Board Adopts Resolution Opposing Initiative to Redevelop the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal

The Board of Port Commissioners has taken an official position on a proposed ballot initiative to allow different uses for the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. At the May 6 Board meeting, a resolution was adopted to oppose the initiative being sponsored by the group, San Diego Community Solutions, LLC.

The initiative calls for an amendment to the San Diego Unified Port District's Master Plan to allow hotels, restaurants and possibly a sports stadium at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The Board of Port Commissioners is concerned that passage of the initiative would jeopardize the viability of the terminal by allowing competing uses.

Last fiscal year, ending June 30, 2007, the Port witnessed a 62 percent gain in breakbulk cargo at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Breakbulk cargo includes miscellaneous steel products, bagged cement, lumber, bagged fertilizer and pallet produce. Business is expected to increase even more with the continued growth in project cargo and windmill parts. In addition to these goods, the terminal annually receives more than 133,000 metric tons of jet, bunker and diesel fuel, which is stored on Port property and transferred by underground pipeline to San Diego International Airport and by barge to vessels in port. The terminal is also used by the military for offloading and load out operations. Last year, several thousand units of military equipment were unloaded at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal and temporarily stored there.

Also in this issue…

Port Signs Term Sheet with the Navy, Signifying Acquisition of 1220 Pacific Highway

Public Boat Dock Reopens at Coronado Ferry Landing

Three Students Awarded Port with No Borders Scholarship Funds

Ground Broken on Palm Avenue Street End Project in Imperial Beach

Port Announces new Cruises from Royal Caribbean International

Spotlight on Tenants: Hornblower Cruises & Events Switches to Biodiesel Fuel

Port Signs Term Sheet with the Navy, Signifying Acquisition of 1220 Pacific Highway

A press conference was held on May 14 to announce the Port of San Diego's acquisition of a portion of Navy property at 1220 Pacific Highway. At the conference, Rear Admiral Len Hering, Commander, Navy Region Southwest and Stephen P. Cushman, Vice Chair of the Board of Port Commissioners signed a document signifying the Port's acquisition of the Navy property.

Acquiring this property is a major step toward implementation of the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan, which will transform San Diego's Embarcadero area with a waterfront esplanade and various amenities.

"This property is a key piece in the redevelopment of the North Embarcadero," Vice Chair Cushman said. "The Port and its future tenant, Lane Field San Diego Developers, will turn the acreage into a bustling block with two hotels, public promenades and open space."

In 2005, the Port of San Diego and the U. S. Navy signed a Memorandum of Understanding that allowed the Port to acquire the long-term lease that the Navy holds on property located at 1220 Pacific Highway. The property includes a small portion of Navy land and property between the Lane Field parking lot and the Holiday Inn on the Bay. The area encompasses about 3.4 acres and includes several office buildings occupied by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.

The MOU allows the Port or its designee to acquire the Navy lease and construct a new facility, at a yet to be determined location, to replace the Navy's offices at 1220 Pacific Highway. The document, called a term sheet, was negotiated within the framework established by the MOU and allows the property to be acquired in two phases.

"Today's revitalization of the downtown waterfront from Seaport Village to Laurel Street takes partnership and the Navy is pleased to work closely with those involved to make it all possible," said Len Hering, Commander, Navy Region Southwest.

About 14,000 square feet of the property fronting Harbor Drive adjacent to the proposed Lane Field North development will be acquired in the first phase. This area will be incorporated into the hotel, retail and restaurants planned for Lane Field North. The rest of the property will be released to the Port in the second phase.

Plans for Lane Field North include a 275-room hotel that will be operated by Woodfin Suites Hotels, LLC. On Lane Field South, a 550-room hotel will be built. The operator will be InterContinental.

The Lane Field development will meet the strict requirements of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification, which is a national recognition. The certification means the hotel project will be designed to use less energy, less water and produce fewer pollutants.

Acquisition of the lease will result in a new administrative facility for the Navy and allow the Port to redevelop 1220 Pacific Highway and extend "B" Street through the property to North Harbor Drive, which is part of the Port's long-term vision for the North Embarcadero.

Board of Port Commissioners Vice Chair Stephen P. Cushman and Rear Admiral Len Hering, Commander, Navy Region Southwest, sign a document signifying the Port's acquisition of Navy property at 1220 Pacific Highway.

Public Boat Dock Reopens at Coronado Ferry Landing

The wait is over for boaters searching for a free place to dock on the Coronado side of San Diego Bay. The public dock located just outside Peohe's Restaurant at the Coronado Ferry Landing has been replaced and rebuilt and is now open for business. The dock can accommodate up to 10 vessels and there is no charge for berthing. However, there is no overnight docking and berths are available on a first come, first served basis.

The new dock is 3,800 square feet and is constructed of wood and steel. It was built by Topper Industries, Inc. and installed by R.E. Staite Engineering. Coronado Ferry Landing paid for the $1.1 million dock and will manage it.

Commissioner Robert "Rocky" Spane, Coronado's representative on the Board of Port Commissioners, announces the opening of the public dock at the Coronado Ferry Landing.

Three Students Awarded Port with no Borders Scholarship Funds

The Port of San Diego is proud to announce the recipients of the school year 2008/09 Port with no Borders Scholarship Fund. On May 6, 2008, Tarana Yusufi, Heather D'Anna and Steven Mateer were presented with scholarships that will assist them in their college studies.

Tarana Yusufi will be a sophomore at UC Irvine in the fall, majoring in biochemistry. The daughter of Port employee Feda Yusufi, she is very active in student leadership. She has served as the president and treasurer of the Muslim Student Association, treasurer and vice president of Sister Schools of San Diego and treasurer of the Physiology Club. She received $1,000.

Heather D'Anna is an employee of the Port's Environmental Department and will be a graduate student at San Diego State University in the fall. She is working toward a Master's Degree in Geography. Heather's Master's thesis will study the relationship between dissolved copper load in the National City Marina and the increased number of vessels in that area. She received a $2,000 scholarship.

Steven Mateer is also an employee of the Port's Environmental Department. He will be a graduate student at UC Los Angeles in the fall, working toward a Master's in Urban Planning. His thesis topic will study how economic forces factor into land use decisions. Steven's scholarship was in the amount of $3,000.

The Port with no Borders Scholarship Fund was established in 2001. Funded by the Port and the San Diego Port Tenants Association, the scholarship is open to Port of San Diego employees and their children, as well as San Diego Port tenants, sub-tenants and their children.

Board Chair Michael Bixler and Commissioner Mike Najera present scholarship checks to Heather D'Anna and Steven Mateer.

Ground Broken on Palm Avenue Street End Project in Imperial Beach

A project that will reconfigure the end of Palm Avenue at the ocean front in Imperial Beach is underway. The project will create a semi-circular public overlook area near the beach, with seating areas, landscaping and public art. Traffic improvements resulting from this project will include a new turnaround at Ocean Lane to allow for two-way traffic and perpendicular parking along the sides of the street.

A primary goal of the project is to prevent or reduce beach closures resulting from water contamination. A storm water pump station with a built-in pollution diversion system will be installed, which will help prevent runoff from flowing onto the beach.

Beach access will also be improved, both for the public and for emergency vehicles. Ramps will be installed at the street, allowing year-round beach access for people with disabilities and for emergency vehicles. These features are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act/Title 24 regulations.

Once construction is completed, the Port will install the 18-foot tall bronze sculpture titled "The Spirit of Imperial Beach." Created by artist A. Wasil, the artwork epitomizes the surf culture of Imperial Beach with a seven-foot-tall surfer and his longboard. The artwork also includes two children creating a sand castle, evoking the image of the popular "Sandcastle Days" event held on the beach each summer.

A rendering of artist A. Wasil's sculpture "The Spirit of Imperial Beach" which will be installed at the end of Palm Avenue in Imperial Beach.

Port Announces new Cruises from Royal Caribbean International

The Port of San Diego received great news from Royal Caribbean International earlier this month when the cruise line announced that it will be offering international cruises from San Diego.

Seasonal four and five-day cruises to the Mexican Riviera on board the vessel Radiance of the Seas will begin in September 2009. In addition, a cruise from San Diego to Valparaiso, Chile, will be offered in December 2009. Royal Caribbean International will also be offering Panama Canal crossings from San Diego beginning in late 2009. These include a trip from San Diego to Miami and San Diego to San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Port currently has nine cruise lines making calls here. Itineraries include Mexican Riviera voyages, California coast sailings, and cruises to Hawaii and Alaska. In 2007, the Port of San Diego had 238 cruise calls with over 700,000 passengers. By the end of 2008, the Port anticipates that number to jump to 252 cruises and over 800,000 passengers.

Each homeport cruise ship call has an economic impact of about $2 million for the region. That number is derived from the average amount that a cruise ship passenger spends while in the San Diego region, along with the employment associated with serving the cruise ship and the many businesses and services that support it.

Spotlight on Tenants: Hornblower Cruises & Events Switches to Biodiesel Fuel

Earlier this year, Hornblower Cruises & Events announced that it would be switching to a domestically produced biodiesel fuel for use in its charter yachts, dining cruises and sightseeing vessels. Hornblower is the first Port tenant to voluntarily switch to this alternative fuel.

In January 2007, vessels in San Diego Bay were mandated to use Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel to help reduce emissions. Hornblower's use of the biodiesel fuel helps reduce air pollution. Biodiesel significantly cuts harmful environmental emissions, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Hornblower is partnering with General Petroleum, the largest distributor of biofuels in Southern California, to make the fuel switch.

Hornblower's switch to biodiesel fuel parallels the goals of the Port's Draft Clean Air Program, which was recently presented to the Board of Port Commissioners. The Clean Air Program strives to reduce emissions produced by vessels docking at the Port of San Diego and by trucks driving to and from the Port's maritime terminals.

One of the yachts in the Hornblower fleet makes its way across San Diego Bay. Hornblower recently switched to biodiesel fuel for its vessels. Photo courtesy of Hornblower Cruises and Events.