New Commissioner Sworn in to Represent City of San Diego

The City of San Diego has a new commissioner on the Board of Port Commissioners. Laurie Black was appointed by the San Diego City Council to fill former commissioner Victor Vilaplana's seat. Mr. Vilaplana resigned in May due to demands of his law practice.

A consultant and past president of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Commissioner Black has a long history of civic involvement. She served as Chief of Staff for former Congresswoman Lynn Schenk and prior to that, owned a business focusing on political fundraising, issue development, press relations and campaign strategies.

Commissioner Black is a graduate of San Diego State University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science. Her many civic honors include the 2004 Women Who Mean Business Award sponsored by the San Diego Business Journal and an Alonzo Award for developing the Downtown San Diego Partnership's Clean & Safe Program.

Commissioner Laurie Black is sworn in by Judge Lisa Foster at the June 12 Board of Port Commissioners meeting.

Also in this issue…

Port of San Diego Awards College Scholarships

Students From High Tech High Publish Book on San Diego Bay

Voluntary Vessel Turn-in Program Begins for A-8 Anchorage

Port Dedicates New Exhibit of Urban Trees

Port of San Diego Awards College Scholarships

Scholarships were presented to two students at the June 12 Board of Port Commissioners meeting. Dana Nielsen, a sophomore at the University of California Berkeley, was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. Dana is the daughter of a Port of San Diego tenant. Tarana Yusufi, a freshman at the University of California San Diego, was awarded a $1,500 scholarship. Tarana is the daughter of a Port employee.

The Port with No Borders Scholarship Fund was established in 2001 under the leadership of Commissioner Emeritus Frank Urtasun. Funded by the Port and the San Diego Port Tenants Association, the program is open to San Diego Port tenants, sub-tenants, Port of San Diego employees and their children. The fund is administered by the San Diego Foundation and applicants are screened and forwarded to the Port Scholarship Advisory Committee. Members of the committee are Commissioner Dukie Valderrama; Commissioner Mike Najera; Bob Levine, Best Western Island Palms Hotel & Marina; Kristin Tyson-Peterson, San Diego Port Tenants Association; Ray Ashley, San Diego Maritime Museum and Mac McLaughlin, Midway Museum.

Tarana Yusufi, left, and Dana Nielsen display their scholarship certificates with their parents in front of the Port's Administration building.

Students From High Tech High Publish Book on San Diego Bay

An informative, historical perspective of the early years of San Diego Bay has been written and published by the senior class of High Tech High. "San Diego Bay: A Story of Exploitation and Restoration," contains original research of the marine resources in the bay and explores its strong ties with the early Chinese Americans and Italian and Portuguese fishermen. It also delves into the current uses for the bay, how it was exploited over the years and what is being done to restore it.

The Port of San Diego partnered with California Sea Grant and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to contribute $13,000 for the publication of the book. A book signing party was held on June 14 aboard the San Diego Maritime Museum's Berkeley. Commissioner Robert "Dukie" Valderrama was on hand to congratulate the students, their proud parents and teachers.

"San Diego Bay - A Story of Exploitation and Restoration" is available for purchase from California Sea Grant. The cost of the book is $24.95. Please call (800) 994-8849 for more information.

Natalie Linton, one of the student authors of "San Diego Bay: A Story of Exploitation and Restoration," with Commissioner Dukie Valderrama at the Port's book signing reception on June 14.

Voluntary Vessel Turn-in Program Begins for A-8 Anchorage

Over the past 18 months, the Port of San Diego has been working hard at finding solutions to the issue of abandoned or sunken vessels at the A-8 anchorage. For years, the anchorage, located just west of the Sweetwater Channel in south San Diego Bay, has experienced an increase in abandoned and sunken vessels. The vessels posed serious environmental and navigational hazards and the Port was spending about $350,000 annually to retrieve and remove the vessels from the anchorage area.

In June 2006, the Board voted to eliminate the free, long-term anchoring at A-8 and to increase the number of moorings in other areas of San Diego Bay to accommodate displaced boaters. In addition, at the June 12 Board of Port Commissioners meeting, the Port established the Vessel Relinquishment Program to assist boat owners who can't afford to transition to a paid mooring buoy.

The program is open to boat owners who hold valid anchoring permits for the A-8 anchorage. Beginning on July 1, 2007, the program will offer between $3,000 and $5,000 per vessel, dependent upon vessel length and the date of relinquishment. The offer amount decreases by 60% each month until the program expires on September 30, 2007.

Port Dedicates New Exhibit of Urban Trees

A new exhibit of Urban Trees has taken root along the North Embarcadero and the Port celebrated with a dedication ceremony on June 23. City of San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders joined Commissioner Laurie Black and hundreds of spectators in congratulating the 30 Urban Trees artists and officially commemorating the new set of sculptures.

The Urban Trees project started in 2003 and since then has become immensely popular with residents and visitors to the waterfront. Varying from sleek, brushed steel artworks to playful depictions of fantasy, the sculptures enliven the area and provide a source of enjoyment for passers-by. The trees will remain on the waterfront for one year, after which they will be returned to the artists.

For more information on the Urban Trees 4 project, or to request a brochure on the exhibit, please contact the Port of San Diego's Public Art department at (619) 686-7247.

Seahorse Tree, by Frank Mando, is one of the new sculptures featured in Urban Trees 4.