July 11, 2007 Sramek is OK'd for Harbor post Engineer, veteran of Planning Commission to begin six-year term. By Kristopher Hanson Long Beach Press Telegram     LONG BEACH - Following a brief discussion, council members unanimously approved Westside resident Nick Sramek's appointment to the city's Harbor Commission Tuesday night.     Sramek, 63, was nominated by Mayor Bob Foster last week to replace termed-out commissioner John Hancock, who retired Monday.     The electrical engineer was on a business trip and didn't attend Tuesday's meeting. His six-year term begins immediately.     Port commissioners earn $100 per meeting and have travel and business expenses picked up by the port. In the past, trips have included week-long treks to Asia, where commissioners meet with business executives and governmental counterparts.     Foster told the Press-Telegram that Sramek will provide an "independent, level-headed" perspective on port issues.     "I think Nick's a strong environmental person who can use his engineering and business background to make sound decisions," Foster said. "He's a Westside resident who understands the impact port operations have because he's there living it every day."     Council members also approved three other Foster nominations to city commissions. They are John Allen and Paul Blanco for the Water Commission and John Thomas to the Redevelopment Agency.     Sramek, a Poly High and Cal State Long Beach graduate, brings seven years experience on the city's Planning Commission to the five-member harbor board. The Harbor Commission oversees the budget, infrastructure and trade policies of the nation's second-largest seaport.     He will be replaced on the Planning Commission later.     Sramek's family is deeply involved in Long Beach politics, with wife Patti serving as a representative for 7th District Councilwoman Tonia Reyes Uranga and daughter Bridget working as chief of staff to 4th District Councilman Patrick O'Donnell.     In his new role, Sramek will help the harbor board reach several critical decisions in coming months on port expansion projects and new air quality programs.     Along with commissioners in the neighboring Port of Los Angeles, Long Beach port authorities are under public pressure to clean up diesel soot and other toxic emissions tied to the shipping, rail, cargo-handling and trucking industries. Health studies have linked port-generated air pollution to increased asthma, cancer and respiratory disease rates in local communities.     At the same time, the twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are facing a five-year backlog of proposed terminal expansion and redevelopment projects despite record cargo growth during that time.     In Long Beach, major upgrades to port rail capacity, the development of Pier S and an overhaul of port trucking to meet tougher emissions standards are advancing slowly because of the threat of lawsuits from environmental groups, business interests and others unhappy with the port's approach.     Los Angeles faces similar issues.     Sramek's term expires in July 2013. He would then be eligible for a second six-year term.     Traditionally, commissioners have operated free of oversight from City Hall, but council members have shown signs in recent years of wanting greater accountability.     Earlier this year, a City Charter amendment was drafted giving the council veto power over harbor board decisions, but the proposal was dropped when port executives quietly lobbied against it.     Sramek has a bachelor's degree in science from CSULB and a master's degree in electrical engineering from CSULB.     Kristopher Hanson can be reached at kristopher.hanson@presstelegram.com or at (562) 499-1466.     Copyright 2007 Long Beach Press-Telegram