City Channel, with disposal of the dredged material going to Bair Island. The bids came in higher than the Corps expected and higher than the available funds programmed for the project. The lowest bid was approximately $3.2 million and the funds available for this project are approximately $2-$2.2 million. Discussions were started at the meeting in Washington, D.C. with the Corps and other people on Capitol Hill as to where there might be additional available funding to do the maintenance dredging. The Channel is authorized at 30-feet and it is currently at 27.2-feet. Giari said that any improvement would be helpful to the users of the Channel.
Commissioner Garcia asked if there had been any discussion about moving the Channel and Giari replied that would be part of the feasibility study.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT:
At 8:40 a.m. Chairman Miller requested that the Commission adjourn to its next regularly scheduled Meeting of May 14, 2008. A Motion to Adjourn was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Claire. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioners Aikins and Dodge were absent.
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