January 2003
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at November 19, 2002 meeting
105. Adopt the 2003 operation and capital budget and 2003 strategic plan? Washington State law requires the port to file its budget by December 2 at the Whatcom County Executive’s office. The total budget is $7,278,307. A copy of the budget is available at the port offices on Roeder Avenue. (Resolution 1172) Approved 3-0
106. Adopt the 2003 property tax levy? The total amount is $4,866,922. The port’s share of property taxes on a $100,000 home will be $39.01, an increase of 29 cents over 2002. The levy will be used for paying on debt service, operating expenses and capital costs of public priority programs. (Resolution 1173) Approved 3-0
107. Approve a new contract with Apogee Flight of Orcas Island for hangar space at the Bellingham airport? The lease will be monthly starting November 1, 2002 and ending July 31,2003. Rent will be $500 per month. Approved 2-0-1, Commissioner Smith abstained. (He has worked for Apogee’s owners.)
108. Approve a new lease with Bellingham Aero at the Bellingham airport? Aero is a flight school and pilot-supply dealer. The lease is for one year beginning November 1,2002 and the rent will be $650 monthly. Approved 3-0
109. Approve a lease with the U.S. government for the Transportation Security Administration offices at the Bellingham airport? The lease (for five years beginning November 1, 2002) at the airport terminal building is for 1,500 square feet and four parking spaces. The rent is $9,200 a month. Approved 3-0
110. Approve a rental agreement with ABF Freight Systems for 3,000 square feet of Warehouse 4 at the Fairhaven Terminal? ABF is establishing a Bellingham presence to compete with their major competitors Roadway Express and Yellow. ABF services all of North America and has 200 service hubs within the U.S. The rent will be $1,050 per month and starts on December 1, 2002. Approved 3-0
111. Modify the lease with Seaview Boatyard North at Squalicum Harbor? This modification will add 6,000 square feet of property to the current lease so that Seaview will be able to expand. There will be no additional rent added, as the removal of the property from the original lease did not reduce the rent. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at December 3, 2002 meeting
112. Declare 6,250 square feet of port property surplus and reduce the boundaries of the shipping terminal district? The city is currently expanding the sewerage pump station on E. Oak Street and approached the port about purchasing property. The boundaries on the port-owned property must be redrawn so that the land title can be transferred. The city will make its offer to the port based on the assessment, due on December 31. (Resolution 1171) Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
113. Approve account write-offs for River of Life International $46,591, Bellingham Bay Shipyards $15,694 and Larry Kinley $5,586? Each has gone bankrupt and has no available assets. Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
114. Authorize the executive director to sign an interlocal agreement with the Whatcom County PUD? The agreement will involve phase 1 of a marketing plan for the by-products of a bio-gas electric plant. The project is seen as worth exploration since it will give local dairy farmers a feasible use for waste. Phase 1 will establish whether there is a viable market for the high volume of leftovers that the process will produce; electricity sales alone will not keep the project out of the red. The port will fund phase1 up to $4,500. Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
115. Authorize the executive director to execute a $31,906 contract with Walker’s Carpet One of Bellingham for floor tile replacement at Marina Square? Since Marina Square was completed in 2001, the vinyl tiles have failed due to moisture problems in a third of the building. Two previous attempts at correcting the problem have failed. Replacing the moisture-sensitive vinyl tile with ceramic tile is the cheapest and least inconvenient of the options. Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
116. Authorize the executive director to execute a $37,921 contract with Nelson Industrial of Bellingham for beam repairs at Squalicum Gate 2? The dock used by a 35-ton crane, to move vessels in and out of the water, is failing due to dry rot in the heavy beams that support the lifting equipment. Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
117. Execute a new lease with Post Point Software of Bellingham for 2,472 square feet of space at Fairhaven Station? The software company has spent two years looking for the right space to expand. The lease is for two years starting December 1, 2002. The rent will be $2,843 a month plus Washington state leasehold tax. Approved 2-0, Ginny Benton excused.
Action Taken at December 17, 2002 meeting
118. Authorize the executive direcor to sign contracts to implement the 2003 employee benefits program? The program will cost $63,414 or 8.8 percent more than the 2002 package. Increase: medical coverage 9.5 percent, dental and vision: 8.3 percent. No change: long-term disability and life and accidental death. Approved 3-0
119. Authorize the executive director to sign a $359,470 agreement with CH2M Hill of Bellevue for engineering, consulting and planning services for the 2003 projects at the Bellingham International Airport? The projects include a new apron with 30 tie-downs which secure planes during high winds, access from the tie-downs to taxiway Alpha, relocation and upgrade of the runway electrical vault and reconstruction and overlay the failed (reasons unknown at this time) north turn of taxiway Bravo. The FAA will reimburse 90 percent ($323,523) of the expected costs. Approved 3-0
120. Authorize the executive director to amend the agreement with the state Department of Ecology to extend the deadline for Phase 2 of the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot project? The original deadline of June 30,2002 will be extended to June 30,2005. The pilot was started in June 1986 to address contaminated sediment problems in Bellingham Bay. Approved 3-0
121. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreed order with the state Department of Ecology for completing a remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) of the Harris Avenue shipyard site? The RI/FS is currently funded via the Bellingham Bay Demonstration Pilot project. Recently, however, Ecology has named the port as a potentially liable party at the site and has thus recommended additional sampling and is requiring the port to sign an agreed order and to pay for the additional sampling. Approved 3-0
122. Execute a remedial action grant with the state Department of Ecology for completing a remedial investigation/feasibility study? The port will be liable for $40,000 of the estimated $160,000 cost for the Harris Avenue shipyard site. Ecology and the state Department of Natural Resources will fund the 75 percent of the project ($120,000) not funded by the port. Approved 3-0
123. Amend the professional services agreement with The Retec Group of Seattle to perform the expanded RI/FS at the Harris Avenue shipyard site? This will expand the work already completed by Retec and add $160,000 to the original $299,463 project fund for a total project cost of $459,463. Approved 3-0
124. Approve an agreement with Sumas Energy 2, Inc. to purchase 4.316 acres in Sumas? SE2 has approached the port for an option to buy the property on the northwest corner of Bob Mitchell Avenue and Hesselgrave Way. A minimum price of $295,000 has been set, which will increase 3 percent per year till the sale is completed. Approved 3-0
