L.A. Port Executive Director to Retire

LOS ANGELES — Geraldine Knatz, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, announced Oct. 3 that she will retire at the end of the year.

City Engineer Gary Lee Moore will serve as acting executive director until a replacement is found, according to the mayor's office.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thanked Knatz, who has held the job since 2006, for her years of service.

Knatz was the first female executive director of the port. She oversees the daily operations and internal management of the nation's number one container port.

Garcetti said his agenda for the port "is focused on maximizing its economic impact and minimizing its environmental impact to build stronger neighborhoods in the harbor area and across Los Angeles."

Nearly 900,000 regional jobs, and nearly 3 million jobs nationwide, are related to trade at the Port of Los Angeles, which comprises 7,500 acres and 43 miles of waterfront, according to the mayor's office.

Knatz led efforts behind the San Pedro Bay Ports Clean Air Action plan which significantly reduced pollution produced by port activity, according to the port's website. The plan paved the way for the Los Angeles Harbor Commission to approve three major container terminal expansion projects and a new deep-draft marine oil terminal on Pier 400, according to port officials.

Moore currently serves as the city engineer and general manager of the city's Bureau of Engineering, where he manages and designs the construction of all municipal facilities and infrastructure in a department that employs 800 people. Moore has also worked for the Department of Sanitation and was interim general manager of the Information Technology Agency last year.

Chief Deputy City Engineer Deborah Weintraub will serve as interim chief city engineer while Moore heads the port.

The port had $968 million in long term debt and commercial paper, according to the comprehensive annual financial report for year-end June 30, 2012.

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Transportation industry California
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