PORT OF LOS ANGELES AWARDED $10.06 MILLION IN CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 1B FUNDS FOR FOUR SECURITY PROJECTS
SAN PEDRO, Calif. — August 21, 2008 — The Port of Los Angeles has been awarded $10.06 million out of $40 million in fiscal year 2007 California Proposition 1B grant funds for four security projects: a multi-agency maritime facility; a multi-vehicle inspection facility; a law enforcement tracking system; and maritime law enforcement officer training. The reimbursement grant, which does not require cost share funding, was officially accepted by the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners at its meeting today.
State of California voters approved the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality and Port Security Bond Act, Proposition 1B, in November 2006. The Proposition directs that $100,000,000 of the bond funds be made available upon appropriation of legislature for eligible port and maritime security projects. In January 2008, the Port of Los Angeles applied for grants funds for four security projects which were reviewed by a Peer Review Panel appointed by the California Governor’s Office of Homeland Security. The Port’s projects were approved in May 2008 and today’s Board action officially accepts the grant, which must be used for the approved projects by March 31, 2010.
The projects funded under this Proposition 1B grant are:
Multi-Agency Maritime Facility – located at the Port Police Wilmington Substation on Water Street, the project upgrades the existing building to support multi-agency operations as well as add modular units to support boat crews of the different agencies. Also included in the project is installation of floating docks, gangways and piers suitable to mooring the types of boats being used by law enforcement agencies in the Port. Also included are electrical and fresh water hook-ups. Total projected cost is $3,947,510 million.
Cruise Center Vehicle Inspection Facility – involves improvements to the site where the high-powered scanner unit can be operated and improvements to a secondary inspection area to be utilized by other agencies performing security operations at the Port. Total projected cost is $2,295,030 million.
Law Enforcement Resource Tracking System – includes procurement and installation of a state of the art resource tracking system for vehicles and vessels operating with the land and water areas of the Port. The project includes installing tracking system transponders on all of the vehicles and vessels of participating agencies. It also includes installing readout capabilities at all locations within the Port that may be used, as well as an incident command centers within the Port. Total projected cost is $3,375,500 million.
Maritime Law Enforcement Officer Training – allows the Port, in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, to develop a curriculum to provide additional training to the law enforcement agencies that currently operate within the Port. Instructors will be California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified and will cover maritime law enforcement topics. Total projected cost is $447,960.
The grant will be administered by the Port’s Homeland Security Division.
The Port of Los Angeles, also known as “America’s Port,” has a strong commitment to developing innovative strategic and sustainable operations that benefit the economy and the quality of life for the region and the nation it serves. A recipient of numerous environmental awards, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Air Excellence Award, the Port of Los Angeles is committed to innovating cleaner, greener ways of doing business. As the leading seaport in North America in terms of shipping container volume and cargo value, the Port generates 919,000 regional jobs and $39.1 billion in annual wages and tax revenues. A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars. The Port of Los Angeles - A cleaner port. A brighter future.