The Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista have authorized key agreements that significantly advance the resort hotel and convention center project for the Chula Vista Bayfront. The 535-acre bayfront project is one of the largest waterfront developments on the West Coast. This collaborative development effort will create a world-class destination that reflects strong planning and design principles, economic feasibility and community benefits.

During a special joint meeting on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the Board of Port Commissioners and the Chula Vista City Council unanimously approved a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) between the Port, the City and RIDA Chula Vista, LLC. The DDA sets forth the necessary steps for the parties to authorize the financing of the project and commence construction, ultimately leading to a ground lease and required subleases for development and operations of a world-class hotel and convention center. Additionally, the Board and City Council approved a revenue sharing agreement between the two agencies.

“This is a pivotal moment. The Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan is becoming reality. The investments being made by the Port, the City and RIDA will have far-reaching benefits for the City of Chula Vista, coastal visitors and the entire San Diego region,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos, Board of Port Commissioners.

“This is an historic day for Chula Vista and the entire South Bay,” said Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas. “Our dream for the bayfront – 30 years in the making – is coming true. This is the product of the hard work and dedication of previous mayors, councils, staff and our community whose contributions got us to this special day.”

As an environmental champion of San Diego Bay and its surrounding tidelands, the Port of San Diego has embarked on a unique project to recycle a type of waste that is often left behind as litter – cigarette butts.

The Port is working with TerraCycle, an innovative recycling company that has become a global leader in recycling items such as used cigarette butts, coffee capsules and ocean plastic. This project will not only reduce the amount of discarded cigarette butts on Port tidelands, but it will help repurpose the waste into useful products.

The Port recently installed 31 cigarette butt receptacles purchased from TerraCycle around San Diego Bay, in Port parks and in other Port areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. The receptacles provide a convenient option for smokers to dispose of their used cigarettes.

The Port of San Diego has been honored with first place in Community Relations/Participation in the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) Excellence in Public Information and Communications (EPIC) Awards. The award was presented to the Port for its public outreach efforts on the Port Master Plan Update (PMPU) at CAPIO’s annual awards dinner, held April 11, 2018 in Santa Rosa, California.

The EPIC Award for Community Relations/Participation recognizes programs that promote deliberations among diverse community interests in order to guide a community decision on future direction. These efforts can also include comprehensive programs such as community visioning and public relations programs involving residents in community decision making on specific issues and projects.

The Port of San Diego was recently honored with an Environmental Analysis Document Merit Award from the California Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) for the San Diego Bay and Imperial Beach Oceanfront Fireworks Display Events Project Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The award was presented to the Port’s Development Services Department at the AEP State Conference Awards Ceremony held March 26, 2018 in Rancho Mirage, California.

The San Diego Bay and Imperial Beach Oceanfront Fireworks Display Events Project consisted of establishing a section within the San Diego Unified Port District Code to govern existing and proposed new fireworks display events that occur within San Diego Bay and the Imperial Beach oceanfront that require a discretionary action by the Port or that are operated by Port tenants. It also incorporates four proposed new fireworks display events that would be located adjacent to the waterfronts of National City and Chula Vista. The ordinance establishes a defined set of requirements and procedures for existing and future fireworks display events that occur in and around San Diego Bay and the Imperial Beach Oceanfront to protect the health, safety, and welfare of people, property, and the environment.