Compiled by Bill McCallum
Action Taken at January 5, 2021 Meeting
Shall the commission:
1. Modify a lease agreement with two food and beverage concessionaires at the Bellingham airport? A three-month rate abatement (July through September 2020) for Scotty Brown’s Restaurant (WGR Airport LLC) and Halibut Henry’s was approved at the 7/14/2020 meeting, vote #59. This vote continues the abatement through 12/31/2020. Passenger traffic for the three months was down 72 percent from 2019. Rent abate for January through June 2021 will be based on passenger traffic. The rent abatement for total monthly gross receipts, leased space and additional rent and terminal space rents over the six months is estimated at $19,222. (9879/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
2. Authorize the executive director to approve a $58,934 payment to the state of Washington for aquatic lands’ harbor leases adjacent to the Whatcom Waterway? The state issued two leases to Georgia-Pacific for the treatment lagoon known as the Aerated Stabilization Basin. The leases are for a pipeline under Whatcom Creek to the treatment lagoon for stormwater treatment and for the outfall pipe from the treatment lagoon into Bellingham Bay. The treatment lagoon is part of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site. Since 6/30/2008, the port has been using the treatment lagoon and pipeline system to manage stormwater and industrial process water. The payment period runs from 12/1/2020 through 11/30/2021. (9880/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
3. Approved the reallocation of $25,000 for construction of a canopy for a trash enclosure at 11 Bellwether Way? The amount for the trash enclosure will increase from from $63,000 to $88,000. A Bellwether by the Bay enclosure at 12 Bellwether Bay was cancelled, so the money is reallocated for the trash and recycling enclosure at 11 Bellwether Way. Three bids were received for the project. (9881/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
4. Appropriate an additional $25,000 for the lease and development agreement with Bellwether Harbor Investments (amendment #4) for the ballroom at the Bayview Center building? At the 12/18/2012 meeting, vote #191, the commission authorized the executive director to spend $4.10 million to purchase the Bayview Center office building. The 36,000 square-foot building was constructed in 2001 at 12 Bellwether Way. The price was discounted from $4.58 million in exchange for an agreement with Hotel Bellwether allowing them priority use of the ballroom. The ballroom is being expanded by approximately 1,000 square feet to a total of 6,000 square feet. At the 9/1/2020 meeting, vote #74, a contract was awarded to Tiger Construction for the ballroom expansion. To date, the expansion is approximately 50 percent complete. This amendment brings the total budget to $402,500. (9882/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
5. Approve the reallocation of $115,000 for bulkhead repair at the Blaine Harbor Sawtooth pier? The Sawtooth pier was constructed in 1957 and expanded in 1976. In September 2020, the executive director awarded a contract to BOSS Construction of Bellingham for the repair or replacement of approximately 445 feet of existing timber bulkheads. The original $51,000 will increase to $166,000. (9883/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
6. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with Bellingham SeaFeast to operate a dockside seafood market? Bellingham SeaFeast (a nonprofit 503c(3) organization) holds a yearly festival in September to educate the community on the benefits of a working waterfront. SeaFeast, with partners, can hold a maximum of six monthly dockside markets within Squalicum Harbor. The market will be set up and torn down on the day of operation. The agreement expires on 12/28/2021. (9884/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0
7. Approve a Covid-19 pandemic restaurant rent-relief policy? The executive director is authorized to implement rules and procedures related to the restaurant relief policy. The port has received requests from its restaurant tenants for rent relief. Rent relief only includes base rent, not taxes or other fees. The policy shall continue until restaurants are able to reopen at 100 percent indoor occupancy. The fiscal impact on the port is unknown due to the uncertainty when the state will life indoor occupancy limitations. (9892/Consent Agenda M) Approved 3-0
8. Approve a lease with APP Impex Inc. of Bellingham d/b/a Advanced Performance Parts for premises at the Bellingham airport? The composite manufacturing company will occupy the former Washington Air National Guard building at 3928 Williamson Way. The rental area is approximately 12,673 square feet and the building area is approximately 24,000 square feet. The design, manufacture and distribution of carbon fiber parts for high end cars and motorcycles will provide up to 20 jobs. APP Impex has a similar facility in Shanghai, China. The lease will run from 1/6/2021 to 2/28/2026 and the rent for the five years shall be $486,643. (9887/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0
9. Authorize the executive director to sign an $270,000 agreement with the Romaine Electric Corporation for the purchase of land and building at 1030 C Street? The Romaine Corporation operated an electrical supply business on the property it purchased in 1992. The building is currently vacant and is adjacent to port property. The building is 2,464 square feet and the property is approximately 5,461 square feet. (9888/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0
Action Taken at January 19, 2021 Meeting
Shall the commission:
10. Authorize the executive director to sign a $190,000 three-year contract with USI Insurance Services? Since 2014, USI Kibble & Prentice (now USI Insurance Services) has provided medical, dental, life and long-term disability broker services and a strategy to become self insured. Since the implementation of the self-insured medical and dental plan, the port has saved an estimated $3,815,884. (9899/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0
11. Delegate certain administrative powers and duties to the executive director? The executive director shall have the authority to manage all personnel matters for port employees and staff, which includes hiring, firing, training, grievance procedures, labor union contracts, employee benefits and administration of the employee salary schedule and incentive programs. The administrative powers will be effective from 2/1/2021 through 12/31/2021. 9902/Consent Agenda B (Resolution 1106-X) Approved 3-0
12. Approve the contract with Liberty Plugins of Santa Barbara, Calif., for a service that enables drivers to pay to use electrical vehicle charging stations? The port has installed electric vehicle charging stations in the Bellwether underground garage, the cruise terminal and Fairhaven (bus and train) Station. The fee will be $2.50 for the first hour and $1.50 for each additional hour. Drivers can pay using a mobile phone service. (9903/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
