Port of Bellingham Commission

Shall the commission:

135. Decide not to protest the decision by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration to relocate their Sand Point facility in Newport, Ore.? The Port of Bellingham was one of the bidders for the relocation of NOAA facility. Bellingham was second on the technical ranking list and third on the financial ranking list. Legal costs to protest the decision are estimated to be between $100,0000 to $200,000. Approved 2-0, Scott Walker absent.

Shall the commission:

136. File a protest with the government accountability office on the failure by NOAA to properly evaluate technical factors in the decision to relocate in Newport, Ore.? The commission decision at the 8/19/09 meeting, vote number 135, not to protest the NOAA decision was based on incomplete information. One of the criteria in the NOAA solicitation was the requirement that the location be outside the 100-year floodplain. The port council reported that a portion or all of the Newport site is possibly within the 100-year floodplain. A NOAA consulting firm addressed the floodplain issue but NOAA did not follow proper procedures in dealing with the floodplain issue. The initial legal costs are estimated at $25,000 and another $10,000–$15,000 in additional costs. The complete protest is estimated at $300,000. Approved 3-0

Shall the commission:

137. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a petition to vacate a portion of Mill Street in Fairhaven? Rowan Investments submitted a petition to the city of Bellingham requesting them to vacate approximately 2,165 square feet of Mill Street west of 10th Street. The Port of Bellingham is the adjacent parcel owner, abutting property owners must sign the petition before the city of Bellingham will consider the vacation. (Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

138. Delete the $5 facilities charge added to each ticket sold to northbound Alaska ferry passengers? The charge was approved at the 1/4/05 meeting, vote number 13. The new lease agreement with the state of Alaska approved at the 5/5/09 meeting, vote number 76, requires the removal of the facilities charge. (Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

139. Authorize the sale of one vessel and the contents of one webhouse locker for the nonpayment of moorage and storage fees? An auction was held on September 24 for a 27-foot sailboat with a moorage fee of $2,524 and the contents of a webhouse locker with storage fees of $664 — neither were sold. The sailboat was going to be shipped to the J.G. Murphy Company in Kenmore for auction when a person offered $2,000 for the boat and the port accepted. (Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0

140. Extend the lease with Stork Craft Manufacturing of Richmond, B.C., for space in the former G-P tissue warehouse? Stork Craft is the largest supplier of juvenile furniture in the world. The 210,000 square foot Bellingham facility is used for storage and distribution of furniture manufactured in Asia. Currently, 17 people work in the Bellingham distribution center. The parts devision is being moved from Canada to Bellingham, this will add another six employees. Recently, U.S. administrative offices were relocated from Las Vegas to Bellingham. The lease is extended through 6/30/14.(New Business 1) Approved 3-0

141. Modify two leases with Moon Enterprises? The crab purchasing operation doing business as Star Fish plans on expanding to the location formerly occupied by TM Protein. The expansion will include constructing a new building and processing crab with the addition of 10-15 employees. The modification adjusts the lease lines to include the site formerly occupied byTM Protient and the rent, updates the lease verbiage and removes the port owned storage building from the lease. (New Business 3) Approved 3-0

142. Approve a new terminal services agreement with the state of Alaska? The original agreement began in 1989 and expired on 9/30/09. A new 15-year Alaska ferry agreement was approved at the 5/5/09 meeting, vote number 76, The services agreement for the Alaska ferry includes staffing for ticketing, reservations, vehicle embarking and disembarking and janitorial services for ferries. (New Business 6) Approved 3-0

143. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $125,000 contract (amendment 17) with Anchor Environmental of Seattle for the Whatcom Waterway and Marina Project? Project management is $30,000 for for a total of $323,882; remedial design field investigation is $8,000 for a total of $1,467,232 and remedial design is $87,000 for a total of $797,145. Amendment 17 brings the approved contact to $5,541,487 and the total authorized contract to $5,549,319. (New Business 7) Approved 3-0

Public comment period

Matt Paskus, who lives near the Bellingham airport, made a presentation on airport noise. His concern is noise abatement given the increase in the frequency of airport traffic and the size of the airplanes using the airport. Mr. Paskus volunteered for the port’s airport advisory committee, but was the only volunteer that wasn’t selected. He presented commissioners with a bucket to remind them to build berms. Editor’s Note: At the 11/4/08 meeting, vote number 127, the commission authorized the executive director to sign a contract for noise monitoring at the Bellingham airport.

Shall the commission:

144 Authorize the interim executive director to sign two state grant amendments? The state doesn’t have grant funds available for Bellingham during the current biennium so the port is requesting that one grant be reduced and one increased by the same amount. The grant for the remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Weldcraft Steel & Marine be increased by $25,000 and the Harris Avenue Shipyard grant be reduced by $25,000. (New Business 1) Approved 3-0

145. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $46,900 contract (amendment #8) with Landau Associates of Edmonds for the remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Weldcraft site? This amendment completes surface sediment monitoring, brings the total contract to $310,200 and extends it to 6/30/10. (New Business 2) Approved 3-0

Shall the commission:

146. Reduce the petty cash fund at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal? Northbound Alaska ferry passengers no longer pay the $5 facilities charge (see 9/1/09 meeting, vote number 138) so the petty cash fund is being reduced by $600 from $850 to $250. (Resolution 1270) Approved 3-0

147. Authorize the refunding of approximately $9,210,000 in general obligation bonds? The port issued the general obligation bonds in 1998. The refund will save the port $822,120. (Resolution 1271) Approved 3-0

148. Authorize the interim executive director to renew the port’s liability and auto coverage? The $137,535 (10/1/09 through 9/30/10) will be with Alliant Insurance Services of Newport Beach, Calif. The premiums are 6.7 percent or $9,343 lower than the 2008-2009 coverage. The port’s property insurance coverage was approved at the 7/7/09 meeting, vote number 101. (Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

149. Authorize the interim executive director to accept a state grant (estimated at $131,800) for pump-out equipment? Boaters use pump-out stations to remove human excrement from their vessels. The grant will cover the design, purchase and installation of two pump-out stations at Gates 8 and 9 at Squalicum Harbor; more than 500 vessels are moored in this portion of the harbor. The state grant will cover 75 percent of the project costs. The total cost is $175,586, with the state reimbursing $131,800. (Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

150. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $6,560 contract (amendment #6) with Rosario Archaelogy of Bellingham for archaeology screening at Bellingham airport? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires an archaeology screening before issuing an airport wetland fill permit. The first amendment added screening at the Blaine boat launch, the second amendment was for a detailed investigation of the site adjacent to the former Washington Air National Guard site, the third amendment was to fund further investigation of a rock feature, amendments four and five extended the time. Amendment six will fund monitoring of historical artifacts, roads and hardstands associated with the Bellingham Army airfield and one archaeological resource associated with Coast Salish peoples. This amendment will increase the total contract to $45,997. (Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

151. Approve a five-year lease with the Squalicum Yacht Club for approximately 3,311 square feet of property at Squalicum Harbor? The tenant has been occupying the location for more than 50 years. The monthly rent will increase yearly from $202.57 to $228.00, the lease will expire on 9/30/14. (Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0

152. Authorize the interim executive director to award the low bid of $85,321 to Elite Electrical of Bellingham for improvements to Squalicum Harbor? An inner harbor survey identified electrical, structural and maintenance deficiencies. This contract will upgrade and repair electrical systems at Gates 6 and 9 and install pump-out stations at Gates 8 and 9. The work was advertised and two bids were received. A contingency fee of $17,154 brings the total contract to $102,385. (New Business 2) Approved 3-0

153. Authorize the interim executive director to spend $52,577 for two pump-out stations? Boaters use pump-out stations to remove human excrement from their vessels. The stations (including portable sewage cart, fittings and hoses, dump station and fiberglass pump enclosure) for Gates 8 and 9 will be purchased under a sole source contract from KECO Pump and Equipment of San Diego, Calif. The no-bid contract was required because the port standardized pump-out equipment for easier maintenance and repair. (New Business 3) Approved 3-0

154. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $49,203 contract (amendment #1) with TranTech Engineering of Bellevue to perform traffic engineering services at the intersection of Roeder Avenue and Bellwether Way? An agreement with the city of Bellingham (see 7/7/09 meeting, vote number 104) requires a traffic signal or roundabout at the intersection prior to the city issuing a certificate of occupancy for a second building at Bellwether Gate. The initial contract with TranTech in the amount of $14,922 recommended a signal at the intersection. This second phase will be for the design and permitting. A contingency fee of $5,000 brings this contract to $54,203 and the total amended contract to $69,125. (New Business 4) Approved 3-0

155. Modify a lease with Sterling Real Estate Group? Current economic conditions are causing financial hardship for Sterling Real Estate; a Harbor Mall tenant since 9/1/06. The lease modification will defer rent of $9,850 with a five-year repayment of $9,933. (New Business 5) Approved 3-0

156. Approve a Port of Bellingham signage program? A signage committee was formed in 2005. The committee developed a signage program based on four goals and five recommended sign types. The signage program sets guidelines for the development and design of signage. Each division establishes their own signage based on the guidelines, the architectural committee has design oversight. (New Business 6) Approved 3-0