August 2004
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at July 6, 2004 Meeting
Shall the commission:
67. Authorize the sale of six vessels and storage items seized for nonpayment of moorage and storage fees? The vessels are the Amigo, Lil Miss Veeda, Makasios, Escape, Pacific Breeze and an unnamed sailboat. The storage items are two fish pumps. Total nonpayment charges are $11,216. The auction will be held on July 22, 2004. Approved 3-0
68. Transfer leases at the Harbor and Squalicum Mall from Grand Yachts to NW Explorations? The Bellingham offices of Grand Yachts Northwest have been sold to NW Explorations. The business (yacht sales and marine services) will remain the same. Approved 3-0
69. Transfer $669,000 to a new account to evaluate the business, ecological and legal aspects of buying Georgia-Pacific property? The port has 120 days to evaluate the contamination of G-P property and estimate the cost of cleanup. If the cleanup cost is less than the value of the property, G-P will give the property to the port and the port will be responsible for the cleanup. Approved 3-0
70. Authorize the executive director to sign an interlocal agreement with the Whatcom County Public Utility District for broadband telecommunication? The agreement will allow the port to connect the Bellingham Cruise Terminal’s video surveillance system (4/6/04, vote 41 and 5/4/04, vote 52) with the rest of the port’s security system using the PUD’s fiber optic network. Approved 3-0
71. Authorize the executive director to enter into a $47,000 amended contract with Landau Associates of Edmonds on the Gate 2 boatyard project? The original sediment remediation contract was approved on 8/6/02 (vote 81), an amended contract was approved on 6/3/03 (vote 55). Upon completion of the dredging, a surface water sampling was taken at 11 sites. Five sites had higher than acceptable levels of toxins. This amendment pays for the five sites to be re-sampled to determine if settling and natural turbidity took care of the problem. If there is a continuing problem, it will be assessed. Approved 3-0
72. Authorize the executive director to sign a $42,199 contract with Echelon Engineering of Seattle to conduct above water and underwater inspection of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal? This project will evaluate the existing steel and timber pilings. The terminal was built over time, so the aging process is not uniform. The port needs to determine if the structures can handle proposed future uses and if it has as maintenance problems. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee of $4,220 for a total of $46,419. Approved 3-0
73. Modify the lease with the Wood Stone Corporation of Bellingham? This modification will allow the Wood Stone Corporation to postpone expansion plans until the fall of 2005, so they can focus on a changing market. Wood Stone will cover loan interest and 25 percent of the permitting costs for a total of $122,152, so the infrastructure portion of the project can continue without a loss of grant money (1/26/04, vote 11). Approved 3-0
74. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $249,969 to Award Construction of Bellingham for phase two of the Bakerview Infrastructure Project? This phase will install the stormwater retention facility on the north side of Bakerview Road and landscaping. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee of $24,997 for a total of $275,000. Approved 3-0
75. Modify the administrative powers of the executive director? This modification will allow the staff to make lease assignments without commission approval in cases where a condominium association sublets hangar space to a second party. (Resolution 1106-F) Approved 3-0
76. Increase the Port of Bellingham Commissioners’ compensation? The base pay is currently $200 per month plus a per diem rate that was established in 1974. The maximum pay per commissioner is $9,120 per year. The commissioners often exceed the per diem maximum of 96 days so they receive no compensation for the extra work. This modification will raise the base pay to $500 a month and a maximum yearly pay of $12,720. The increase does not take effect until the current commissioner’s terms expire. That is January 2006 for District 1 and 2 and January 2008 for District 3. (Resolution 1195) Approved 3-0
77. Allow the Vander Haak Dairy to issue tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds? There is no limit on the amount of tax-free bonds the Vander Haak Dairy can sell to finance the building of a manure digester. The port will be reimbursed for its costs by a $1,000 application fee and a one-tenth of 1 percent annual service fee. The Vander Haak Diary is solely responsible for the debt. (Resolution 1196) Approved 3-0
78. Adopt the comprehensive park and public access plan? The plan replaces the open space, parks and public access plan that was adopted on March 31, 1998. The new plan will guide the port over the next five years. (Resolution 1197) Approved 3-0 §
