Port of Bellingham Commission

Shall the commission:

65. Support the application by Sequoia Property LLC of Bellingham to sell $6,835,000 in tax-free bonds to finance a new manufacturing facility? (Commissioners acting as the Industrial Development Corporation.) Sequoia is the holding company for Blue Sea Systems and Terra Power Systems. Since 1982, Blue Sea Systems has designed and manufactured marine electrical components in Bellingham. In 2009, Daimler Truck North American chose the company to supply electrical components for its commercial trucks. Terra Power Systems was formed to concentrate on the truck market. The current manufacturing building has 90 employees in a 28,000 facility. Sequoia plans on expanding to a 70,000 square foot facility and the number of employees increasing to 200 in the next four years. (IDC Resolution 72) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

66. Appoint the director of planning and development as alternate SEPA responsible official for selected port projects? Guidelines adopted at the 4/17/2007 meeting, vote #57, to comply with the State Environmental Policy Act allowed the designation of an alternate SEPA official. Andrew Morton was appointed the same meeting (vote #58) alternative SEPA official for the Waterfront District. With a number of upcoming projects that will require SEPA review this vote allows the director of planning and development to be appointed alternate SEPA official on a case-by-case basis. Action Item 6 (Resolution 1297) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

67. Support Industrial Development Corporation Resolution 72 allowing Sequoia Property to issue tax exempt bonds? Sequoia is solely responsible for the repayment of the bonds. The applicant also pays the port an annual serving fee. Action Item 4 (Resolution 1298) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

68. Modify the agreement approved at the with the Northwest Economic Council? (Commissioners acting as the Industrial Development Corporation.) At the 2/15/2011 meeting, vote #32, the commissioners approved $334,000 for the Northwest Economic Council. The port, city of Bellingham and Whatcom County signed an agreement to take a coordinated approach for funding and contracting with economic development service providers. Whatcom County will be responsible for 49.45 percent of the funding, the port for 27.47 percent and the city of Bellingham for 23.08 percent. This vote reallocates the payment schedule. (IDC Action Item 2) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

69. Authorize the executive director to sign the 2010–2013 collective bargaining agreement with ILWU Local 7, Maintenance Division? This contract covers employees engaged in the maintenance of port vehicles, equipment and facilities. The contract runs from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2013 and contains salary increases of 2.0 percent in 2011/2012 and 2.5 percent in 2013. On 5/1/2011, employees will be able to move 50 percent of their accrued sick leave into paid time off or retirement paid time off accounts. Total salary costs for four year is $3,242,448. (Action Item 1) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

70. Authorize the executive director to sign the 2010–2014 collective bargaining agreement with the Inlandboatman’s Union? This contract covers employees working at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, excluding supervisors, managerial, professional, confidential employees, guards and employees represented by other labor organizations. The contract runs from 1/1/2010 to 12/31/2014. On 5/1/2011, employees will be able to move 50 percent of their accrued sick leave into paid time off or retirement paid time off accounts. Total salary costs for five year is $494,781. (Action Item 2) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

71. Support a three-year funding partnership with local charter boat operators and marine-support businesses in a marketing program to attract European tourists to Whatcom County? The port’s share will be $26,500 and charter boat operators will commit $15,000. The partnership will participate in an international water related travel exhibition held in Dusseldorf, Germany. In 2011, about 250,000 visitors from over 60 nations attended the exhibition. The port will fund space registration/booth development, graphics and shipping. Local charter operator NW Explorations is serving a coordinating role. The next exhibition is January 21-29, 2012. (Action Item 3) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

72. Authorize the executive director to sign the $345,835 contract (amendment #2) with SecureTrans of Seattle of Seattle for security services? This contract is a 3.75 percent increase over the previous contract which was $321,756. The contract was amended to require SecureTrans to provide up to 30 security personnel for the Independence Day celebration. The contract runs from 6/1/11 to 5/31/12.(Action Item 5) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

73. Authorize the executive director to sign a $365,401 contract (amendment #1) with Floyd/Snider of Seattle to complete a remedial investigation/feasibility study at the Harris Avenue shipyard? The Harris Avenue shipyard site includes upland and aquatic land that is currently used for shipyard and boat manufacturing operations. The port entered into an agreement with the Department of Ecology in 2002 to perform a remedial investigation/feasibility study for contaminated marine sediments under the Model Toxics Control Act. A draft sediments remedial investigation/feasibility study was completed in 2004. The original contract was approved at the 5/6/2008 meeting, vote #66, it has been interrupted by a series of state delays. This amendment brings the total contract to $680,805. (Action Item 7) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

74. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $2,774,498 to Ram Construction of Bellingham for the Bellingham airport parking lot expansion and street lighting project? This vote completes phase four and five of the parking lot expansion project; it constructs lot 4B, a cell phone lot, a 30 minute lot and expands the phase 3 exit. Street lighting at the airport entrance and along Airport Way will be replace. The work was advertised and nine bids were received. A contingency fee of $140,000 brings the total contract to $2,914,498. (Action Item 8) `Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

Shall the commission:

75. Authorize the sale of one vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? A moorage fee of $1,833 was owed on a 26-foot sailboat. An auction was held on May 26 and the sailboat was sold for the amount owed. (Consent Agenda C) Approved

76. Authorize the executive director sign a agreement with the Mt. Baker Foothills Chamber of Commerce for high-speed internet service? Dialup is the only widely available service in the Deming, Kendall and Glacier areas.The Northwest Area Open Access Network has received federal funding to develop a broadband system to serve east Whatcom County. The port will provide up to $20,000 to the Foothills chamber to coordinate assistance for the project. (Action Item 1) Approved 3-0

77. Authorize the executive director to sign a $164,590 contract with BergerABAM of Federal Way for phase 1 of the Harris Avenue pier replacement and Fairhaven shoreline rehabilitation projects? At the 3/6/2007 meeting, vote #32, the commission approved a contract with BergerABAM for a predesign report on the Harris Avenue shipyard redevelopment project. The 2007 report investigated two pier replacement options, this contract will add a third option. A contingency of $16,460 brings the total contract to $181,050. (Action Item 4) Approved 3-0

78. Authorize the executive director to sign a $25,000 contract with BST Associates of Kenmore to evaluate the viability of maritime cargo markets? There has been a steep drop in marine cargo at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. It has been 10 years since a cargo ship handled significant cargo at the shipping terminal. The sole-source justification form listed BST Associates as the only firm available which has the database, knowledge, experience and understanding of Pacific Northwest cargo markets. (Action Item 5) Approved 3-0

79. Authorize the commission president to sign an agreement settling a dispute with the city of Bellingham regarding the Bellingham airport and potential annexation? In 2008, the city and port became involved in a dispute when the port requested water and sewer connections for proposed projects at the airport and the city wanted to require future annexation as a condition of the extension. The port had paid for and constructed the required infrastructure for the services. Later that same year, the port took the matter to Whatcom County Superior Court. At the 12/16/2008 meeting, vote #150, the commission authorized the president to sign a standstill agreement to put litigation on hold and for the city and port to work together to resolve the issues. This agreement will settle the dispute over utility services at the airport. The city will extend services to areas of the airport without requiring annexation, and the port will allow the city to annex certain commercial and light industrial properties surrounding the airport. The airport will remain in the UGA and will be subject to future annexation. (Action Item 6) Approved 3-0

Shall the commission:

80. Authorize the executive director to sign a $199,786 contract (amendment 8) with Aspect Consulting of Seattle for the next phase of the remedial investigation/feasibility study of The Waterfront District? The port acquired the property from Georgia-Pacific in January of 2005. Soil and groundwater contamination requires remediation under the Model Toxics Control Act. At the 8/19/2008 meeting, vote #103, the commission approved the first contract with Aspect Consulting for project scoping, remedial investigation field work and preparation of a draft report. Amendment 8 includes technical evaluation of critical design components, dewatering and hydraulic testing, waste characterization and profiling, hazardous building material inspection, bid support and finalization of the interim action work plan. (Action Item #1) Approved 3-0

81. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the city of Ferndale, Whatcom County and the city of Bellingham for the shared use of a street sweeper? In April, the city of Bellingham purchased a high-efficiency street sweeper for $290,000; most of the money ($282,000) came from state grants. The sweeper is to be used by all four parties to help comply with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System’s Municipal Stormwater Permit for Western Washington. The city of Bellingham will be contributing an additional $55-60 thousand toward the purchasing and make-ready charges for the sweeper. This agreement establishes guidelines for sharing the costs of operation and maintenance of the sweeper, as well as disposal of pollutants. The agreement expires on 12/31/2021. (Action Item #2) Approved 3-0