CALL TO ORDER: The regular monthly meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. at the Port of Benton Conference Room, 3100 George Washington Way, Richland, Washington. Present were Commissioners Jane F. Hagarty, Robert D. Larson and Roy D. Keck. Staff members present included Executive Director, Scott D. Keller; Director of Finance/Auditor, Stuart B. Dezember; Director of Airports and Operations, John D. Haakenson; Director of Governmental Affairs, Diahann C. Howard; Administrative Assistant, Janet Budzeck and Port Counsel, Tom Cowan. Also in attendance were Marvin Kinney, Chuck Larson, Dave Samples, Jan Jackson, Jennifer Sorn, Phillip Lemley, Bret Parker and Eric Smucker.
B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Marv Kinney led those present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
C. CURRENT BUSINESS :
• CONSENT ITEMS: A motion was made by Commissioner Keck, seconded by Commissioner Hagarty and passed by the Commission approving the minutes from the October 6, 2010, Budget Workshop, the October 12, 2010, Commission Meeting, the October 19, 2010, Special Commission Meeting, Resolution 10-23, to Cancel Warrant No. 51498, and Resolution 10-24, Relating to Campaign Signs Placed on Port of Benton Property. With respect to Resolution 10-24, the Executive Director explained the Port currently has no written policy regarding placement of signs on Port property; Port Counsel commented individual lease agreements contain language with regard to sign placement.
• PUBLIC HEARING ON 2011 PROPOSED BUDGET: The regular Commission Meeting was recessed at 8:35 a.m. and a Public Hearing was convened for the purpose of receiving public comment regarding the 2011 Port of Benton budget. No public comment was received. The Public Hearing was closed at 8:36 a.m. The Executive Director and the Auditor provided an overview of the proposed budget for 2011, highlighting those areas in the budget where the dollar amount had been increased or decreased, and responded to questions from the Commission. Scott Keller commented Port staff will be looking for grants to help pay for replacing the railroad bridge near Steptoe. A motion was made by Commissioner Keck, seconded by Commissioner Hagarty and passed by the Commission approving Resolution 10-21, Adopting the 2011 Port Budget, and Resolution 10-22, Certifying the Port's 2010 Levy for 2011 Collection. Commissioner Keck extended kudos to Port staff for a job well done in reducing the budget and for their stewardship of public assets. Commissioner Larson reiterated Mr. Keck's comments.
• AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PORT AUTHORITIES (AAPA) AWARDS UPDATE: Jan Jackson showed those present the home page for the Crow Butte web site. He then introduced Jennifer Sorn with Jennographics and stated they worked together on the web site. Commissioner Larson presented an Award of Merit from AAPA to Jennifer for her contribution.
Mr. Jackson then introduced Bret Parker and Eric Smucker with Charter Communications and stated they had helped greatly in putting together the Port of Benton's 50 th anniversary video. Commissioner Larson presented an Award of Excellence from AAPA to Bret and Eric for their contribution to this advertising series.
• JUB ENGINEERS: Chuck Larson provided an update on the projects at the Prosser and Richland Airports. He suggested the Port begin the process to obtain an avigation easement for the Melgaard property at the Prosser Airport to position the Port for future extension of the airport to 4,000 square feet. Mr. Larson recommended the Port retain the current avigation easements at the Prosser Airport so height restrictions can be controlled for future development. He stated there are no projects planned for the Prosser Airport in 2011, but plans are to add an Automated Weather Observation System in 2012.
• COLUMBIA ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES: Diahann Howard informed the Commission that Columbia Energy & Environmental Services wishes to lease a total of 8.12 acres of land in the Richland Innovation Center (RIC) and demolish the south end of the warehouse building located at 2701 Salk. This building does not meet building codes and the City of Richland has condemned the structure. It is not cost effective for the Port to improve this building to bring it up to current code. Columbia Energy & Environmental Services has agreed to demolish the south end of the warehouse building as part of its development plan for the property. Columbia Energy is requesting a rent credit of $200,000.00. Ms. Howard explained that this rent credit would only be expended if the requirements set out in Phase 3 and Phase 4 of their development plan were met. A motion was made by Commissioner Keck, seconded by Commissioner Hagarty and approved by the Commission authorizing the rent credit including a summarization of the lease terms . The initial lease term will be for thirty (30) years with two additional terms of ten years each at the end of the initial term and the end of the first extension term, not to exceed a total term of fifty (50) years
Ms. Howard stated Columbia Energy & Environmental Services has submitted a request to purchase 5.5 acres south of Curie in the RIC for $459,000 to construct a building for their corporate offices. Subject to approval of their development plan, Ms. Howard requested authorization from the Commission to continue negotiations. The Commission approved moving forward.
6. 1163 BUILDING LIGHTING CONTRACT: The Executive Director requested Commission approval for the lighting project at the 1163 Building in the Manufacturing Mall with the cost of $70,000 for 2010 and $140,000 for 2011. A motion was made by Commissioner Hagarty, seconded by Commissioner Keck and passed by the Commission approving the contract for the lighting project. Commissioner Hagarty recommended posting the areas being worked in for safety measures.
7. UNSCHEDULED BUSINESS/VISITORS: The Commissioners requested the January 12, 2011, Commission meeting be moved to January 10 th .
Dave Samples commended the Port for their consideration of obtaining available grants to help with the cost of replacing the railroad bridge near Steptoe. He suggested contacting the Federal Railroad Administration, who has two groups that provide grants, the Department of Homeland Security and Dr. Inez Triay with the U. S. Department of Energy.
D. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
Commissioner Hagarty commented on her attendance at the Washington Public Ports Association Seminar, the Prosser Economic Development Association meeting and the Blue Flame grand opening. Ms. Hagarty and John Haakenson met with the residents of Sheffield Manor, which is near the Vintner's Village Phase 2 project, and shared information on the project and answered their questions.
Commissioner Keck attended a Pacific Northwest Waterway Association conference in Spokane sponsored where removal of the dams was discussed, as well as water rights for the rest of the basin.
Commissioner Larson commented on the Department of Energy's removal of railroad track spurs from the 300 Area to the river and he stated Hanford Communities has a conference call scheduled for Monday, November 15 th with Frank Rizzo at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory for a briefing on the reduction of employment at the Hanford Site.
E. COUNSEL COMMENTS: Counsel reported he received a response from Mission Support Alliance representatives on their proposed lease with the Port and he continues to negotiate with Intermech on their new lease. Mr. Cowan reserved the remainder of his comments for the Executive Session.
F. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS: The Executive Director stated the Port of Benton will be recognizing St. Clair Woodworth for the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Washington Public Ports Association conference. Mr. Keller provided information on the new cell phone/computer policies and stated each individual may have the option of the Port purchasing their respective cell phones and/or computers or the individual may purchase them and invoice the Port for reimbursement up to a set dollar amount. A motion was made by Commissioner Hagarty, seconded by Commissioner Keck and passed by the Commission approving the new draft policy with the option added as outlined above. The Executive Director noted that a $250,000 grant was received for sidewalks within the Technology & Business Campus thanks to the assistance of Roger Wright.
The Director of Finance commented the 'Marketing' category has been added to the Architect/Engineering Firms Roster.
G. STAFF INFORMATION REPORTS:
GRANTS: Information is provided behind the designated heading in the Commission notebooks.
GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Diahann Howard stated the cost share letters were mailed to Mr. Trevor Smith in Golden, Colorado. These letters are the final piece to get the gasification contract in place and work with Washington State University (WSU); the Port of Benton will administer the funds. Ms. Howard also informed the Commission that the joint letter between the Port and the City of Richland has been sent to the Department of Energy (DOE) requesting 842 acres of Hanford land to be transferred. With regard to the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association conference set for March 2011 in Washington, D. C., Diahann suggested the following topics be discussed: (a) support of the DOE land transfer request, (b) the WSU/Tri-Cities Wine Science Center and (c) request MARAD to release the covenants on the Richland Innovation Center. Commissioner Hagarty suggested a request be made for one of the Commissioners to introduce Senator Patty Murray for the get-together on Thursday morning.
SITE PROJECTS UPDATE: The Commission was briefed on Vintners' Village, Prosser Wine and Food Park, Prosser Airport, Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center, Richland Airport, Technology and Business Campus, Richland Innovation Center, Manufacturing Mall/Railroad, Benton City Industrial Park, Benton City Downtown Property and Crow Butte Park.
H. PORT FINANCIAL ISSUES: Vouchers audited by the Auditor as required by RCW 42.24.080 and certified expense reimbursement claims as required by RCW 42.24.090 have been recorded on a listing, which has been made available to the Port Commission. As of this date, November 10, 2010, Port Commission approved for payment those vouchers included in said listing and further described as follows: Payroll Warrants numbered 00243 through 00277 totaling $58,936.22 and General Expense Warrants numbered 51438 through 51580 totaling $288,676.99 from the General Expense Fund.
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The regular Commission meeting was recessed at 11:55 a.m. for an Executive Session to discuss Port railroad litigation pertaining to lease negotiations in accordance with RCW 42.30.110 (i) for an estimated time of thirty (30) minutes. The Executive Session was adjourned at 12:25 p.m. and the regular Commission meeting was reconvened.
J. ADJOURNMENT: The Commission meeting was reconvened and a motion was made by Commissioner Hagarty, seconded by Commissioner Keck and passed by the Commission directing the Port of Benton Counsel to notify Tri-City Railroad Company that they are in default of their laydown yard lease and that if the default is not cured by close of business on Wednesday, November 17, 2010, the Port of Benton will terminate the laydown yard lease and direct Bechtel and the Department of Energy to make all future lease payments directly to the Port of Benton. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.
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Jane F. Hagarty,
updated 12/9/10
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