June 2006
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
Compiled by Ryan Hashagen
Action Taken at March 21, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
41. Allow the sale of up to $3.45 million in tax-exempt bonds by Totally Chocolate of Blaine? The company produces chocolate for businesses that use chocolate for corporate gift giving, customer appreciation and sales promotion. The industrial revenue bonds will finance a new 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Blaine at an estimated cost of $3.45 million. Totally Chocolate will be responsible for the loan and will pay the port a $1,000 application fee and a 1/10 of 1 percent annual fee for servicing the loan. (Industrial Development Corporation Resolution 60) Approved 2-0-1, Doug Smith abstained because he formerly owned the business that will be constructing the manufacturing facility.
42. Apply as a co-applicant with the city of Blaine for a $5 million state grant to help finance the construction of a $30 million wastewater treatment plant and the repairing of 2,300 feet of Marine Drive? A joint application stands a better chance of success. The port is not committed to funding the road project or the treatment plant. (Resolution 1227) Approved 3-0
43. Support the sale of tax-free bonds by Totally Chocolate to finance a new manufacturing facility? See vote number 41 for details. (Resolution 1228) Approved 2-0-1, Doug Smith abstained because he formerly owned the business that will be constructing the manufacturing facility.
44. Authorize the executive director to accept a $10,000 grant from the city of Salt Lake City for the purpose of marketing and advertising the new Delta Airline service between Bellingham and Salt Lake City? The city of Salt Lake owns and operates the Salt Lake City airport. When a new destination city is named for flights to and from Salt Lake City airport, the city of Salt Lake participates financially with the new destination city in marketing and advertising the service. Approved 3-0
45. Authorize the executive director to initiate a marketing plan for the new air service between Bellingham and Salt Lake City? Phase 1 of the plan will not exceed $50,000. Delta Airlines expects the port to promote the new connection beginning immediately. Phase 1 is funded by the $10,000 grant from Salt Lake City and federal grant of $40,000 from the Department of Transportation. The commission will consider Phase 2 at the April 18 meeting. Approved 3-0
46. Approve the 2006-08 collective bargaining agreement with ILWU Local 7, Clerical Division? The contract runs from 1/1/06 to 12/31/08 and contains salary increases of 3.5 percent in 2006 and 3 percent in 2007 and 2008. The short-term disability plan is being replaced by a paid time off plan. The paid time off plan includes 64 hours of paid time off annually except for the first year of employment and a one-time only 480-hour bank for physician authorized illness for employees or family members. Approved 3-0
47. Authorize the executive director to sign a $6,000 amended contract with CollinsWoerman of Seattle to provide planning services for the New Whatcom redevelopment project? The original contract for $118,060 was approved at the 9/6/05 meeting, vote 89. This amendment is for floor area ratio analysis, 3D modeling and density analysis. The total amended contract is $124,060. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at April 4, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
48. Authorize the executive director to accept a state grant of $22,817 to purchase two portable pumpout stations in Blaine? Boaters use pumpout stations to remove human excrement from their vessels. The purchase is budgeted at $30,423; the ports share will be $7,606. Approved 3-0
49. Authorize the executive director to spend up to $30,000 to purchase 90 dock boxes from Cheyenne Manufacturing of Brush Prairie, Washington, without competitive bidding? Dock boxes are fiberglass storage units located at each marina slip. Port staff believes that other dock boxes on the market are substandard to the Cheyenne product so competitive bidding should be suspended for this purchase. The $30,000 includes a 10 percent contingency fee. Approved 3-0
50. Amend the resolution establishing the Ethics Advisory Committee? The permanent committee (replacing a temporary committee) was established at the 8/19/03 meeting, vote number 59. The committee has no enforcement power; it can only offer advice. This amendment allows committee members to serve three-year terms with a two-term limit. Previously, the members served rotating terms. (Resolution 1181A) Approved 3-0
51. Appoint Barney Goltz and Robin Halliday to second terms on the Ethics Advisory Committee? Barney Goltz was first appointed to the committee at the 11/4/03 meeting, vote number 91 and Robin Halliday at the 12/3/03 meeting, vote number 102. Both terms expire on 12/31/08. Approved 3-0
52. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $86,310 to Larry Brown Construction of Bellingham to replace windows at the Fairhaven Station? In 1994, the Pacific American Fisheries office building was converted to a bus/train station. Wood windows were utilized in the 1994 remodel to preserve the historical character of the building. Twenty of the buildings 50 windows need to be replaced due to sun and rain exposure. The replacement windows maintain the desired historic features but employ the most current technology. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee of $8,690 for a total contract of $95,000. Approved 3-0
53. Renegotiate the Wood Stone Corporation lease? The lease is renegotiated every five years; the lease expired on 6/1/05. This modification increases the rent from $19,000 to $21,850 a month, a 15 percent increase (the maximum allowable increase under the terms of the lease). Wood Stone must additionally pay a concession fee of .5 percent of their total gross receipts. In 2005, this amount was $42,669. Approved 3-0
54. Renegotiate the lease with Harbor Moon Salon & Barber? The tenant (Wade A. and Margarette V. Coen, proprietors) has leased 650 square feet in the Harbor Center Building for one-year terms. This lease will be for five years retroactive to 12/1/05 and ending 11/31/10 with one five-year renewal option, The monthly rent will be $812.50 for the first two years increasing to $877.50 in year five. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at April 18, 2006 Meeting
Shall the commission:
55. Approve a lease with Mad Anthonys of Seattle for the former Marina Restaurant site at 7 Bellwether Way? The restaurant chain (23 restaurants in 16 locations) current operates Anthonys Restaurant at 25 Bellwether Way. The 30-year lease commenced on 5/1/06 with four additional 10-year renewal periods. Rent doesnt begin until 8/1/06 at $3,487 per month for the first five years and $3,836 for the next five years. Beginning on 1/1/08, Mad Anthonys shall pay the base rent or 2 percent of its gross sales, whichever is larger. Approved 3-0
56. Send a letter to the federal government supporting a grant application by the Whatcom County Agriculture Preservation Committee for a cheddar cheese factory feasibility study? The nonprofit association applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a $99,000 grant to fund a feasilibility study regarding the production of bulk cheddar cheese under a private label. Members of the association have contributed $20,000 to match the grant. Approved 3-0
57. Authorize the executive director to extend the Whatcom Security Agency contract for two months? The contract expired on 3/3/06 and the staff needs the time to solicit bids for a new three-year contract. Approved 3-0
