Port Files Lawsuit to Stop Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal Redevelopment Initiative

The Board of Port Commissioners has taken legal action to stop a ballot initiative that would allow redevelopment on the Port's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The initiative is set to be placed on the ballot for the November 4, 2008 election.

The initiative, titled "The Port of San Diego Marine Freight Preservation and Bay Front Redevelopment Initiative", calls for an amendment to the Port Master Plan to allow additional uses at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Currently the area is restricted to maritime-only use. The authors of the initiative would like to change that so the terminal could be redeveloped with a second deck atop the present terminal to possibly include hotels, a sports stadium and other types of public entertainment and retail venues.

The Board of Port Commissioners vehemently disagrees with the initiative's proponents. Changing the Port Master Plan to allow for redevelopment poses a serious threat to the future of the Port's maritime activity and to the future of the hundreds of working waterfront businesses that rely on the terminal's activity to thrive.

On August 5, the Port of San Diego asked a Superior Court judge for a temporary and permanent order to prevent the initiative from going on the ballot, but the request was denied. In the Port's petition, several reasons are listed for the Port's actions, including that the initiative misleads voters by purporting to protect marine freight use at the terminal, while introducing incompatible uses. The Port also believes it illegally interferes with powers exclusively delegated by the California Legislature to the Port District. It creates a cloud of uncertainty over the future uses of the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, while damaging contractual relationships between the Port District and its tenants and shippers.

A group consisting of Port tenants, labor representatives, the Military Affairs Council, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and others held a press conference on August 5 to rally against the initiative. Speakers such as Lorena Gonzalez and Ray Ortiz from the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council stated how good-paying jobs at the terminal will be replaced by low-wage service jobs if the initiative passes. The San Diego Military Advisory Council's president, Tom Caughlin, warned that the initiative endangers national security interests and that it affects an area much larger than San Diego.

A hearing in Superior Court, Department 62, has been scheduled for September 4 to hear the Port's arguments. If the judge denies the Port's request to remove the initiative from the ballot, voters in the Port's five member cities would be able to vote on it November 4.

Also in this issue…

Spotlight on Tenants: Pier 32 Marina Opens in National City

New Harbor Police Officers and K-9 Sworn In

Three Artists Teams Selected as Finalists for San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge Artistic Lighting Project

"New Generation" Windmill Blades and Engines Arrive at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal

First Mega Yacht Arrives at the Port's Mega-yacht Basin

Spotlight on Tenants: Pier 32 Marina Opens in National City

The Port and the City of National City are excited to announce the grand opening of Pier 32 Marina. The 250-slip, full service facility is located just off of the Sweetwater Channel in South San Diego Bay. Amenities include deluxe shower rooms, laundry facilities, a workout center, community room, boater's lounge, full-service delicatessen and putting green. A pool and Jacuzzi will soon be added.

The architect, Miller Hull, gave the marina buildings a design that combined the area's history with a modern touch. Galvanized steel and wood planking on the buildings bring back memories of the old Pier 32 which was located at the National City Wharf built by Frank Kimball in 1868.

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the marina was held on August 16. Preceding the ribbon cutting, a mini-flotilla of boats that included National City Mayor Ron Morrison, myself and my colleague, Commissioner Dukie Valderrama, paraded around the marina area. After the ribbon cutting, an official dedication of artist Alber de Mateiss' sculpture, "Le Bateau Ivre" took place. The public art was included as part of the marina's development and was paid for by Pier 32. "Le Bateau Ivre" is a 15-foot by18-foot galvanized steel sculpture that represents the framing and planking of a sailboat. The artist applied a bronze patina over the steel to make the artwork appear as if it was part of the original National City wharf.

Creating the Pier 32 marina entailed excavating 638,000 cubic yards of material to create the marina's basin. The Port began that portion of the project in 2002. It was completed by R.E. Staite in 2004 at a cost of $7.5 million.

Artist Alber De Mateiss' sculpture "Le Bateau Ivre" at the new Pier 32 Marina in National City.

Harbor Police Swear in new Officers, Retire K-9s

On August 6, a new member of the Harbor Police K-9 team was officially sworn into service. Ben, a three-year-old Dutch Shepherd, officially began his TSA mission on August 18. He graduated from the agency's explosives training program in March of this year. His handler is Harbor Police Corporal Del MacGray.

Two former K-9 members were also honored by the Harbor Police on August 6. Yurrie, a Belgian Malinois and TSA-certified explosives detection dog retired after seven years of service. He remains at the home of Sergeant Dominic Boccia, his handler. In addition to Yurrie, another Belgian Malinois named Kazan celebrated his retirement. Kazan was also TSA-certified and had served with the Harbor Police from May 2004 until August 2007. Kazan resides with his handler, Officer Doug Welker.

There are 145 sworn officers and 27 civilian personnel who make up the Harbor Police Department. On August 6, Harbor Police Chief Kirk Sanfilippo officially swore in the three newest officers, Ken Helman, Jose Torres and Pedro Arce. The ceremony was held just outside of Harbor Police Headquarters on Harbor Island Drive. The officers' families, friends and co-workers were present to assist with the honors.

The San Diego Harbor Police department patrols the tidelands of San Diego Bay and serves as the law enforcement arm of the Port of San Diego. In addition to these duties, the department fights fires on the bay and provides police service to the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. The department also works closely with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and terrorism task forces on homeland security issues.

The K-9 team is another important feature of the Harbor Police. Formed in 1997, it is the only Transportation Security Administration (TSA)-certified explosive detection team south of the Los Angeles International Airport. The K-9 team is primarily assigned to Lindbergh Field, but is available to respond to emergencies throughout San Diego County through a mutual aid agreement.

New Harbor Police officers (from left to right) Ken Helman, Jose Torres and Pedro Arce being sworn in by Chief Kirk Sanfilippo.

Retired K-9 team member Yurrie with his handler, Harbor Police Sgt. Dominic Boccia.

Three Artists Teams Selected as Finalists for San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge Artistic Lighting Project

The San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge may soon be recognized world wide as an iconic structure, now that three extraordinary teams have been selected as finalists in a project to illuminate the famed bridge. The Port of San Diego sent out a Call for Artists in April for artist teams to submit proposals to create an artistic lighting design to illuminate the bridge, which opened in 1969 and spans over San Diego Bay. The project is designed to include energy saving and sustainable elements.

A selection panel comprised of architects, arts and lighting professionals and green energy experts recommended the three finalist teams and two alternate teams. The recommendation was based on the teams' past work experience. The three finalists must now prepare detailed presentations on their vision for the project. The presentations are expected to be available to the public later this year. The three recommended teams are:

The Bideau Company, led by Bertrand Chiron. This company has worked throughout Europe and has designed lighting elements for theatres and cathedrals in Arras, France. Projects from this team include the City Hall and park of St. Cyr sur Loire, France; the concert hall in Tours, France; the botanical garden of Tours, the San Telmo Palace in Sevilla, Spain and the Waddesdon Manor in Great Britain.

The Peter Fink team from London was also selected as a finalist. This team has created lighting projects for the Burj Al Arab Tower in Dubai; the Zollverein Kokerei Steelworks building, which is considered an industrial landmark in Essen, Germany and the Canary Wharf Tower in London.

The California-based design team of Ned Kahn/Patrick McInerney Associates/Jason Edling have individually been responsible for projects on the Ushibuka Bridge in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan; the De Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and the Pittsburgh Children's Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The two alternate teams that were chosen are the Leni Schwendinger Team of New York City and the Grenald Waldron & Associates Team with Ray King of Narberth, Pennsylvania.

The design teams will be paid a stipend of $15,000 to cover design fees, research, accommodations and travel during public presentations that will take place toward the end of the year. The entire project may cost between $2 million to $3 million for design, fabrication and installation. It will be paid for with private funding and/or grants.

A project completed by the Peter Fink team of London. This is the Burg Al Arab Tower in Dubai.

"New Generation" Windmill Blades and Engines Arrive at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal

The Port received its latest shipment of windmill blades and engines a few weeks ago, and this shipment is even bigger and more powerful than any other previously received at the Port's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. The new engine parts, called "new generation" by the manufacturer because they deliver two and a half times the power of previous parts, arrived after a nearly two-week trip from Nakasaki and Yokohama, Japan.

The engine parts are the size of a small house and include 2.4 mega watts of power. They are four times larger than the 1 mega watt engines that were previously shipped to the terminal. Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, the manufacturer of the windmill parts, has a long-term contract with the Port. The company will be making eight more shipments here between now and the end of the year. In total, about 300 windmill parts are included in the shipments.

Windmill farms have been sprouting up in the Southwest and in Oklahoma. The growth in alternative energy has spurred an increase in the demand for the farms. The Port of San Diego has benefited from this increase because of the proximity of its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal to major freeways. This recent shipment was placed on trucks headed toward Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Windmill engines are offloaded from an Eastern Car Liner vessel at the Port's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.

First Mega Yacht Arrives at the Port's Mega-yacht Basin

The first mega yacht to take advantage of the Port's Mediterranean mooring system arrived this month, prompting oohs and ahs from passersby admiring its sleek lines and impressive size. The 252-foot Princess Mariana docked at the North Embarcadero for a few days, then moved on to Knight & Carver Yacht Center in National City to undergo maintenance.

The Princess Mariana's amenities include six decks, a custom-built tender, a helicopter, 13-seat movie theater and a golf driving range. A unique feature is a dry dock that can be filled with water to create a swimming pool when the tender is outside of the ship.

In July, the Board of Port Commissioners approved a lease with San Diego Mooring Company to manage the Mediterranean mooring operation. This style of docking refers to a vessel berthing end-on as opposed to alongside a pier. It is popular in European harbors that attract mega yachts, which are generally over 100 feet in length.

The Port's location for the Mediterranean mooring is between the San Diego Maritime Museum and the Grape Street piers. San Diego Mooring Company will provide services to anchored vessels, including assisting with anchoring, loading and unloading of equipment and various miscellaneous services such as making reservations for rental cars or restaurants.

The Princess Mariana caught the eye of many pedestrians while docked at the North Embarcadero in early August.