Port Completes South Campus Demolition

The Port of San Diego has completed demolishing 61 buildings that were part of the former Goodrich South Campus in Chula Vista. The buildings were part of a 1999 relocation agreement between the Port of San Diego, Rohr Industries operating as Goodrich, the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Chula Vista and the City of Chula Vista. The agreement provided for a series of land transactions that delivered to the Port the consolidated, 83-acre parcel of property.

The property is a major component of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan, a joint project with the City of Chula Vista that will redevelop about 550 acres of land on the Chula Vista waterfront. The plan includes parkland, open space, hotel, office, retail, entertainment and residential uses. It is undergoing its environmental review.

The demolition has already changed the landscape of the area. The old dilapidated buildings are gone and the Port is removing remaining utilities. The first phase began in September 2005 with the removal of 18 structures. The project also included removing utilities, installing storm drain equipment and removing hazardous materials. The contractor was TEG/LVI Environmental Services and work was completed at a cost of $952,587. Phase 2 of the project removed 28 buildings and also included abatement of hazardous materials. This portion of the project was completed at a cost of $709, 450 and the contractor was CST Environmental, Inc. The final phase was recently completed. This was the most expensive part of the project because it covered 220,000 square feet of building area, plus foundation, slab and utilities removal. Fifteen buildings were demolished, but they were some of the largest buildings in the South Campus. The total cost for this phase was $3.6 million and work was completed by Miller Environmental, Inc.

The former South Campus area as it appears today with all of the 61 buildings removed. Work on the pavement is continuing, as shown.

Also in this issue…

Port’s Chief Engineer Recognized by American Public Works Association

Customer Satisfaction Survey Gives Port Overall High Marks

Port offers free tours of San Diego Bay

Port of San Diego Selected for Weapons Detection Pilot Project

Port with no Borders Scholarship Gets Boost in Funding

Port’s Chief Engineer Recognized by American Public Works Association

I am proud to announce that Tony Heinrichs, the Port’s Senior Director of Facilities/Chief Engineer, has been recognized for his outstanding service by the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapters of the American Public Works Association (APWA). Tony was honored with the APWA’s Outstanding Service in a Public Agency Award at a luncheon on Sept. 13. The award honors APWA members whose distinguished public service and commitment has resulted in positive impacts to public works programs, services and policies and whose leadership helps further the mission and goals of the APWA.

Since 2000, Tony has overseen the activities of the Port’s Engineering, Construction and General Services Departments. Last year, he was on executive loan to the City of San Diego to lead their contracting and engineering business process re-engineering efforts. Here at the Port he managed several APWA award-winning projects including the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Park on Spanish Landing and a joint Port/City project, the accessible crosswalk on Harbor Drive at B Street. Tony is a registered professional engineer and has been a member of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter of the APWA since 2000.

Tony Heinrichs, Senior Director of Facilities/Chief Engineer, Port of San Diego

In June of last year, the Port of San Diego commissioned True North Research to conduct a customer satisfaction survey to help us determine stakeholder and customer satisfaction. The results are now in and they provide us with measurements to help us understand our customers’ priorities and concerns. The results also demonstrate where the Port is doing a great job and where we need to work a little harder.

True North Research surveyed the general public and Port tenants. Overall, the news was good from both groups. The groups were surveyed on land-based activities and water-based activities. Land users were most satisfied with the maintenance and landscaping of Port parks, access to information about parks and facilities and the maintenance of Port piers and docks. Public safety also ranked high with the survey participants.

Those who used Port facilities for water activities demonstrated that they were happy with the enforcement of water safety and that their knowledge about water quality regulations, availability of anchorages and boat slips has increased.

Exceptionally high marks were given to the quality of walking and biking paths. The Port scored lower on questions related to parking availability. The survey also pointed out that the public’s awareness of the Port has decreased. We will be working on improving that measure and have begun conducting free public tours on San Diego Bay. More information on the tours is included in the item below.

Port Offers Free Tours of San Diego Bay

The Port invites you to learn more about its operations and services by taking a free public tour on San Diego Bay. The tours are offered on comfortable vessels operated by Hornblower Cruises. Each tour is approximately two hours and offers an up-close view of the San Diego waterfront. Participants will learn about the Port’s many environmental initiatives, some upcoming waterfront development projects, maritime and cruise operations and much more. The next tour will be Thursday, Sept. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. In October, there will be two additional tours, one on Friday, Oct. 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the other on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. To attend one of these tours, log onto the Port’s website at www.portofsandiego.org or call (619) 400-4744.

Port of San Diego Selected for Weapons Detection Pilot Project

The Port of San Diego has been selected by the Department of Homeland Security to participate in a pilot project to detect radiological and nuclear weapons. The project will begin sometime in 2008 and may include the use of detection sensors such as hand-held devices, mobile sensors and equipment that might be placed on land, near a bridge or at a strategic location.

The ports of Seattle and Tacoma are already participating in the $10 million project. The Department of Homeland Security will continue the program for three years and if it is successful, may extend it to include additional ports.

San Diego is considered a strategic port because of its large military presence and its proximity to the airport and an international border.

Port with no Borders Scholarship Gets Boost in Funding

The Port of San Diego Port with No Borders Scholarship Fund received a boost in funding at the Sept. 11 Board of Port Commissioners meeting. At that meeting, it was announced that the San Diego Port Tenants Association had raised $10,000 for the scholarship fund. The scholarship is offered to Port employees, children of Port employees and children of Port tenants who study in fields related to District or tenant businesses or operations. The Port is providing $10,000 in matching funds. The scholarship was established in 2001 under the leadership of Commissioner Emeritus Frank Urtasun. It is administered by the San Diego Foundation, which receives the applications, then forwards them to the Port’s Scholarship Advisory Committee which selects the recipients. Todd Gutshow, the 2007-2008 Scholarship Selection Committee Chair for the San Diego Foundation, was at the Board meeting to receive the checks.

Commissioner Dukie Valderrama, Board Chair Sylvia Rios, Kristin Peterson from the San Diego Port Tenants Association and Todd Gutschow from the San Diego Foundation display the added funds for the Port with No Borders Scholarship program.