June 2005
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Earl Dennis
Action Taken at May 3, 2005 Meeting
Shall the commission:
56. Add $600 to the petty cash fund at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal? This is change for Alaska ferry passengers. (Resolution 1212) Approved 3-0
57. Authorize the executive director to extend the contract with WWU’s Small Business Development Center to December 31, 2005? The business center provides business counseling services to the county’s small cities and rural areas. The three-year contract ends July 2, 2005; this $40,000 extension ends the contract at the same time as the port’s fiscal year. Approved 3-0
58. Authorize the executive director to sign a $60,000 contract with Carpathia Consulting of Bellingham to coordinate the master plan for the former Georgia-Pacific site? Bill Hager, owner of Carpathia, is a former port real estate and planning director and a former city planner. Both city and port staffs supported selecting Carpathia to coordinate future usage of the recently acquired Georgia-Pacific site now called “New Whatcom.” Approved 3-0
59. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the state to complete the remedial investigation/feasibility study of Whatcom Waterway? With the purchase of the Georgia-Pacific site, the port became responsible for the cleanup of the Whatcom Waterway. The total cost of the project is estimated at $305,000 plus a 10 percent contingency and includes $30,000 for Dept. of Ecology’s oversight of the work. Half of the study is funded from insurance purchased by the port and G-P during the land transaction. With the contract, the port will gain access to state grants for the remainder of the cost. Approved 3-0
60. Authorize the executive director to amend the log pond monitoring and maintenance agreement with the state? This amendment transfers the pond’s responsibility from G-P to the port under the contract with the state Department of Ecology. Approved 3-0
61. Authorize the executive director to sign a $274,500 contract with The Retec Group of Seattle, for a remedial investigation/feasibility study of Whatcom Waterway? The work is covered by insurance. A state grant will fund 50 percent of the work, plus other eligible grant work performed during the negotation period of the G-P purchase, up to $201,153. Approved 3-0
62. Authorize the executive director to sign a $274,500 contract with The Retec Group of Seattle, for the remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Whatcom Waterway and monitoring of the G-P log pond? Retec was selected as the most qualified consultant from a search for professional services. Approved 3-0
63. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Bornstein Seafoods to share costs for a remedial investigation/feasibility study of the I&J Waterway site? Under the negotiated agreement, Bornstein will contribute 30 percent, up to $87,000 for the study. The port will receive a $97,500 grant from the state, which leaves the port’s share of the overall project at $105,500. The port and Bornstein have been labeled as potentially liable parties for contamination near Bellwether Way and are responsible for the cleanup. They are jointly seeking insurance sources to help cover some or the entire project. Approved 3-0
64. Authorize the executive director to sign a $62,483 contract with Grette Associates of Tacoma to monitor the Drayton Harbor mitigation site? This contract is for year six of the monitoring and will be a thorough sampling of the site’s environmental development from human planted eelgrass. The survey will include a complete survey of the sea floor, creatures living in the area, growth of eelgrass and salt marsh vegetation, and establish future survey reference points. Approved 3-0
