Port Commission approves parking lease, plaques and accessibility contracts as public raises conflict and labor concerns

The Port of San Francisco's Commission on Sept. 22 approved a series of administrative actions — a three-year surface-parking lease for several Northern Waterfront seaward lots, a commemorative plaque installation, and multiple procurement items — even as Fisherman's Wharf restaurateurs and labor representatives urged greater scrutiny and protections.

Geoffrey Bauer, the port's leasing manager, recommended awarding the Opportunity B package (Seawall Lots 322, 323, 321 and 324) to Priority Parking California LLC (lease L14747), saying the successful bidder was the highest qualified proposer after an initial bidder withdrew and that the new lease would increase the port's base rent by roughly 40 percent over the existing contract. "The successful bidder would be selected based on proposing the highest minimum monthly rent... and meeting the minimum qualifications," Bauer told the commission.

During public comment, Jeffrey Pollack, who identified himself as representing the Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant Association, told commissioners he believed the original request for proposals was void because of an undisclosed conflict by a commissioner in an earlier RFP vote. "Because Commissioner Rodney Fong participated in the commission's vote to issue the original RFP even though he failed to comply with certain conflict of interest laws... we believe is void," Pollack said, citing Government Code 1090. Pollack urged the commission not to approve an award under what he described as a flawed process.

Restaurateur Joe Alioto warned the commission that the Triangle lot under the new arrangement could end long-standing validation arrangements and displace local employees. "The lot roughly takes in 1,600,000 dollars; 320,000 dollars goes to the parking tax," Alioto said, arguing the proposed terms would make it difficult for the current operator to both pay the port and preserve validation and staff. Mark Gleeson of Teamsters Local 665 urged the commission to keep workers' wages and benefits in mind.

Despite those objections, the commission moved and voted to carry the resolution related to the lease (referred to in the meeting as Resolution 9 54). The chair announced the motion carried; the transcript does not include a full roll-call tally.

Other approvals and actions

- Commemorative plaque: Commissioners approved a license-without-fee agreement allowing the United Humanitarian Mission Organization to install a bronze plaque honoring Russian marines who assisted during the 1863 San Francisco fire. Dan Hodapp of Port Planning and Development read revisions to the draft resolution and noted the license requires the group to maintain and indemnify the port. Leonid Nakhotkin of the United Humanitarian Mission and supporters described the plaque as a marker of historic U.S.-Russian cooperation; the commission approved the resolution.

- ADA upgrades contract: The commission authorized award of construction contract 2721 for ADA upgrades at 401 Cherry/Francois Boulevard to Gold Spring Construction Corporation as the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for an amount not to exceed $297,600, with authority to increase the contract by 10% ($29,760) for contingencies. Port staff noted the bid includes 23.3% LBE subcontractor participation, exceeding a 20% goal.

- Pier 45 Drainage Improvements: Staff sought and received authorization to reissue competitive bids after federal ARRA requirements raised disadvantaged-business participation targets (staff said the DBE requirement moved from about 13% to closer to 30%). The engineer's estimate cited in the presentation is $1,760,000 with a 10% contingency; port stormwater funds of about $1.9 million were identified to cover construction.

- Foreign Trade Zone modification: The commission authorized staff to submit an Alternative Site Framework Modification to the Foreign Trade Zone Board to reassert port control of FTZ No. 3 and re-market the designation across the region. ILW Local 6 and other speakers urged the commission to attach labor protections and to consider master-employer arrangements and neutrality provisions if a new operator is selected.

What remains unresolved

Speakers raised procedural and legal questions about whether earlier actions in the RFP process created defects that could affect today's award; those allegations (including the Government Code 1090 claim) were made during public comment and were not resolved on the record at the meeting. The transcript records the commission's vote to carry the lease-related motion but does not include a full roll-call tally or a written response to the conflict allegation.

The commission adjourned after additional routine business.