L.A. harbor commission, full of new faces. reconvenes in upgraded meeting room – Press Telegram

Changes to and on the dais garnered much of the attention when the Los Angeles harbor commission held its regular meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The panel said goodbye to one of its own, Commissioner Ed Renwick, who decided to step down after more than 13 years on the five-member panel, where he brought financial expertise and a host of other talents.

His replacement, Michael “Mickey” Chavez of San Pedro, a member and leader in the dockworker union — as was his family before him — attended his first meeting after he was confirmed by the Los Angeles City Council just two days earlier, on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Chavez is one of four new commission members, part of a nearly clean sweep in the past year on the five-member panel that oversees the management, operation and policy-making of the Port of Los Angeles.

Lee Williams, who was confirmed in May 2023, is now the longest-serving commissioner.

Also on the panel are Yolanda De La Torre, confirmed in January 2025 and elected vice president of the board on Sept. 10; Beatrice Hsu, confirmed on June 16 and elected president on Sept. 10; and Sheila M. Lewis, confirmed on Sept. 16.

Commissioners, considered volunteers, are appointed by the Los Angeles mayor and confirmed by the City Council. They serve five-year terms.

Thursday also marked the commission’s physical return to the port’s longstanding meeting room inside the administration building and port headquarters in San Pedro. The facility underwent major upgrades and renovations over the past two years. During that time, the commission met at Banning’s Landing Community Center, in Wilmington.

During the meeting, Renwick was praised for his service to the port for more than a decade.

A resolution marking the occasion hailed him for his service to the board, which included a yearslong stint as its vice president from 2019 to 2023, and as the chair of the board’s audit committee, as well as representing the port on the Alameda Transportation Authority. The resolution described his tenure on the commission as “a legendary tour of duty.”

“Known for his thorough preparation,” the resolution said, he “provided invaluable guidance on port budgets, contracts and financial decisions.”

He also “had an enthusiasm for charts and financial analyses,” the resolution added.

Renwick, appointed by former Mayor Eric Garcetti and confirmed in November 2013, was a key resource on the commission for financial matters.

Renwick, cofounder and CEO of Raineth Holdings, one of the nation’s largest owners and lessors of single-family houses, said earlier this week that he had “mulled over” the decision to resign for a while, adding that serving on the commission had been “the honor of a lifetime,” but also that it was “good to get new blood on the commission.”

POLA Executive Director Gene Seroka recalled how Renwick was invaluable in providing information and support when Seroka first arrived to the port, after having worked mainly in the private sector of the global shipping industry. The port’s budget when he arrived needed some work, Seroka said.

“I looked at you,” Seroka said, “and you said, ‘Yeah, let’s get to work on this.’”

“He approached every decision with rigorous and deep care,” said Rachel Freeman, deputy mayor for business and economic development for Mayor Karen Bass, adding he was instrumental in passing the clean truck fund rate provision.

During those discussions, Renwick was also a persistent advocate and voice for truck drivers. That fund is paid by trucking employers — but there was concern that those costs might be passed on to drivers. He called for surveys to be conducted of the drivers to make sure that did not happen.

He often reminded fellow commissioners about the economic struggles many truck drivers face.

The newly minted board hearing room, meanwhile, opened for its first meeting following a $4,550,000 renovation that included a long list of upgrades.

Those upgrades included adding a state‑of‑the‑art audio‑visual system, which replaced  40‑year‑old, faulty equipment. The new system includes a dedicated A/V control room, a dedicated Channel 35 room, and the ability to broadcast board meetings in overflow seating areas.

The hearing room was also reconfigured to meet current accessibility requirements. There is now accessible seating and a radius ramp that offers seamless access to the stage.

The dais  was also updated to improve access and visibility for the commissioners.

All interior finishes, including carpeting, wall coverings and audience seating, were also refreshed, with seats reupholstered. A restroom and a kitchenette were also added to an adjacent executive session meeting room.