Port Commission postpones vote on Martin Island

VANCOUVER, Wash.-The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners voted to postpone its decision on action toward authorizing eminent domain as a way to gain control of Martin Island at its meeting today.

In its 2-1 vote, commissioners felt there were questions that still needed to be answered and more information to be gathered, and hoped that another month would provide the opportunity for that data to be collected. In addition, the full commission expressed hopes that the negotiations between the Colf family and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would result in an agreement between the two parties without the last resort of eminent domain.

The Columbia River Channel Improvement Project is well underway, with more than 50 percent of the project complete, and taking action to gain ownership of Martin Island to compensate for the habitat changes that occur due to the project is critical to the continuation of the project. The purchase of mitigation land on the Washington side of the river is still to be complete, so the use of eminent domain is an option that is required by Federal regulations to complete the project. Most of the project is being paid for by the Federal government, while the remainder is paid through a local match.

A public hearing on the issue was held during the meeting, where numerous citizens expressed their views on both sides of the issue.

Kinder-Morgan Bulk Facility

The commission unanimously approved an authorization request for Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign a consulting services agreement with Westmar Engineering (Kirkland, Wash.) for the not-to-exceed amount of $472,110 for work to be provided in the areas of project management, engineering, bidding assistance and construction oversight for the relocation and replacement of the Kinder Morgan Unloading Facility. This relocation and replacement needs to happen before construction can begin on the West Vancouver Freight Access Project Schedule 3 (internal to the port), the relocation and replacement of the Kinder-Morgan Unloading Facility needs to happen.

Port staff completed the Request for Qualifications and selection process earlier in the year and found Westmar Engineering to be the most qualified of the two teams that applied for the work. Construction of this replacement facility is expected to begin in early 2009.

Rest-A-Phone Corporation

Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the first amendment to the lease between the port and Rest-A-Phone Corporation (a.k.a. ABC Plastics), a long-time port tenant. The new lease is a three-year extension on its current lease, with two additional three year options to renew, effective August 1, 2008. ABC Plastics/Rest-A-Phone leases approximately 12,500 square feet of warehouse space from the port, where nine permanent employees work. At peak times, the plastics company expands up to as many as 25 employees by using temporary workforce labor. Income to the port for the three year extension will be $203,760, plus leasehold excise tax, insurance and Common Area Maintenance (CAM) fees.

Easement with Clark Public Utilities

In another 3-0 vote, with the stipulation that reversionary rights language be added, the commission approved a request for authorization to create an easement between the Port of Vancouver and Clark Public Utilities for new electrical transmission lines to IMS Electronics Recycling. Commissioners wanted to ensure that if there were a case of abandonment, the easement on the property would reverse back to the port.

Change Order to Professional Services Contract

The commission also authorized change order No. 1 to a professional services contract with David Evans and Associates to complete design revisions to the “Alternative Replacement Improvements” on the West Vancouver Freight Access Schedule 1 rail project, which increases the amount of the contract by $99,536.60, for a not-to-exceed total contract amount of $1,641,775.60.

Repair and Replacement Fund

The commission unanimously approved United Grain Corporation’s “Prior Notification for Request for Expenditure” from the Repair and Replacement Fund for improvements to a conveyor system at an estimated cost of $3.7 million, and authorized Paulson to approve United Grain’s request for expenditure when submitted to the port.

Addendum No. 2 to Purchase & Sale Agreement with Alcoa

The commission unanimously authorized Addendum No. 2 to the purchase and sale agreement (PSA) with Alcoa, which ends litigation between the Port of Vancouver and Alcoa. The agreement provides for certainty of the sale closing on March 31, 2009, but allows for the port to lease property from Alcoa where wind power components will be stored in the third and fourth quarters of 2008. The lease will come before the commission for authorization at its June 5 meeting.

At A Glance
Who: Vancouver port commission, Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker, Jerry Oliver
What: Regular meeting of the Vancouver Port Commission
When: Tuesday, May 27, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Port of Vancouver USA, Commission Room
Quick Facts: The commission postponed its vote on a resolution on a property acquisition by eminent domain, and approved seven other action items.

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About the Port of Vancouver USA

While working on some of the most important port development on the U.S. West Coast, the Port of Vancouver USA is cooperating with its tenants and customers to schedule and maximize business potential during construction. The end result will show why the port is “On Track to the Future,” as the completed developments will mean expansion of business and resulting new jobs for the community.

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.

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