BCNA: On the Waterfront by June A. Osterberg, 8-15-14

OFFICIAL BCNA NEWS

ON THE WATERFRONT

Some of the Port’s Ups and Downs

Monique Moyer, executive director of the Port of San Francisco, opened her regular report to the City’s Port Commission August 12th with the comment that there was “a great turnout” for the Tuesday public meeting.

Indeed, the meeting room at the Ferry Building was full of people presumably eager to hear the Port’s own Review of the Waterfront Land Use Plan 1997-2014. (See Barbary Coast News dated August 13.)

Other Business

However, besides the feature presentation describing the Port’s Ups and Downs in the 17 years since the WLUP was adopted for guidelines, and its exhaustive compilation of Port activities and challenges in that period, there were some nuts and bolts issues in the informative meeting. Two may provide some feelings of security for residents of the waterfront community.

The three items on the Consent calendar all had to do with the Port’s huge task of maintaining its 7-1/2 miles of properties as an enterprise agency (meaning it has to pay its own way). All won the Port Commission’s approval.

Pier 35 has served well as the Port’s primary Cruise Terminal in the long lead-up to the grand opening of the James R. Herman Cruise Terminal at Pier 27, slated for September 25th in a public ceremony.

A $2 million-plus Building and Roof Repair Project was awarded to Roebuck Construction, Inc., winning the job over 10 other bidders. The project will upgrade two elevators and repair water intrusion in the bulkhead and the shed. Its scope includes flashing and window and door weather stripping repairs.

Pier 35 will become the secondary terminal when the new state-of-the-art Cruise Terminal assumes the primary role and begins service. Both terminal facilities will be operated through Metro Cruise Services, according to the Memorandum to the Port Commission.

Towards a Feeling of Security

The Commission also authorized the Port’s advertising for competitive bids for a contract to construct the Port Fences Project, Phase IV, to assist the Port in complying with Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard mandates to improve security at regulated Port facilities under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.

The staff report stated that the Port has completed three phases of the security fencing projects–Phase l in 2006, Phase ll in 2009, and Phase lll in 2012.

Continuing, Port staff has developed a new list of facilities (Pier 94/96, Pier 48/50 and Seawall Lot 318 Roundhouse) in need of new and/or replacement fencing and gates.

The engineer’s estimate of the project’s cost is $660,000, of which 75% will be funded by the U.S. Homeland Security Grant Program and 25% by Port capital funds.

Of the listed sites, Seawall Lot Roundhouse has historic status and is said to be designed as an alternative bid item because it will be constructed only if the Certificate of Appropriateness is secured and the subsequent CEQA review is approved.

The third Consent item is another matter involving possible future threats of harm and sundry emergencies. The Port Commission authorized the Port to issue a Request for Qualifications to establish a Preparedness Training Program for the Port’s and City’s staffs.

It was said that Port staff has devoted substantial time and training resources to sustain the capability to respond successfully to a variety of emergencies on Port property and within the City and County of San Francisco.

Also okayed for advertising an RFQ was “to establish a pre-qualified pool” from which to obtain multiple training services to implement the Emergency Preparedness Training Program.

The Port currently staffs an Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) of volunteer employees who serve at the Port’s Department Operations Center (DOC) in the event of an emergency, or at the City’s main Emergency Operation Center (EOC) on Turk Street.

The funding available to develop and implement the training series and exercise is $249,000. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the Port $186,750 from the 2013 Port Security Grant Program. The Port is providing the required 25% of non-federal matching funds from the 2014-15 Operating Budget.

Stay tuned for another fascinating revelation of matters affecting the throngs of fortunate waterfront residents and citywide fans, appearing here soon.