By Keri Luiz
Assistant Editor

After the resignation of its chair and elevation of its vice chair last month, the Economic Development Board will need a new vice chair, and one will be appointed Wednesday at the panel’s regular meeting.

The positions of chair and vice chair are one-year terms from January to December.

“The current vacancy occurred when the EDB chair resigned in May, necessitating the vice chair to be elevated to chair, leaving a vacancy in the vice chair position,” Economic Development Manager Mario Giuliani said. He was referring to the sudden departure of Kimble Goodman, who resigned amid a scandal involving a charge of embezzlement from the city’s theater group.

The new vice chair will be a current member, and the board will vote on his or her elevation.

In addition, Ron Myska, the board’s new chair, will appoint members to the EDB’s Business Recruitment and Attraction Committee and the Ad Hoc Urban Waterfront Master Plan Park Committee.

The Business Retention Committee is a three-member panel that meets to review and discuss business opportunities and schedule business visits.

The Waterfront Committee is a community advisory panel consisting of many stakeholders that offers feedback on the Benicia Urban Waterfront Enhancement and Master Plan. It is tasked with developing a site Master Plan for the First Street Green and adjacent tidal marshland.

Also Wednesday, Valero staff will give a presentation that introduces and highlights the Valero crude-by-rail project.

Valero Benicia Refinery is seeking a use permit from the city to build three railroad track extensions, each a quarter-mile long, so 70,000 barrels of crude oil may be brought to Benicia daily by rail.

If the project clears its permitting hurdles, it would let Valero refine more North American crude oil, but wouldn’t increase the total amount of crude arriving at the refinery. Currently, Valero imports crude by ship only.

“This is a major business expansion project,” Giuliani said.

New Benicia businesses, or businesses that have moved or made changes to their business name, will be acknowledged in a presentation. These businesses are: Estenson Electrical Enterprises Inc.; Nancy Lee (salon station rental); Tanya Illif (salon station rental); The Runhouse; Genivieve Dace Inc.; DBA Revitalize Skincare and Laser; Pups N Purrz (new owner); and Urban Notions (part of the Benicia Magazine office).

The Economic Development Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Commission Room at City Hall, 250 East L St.

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