BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
WEDNESDAY – September 26, 2007
MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
8:00 A.M. Chairman Miller, presiding
Commissioners Present: Commissioner Richard S. Claire; Commissioner Ralph A. Garcia, Jr.; Secretary Larry R. Aikins; and, Chairman Lewis D. Miller
Commissioners Absent: 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 Economic Development, Steven Wright; Manager of Operations, Donald K. Snaman; Assistant Manager of Operations, Eric Napralla; and, Executive Assistant, Rita F. Artist
Commissioner Aikins led the Pledge of Allegiance.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A Motion to Approve Minutes of Regular Meeting of September 12, 2007 was made by Commissioner Aikins and was seconded by Commissioner Garcia. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioner Dodge was absent.
III. RESOLUTION
A. RESOLUTION APPROVING STANDARD SUBLEASE AGREEMENT – (Portside Investors – Phase I Lease Agreement) – (GEORGE LISTER)
B. RESOLUTION APPROVING STANDARD SUBLEASE AGREEMENT – (Portside Investors – Phase I Lease Agreement) – (RICK LUTTRELL)
C. RESOLUTION APPROVING FIRST AMENDMENT TO SUBLEASE AGREEMENT – (Portside Investors – Phase I Lease Agreement) – (LAW OFFICES OF PIRRONE & PIRRONE)
Commissioner Aikins commented that the rental rate for the first year of the lease for George Lister is $2.35/sq.ft. with annual increases over a 5-year term, ending at $2.65/sq.ft. It was not very long ago that Portside office rental rates were in a range of $1.80-$1.85/sq.ft. so this is an indication that there has been an upward movement in the commercial market.
Resolutions A, B, and C were handled as one item. A Motion to Adopt was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Aikins. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioner Dodge was absent.
IV. MOTION
A. MOTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING FOURTH AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT FOR SECURITY PATROL SERVICES – (COMMAND SECURITY, INC.)
Click here to view the staff agenda sheet and documents for this item
Executive Director Giari explained that Command Security, Inc. has provided security services to the Port since November 2002. Eric Napralla prepared a background report that lays out the scope of work, shows how much Command was paid under the original contract and subsequent increases approved by the Port Commission up to this time. Today’s agenda item proposes to extend Command Security’s contract for an additional year at their current rates.
Giari stated that Command Security has provided very satisfactory guard service for the Port. Their guards are reliable and maintain a low turnover rate. He explained that the Port’s security plan requires additional guards when a ship is in Port and that Command, upon receiving a prior 4-hour notice, has been providing this service as needed. Commissioner Garcia asked why the Port only gave a 4-hour notice. Napralla explained that ships’ schedules are variable due to many factors such as cargo changes, etc. and Command has adapted well to providing guards within the 4-hour notice period.
Commissioner Aikins commended Napralla for providing a well prepared and informative background report.
Chairman Miller commented about possible labor disputes by the ILWU. Miller asked how the Port of Redwood City’s Security Plan would handle a labor dispute. Giari replied that the Port would respond on a case-by-case basis to ensure the Port’s security and to minimize disruption to port businesses while, at the same time, recognizing the Union’s rights.
A Motion to Approve was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Claire. The motion passed by a unanimous roll call vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioner Dodge was absent.
V. PRESENTATION: Ferry Terminal Report by Michael Fajans, CHS Consulting Group
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Executive Director Giari explained that the Port Commission approved an agreement with CHS to conduct a study of the ferry terminal site and to perform a preliminary design and cost estimate for the ferry terminal. The draft report was presented to the City Council on September 10.
Michael Fajans, principal of CHS, summarized why ferry service is needed in Redwood City, the terminal needs, a locational analysis, the preliminary environmental assessment, and the conceptual design & cost estimate.
Fajans commented that the Water Transit Authority (WTA) recently completed a comprehensive analysis of market locations for ferry service in the Bay Area. WTA concluded that Redwood City has a potentially strong market due to having the southernmost accessible location in the Bay and having land available for a 5-6 acre terminal with a floating dock, accessible gangway, passenger shelter, and ticket vending, parking, and bus circulation. Three sites at the Port were considered for the ferry terminal with the site at the end of Seaport Boulevard, on Westpoint Slough, being the most favorable. This location not only has the availability of land for landside facilities but vehicular access also is available, it is compatible with BCDC’s Seaport Plan and Port needs, it has the shortest vessel travel time, and its proximity to Pacific Shores development offers an opportunity for “walk-in” ridership.
Chairman Miller inquired about the possibility of rail connection to the ferry terminal. Giari explained that the terminal would be located adjacent to a railroad right-of-way, which would provide for future interconnectivity with other transportation modes.
Moving on to the preliminary Environmental Assessment, Fajans reported that CHS performed a wake/wave analysis and concluded that the Westpoint Slough site is not as sensitive to impacting Bair and Greco Islands as the two alternative sites. The preliminary estimate is that 17,000 cubic yards of dredging would be required at the Westpoint Slough site and Chairman Miller asked how often dredging would be performed. Fajans replied that after it was dredged to the required depth, maintenance dredging probably would be performed on a four to five year cycle. Miller also asked if there would be any conflict between ferries at Westpoint Slough and boat traffic to and from the future Westpoint Marina. Fajans stated that the ferry dock is positioned as close to the shore as possible and that the majority of ferry traffic would be during early mornings or late afternoons on weekdays, which is not a particularly busy time for recreational boating.
Fajans reported that the Conceptual Design & Cost Estimate includes a WTA standard floating dock with an ADA accessible gangway, a passenger shelter, and a 500-space parking lot, which includes a bus drop-off and pick-up location. Access to the terminal site would be via the 4-lane portion of Seaport Boulevard. The estimate for the facility cost is $13–$13.5 million.
Commissioner Garcia asked Fajans for a rough estimate of the cost to build offices above the ferry terminal. Fajans explained that the estimated facility cost included approximately $1 million to be designated for the passenger shelter and restrooms. Typical commercial construction costs today are about $300 per square foot and that amount could be used to estimate the cost of building additional office space.
Commissioner Garcia inquired about current income to the Port from this property, noting that this could be lost income to the Port if the property was used for a ferry terminal. Giari explained that the property is currently leased to CEMEX and that a recent fair market rental value appraisal placed it at about $3,000-$3,500 per acre per month. Other revenue derived from this location is for an average of 100,000-200,000 tons of dredged sand that is currently handled through that terminal annually. Garcia asked if the Port would be reimbursed for any lost income from that property from future ferry terminal use. Giari explained that this would be determined at a later date based on discussions and arrangements between the Port, the City, Pacific Shores Center, and any owner/operator of the ferry service.
Commissioner Aikins asked why the dock was designed to accommodate two vessels. Fajans responded that if services were provided to both the East Bay and San Francisco, then vessels could possibly arrive at the same time. Due to travel time, WTA suggested that the vessels be berthed here overnight.
Responding to a question from Aikins regarding the distribution of this Ferry Terminal report, Giari explained that it would be posted on the Port’s website and distributed to Port Commissioners, the City Council and the WTA.
Aikins commented that the report should include the two-way ridership that previous studies indicated Redwood City would have. He recalled that there would be about half as many people commuting from San Francisco to Redwood City as there would be from Redwood City to San Francisco.
Chairman Miller thanked Mr. Fajans for his report and presentation.
VI. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
VII. MATTERS OF BOARD INTEREST:
None
VIII. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
Executive Director Giari introduced Patrick Jin, an intern from Redwood City’s sister-port of Zhuhai, China, who has been working at the Port this week. Patrick arrived in Redwood City in early August. He will be interning with various City departments and attending classes at Cañada College. Chairman Miller commented that he and Commissioner Claire have asked Jin to research the possibility of additional public access at the Port and to submit a report on his findings.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:00 a.m. Chairman Miller requested that the Commission adjourn to its next regularly scheduled Meeting of October 10, 2007. A Motion to Adjourn was made by Commissioner Garcia. It was seconded by Commissioner Aikins. The motion passed by a unanimous voice vote of all Commissioners present. Commissioner Dodge was absent.
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