Friday Harbor Port District
Port Commission
June 11, 2003
Meeting Minutes
These are the minutes of the June 11, 2003 Port Commission Regular Meeting at the San Juan Island Yacht Club.
Port Commissioners attending were Greg Hertel, Brian Calvert and
Mike Ahrenius.
Staff attending were Executive Director Steve Simpson, Auditor Marilyn O'Connor, Harbormasters Ed Barrett and Tami Hayes, and Airport Operations Manager Pat Mayo.
The meeting was called to order at 4:03 pm.
1. Approve minutes of the previous meeting: Greg Hertel moved to approve the minutes of the May 28 meeting; Mike Ahrenius seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
2. Citizen Comments/Requests:
Jenny Roberts from the UW Labs, and working in conjunction with Friday Harbor High School, made a presentation on the results of water quality testing in the marina during the past year. Ms. Roberts asked the Port to continue its support for the project so that we could track trends and changes over a longer period of time. The request was for the Port to provide $500 to the San Juan Island School District for supplies to support the continuing 5th grade water quality monitoring project at the marina. Greg Hertel made a motion to approve the expenditure; Mike Ahrenius seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
3. Committee reports and facility maintenance reports:
Marina Maintenance Supervisor Bob Freeauf reported that the administration building had water supply line problems. The maintenance crew installed a new water line, permitting the Port to abandon the old one. Bob is working with San Juan County on a road maintenance plan for Jackson Beach, which includes drainage, chip sealing and a transformer retaining wall.
4. Consent Agenda: None
5. Commission Action Issues:
A. Request to sponsor stop for Canoe Gathering in Friday Harbor
a. Stopover for 15 ocean-going canoes
Tami Hayes reported that the Friends of the San Juans is hosting a Welcoming Ceremony on July 24 for a First Nations Voyaging Canoe Event. The Friends are asking the Port to waive overnight guest fees for eight canoes and eight chase boats. Greg Hertel moved to approve sponsoring moorage for the canoes and to promote the tribal gathering. Guest boaters and island residents can enjoy the event. Mike Ahrenius seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
B. Approve advertising for bids for Main Pier re-decking
a. Ed Barrett reported that assuming the engineer's estimate is acceptable, staff recommends the Port Commission approve staff advertising for bids for reconstruction of the Main Pier and replacement of D walkway after the Corps of Engineers issues permits for the project. The engineer's estimate for the project is $330,000. Refurbishing the pier is budgeted at $380,000. Brian Calvert moved to approve advertising for bids for the Main Pier project after the Port receives permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. Greg Hertel seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
C. Approve expenditure for Small Community Air Service Grant
a. Approve a 25% share of the cost of grant preparation
Steve Simpson reported on the Port's proposed participation in the cost of grant writing with the airlines, and suggested to approve the cost in equal shares with Northwest Seaplanes (San Juan Air/West Isle Air), Kenmore Air and Island Air. Greg Hertel moved to approve out of pocket cost for the grant writing. Brian Calvert seconded the motion, which subsequently passed unanimously.
D. Declaration of abandoned vessel
a. Derelict vessel ‘Solo’
Ed Barrett reported that the abandoned boat's owner did not comply with the Port’s request to pay cleanup costs and make good on the vessel's moorage. Owner Jack Iott was sent a certified letter informing him of the Port’s intent to take possession of the vessel, to break it up and take it to a landfill if he didn't claim the vessel and pay the costs. Brian Calvert asked staff to notify the Lummi Tribe of the status of the vessel before taking action and check whether they will pay these costs. Brian Calvert moved to approve Resolution #03-008, which permits the Port to take possession and dispose of the derelict vessel. Greg Hertel seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
6. Commission Discussion Items
A. CTAF
a. Discussion of latest information regarding frequency change
Steve Simpson reported the FAA/FCC apparently no longer have the ability to permit 128.25 (our CTAF) to be used by San Juan County. An international treaty prevents the county from keeping the frequency. Commissioner Calvert expressed concern that a threat was made by an FAA representative regarding the Port's pursuing remedies through the political branch of government. Staff responded that the threat was probably not FAA policy and was rather a remark made in haste by a mid-level administrator. The FAA feels they have a solution to the safety problem by providing a repeater that would inform pilots of the frequency change. The FAA plans to have a meeting with the Port and County Commissioners to discuss the frequency change. Pat Mayo reported that Will Hamilton of Island Air is on his own in appealing to our representatives in Washington DC to keep the San Juan County CTAF.
7. Public Hearings: None
8. Staff Reports
A. Auditor Marilyn O'Connor reported that the annual report is complete and shows a 3% drop in operating margin. Expenditures rose more quickly than revenues during 2002 due to a drop in boat and aircraft traffic. Boat nights are up over last year but not equal to our ten year running average. Fencing and signage is going up on the Front Street Project to guide pedestrians and vehicles around the construction site. Most people are accepting the inconvenience with good humor. The project will take most of the summer to complete.
B. Airport Operations Manager Pat Mayo reported that James Crossley would like to remodel the old airport terminal building back to a 1960’s style. He wants the building to be open to pilots and the general public to promote interest in aviation in the islands. Reid Middleton Engineering is reviewing and estimating for airport fence upgrade project. Staff reported problems with the abuse of PIN numbers by their being passed around among people who are not authorized access inside the fence. A number of runway intrusions have resulted from this situation. In the future, airport staff will require pilots to sign a hold harmless/ security letter if they show a need for a PIN number.
C. Harbormaster/Marina Report: Ed Barrett reported that slip demand is down again for permanent slips, so the Port will advertise again in boating publications. Reservations were up in May and large boat reservations are up.
D. Port Director Steve Simpson reported on attending a Sustainability Seminar which the Port Commission agreed to co-sponsor. The Port appears to be a natural choice to support island transportation. Steve is working together with the EDC board to market Port property with a goal to increase island jobs. Preliminary work is being done with Reid Middleton that will produce a draft scope of work for the airport fence upgrade project.
9. Capital Improvement/Acquisition Project Approvals: Marina cargo truck
10. Commissioners' reports, comments, correspondence and requests
11. Agenda items pending future action: None
12. Approve and sign warrants.
13. Executive sessions: Land acquisition
The meeting adjourned at 6:14 pm.
|
