PORT OF REDWOOD CITY BOARD OF PORT COMMISSIONERS
JOINT MEETING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, REDWOOD CITY, CA 94063
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2008
Draft MINUTES
I. CALL TO ORDER
7:15 PM.: Mayor Foust, presiding
Council Members Present: Alicia Aguirre; Ian Bain; Jim Hartnett; Jeff Ira; Barbara Pierce; Vice Mayor, Diane Howard; Mayor Rosanne Foust
Port Commissioners Present: Richard S. Claire; Ralph A. Garcia, Jr.; Larry R. Aikins; Vice Chairman, Richard A. Dodge
Port Commissioners Absent: Chairman, Lewis D. Miller
Port Staff Present: Executive Director, Michael J. Giari; Manager of Operations, Donald K. Snaman
This Meeting was listed as Items 7B and 7C on the February 11, 2008 City Council Agenda.
II. PRESENTATION
by Michael J. Giari, Port Executive Director
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Giari gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Port saying that it occupies 120 acres between Seaport Blvd. and the Redwood City Channel. Port property is used for various activities ranging from recreational boating uses to shipping & industrial uses. The Port is a landlord port, leasing its property adjacent to the Wharves to private companies that operate shipping & industrial facilities. The Port’s main business is shipping construction materials such as cement and gypsum. The Port also handles recycled metals and chemicals. 75 percent of the Port’s revenue comes from marine industrial activities.
The Port is a revenue producing department of the City that operates with its own revenues and receives no tax generated funds from the City. It is managed by the Port Commission consisting of five Commissioners who are appointed by the City Council.
Giari explained current Port Projects including: a) Renovation and rebuilding of Wharves 1&2 at a total estimated cost of $10-$12 million; b) Potential users of the former Texaco liquid bulk terminal (LBT) including aggregate and biodiesel terminals; c) Renovations and upgrades to the public boat launching facility funded by a $1-million grant from the Calif. Dept. of Boating & Waterways. Giari commented that another new project for the Port is the development of ferry transportation facilities.
The Port is also pursuing “short sea shipping” opportunities between Redwood City and other Bay Area ports, and ports of Sacramento and Stockton, which would result in barges and small ships replacing many of the trucks on our highways.
III. JOINT MEETING DISCUSSION:
Mayor Foust started the meeting by saying that the Port is a tremendous community asset. Improved communication between the Port and the Council is necessary in order for the Council to have a better understanding about specific Port issues.
Mayor Foust introduced Robert Bell, Human Resources Director, as the facilitator for this Joint Meeting.
Commissioner Dodge gave a brief overview of the Port Commission saying that the primary role of the Port Commission as outlined in the City Charter establishes policies and budgets, adopts ordinances and resolutions, and directs the Executive Director to implement them in his management of the Port.
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The Commissioners were asked to comment on what they find to be most rewarding in their role as a Port Commissioner.
Commissioner Dodge commented that when he became a Port Commissioner some 28 years ago, the Port was in dire financial straits. Dodge is proud to have been part of a successful effort of bringing the Port from near bankruptcy to a port that is in good financial standing. Dodge said that the Port is one of only three ports in the United States that gives money back to the City. During the past two years, the Port gave $1.2 million to Redwood City’s General Fund with prospects of paying back even more in the future.
Commissioner Aikins commented that he has been with the Port since 1995. His educational background is in economics and business and he spent his first 25 years in business building and selling businesses. For the past 14 years Aikins has been selling real estate. Aikins finds running the Port’s business very enjoyable. He found it most rewarding when the Port of Redwood City placed #1 in the financial performance of all California ports in a survey conducted by the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Commissioner Garcia has been with the Port about three years. Prior to that he was a member of the Planning Commission and has run his own business for the past 30 years. He finds it rewarding to bring his 30 years of business experience to the Port and looks forward to participating with the Port in doing something good for the City.
Commissioner Claire stated that he has been a Port Commissioner for only 6 months. He will find it rewarding at the Port to use his background experience with a shipping company, who handled bulk cargo between San Francisco and Korea; and also, his financial and engineering experience.
Bob Bell introduced members of the public who wished to make comments.
Greg Greenway, Executive Director of the Seaport Industrial Association, commented that SIA is a business organization made up of Port area businesses that promotes sustainable growth and sensible land use planning in Redwood City and the Bay Area. SIA strongly supports the Council’s desire to pursue joint planning with the Port and to facilitate open communication about the operation and future of the Port.
Greenway commented that the value of the Port as a working industrial waterfront is expressed in a number of ways that are not solely economic: as the largest center of recycling in the Bay Area; as a multi-modal commercial transit hub for rail, water, and trucks that takes 100,000 truck trips off the highway each year’ and, as industrial firms that employ more than 600 blue-collar, family-wage jobs and generate more than $6 million in state and local taxes.
Clem Molony, Lyngso Garden Materials and SIA secretary, commented that having the City Council and Port Commission working together on the General Plan is an excellent idea. A key issue for SIA members is to look toward business efficiency and how they can build and modernize their businesses in the future.
Mark Sanders, Westpoint Slough Marina, commented that the Port Commission and City Council should be working together in planning for Redwood City’s waterfront. There are 16,000 recreational boat slips in San Mateo County; 3,000 of which are in Redwood City. Redwood City has 9 marinas, more than any other city on the Bay. Now is the time to think of the entire waterfront as an extension of the Port and of Redwood City.
Council Discussion Points centered on three general areas: Planning, Communication, and Cooperation
Planning: Council member Hartnett said he needs more information on the General Plan process and where the Port fits in. As a supplement, there is a need for additional strategic planning that is policy maker driven, not consultant driven.
Mayor Foust commented on a need for Strategic Planning between the City, the Port, and SIA, and suggested we zero in on “what is and what could be” at the Port. The Strategic Assessment prepared for the Port by TranSystems, Inc. was mentioned and Foust noted there should be an expansion of the “SWOT” analysis (strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities) to include economic development for the General Plan.
Commissioner Claire agreed the Port should participate with work on the General Plan. He also commented that we should work cooperatively on a Precise Plan for east of Highway 101.
Mayor Foust commented that the Port has a lobbyist in Washington who assists with obtaining funding for dredging of the Channel. What else can be done for the community by using lobbying for federal funding? She also commented on business liability issues and environmental concerns at the Port.
Commissioner Garcia commented that the Port will need to diversify its products in the future and does not have enough property to receive the goods that will be coming. We need to know how close development at the Cargill site can come to the Port in order to plan for cargo expansion.
Council member Pierce commented that the TranSystems Strategic Assessment for the Port did not include much about ferries and their economic impact on the Port and marinas. More information is necessary in this area.
Commissioner Aikins suggested that informal discussions be scheduled between the Council and the Port related to the Saltworks Project. Commissioner Dodge suggested that subcommittees of the Port Commission and the Council be formed to discuss Port area developments.
All Council members agreed on expanded discussions between the Council and the Port regarding waterfront planning and examining economic development. Council member Hartnett also pointed out that there is a need for an understanding of State law and BCDC regulations on the Port area.
Communications: Council member Hartnett suggested that regular contact be established between the City’s executive team and the Port’s executive director. The Port’s executive director should be invited to attend City Department Head meetings.
Council member Aguirre agreed with the need for better communication and was impressed with the Port’s goal to continue to provide more revenue to the City. She suggested that research be done on other ports regarding coordination of activities with their respective cities.
Commissioner Dodge commented that we need to improve communications between the Port and the City on an ongoing basis. The Port needs to know what is going on in the City and how that impacts the Port and also how Port activities impact the City.
Council member Ira requested more information regarding Port operations in the form of reports with highlighted bullet points on a regular basis.
Commissioner Garcia commented that many Redwood City residents do not know the Port exists and suggested that a video of the Port be made and shown on the City’s website and a user-generated video website such as YouTube.
Council member Howard said that communicating should not just stop here tonight and asked what is planned for future meetings. Mayor Foust commented that subcommittees of the Council and Port should meet and information from the meetings be given to the City Council and the Port Commission. We need to identify how the Port fits into the General Plan and we need to schedule another joint meeting.
Cooperation: Council member Hartnett commented that the City’s Human Resource and Finance departments contract out services to other cities. Since the Port works independently of City departments, he suggested a review of various ways that City departments might provide services to the Port.
Council member Howard commented that a discussion is needed to form a plan of working together on clean up of the waterways. A plan of action is needed to obtain funding for the removal of boats that are abandoned in our waterways and for patrolling and protecting Redwood City’s waterfront.
Council member Howard inquired about how and when the Port will develop its Reserve Policy, saying this would be of interest to the Council.
Council member Bain suggested that joint marketing and communication be enhanced by the City and the Port working together on a community newsletter. Mayor Foust agreed. The newsletter could be discussed at the Council’s Communication Subcommittee meeting on February 25.
Council member Pierce asked if it would help the Port to collectively work with the Police Department and should we look at more joint cooperation for Emergency Preparedness.
Council member Ira commented that a commitment to cooperate is needed between the Council and the Port Commission. Full cooperation also is needed between City management and Port staff.
IV. ADJOURNMENT:
At 9:00 p.m. Mayor Foust adjourned the meeting.
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