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PoLB Names City Hall Savvy Carl Kemp Dir. of Community Relations & Gov't Affairs; PMSA's Tom Teofilo Is New Managing Dir. of Maritime Services; Interim Security Director (former LBPD Chief) Bill Ellis To Exit
(November 15, 2004) -- The Port of LB has created a new position -- Director of Community Relations and Government Affairs -- and with a recommendation from PoLB Executive Director Richard Steinke and a unanimous vote of LB's Harbor Commissioners, has hired Carl Kemp, City Hall's Manager of Public/Government Affairs, to fill the post. The PoLB has also tapped Tom Teofilo, So. Cal VP of the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA) for the position of Managing Director of Maritime Services. He succeeds Don Wylie who left the Port in July for a position in the stevedoring business.
Also disclosed: former LBPD Chief Bill Ellis, who's been the Port's interim Director of Security, "has indicated a desire to return to retirement after temporarily heading up the security division for two years." Chief Ellis' replacement will presumably be chosen in part by Mr. Teofilo.
The Port's move to hire City Hall veteran Kemp comes as the Port and City Council have found themselves at legislative and policy loggerheads. Earlier this year, LB Councilmembers and the AQMD supported, and LB Harbor Commissioners and the PMSA opposed, AB 2042 by Assemblyman (now State Senator) Alan Lowenthal which sought to cap Port-related air pollutants at 2004 levels. Governor Schwarzenegger ultimately vetoed the bill.
When some Councilmembers indicated they might use the Council's budget (line item veto) authority to prevent further Port actions contrary to Council policy, Harbor Commissioners threatened to reconsider all or part of roughly $6.8 million that would otherwise be sent to LB's Tidelands unless the Council OK'd the Port's budget without changes. The Council complied.
A Port-desired expansion of Pier J hit choppy water when some Councilmembers, stressing the Council's "no net increase" in pollution stance, openly expressed displeasure with the Port's position that increased pollution was unavoidable and stronger anti-pollution measures were infeasible. After environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, charged that the Port's EIR (over two years in preparation) understated pollution impacts, Harbor Commissioners took the unusual step of withdrawing their previously certified EIR...and are now reworking it.
As previously reported by LBReport.com, on Nov. 16 the City Council is scheduled to vote on an I-710 "Tier 2" (non-government) report which urges that health be the overriding consideration in major corridor upgrades. A week earlier, Harbor Commissioners voted to urge that the Tier 2 recommendations be relegated to pre-EIR scoping discussions.
Also still pending, an 80+ million gallon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal which a Mitsubishi subsidiary is seeking authority to build in the Port of LB, roughly two miles from downtown LB.
Against this tumultuous backdrop, Mr. Kemp said in a Port release, "I am excited about joining such a successful team, and I look forward to assisting the Executive Director and the Board in the implementation of their vision of greater community partnership and legislative success."
The release continued:
"Carl has been a tremendous asset to the City Manager's Office and the entire City," said City Manager Gerald R. Miller. "He is well liked and highly respected from Long Beach to Sacramento to Washington, D.C. His legislative acumen and political intuition are extremely impressive and will serve the Port of Long Beach into the future."
"We're proud of the success we've had at the Port, but successful organizations are constantly reexamining themselves, looking for areas for enhancement and reinvention," said Steinke. "This is one of those opportunities and we are fortunate to have someone with the energy, experience, and enthusiasm Carl brings to the table.”
"This is a benefit for the Harbor Department and the City," said Councilman Dan Baker, whose Second District encompasses much of the Port. "As Chair of the State Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee, I've seen Carl in action and have been impressed with his grasp of the issues and focus on moving the Long Beach agenda. I'm sure he will do well in his new position. The Port is to be applauded for realizing the need for this new position."
"There are some major issues on the horizon for the City and our Harbor Department." said Councilman Frank Colonna, Chair of the Federal Legislative and Environmental Affairs Committee. "Carl is the perfect guy to help guide the Port through regional community efforts and assist in the crafting of legislation that makes our Port a model, especially as it relates to the environment."
For the past six years, Kemp has served in the City Manager's office under the direct supervision of the City Manager, Gerald R. Miller. During his time there, Kemp helped implement many new programs and legislative initiatives, including the development of the state and federal legislative agendas, the crafting of important legislation, such as the creation of the Rivers and Mountains Conservancy, the protection of local revenue by way of involvement in the planning for Proposition 1A, and aiding in the securing of over $15 million in federal and state funds. Mr. Kemp, 32, earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Public Administration from CSULB. He's worked for the City of LB for 7 1/2 years and "is a proud resident of Long Beach," the release said.
Mr. Teofilo, who at PMSA represented owners and operators of U.S. and foreign flagged vessels, marine terminals and stevedoring companies, is PoLB's new Managing Director of Maritime Services. Prior to PMSA, Mr. Teofilo was President/CEO of the World Trade Center Association of L.A.-Long Beach.
"I am very excited about coming back to work for the city," Mr. Teofilo said in a written release. "This is a great opportunity to take the experiences and skills that I have acquired over the years to do my part in addressing the challenges now facing the Port," he added.
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