Compiled by Bill McCallum
Action Taken at June 2, 2020 Meeting
Shall the commission:
42. Authorize the executive director to sign a land use agreement with the state of Washington for approximately 2.75 acres at the Slater Road wetlands mitigation site? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit in 2010 allowing 8.9 acres at the airport to be filled for the terminal building expansion project. It required approximately 37 acres of wetlands be created on state Slater Road property adjacent to unnamed tributaries of Spring Creek. In 2018, the FAA identified 49 locations at the Bellingham airport with airspace obstructions. To date, 190 trees have been removed in 49 locations. At the 6/18/2019 meeting, vote #74, the commission authorized a contract with Jacobs Engineering Group of Dallas, Texas, to assist the port in complying with the county land disturbance permit associated with tree removal. This agreement allows for the planting and monitoring of 655 trees that will planted this fall. The agreement also allows weed eradication, maintenance and invasive plant control; it expires on 6/1/2025. (9393/Consent Agenda A) Approved 3-0
43. Approve a lease with Fairhaven Workstudios LLC (amendment #5) for property north of the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park? At the 12/6/2016 meeting, vote #205, the commission approved a lease for 1.5 acres of undeveloped property for office and live/work studios, subject to city of Bellingham’s approval. The lease was amended at the 2/6/2018 meeting, vote #25; 5/7/2019 meeting, vote #60, and 12/10/2019 meeting, vote #151. The monthly payment will remain at $500. This amendment expires on 12/31/2020. (9395/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
44. Establish a fee for a new security access control system at Blaine Harbor, Squalicum Harbor and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal? Combination locks will be replaced with a key, card or smartphone app to gain entry to gates, restrooms, showers and laundry. Moorage customers and marine tenants will be given two credentials at no cost; the fee for replacement or additional credentials will be $10.00. Business license holders will be assigned one credential. The new system is anticipated to be operational by the end of June. (9396/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
45. Small works contracts. Contracts under $300,000 fall within the executive director’s spending authority; they only require commission notification. The executive director awarded contracts for float leveling at Squalicum Harbor: $27,200; Fire system repairs at the Loft: $63,454; Mitchell Way sidewalk improvement: $260,808. (9397/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
46. Authorize the executive director to accept a $333,508 state grant to assist small businesses? The port will serve to pass the grant dollars to local businesses. Small businesses are eligible for grants up to $10,000 for rent, utilities, marketing, advertising and the purchase of inventory/supplies. The port will collect, review and submit qualified applications to the state. After the governor approved grants are awarded, the port will administer contracts, collect invoices of eligible expenses, and submit them to the state for reimbursement. (9398/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
47. Authorize the executive director to reallocate $500,000 to construct the Bayview HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) improvements? At the 3/5/2019 meeting, vote #33, the commission authorized the executive director to sign an energy audit funding with the state. Integrity Energy Services was selected to perform the audit and develop an energy services proposal. At the 8/13/2019 meeting, vote #96, the commission authorized the executive director to notify the state of Washington to give notice to Integrity Energy Services of Bellevue to proceed with four capital improvement projects costing $1,951,026? (9399/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0
Action Taken at June 16, 2020 Meeting
Shall the commission:
48. Approve a $407,633 five-year lease (amendment #3) with the federal government for office space at the Bellingham airport? The lease with the Transportation Security administration was initially approved in November 2007 and was renewed at the 11/6/2012 meeting, vote #162, and 6/21/2016 meeting, vote #108. The monthly rent increases from $5,586 to $6,794. The annual rent for Block A is $69,840 and Block B is $11,687 for a annual total of $81,527. The five-year lease begins on 11/1/2022 and ends on 10/31/2027. (9411/Consent Agenda J) Approved 3-0
49. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham to assume consultant’s invoice payments (not to exceed $62,000) for rising sea levels at the Cornwall Avenue landfill? The city of Bellingham has requested a redesign and agreed to pay the entire redesign. The Cornwall Avenue landfill is approximately 25.8 acres located at the south end of Cornwall Avenue next to the bay. From 1888 to 1946, the property was used by a sawmill for log storage and wood disposal. Next it was a city dump from 1953 to 1965. At the 11/5/2005 meeting, vote #232, the council authorized the mayor to purchase 49 percent of port property next to the landfill to be used to monitor the environmental cleanup. The city and port have negotiated an agreement wherein the city will be obligated to pay 100 percent of the port’s consultant’s invoices related to changes in engineering and design. This is due to the city’s current policy of requiring a 50-inch sea level rise in the next 100-year planning horizon for construction in the Waterfront District. When the design began (the consent decree was approved at the 5/19/2014 meeting, vote #92), a sea-level rise of 28 inches was in common practice and design was allowed to proceed. Now, however, new science shows that 50 inches is a more accurate measure for future planning to protect the cleanup remedy and the future city park. (9413/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0
50. Authorize the executive director to sign a remedial action grant agreement (amendment #3) with the state of Washington for Whatcom Waterway? At the 3/17/2015 meeting, vote #43, the commission voted to renew a remedial action grant for Whatcom Waterway and eight other Model Toxics Control Act sites. It was amended at the 3/21/2017 meeting, vote #40, and the 11/6/2018 meeting, vote #156. The Whatcom Waterway budget for engineering design and operations, maintenance or monitoring has been adjusted, but the total budget remains at $31,125.108. The state will provide reimbursement for 50 percent of eligible remedial costs. (9414/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
51. Authorize the executive director to sign a one-year extension of the contract with Puget Sound Executive Services of Sequim to provide law enforcement officers at the Bellingham airport? The federal government requires the port to provide uniformed, armed law enforcement officers that have arrest authority to be present at passenger screening checkpoints. The contract was originally approved at the 6/19/2018 meeting, vote #87. The hourly pay remains at $64 per hour. The federal government will reimburse the port for 31 percent or $20 per hour with the remaining balance reimbursed by the airlines. The contract runs from 7/1/2020 through 6/30/2021. (9423/Consent Agenda M) Approved 3-0
52. Authorize the executive director to award three bids totaling $105,450 for the airport improvement program? The only bid for lactation rooms was $49,995 from Mamava Inc. of Burlington, Vermont. The low bid for nine surveillance cameras was $28,526 from A1 Security Cameras of Dallas, Texas. Three bids were received: The high bid was $30,599. The low bid for a no-foam testing system for fighting fires was $26,928 from NoFoam Systems of La Jolla, California. Two bids were received: The high bid was $33,225. The federal government (FAA) will fully fund the purchases through the CARES Act. (9424/Consent Agenda N) Approved 3-0