Maritime Commerce Advisory Committee (MCAC) - January 20, 2022

DATE: Thursday, January 20, 2022
TIME: 11:30am – 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Virtual Public Meeting via Zoom*
Link: https://zoom.us/j/96305191853
Dial-in: (669) 900-9128 (Meeting ID 963 0519 1853)
*See following page for virtual meeting protocols and Zoom tips.
Agenda
1. Welcome and Self-Introductions (All)
2. Maritime Update (Andre Coleman)
3. State of the Port Update (Ellen Johnck)
4. Pier 80-96 Strategy Update (Diane Oshima)
5. Old and New Business; General Discussion; Agenda Topics for Future Meetings (All)
6. Forward Calendar
 

1. Welcome

• Self-introductions by all present.

2. Maritime Update (Andre Coleman)

Highlights of 2021 presented to the Port Commission:

• Provided an update on the state of the cruise industry.
• Extended our terminal management agreement with Pacific Cruise Ship Terminal to accommodate the 18 months pause of the cruise industry due to COVID.
• Provided a portfolio management update, a collaborative effort with our Real Estate development team which included a program for our harbor service tenants as it relates to leasing. We applied 25% discount parameter rates for triple threat tenants (office, shed, apron, and or submerge land).
• Presented a maritime portfolio update which touched on all our diverse maritime operations including cruise, cargo, water transportation, excursion operations, commercial fishing industry, and recreational harbor.
• We had an initial closed session on the Lehigh-Hanson (now known as Martin-Marietta) lease and their interest in expansion and renewal of their lease.  We are progressing with those discussions.
• A 15-year lease with Bay Area Council was approved in July for the mooring of the historic ferry boat, the Klamath.  It will be docked at Pier 19.
• The Silverado lease was approved to rent vacant space at the Port’s Pier 70 Shipyard.
• In November, the Port’s Fish Retail Sale Policy was made permanent. This includes a pilot program to sell crab fresh off the boats for the first time.
• In December, the Port Commission approved our ferry and excursion fee schedule for the next five years.

Cruise:

• We safely resumed cruise operations in October 2021.
• 122 calls are on the schedule for 2022.
• Protocols to not overburden our local EMS system will remain in place on a voluntary basis. 

Cargo:

• We had approximately 65,000 units of cars for calendar 2021.
• Cargo bulk operations remains steady at Pier 92 – 96.

Fish:

• With slight delay, the Dungeness crab season opened on December 29.  The sale of live Dungeness crab of the boats has been a huge success.
• Dominic added there are 8 boats participating in the Fish Retail Sales Program.  They are permitted to selling crab, halibut, salmon, black cod and other live seafood fresh off the boat.

Other:

• We provided a waterfront tour to our Southern Advisory community. This gave the committee to engage with our tenants and to understand our maritime operations from a maritime industrial standpoint and to see operations up close.
• This past summer, the Port facilitated a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of District 10, Pasha, and the South Beach Yacht Club. Pasha sponsored kids to participate in the South Beach Yacht Club Junior Sailing Program.  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the forefront of the Port and the City.
• Our wharfingers have developed an ongoing relationship with NOAA.  There has been an increased traffic with NOAA vessels docked at Pier 30/32.
• We were the only Port to welcome back Fleet Week in 2021.

3. State of the Port – Ellen Johnck

• You can find the State of the Port address on the Port’s website under “About” on the homepage.  You can also access it by going to https://sfgovtv.org/ SFGOV tv channel by looking up Port Commission.
• Elaine covered 3 themes 1) Economic Recovery 2) D.E.I.  (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and 3) Resilience Program.
• The Port received financial aid from the “American Rescue Plan” (Covid Relief Program) which kept the Port afloat and resulted in no staff lay-offs.
• There is intensive training for Port employees as the Port strives to become an Anti-Racist Organization.
• “Businesses made by the Bay” provides more opportunities for neighborhood businesses to participate in shared spaces program for outdoor dining and the mobile vending program.
• The Port selected 23 projects focused on seawall repair, 425 million funded by Prop A, Embarcadero Seawall Improvement Bonds passed in November 2018.

4. Pier 80-96 Strategy Update – Diane Oshima

• The key issue for MCAC to be aware of is the opportunity to educate people about maritime and what the maritime industry needs to be able to function effectively along a very dense, urban waterfront in San Francisco.
• The Southern Waterfront has been developing a lot with major new projects.
• The Port is focused on making sure that the maritime mission is preserved in a functional way. 
• Mike Bishop with Martin Marietta commented it is great to see that the city put boundaries up around the industrial area at Islais Creek.  We need to continue to supply the construction industry in San Francisco, as 99% of all concrete comes to this area. The area should have no public conflict to maintain smooth operations.
• Please see the presentation under supporting docs.

5. Old and New Business; General Discussion; Agenda Topics for Future Meetings

• Many bodies of planning (ABAG, MTC, Regional Collaborative, among others) have been holding presentations to capture economic and environmental values in the bay area.
• Brendan O’Meara left the Port in October 2021 to pursue his passion as a professional rugby coach.

6. Forward Calendar:

• MCAC meeting dates schedule in 2022 (third Thursday, every other month):

MCAC meetings are held Virtually, unless otherwise noticed, and begin at 11:30am.

Due to the COVID-19 public health orders, this meeting will be held online and by teleconference.