August 2008
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham Commission
Compiled by Cheryl Stewart
Action Taken at June 3, 2008 Meeting
Shall the commission:
75. Appoint David Nichols to a second term on the Ethics Advisory Committee? Mr. Nichols first term commenced on 1/1/05 and expired on 12/31/07. His second term will expire on 12/31/10. Approved 3-0
76. Appropriate $20,000 for emergency waterline repairs at the Harris Avenue Shipyard? The emergency action taken by the executive director was approved at the 3/4/08 meeting, vote number 37. The time was originally estimated at eight hours and a cost of $15,000. The actual time was 11 hours and the cost was $20,000. Approved 3-0
77. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $313,360 to American Building Maintenance of New York for janitorial services? This contract is for 26 facilities; new to the contract are 625 Cornwall and the Marine Trade Center. The contract was advertised and three bids were received. The contract runs from 7/1/08 through 6/30/09 and includes a 20 percent contingency fee for a total of $376,360. Approved 3-0
78. Authorize the executive director to spend $79,296 for a backhoe? The John Deere 310J will be purchased from Pape Machinery of Kent. It will replace a backhoe purchased in 1991, which will be sold through the state auction program for an estimated $10,000. Approved 3-0
79. Authorize the sale of five vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? The five vessels owe a total of $9,409 in moorage fees. A partial moorage fee was paid on one vessel. An auction was held on June 26 for four vessels — none were sold. The J.G. Murphy Company in Kenmore will auction the 25-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $1,663; a 28-foot commercial vessel with unpaid fees of $1,524; a 31-foot pleasure vessel with unpaid fees of $2,678 and a 26-foot pleasure vessel with unpaid fees of $1,722. Approved 3-0
80. Authorize the executive director to sign a transition agreement with Georgia-Pacific relating to the demolition and transfer of responsibilities for the site, facility operations and maintenance? At the 1/18/05 meeting, vote number 17, the commission accepted G-P property in exchange for performing environmental remediation on the property. This agreement addresses items not identified in the original agreement. Approved 3-0
81. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement transferring the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit from Georgia-Pacific to the Port of Bellingham? The permit allows the discharge from the former G-P treatment lagoon of stormwater, industrial wastewater and woodwaste leachate from the airport through an outfall pipe into Bellingham Bay. The port plans on converting the treatment lagoon into a marina. Approved 3-0
82. Authorize the executive direct to sign $3,973,572 contract (amendment #4)1 with Anchor Environmental of Seattle for phase II design and permitting of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup and marina development project? The scope of work submitted by Anchor for phase II runs 38 pages. To start construction by mid-2010 all permits must be submitted by mid-2009. Phase II includes continuing tasks identified in phase 1, completing 30 percent of the project design, preparing “basis of design” and “design concept” reports. The $251,150 for piling removal is contingent upon receiving a grant. Phase II design and permitting should be completed by April 2009. This amendment brings the total amended contract to $5,131,697. Approved 3-0
83. Authorize the executive director or designee to apply for a site plan and planned unit development plan with Whatcom County? The port’s current site plan has expired and requires replacement. At the 5/20/08 meeting, vote number 73, the commission authorized David Evans and Associates to prepare both plans. The site plan includes pertinent information about wetlands, traffic, utilities, landscaping, stormwater treatment and building standards. The port intends to utilize the planned unit development process to manage the land use and design of the airport, much as the Cordata area is managed. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at June 17, 2008 Meeting
Shall the commission:
84. Authorize the executive director to accept a $3,848,557 federal grant that will go toward apron and taxiway work and the airport rescue and fire fighting building? The grant requires the port to put up 5 percent or $183,398. This grant includes $239,305 that was transferred from the Port of Friday Harbor because they didn’t have projects for the grant money. Last year (9/4/07 meeting, vote number 101), the port received a federal grant of $3,182,009 for apron and runway work. Approved 3-0
85. Authorize the executive director to accept a $1,232,000 federal grant for repair of a terminal apron, deicing capture system and new apron taxi lanes? See vote 88 for details on the work. The grant requires the port to put up 5 percent or $64,842. Approved 3-0
86. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $1,949,032 to Tiger Construction of Bellingham for construction of the Bellingham airport rescue and fire fighting building? A water permit with the city of Bellingham is pending; the contract with Tiger Construction will not be executed until the permit is approved. The work was advertised and five bids were received. A contingency fee of $194,903 brings the total contract to $2,143,935. Amended and approved 3-0.
87. Authorize the executive director to sign a $211,007 contract (amendment #1) with Carletti Architects of Mount Vernon for construction management of the airport rescue and fire fighting building? Carletti was award a contract to design and engineer the building at the 6/5/07 meeting, vote number 77. The total amended contract is $490,713. Approved 3-0
88. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $6,292,621 to IMCO General Construction of Bellingham for terminal apron and taxiway improvements? A federal grant (see vote 85) will pay for two new taxi lanes, deicing capture system, sealing portions of runway 16/34, installing runway incursion markings, constructing a road for rescue and fire fighting vehicles and repairing the south terminal apron, taxiway “E” and taxiway “C.” The work was advertised and three bids were received. A contingency fee of $629,620 brings the total contract to $6,921,883. Approved 3-0
89. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $2,209,165 to Friberg Construction2 of Ferndale for phase III of the Bellingham airport parking lot and temporary parking lot? Phase III adds 400 parking spaces and a temporary lot on the southeast corner of Airport Way, and West Bakerview has 300 spaces for a total of 700 parking spaces. The work was advertised and six bids were received. A 10 percent contingency fee brings the total contract to $2,430,000. Approved 3-0
90 Authorize the executive director to sign $30,715 contract with ICF Jones & Stokes of Fairfax, Va., to provide consulting for the New Whatcom project? Phase I will develop mitigation options for buildings on the site. Phase II will be the execution of the approved mitigation plan. A contingency fee of $5,000 brings the total contract to $35,715. Approved 3-0
91. Authorize the executive director to accept a state grant for $1 million to be used for construction of the Innovation Partnership Zone research and training facility? In October 2007, the state of Washington designed the Waterfront District as an Innovation Partnership Zone. The port will construct a 10,000 square foot facility in the former G-P tissue warehouse — now called the Marine Trade Center. Approved 3-0
92. Approve plans and specifications for Bellwether Gate? The architectural, landscape, civil and some selected mechanical drawings approved are for phase II of the project. A planned development contract between the city and the Port of Bellingham limits building heights to 35 feet. The port applied for an amendment to allow one Bellwether Gate building to be 50 feet in height and the city approved the amendment. A group of citizens have filed appeals with the city hearing examiner and the state Shorelines Hearings Board. Amended and approved 3-0.
1The contract was first approved at the 1/18/08 meeting, vote number #16; amendment #1 was approved at the 3/18/08 meeting, vote number #41; amendment #2 didn’t involve funds so commission approval was not needed; amendment #3 was approved a the 4/15/08 meeting, vote number 55.
2Friberg Construction was awarded the contract for phase I at the 10/3/06 meeting, vote number 107 and the contract for phase II at the 7/17/07 meeting, vote number 89. Since 10/3/06, the port commission has approved the expenditures of $4,643,961 for parking at the Bellingham airport.
