Los Angeles Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa, in his first public foray into the city's business since his May 18 victory, called on the Harbor Commission on Tuesday to delay votes scheduled for this morning on two major port financial matters.
Villaraigosa faxed a letter Tuesday evening to Commission President Nicholas Tonsich, asking that commissioners postpone approving the annual budget until port staff reassesses projected revenues, a spokesman for the mayor-elect said.
In a separate letter to Tonsich, Villaraigosa also asked that the port delay action on a 50-year, $75.6-million agreement with Westrec Cabrillo LLC to develop and operate the port-owned Cabrillo Way Marina.
"I am generally concerned that this and other issues are being addressed by the department without sufficient review during this transitional period," Villaraigosa wrote. "I would ask that we all take an opportunity to hold off making commitments of such a profound nature at this time."
The proposed agreement has stirred concerns among port staff, and city Chief Administrative Officer William T. Fujioka recommended against it in February, calling it too financially risky.
The port budget must be approved in June, before Villaraigosa takes office July 1. But a 45-day delay requested by Villaraigosa on the Westrec lease would allow him to become involved in contract deliberations.
Port officials could not be reached for comment on the letters.
Villaraigosa has kept a low profile in city affairs since his landslide win over incumbent Mayor James K. Hahn last month. But with the two letters to the port, he has indicated his intent to become immediately involved in the operations of one of the city's largest and most powerful agencies.
Hahn lives in San Pedro, where the port is located, and has championed a number of ambitious and expensive projects to redevelop the San Pedro waterfront and beautify areas around the port. The agenda for today's meeting includes several San Pedro-area items, including a $4.05-million contract for landscaping and a $926,867 agreement for a bike path, walkway and landscaping along Pacific Avenue.
The single biggest item on today's agenda, however, is the proposed $693.5-million budget for 2005-06. That budget includes a nearly 16% increase, even though port operating revenues have flattened with lower-than-expected income from cargo.
The budget also includes 94 new positions and $28 million for San Pedro waterfront redevelopment.
