April 2003
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at March 4, 2003 meeting
19. Authorize the executive director to pay for the annual state audit? The audit will cost an estimated $36,000 and take 48-days. The state is billing the port at their hourly rate of $75.50. Approved 3-0
20. Authorize the executive director to spend $3,512 for terrorism insurance coverage through October 31, 2003? Insurers are required by federal mandate to offer, at a premium, the terrorism insurance they had originally offered before 9/11 for free. It will cover the port for an additional $50,000,000 in general liabilities. Approved 3-0
21. Ratify the sale of 6,520 square feet of property on East Oak Street to the city of Bellingham? The sale will allow the city to expand the Oak Street sewerage pump station (Vote 24, March 2003, page 15). The property was declared surplus on December 3, 2002 (Vote 112, January 2003, page 12). The city has agreed to pay $8.84 per square foot, which equates to $55,250. Approved 3-0
22. Support a three-month agreement with Ainsworth Lumber Company of Vancouver, B.C. for two parcels in the Sumas Industrial Park? The lumber company is planning to relocate its Abbottsford finger joint plant to the U.S. side of the border to regain the market share lost due to the softwood lumber dispute. The three- month option will allow Ainsworth to complete its environmental, financial and project feasibility. Once that is done, Ainsworth may purchase the property or lease it for 30 years at $10,249 per month with annual Consumer Price Index adjustments and five-year renegotiations. Approved 3-0
23. Approve the 2001-2005 collective bargaining agreement with the ILWU Local 7 Clerical Union? The five-year contract, effective January 1, 2003, will give employees a 9 percent wage increase effective January 1, 2003 and 2.5 percent annual increases through 2005. In addition all active union members will receive a one-time signing bonus of $18,000. Approved 3-0
24. Declare 1.3 acres of port property adjacent to the Bellingham Shipping Terminal surplus? The property known as the “Log Pond” is currently under lease to Georgia-Pacific West, Inc. with an option to purchase. G-P is finalizing its acquisition of the property for $49,818. (Resolution 1175) Approved 3-0
25. Pemit the port to issue up to $24,000,000 in industrial revenue bonds for BP West Cost Products? These tax-exempt bonds will allow BP to pay for equipment and improvements of dock and storage facilities, solid product handling , also solid waste and industrial sewage disposal facilities at the BP Cherry Point Refinery. (Resolution 1176) Approved 2-0-1, Commissioner Scott Walker abstained because BP was his former employer.
