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Past Issues


Whatcom Watch Online
Port of Bellingham Commission


October-November 2011

Watching Government

Port of Bellingham Commission

Action Taken at August 16, 2011 Meeting

Shall the commission:

116. Authorize the executive director to accept a $3,578 federal grant for portable security fencing? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant is passed through the state military department, Snohomish County and Whatcom County. Funds will assist local government in the prevention, response to and recovery from catastrophic and terrorist events. The fencing will control access the the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. (Action Item 1) Approved 3-0

117. Authorize the executive director to sign (amendment #1) the agreed order with the state of Washington requiring the port to perform a remedial investigation/feasibility study at the former Georgia-Pacific mill property? The commission authorized the executive director to sign the agreed order1 at the 8/4/2009 meeting, vote #130. This amendment requires the port to perform an interim action at the 64 acre site to remove petroleum contaminated soils, mercury contaminated soils and mercury contaminated building materials. The interim action work plan was available for public review and comment between 7/5 and 8/3 of this year.(Action Item 2) Approved 3-0

118. Renew and modify a lease with Puget Sound Energy for property located at Squalicum Harbor? Since 1966, Puget Sound Energy has been leasing property of Roeder Avenue for an electrical power distribution substation. The current lease was entered into in 1980 and expires on 4/30/2016. The lease requires rents to be renegotiated every five years. Rent over the next five years will increase annually from $15,073 to $18,937 for a total of $84,231 (Action Item 3) Approved 3-0

119. Renew and modify a lease with Blaine Marine Services? Since 2002, Blaine Marine Services has been a port tenant at Blaine Harbor. The current lease was entered into in 2006 and expires in 2016. The lease requires rents to be renegotiated every five years. Rent over the next five years will total $170,985. (Action Item 4) Approved 3-0

120. Renew and modify a lease with Gaston Bay LLC? In 2006, Gaston Bay entered into a harbor land lease for property located next to Mt. Baker Products. The lease requires rents to be renegotiated every five years. The building on the property was renovated to a class A “green” office building which is pending Gold LEED certification. Due to the downturn in the economy the rent for the next three years will remain the same and a three percent increase in years four and five. Rent over the next five years will total $95,545. (Action Item 5) Approved 3-0

121. Modify a lease with Index Industries for the 300 Harris Avenue property? At the 11/16/2010 meeting, vote #159, the commission approved a 10-year lease with Index Industries. This company manufactures switches, sensors and controls for industrial vehicle, engine and equipment markets and will move their manufacturing facility from Stanwood. The original contract anticipated building improvement costing $2,500,000 and a completion date of September 2011. The modified lease reflects increased project costs of $400,000 and a completion date of 12/15/2011. (Action Item 6) Approved 3-0

122. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $2,314,100 to Faber Construction of Lynden for improvements to the building at 300 Harris Avenue? At the 11/16/2010 meeting, vote #160, Mithun, Inc. of Seattle was awarded the contract to perform architectural services for the building at 300 Harris Street. The facility was designed with the intent of meeting LEED Gold certification an estimated cost of $1,900,000. When the facility went out for bid in April five bids were received with the lowest $2,933,704. All the bids were rejected and the project was redesigned at $1,750,000. Six bids were received ranging from $2,265,600 to $2,529,000. A contingency fee of $75,000 brings the total contract to $2,389,100. (Action Item 7) Approved 3-0

123. Authorize the executive director to sign a $139,103 contract (amendment #1) with Mithun, Inc. of Seattle to provide construction administration services for the 300 Harris Avenue project? The original contract for architectural services was approved at the at the 11/16/2010 meeting, vote #160. improvements were designed with the intent of meeting LEED Gold certification. This amendment brings the total authorized contract to $422,508. (Action Item 8) Approved 3-0

124. Authorize the executive director to sign a $1,243,750 contract (amendment #5) with URS Corporation of San Francisco to perform phase two architectural design services for the Bellingham airport terminal expansion project? The terminal was built to handle 9,500 passengers per month and the current passenger load is more than 30,000 per month. The terminal will be expanded from 26,000 square feet to approximately 100,000 square feet. This amendment will fund construction drawings thru the construction bidding for phase two. The original contract was approved at the 3/3/2009 meeting, vote #47 and amended at the 4/6/2010 meeting, vote number 62; 6/1/2010 meeting, vote #95; 8/17/2010 meeting, vote #104 and 11/2/2010 meeting, vote #154. This amendment brings the total contract to $4,053,820. (Action Item 9) Approved 3-0

125. Authorize the commission president to sign a letter supporting a state grant request by the city of Bellingham for the I-5/West Bakerview interchange improvement project? The estimated cost of the project is $3.2 million and the city is proposing to apply for a $900,000 state grant. The city of Bellingham will contribute $900,000, the port $500,000 and the state, Whatcom County and Fred Meyer will contribute $100,000 each for a total of $1.7 million or 53 percent of the total cost. (Action Item 10) Approved 3-0


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