Port of Bellingham Commission

Shall the commission:

121. Remove 13.46 acres from the Sumas International Cargo Terminal? (Public hearing held on October 16) See vote 127 for the vote on the sale of the property. The commission established the cargo terminal in 1986. In 1998 and 2001, the commission voted to remove 3.5 and 2.3 acres and sell them. At the 4/1/03 meeting, vote number 32, the commission voted to remove 42 acres to sell them to three separate buyers. The commission amended the boundaries of the cargo terminal after this and the three previous votes. (Resolution 1249) Approved 3-0

122. Authorize the executive director to sign a $10,860 contract (phase two) with RMC Architects of Bellingham to evaluate redevelopment options for the Georgia-Pacific tissue warehouse? The 250,000 square foot building was built by Georgia-Pacific in 2000 to store paper products. This is a three-phased analysis to determine the most suitable way of turning the tissue warehouse into a marine trades center that will include a section designated as an innovation zone and house a research facility in partnership with Western Washington University and Bellingham Technical College. The executive director on 10/5/07 signed the phase one contract for $24,900. Approved 3-0

123. Reaffirm the executive director’s declaration of an emergency at the Bellingham airport and subsequent action for repairs? Deteriorating asphalt was discovered at the intersection of runway 16-34 and taxiway “B” and a $37,640 contract with Wilder Construction of Bellingham temporaily repaired the pavement. The area needs to be studied to arrive at a permanent solution. Approved 3-0

124. Authorize the executive director to sign a $164,350 contract with URS Corporation of San Francisco, Calif., to provide the direction for future development at the Bellingham airport? The project includes a market analysis, preliminary engineering design and a financial analysis/business plan. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee for a total of $180,850. Approved 3-0

125. Approve an agreement with the city of Bellingham to explore the potential of annexing the port’s airport properties into the city of Bellingham? Before 2004, the city extended water and sewer services to the airport properties as long as the port paid for the installation. In 2004, the city policy changed concerning such services in the Urban Growth Area within which the airport is located; in 2006 the city began denying the port and its tenants access to sewer and water. This agreement would explore the effects and feasibility of annexing the airport properties into the city of Bellingham. During the one-year study, the port or its tenants will be allowed to connect to the existing water and sewer as long as the connection does not result in exceeding the capacity of the current system. Approved 3-0

126. Authorize the executive director to sign a $104,240 contract (part 2, amendment #3) with Blumen Consulting Group of Kirkland to complete the draft environmental impact statement for the Waterfront District (formerly New Whatcom)? The port and the city of Bellingham finance this contract 50/50. This amendment brings the total for the part 2 contract to $575,845. Approved 3-0

127. Authorize the executive director to sell 13.46 acres, (11.9 acres of useable land and 1.56 acres of shoreline) to the Sumas Cogeneration Company for $1,313,000? The market value of the property at the Sumas International Cargo Terminal is $1,321,400. Sumas Energy began leasing the property in 1990 and assigned the lease to Sumas Cogeneration Company in 1991 for cogeneration and kiln drying facilities. At the 9/5/06 meeting, vote number 103, the commission approved an easement of 1.2 acres of Johnson Creek wetland to Sumas Properties for $8,400 to expand their kiln drying facility. Approved 3-0

128. Authorize the executive director to sign a letter of intent with the Northwest Discovery Project setting forth terms for a land lease in the Waterfront District for the proposed Terraquarium? Since 1995, the Northwest Discovery Project has operated the Marine Life Center. This agreement will permit the Northwest Discovery Project to apply for grants to build the Terraquarium, which will include a state-of-the-art zoo and aquarium, dynamic land and water based exhibits with digital presentations, and educational and research facilities in partnership with Huxley Environmental College. Approved 3-0

Shall the commission:

129. Approve supplemental agreement #51 with the city of Bellingham for the Waterfront District in the amount of $144,620? The Waterfront District is the new name for the former Georgia-Pacific property that was initially called New Whatcom. This vote authorizes $52,120 for further draft environment impact statement analysis and $92,500 to prepare the final environment impact statement. The Bellingham City Council approved supplemental agreement #5 at the 11/19/07 meeting, vote number 241. Approved 3-0

130. Amend the agreement with the city of Bellingham to explore annexation of the port’s airport properties? Under this agreement, the time allowed to study the possible annexation of the airport is shortened from one year (approved at the 11/6/07 meeting, vote number 124) to four months. During the study period the port may petition the City Council to approve specific water and sewer connections to the existing airport infrastructure and upon reaching an agreement on the terms for annexing the property, the port will file a petition for annexation. Approved 3-0

131. Adopt the 2008 operating/capital budget? The year 2008 begins with reserves of $13.1 million, anticipates revenues of 38.8 million, expenses of $42.4 million and end reserves of $9.5 million. When the county assessor provides a final property assessment, staff will prepare a modified resolution. (Resolution 1250) Approved 3-0

132. Adopt the 2008 property tax levy? The 2007 property tax levy was 34 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation and the total income is estimated at $6,939,388. The 2008 property tax levy will be lowered to 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation and the total income is estimated at $7,157,856. When the county assessor provides a final property assessment, staff will prepare a modified resolution. (Resolution 1251) Approved 3-0

¹This vote brings the port’s total to $1,285,134 and the grand total for the city and port to $2,518,278. The initial agreement was approved at the 12/14/04 meeting. Supplement #1 for $53,165 was approved at the 7/18/06 meeting vote number 93; supplement #2 for $332,118 was approved at the 12/12/06 meeting, vote number 138; supplement #3 for $402,818 was approved at the 3/6/07 meeting, vote number 39 and supplement #4 for $352,413 at the August 21, 2007 special meeting, vote number 92.