Compiled by Bill McCallum
Action Taken at May 2, 2023 Meeting
Shall the commission:
39. Approve a release agreement with Boathouse No. 1 located in Blaine Harbor? The Blaine Moorage No. 1 Association is the owner of Boathouse No. 1. and is obligated to keep the structure in good condition. The structure has fallen into disrepair and a fire suppression system has not been installed. The boathouse has 10 slips and seven moorage customers are in good standing; they will be given new slips. The three remaining slips are being resolved separately. The port will be responsible for the removal of the dilapidated and non-code compliant structure. (12706/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
40. Approve modifications to Public Space Use Policies & Procedures, the Park & Facilities Rental form and Downtown Waterfront Site Rental Rates? The Public Space Use Policy and Procedures document provides a uniform policy for everyone visiting or using port facilities. The public spaces are: parks and open space, conference rooms, downtown waterfront and other event facilities. Waterfront rates have been decreased in the modification. The port expects revenue to increase due to more affordable rates. (12707/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
41. Revise the rental revenue standards for 2023? The standards for 2023 was initially passed at the 12/6/2022 meeting, vote #149; in February of this year the port purchased approximately six acres of industrial property including an office building, nine warehouse/manufacturing buildings and sheds at 742 Marine Drive in Bellingham. Adding the Marine Drive Industrial Park to the lease standards is the only change to the 12/6/2022 vote. (12708/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
42. Declare specified equipment as surplus and sell it at public auction? The surplus property: 99 gabion baskets. The wire mesh containers are filled with stones and used in salt water, fresh water or acid soil as retaining walls, revetments, sea walls, and channel linings for erosion control. (12709/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0
43. Authorize the executive director to accept a $688,109 federal pass-through grant for 11 small businesses impacted by the 2021 Nooksack River flooding? The businesses and grant amounts are: Mann Farm $36,722; Hopewell Farm $150,000; Silverlining Group (The Bourbon Bar & Grill) $19,844; Green Family Enterprises (Greenhouse) $33,174; Bellingham Bay Ophthalmology $8,324; Professional Turf Growers $150,000; Camp Fire Samish (Camp Kirby) $14,903; NW Pro-Line $28,372; Valley Plumbing & Electric $113,911; Max Higbee Community Recreation Center $13,667 and Steensma Diary $99,152. (12712-Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
44. Authorize the executive director to sign a $72,000 two-year agreement with the Northwest Innovation Center of Bellingham to fund the Whatcom County Marine and Transportation Innovation Center? This is a cooperative agreement with the Port of Bellingham, Whatcom County and the City of Bellingham. The Northwest Innovation Center will focus on maritime and transportation innovation for the Whatcom County region. At the 11/2/2021 meeting, the commission authorized the executive director to sign an agreement with the city of Bellingham, Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham to contract with WWU’s Small Business Development Center to fund economic development services. The agreement runs from 1/1/2023 to 12/31/2024. (12713/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
45. Approve leases with D.I.S.H. Foundation, Bin 13 and Zeeks Pizza at the The Portal container village? The D.I.S.H. Foundation (Our Kitchen) sells coffee and snacks. Bin 13 is a wine bar and tasting room and Zeeks Pizza is a sales and delivery restaurant. The tenants pay a monthly base fee of 6 percent of the container cost plus 3 percent of gross sales and reimburse the port for utilities and services. Businesses are not required to be open from November 1 through the end of February. All agreements expire on 12/31/2027, with a five-year renewal option. (12214/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
Action Taken at May 23, 2023 Meeting
Shall the commission:
46. Authorize the executive director to accept a $59,117 state grant for researching and creating the Whatcom County digital equity plan? The port in partnership with the Whatcom County PUD has been working on an asset inventory and digital equity plan that will submitted to the Washington State Broadband Office. The goal is to create an implementation plan when applying for grants and distribution of resources and when providing broadband assets and digital equity in Whatcom County. (12750/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
47. Increase by $950,000 the budget for the snow removal equipment building at the Bellingham airport? At the 6/19/2018 meeting, vote #88, a low bid of $748,164 was awarded to Wausau Equipment of New Berlin, Wisconsin, for new snow removal equipment that will operate at 10 mph faster and has a blade eight-feet wider than previous plows. At the 7/13/2021 meeting, vote #81, a $768,220 contract was awarded to AECOM Technical Services for the design, permitting and bidding services for a building to house the snow removal equipment. At the 4/19/2022 meeting, vote #43, a $4,827,916 contract was awarded to Boss Construction of Bellingham to construct the facility to hold the equipment. According to drawing prepared by AECOM, fire suppression water piping was to be buried at three feet. An inspection by the county fire department determined the pipe should have been buried at four feet. AECOM has accepted responsibility for the additional cost of $37,854 to remove and reinstall the pipe at the required level. Additional excavation and grading of the site and construction managements are the primary reason for overrun costs. An FAA grant is funding 90 percent of the building and allows a 5 percent contingency construction cost overrun. (12752/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
48. Increase by $532,274 the budgets for Bellingham airport projects and seek a 15 percent contingency increase from the FAA to cover budget overruns? At the 7/13/2021 meeting, vote #73; the port was awarded a $8,804,315 federal grant for Bellingham airport improvement projects. The grant money was spent on six projects listed in votes #76 to vote #81 at the 7/13/2021 meeting. Four of the projects (vote #76, vote #78, vote #80 and vote #81) are under budget ($329,978) and two (vote #77 and vote #79) are over budget ($862,252). The FAA allows the port to amend grant agreements by 15 percent. (12754/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
