Bay Planning Coalition » Press Releases

Port of Redwood City Releases 3rd Quarter Tonnage & Vessel Report (July 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012)

BPC Staff — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:50:19 +0000

Cargo tonnage at the Port of Redwood City for the first three quarters of Fiscal Year 2011-2012 (July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012) was 965,033 metric tons, an increase of 390,165 MT or more than 68 percent higher than the first three quarters of the previous fiscal year, Commission Chairman Dick Claire announced (April 11, 2012).

Imports of sand and aggregates in the first three quarters (July 1 to March 31) totaled 614,799 MT, two-thirds higher than the same period the year before. This increase helped offset an 85,011 MT decrease in exports of shredded metal in the first three quarters of FY 12.

Operations Manager Don Snaman said 55 vessels (37 ships and 18 barges) made calls during the first three quarters of FY12 compared to 33 vessels (21 ships and 12 barges during the first three quarters of FY11.

Port Of Oakland Press Release: Powering Jobs, Empowering Communities

BPC Staff — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:18:13 +0000

via Port of Oakland

Oakland, Calif. —April 5, 2012—The Port of Oakland today rolled out the key findings of an economic impact study by launching a new jobs brochure, “Powering Jobs, Empowering Communities”, which illustrates the Port’s positive economic impacts locally, regionally and nationally. The brochure features real people who hold Port-related jobs. Some of those workers were introduced at today’s news conference, where they shared their stories about the Port’s positive effect upon their families and livelihoods.

“The Port of Oakland is a jobs-creating powerhouse; and we wanted to put a human face on the over 73,000 jobs in the region that are powered by the Port,” said Port Board President Pamela Calloway. “Also, we’re not just talking about powering jobs and empowering communities, we are working every day to broaden and deepen the Port’s job creation and community empowerment efforts.”

The Port of Oakland receives no local tax dollars, but instead, generates tax revenue from its three business lines: aviation; commercial real estate; and maritime. The study by Martin Associates was based on 2010 data and collected and analyzed in 2011. The findings revealed that the Port generated over $671 million in tax revenue in 2010 and $1.5 billion in wages for 37,116 direct job holders that same year.

Nearly one in five direct jobs created by the Port is held by an Oakland resident. More than half of the Port of Oakland’s direct jobs belong to residents of Alameda County; and the Port powers over 30,000 trade-related jobs in the California Central Valley as well.

According to Port Executive Director Omar R. Benjamin, “Port business drives job creation – specifically more cargo, more passengers, more infrastructure projects, and more tenants. That’s why the Port is focused aggressively on its core businesses.” Benjamin added, “We can do more by working together; that’s why we’re asking the community and our partners across the region to join us.”

The Port of Oakland includes the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport (OAK), and 20 miles of waterfront. For every 1,000 OAK passengers, 3.3 airport jobs are sustained; for every 1,000 containers imported or exported at the seaport, 8 direct jobs are supported; and the Port’s commercial real estate powers nearly 8% of the more than 73,000 Port-related jobs in the region.

About every five years, the Port of Oakland commissions an economic impact study. It is a process by which the data is collected over a year and then analyzed the following year. The “Powering Jobs, Empowering Communities” brochure broadly highlights the key findings of the 2010 Economic Impact Report of the Port of Oakland. This study, conducted by Martin Associates, is based on the Port’s activity levels for that year, a variety of economic analysis models and surveys of those impacted by the Port of Oakland.

To download the Port’s new jobs brochure, the PowerPoint on the 2010 Economic Impact Report, the 5-year Strategic Plan, or to request a copy of the complete economic impact report please visit: www.portofoakland.com/poweringjobs.

The Largest Container Ship Ever to Call North America Visits the Port of Oakland

BPC Staff — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:07:18 +0000

via Port of Oakland

Central Subway Moves Ahead with Key Federal Approval

BPC Staff — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:07:15 +0000

Central Subway Moves Ahead with Key Federal Approval

PORT OF OAKLAND PRESS RELEASE

BPC Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:57:30 +0000

PORT OF OAKLAND COMMISSIONERS APPOINT NEW SENIOR MANAGERS

DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING ARE CONFIRMED

Oakland, Calif. —January 26, 2012— The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners appointed Jean Banker as Deputy Executive Director at a January Port Board meeting (Jan. 12, 2012) and Chris Chan as Director of Engineering during the December 15, 2011 Port Board meeting. Both are Port employees who were promoted from within the organization. Mr. Chan’s official start date was December 26, 2011, and Ms. Banker officially began her position January 23, 2012.

“Jean Banker brings significant experience to her new position as Deputy Executive Director. She has been instrumental in moving our maritime strategic initiatives forward such as completing the precedent-setting 50-year Ports America Outer Harbor terminal lease, the renegotiation of the Evergreen terminal lease, and launching the capital planning for the Port’s $90 million shore power plan for cleaning the air,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar R. Benjamin.

Ms. Jean Banker, as Deputy Executive Director, is responsible for assisting the Executive Director in planning, developing, organizing, and directing the activities of the Port of Oakland. Ms. Banker has worked in public service and transportation policy for more than 20 years. In her prior position at the Port, she managed the finance and administrative services for the Maritime Division since August 2007. Prior to working at the Port, she worked for 13 years as deputy director of capital programs for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where she assisted in getting approval of nearly $4 billion of Federal New Start funds for two of the MTA’s large expansion projects. Ms. Banker achieved her Bachelor of Arts degree from Vassar College and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

“Chris Chan has been a member of the Port team for more than 20 years and provides us with a great depth of engineering expertise,” Benjamin stated. “Chris has been a driving force for a variety of strategic engineering projects including the more than $100 million Airport Roadway Project at Oakland International, overseeing the Port’s harbor maintenance dredging, and implementation of the Port’s Enterprise Resource Planning Project,” added Benjamin.

Mr. Chris Chan, as Director of Engineering, oversees the Port’s engineering division, which consists of five departments: Project Design and Delivery – Aviation; Project Design and Delivery – Maritime; Engineering Services; IT; and Utilities. Mr. Chan joined the Port’s engineering division in 1990. Most recently, he managed the Engineering Services Department as a principal engineer. Prior to his employment at the Port, Mr. Chan worked as an engineer with the Alameda County Public Works Department and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. He is a registered professional civil engineer and graduated with both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

“Both Jean and Chris were selected through a rigorous search for senior managers that resulted in hundreds of applicants. They are our colleagues and being promoted from within the organization, which demonstrates the high caliber of professionals that we have here. I know that Jean and Chris will continue to be great contributors to the Port team as we move forward on our strategic plan,” said Benjamin.

About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland International Airport, and 20 miles of waterfront. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port’s real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 70,000 jobs in the region and over 800,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.

Media Contacts:
Robert Bernardo
Communications Manager
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1401
rbernardo@portoakland.com

Marilyn Sandifur
Port Spokesperson
Port of Oakland
(510) 627-1193
msandifur@portoakland.com

###

Boustany and Tiberi Announce Hearing on Harbor Maintenance Funding and Maritime Tax Issues

BPC Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:03:24 +0000

House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Charles Boustany, Jr, MD (R-LA) and Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) today announced the Subcommittees will hold a hearing on harbor maintenance funding and maritime tax issues.

Submit comments for the hearing record.

Port Business Increasing – Port of Redwood City Press Release

BPC Staff — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:04:45 +0000

Press Release

Re: Mid Year Tonnage & Vessel Report

Cargo tonnage at the Port of Redwood City for all commodities during the first half of fiscal year 2011-2012 was 608,750 metric tons (MT), an increase of 197,297 MT, or nearly 48 percent higher than the first half of FY11.

Imported sand and aggregates accounted for 366,769 MT, or nearly 60%, of the tonnage for the first half of the fiscal year. This was over three times the amount from the same period last fiscal year. Shipments of bauxite, gypsum, and fly ash, although not large tonnages, added to the mix of inbound cargo.

Thirty vessels (25 ships and 5 barges) made calls during the first half of FY12 compared to twenty-six vessels (19 ships and 7 barges during the first half of FY11, reported Port Operations Manager Don Snaman.

The only major commodity showing a decrease in tonnage was exported steel scrap metal, which at 174,500 MT was down eight percent from its record prior fiscal year.

IMPORTANT Notice of Public Hearing from State Water Board

BPC Staff — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:01:07 +0000

CA Water Board Notice of Public Hearing for:

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA OCEAN PLAN REGARDING DESIGNATING STATE WATER QUALITY PROTECTION AREAS TO PROTECT MARINE PROTECTED AREAS

Comment Deadline is March 15, 2012 by 12 noon

Port of Oakland 5th Engergy Star

BPC Staff — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:36:34 +0000

PORT OF OAKLAND HEADQUARTERS AWARDED FIFTH CONSECUTIVE ENERGY STAR LABEL U.S. EPA and Department of Energy certify Port headquarters for energy efficiency

Oakland, CA.—March, 2011—The Port of Oakland headquarters located at 530 Water Street earns the Energy Star label from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Energy for the fifth consecutive year. The Energy Star label is awarded based on a comparison of a facility’s energy performance (electricity and gas usage) to that of similar facilities around the US. The label shows a particular facility’s energy performance on a scale of 1 to 100. The Port of Oakland headquarters scored 84, which means that it ranked in the top 16% of EPA benchmarked facilities nationwide.

Download a pdf of the full press release here.

Press Release – Omar Benjamin

BPC Staff — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 18:13:25 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Ellen Joslin Johnck
Executive Director
Bay Planning Coalition
(415) 397-2293

Download a pdf copy of this release here.

Bay Planning Coalition presents the annual Frank C. Boerger Award to Omar Benjamin, Executive Director, Port of Oakland In recognition of his outstanding economic and environmental leadership for the citizens of San Francisco Bay. San Francisco, CA – April 28, 2010

The Bay Planning Coalition presents the Frank C. Boerger award annually to a local decisionmaker who appreciates the rigors of advocating environmental protection and economic progress, and forges the path to achieve both. This year, the Bay Planning Coalition was proud to honor Omar Benjamin, the Executive Director of the Port of Oakland, for his achievements in bringing together diverse stakeholders to address the economic and environmental issues of the day.

“Mr. Benjamin’s successes have been the result of a vital collaboration with the port, business, and community groups,” said Ellen Joslin Johnck, Executive Director of the Bay Planning Coalition. These include the recent -50’ harbor deepening project which has led to greater access to the port for deeper draft ships as well as restored bay wetlands with harbor mud and the creation of Middle Harbor Shoreline Park (also with harbor mud), which is in the heart of the seaport providing wonderful public access as well as natural habitat for endangered bay species.

The award was presented at the Bay Planning Coalition’s annual San Francisco Bay Decisionmakers Conference which featured the science, government and business perspective on “Climate 3.0: Policies and Decisions for a Changing Landscape”. The conference was held at the Oakland Marriott City Center, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, and resulted in an action plan for shaping a strong future for business and the environment on the Bay.

Frank C. Boerger was a founding director and Chairman of the Bay Planning Coalition from 1985 – 1990. Mr. Boerger was a professional engineer, distinguished military man and respected civic leader, well known for his outstanding achievements in several Bay Area public and private non-profit institutions. He first became active in Bay Area affairs in his position as District Engineer of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), San Francisco, and represented USACE on the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission in the early 1960s.

In these early advocacy efforts, Mr. Boerger was instrumental in the U. S. Congressional authorization of the John Baldwin Ship Channel -45’ navigation project between the Golden Gate Bridge and the Port of Stockton. Mr. Boerger was also the first Chairman of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Committee. Many of Mr. Boerger’s accomplishments reflect his efforts to balance conservation and development in and around the San Francisco Bay.

Established in 1983, the Bay Planning Coalition (BPC) is dedicated to ensuring that commerce, recreation, and the natural environment thrive in the Bay-Delta region. For more than 27 years, BPC has been a leader in building coalitions and consensus, and producing positive results that benefit the economic and environmental welfare of the public.

###