As a planner for the Port of Long Beach Master Plan Update, John Kim is taking an active role in developing the future of the harbor. He described the plan as an outline for land use and engineering projects. It also forecasts the amount of cargo that will come through the port in the next 20 years, due to technological advances and other changes in the shipping industry. According to Kim, cargo volume is expected to double over the next two decades. The plan is still in the early stages of development, with a goal of the California Coastal Commission certifying the update by fall 2019. Kim said a typical day involves community outreach. The planning division has held one public meeting that drew a crowd of about 80 people. “One of the challenges is communicating the technical aspects of what we’re doing to a general audience. We asked people, ‘What role does the port play in your life?’ and had them write responses on cards,” he said. “For a lot of people, it’s about jobs and opportunities for economic growth. Others wrote that it’s a polluter and a cause for congestion in our roadways. It plays a lot of roles in people’s lives depending on your perspective.” The planning division is preparing for a series of workshops with terminal operators, environmental groups, health groups and others that support the supply chain. Kim has been with the Port of Long Beach for nine months. He said he has always enjoyed long-range planning because it’s a “mix of both art and science.”