Action Taken at September 23, 2025 Meeting
Shall the commission:
96. Authorize the interim executive director to sign a proof of loss statement for costs incurred due to winter storm damage? In January 2024, a prolonged period of cold caused primarily frozen and burst pipes. The total cost to repair the damage was $58,503. Less the $50,000 deductible, the payment will be $8,503. (15021/ Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
97. Authorize the interim executive director to sign the first amendment with the BoardMIll Group of Lynden for the purchase of a building and property, performance obligations and a revised project concept design? At the 4/11/2023 meeting, vote #38, the commission approved an option with the BoardMill Group for 5.37 acres in the Waterfront District. The group proposed a 107-room hotel, meeting space, 160 residential units, a parking structure with 368-470 spaces, commercial and retail spaces. The BoardMill Group has determined that the project as originally designed is no longer feasible due to inflation and the increased cost of borrowing money. At the 5/6/2025 meeting, the BoardMill Group presented a revised proposal to the Port Commission. The BoardMill Group intends to adjust the property acquisition to approximately 3.46 acres, construct a hotel with approximately 92 rooms, a 299-person banquet hall/conference center and a three story building addition. A five-story apartment will contain 152 units, parking spaces and a fitness center. The revised schedule completion date is 6/30/2031. (15024/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0
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Action Taken at October 7, 2025 Meeting
Shall the commission:
98. Authorize the interim executive director to renew the port’s liability and auto insurance coverage? The primary and excess liability includes terrorism ($150 million), airport liability ($100 million), skiff coverage ($1 million) and foreign travel ($1 million). The premium from 10/1/2025 through 9/30/2026 will be $300,569, an 0.98 percent increase over the previous year. The 2024-2025 premium was $297,665. Alliant Insurance Services of Newport Beach, California, will continue to serve as the broker of record. (15035/ Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
99. Authorize the interim executive director to sign an agreed order for remedial design at the Weldcraft Steel and Marine cleanup site? In 2023, the commission approved an agreed order with the State of Washington for cleanup design at the Weldcraft Steel and Marine site. Weldcraft Steel and Marine operated a boatyard and various activities like sheet metal work, painting, canvas and plastic work and concrete work from 1946 to 2000. The site contains gasoline- and diesel-range petroleum hydrocarbons; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and total xylenes (BTEX); metals (i.e., copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc); and volatile organic compounds (VOCs; i.e., trichloroethene) in the soil. The sites comes under the Model Toxics Control Act — the state will cover 50 percent of the cleanup costs. This agreed order is for in-water interim cleanup action and a site-wide remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS). The final RI/FS was approved in February 2025. Cleanup work is anticipated to occur between 2026 and 2028. (15036/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
100. Renew the lease with Bakerview Hanger located at the Bellingham airport? Since 1986, the business has leased hanger space with Charles P. Bunch d/b/a/ Bakerview Aircraft Maintenance. This lease is for five years and can be renewed through 2065. The rent for the first year is $7,685, and it will be adjusted annually. (15037/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0
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Action Taken at October 21, 2025 Meeting
Shall the commission:
101. Approve a lease (amendment #8) with the state of Alaska (Alaska Marine Highway System) for the continued use of the Bellingham Cruise Terminal as the terminus for the Alaska ferry? The original 20-year lease was signed in 1988. This amendment will extend the use through 9/30/2026. Puglia Engineering had been providing line-handling and ramp-tending services to the ferry until it shutdown its operation at the Fairhaven shipyard. At the 7/9/2019 meeting, vote #84, the commission approved ILWU Local 7 to provide line-handling and ramp-tending services. This amendment will increase ILWU wages and benefits to match the ILWU #7 local contract. The port will receive $1,318,334 in rent. (15055/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
102. Modify a lease with Barlean’s Fishery? Barlean’s operates a seafood market on property located at 2551 Roeder Avenue in Bellingham. Due to a delay in city permits being issued, there was a holdup in the installation of water and sewer connections resulting in a $30,000 loss in revenue for not being able to run live tanks for the sale of clams and crabs and the increase in staffing to compensate for the impediment. Barlean’s did not pay rent for the first four months and the rent for next three months will be reduced to half the usual amount. The normal rent will start on 11/1/2025. (15057/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
103. Appoint Neil Wisler to the Bellingham Airport Advisory Committee? Mr. Wisler will hold the air traffic control position. He will serve a three-year term. (15058/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
104. Authorize the interim executive director to apply for a state grant to reimburse the port for all costs associated with the removal and disposal of five abandoned vessels? A 16-foot power vessel was tied up underneath the Roeder Street bridge, and was leaking fuel. A 24-foot power vessel washed ashore at the base of the pier at Little Squalicum Park. The port assumed ownership of these two vessels on 9/9/2025 and 10/9/2025, respectively. Three 26-foot sailing vessels were abandoned by their owners as a result of noncompliance with the port’s registration collection program. Port ownership of two vessels was assumed on 9/24/25. A third was towed into Squalicum Harbor after dragging anchor and nearly breaking up on the harbor’s eastern breakwall. Ownership was assumed on 10/15/2025. The estimated cost to dispose of the five vessels is $50,000. (15059/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
105. Declare equipment surplus and sell it at public auction? The surplus property: automated parking equipment, paint striper, lawn tractor, pickup truck, snowplow, cement mixer, leaf and litter sweeper, herbicide sprayer, and miscellaneous items. (15060/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0
106. Lease the roof of Fisherman’s Pavilion to Puget Sound Energy? The electrical utility will install a 100W PV solar array on the roof of the building located at 2599 S. Harbor Loop Drive in Bellingham. Puget Sound Energy will be responsible for the installation, maintenance, repair and removal of the equipment at the end of the lease. The lease is for 15 years with two, five-year renewals. The lease gives the port the option to purchase the array. The rent for the first year will be $3,500 with an annual increase of 3 percent. (15062/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0
107. Revise the 2025 environmental remediation budget? The budget for the Harris Avenue Shipyard cleanup site is reduced by $350,00 to $8,634,878. The budget for the Westman Marine cleanup site is increased by $350,000 to $600,000. (15066/Consent Agenda I) Approved 3-0
