About the Port of Oakland
About the Port of Oakland
Quick Facts
Established: 1927
Government Agency:
Independent department of the City of Oakland
Governance:
Seven Port Commissioners nominated by the Mayor and appointed by the City Council
Executive Director: Danny Wan
Revenue sources:
Self-funded, occasional federal/state grant funding, no tax revenue
Major Business lines:
Aviation
Commercial Real Estate
Maritime
Port Utilities
Mission:
We are stewards of public assets. We lead our seaport, airport and commercial real estate businesses in a fiscally sound and socially beneficial way.
Strategy:
Building for the next generation
Sustainability:
The Port of Oakland is committed to environmental sustainability and is on a road to zero emissions operations at the airport and seaport. The Port oversees miles of waterfront to support recreation, wetlands, wildlife and commerce.
Employees: 470 as of 2023
Annual Operating Revenue: $408.7 million Fiscal Year 2023
Jobs Generated: 98,345 (Northern California)
Headquarters: 530 Water St., Oakland, CA 94607
About the Port of Oakland
Oakland Seaport
1,300 acres
4 marine terminals
25 ship-to-shore cranes
2.07 million TEUs annually
14 shipping lines
Oakland Airport (OAK)
2,600 acres
13 airlines
48 nonstop destinations
More than 11 million passengers annually
Commercial Real Estate Holdings
837 acres
100 tenants
3 million visitors annually (pre-pandemic 2019)
About the Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland generates vital economic activity, community benefits and environmental innovation, as the Port decarbonizes its operations for a cleaner and greener future. Along with its partners, the Port supports 98,345 jobs in the region and $174 billion in annual economic activity. The Port oversees the Oakland Airport (OAK), the Oakland Seaport and nearly 20 miles of waterfront including Jack London Square and a publicly owned utility. The Port of Oakland is Everyone’s Port! Connect with the Port of Oakland and the Oakland Airport (OAK) through Facebook and Twitter, or with the Port on LinkedIn, YouTube, and at portofoakland.com.
About the Oakland Airport (OAK)
The Oakland Airport (OAK) is the main airport for the greater East Bay, the most populated area in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area. It is the closest airport to most Bay Area employers. By roadway and BART air-rail, OAK enables excellent access to all of the region’s business, entertainment and tourism venues. The vision of the Oakland Airport (OAK) is to be the airport of choice for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and nearly 20 miles of East Bay waterfront. Updates about current departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details about on-airport parking, shopping and dining and more, can be found at www.iflyoak.com.
Tidelands Trust
Overview
California’s tide and submerged lands (collectively, “tidelands”) are subject to the Public Trust (often referred to as the “Tidelands Trust” or simply as the “Trust”), which requires such lands to be held in trust by an entity who is responsible for managing the property for the benefit of the people of California. The Tidelands Trust is a common law doctrine (a framework of law established by court precedent) that has been upheld by numerous courts for over a century. In addition, the California Constitution (Article X, Sections 3 and 4) contains provisions providing protection similar to the Tidelands Trust doctrine with respect to protecting the public’s access to and use of navigable waters and restricting the sale of tidelands.
The California State Lands Commission is the state agency with administrative oversight over tidelands throughout the state. Other public agencies, such as the Port of Oakland (“Port”), and private parties serve as “local trustees” over the day-to-day management of tidelands.
Further information on the Tidelands Trust is available at the following links:
Tidelands Trust at the Port of Oakland
Beginning in 1852, the State of California (“State”) granted tidelands to the City of Oakland (“City”) through a series of legislative grants. In 1927, the City Charter established the Port as an independent department of the City acting by and through its Board of Port Commissioners, with exclusive management and jurisdiction of lands referred to as the Port Area. The Port now serves as the local trustee of these lands, which included tidelands that were previously granted to the City.
All lands owned and managed by the Port are subject to the Tidelands Trust, either because they were legislatively granted or because they were purchased and/or improved by funds derived from income generated from tidelands.
More information on the various legislative grants to the Port is available here:
Tidelands Trust Requirements
The Tidelands Trust imposes a duty on all trustees, including the Port, to manage lands subject to the Trust for the benefit of the people of California. This duty is two-fold:
- Lands subject to the Trust must be used only for Trust purposes and any other specific provisions contained within any applicable legislative grants. Trust purposes are generally limited to water-related commerce, navigation, fisheries, ecological preservation, and regional recreation.
- Trust-consistent uses could include visitor-serving commercial establishments (such as restaurants and hotels), parks and open space, and maritime- and aviation-related uses.
- Residential uses are not Trust-consistent and are prohibited.
- Legislatively granted tidelands cannot be sold, while non-granted tidelands that are subject to the Trust may only be sold in very limited circumstances and may require State legislative approval.
- Revenues derived from Trust lands must be used only for Trust purposes.
- Trustees also have an obligation to use Trust lands for productive purposes, such as by seeking to obtain fair market rental value in lease agreements.
Ultimately, the State’s obligation is to manage the tidelands for the benefit of all the people of California. Uses that do not accommodate, promote, foster, or enhance the statewide public’s need for essential commercial services or their enjoyment of tidelands would not be appropriate uses for Trust lands.