Action Taken at March 4, 2025 Meeting
Shall the commission:
18. Authorize the executive to accept a $300,000 state grant for Whatcom Creek estuary habitat enhancements? The property is located at the mouth of Whatcom Creek in the estuary portion of the creek defined as between Holly Street and the Roeder Avenue bridge. The goal of this project is to complete engineering design ($198,775), a joint aquatic resources permit application and other permits ($101,225). This grant does not require a match by the port. The expiration date of this agreement is 12/31/2026. (14503/ Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
19. Approve a modification to the rental rate and damage deposit at the Portal container village? The container shop is a 20-foot-long multi-purpose unit with power and is available for jewelers, painters, sculptors, book collectors and artists. The rental availability is increasing from one week to two-weeks, the two-week rate for May and October is half the June through September rate and the refundable damage deposit is reduced from $250 to $50. (14504/ Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
20. Obtain a certificate of occupancy for the Marine Drive Industrial Park buildings? A total of $38,000 will be redirected from fire suppression monitoring and insulation for building 9 and added to $400,00 for consulting, design and construction of improvements to obtain the certificate of occupancy. (244505/ Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
21. Authorize the executive director to sign to the consent decree (amendment #1) for the Cornwall Avenue landfill? The landfill is located at the south end of Cornwall Avenue. In 2014, the Port of Bellingham, City of Bellingham and the state of Washington initially entered into the consent agree. In 2024, the cleanup management role for the Cornwall Avenue landfill was transferred from the Port of Bellingham to the City of Bellingham. This consent agree formally acknowledges that transfer and assigns a city representative as project coordinator. (14507/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
________________________________________
Action Taken at March 18, 2025 Meeting
Shall the commission:
22. Authorize the executive director to sign documents for the withdrawal of the Port of Skagit from Petrichor Broadband? Petrichor Broadband LLC is a publicly owned corporation formed by the Port of Bellingham and the Port of Whitman County, Port of Pasco, Port of Kalama, Port of Ridgefield and the Port of Skagit. Petrichor works to expand broadband access to underserved communities across Washington state. The operations of Petrichor will continue under the leadership of the five ports. (14539/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
23. Authorize the executive director to sign a three-month $135,000 contract extension for the parking management with SP Plus Corporation of Chicago, Illinois? At the 6/18/2024 meeting, vote #52, a $311,029 contract for parking management ending on 1/31/2025 was approved. The port is transitioning to an automatic parking revenue system at the Bellingham Airport and an additional three months is needed to bridge the gap between the two services. The new automated system owned and operated by the port will save the port over $600,000 per year. (14540/ Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
24. Modify an agreement with the City of Blaine for the berth of the M/V Plover? Built in 1944, it ferried workers from Blaine to the Alaska Packers Association cannery at the Semiahmoo Spit until 1964. It was restored, and now, during the summer months, carries passengers from Blaine Harbor to the Semiahmoo Resort dock. The port does not charge the city for mooring the M/V Plover. Blaine has requested the berth be changed from Boathouse-25 to H-01. (1451/ Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
25. Authorize the executive director to sign a lease agreement with Wave Division Solutions of Princeton, New Jersey, for HTCI conduit? The company currently provides residential, business and enterprise class TV, broadband Internet and telephone services along Roeder Avenue. The conduit will provide broadband to 40 Bellwether Way. (14542/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
26. Terminate a lease with Autumn Jennings for suite 11 at the Harbor Mall building and sign a one year lease for the same space with Aqueous Solutions Engineering? The rent for one year is $6,600 and the lease terminates on 3/31/2026. (14543/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
27. Authorize the executive director to sign a lease with The Landover Corporation (c/o Anywhere Real Estate) of Madison, New Jersey, for suite 110 inthe Bayview Center building? The lease is for five years withtwo consecutive five-year renewal periods. Ther Landover Corporation will utilize the suite (2,608 square feet) for real estate services. The rentfor the initial five-year period is $321,708 and expires on 3/31/2030. (14556/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0
28. Authorize the executive director to sign documents for control of ownership of the Bellingham Cold Storage? Linage BCS, a Delaware limited liability company, has purchased Bellingham Cold Storage. If a business currently has a lease with the port and and a control of ownership changes by 30 percent or more, Port Commission approval is required. Lineage is the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehousing real estate investment trust. (14574/Agenda Action #1) Approved 2-1, Bobby Briscoe opposed.
29. Authorize the executive director to sign a renewed and modified agreement with Bellingham Aviation Services for management of aircraft tie-downs, T-hanger and general aviation landing fee collection management at the Bellingham airport? The agreement was initially approved at the 2/7/2017 meeting, vote #17. In the original agreement, Bellingham Aviation Services received 5 percent of the aviation landing fees. In this agreement, Bellingham Aviation Services will receive 10 percent of the estimated $240,000 for the year. This agreement terminates on 2/28/2026. (14570/Agenda Action #2) Approved 3-0
30. Adopt the rules, regulations and rates’ handbook for Blaine Harbor, Squalicum Harbor and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal? The handbook (Resolution 1354) was initially approved at the 10/4/2016 meeting, vote #168. The rules and regulations were last updated at the 2/7/2023 meeting, vote #16. In this updated version, some of the existing language is classified as housekeeping (language clarification/redundancy removed), along with policy and rate adjustments to enhance harbor operations and streamline administrative procedures in anticipation of the future Squalicum Harbor inner harbor renovation project. 14568/Action Item #3 (Resolution 1354-I) Approved 3-0
31. Authorize the executive director to approve updated rental rates for meetings and events? The past year has seen a large increase in the number of bookings for port facilities; port rental rates lag behind market rates for comparable facilities. The rate increases include the Fisherman’s Pavilion, Bellingham Cruise Terminal Doom Room, and the Squalicum Boathouse. (14564/Action Item #4) Approved 3-0
32. Authorize the executive director sign an environmental covenant for a parcel of land located with the R.G. Haley cleanup site? Located at the southern end of Cornwall Avenue, the Haley site is approximately 66-acres of contaminated soil and marine sediments within and adjacent to Bellingham Bay. Cleanup is under the Model Toxics Control Act. In 2024, the cleanup management role for the Cornwall Avenue landfill was transferred from the Port of Bellingham to the City of Bellingham. This environmental covenant is for one small parcel (approximately 0.24 acres) located at the foot of Cornwall Avenue. This site has 51 percent ownership interest by the port and a 49 percent interest by the City of Bellingham. (14565/ Action Item #5) Approved 3-0
