Port of Bellingham Commission

Action Taken at November 5, 2024 Meeting

Shall the commission:

91. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the City of Seattle to establish a cooperative purchasing agreement? Competitively awarded contracts will be used for various supplies, material, equipment and consulting services. Benefits of the agreement: cost savings, streamlined procurement process, access to expertise, enhanced efficiency and compliance with legal requirements. (14128/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

92. Appoint to the Airport Advisory Committee: Gary Kocher (County/City Business Interest), JF Valle (Commercial Aviation) and Donald Goodman (General Aviation)? These appointments will fill three of the eight vacant positions. (14129/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

93. Authorize the executive director to sign an $89,900 contract with Maul Foster Alongi of Bellingham to conduct an economic development strategy plan for Point Roberts? Because of its remote location, having to cross two international boarders, businesses in the community are still recovering from Covid. The study will identify near- and long-term recommendations around business diversification, infrastructure, and workforce that can make their economy stronger and more resilient. (14122/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0

94. Renew a lease with Mount Baker Products? The longterm tenant produces plywood products on approximately 6.7 acres at 2929 Roeder Avenue. The rent for the five-year renewal period (8/1/2025 through 7/31/2030) will be $1,016,700 plus state leaseholder tax. (14123/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

95. Approve a terminal services agreement (amendment #7) for three-years with the state of Alaska? The original Alaska ferry agreement began in 1989. This agreement with the Alaska Marine Highway System includes staffing for ticketing, reservations, vehicle embarking and disembarking and janitorial services for the Alaska ferry; it expires on 9/30/2027. The port will receive $800,325 for the three years, not including compensation for any additional sailings. (14124/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

96. Modify a five-year lease with Signs Plus for building #3 in the Marine Drive Industrial Park? At the 5/7/2024 meeting, vote #41, the commission approved a lease for approximately 14,200 square feet at 742 Marine Drive to be utilized for manufacturing, fabrication, welding, shipping, receiving, and staging signs. This modification is to reduce the premises to 11,300 square feet (it will exclude the west side of building #3) effective 10/1/2024. The lease expires on 4/30/2027, the total rent will be $356,179. (14125/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0

97. Authorize the executive director to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Downtown Bellingham Partnership to participate in the Washington Main Street Program? The commission approves a $60,000 contribution to the Downtown Bellingham Partnership, which qualifies the port for a $45,000 B&O tax credit in 2025 that will be applied to the Waterfront District’s operating budget. The memorandum of understanding includes: host in single event or series of events, relationship building, promotion, event participation and project collaboration. (14126/Action Item #1) Approved 3-0

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Action Taken at November 19, 2024 Meeting

Shall the commission:

98. Allow port employees to participate in the state Department of Retirement Systems’ Deferred Compensation Program? This plan is integrated with the Mission Square Retirement plan offered to port employees. It offers port employees two options for retirement planning. 14148/Consent Agenda C (Resolution 1418) Approved 3-0

99. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the City of Bellingham for 60 percent of the design phase of the Squalicum Creek Estuary Restoration project? This 50/50 cost sharing arrangement ($80,000 each) will help fulfill local and state priorities for species recovery, flood risk, water quality, and climate resilience. The project addresses three partial fish passage barriers at the mouth of Squalicum Creek blocking access to 32 miles of upstream habitat. The barriers are the city-owned Roeder Avenue culvert, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad-owned culvert, and the Port of Bellingham-owned bridge. The project also has the opportunity to reduce flooding and increase flood resilience at a site identified as vulnerable to climate impacts, including sea level rise. The initial design phase cost is estimated at $2,300,000. (14151/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

100. Adopt rental revenue standards for 2025? Staff recommends increasing the upper end of the base rate range at Bellwether and Bayview buildings from $32 to $35 per square feet per year, Harbor Center from $20 to 23 per square feet per year, Harbor Mall and 625 Cornwall from $4.20 to $5.50 per square feet per year. The guidelines recommended for 2025 are attached to Memorandum 14152 as Appendix “A.”(14152/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

101. Renew a lease with Bornstein Seafoods? The current lease with the long-term tenant on Hilton Avenue was initially approved on 11/1/1979; it requires an adjustment every five years. The total rent for 11/1/2024 to 10/31/2029 is $488,650. (14154/ Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0

102. Authorize the executive director to approve payment of a $101,387 to the state of Washington for aquatic lands’ harbor leases? The state issued two leases to Georgia-Pacific for the treatment lagoon known as the Aerated Stabilization Basin. The leases are for a pipeline under Whatcom Creek to the treatment lagoon for stormwater treatment and for the outfall pipe from the treatment lagoon into Bellingham Bay. The treatment lagoon is part of the Whatcom Waterway cleanup site. Since 6/30/2008, the port has been using the treatment lagoon and pipeline system to manage stormwater and industrial process water. The payment period runs from 12/1/2024 through 11/30/2025. (14155/Consent Agenda I) Approved 3-0

103. Adopt the 2025 strategic budget? (Public hearings held at November 5 and November 19 meetings.) The regular property tax levy for 2025 will result in approximately $7,912,172 in taxes collected by the port. There is no property tax increase for 2025. 14156/Action Item 1 (Resolution 1416) Approved 3-0

104. Adopt the 2025 property tax levy? The estimated levy rate will be $0.1287 per thousand of valuation. The 2024 levy rate was $0. 1319 per thousand of valuation. 14156/Action Item 1 (Resolution 1417) Approved 3-0

105. Approve international travel in 2025? On January 16 and 17, 2025, the port’s insurance broker, Alliant Services, will be traveling to London to visit the offices of Lloyds of London. Alliance recommends a port representative make the trip to develop a business relationship with the port’s property insurance company. On February 10-12, 2025, an international aviation conference will be held in Nassau, Bahamas. The event brings together senior industry professions from airlines and airport destinations. It is an opportunity to develop relationships with decision-makers. (14157/Action Item #2) Approved 3-0

106. Approve the sale of 6.18 acres in Sumas for $1,596,000 to Arrow Reload Washington? The property is the Sumas International Cargo Terminal. The port decided to sell the cargo terminal and invest the money elsewhere. In 1990, Desticon Transportion began leasing property at the Sumas International Cargo Terminal for storing and loading trucks and railcars operating between Canada and the United States. At the 3/2/2010 meeting, vote #47, a lease was changed from Desticon Transportion to Mountain View Reload (USA). Mountain View Reload purchased Desticon and moved its Abbotsford, B.C., facility to Sumas. At the 9/19/2023 meeting, vote #86, the lease was changed to Arrow View Reload from Mountain View Reload (USA). Arrow Reload Washington, a subsidiary of Arrow Transportation Systems, is a Canadian company with headquarters in Kamloops, B.C. (1415/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

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