Action Taken at September 1, 2026 Meeting
Shall the commission:
102. Authorize the executive director to execute the third amendment to the consent decree for the Georgia-Pacific West site? The Georgia-Pacific West site is a 74-acre Model Toxics Control Act cleanup located on Bellingham Bay between the Whatcom Waterway, Cornwall Avenue, Roeder Avenue, and the Bellingham Shipping Terminal. At the 8/4/2009 meeting, vote #130, the commission authorized the executive director to sign an agreed order with the state of Washington requiring the port to perform a remedial investigation/feasibility study at the former Georgia-Pacific mill property under the Model Toxics Control Act. At the 8/9/2022 meeting, vote #109, the executive director was authorized to sign the first amendment to the consent degree with the state of Washington for cleanup action at the Lignin operable unit. At the 4/14/2026 meeting, vote #55, the executive director was authorized to sign the second amendment consent degree with the state of Washington to remove the requirement to develop and record an environmental covenant for the Lignin operable unit. This third amendment is for the remaining cleanup work at the Georgia-Pacific West site. It includes the Chlor-Alkali remedial action unit. Following finalization of the consent decree amendment, the next steps include construction and monitoring of the cleanup action. Cleanup construction activities are anticipated to be sequenced over time, with the initial cleanup activities to begin in November of 2026. (15838/Action Agenda #1) Approved 3-0
103. Terminate a commercial lease with San Juan Boat Club (dba Freedom Boat Club) at 8 Bellwether Way and approve a new lease at 2620 N. Harbor Loop Drive? The commercial lease with the Freedom Boat Club is for approximately 867 square feet at 8 Bellwether Way for a term of five years, ending on 1/14/2027. The club would like to relocate their office to the Harbor Mall Building, Suite 9, a 600-square-foot office space located in Squalicum Harbor at 2620 N. Harbor Loop Drive. The club desires to be closer to other maritime businesses and their vessels, which are currently moored in Squalicum Harbor. The base rent for the five-year lease is $38,000 and it ends on 8/31/2031. (15848/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
104. Approve a commercial lease with Keystone Pilates Inc.? The company has leased 591 square feet in Suite 146 of the Bellwether Building at 11 Bellwether Way, Bellingham, since 2021. This new commercial lease supersedes the expired lease and is for a term of one year and 17 days; it includes four one-year renewal options, and provides for a 3 percent rent increase. Nominal rent for the one year and 17 days is $17,128. (15849/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
105. Appoint CJ Costanti to the Bellingham International Airport Advisory Committee? He will hold the corporate aviation position on the committee and serve a three-year term. Mr. Costanti is the owner/operator of Fly48North LLC (dba 48 North) at the Bellingham airport. He currently manages and flies a business aircraft for a local construction company. For 25 year, he has been a flight instructor at the Bellingham airport. (15853/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
106. Authorize the sale of two vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Sealed bids closed on 10/1/2026. An auction for one vessel was held at Squalicum Harbor for a 26-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $3,086 and a minimum bid price of $1,000. An auction for one vessel was held at Blaine Harbor for a 27-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $3,317 and a minimum bid price of $2,500. Port staff contacted the owners about the unpaid fees a total of 18 times. (15854/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
107. Approve a lease renewal with Chris Baker (d/b/a Artisan Alloys)? Artisan Alloys has leased 1,200 square feet at 742 Marine Drive Industrial Park, Building 9, in Bellingham since 2023. This one-year renewal includes a 3 percent rent increase and updates the lease terms and conditions. The nominal rent for this one-year term is $15,971 and it ends on 8/1/2027. (15859/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
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Action Taken at September 15, 2026 Meeting
Shall the commission:
108. Authorize the executive director to accept $18,543,694 in state and federal grants for broadband funding? At the 1/18/2019 meeting, votes #7/8, the commission authorized the executive director to sign a $58,500 agreement with Ascent GIS of Spokane to conduct a rural broadband feasibility study. At the 5/7/2024 meeting, vote #42, the executive director was authorized to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Broadband Equity Accessible Deployment (BEAD) public consortium team to apply for funding with the goal of implementing rural broadband networks. The BEAD team entities include ports, PUDs and nonprofits. This is a collaborative partnership between the Port of Bellingham and 10 public entities to assist in developing a public strategic plan resulting in broadband construction funding. On 5/12/2026, the port received an initial award letter for three service areas in partnership with Astound Broadband. Collectively, these three projects represent $13,907,771 in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program. The port was awarded $4,635,923 in state matching funds. (15884/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0
109. Approve the renewal of a lease with Holly Community Services, Inc.? The port entered a commercial lease with Holly Community Services Inc. for office space located at Harbor Mall Building, 2620 N. Harbor Loop Drive. Currently, their lease covers 1,800 square feet in Suites 2, 4, and 6. Since 1980, Holly Community Services has supported and advocated for adults living with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. This one-year lease ends on 9/30/2027. The base rent over the one-year renewal term is $23,296. (15886/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
110. Authorize the executive director to sign a memorandum of agreement with the University of Washington, on behalf of Washington Sea Grant, for the port to host a two-year Coastal Resilience Fellowship? This two-year program matches highly motivated and qualified individuals with host agencies throughout Washington state. The fellow will support the development of a portwide Coastal Hazards Adaptation Plan to address risks associated with coastal flooding, storm surges, and sea level rise affecting port assets. Washington Sea Grant provides the fellow with $75,000 for the first year and $78,000 for the second year to support living expenses, as well as a professional development budget of $5,000 per year for trainings, online courses, conferences, and related travel expenses. The port will provide full-time (40 hours per week) engagement for the fellow over a two-year period. (15887/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
111. Authorize the transfer of the Bellingham airport’s Amkus hydraulic rescue tool to the North Whatcom County Fire Department to be used for the fire science program in Whatcom County? At the 11/17/2020 meeting, vote #101, the commission approved the port acquisition of the Amkus hydraulic rescue tool donated by the North Whatcom County Fire Department. The Amkus tool is a gas-powered rescue firefighting hydraulic spreading and cutting tool used for forcible entry. In 2025, the port acquired new battery-operated cutters and spreaders through federal funding. Transferring the obsolete tool to the North Whatcom County Fire Department relieves the port of the cost and responsibility associated with disposing of the equipment. (15896/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
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Port of Bellingham Commission
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