March 2005
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at January 18, 2005 Meeting
Shall the commission:
16. Expand the physical boundaries of the Squalicum Harbor district to include the Georgia-Pacific properties? This expands the boundaries to include all of G-P’s downtown properties. (Resolution 1205) Approved 3-0
17. Acquire Georgia-Pacific Corporation’s Bellingham Bay properties? This resolution accepts the G-P property in exchange for the port’s agreement to perform specified environmental remediation on the property. (Resolution 1206) Approved 3-0
18. Allow the port to buy and pre-fund the needed liability insurance with American International Specialty Lines Insurance Company of New York for the G-P cleanup? The pre-funding, to cover 50 percent of the anticipated cleanup costs of $20 million of the plan, will take place over three years with the first payment on January 19, 2005. (Resolution 1207) Approved 3-0
19. Amend the 2005 budget to approve a multiyear plan to buy insurance for the Georgia-Pacific waterfront property? (Resolution 1208) Approved 3-0
20. Authorize the executive director to extend an agreement with four cities for an economic development program? At the 6/1/04 meeting, vote 58, the commission authorized an agreement with Everson, Ferndale, Lynden and Sumas to provide $95,000 aimed at improving their economies. The cities have requested the extension to 6/31/05 because of unforeseen delays in their project plans. Approved 3-0
21. Authorize the executive director to accept a $25,000 state grant for the Weldcraft Steel and Marine/Gate 2 boatyard remediation project? Two changes in the project have increased the cost by $50,000. Approved 3-0
22. Amend the 2005 budget by allocating $45,000 to the executive division for added costs responding to public disclosure requests? The G-P acquisition has increased the amount of public disclosure requests and necessitated hiring outside help to deal with the volume of work through The RETEC Group of Seattle. The estimated cost to date is $15,000 and legal council estimates another $30,000 will be needed to review the records. Approved 3-0
