June 2007
Watching Government
Port of Bellingham
by WW Staff
Action Taken at April 3, 2007 Meeting
Shall the commission:
44. Change the name of the petty cash custodian at the Bellingham airport? (Resolution 1243) Approved 3-0
45. Authorize the executive director to accept an amended state grant of $50,000 (amendment #2) to complete the Cornwall Avenue landfill remedial investigation/feasibility study? The city of Bellingham paid the port $2,450,000 for a 49 percent ownership in the landfill; the port is responsible for managing the cleanup. Approved 3-0
46. Authorize the executive director to accept an amended state grant of $100,000 (amendment #5) to complete the Harris Avenue shipyard remedial investigation/feasibility study? The Retec Group of Concord, Mass., is being paid $470,280 to conduct the RI/FS study (see 12/17/02 meeting, vote number 121 and 3/1/05 meeting, vote number 40). Approved 3-0
47. Authorize the executive director to accept an amended state grant of $70,000 (amendment #2) to complete the I&J Waterway remedial investigation/feasibility study? The port and other parties have investigated the site since 1995. Bornstein Seafoods and the port have been labeled as potentially liable parties for contamination near Bellwether Way. Bornstein will fund 30 percent of the study. This amendment extends the deadline to 6/30/08. Approved 3-0
48. Authorize the executive director to sign a one-year contract with Whatcom Security Agency of Bellingham? This contract is an increase of $15,540 over the previous year (5/2/06 meeting, vote number 65). The contract runs from 6/1/07 through 5/31/08. Approved 3-0
49. Authorize the executive director to award low bids of $123,297 to two companies for a dump truck? The low bid of $86,140 was awarded to Cascadia International of Anchorage, Alaska, for a dump truck frame. The low bid of $37,157 was awarded to Northend Truck Equipment of Marysville for the dump truck bed. Approved 3-0
50. Award three grants totaling $42,700 to the cities of Blaine, Ferndale and Sumas? The port started the small cities economic development grant program in 2004. The city of Blaine will receive $15,000 to hire a consulting firm to develop an action plan for the wharf district; the city of Ferndale will receive $20,000 for the 2nd Avenue street construction and the city of Sumas will receive $7,700 for electrical engineering services at a city-owned substation. Approved 3-0
51. Authorize the executive director to enter into a $375,000 contract with Standard Parking Corporation of Chicago, Ill., to manage the Bellingham airport parking lots? The port recently purchased the WANG site (3/6/07 meeting, vote number 37) and will use it for overflow parking until the parking lot expansion project (3/20/07 meeting, vote number 43) is complete. Standard Parking will provide two buses and drivers to move customers between the overflow parking lot and the main terminal. Parking lot revenue for 2007 is estimated to be $1,605,000. Approved 3-0
52. Approve an agreement with the state for the environmental remediation of Whatcom Waterway, the Cornwall Avenue landfill and Harris Avenue shipyard site? The port will conduct the cleanup actions; the state will provide $900,000 in cash and spend at least $1.2 million to remove derelict pilings. Approved 3-0
53. Authorize the executive director to amend the contract for $40,0000 (amendment #4) with Landau Associates of Edmonds for the remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Weldcraft site? This amendment brings the total to $213,700. The contract was previously amended for $47,000 at the 7/6/04 meeting, vote number 7; for $38,500 at the 10/6/04 meeting, vote number 105 and for $50,200 at the 2/7/06 meeting, vote number 28. The contract is extended to 6/30/08. Approved 3-0
54. Authorize the executive director to accept an amended state grant of $20,000 (amendment #2) for the remedial investigation/feasibility study of the Weldcraft site? The state determined that cleanup was eligible for 50 percent state funding under the Model Toxics Control Act. The first state grant for $910,294 was received at the 7/1/03 meeting, vote number 52. Additional state grants were $25,000 at the 1/18/05 meeting, vote number 21, and $59,350 at the 5/2/06 meeting, vote number 60. The deadline is extended to 12/31/07. The latest grant brings the state share to $1,014,644 or 50 percent of the cleanup. Approved 3-0
55. Authorize the executive director to award the low bid of $103,484 to DMSL Construction of Arlington to demolish fuel tanks and buildings? Fuel tanks and four buildings will be demolished. DMSL will recycle all the material except portions requiring disposal. The job was advertised and six bids were received. The contract includes a 20 percent contingency fee for a total of $124,181. Approved 3-0
56. Approve an agreement between American Wood Treaters to sell and Teal Jones Lumber to purchase two buildings at the Sumas Industrial Park? At the 8/3/04 meeting, votes 86 and 87, the commissioners terminated a lease with American Wood Treaters and signed a new lease with Teal Jones Lumber. Four buildings on the property were owned by American Wood Treaters; AWT leased the buildings to the port, who then rented them to Teal. The port put the rent money into an account to clean up environmental problems caused by AWT. Two buildings remain on the property; AWT will sell them to Teal Jones for $135,800 and Teal Jones will assume responsibility for environmental cleanup. Approved 3-0
Action Taken at April 17, 2007 Meeting
Shall the commission:
57. Adopt new guidelines to comply with the State Environmental Policy Act? The new guidelines reflect changes in state legislation and SEPA guides adopted since 1996. It designates Mike Stoner as the SEPA official and allows the designation of an alternate SEPA official. (Resolution 1244) Approved 3-0
58. Appoint Andrew W. Maron as the alternate SEPA official responsible for the New Whatcom development area? Mike Stoner, the SEPA official, issued a “determination of significance” for New Whatcom, requiring an environmental impact statement. Mr. Maron will be responsible for conducting scoping hearings, supervise the preparation of the draft EIS, conducting public hearings on the draft and preparation of the final EIS. The Blumen Consulting Group of Kirkland will prepare the draft and final EIS (see 12/12/06 meeting, vote number 139). Approved 3-0
