Compiled by Bill McCallum

Action Taken at June 3, 2021 Meeting
The meeting scheduled for Monday, June 1 was cancelled. It was rescheduled for Thursday, June 3.

Shall the commission
69. Authorize the executive director to sign a one-year extension of the contract with Puget Sound Executive Services of Sequim to provide law enforcement officers at the Bellingham airport? The federal government requires the port to provide uniformed, armed law enforcement officers that have arrest authority to be present at passenger screening checkpoints. The contract was originally approved at the 6/19/2018 meeting, vote #87. The hourly pay increases from $64 to $65 per hour. Six holidays are charged at double time for annual grand total of $400,579. The federal government will reimburse the port $20 per hour with the remaining balance reimbursed by the airlines. The contract runs from 7/1/2021 through 6/30/2022. (10126/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

70. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement (amendment #1) with Corix Utilities Systems of Vancouver, British Columbia, to provide energy for the Waterfront District? At the 12/8/2020 meeting, vote #125, the commission approved a contract with Corix to design, construct, finance, own, operate and maintain the district energy utility in the 44 acres that was the former Georgia-Pacific West site and is now called the Waterfront District. A system of water pipes, space heating and cooling, hot water delivery and storage equipment will distribute and store thermal energy. This amendment provides independent oversight of energy rates increases for residential and commercial customers and it corrects errors and revises language in the original agreement. (10127/Consent Agenda C) Approved 3-0

Action Taken at June 15, 2021 Meeting
This meeting was cancelled.

Action Taken at July 13, 2021 Meeting

Shall the commission:
71. Send a letter to the state Utilities and Transportation Commission supporting the proposal by Puget Sound Energy for a transportation electrification plan? The five-year plan will spend approximately $75 million on electrification of transportation products and services. Approximately 25 percent will support disadvantaged communities and income eligible customers and around 40 percent wil support fleet and commercial programs. (10244/Consent Agenda B) Approved 3-0

72. Amend the 2021 budget by $763,000 for new air-services by Southwest Airlines? At the 9/5/2017 meeting, vote #119, the commission authorized the executive director to sign a contract with Volaire Aviation Consulting for marketing, branding and advertising to retain current airlines and attract new airlines. Southwest Airlines announced three daily departures starting on 11/7/2021 to Oakland and Las Vegas; the new services falls within the guidelines of the 9/5/2017 vote. (10246/Consent Agenda D) Approved 3-0

73. Authorize the executive director to accept a $8,804,315 federal grant for Bellingham airport improvement projects? The grant requires 10 percent in local matching funds. The airport projects are itemized in votes 76 to 81. (10247/Consent Agenda E) Approved 3-0

74. Award 2021 Small City Economical Development grants totaling $100,000 to Blaine, Nooksack, Ferndale and Lynden? The port started the small cities grant program in 2004. The city of Blaine will receive $50,000 ($13,250 match) to rejuvenate downtown. The total cost is estimated at $1,700,000. The city of Ferndale will receive $15,000 to update the council chambers and the Community Service Cooperative in the same building. The total cost is estimated at $600,000. The city of Lynden will receive $15,000 to complete preliminary stormwater investigative work. The city of Nooksack will receive $20,000 for E. 4th Street reconstruction. (10248/Consent Agenda F) Approved 3-0 

75. The following six votes were a single commission vote totaling $9,491,695. The vote merged nine contracts and six projects at the Bellingham airport. The memorandum explaining the projects is 114 pages. Whatcom Watch is separating the six projects so they are easier to comprehend. (10249/Consent Agenda G) Approved 3-0

76. Authorize the executive director to sign a $514,334 contract with AECOM of Seattle to design runway shoulders and blast pads? An FAA safety inspector recommended paving both shoulders of the runway and blast pad area at the end of the runway. The absence of blast pads results in erosion from jet blasts requiring continual maintenance. (10249/pages 4–18) Approved 3-0

77. Authorize the executive director to sign two contracts for the construction a new taxi lane? Award the low bid of $4,379,501 to RAM Construction of Bellingham to connect the former Washington Air National Guard site to future development to the east. Six bids were received, the high bid was $5,214,444. Award a $622,278 contract to AECOM of Seattle for construction administration services. (10249/pages 19–35) Approved 3-0

78. Authorize the executive director to sign a $803,215 contract with AECOM of Seattle to design a new 90-degree taxiway connection? It will eliminate confusing taxiway geometry. (10249/pages 36–49)Approved 3-0

79. Authorize the executive director to sign two contracts to construct a runway safety area? Award the low bid of $1,908,864 to Boss Construction of Bellingham to correct grade deviations at the northeast corner of the safety area that is outside of port ownership. Six bids were received; the high bid was $3,398,390. Award a $412,024 contract to Mead & Hunt of Middleton, Wis., for construction management services. (10249/pages 50–77) Approved 3-0

80. Authorize the executive director to sign two contracts to install LED lighting? Award the low bid of $65,214 to Lights, Inc. of Seattle to convert apron incandescent lighting to LED lighting. Five bids were received; the high bid was $93,119. Award a $18,046 contract to AECOM of Seattle to provide lighting layout and identify lighting fixture locations. (10249/pages 78–84) Approved 3-0

81. Authorize the executive director to sign a $768,220 contract with AECOM of Seattle for design, permitting and bidding services for construction of a building to house snow removal equipment? The port received a $703,363 federal grant for the purchase of snow removal equipment. At the 6/19/2018 meeting, vote #87, the commission approved a low bid of $748,163 for snow removal equipment. The new equipment operates 10 mph faster and the plow blades are eight feet wider. (10249/pages 85–114) Approved 3-0

82.Authorize the executive director to sign a state grant agreement for the reimbursement of pumpout equipment at Squalicum Harbor? The state Clean Vessel Act Program will reimburse 75 percent of the costs associated with the purchase and installation of Gates 9 and 10 sewage pumpout equipment. (10250/Consent Agenda H) Approved 3-0

83. Approve a lease (amendment #4) with the state of Alaska for continued use of Bellingham as the terminus for the Alaska ferry? In amendment #2, ILWU Local 7 replaced Puglia Engineering in providing line-handling and ramp-tending services. This amendment changes the service rate from 7/11/2020 to 6/30/2022; the labor rates are increasing by 6.37 percent. The lease period ends on 9/30/2024. (10251/Consent Agenda I) Approved 3-0

84. Authorize the executive director to apply for a state grant for reimbursement of costs associated with the disposal of two abandoned vessels? The first is an abandoned vessel that sank in an area managed by the port. The port will raise it and port maintenance staff will dispose of it. The second is a homemade wooden sailing vessel located in Squalicum Harbor and taking on water. The owners cannot be located, so port maintenance staff will dispose of it. The state will reimburse the port for 90 percent of disposal costs. (10252/Consent Agenda J) Approved 3-0

85. Modify the rental rate for food truck pads in the Waterfront District? At the 5/18/2021 meeting, vote #61, the commission approved a rental rate of $50.00 per day for two food truck pads in the Waterfront District. Comments from the public have suggested a daily and month rate. The modified rate for each pad is $20.00 per day and $50.00 per month. (10253/Consent Agenda K) Approved 3-0

86. Modify a lease with the Wood Stone Corporation for premises located at the corner of West Bakerview and Airport Way? The Wood Stone Corporation manufactures wood-fired and gas ovens, stone hearth ovens, plancha griddles, rotisseries and charbroilers. This vote corrects an error in the documents approved at the 12/17/2013 meeting, vote #195. A lease for the industrial park at the airport was first signed in 1999. At the 11/18/2003 meeting, vote #100, a new lease was signed for a 52,500 square foot addition to the Wood Stone building at the Bellingham airport. The expansion increased employment by 40 full-time employees. At the 11/15/2005 meeting, vote #106, the commission voted to allow the Wood Stone Corporation to sell up to $8 million in tax-free bonds to the finance the expansion. At the 6/6/2006 meeting, vote #70, a 75-year lease was approved with with a renewal required every five years. At the 12/17/2013 meeting, vote #195, the commission authorized the executive director to sign documents between the Wood Stone Corporation and HPC Investment Company. The Henny Penny Corporation of Easton, Ohio,  purchased the the Wood Stone Corporation. (10254/Consent Agenda L) Approved 3-0

87. Renew a lease with the Marine Spill Response Corporation? The company cleans up oil spills for corporations and governmental bodies. The lease is for the storage/maintenance of oil spill response equipment/supplies and related work activities. The lease was first approved at the 6/7/2005 meeting, vote #71, and renewed in 2007, 2012, 2017 and 2018. The three-year rent total is approximately $88,500. This lease renewal runs from 7/1/2021 to 6/30/2024. (10256/Consent Agenda N) Approved 3-0

88. Modify the lease and development agreement (amendment #5) with Bellwether Harbor Investments (amendment #4) for the ballroom at the Bayview Center building? At the 10/8/2019 meeting, vote #126, a lease and development agreement was approved 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.  At the 9/1/2020 meeting, vote #74, a contract was awarded to Tiger Construction for the ballroom expansion and it was substantially completed on 3/9/2021 with a total project cost of $396,582. The ballroom was expanded by 6,030 square-feet. (10257/Consent Agenda O) Approved 3-0

89. Authorize the sale of three vessels for the nonpayment of moorage fees? Two auctions were held on July 27: one at the Blaine Harbor office for a 36-foot Neptune sailboat with unpaid moorage fees of $7,001 and a 25-foot MAC monohull boat with unpaid fees of $2,169. The other auction was held at the Squalicum Harbor office for a 28-foot Columbia sailboat with unpaid moorage fees of $3,625. (10258/Consent Agenda P) Approved 3-0

90. Authorize the executive director to sign a $319,414 contract with Zayo Fiber Network of Fife (Zayo Group Holdings of Boulder, Colo.), for engineering, designing, permitting and bid documents to construct a rural broadband fiber network? This contract is for segment one from Deming to Glacier. A contingency fee of $200,526 needs broadband project manager approval to be spent. The contract expires on 12/31/2021. (10260/Consent Agenda R) Approved 3-0

91. Authorize the executive director to accept a $100,000 state (pass through) grant for the International Market Place in Point Roberts? Without Canadian business, the only grocery store in Point Roberts has been negatively impacted and is at risk of permanently closing. The grant will retain five jobs and operations until the U.S./Canada border is open to nonessential travels. (10261/Consent Agenda S) Approved 3-0

92. Authorize the executive director to renew the port’s property, cyber and crime insurance coverage? The total insured value of the property is $556 million. Alliant Insurance Services of Newport Beach, California, serves as port’s broker of record. Included is $50 million in earthquake, flood and terrorism insurance. The property premium is increasing 16.8 percent to $1,268,719. The coverage is for the period 7/1/2021 through 7/1/2022. Major losses for property insurance carriers is a major reason for premium increases. (10262/Action Item 1) Approved 3-0 

93. Authorize the executive director to sign an agreement with the Public Utility District (amendment #1) to continue development and implementation of a rural broadband network? Since the 11/20/2018 meeting, vote #164, the port and PUD have been working collaboratively to develop a public fiber strategic plan. The state Legislature granted ports in rural counties the authority to develop broadband networks. State grants and loans are available to develop and implement strong fiber networks. This agreement terminates on 12/31/2024. (10263/Action Item 2) Approved 3-0