San Diego Unified Port District

Oct 11, 2023 | Grantees

Aerial view of the San Diego Unified Port District

Aerial photo of San Diego courtesy of the San Diego Unified Port District.

The San Diego Unified Port District was created by Chapter 67, Statutes of 1962 to manage in trust certain tide and submerged lands within the San Diego Bay. Lands within the Bay that had been previously granted to the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, and National City were transferred to the District. In addition, the land originally granted to Imperial Beach along the Pacific Ocean was transferred to the Port. The lands are to be used for purposes that benefit the statewide public, including commerce, navigation, fisheries, and recreation.

San Diego Unified Port District

The District is required by Section 6306 of the Public Resources Code to complete an annual financial statement and standardized reporting form for trust lands on or before December 31 of each year.

Below is a list of reports the District has submitted:

Settlement / Agreement Number Description
AD 364  
AD 365  
AD 369 Exchange agreement. San Diego Unified Port District / California State Lands Commission / BF Goodrich
AD 395  
AD 425  
AD 542  
AD 558  
BLA 9 Boundary line agreement arbitrating ordinary high water mark. By and between the State of California, the City of Chula Vista; and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, the Santa Fe Land Improvement Company, Herbert C. Kelly, Frank F. Faust, Edmind Cardinole, P. T. King, Tyce Engineering Corp., Western Salt. Co., Reconstruction Finance Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the United States
Statute Description
Chapter 67, Statutes of 1962
Sections 63, 64, and 65 REPEALED by Chapter 673
Section 54 REPEALED by Chapter 2043 
Section 26 REPEALED
 by Chapter 399
Section 37 REPEALED by Chapter 118
San Diego Unified Port District Act
An act to provide for the establishment of the San Diego Unified Port District; to provide for the calling of municipal elections therefor; describing the powers, duties, and functions thereof, authorizing the district to borrow money and issue bonds for district purposes: to provide means of raising revenues for the operation, maintenance and bond redemption of the district; and to provide for the transfer to such district of tidelands and lands lying under inland navigable waters.
Chapter 673, Statutes of 1963 An act to amend Sections 18, 21 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49.5, 51, 52, 53, 54, 57, 62, 66, 67, 71, 77, 80, 84, 86 and 87 of, and to repeal Sections 63, 64 and 65 of, and to add Sections 74 and 88 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 349, Statutes of 1965 An act to add Section 72.5 to, and to amend Sections 72, 73, and 75 of, the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67, Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to personnel.
Chapter 577, Statutes of 1965 An act to amend Section 17 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 1744, Statutes of 1965 An act conveying in trust certain tidelands and submerged lands located in San Diego Bay to the San Diego Unified Port District in furtherance of navigation and commerce and the fisheries, and providing for the government, management and control thereof, and reserving certain rights to the state.
Chapter 2043, Statutes of 1965 District Reorganization Act of 1965
Relating to governmental units known as districts, providing for a uniform procedure for the initiation, conduct and completion of proceedings for annexations, detachments, dissolutions and consolidations made by or with respect to districts, mergers of certain districts with cities, establishment of certain districts as subsidiary districts of cities and reorganization of two or more districts (including, as a part thereof, the formation of new districts), and for review by local agency formation commissions of proposals for any of the foregoing proceedings; and in this connection: …to repeal the following general and special law sections: … Section 54 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67, Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session) …
Chapter 1114, Statutes of 1973 An act relating to tidelands and submerged lands conveyed to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 208, Statutes of 1974 An act to amend Section 7262 of the Harbors and Navigation Code, to amend Sections 4810, 6785 and 13906 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Section 72094 of the Water Code, to amend Section 44 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), to amend Section 74 of Chapter 1654 of the Statutes of 1961, and to amend Section 28 of the Water Conservation Act of 1927 (Chapter 91 of the Statutes of 1927), relating to property taxation.
Chapter 587, Statutes of 1975 An act to amend … Section 27 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session) …
Chapter 1227, Statutes of 1977 An act to amend Section 36 of the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District Act (Chapter 1283 of the Statutes of 1970), and to amend Section 37 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session) relating to harbors.
Chapter 171, Statutes of 1982 An act to amend Sections 17 and 72.5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 168, Statutes of 1990 An act to amend Sections 5 and 29 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), and to repeal Chapter 330 of the Statutes of 1961, relating to tidelands and submerged lands, to convey certain tidelands and submerged lands to the San Diego Unified Port District
Chapter 978, Statutes of 1991 An act to amend Sections 6060, 6103, and 6105 of, and to add Sections 5904, 6094, 6365, 6944, and 7266 to, the Harbors and Navigation Code, to amend Section 5101 of the Streets and Highways Code, to add Section 61 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), and to add Section 63.5 to the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District Act (Chapter 1283, Statutes of 1970), relating to water facilities.
Chapter 399, Statutes of 1996 An act to amend Sections 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 27, 29, 30, 41, 42, 51, 61, 66, 72, 80, 86, and 87 of to add Section 30.5 to, and to repeal Section 216 of, the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 480, Statutes of 1996 An act to amend Sections 18, 20, 72.5, 75, and 82 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 118, Statutes of 1997 An act to repeal and add Section 37 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 302, Statutes of 2000 An act to add Section 5.5 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to the San Diego Unified Port District.
Chapter 946, Statutes of 2001 An act to add Section 21670.3 to, and to add Division 17 (commencing with Section 170000) to, the Public Utilities Code, and to amend Sections 4 and 5 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session), relating to airports.
Chapter 978, Statutes of 2002 An act to amend Sections 170004, 170006, 170010, 170012, 170016, 170018, 170024, 170026, 170038, 170042, 170048, 170052, 170056, 170058, 170062, 170064, 170068, 170070, 170072, 170076, 170078, 170082, and 170084 of, to repeal Sections 170058.5, 170059, and 170080 of, and to repeal and add Sections 170028, 170060, and 170066 of, the Public Utilities Code, relating to airports.
Chapter 382, Statutes of 2005 An act to amend Section 71 of Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session, relating to port districts.
Chapter 538, Statutes of 2006 An act to amend … Section 87 of the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the Statutes of 1962, First Extraordinary Session) …
Chapter 931, Statutes of 2014 An act to repeal Sections 14661 and 14661.1 of the Government Code, to amend, repeal, and add Section 32132.5 of the Health and Safety Code, to amend Section 20209.14 of, to add and repeal Article 6 (commencing with Section 10187) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 2 of, to add and repeal Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 22160) of Part 3 of Division 2 of, to repeal Sections 20133, 20175.2, 20193, 20301.5, and 20688.6 of, and to repeal Article 22 (commencing with Section 20360) of Chapter 1 of Part 3 of Division 2 of, the Public Contract Code, to add Section 37.2 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962), and to repeal Section 6 of Chapter 2 of the Second Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 2009, relating to design-build.
Chapter 192, Statutes of 2018 An act to add Section 5.8 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962)
Chapter 372, Statutes of 2019 An act to add Section 5.7 to the San Diego Unified Port District Act (Chapter 67 of the First Extraordinary Session of the Statutes of 1962), relating to tidelands and submerged lands, and making an appropriation therefor.
Staff Report Description
01/29/1999 (45) Consider approval and execution of a title settlement agreement, including the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the acquisition of property from Western Salt Company, involving lands in and adjacent to South San Diego Bay, in the cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and San Diego
01/29/1999 (46) Consider approval of the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the acquisition of the South Bay Power Plant from San Diego Gas & Electric Company, involving lands adjacent to South San Diego Bay, in the cities of Chula Vista and National City
12/03/1999 (42) Consider approval of the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the acquisition of the National Distribution Center in the City of National City
12/03/1999 (73) Consider approval of a proposed transaction involving an exchange of Port property, public trust termination by the Commission, and expenditure of public trust funds by the San Diego Unified Port District for the acquisition of lands adjacent to existing Port property from Rohr, Inc., operating as BF Goodrich Aerospace Aerostructures Group, and approve a 49-year lease of the State acquired property to the San Diego Unified Port District, in the City of Chula Vista
04/24/2001 (115) Consider a contract for the acquisition of a parking lot for the San Diego Convention Center by the District, in the City of San Diego
04/09/2002 (52) Consider approval of the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the acquisition of a 1.81-acre parcel located adjacent to existing public trust lands in the City of Chula Vista
08/19/2003 (40) Consider approval of the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the construction of a boathouse, pedestrian promenade, and linear park located adjacent to existing public trust lands in the City of Coronado
10/20/2003 (61) Consideration of a report reviewing the San Diego Unified Port District financial status – Item pulled from agenda
10/20/2003 (62) Consideration of a report reviewing the various agreements between the District and Duke Energy regarding the South Bay Power Plant, City of Chula Vista
06/20/2005 (17) Dredging lease
12/14/2006 (48) Consideration of a request to review the consistency of the timeshare component of the Woodfin Suites Hotel proposal with the public trust doctrine
09/13/2007 (43) Consider approval of the proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the District for the Palm Avenue street end improvement project located at the northern extremity of the City of Imperial Beach
10/16/2008 (56) Consideration of a resolution opposing the November 4, 2008 ballot measure (The Port of San Diego Marine Freight Preservation and Bay Front Redevelopment Initiative) that attempts to illegally amend the Port of San Diego’s Master Plan, Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, City of San Diego
10/22/2009 (33) Acceptance of a lease quitclaim deed and issuance of a new dredging lease
02/01/2010 (37) Consideration of a land exchange agreement between the District, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, and the Commission, involving certain parcels located within the District, City of Chula Vista
10/29/2010 (53) Dredging lease
12/10/2010 (24) Consider approval of a proposed expenditure of $1,500,000 of tidelands trust funds by the District for the construction of a boathouse adjacent to existing public trust lands in the City of Coronado
12/10/2010 (48) Consideration of a land exchange agreement between the District, North C.V. Waterfront, L.P., and the Commission, involving certain parcels located within the City of Chula Vista
10/14/2014 (104) Review the proposed expenditure of tidelands funds, in an amount not to exceed $300,000, by the San Diego Unified Port District for a capital improvement project located on or adjacent to legislatively granted sovereign land in the City of San Diego – Item pulled from agenda
06/28/2016 (90) Approval of a proposed expenditure of Public Trust funds by the San Diego Unified Port District to acquire a four-acre parcel located adjacent to existing Public Trust land in the City of Chula Vista
04/20/2017 (95) California State Lands Commission and San Diego Unified Port District (Informational) – No staff report was prepared for this item
11/29/2017 (72) Consider approval of a proposed expenditure of public trust funds by the San Diego Unified Port District to acquire a 4-acre parcel located adjacent to existing public trust land in the City of Chula Vista
11/29/2017 (79) Consider sponsoring state legislation in the second half of the 2017-18 legislative session that would grant and convey in trust to the San Diego Unified Port District land in the city of Chula Vista pursuant to a Land Exchange Agreement the Commission approved in December 2010
08/23/2019 (74) Review the proposed expenditure of tidelands funds, in an amount not to exceed $6,000,000, by the San Diego Unified Port District to lease off-tidelands office space in the City of San Diego
10/25/2022 (60) Consider approval of findings pursuant to Public Resources Code section 6702, subdivision (b) regarding an Intergovernmental Support Agreement between the San Diego Unified Port District and the Navy allowing participation in the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) incentive-based program; and consider approval of trust revenues generated from the LCFS program to be expended on improvement projects located within Naval Base San Diego, adjacent to the Port’s statutorily granted Public Trust Lands, located in the City of San Diego
10/19/2023 (64) Acknowledge the submittal of a Draft Trust Land Use Plan, pursuant to Chapter 372, Statues of 2019, by the San Diego Unified Port District

The City is required by Section 5.7 of Chapter 372, Statues of 2019, to submit a Trust Lands Use Plan by January 1, 2024. The district shall then submit any proposed changes or amendments to the trust lands use plan to the Commission for approval.