Port of Bellingham Commission

Shall the commission:

134. Establish harbor improvements for port property in Fairhaven? (Public hearing held on 11/18/08) The improvement plan forecasts potential development projects and capital expenditures over the next five to 10 years. (Resolution 1264) Approved 3-0

135. Authorize the executive director to sign contracts for $1,261,198 to implement the 2009 employee benefits program? The medical plan covers 96 employees, 72 spouses and 40 children and will increase by 10.6 percent in 2009. The contracts are: Regency Blue Shield ( $1,150,091 for medical and $77,280 for dental and vision); Lincoln Financial ($14,653 for life/accidential death/dismemberment and $16,863 for long-term disability); and the Health Promotion Network ($2,311 for employee assistance) The monthly cost for employees is $27.62 and for families is $84.82. Approved 3-0

136. Authorize the commission president to sign a letter supporting a $200,000 grant application by the Northwest Workforce Council? The council is applying for the state grant for marine and advance manufacturing industry to develop skills for workers and new entrants with limited English speaking abilities, low skills and at-risk youth. Approved 3-0

137. Authorize the executive director to sign a $39,327 contract with Bennett Engineering of Bellingham to monitor the Bellingham airport wood waste landfill? Bennett Engineering has monitored the wood waste landfill since 1995. The landfill is on the state list of hazardous sites; the port assumed the the responsibility for the landfill in 2005 as part of the Georgia-Pacific land acquisition. The contract includes a 10 percent contingency fee for a total of $43,260. Approved 3-0

138. Authorize the executive director to apply for a $885,000 state grant for a remedial investigation/feasibility study of the former Georgia-Pacific mill property? At the 8/19/08 meeting, vote number 103, a contract was authorized for the first phase of the of the mill property study. The project will be in three distinct phases at an estimated cost of $1,900,000; the project is eligible for state grants under the Model Toxics Control Act. Approved 3-0

139. Authorize the executive director to sign a $130,697 contract (amendment #9) to Anchor Environmental of Seattle for the Whatcom Waterway cleanup and marina project? This amendment is for an evaluation of a proposed National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration facility. The evaluation covers berthing piers and floats, a new bulkhead wall in the log pond and warehouse #1 offices. The NOAA tasks are covered under phase 2 (approved at the 11/4/08 meeting, vote number 128) of the Whatcom Waterway project. This amendment brings the total amended contract to $5,288,519. Approved 3-0

140. Modify a lease with the Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute? At the 2/6/07 meeting, vote number 27, the commission approved a 75-year lease with the institute for 1.9 acres at the Bellingham airport. The institute was going to have a 7,500 square foot building for an eye clinic constructed on the site. The work cannot be started until the city of Bellingham makes sewer and water available.1 If sewer and water is not be available by 1/1/09, the institute requests a rent refund and the ability to terminate the lease. Approved 3-0

This was a joint meeting with the Bellingham City Council to discuss the Waterfront District

141. Approve a list of nine economic development projects for the Waterfront District that will be submitted to the U.S. Congress? President-Elect Barack Obama is developing a stimulous package of infrastructure and other projects which is expected to be presented to Congress almost immediately after he takes office on January 20, 2009. The following Waterfront District projects were forwarded to the federal delegation for inclusion in the stimulus package:

Marine Trades Area (total cost: $14,100,000, federal request: $13,100,000) improve C Street, F Street, Hilton Street and Maple Street; Wharf Street roundabout (total cost: $3 million, federal request: $2,750,000) at the intersection of the Boulevard, State, Forest and Wharf streets; RXR Relocation (total cost: $15 million, federal request: $7 million) relocate the railroad line outside the Waterfront District; Cornwall Bridge (total cost: $16 million, federal request: $10 million) a new bridge over the railroad track with pedestrian and bicycle access; Central Avenue improvement (total cost: $3 million, federal request: $2,800,000) rebuild road superstructure and install a traffic signal at the Roeder/Central intersection; Marine Trades Center facility/shoreline (total cost: $9.5 million, federal request: $8,055,000) refurbish the shoreline infrastructure and construct a marine and industrial research facility at the former G-P tissue warehouse; stormwater facility (total cost: $1 million, federal request: $850,000) provide stormwater treatment for the Waterfront District; shipping terminal improvements (total cost: $5 million, federal request: $5 million) provide new berthing and fender pile systems and upgrade the existing facility. Approved 3-0

¹The Bellingham airport is outside the Bellingham city limits. At the 9/27/04 meeting, vote number 206, the City Council voted to refuse water hookups outside the city limits unless the property owner agreed to eventual annexation. The port has refused to sign an annexation waver.

Shall the commission:

142. Authorize the commission president to sign a letter supporting a proposal by Western Washington University for National Science Foundation funds? If awarded, the money ($500,000 to $600,000) will fund a program for high-speed passenger ferries (hydrofoil-assisted catamarans) for inland waterways. Approved 3-0

143. Authorize the executive director to apply for a $1,422,000 state grant for remedial actions at the central waterfront? The total estimated cost for design, permitting, implementation and monitoring for the central waterfront site is $9,540,000; estimated state grants total $3,788,000 with a completion date of 2013–2014. Approved 3-0

144. Authorize the executive director to extend a contract with VanderVeen Family Transport of Bellingham for the disposal of leachate from the Bellingham wood waste landfill site? Tanker trucks dispose of the leachate in the former G-P treatment lagoon. Based on the volume of leachate hauled in 2008 and projected leachate to be hauled in 2009, the $66,731 contract approved at the 12/18/07 meeting, vote number 140, will cover anticipated costs for 2009. This contract runs from 1/1/09 through 12/31/09. Approved 3-0

145. Authorize the executive director to sign a $28,271 contract (amendment #1) with VECA Electric of Bellingham, for the Gate 9 electrical maintenance project? To extend the life of the floating moorage system electrical, structural and maintenance deficiencies will be repaired or replaced. The original contract was approved at the 10/7/08 meeting, vote number 118; that contract covered Gates 6-8 and 10. A 20 percent contingency fee brings amendment #1 to $33,925. The total contract is $120,125. Approved 3-0

146. Authorize the executive director to adjust the scope and fees of the work by the alternate State Environmental Policy Act official? At the 4/17/07 meeting, vote number 58, Andrew W. Maron employed by Short Cressman & Burgess of Seattle was appointed alternate SEPA official. Mr Maron is responsible for conducting hearings on the draft and final environmental impact statement for the Waterfront District. This vote increases his hourly rate to $370 and a total not to exceed $67,290. Approved 3-0

147. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Whatcom County Fire District #8 to provide fire protection, emergency medical services and CFR support to the Bellingham airport? Fire District #8 has been providing fire protection and medical services for the airport since 1987. This new agreement is affective 1/1/08, is for a three-year period and will be automatically renewed. The annual fee will be $39,992 and paid quarterly. Approved 3-0

148. Approve a lease with Western Washington University for a research and technical trades facility in the Marine Trades Center? This lease is part of the innovation partnership zone project that received a $1 million state grant. The former G-P tissue warehouse is now called the Marine Trades Center. The state grant requires a research entity be part of the zone project. See the 9/2/08 meeting, vote number 111, for additional information about the Marine Trades Center. Approved 3-0

149. Authorize the executive director to sign into a $12,500 memorandum of understanding with Allegiant Air? The port and Allegiant will spilt the cost of a preliminary design review of the terminal building at the Bellingham airport. Allegiant would like to build their own terminal space at the airport. Approved 3-0

150. Authorize the commission president to execute a standstill agreement for the airport lawsuit? In October, the city of Bellingham filed both an appeal to the port’s decision to demolish buildings at the former G-P site and a notice assuming lead agency status for the project. The standstill agreement will put the lawsuit on hold while the port and city work toward a resolution. Approved 3-0