April 2006
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Ryan Hashagen
Action Taken at January 10, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
1. Authorize the executive director to sell property estimated at $10,000 or less? State law requires annual renewal of the authority to sell port surplus property. (Resolution 1029-K) Approved 3-0
2. Delegate administrative powers and duties to the executive director? The powers streamline various housekeeping duties and legal transactions. Those powers sunset on January 31, 2007. After discussion, the commission deleted ‘lease assignments’ from the executive director’s responsibilities. (Resolution 1106-H) Approved 3-0
3. Designate the chief financial officer as the official responsible for informing the public of the port’s intent to issue tax-exempt bonds? These powers sunset on January 31, 2007. (Resolution 1183-C) Approved 3-0
4. Adopt the 2006 property tax levy? The property tax income is estimated at $6,415,066. The levy rate will be 38 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. This updates votes at the 11/15/05 meeting, vote numbers 109 and 110. (Resolution 1216A/Resolution 1217A) Approved 3-0
5. Update procedures for public access to port records? This resolution clarifies copying costs and requires port staff to treat e-mail and other requests the same as the port’s ‘public disclosure request form’ to comply with state law. These procedures supersede Resolutions 936, 968 and 1109. (Resolution 1221) Approved 3-0
6. Adopt the rules, regulations and procedures for Blaine and Squalicum Harbors for 2006? This resolution renews the rules with no amendments or changes. (Resolution 1226) Approved 3-0
7. Establish meeting room fees for 2006? The expenses are expected to be $223,342, revenues are estimated at $151,123 resulting in a deficit of $72,219. Taxes will cover $59,402 resulting in a loss of $12,817. Revenue has seen a downturn in the last year because homeland security concerns has affected events at water facilities. Approved 3-0
8. Appoint John Carter auditor for fiscal year 2006? State law requires that the auditor monitor all port expenditures, comply with state law and port policies, control all invested funds and report directly to the commissions. Approved 3-0
9. Approve port rents for 2006? In general, the rental rates for 2006 will increase for most facilities as the market allows. Approved 3-0
10. Approve the officers and dates of regular port commission meetings? The officers will be: Jim Jorgensen-president, Scott Walker-vice president and Doug Smith-secretary. The meetings shall be held at 1801 Roeder Avenue on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 3 p.m. Approved 3-0
11. Approve committee nominations?1 Assignments are for commissioners and staff. Approved 3-0
12. Reaffirm Chmelik, Sitkin, & Davis, P.S., as the port’s general counsel for 2006 and 2007? The hourly rate of $200 established in 2001 will remain in effect through 12/31/07. Approved 3-0
13. Authorize the executive director to sign a $40,000 interlocal agreement with WWU’s Small Business Development Center? The development center provides services through its rural business outreach program to retain and expand businesses in rural Whatcom County. This is half of the funding commitment to the center; see vote 21 for the other half. Approved 3-0
14. Authorize the port’s lawyers to sign a contract with the Retec Group of Bellingham for environmental consulting? The Retec Group has been the port’s environmental consultant for over 20 sites and has helped the port recover environmental cleanup costs from liable parties. This vote authorizes up to $150,000 for consulting fees. Approved 3-0
15. Authorize the executive director to sign a $283,735 contract with Tiger Construction Co. of Everson to complete the Squalicum promenade project? The contract includes 1,700 linear feet of landscaping from the Harbor Center building to Gate 8 and includes replacing 20 light poles, luminaries and conduit. The old streetlights have become seagull-nesting sites. The port’s maintenance division will assist with the landscaping. The project will be completed by opening day 2006. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee of $28,000 for a total of $311,735. Approved 3-0
16. Authorize the executive director to sign an interlocal agreement with the Whatcom County Public Utility District for students to construct and operate a wind turbine at the Bellingham shipping terminal? Bellingham High School students wanting to conduct a renewable energy demonstration project using wind power for their senior project approached the Public Utility District. The PUD was able to obtain Bonneville Power Administration funds for the project and will assume full responsibility for the project. Approved 3-0
17. Authorize the executive director to purchase tidelands from Michael and Lisette Mast located in the water treatment lagoon for $35,000? The port will purchase 30,073 square feet in the former Georgic-Pacific treatment lagoon and release the Mast family from all liability related to hazardous materials. Approved 3-0
18. Appoint the Industrial Development Corporation officers and establish the meeting dates? The officers will be: Jim Jorgensen-president, Scott Walker-vice president and Doug Smith-secretary; John Carter is reappointed as port treasurerer. The meeting will be held in conjunction with port commission meetings and occur “as needed.” Approved 3-0
19. Adopt the 2006 Industrial Development Corporation budget of $118,100? The IDC charges a fee to issuers of industrial revenue bonds. These fees are accumulated and can only be used for economic development purposes. Approved 3-0
20. Authorize the IDC treasurer to sign a $40,000 interlocal agreement with WWU’s Small Business Development Center? This is half of the port’s funding commitment to the center through 12/31/06. See vote 13 for the other half. Approved 3-0
1Bellingham/Whatcom Economic Development Corporation: Scott Walker and Jim Darling (executive director), Jim Jorgenson (alternate)
Whatcom Council of Governments: Doug Smith and John Hergensheimer (lead project engineer)
Washington Public Ports Association: Scott Walker and Jim Jorgensen
Association of Pacific Ports: Jim Jorgensen
Puget Sound Ports Group: Jim Jorgensen and Jim Darling
Public Art Advisory Team: Scott Walker, Sylvia Goodwin and Carol Williams (horticulturalist)
Action Taken at January 17, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
21. Authorize the executive director to award a $5,000 matching grant to the Whatcom Coalition for Healthy Communities for the purposes of creating a Web site? This money (see Bellingham City Council meeting on 11/7/05, vote number 241 for a $10,000 grant) will be used to create the Health Communities Network, an Internet-based clearinghouse that will collect health information about Whatcom County. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at February 7, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
22. Authorize the executive director to enter into a $36,000 contract with Del Pearson of Vancouver, WA, to market port facilities? The airport will be marketed to commercial airlines, the ferry terminal to marine cargo and cruise ships. The contract runs from 1/1/06 to 12/31/06. Approved 3-0
23. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the Whatcom County sheriff regarding the use of a portable explosives detector? The detector, owned by the sheriff, will be kept at the airport and the port will be responsible for routine maintenance and damage repair. The device is available to any Whatcom County law enforcement agency that has employees trained in its use. Approved 3-0
24. Approve a lease modification with Yamato Properties at 3836 Williamson Way? The original lease was signed in June of 2000; it called for annual adjustments in rent and renegotiations every five years. The first rent calculation was wrong, resulting in a four-year overcharge of $1,347.12. This modification provides Yamato Properties with credit for the overcharge. Approved 3-0
25. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement that outlines the responsibilities of eight Washington ports that are participating in an insurance buying group? The group was created in 1996 to purchase property and casualty insurance through a single broker. This agreement recognizes Aon Risk Services of Chicago as the ‘broker of record.’ Costs are equally divided among member ports. Each port has separate policies and is responsible for their own payment. Approved 3-0
26. Approve $21,500 in economic development funds for the city of Ferndale? The Riverview Plaza and Trail plan was the only applicant and applied for $19,882. With no other applicants, the port allocated all of this year’s development funds to the city of Ferndale. The plan connects downtown Ferndale to Pioneer and Vanderyacht Parks with a promenade. Approved 3-0
27. Authorize the executive director to sign a third amended contract for $28,500 with Landau Associates of Edmonds for additional work on the Gate 2 boatyard site? The original contract was approved on 8/6/02, vote number 55 ($380,050), amendment one was approved on 7/1/03, vote number 55 ($139,500), amendment two was approved on 7/6/04, vote number 71 ($37,000) for a total of $556,550. The state has reimbursed the port for 50 percent of costs associated with the sediment analysis. The contract for the third amendment expires on 12/31/06. Approved 3-0
28. Authorize the executive director to sign a third amended contract for $50,200 with Landau Associates of Edmonds for additional work on the Weldcraft Steel and Marine site? The state and port staff agree that additional work is required in order to complete the remedial investigation/feasibility study. The new amendment brings the total to $173,700. The contract for amendment three expires on 12/31/06. Approved 3-0
29. Approve a new lease agreement with Fairhaven Boatworks? Charlotte Johnson owns 51 percent of the company. This spring, her son, Forest Longman, plans to reopen Fairhaven Boatworks as a nonprofit company named ‘Whatcom Community Boatworks.’ Approved 3-0
30. Approve a lease with the Bellingham Technical College for space in Warehouse #1 at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal? Approximately 1,000 square feet of storage/office space will be used for a Canadian-American biodiesel initiative. It will encourage utility trucks to switch from sulfur-based diesel to biodiesel. The lease will run for one year and the rent will be $250 a month. The lease requires the port to be included as a partner in all media campaigns, advertisements and publications related to the biodiesel project. Approved 3-0
31. Approve an agreement with Teal Jones Lumber Services to lease or purchase approximately 9.2 acres in Sumas? At the 8/3/04 meeting, vote number 87, the commission approved a five-year lease with Teal Jones for five acres at the Sumas Industrial Park with the option to lease an adjoining five acres and purchase all 10 acres in the future. This agreement gives Teal Jones a one-year right to lease or purchase 9.2 acres in the Sumas International Cargo Terminal. Teal Jones will make monthly payments of $1,000 during the option period, with 50 percent of this payment being credited toward the future lease or sale of the property. Approved 3-0
