Port of Bellingham Commission

Shall the commission:

173. Introduce the new human resources manager and plan for the executive director search? Commissioner Walker introduced Elizabeth Monahan, the new human resources manager. For the past four years, she has been the labor relations manager at WWU. Since Ms. Monahan has only been on the job for two days, she will report on the executive director search at the January 5 meeting. (New Business 1) Approved 3-0

174. Authorize the interim executive director to sign contracts for $1,368,478 to implement the 2010 employee benefits program? The medical plan will increase by 10.7 percent in 2010. The port’s share is $1,248,838 for medical and $85,813 for dental and vision; $14,653 for life/accidental death/dismemberment; $16,863 for long-term disability and $2,311 for employee assistance. The monthly cost for employees is $33.64 and for families it is $103.69. The medical costs do not include a broker fee of $23,438. (New Business 2) Approved 3-0

175. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $9,500 contract with the Bellingham/Whatcom Technology Alliance Group? At the 11/4/08 meeting, vote number 130, the commission approved a contract with TAG to produce a directory of companies, research facilities at local colleges and private consulting firms. This contract will expand the online directory with a questionnaire sent to companies in the database. The survey provide details on business research needs and promote opportunities in the Waterfront Innovation Zone. (New Business 3) Approved 3-0

176. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $17,700 contract (amendment #1) with Landau Associates of Edmonds to perform engineering services for the Gate 2 habitat bench? This amendment includes subcontracting with Blue Water Engineering of Port Townsend to identify a proper tidal benchmark, establish a tide staff gauge at a suitable location and conduct a site-specific bathymetric survey of the marine habitat bench. This amendment extends the contract to 6/30/10 and the total amount to $27,700. (New Business 4) Approved 3-0

177. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $33,665 contract with Pacific Survey and Engineering of Bellingham to assist with the design, permitting and inspection of the Harris Avenue shipyard drinking water project? The shipyard needs upgrading to meet state health department requirements. The project is budged at $210,000. When the upgrade is complete the facilities will be turned over to the city of Bellingham for maintenance and operations. A contingency fee of $6,335 brings the total budget to $40,000. (New Business 5) Approved 3-0

178. Approve a promotional discounts program for port rental facilities? Discounts of 25 to 50 percent will be offered to encourage facility usage during slack times and for multiple days, as well as early bookings. Marketing and economic development discounts will also be offered. (New Business 6) Approved 3-0

179. Increase the salary of the interim executive director by 5.5 percent effective 1/1/10? The executive director’s salary was last increased 6 percent at the 1/2/07 meeting, vote number 12. (New Business 7) Approved 3-0

Shall the commission:

180. Name the conference room at the Waterfront Innovation Zone’s Technology Development Center the “Douglas G. Smith Conference Room?” The name is in recognition of the 16 years Mr. Smith served on the port commission. (Resolution 1278) Approved 2-0, Douglas Smith abstained.

181. Authorize the interim executive director to sign at $49,832 contract (amendment #7) with Bennett Engineering of Bellingham to conduct monitoring at the Bellingham airport woodwaste landfill site? Georgia-Pacific began the landfill operation in 1984 and closed it in 1992. The port assumed responsibility for the landfill as part of the G-P land acquisition. Currently, approximately 2 million gallons a year of leachate is being transported by tanker truck to the former G-P treatment lagoon. Bennett is also working on a plan to construct a pump station and disposal of the leachate in the city of Bellingham’s sewer system. Construction of the leachate treatment system is scheduled for the summer of 2010 and discharge of treated leachate into the sewer system is slated for October 2010. The Whatcom County Department of Health is managing the landfill under the state Model Toxics Control Act. A contingency fee of $4,983 brings the total contract to $54,815. (Consent Agenda A) Approved 3-0

182. Approve a lease modification with SIS Flight consenting to the formation of a condominium association at the Bellingham airport? (Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

183. Authorize the interim executive director to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham on a federal grant for the Waterfront Innovation Zone: Technology Development Center? Both the city and the port secured this grant but the city mistakenly received the money. The city forwarded $220,500 to the port, with $24,500 withdrawn for city administration fees. The city reduced its 20 percent administration fee to 10 percent. This agreement extends the expiration date from 11/30/09 to 4/30/10, allowing the port and city sufficient time to complete the necessary paperwork. (Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

184. Approve a lease with Norstar Boats for Building 3 at the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park? The lease is for one-year (1/1/10 through 12/31/10) with a two month “no rent” period to prepare the building. Thereafter, rent will be $3,840 per month with two consecutive two-year renewal periods with rents to be negotiated. Norstar will be building sailboats – based on the Nordic 40 and 44 hull moulds. With this lease, the port’s Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park is 100 percent rented. (New Business 2) Approved 3-0

185. Settle a claim with Mad Anthony’s Inc. related to Bellwether Gate construction? The claim relates to construction noise and dust causing the outdoor deck at Anthony’s restaurant to be unusable during its summer season and lost sales of $39,150. The construction was supposed to be complete by summer but financing difficulties caused a an eight-month delay. Staff recommends a non-cash settlement of $27,300, to be credited against future lease payments. The port is paying for problems caused by Bellwether Gate, a new port tenant. It may be possible to recover this cost from Bellwether Gate, but the port has no plans to do so. (New Business 3) Approved 3-0

186. Authorize the interim executive director or designee to submit the second phase of materials required for processing the Bellingham airport binding site plan and planned unit development applications with Whatcom County? This portion of the twenty-year plan includes: 1) construction of 36 acres of wetland and enhancements on a site owned by the state on Slater Road to mitigate wetlands to be filled on port property. Estimated total cost is $650,000 for construction and $382,500 in monitoring costs; 2) stormwater treatment facilities for airport expansion/redevelopment. Total costs $550,000; 3) Traffic signal and road improvements on Bakerview and Airport Way to provide for increased traffic due to increased airport traffic. Total cost $773,600; 4) Archaeological monitoring on new construction, costs to be borne by site developers. It is proposed to add the incremental, unbudgeted costs totalling $773,600 to future port capital budgets. (New Business 4) Approved 3-0

187. Authorize the interim executive director to sign an agreement with Transmart Petroleum, Shell Oil Company and Federated Insurance that addresses the remediation of soil and groundwater contamination at the Northwest Fuel Site? A bulk fuel terminal operated on port property at 2800 Roeder Avenue from the 1930s until 2007. Tenants at the site have included Shell Oil (1935 to 1969) and Northwest Fuel Company (1969 to 2004). In early 2002, Northwest Fuel merged with another company to form Transmart Petroleum. Federated Insurance will pay for ninety percent of the cleanup, $1,011,774 and 50 percent of the remaining costs can be recovered under a state grant program. Shell Oil is still liable for any remaining contamination removal costs after site remediation. (New Business 5) Approved 3-0

188. Authorize the interim executive director to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham withdrawing and dismissing various permit applications, SEPA notices and documents and the city’s lawsuit relating to the port’s proposed demolition of structures on the former G-P site? The intent of the agreement is to return the parties to the positions they were in prior to the port’s submission of the demolition permit. This agreement re-starts the process of environmental review toward redeveloping the G-P site. The Bellingham City Council approved the agreement at the 12/14/09 meeting, vote number 272. (New Business 5) Approved 3-0

189. Ratify the action taken by the interim executive director in declaring an emergency at the 2010 Olympic Coordination Center? The emergency was based on an FBI request, citing “unusual and compelling urgency,” in providing adequate security against terrorist threats to the Olympics. The total cost is estimated at $275,000. Items to be purchased under this emergency include: public address system; nine 50 inch flat screen monitors, six ceiling mounted projectors and screens, desk chairs, coat racks, wall clocks, fax and photocopying machines, and building access control. (New Business 6) Approved 3-0