Port of Bellingham Commission

Compiled by Bill McCallum

Action Taken at October 8, 2019 Meeting

Shall the commission:
117. Authorize the executive director to renew the port’s liability and auto insurance coverage? The coverage includes terrorism; for the airport it includes terrorism and war. The premium from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020 will be $197,067. Alliant Insurance Services of Newport Beach, California, will continue to serve as the broker of record. The 2018-2019 premium was $186,323. (8768/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

118. Authorize the executive director to accept a $200,000 state grant for toxics cleanup? The port was selected to receive a healthy housing grant for the lignin parcel located at the corner of Cornwall and Laurel. The parcel is part of the G-P cleanup site, which requires remediation under the Model Toxics Control Act. The redevelopment is planned to include a mix of affordable housing, workforce housing, work-live spaces, a multistory mixed use building with ground-floor commercial, a community kitchen, work force training, and public open space. The next step includes coordination with private developers, a local housing authority and other nonprofits. (8770/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0

119. Public Works Roster. Contracts under $300,000 fall within the executive director’s spending authority; they only require commission notification. Port-wide paving and striping, $179,193; sprinkler repair in Bellingham Shipping Terminal buildings 1 and 2, $243,698. (8771/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

120. Authorize the executive director to terminate the lease agreement with Best Recycling? The company is located in suite 240 (964 square feet) of the Bayview Center Building at 12 Bellwether Way. Port commissioner Ken Bell is the owner of Best Recycling. The lease with Best Recycling terminates on 10/31/2019; the owner has located a new tenant (next vote) for the space. The port attorney and the port auditor, in consultation with the Washington state auditor, have reviewed this action. (8772/Consent Agenda F) Approved 2-0, Ken Bell abstained.

121. Authorize the executive director to sign a lease with Kelly Crenshaw, doing business as Cascade Neuropsychology? The rent for the first two years for suite 240 in the Bayview Center Building at 12 Bellwether Way will be the same as rent paid by Best Recycling. If the lease is renewed for two years, the rent will increase by an additional $50,469. (8775/Consent Agenda G) Approved 2-0, Ken Bell abstained.

122. Authorize the executive director to sign the Washington Ports Broadband Cooperative operating agreement? The agreement (doing business as: WPBC) is with the Port of Skagit, Port of Whitman, Port of Ridgefield, Port of Kalama and Port of Pasco. All six ports have engaged in some form of expanding broadband access in their respective jurisdictions. The ports have decided that jointly marketing them will be more efficient. The startup contribution for each member will be $200,000. Each will own a 16.7 percent interest. (8776/Action Item 1) Approved 2-0, Ken Bell abstained.

123. Approve the Western Crossing Innovative Development Plan (amendment #2) with Western Washington University? The commissioners at the 6/18/2013 meeting, vote #105, approved a memorandum of understanding with Western Washington University and Western Crossing Development. Western Crossing Development, a nonprofit corporation, was created in 2009 for the purpose of planning a public/private waterfront facility. An approximate six-acre area was to be developed for university use in the Waterfront District. At the 5/16/2017 meeting, vote #69, the Western Crossing site was relocated to the southwest to exclude the Boardmill building on Laurel Street and to be near a proposed hotel, conference center, housing and restaurants. At the 3/19/2019 meeting, vote #41, (amendment #1) frustrated with planning and focus, the commission authorized the executive director to receive a new memorandum of understanding or terminate the current memorandum. This revised plan will pursue a model that will be financed and operated through a public-private partnership. (8777/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0

124. Authorize the executive director to sign project #2 (modification #1), the waterfront residential building redevelopment submitted by Harcourt Bellingham? At the 3/31/2015 special meeting, vote #53, the commission authorized the executive director to sign a master development agreement with Harcourt (headquarters Dublin, Ireland) to develop 18.8 acres within the Waterfront District. The Granary Building is project #1. Project #2 was approved at the 3/6/2018 meeting, vote #33: it includes three buildings with underground parking for 144 cars and 72 bicycles, approximately 136,000 square feet of residential and 26,000 square feet of commercial (retail, restaurant, etc.) along with 15,000 square feet of dedicated public open space. The proposed buildings are four-stories tall with an estimated construction cost of $32 million. Construction was expected to begin in August 2018, with occupancy to begin in October 2019. With this modification, construction is expected to start in May 2020, with building occupancy to begin in January 2022. (8778/Action Item 3) Approved 3-0

125. Approve the lease renewal/modification with the Bellingham Technical College for the Innovation Partnership Zone research facility? In October 2007, the state of Washington designated the Waterfront District as an Innovation Partnership Zone. A $1 million state grant was awarded to the port (6/17/2008 meeting, vote #91) to be used for construction of the Innovation Partnership Zone research and training facility. At the 3/3/2009 meeting, vote #38, the commission approved a 10-year research facility lease with Bellingham Technical College. The research facility is 10,000 square feet in the Technology Development Center/F Street warehouse, formerly called the Marine Trade Center. The rent will be $16,423 per year with a 4 percent annual increase. The lease expires on 10/31/2024. (8779/Action Item 4) Approved 3-0

126. Approve a lease and development agreement with Bellwether Harbor Investment 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. This vote allows Bellwether Harbor to expand the approximately 5,000 square-foot ballroom. The estimated cost of the expansion is $325,000; the bid is subject to commission approval. This lease renewal expires on 2/1/2043. (8780/Action Item 5) Approved 3-0

Action Taken at October 22, 2019 Meeting

Shall the commission:
127. Authorize the executive director to sign a one-year contract extension with Terminal System International of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, for the flight information display and advertisement systems at Bellingham airport? The commissioners approved the original contract at the 9/6/2016 meeting, vote #148. The airport transitioned from a multiple airline terminal system to the flight information display system. The advertisement system allows revenue generation through paid advertisements. (8791/ Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

128. Authorize the executive director to accept federal and state grants for reimbursement of costs to repair damage that incurred during severe winter weather? In December 2018, the Bellingham area experienced high winds and storm surges that caused severe damage at the Bellingham Shipping Terminal and Fairhaven Marine Park. In March 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency declared the storm a federal disaster. The federal government will reimburse 75 percent of the eligible costs and the state 12.5 percent. The port expects to recover between $14,000 and $20,000 of the repair costs. (8794/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

129. Authorize the sale of two vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? The auction was held on November 15 for a 29-foot sailboat with unpaid moorage fees of $2,864 and a 72-foot seiner with unpaid moorage fees of $4,756. (8795/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

 

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