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Past Issues


Whatcom Watch Online
Port of Bellingham Commission


April 2015

Watching Government

Port of Bellingham Commission

Action Taken at January 20, 2015 Meeting

Shall the commission:

20. Authorize the executive director to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Washington State Military Department for potential use of the Bellingham airport as a disaster staging area? The memorandum of understanding with the Washington State Military Department approved at the 4/6/2010 meeting, vote #55, has expired. This new memorandum expires on 1/31/2020. (5033/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

21. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Whatcom County Fire District #8 to provide fire protection, emergency medical services and crash fire rescue support to the Bellingham airport? Fire District #8 has been providing fire protection and medical services for the airport since 1987. This new one-year agreement runs from 1/1/2015 through 12/31/2015. The annual expense will be $115,000 and will be paid quarterly. (5038/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

22. Appoint two new members to the Marine Advisory Committee? Paul Burrill is co-owner of Sound Pacific Seafood in Blaine and an active commercial fisherman. Byron J. Richards has been a captain of research vessels for over 20 years. (5034/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0

23. Approve a 10 percent salary increase for the executive director? The raise will increase the base pay for Port of Bellingham Executive Director Rob Fix from $143,920 to $158,000. (5026/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0

24. Authorize the executive director to spend $271,030 to purchase a street sweeper from Owen Equipment Company of Portland, OR? A Crosswind J Street Sweeper will replace a 1990 Elgin Sweeper currently used by the port. The sweeper is used on 4.26 miles of port roadways, 117 acres of parking lots and 94 acres of runways, taxiways and aprons. The new sweeper also has a vacuum capability that will be used to clean 1,338 catch basins and 34 stormwater treatment vaults. (5027/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0

25. Authorize the executive director to sign a $30,929 contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham to perform design and engineering for the Squalicum Way wharf demolition and bulkhead replacement project? The existing timber structure will be replaced with a steel sheetpile bulkhead and fender piles will protect the area. A contingency fee of $4,071 brings the total contract to $35,000 (5028/Action Item 3) Approved 3-0

26. Authorize the executive director to sign a $34,000 contract with KPFF Consulting of of Seattle to perform design and engineering repairs for the Bellingham Shipping Terminal? On 12/9/2014, wind caused the vessel Horizon Fairbanks to break loose of Berth #2 and damage the mooring system, fender system and pier structure. A contingency fee of $6,000 brings the total contract to $40,000 (5029/Action Item 4) Approved 3-0

27. Authorize the executive director to sign a $535,000 contract with Wilson Engineering of Bellingham for the “C” Street terminal rehabilitation project? The site is being reconfigured to manage stormwater at the C Street terminal. The project will address state requirements for the pending Whatcom Waterway phase 1 and Central Waterfront cleanup projects. A contingency fee of $53,500 brings the total contract to $588,500. (5030/Action Item 5) Approved 3-0

28. Authorize the executive director to sign a $81,600 contract (amendment #8) with BergerABAM of Federal Way for the Fairhaven shoreline rehabilitation projects? A storm on 11/30/2014 damaged the shoreline near the Fairhaven boat launch. This contract is for preliminary engineering, design and permitting services to restore bank protection between the boat launch and the cruise terminal. The contract for phase 1 was approved at the 5/3/2011 meeting, vote #77. A contingency fee of $8,400 brings the total for amendment #8 to $90,000. Amendment #8 brings the total contract to $1,180,600. (5031/Action Item 6) Approved 3-0

Action Taken at February 3, 2015 Meeting

Shall the commission

29. Renew a five-year lease with the Bellingham Yacht Club? The Bellingham Yacht Club has been a port tenant at 2625 Harbor Loop since 1962. The five-year rent will total $24,570. The lease will expire on 9/30/2019. (5067/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

31. Authorize the sale of two vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? An auction was held on March 6, a 25-foot sailboat had unpaid moorage fees of $1,812 and a 27-foot sailboat had unpaid moorage fees of $1,868. Neither were sold; another auction is scheduled for March 27. (5071/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0

32. Authorize the executive director to sign a $117,500 contract (amendment #8) with Anchor QEA of Seattle for supplemental sampling and report revisions of the Central Waterfront site? The original contract for $176,300 was approved at the 5/14/2012 meeting, vote #90. The site is approximately 55 acres of industrial property, used for bulk fueling, boat yard operations, rock crushing and municipal waste disposal. This amendment address preparation of a site-wide feasibility study for state review. This site falls under the Model Toxics Control Act making 50 percent of cleanup costs eligible for state grants. This amendment brings the total contract to $727,130. (5069/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0

33. Authorize the executive director to sign a $177,000 contract (amendment #5) with Landau Associates of Edmonds to compete a remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Westman Marine site in Blaine? Previous environmental investigations have documented metal contamination in marine sediment. This amendment requires excavation and proper disposal of contaminated soils discovered at a construction that overlapped the study site boundary. The state has listed the site at the top of the Model Toxics Control Act priority list. The original contract for $132,000 was approved at the 10/4/2011 meeting, vote #149. This amendment brings the total contract to $808,700. (5074/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0

34. Renew the lease agreement with Bellwether Market for 867 square feet at 8 Bellwether Way? The market is struggling financially, the lease will be renewed on a month to month basis. The original lease was approved at the 4/15/2014 meeting, vote #58. The market is a high-end convenience store that carries boaters’ needs, speciality wines, meats, cheeses, sandwiches and salads. The monthly rent has been reduced to $1,100. (5066/Action Item 3) Approved 3-0

Action Taken at February 17, 2015 Meeting

Shall the commission:

35. Authorize the executive director to sign a $39,444 change order with The Resource Group of Renton to upgrade recently installed software? The original contract was to upgrade software that was not Windows compliant, because it required information to be transferred manually every month. This change order has two parts; the first part will upgrade current versions of software and the second part will modify maintenance management software. The original contract for $282,357 was approved at the 5/20/2014 meeting, vote #73. (5085/Action Item 2) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.

36. Authorize the executive director to sign a $3 million grant/loan contract with the Whatcom County Economic Development Investment Board for the “C” Street terminal upland infrastructure rehabilitation project? The grant is $1 million and the loan is $2 million; the estimated cost of the entire project is $12.4 million. The goal of the project is to restore the marine trades in the Whatcom Waterway area. The Economic Development Investment Board is funded by a sales tax rebate; it was created by the Whatcom County Council to make recommendations to the council on local economic development projects. The Whatcom County Council approved the grant/loan at the 10/8/2013 meeting, vote #168. The accrued interest on the seven year loan will be $80,795. (5086/Action Item 3) Approved 2-0, Michael McAuley absent.


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