Action Taken at January 6, 2026 Meeting
Shall the commission:
1. Authorize the sale of four vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Sealed bids closed on 1/18/2026. An auction was held at Squalicum Harbor for a 40-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $4,510 and a minimum bid price of $4,510. An auction at Blaine Harbor for a 38-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $5,519 and a minimum bid price of $5,589; A 42-foot cruiser with unpaid fees of $6,204 and a minimum bid price of $6,204; A 28-foot cruiser with unpaid fees of $5,102 and a minimum bid price of $5,102. Port staff contacted the owners about the unpaid fees a total of 56 times. (15217/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
2. Authorize the interim executive director to approve international travel to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the director of aviation? The director will attend the Routes America 2026 Conference (March 1 – March 6) in support of the Bellingham airport air service development efforts. The port is pursuing expanded domestic and foreign commercial service and is seeking federal financing to construct a foreign inspection station. The conference will allow one-on-one meetings with airline representatives and discuss near- and long-term route opportunities. The estimated total cost of conference attendance is $5,400. (15218/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
3. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $719,868 two-year contract with Del Sol Inc.of West Richland, Washington, for janitorial services at the Bellingham airport and the Customs and Border Protection building? The annual cost is $359,934 and the contract runs from 2/1/2026 to 1/31/2028. (15219/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
4. Establish port commission officers for 2026? President: Michael Shepard; vice president: Bobby Briscoe; secretary: Carly James. (15220/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0
5. Establish commissioners to serve as representatives on three boards? The commissioners will serve as trustee or board members on the Whatcom Council of Governments (WCOG): Bobby Briscoe (Primary), Carly James (Alternate). Washington Public Ports Association (WPPA): Carly James (Primary), Bobby Briscoe (Alternate). Economic Development Investment (EDI) Program: Michael Shepard (Primary), Carly James (Alternate)(15221/Action Item #2) Approved 3-0
6. Authorize the interim executive director to sign and submit required documentation for compliance with the Washington state Clean Buildings Act? Building are scored by the intensity of energy use. The act was passed in the state Legislature in 2019 and requires the establishment of clean buildings’ performance standards by June 2026. The port has approximately 20 buildings that are subject to the standards. The state standards are in-line with the port-adopted climate action strategy. (15223/Action Item #4) Approved 3-0
7. Approve the executive director job description and wage range for a brochure to allow CPS HR Consulting of Sacramento, California, to recruit a new executive director? When employers are advertising for positions, state law requires a salary range be part of the marketing campaign. This vote places the salary range for executive director from $184,705 – $263,870. The commission can adjust the salary range when they make an offer to a candidate. This vote also includes a 2026 non-represented salary grid. (15230/ Action Item #3) Approved 3-0
8. Approve the design of taxiway LED lighting and replace pavement marking at the Bellingham airport? In February 2025, the port awarded Mead & Hunt of Middleton, Wisconsin, a five-year contract to provide on-call design and engineering services for the airport improvement program. LED light upgrades will be to taxiway A, B and G. Marking replacement will be on taxiway B and G. The total cost of the design project is $87,006. A federal grant will cover 95 percent or $82,656 and the port 5 percent or $4,350. Mead & Hunt projected an airport closure of 36 days for the project. It was decided to postpone the project from 2026 to 2027 to allow for more planning. The commission asked about a 15-day closure. (15224/Action Item #5) Approved 3-0
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Action Taken at January 20, 2026 Meeting
Shall the commission:
9. Increase the budget for the airport’s automated parking system from $440,000 to $566,000? The current parking system at the Bellingham Airport has reached the end of its practical service life. Entrance Controls of Tukwila is implementing a new automated parking system. The new system will no longer need contracted parking services, reducing the annual parking budget by $600,000. At the 4/15/2025 meeting, vote #44, the parking system budget was increased from $350,000 to $440,000. This vote will increase the number of license plate readers to accurately track revenue. It will also install an exit device at parking lot A to reduce customers waiting times and improve traffic flow. (15233/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
10. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $616,540 two year contract with 5 Star Services of Sedro-Woolley for janitorial services? Five Star will provide janitorial services at 15 port facilities: excluding the airport, Squalicum Harbor and Blaine Harbor. At the 1/23/2024 meeting, vote #1, the previous $833,840 two-year contract was for janitorial services at 29 port facilities, except the airport. The contract expires on 1/31/2028. (15234/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
11. Authorize the interim executive director to approve international travel to Denmark for the environmental and planning director? Over the past year, the port has been working with the WWU engineering and design program. In the fall of 2025, a group of students received a grant from Scan Design Foundation to travel to Denmark to learn about Scandinavian design concepts. This year, WWU received a second grant from Scan Design for 12 students, two WWU instructors and four mentors/industry partners to travel to Denmark in late August/ early September 2026 for 10-12 days. The grant will cover $3,000 of the port costs, and the port is required to provide an additional $300-$400. (15237/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
12. Amend certain administrative powers and duties of 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. Revisions include: from director to senior-level staff; thresholds on contracts; reporting on contracts; keeping the commission informed; lease decisions; replacing all references to “his” with “their;” and formatting/grammatical revisions for consistency. The administrative powers will remain in effect until 1/31/2027. 15247/Action Item #1 (Resolution 1106-CC) Approved 3-0
13. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a $117,820 two-year contract with SMS Cleaning of Gig Harbor for janitorial services? SMS Cleaning will provide janitorial services at Squalicum Harbor and Blaine Harbor. In the past, janitorial services for Squalicum Harbor and Blaine Harbor have been included in the overall contract approved at vote #10. This contract is a 20 percent decrease from prior years; it expires on 1/31/2028. (15253/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
14. Approve the fourth modification of a lease with NW Explorations? The company offers private charters, guided flotillas, yacht sales, maintenance/repairs and a brokerage department. The current premises include 4,000 square feet in the Marina Square building and 1,348 square feet in the Squalicum Esplanade building. It also leases over 34 slips and employs 29 people in Bellingham. Currently, the past due rent totals $121,286. NW Explorations has proposed an 18-month payback of $6,738 per month in addition to the current rent. It is working on closing its Canadian operations to focus solely on Bellingham. (15258/Action Item #2) Approved 3-0
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