Projects to Improve Air Quality Take Off

The Port of San Diego's Clean Air Program is making great strides as two projects to reduce air pollution around the tidelands are moving forward. A plan to replace or retrofit older model trucks which do business at the Port's marine terminals has begun and the Port is inviting more truck owners to participate.

The Clean Truck Program was first approved by the Board of Port Commissioners in June 2008. The program provides money for owners of older model trucks to either replace the truck or retrofit it with a diesel particulate filter. About $2.96 million in grant funding was available through the State's Goods Movement Emissions Reduction Plan that was approved by Proposition 1B. The Port entered into an agreement with the San Diego Air Pollution Control District to administer the program.

Nineteen trucks have been approved for retrofits and 11 qualified for complete replacement. Truck owners who qualified for complete replacement were awarded up to $50,000 and the Port provided matching funds. Truck owners receiving retrofits were awarded up to $5,000 from the grant funding, plus matching funds from the Port.

An additional $2.1 million in state funds and $1.3 million in Port funds remains. All required forms, information and instructions are available on the environmental section of the Port's website, portofsandiego.org.

At the October 7 Board of Port commissioners meeting, the Board voted to accept $2.4 million in grant funds from the Carl Moyer Grant Program to help fund a project that would provide shore power to cruise ships while in port. By having shore power available, the cruise vessels wouldn't need to keep their diesel engines running while they are berthed, thereby improving the air quality around the harbor. This procedure is known as "cold ironing".

The San Diego Air Pollution Control District administers the Carl Moyer grant and awarded the Port funding at its August 2008 meeting. To comply with the grant's regulations, the Port must have the shore power system up and running by May 31, 2010.

The estimated total cost for the project is $6 million. The cost includes about $1.9 million to provide power to the terminal, $2.4 million for the electrical equipment and $1.7 million for public works infrastructure. Infrastructure work includes installing a concrete support pad, vaults, fencing, cables and a conduit. By state mandate, California ports must have shore power available by 2014.

Also in this issue…

Bernar Venet Public Art Exhibit to Grace Tidelands

Port of San Diego Title Sponsor for the 18th Annual Big Bay Balloon Parade

Environmental Projects Receive Funding

Spotlight on Tenants: Point Loma Marina, LLC, Receives Approval for Parking Facility

Bernar Venet Public Art Exhibit to Grace Tidelands

Internationally recognized artist Bernar Venet is known for his large steel sculptures that are influenced by his love of mathematics. With names like “97.5° Arc x 9” and “220.5° Arc x 15”, it’s easy to see the mathematical application. Lines, curves and arcs sculpted from steel make up Venet’s exhibit which will grace the Port tidelands from November 2008 through October 2009. The exhibit includes eight sculptures located around the bayfront. Two of the sculptures are located at Harbor Island, one greets motorists at the Laurel Street and Harbor Drive traffic median, two are installed at Embarcadero Marina Park North, two are at Embarcadero Marina Park South and one is installed at the entrance to the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. Additional sculptures will be installed at the San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Omni Hotel and San Diego International Airport.

Acquiring the Bernar Venet sculptures for the tidelands entailed a unique partnership. Scott White Contemporary Art paid for the sculptures to come to San Diego and the Port is providing the tideland locations. In addition, the two museums, the Omni Hotel and the airport collaborated to provide the program to the community. It is San Diego’s first large scale exhibition of outdoor sculptures by one artist.

Bernar Venet was born in the Alpes de Haute Provence in 1941. His sculptures have been exhibited in major cities in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

The sculpture “220.5° Arc x 15 (Three Classic Arcs)” is installed at Embarcadero Marina Park South.

Port of San Diego Title Sponsor for the 18th Annual Big Bay Balloon Parade

The Port of San Diego is proud to announce that it is the title sponsor of the 2008 Big Bay Balloon Parade. This is the 18th year that we are sponsoring the parade, which draws thousands to the waterfront. This year’s parade is on Monday, December 29 and begins at 9 a.m., in front of the County Administration Building on Harbor Drive. The route then goes south on Harbor Drive and ends in front of the Broadway Pier.

The parade always precedes the Holiday Bowl game, which brings thousands of fans from out of town. This year’s game will be held Tuesday, December 30 at Qualcomm Stadium.

Over the past few years, the Big Bay Balloon Parade has drawn national attention. It’s recognized as America’s Largest Balloon Parade because of the large number of giant balloons. And yes, it does have more balloons than the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York City, which only had 12 giant balloons last year. So far, the organizers of the Big Bay Balloon Parade have confirmed 22 giant balloons.

This year, 24 specialty units ranging from the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales to a Hummer unit from the United States Marines will enliven the one-mile parade route. There will also be several bands, including bands from the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Navy, which will deliver foot tapping music.

We will have more details on the Big Bay Balloon Parade as planning progresses. Find out more on the parade, the Holiday Bowl football game and all the game-related events at the Holiday Bowl website.

Spectators enjoy one of the many giant balloons in last year’s Big Bay Balloon Parade

Environmental Projects Receive Funding

Since June 2006, the Port’s Environmental Policy has approved 36 projects that help improve the condition of San Diego Bay and its surrounding tidelands. To qualify for funding from the Port, a project must be reviewed by the Port’s Environmental Advisory Committee.

Eligible projects should have elements that will create or restore habitat, improve air, water and sediment quality in and around the Bay, improve energy conservation, enhance the public’s enjoyment of the Bay without impacting the environment, increase environmental education, and improve environmental decision making. Projects also must involve San Diego Bay and its surrounding tidelands.

Ten projects were approved at the October 7 Board of Port Commissioners meeting:

1. The installation of solar panels and the use of sustainable building materials on the new cruise ship terminal that will be built on Broadway Pier. The Port is partnering with San Diego Gas & Electric on this project that will improve energy efficiency by up to 29 percent. The Board approved $500,000 for a two-year period.
2. Provide money to pay for experts in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) who have knowledge in electrical, mechanical, architectural, heating and air conditioning and structural design to ensure that specific LEED requirements are integrated into the new Broadway Pier Cruise Ship Terminal. The specifications will be used to track and review the efficiency of the building. Money for this project also will pay for equipment that will reduce energy and water consumption. Ultra low flow toilets and energy-efficient lighting are included, as well as fixtures, carpets, paints and coatings that don’t emit fumes. The project will also provide electric charging stations for alternative fuel vehicles. The Board approved $300,000 for two years.
3. A project to install 350 fish structures near Bayside Park in Chula Vista will help enhance the fish population in San Diego Bay. The Board approved a similar project in December 2006, which resulted in 400 fish structures near the fishing pier at Embarcadero Marina Park South and near the Coronado Marriott Resort Hotel. Several species of fish, including kelp bass, spotted sand bass, barred bass, opaleye and surf perch, as well as spiny lobsters and round sting rays, have been taking advantage of the structures. The Board approved $30,000 for this project.
4. An earlier project to restore the salt marsh at J Street in Chula Vista received money to continue maintenance. The restoration project resulted in the planting of more than 700 species of native plants. About 44 shopping carts, discarded tires and invasive plants were removed to make way for the restoration. An additional $19,000 was approved to maintain the area by weeding, watering and removing dead plants and debris.
5. Solar panels will be installed at the Port of San Diego’s Administration Building. The panels will be placed on a portion of the building referred to as the annex. This project was originally awarded funding in December 2006, but additional money was needed to support a larger photovoltaic system. The increase in cost is associated with the additional equipment needed to increase the system’s capacity. The Board approved $150,000 in funding.
6. The Port will partner with San Diego State University and Scripps Institute of Oceanography to create the Center for Bay and Coastal Change. This project will establish a technically advanced center for geotechnical mapping that will study San Diego Bay’s impact on marine habitats. The Port will purchase multibeam sonar equipment for the research. The equipment will be used to track sediment movement and see how it relates to eelgrass habitats. The equipment will also map kelp beds and provide long-term monitoring and research of the kelp. The Board approved $160,000.
7. Aquatic Adventures Science Education Foundation received money to support science education for low-income students. Elementary students at six public schools in the City Heights area of San Diego will receive ten hours of in-classroom education that concentrates on water quality, pollution prevention and bird identification. The Board approved $30,000 for this project.
8. The San Diego Zoo Stream Team Stewards for Chollas Creek also received funding. This project will educate fourth graders from six low-income schools in the Chollas Creek area on watershed science and restoration. Money will pay for five classroom sessions and five field trips. Students will learn how to monitor water quality, track wildlife and learn how to keep the watershed healthy. The project was awarded $45,750.
9. San Diego State University will conduct research on the California Spiny Lobster. Research will focus on size and movement patterns, which will be detected by acoustic tagging. The Port is purchasing the acoustic tags and data collection devices and will pay for the research time. The Board approved $90,000.
10. Groundwork San Diego, Chollas Creek Family Stream Team is a project that will conduct weekly recycling and trash removal events in Chollas Creek. The project will also conduct an education and outreach campaign for low-income elementary schools in the Chollas Creek area. The Port approved $70,000 to help cover the cost for equipment and trash removal.

Native plants that were used in the J Street Salt Marsh Restoration project.

Spotlight on Tenants: Point Loma Marina, LLC, Receives Approval for Parking Facility

Work continues on the Marina Green project at America’s Cup Harbor in Shelter Island. At the October 7 Board of Port Commissioners meeting, a 424-space parking structure that will be built at the former Westy’s Lumber site was approved. The parking facility will provide parking for the Marina Green project plus additional parking to accommodate overflow parking for other businesses in the America’s Cup Harbor area.

The Marina Green project is being developed by Point Loma Marina, LLC. The waterside project was first approved by the Board of Port Commissioners in September 2006. Three buildings, a 50-slip marina, a 16,000-square foot park and a new shoreline promenade are all part of the plan.

The first phase, which included two buildings, the marina, park, public promenade, a pedestrian pier and recreational dock and dine facilities was recently completed. The two buildings will incorporate a restaurant, marine-related offices and marina support facilities.

Point Loma Marina, LLC, has begun the second phase of the project. In addition to the parking garage, it includes construction of a 10,000 square-foot building, a 13,000-square foot public plaza and a public walkway that will provide access to the waterfront from the adjacent residential community.

The first phase of the Marina Green project includes two buildings that will house a restaurant, marine-related offices and marina support facilities. A 50-slip marina is also part of the first phase, which is now completed.