Latest news with #PortCommission
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Should Port of Bellingham Commission expand to five members? Voters will decide
Whatcom County voters will get the chance to redetermine the number of Port of Bellingham commissioners in the upcoming Nov. 4 general election. The commission voted 2-1 at its Tuesday meeting to approve placing a commission increase proposition on the ballot. Commissioner Bobby Briscoe voted against the resolution. There's talk of expanding Bellingham's Port Commission to five members. What would it take? The approval of the resolution will allow voters to decide whether the number of commissioners of the port district should be increased from three to five. If Whatcom County votes to increase the number of commissioners, each will be assigned to one of five newly drawn districts. The board currently includes three commissioners — Briscoe, Ken Bell and Michael Shepard. Each represents a separate district. Since the port was established in 1920, it has been governed by a board of three commissioners. Commissioner Bell initially proposed a meeting last fall to facilitate an open discussion and support informed decision-making about the possible increase. More than a dozen Whatcom County community members expressed opinions for and against the possible increase at a public hearing in December. Those in favor of expansion argued the change would bring greater community-wide representation and improved decision-making for port operations. Those opposed said the move could complicate bureaucracy. Port of Bellingham Commission Expansion Resolution 7/15/25 by Rachel Showalter on Scribd The estimated annual recurring cost to the port of adding two commissioners is just under $126,000 for both positions, with increased equipment costs every four to five years of about $7,000. The port also estimates a potential election cost of several hundred thousand dollars. The one-time cost of redistricting is currently undetermined, according to the Commission Expansion Resolution. This is not the first time the discussion of increasing the number of port commissioners has been considered in Whatcom County. The board adopted a resolution moving a ballot proposition forward for expansion in 2012. But the proposition failed on the November ballot that year. The executive committee of Save The Waterfront, a local group that has opposed heavy industrial operations along Bellingham's waterfront, voted unanimously last fall to support any efforts the port makes to place a five-commissioner proposition on the ballot in 2025. 'Given the county's growth since the port was established in 1920, and its expanding range of responsibilities, increasing the number of commissioners by two would enhance the Port Commission's expertise and improve representation for the growing population,' the group said in an earlier release about their support for a larger commission.. In 2016, the Center of Economic and Business Research at Western Washington University found that the port's economic impact is felt broadly across Whatcom County, where it facilitates roughly 6,000 jobs or about 7% of the total workforce, according to previous reporting by The Herald. Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
12-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. wants to extend Embarcadero bike lane — and remove parking and trees
San Francisco officials want to extend the protected bikeway along the Embarcadero by removing up to 30 metered parking spaces in an effort to improve safety. Officials from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, the public works department and the Port of San Francisco proposed the changes during a Port Commission meeting on Tuesday. The proposal, called the Central Embarcadero Safety Project, aims to improve transportation and pedestrian safety between the half-mile stretch between Broadway and Brannan streets, a busy corridor with a mix of commercial buildings, parks and landmarks, including the Ferry Building and Rincon Park. The proposed project would be an extension of the protected pike bath that was implemented from Broadway to Folsom Street in 2022, officials said. If approved, the project is estimated to cost $8 million to $12 million, depending on the final design plan, officials said. The city has already secured $8.3 million in grants and local bond funding for the project, officials said. Casey Hildreth, a planner with SFMTA, said during the Tuesday meeting that construction could start next year. The project still needs approvals from Caltrans, the city's fire department, and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. The project proposes removing up to 30 metered parking spaces on the north side of the Embarcadero, from Folsom Street to Brannan Street, to make way for the bikeway extension, according to city documents. Officials also want to narrow the center median from 15 feet wide to about 5 feet, which means removing 15 palm trees and planting new ones on a divider between the bike and car lanes because they 'cannot be relocated due to their susceptibility to disease,' officials said. Approximately one-third of the parking spaces would be used for new passenger and commercial loading zones near Piers 26 and 28, and 12 motorcycle parking spots would be replaced with a commercial loading zone in front of the Waterbar and Epic Steak restaurants, city officials said. According to officials, the vehicle and motorcycle parking spaces were rarely used. Northbound left turns and U-turns would be restricted, including converting the Folsom Street left-turn lane into a through lane 'to maintain loading access' for the restaurants and improve Muni light rail service. Port Commissioner Steven Lee expressed concern during the meeting about the potential impacts to the two restaurants, where he said many tourists and locals are dropped off in vehicles or taxis. Hildreth said officials plan to shift the existing passenger loading zone to double the amount of commercial loading in front of the restaurants. Hildreth said he expects there not to be much of an impact because the restaurants stopped providing valet service since many customers were arriving via Uber or other modes of transportation. 'The amount of loading will be plentiful for those that want to drop off,' he said. Officials said the project has been met by support from advocates for cyclist and pedestrian safety in particular, while some businesses and residents expressed concern about the removal of parking spaces and trees, as well as customer access. Alice Rogers, president of the South Beach/Rincon/Mission Bay Neighborhood Association and the only person to speak during the meeting's public comment, applauded SFMTA's public outreach efforts but said some residents were concerned about the potential removal of the Brannan Street left-turn lane, especially during the baseball season, and urged officials to monitor heavy-traffic days. 'It gets to be a very complicated driving situation,' she said.
Business Wire
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
June 2025 Meeting: Port Houston Celebrates Funding of Project 11
HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, June 24. Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting applauding the recent announcement of the Houston Ship Channel Expansion - Project 11 being funded to completion with a $161 million federal investment in the President's FY26 Budget. Chairman Campo recognized the bipartisan collaboration and hard work of the many stakeholders in reaching this crucial milestone. The President's Budget also included $53 million for operations and maintenance dredging for the ship channel to keep draft restrictions from impeding vessel traffic. Campo also acknowledged that Port Houston continues to monitor the ongoing tariff situation, noting there have not been major impacts to volumes at the public terminals. Port Houston reported strong volumes in June, which can be found in more detail via the press release issued on June 23. There was discussion about the Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) program. Port Houston manages FTZ 84, the largest and one of the most active zones in the country. The Port Houston team has seen a noticeable increase in FTZ inquiries in response to the current tariff climate. Port Houston is working closely with zone users and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to support the recent influx of interest. State Senator Carol Alvarado and State Representative Mary Ann Perez were recognized for their continued leadership and advocacy on behalf of Texas ports during the 89 th legislative session. Both lawmakers served as sponsors of the Texas Ports Association's omnibus bill, although it was not passed during this session due to time constraints. Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins shared that planning discussions are underway with the City of Houston regarding Fleet Week Houston taking place November 5-12, 2025. He recently met with Mayor John Whitmire to coordinate this major event, which will be a significant moment for both the City of Houston and the maritime industry. Following the meeting, the Community Relations Committee of the Port Commission approved the 2025 Community Grant recipients, awarding $500,000 to 24 organizations across the greater Houston port region. The announcement represents the largest group of recipients and highest total funding awarded in the program's history. Project 11 Updates & Operations Highlights It was also announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is expected to clear the Barbours Cut Flare draft restriction with a Great Lakes rental hopper dredge from New Orleans. The dredge is scheduled to arrive around July 15, with approximately 30 days of digging to clear restrictions. The two remaining Port Houston-led Project 11 dredging contracts with Weeks Marine and Callan Marine continue to progress on budget. This Channel segment, located between Bayport and Barbours Cut, is expected to be completed and opened to two-way vessel traffic by Q3 2025. Additional Meeting Updates & Announcements The Port Commissioners approved an $18 million award for the construction of the new Port Coordination Center (PCC), which will house Port Houston's Port Security & Emergency Operations Division & Turning Basin Operations teams. The PCC will break ground in July and is scheduled to be a 13-month construction project. Also, Port Commissioners approved a two-year interlocal agreement with San Jacinto College for the fire department. San Jacinto College offers state-of-the-art maritime simulation tools that replicate real-world port conditions and hazards. This agreement allows the Port to train multiple crews efficiently, cost-effectively and locally. The Port Commission meets next on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area's largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation's largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Houston Ship Channel Ranked #1 U.S. Waterway
USACE Ranking and Historic Fleet Week to be held at Port Houston Announced at Port Commission's April Meeting HOUSTON, May 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday, April 29, the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met for its regular monthly meeting. Chairman Ric Campo opened the meeting with an announcement that the Houston Ship Channel is once again ranked the number one waterway in the U.S., according to a recent report by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Houston's port handles approximately 12% of the nation's total waterborne tonnage. An incredible 309.5 million short tons of cargo moved through the Channel in 2023, which is the most recent available data, reflecting a 5.3% increase in total tonnage from the previous year and far more cargo than any other port in the nation. In fact, volumes along the Houston Ship Channel are so large that the tonnage gap between Houston and the second-ranked port is larger than 97% of ports in the country. "This ranking reinforces just how vital the Houston Ship Channel is for our region and for the entire nation," said Chairman Campo. "More than three million jobs depend on our Channel, and at Port Houston, it's our job to protect this asset. With our Channel expansion project, known as Project 11, we are helping ensure this critical waterway remains open, safe, and competitive for decades to come." The 52-mile-long Houston Ship Channel serves more than 200 private and eight public terminals, in industries from petrochemicals and heavy machinery to consumer goods and energy. Its economic influence extends far beyond port gates, supporting 3.37 million jobs nationwide and generating $906 billion in annual economic activity in the United States. Chairman Campo also commented on the current tariff situation. "We are, like everyone, analyzing the data and assessing the situation. Tariffs would impact our own expenses at Port Houston, including our STS crane purchases. We support the end goal of strengthening domestic manufacturing and encourage the administration to work with our industry to develop a path forward that minimizes unintended consequences on American workers, exporters and consumers." Executive Leadership Team Retirements & Appointments Port Houston CEO Charlie Jenkins recognized Chief Operating Officer Tom Heidt, who is retiring after 43 years of working at the port. He has held several roles during his tenure, starting in accounting and assuming the role of Chief Operating Officer in 2015. "Tom has dedicated his career to Port Houston, and we appreciate him and all he has done to help grow the port to what it is today," said Jenkins. "With his retirement comes the opportunity for new leadership, and we look forward to what is to come." Jenkins went on to highlight other organizational changes, including that effective May 1, 2025, Chief People Officer Jessica Shaver will assume the role of Chief Administrative Officer, overseeing many aspects of the organization, including strategic planning and people management. Chief Business Equity Officer Carlecia Wright assumes the role of Chief People Officer, and the Director of Operations and Planning Candice Armenoff has been named Chief Strategy Officer, a new position. Port Houston is also actively searching for a Chief Operating Officer to oversee other important aspects of the organization, such as commercial, operations, maintenance, and infrastructure. Project 11 Updates & Operations Highlights Regarding Channel expansion efforts, the USACE is set to award their second Project 11 contract for the construction of the Beltway 8 Dredged Material Placement Area. Meanwhile, the two remaining Port-led Project 11 dredging contracts with Weeks Marine and Callan Marine are progressing on budget. The final segment in the Galveston Bay area, between Bayport and Barbours Cut, is anticipated to be fully completed and open to two-way traffic mid-2025. Operations updates indicated that the total tonnage across all public terminals through March is down 2%, but this is still an improvement over last month, which saw a decline mostly related to fog. Container volumes since the start of the year have surpassed 1 million TEU and remain fairly flat compared to 2024. The container terminals recorded the busiest March on record, driven by strong export volume, up 13% from last March. It is noteworthy that this was also largely driven by recovery from February's low performance. Volumes at the multipurpose facilities remained down as well, at 7% since the start of the year, but they rebounded slightly month over month by 2%. This was driven by weak liquid imports and export dry bulk volumes, while steel was up 4% since the beginning of the year. Additional Meeting Updates & Announcements Earlier in the month, Charlie Jenkins met with Congressman Mike Collins, representative from Georgia and Chair of the Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. They discussed the future of the Houston Ship Channel and its importance to the national economy, as well as how to improve the laws promoting maritime transportation and infrastructure. The relationship is particularly important as it is related to the WRDA bill, legislation that instructs the USACE on the intent of Congress and outlines priorities. Commissioners DonCarlos, Fitzgerald and Robb attended a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new Holly Bay Pavilion at Holly Bay Park in Pasadena, as part of Port Houston's East Harris County Greenspace Program. "We were happy to be able to support this initiative and be part of the community's beautification work, giving them a space to gather and enjoy the outdoors," said Chairman Campo. It was also announced that the City of Houston along with Port Houston, and other partners, will be hosting the Navy Fleet Week for the first time in November 2025. "We are excited to be a part of this celebration, honoring 250 years of the U.S. Marines and Navy," said Jenkins. "We will also be hosting a few ships at our terminals and look forward to partnering with the city on this exciting milestone event." During the meeting, the Port Commission also approved the Port Authority's Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) including the Report of Independent Public Accountants, with an unmodified opinion and no findings. The Port Commission meets next on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. About Port Houston For more than 100 years, Port Houston has owned and operated the public wharves and terminals along the Houston Ship Channel, including the area's largest breakbulk facility and two of the most efficient container terminals in the country. Port Houston is the advocate and a strategic leader for the Channel. The Houston Ship Channel complex and its more than 200 private and eight public terminals is the nation's largest port for waterborne tonnage and an essential economic engine for the Houston region, the state of Texas and the U.S. The Port of Houston supports the creation of nearly 1.5 million jobs in Texas and 3.37 million jobs nationwide, and economic activity totaling $439 billion in Texas and $906 billion in economic impact across the nation. For more information, visit the website at View source version on Contacts Lisa Ashley-Daniels, Director, Public Relations, Office: 713-670-2644; Mobile: 832-247-8179; E-mail: lashley@
San Francisco Chronicle
23-04-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Fisherman's Wharf is getting a new restaurant in a long-vacant space
San Francisco's waterfront will be getting a new Salvadoran restaurant. Port commissioners voted unanimously to offer a lease to Salvadoran restaurant Chasca Rio for the space at 340 Jefferson St., formerly seafood restaurant Pompei's Grotto. The space had been inactive since 2021. A panel approved the new restaurant over a proposed pizzeria. It will be run by 340 Jefferson Street Partners, an LLC operated by Lou Giraudo, Chris McGarrry and Seth Hamalian. Giraudo, formerly the owner of Boudin Bakery, now run by his son, is also behind a development group with ambitious plans to revitalize the wharf. A sample menu for Chasca Rio includes tamales, pupusas, tostones and empanadas, as well as caldo de res, a beef soup, and casamiento, or Salvadoran beans and rice. The lease terms are for 10 years with a base rent of $10,395 a month, with gross revenues over base rent of 5.5%. The port is contributing $470,000 as a tenant improvement allowance. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors must now approve the lease before the restaurant can move forward. Chris McGarry told the Port Commission at a meeting that the space is in good shape, and believes they can open by the time the lease is executed. The new restaurant's operators must still secure a liquor license. At the meeting, Port Commissioner Steven Lee expressed his support for the new tenant — and the need for haste. 'That area really needs them to get going,' he said. In a statement to the Chronicle, partner Seth Hamalian said the team was 'moving with urgency' on the project. 'We're investing now, to eliminate vacancies and bring new businesses to the Wharf while protecting and celebrating the heritage of Fisherman's Wharf.' In February, the Port Commission approved granting a lease to southern barbecue restaurant Everett & Jones for a nearby space at 300 Jefferson St., formerly Lou's Fish Shack. The lease terms were also for 10 years, plus two possible five-year extensions.
