Port of Oakland
Board of Commissioners Approve Renewable Energy Package
The Port of Oakland’s Board of Commissioners
approved the Renewable Portfolio Standard for the Port of
Oakland’s Wholesale Electric Power Procurement on July 6,
2004. The Board reaffirmed its commitment to environmental
responsibility, part of the Port’s triple bottom
line--economic vitality, social equity, and environmental
responsibility.
California Senate Bill 1078 (SB 1078)
became law January 1, 2003. It provides that each governing
body of a local publicly owned electric utility shall be
responsible for implementing and enforcing a “renewable
portfolio standard” to encourage renewable resources. The
state legislature established an attainment target of 20%
renewable energy by the end of 2017.
The Port of Oakland has gone beyond the
standard requirements and currently receives an estimated
28% of its power from renewable resources. Renewable
resources are defined as natural energy resources that are
inexhaustible such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and
hydropower.
“The Port of Oakland understands the importance of
sustainability and wants to promote and encourage the use of
renewable resources. We propose an effort to continue
exceeding the recommended 20% standard by seeking new
renewable energy opportunities that will benefit the
environment,” said the new President of the Port of Oakland
Board of Commissioners, Patricia Scates.
The Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners
adopted a calendar year renewables portfolio standard for
the electric power the Port purchases at wholesale and
adopted a goal of achieving 40% by the year 2017.
Port of Oakland Provides $1 Community
Benefits Lease for Spunkmeyer Field
Benefits Summer Youth Athletic Programs
The Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners
extended a community benefits lease with the City of Oakland
for Spunkmeyer Field located at Doolittle Drive, Harbor Bay
Parkway, and North Airport. This field is a popular location
for many, local summer athletic programs such as the
Alameda-Contra Costa Youth Soccer League, the Jack London
Youth Soccer League, and the Rockridge Soccer Club.
“The Port of Oakland has a history of
supporting youth in the region—not only in academic
excellence, but also in athletic pursuits,” said Patricia
Scates, President of the Board of Port Commissioners. “This
lease extension means that young people in our surrounding
communities will be able to continue participating in
athletic programs at the Spunkmeyer Field throughout the
year.”
The Oakland City Council entered into a lease with the Port
of Oakland in August 1999 for approximately 6 acres of land
known as Spunkmeyer Field. This field is commonly used by
youth athletic clubs. The original lease term was for five
years at $1.00 each year. The current market value of the
property is estimated at $285,000 a year.
“We understand the value in providing a
place where our youth can be involved in outdoor
activities,” said Port of Oakland Executive Director Jerry
Bridges. “We’re delighted to be able to help those who might
not otherwise have a place to play their favorite team
sports.” The City of Oakland
recently proposed to extend the term of this lease for an
additional five years and the Port Board of Commissioners
voted to do the same. Thus, the first supplemental agreement
would extend the lease term for an additional five years
commencing September 1, 2004 and ending August 31, 2009. The
annual rent will remain at $1.00. The Port of Oakland
consistently gives back to the community by providing
nominal leases for hundreds of acres of waterfront parkland
for public enjoyment.
Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners
Elects New Officers Each year the
Port of Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners elects its top
three officers.
Tuesday, July 6, 2004, the board elected Commissioner
Patricia Scates to serve a one-year term as President of the
board. Commissioner Frank Kiang was elected to serve as
First Vice President and board member Anthony A. Bartarse,
Jr. will serve as Second Vice President.
Board members acknowledged outgoing President
Protopappas for his leadership and inspiration. He was
praised for his ability to foster fairness and objectivity
during significant financial challenges and the recent
transition period in the Port organization with the
appointment of a new executive director and chief financial
officer.
Commissioner Scates will replace John
Protopappas as President of the Board of Port Commissioners.
She is currently Senior Vice President and regional manager
of Wells Fargo’s East Bay commercial banking office. As an
Oakland native, Ms. Scates serves on a number of boards:
National Board of the Urban Financial Services Coalition
Foundation (UFSCF); Corporate Advisory Board of the
California Black Chamber of Commerce; Oakland Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce; and YMCA of the East Bay. Among her
awards and recognitions, Scates was honored as one of the
2002 “75 Most Influential Businesswomen” by the San
Francisco Business Times and she also received the 2000
Corporate Community Leadership Award from the California
Black Chamber of Commerce. Board
members elected Commissioner Frank Kiang to serve as First
Vice President. Commissioner Kiang is currently Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Metropolitan Bank
and its holding company, Met Financial Corporation. He was
appointed to the Port Commission in 1998 and serves on
numerous boards: Alameda County Medical Center Authority,
California Export Finance Office; California Independent
Bankers; and Economic Development Alliance for Business of
Alameda County. He served as President of the Port board in
2002. Anthony A. Batarse, Jr. was
elected Second Vice President of the Board of Port
Commissioners. Commissioner Batarse is President and Chief
Executive Officer of Lloyd A. Wise Inc., one of the largest
Hispanic owned businesses in California, with holdings in
automobile dealerships and outdoor media. Mr. Batarse was
appointed to the Board of Port Commissioners in June 2003.
Batarse is currently a member of several civic organizations
including: Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Alameda County
(Director); Oakland Chamber of Commerce; San Leandro Chamber
of Commerce; SF State University Business Advisory Board;
and Youth Opportunity Foundation.
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport, Oakland
International Airport, and 19 miles of waterfront. The
Oakland seaport is the 4th busiest containerport in the
U.S.; Oakland International Airport is one of the fastest
growing airports in the nation with more than 13 million
passengers a year; and Jack London Square is Oakland’s
premier entertainment spot along the waterfront. The Port of
Oakland was established in 1927 and is an autonomous
department of the City of Oakland. |