March 2012
Watching the Port
Port of Bellingham Commission
Action Taken at January 3, 2012 Meeting
Shall the commission:
1. Delegate certain administrative powers and duties to the executive director and approve recommended staff changes? The powers run from 2/1/12 to 1/31/13. Action Item 1 (Resolution 1106-N ) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
2. Designate the chief financial officer as the official responsible for informing the public of the port’s intent to issue tax-exempt bonds? The designation expires on 1/31/2013. Action Item 4 (Resolution 1183-I) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
3. Authorize the executive director to sign a $30,000 contract with the law firm of Van Ness Feldman of Washington, D.C./Seattle to continue providing legal counsel to the port with regard to the redevelopment of waterfront properties? (Action Item 2) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
4. Approve event and facility rental fees for 2012 and 2013? In 2009 and 2010 there was a steep decline in rentals for business meetings, company parties and private parties on weekdays. In 2011, there were strong bookings for weekends and evenings. To increase usage on weekdays and lesser-known port facilities there will be reductions weekday and daytime rental fees. (Action Item 4) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
5. Appoint seven members to the Bellingham International Airport Advisory Committee? Four incumbents are reappointed: Terry Asp, Scott Bethke, Scott Plank and JF Vallee. Three new members are appointed: Jason Hart, Bert Webber and Tom Schmidt. All seven are appointed to three-year terms. (Action Item 5) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
6. Authorize the port’s legal counsel to enter into contracts up to $151,644 with Anchor QEA of Seattle and other consultants for environmental support? The other consultants include Floyd-Snyder and Landau Associates, Inc. The settlement for the Yorkston Oil site (see 12/7/2010 meeting, vote #178) is an example of environmental support services. (Action Item 6) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
7. Appropriate $23,866 for the demolition of Quickie Lifts #1 and #2 at Squalicum Harbor? Quickie Lifts #1 and #2 were owned and operated by Marine Services Northwest (dba Boondock Boats & Motors), the business closed and defaulted under the terms of the port lease. The port commission wrote-off $51,778 as a bad debt at the 9/7/2010 meeting, vote #125. The operation of the “quickie lift” on the tidelands resulted in an environmental liability under the Model Toxics Control Act of approximately $1,200,000. Peoples’ Bank wants to recover a $500,000 loan from Boondock but does not want to assume the environmental liability. The port assumed the “quickie lift” environmental liability and will pursue the owners of Marine Services individually for payment. The commission at the 4/5/2011 meeting, vote #54, declared the “quickie lifts” surplus and authorize staff to sell them at a public action. No one bid on the lifts at the auction. Action Item 7 Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
8. Adopt rental revenue standards for 2012? The current rate structure will continue for 2012. (Action Item 8) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
9. Adopt liability insurance standards for fiscal year 2012? A new category of “License to operate ground transportation” has been added to the 2012 standards. (Action Item 9) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
10. 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 completion date of the building remodel was originally anticipated as 12/18/2011 but completion will actually occur in January 2012 and the commencement date of the 10-year lease will be 2/1/2012. (Action Item 11) Approved 2-0, Jim Jorgensen absent.
Action Taken at January 17, 2012 Meeting
Shall the commission:
11. Authorize the president of the Industrial Development Corporation to sign a $33,000 contract with the Technology Alliance Group of Northwest Washington? (Commission acting as the Industrial Development Corporation.) Formerly known as the Bellingham/Whatcom Technology Alliance Group, this vote is part of the coordinated approach (see commission meeting on 12/7/2010, vote #174) 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 (or $9,000) and the city of Bellingham for 23.08 percent. (IDC Agenda Item 1) Approved 2-1, Michael McAuley opposed.
12. Authorize the executive director to make a $45,336 payment to the Washington Public Ports Association for 2012 membership dues? (Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
13. Authorize the executive director to sign a $3,000 lease agreement with the city of Bellingham for a portion of the Sehome Repeater Station? The station helps the port with port wide communications and provides emergency communications. The port has leased a portion of the station since 1989. This agreement is the second of five renewal options; it runs from 1/1/2012 through 12/31/2016. (Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
14. Authorize the sale of five vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? An auction will be held on February 23 at Squalicum Harbor for a (1971) 26-foot fiberglass sailboat with a moorage fee of $1,598, a (1976) 27-foot sailboat with a moorage fee of $2,135, a (1971) 26-foot sailboat with a moorage fee of $2,256, a (1979) 22-foot fiberglass sailboat with a moorage fee of $1,616 and at Blaine Harbor for a (1968) 32-foot fiberglass cruiser with a moorage fee of $2,946. (Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
15. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Whatcom County for modifications to the Bellingham Cruise Terminal? Whatcom County will pay the Port of Bellingham $25,000 for modifications to the terminal to allow the Lummi Island ferry to land at the Cruise Terminal if the Gooseberry Point site is not available. The project will install one steel fender pile and one mooring cleat at the Cruise Terminal. The port will be responsible for awarding the bid, construction management and the maintenance of the improvements. (Action Item 1) Approved 3-0
16. Authorize the executive director to sign a $40,000 contract (amendment #1) with Parberry Environmental Solutions of Ferndale to dismantle building at The Waterfront District? The money will be spend to provide safety measures for crews working on the bleach plant roof and to dispose of tar coated concrete roofing tiles from the pulp storage building and bleach plants roofs. The original bid for $413,060 and a contingency fee $41,306 was approved at the 10/4/2011 meeting, vote #144; this amendment brings the total contract to $494,366. (Action Item 2) Approved 3-0
17. Approve a lease with Aquacare Environmental, Inc. for office space at Marina Square? The company develops and designs fish farms for clients worldwide. The four company employees will be located at a single location and at least two new employees will be hired for the office at 708 Coho Way. The two-year lease starts on 2/1/2012, ends on 1/31/2014 and the total rent will be $39,400. (Action Item 3) Approved 3-0
