Regular Meeting Minutes - 6/9/09

PORT OF VANCOUVER USA

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

 Commission President Nancy Baker called a regular meeting of the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners to order at 8:02 a.m., Tuesday, June 9, 2009, at the Port of Vancouver USA Administrative Office, 3103 N.W. Lower River Road, Vancouver, Washington 98660.

 EXECUTIVE SESSION

 The regular meeting was recessed into executive session at 8:02 a.m.to discuss litigation and contract negotiations. The executive session ended at 9:21 a.m. and a brief recess followed.

 OPENING REMARKS BY PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The regular meeting was opened to the public at 9:30 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Commissioner Baker. She stated that the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners had been in executive session from 8:02 a.m. to 9:21 a.m. to discuss litigation and contract negotiations and no action was taken during the executive session

 Commissioner Baker welcomed Executive Director Paulson. Executive Director Paulson recognized attendees, as follows: 

• Nancy Baker Port Commission President
• Jerry Oliver Port Commission Vice President
• Brian Wolfe Port Commission Secretary
• Larry Paulson Port Executive Director
• Todd Coleman Port Deputy Executive Director
• Maggie Smith Port Director of Finance
• Curtis Shuck Port Director of Facilities
• Addison Jacobs Port Director of Public Affairs
• Patty Boyden Port Director of Environmental Services
• Alicia Lowe Port Legal Counsel
• Julianna Marler Port Senior Manager of Contracts
• Kathy Holtby Port Property Manager
• Michelle Allan Port Executive Assistant
• Mike Schiller Port Operations Manager
• Katy Brooks Port Community Planning & Outreach Manager
• Nelson Holmberg Port Communications Manager
• Dave Hurt Port Contracts Manager
• Rick Cline Port Projects Procurement Manager
• Katie Odem Port Communications Specialist
• Boe Ellis IUOE Local 701
• Edward Barnes Community member
• Antonio Gomez Leadership Clark County 2009
• Veronica Gomez Community member
• Travis Tormanen Leadership Clark County 2009
• Ed Blodgett Jacobs
• Jay Hamachek Great Western Malting
• Eric Fuller Fuller & Fuller
• Rick Wickman Port of Vancouver Lobbyist

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

On motion by Commissioner Wolfe, seconded by Commissioner Baker, and carried unanimously, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners approved the minutes of the May 26, 2009, regular meeting.

 OPEN FORUM

Commission President Baker invited comments from the audience regarding items not listed on today’s meeting agenda.

 Edward Barnes

Mr. Barnes invited the commission to sign and adopt the 2009 Resolution on the Spending of Federal Economic Renewal Grants. He stated that by adoption of the resolution, the commission and the Port of Vancouver support the president to create jobs and support his stimulus package.

  Katy Brooks ,Port

Community Planning & Outreach Manager Brooks shared with the Commission that she and her team had just completed Leadership Clark County and the project they chose expanded the project that Communications Manager Holmberg’s group did last year. My ClarkInfo.org is a website that consolidates all public service information into one location. She indicated her team decided to make the site accessible and available to individuals whose first language might not be English. Her team recently increased the website to allow for both Spanish and Russian languages. They also created brochures in both languages as well and presented them to the Commission.

Travis Tormanen and Antonio Gomez added that 12% of the county speaks other languages at home. They wanted to translate and prepare brochures to increase the benefits of the website and information to extend to as many individuals as possible.

The commission thanked the team for coming in and sharing their community accomplishments during this year’s Leadership Clark County program. Ms. Brooks thanked the commission for allowing her to participate in the program.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of West Vancouver Freight Access Project Memorandum of Agreement

Environmental Director Boyden presented the staff report, as contained in the agenda packet, and discussed the proposal with the commission

She described the terms of the agreement and the plan for next steps.

After discussion with staff and brief comments from Great Western Malting’s representative Jay Hamachek, on motion by Commissioner Oliver, seconded by Commissioner Wolfe, and carried unanimously, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners authorized the Executive Director to execute a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation regarding the West Vancouver Freight Access Rail Project.

 Port Contracts Log

Executive Director Paulson presented the port contracts log and discussed it with the commission. He mentioned the log is presented on a regular basis to provide information regarding contracts executed under executive director authority. Contract manager Hurt answered questions of Commissioner Wolfe regarding "activity date" as identified on the log.

NEW BUSINESS

No new business was considered at this time.

ACCOUNTS PAYABLES

Following discussion with Finance Director Smith, on motion by Commissioner Oliver, seconded by Commissioner Wolfe, and carried unanimously, the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners ratified and approved payment of May 2009 Vouchers 037140 – 037640 in the amount of $3,357,450.01and May 2009 Payroll Checks 005140-005173 and Direct Deposits D19659 -D19801 in the amount of $314,965.69.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPORT

Environmental Director Boyden shared the Groundwater Cleanup Facility system is now up and running. She added the system is now discharging clean water into the Columbia River. She indicated grants were received to fund this project. She also indicated a significant amount of grant funding was received by the Department of Ecology and she thanked them. She stated money was also received from settlement agreements.

Executive Director Paulson reported that he attended or participated in the following meetings, seminars and events:

• Interstate Columbia River Improvement Project meeting, May 28
• Harbor Splash, May 28
• AAPA Executive Director Seminar in San Francisco, June 1-3
• Commissioner Baker, June 4
• Name the Crane event with local 5 grade classes, June 4
• Washington Trucking Association meeting, June 8
• Rail tour with commission presidents from ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and Department of Transportation, June 8
• WA Department of Transportation, June 10
  • Harbor Splash, May 28
  • Name the Crane event with local 5 grade classes, June 4
  • Rail tour with commission presidents from ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and Department of Transportation, June 8

   

   

  • Clark County Regional Transportation Council Board Meeting, June 2
  • Name the Crane event with local 5 grade classes, June 4
  • Labor Roundtable, June 5
  • Rail tour with commission presidents from ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and Department of Transportation, June 8

Executive Director Paulson mentioned he will be meeting with the Washington Department of Transportation on June 10. He added that the Washington Public Ports Association Finance Seminar is scheduled for next week, June 17-19 and Finance Director Smith and Commissioner Baker will be in attendance.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

 

Commissioner Wolfe reported at the last meeting he failed to share he had attended the Columbia River Economic Development Council board meeting on May 21. He added he attended or participated in the following:

 

Commissioner Oliver reported that he also participated in rail tour with commission presidents from ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and the Department of Transportation on June 8.

 Commissioner Baker reported that she attended or participated in the followingHarbor Splash, May 28

 UPCOMING EVENTS  

A list of upcoming events was displayed on the screen for viewers to see staff activities and events. Dates, times, locations, and contact information were also displayed.RECESS

 

 

The regular meeting was recessed at 10:17 a.m. to sign documents and resumed at 10:30 a.m.

 

WORKSHOP

• The Board of Commissioners and staff conducted the following three workshops:
•  Transportation Workers Identification Cards (TWIC)/Homeland Security, 10:30 a.m. – 11:10 a.m.
• Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC), Update on Industrial Marketing, 11:10 a.m. – 11:52 a.m.
•  Legislative Wrap Up, 11:52 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.

  ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners, the June 9, 2009, regular meeting was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. by Commission President Baker  

PORT OF VANCOUVER USA

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 

__________________________

Michelle Allan, Executive Assistant