Compiled by Bill McCallum
Action Taken at February 15, 2022 Meeting
Shall the commission:
26. Authorize the executive director to settle an insurance payment for storm damage costs at the Fairhaven Shipyard? On 2/3/2021, a storm caused extensive damage to utilities running beneath the shipyard pier. The repairs by port electricians and maintenance staff were completed in October 2021. The Lexington Insurance Company, the port’s property insurance carrier, has offered to reimburse all related damage costs. The total repair cost to the port was $89,122. The port’s deductible is $50,000, Lexington will pay the port $39,122. (11321/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0
27. Transfer ownership on a lease from XYZ Media to John Wiley & Sons? Since 6/4/2020, XYZ Media has leased suite 107 in the Bellwether Building. John Wiley & Sons of Hoboken, New Jersey, has purchased XYZ Media, the lease will be transferred to John Wiley & Sons. (11322/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
28. Transfer ownership on a lease from Dominion Fisheries to Fathom Seafoods 2? On 6/18/2021, Dominion Fisheries signed a lease for 207 Harris Street in Fairhaven. Dominion Fisheries has partnered with Alaska Ice Seafood to form Fathom Seafoods 2. The lease with be transferred to Fathom Seafoods 2. (10323/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
29. Amend the capital improvement program for a new security project in parking lot A at the Bellingham airport? This vote also authorized the executive director to accept federal grants from the American Rescue Plan. A rash of vehicle and catalytic converter thefts
have occurred at parking lot A. Security improvements include perimeter security fencing and placement and integration of high-resolution cameras. The federal grants will increase airport capital projects and improvements annually from $2.5 million to $5.3 million through 2026. (11324/Action Item1) Approved 3-0
Action Taken at March 1, 2022 Meeting
The meeting was cancelled due to a light agenda.
Action Taken at March 15, 2022 Meeting
Shall the commission:
30. Authorize the sale of two vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? An auction was held on April 7 at Blaine Harbor for a 34-sailboat cruiser with unpaid moorage fees of $6,572 and a 26-foot sailboat with unpaid fees of $2,999. The date for all the unpaid fees is 3/4/2022. The port contacted the two owners about the unpaid fees a total of eight times between February and October 2021. (11394/Consent Agenda B) Approved Approved 3-0
31. Authorize a land purchase from the state of Washington to meet Bellingham airport runway standards? It will cost $1,417 to purchase 6,126 square feet of land in the I-5 right-of-way. At the 7/13/2021 meeting, vote #79, the commission approved two contracts totaling $2,320,888 to correct grade deviations at the northeast corner of the runway safety area that is outside of port ownership. The port is mandated by the U.S. Congress to bring the northwest corner into FAA design requirement. A federal grant will fund 90 percent of the purchase. (11395/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0
32. Authorize the executive director to terminate a memorandum of understanding with Western Washington University and Western Crossings Development Corporation? At the 6/18/2013 meeting, vote #105, the commission approve a memorandum of understanding with Western Washington University and Western Crossings Development Corporation for the creation of a university facility in the Waterfront District? 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. At the 10/8/2019 meeting, vote #123, the commission approved the Western Crossing Innovative Development Plan (amendment #2) with Western Washington University. Since that time, there has been no progress in advancing concepts in the development plan. The port and WWU mutually agreed to terminate the memorandum and dissolve the development corporation. (11396/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0
33. Approve a lease with Birdon America for office space in the Fairhaven Station? At the 2/1/2022 meeting, vote #22, the commission voted to transfer a lease at the Fairhaven Marine Industrial Park from NTG Fabrication to Birdon America, the U.S. branch of an Australian company. It has a contract with the U.S. Coast Guard to retrofit 47-foot motor lifeboats. The boats are designed for rescue in high seas and surf. Birdon will be using 45 percent of building 7 to fulfill its coast guard contract and will lease 55 percent of the building to NTG. The rent for 3,225 square feet at the Fairhaven Station will total $244,778 and run from 3/15/2022 to 1/31/2024. (11397/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0
34. Transfer a lease from Point Roberts Press to Depot Villas, LLC? At the 6/7/2005 meeting, vote #72, the commission approved a 40-year lease with Point Roberts Press to construct a two-story building at 225 Marine Drive in Blaine. Phase 1 demolished the existing building and constructed a two-story building. The top floor of the building would be for Point Roberts Press and the lower level will be rented to marine related users. During the first five years of the lease, a second phase would add 8,000 square feet to the building. The lease terminates on 5/31/2045. The second phase was renegotiated and the construction of it has been removed. Point Roberts Press has had difficulty leasing the building. The modification allowed residential uses in 30 percent of the building plus commercial and retail uses on the ground floor. At the 1/4/2022 meeting, vote #8, the lease was modified to allow residential uses in 30 percent of the building plus comercial and retail uses on the ground floor. Point Roberts Press has sold the building to Depot Villas, the Lynden based developer Timothy J. Vande Vegte. There are no changes to the building lease. (11398/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0
35. Authorize the executive director to sign a $137,448 contract (amendment #5) with VIDA Environmental of Bellingham for the climate action strategy? In October 2020, work began to identify the vision and scope for corporation climate mitigation. Work performed includes a greenhouse gas emission inventory and vulnerability assessment. Amendment 5 includes input on updating future greenhouse gas emission inventories, determining impacts from sea level rise and coastal storm events, supporting the completion of a port adopted climate action strategy, and updates to the port website for community engagement and information sharing. This vote brings the total authorized budget to $255,270. (11399/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0
36. Authorize the executive director to sign all documents necessary to sell property to Harcourt Developments Residential Bellingham, LLC? Harcourt (headquarters Dublin, Ireland) will purchase 2,200 square feet in the Waterfront District for $52,360. At the 3/6/2018 meeting, vote #33, the commission approved the project #2 agreement submitted by Harcourt Bellingham. Project #2 included 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 would be four stories tall with an estimated construction cost of $32 million. Construction was expected to begin August 2018 and occupancy begin in October 2019. At the 10/8/2019 meeting, vote #124, the occupancy was amended to begin in January 2022. At the 8/9/2021 meeting, vote #101, the commission amended the agreement reducing Harcourt’s right to develop property within the downtown waterfront site from 18.8 acres to 7.7 acres and requiring occupancy in two of the buildings by the fourth quarter of 2023 and the third in another 18 months. 11400/Action Item 1 (Resolution 1402) Approved 3-0
