LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti named city officials to a task force charged with creating a development strategy for the city's waterfront.
The mayor's Feb. 17 announcement comes after Los Angeles port officials unveiled a 10-year, $400 million plan to improve the port's tourist area.
The port's plan unveiled on Feb. 11 allocates $400 million in capital and non-capital dollars for waterfront public access projects.
Garcetti named representatives from 13 city departments to the task force headed by Kelli Bernard, the city's deputy mayor of economic development. They are to identify funding sources such as grants, bonds or private investment.
The mayor's task force would consider improvements to city assets in San Pedro and Wilmington that would enhance the waterfront.
"In the past decade, the Port has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in public access infrastructure, and now we need a focused effort on developing a commercial base of businesses to improve the quality of life for residents and attract visitors from around the world," Garcetti said.
Gene Seroka, the port's executive director, said he looks forward to collaborating with the various city departments and is grateful for the mayor's leadership on the next phase of redevelopment for the district.
The waterfront is home to the USS IOWA battleship museum, other museums, restaurants, a cruise ship terminal, a walking promenade, recreational boating, and retail shops.
"While the Port's proposed Public Access Investment Plan is an important first step in developing an integrated LA Waterfront strategy, we must also strategically leverage our citywide assets to take the LA Waterfront to the next level of commercial success," the mayor said.
