Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parking Leases topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Port Commission backs lease with Central Parking for Triangle and Seawall lots, citing large revenue gains
Summary
The Port Commission approved forwarding a three-year lease with Central Parking that staff says will guarantee roughly $5 million in minimum rent over three years for two Wharf lots. Tenants and merchants raised concerns about proposed hourly rates, validation changes and potential job displacement.
The Port Commission voted to forward a proposed three-year lease (L14795) with Central Parking System for Seawall Lot 301 (the Triangle Parking Lot) and Seawall Lot 314 to the Board of Supervisors for final approval.
Jeffrey Bauer, port leasing manager, told commissioners the new lease guarantees the port a larger minimum rent for the two lots, with a reported minimum rent of $112,000 per month (Lot 301) and $48,777 per month (Lot 314) and an estimated $5,000,000 in minimum rent over the three-year term. Bauer said the lease sets percentage rent at 66% of gross revenues and represents a substantial increase over the current arrangements.
Kyle Dunst, general manager for Central Parking, said the company plans to install pay-on-foot and validation equipment to improve revenue control and customer flow. "We plan on adhering to the Displaced Workers Act," Dunst said, adding the company would work with tenants and local restaurants on validation programs and anticipated operational efficiencies from new equipment.
Merchants and labor representatives urged caution. Gary Burns, speaking for Wharf merchants, said the hourly rate proposal "would be considered price gouging" and urged the commission to consider a lower increase rather than jumping to a $9 hourly rate. Nunzio Alioto flagged apparent mismatches in the restaurant validation categories in staff materials and asked staff to correct the listings. Mark Houston, representing Teamsters Local 665, said the union supported the award as a pragmatic outcome and urged protections for long‑tenured workers: "There may be some displacement because of automation, but we realized ... these workers are gonna find a home somewhere."
Commissioners questioned how validation tracking would be done and how many employees might be displaced. Port staff and Central Parking emphasized contractual protections: failure to meet customer service or operational requirements could be a material default of the lease and would permit termination. The commission approved the staff recommendation by voice vote and directed staff to forward the lease to the Board of Supervisors for award and approval.
The lease requires Central Parking to comply with city ordinances including the Displaced Workers Act and prevailing-wage rules, and to install city-required revenue control equipment. The commission record shows staff and tenants will continue to refine validation categories and address merchant concerns before the lease goes to the Board of Supervisors.
