Port of Bellingham Commission

Compiled by Bill McCallum

Action Taken at May 4, 2021 Meeting

Shall the commission:
56. Add certain administrative powers and duties to the executive director position? At the 1/19/2021 meeting, vote # 11, the commission authorized the executive director to manage all personnel matters for port employees and staff, which includes hiring, firing, training, grievance procedures, labor union contracts, employee benefits and administration of the employee salary schedule and incentive programs. This addition will authorize the executive director to take action to enforce property related agreements within the Waterfront District. Any settlement of an enforcement action or modification of an existing agreement will require commission approval. (10066/Action Item 1) Resolution 1106-X(i) Approved 3-0

57. Approve a 10-year land lease with the Fairhaven Industrial Marine Repair facility? The premises at 200, 201 and 207 Harris Avenue totals approximately 16.2 acres, consisting of 12.5 of state property managed by the port and 3.7 acres of port property. The marine repair and manufacturing facility will use existing marine rails, piers and building, adding cranes, a fabrication shop and a fleet of marine vessels. It will also bring 20 full-time jobs with additional jobs over time. The rent for the first five-year period will be approximately $4.1 million. The lease will terminate on 4/30/2031; it can be renewed once for five-years. (10067/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0

58. Authorize the executive director to renew nine remedial action grant agreements with the state of Washington? The port has agreements for the following Model Toxics Control Act sites: Blaine Marine Tank Farm, central Waterfront, Cornwall Avenue landfill, G-P Mill, Harris Avenue Shipyard, I & J Waterway, Weldcraft Steel and Marine, Westman Marine and Whatcom Waterway. At the 10/8/2019 meeting, vote #118, the port received a $200,000 healthy housing toxics cleanup grant for the lignin parcel: the parcel will be a mix of affordable, workforce and work-live housing. This amendment expires on 6/30/2023. (10068/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

59. Modify a lease with Pacific Cruises Northwest to allow the sale of liquor at Port Fairhaven? At the 3/16/2021 meeting, vote #33, the commission approved a lease with Pacific Cruises Northwest (d/b/a Port Fairhaven) to operate a fish and chips restaurant at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The modification is subject to state approval, and approximately 400 square feet of inside and outside seating areas are to be designated by the terminal manager. (10070/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

60. Authorize the sale of five vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Two auctions were held on May 21: one at the Blaine Harbor office for a 28-foot fiberglass sailboat with unpaid moorage fees of $3,804; a 25-foot MAC monohull with unpaid fees of $1,882 and a 33-foot Chris-Craft Coho with unpaid fees of $6,085. The other auction was held at the Squalicum Harbor office for a 31-foot Tiara convertible cruiser with unpaid moorage fees of $3,507 and a 27-foot Ericson fiberglass with unpaid moorage fees of $2,927. (10072/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

Action Taken at May 18, 2021 Meeting

Shall the commission:
61. Approve a rental rate of $50.00 per day for two food truck pads in the Waterfront District? Each pad near the digesters has a power hook-up. The daily fee will offset administrative and power consumption costs. (10084/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0

62. Renew a land lease with Gaston Bay Development? At the 3/7/2006 meeting, vote #37, the commission terminated the Sonny Foods lease and approved a 35-year lease with Gaston Bay Development at 2925 Roeder Avenue. Gaston purchased the building owned by Sonny Foods, renovated it to a Gold LEED certified office building and subleased some space. Rent is renegotiated every five years: the current term expires on 2/28/2026. The port will receive $112,600 in rent over the next five years. (10085/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0

63. Authorize the executive director to accept $334,012 from the Lexington Insurance Company and Lloyd’s of London for windstorm damage? A 3/10/2016 windstorm caused extensive damage to port properties and shoreline from Marine Park in Fairhaven to the Bellingham airport. At the time, repair costs were estimated at $757,132. In April 2017, the port received a partial payment of $530,714 from Lexington Insurance Company. Objections by the Lummi Tribal Government caused a delay in the repair work until 2019, and, by that time, costs had risen to $955,078. The amount from Lexington is $225,458 and from Lloyd’s is $108,554. This is the final payment for the 2016 storm damage. (10090/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

64. Authorize the executive director to sign a $476,766 one-year contract (amendment #1) with SP Plus Corporation of Chicago, Illinois, for the management of parking lots and operation of shuttle buses at the Bellingham airport? The initial contract with Standard Parking Corporation (now SP Plus Corporation) was approved at the 6/21/2016 meeting, vote #113. Salaries and wages in the one-year contract are $54,088, taxes/benefits are $186,343 and operating expenses are $290,423. The port will reimburse SP Plus for eligible expenses associated with day-to-day operations of the parking lots and shuttle buses. The contract begins on 7/1/2021 and expires on 6/30/2022. (10091/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0 

65. Authorize the executive director to sign a $419,500 contract (amendment #1) with Landau Associates of Edmonds to perform the remedial design and permitting of the central Waterfront site? In March 2018, the state approved a remedial investigation/feasibility study of the site. The original contract for $549,670 was approved at the 1/22/2020 meeting, vote #7. The project tasks under this contract are: pre-remedial design investigation, engineering design report, design and preparation of construction plans and specifications. This amendment brings the total contract to $969,170. (10092/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0 

66. Authorize the executive director to sign a $155,200 contract (amendment #22) with Landau Associates of Edmonds for bioremediation treatment at the Blaine Marina cleanup site? The marina was a fueling facility from the 1950s until 2015. Petroleum hydrocarbons have been identified in the soil and groundwater. Site remediation falls under the Model Toxics Control Act. The original contract with Landau Associates was at the 11/4/2011 meeting, vote #148. The total amended contract is $1,767,340. (10093/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

67. Transfer a land lease from Harbor Enterprises to AMBK Waterfront of Bellingham? Harbor Enterprises has been purchased by AMBK Waterfront. Since 11/8/1983, the building at 1411 Roeder Avenue has been owned by Harbor Enterprises. AMBK purchased the building for $65,000. The 50-year lease with AMBK (a real estate development and investment company focused on medical office, industrial and land development) allows the exterior of the ground floor to be repaired, the second floor to be redeveloped into residential units and a third floor can be added. Rent is renegotiated every five years: the current term expires on 2/28/2026. Rent for the first five-years is $309,186. (10095/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0

68. Authorize the executive director to accept a $300,000 pass-through state grant for the Vicinity Motor Corp. (formerly Grande West Transportation Group)? Vicinity Motor Corp. of Aldergrove, B.C., manufactures midsize commuter buses. The company purchased land and will construct a building in the Ferndale area to assemble electric buses. It will initially create 20 jobs. The primary reason for the Ferndale plant is the Buy America Act. (Presentation) Approved 3-0