MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING

AND STUDY SESSION OF THE PORT OF HOODSPORT COMMISSION

March 11, 2009

 

Call to Order:  9:35am                                                                   Adjourned:  1:03pm

 

Roll Call:                                    Commissioner Wyatt

                                                     Commissioner Benavente

                                                     Commissioner Hamlin

 

Staff Present:                              Rich McEachin, Executive Director

                                                     Terry Veitz, Admin. Assistant

 

Public:                                         Bill Schenken, Consultant/Northern Economics

                                                     Marcus Hartley, Consultant/Northern Economics

                                                     Barbara Levette, HCIC

 

Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to approve the agenda

for March 11, 2009 as submitted. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Public Communication:            None

 

Commissioner Reports:

Commissioner Benavente: Reported that the Skate Board Park will be open this year due to the Squaxin Tribe provide the funding necessary to keep it open.

Commissioner Hamlin: Reported that the Lake Cushman Maintenance Board has asked for more information regarding the disposition of the Trail Park since acquisition by the Port. Exec. Director McEachin reported that the Park will remain closed until a walk through has been completed identifying any safety concerns. The 4-H will be doing a walk through very soon.

Commissioner Wyatt: Reported that he attended the WRIA-16 and PUD Board meetings. He put forth the agenda and minutes for both meetings. He reported that there are now 5 applicants for the Terry Husserman grant.

Executive Directors Report:

Executive Director McEachin reported the following:

He completed an interview with the Journal regarding the Port newsletter; the 2nd quarter newsletter will go out in April; applied for a $183,000 grant for a restroom via DOT stimulus funding; he made a presentation to the Lake Cushman Booster Club regarding what the Port has done and is doing; reported an error of context in the last newsletter will be corrected; and reported that according to a letter from Mason County, both Commissioner Benavente and Wyatt are up for re-election in 2009.

 

Consent Agenda:

Minutes: Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to approve the February 25, 2009 minutes as submitted. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Vouchers:

Commissioner Benavente made a motion to approve voucher 3-2, pages 1 and 2 as submitted. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Old Business:

None

 

New Business:

1. Approval to join Municipal Research small works and consultant roster for $100.00 per year: The Exec. Director explained that MRSC will publicize in the local paper and all qualified contractors will be listed in their online data base. He presented a Resolution to the Commission and read it by Title. He also stated that the Resolution would repeal prior Resolution R07-04. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to approve Resolution R09-05. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

 

2. Direction regarding a request from the PDA for a $500.00 contribution towards the Dennis Craig memorial plaque. It was noted that the Lilliwaup Community Club and the Hood Canal Business Assoc have each contributed $500.00 towards the effort. Commissioner Benavente made a motion to approve the $500.00 contribution. Commissioner Hamlin made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Recess of Regular Meeting/Convene Study Session:

At 9:50am, Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to recess the regular Port meeting and convene the Study Session with Northern Economics consultants. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Study Session:

Bill Schenken and Marcus Hartley, consultants from Northern Economics were introduced. Barbara Levette from HCIC was also present. The Study Session is based on discussion about the Scope of Work for the Feasibility Study for various identified Port projects. Bill Schenken passed out copies of the Scope of Work to the Commissioners and staff. He stated that it was designed as a Triple Bottom Line study, which is a broader outlook approach. He identified the areas that would be covered such as Finance, Environmental, Social, Economic Development, etc. He discussed the projects identified from past studies, Comp Plans, etc. and went through each element with the Commission. He stated that a summary report would be written and presented to the Port. Commissioner Wyatt asked if there would be a public presentation once the study was completed. Bill related that it could be done, but was not in the current funding plan. Commissioner Benavente stated that he thought the Port could implement a public presentation. Executive Director McEachin stated that it would be more cost effective for the Port to implement a public presentation. He further stated that the RFP was specific for the work to be done and that he needed the study to have more success in obtaining grants. Barbara Levette encouraged the Port to have a public open house for public input. Commissioner Benavente stated that prior surveys and plans have been out to the public and the plan has not changed. Commissioner Wyatt suggested that they wait for the feasibility study to be completed and then have an open house. He asked how long it would be to get the finished product. Exec. Director McEachin stated that the contract calls for completion within 8 weeks.  Bill Schenken proceeded to discuss each element of the identified projects as follows:

Parking Lot: Property acquisition will be required; size of lot/parking slots; 2 potential sites identified as across from the Port dock and strip of land behind corner tavern and across the street from the Post Office; and whether to pave or rock the facility.

Bike/Pedestrian Path: Foothill Park and Hoodsport Trail Parks were discussed. It was agreed that the path would be from Hoodsport to Lake Cushman, a nature trail, not paved.

Interpretive Center: It was agreed that an actual building was not in the plan, but interpretive signage was the priority. It would not be a loop, but places where signage/kiosks would direct where points of interest are located. It was suggested that maintenance might be implemented by interested local businesses and the signage could acknowledge that business.

Waterfront Boardwalk: Bill stated that this element is in the Master Plan. Commissioner Benavente stated that once a pier is built, the boardwalk could be built on Port owned property with connection to the docks.

Marine Support Facilities/Pier-Wharf: Exec. Director McEachin stated that this project would take place on the North side of the docks and it would be a pier with attached shops. Commissioner Benavente stated that setbacks and State Agency compliance may be problematic. Other issues/concerns were as follows: Costs, environmental issues, mitigation opportunities, importance of minimum impacts, need for local/tribal support, finding existing pier/wharf plans. Barbara Levette stated that she felt the Parking Lot and Restroom projects are definitely feasible and the consultants expertise would be more wisely used for the other projects identified. Commissioner Benavente expressed his concerns regarding what the Port will get in the completed study product. He stated that he wants to have something that will allow the Port to move forward on the projects. Bill stated that unlike the other aforementioned projects, the pier/wharf has less information to work with, particularly no plan. If the Port could supply an actual plan, he would have more to work with. Executive Director McEachin stated that to acquire grants, he needs a study that says “wharf is feasible because...... or it isn’t.” Terry Veitz suggested that if the consultants were to inquire about the environmental issues/concerns first, it may become unnecessary to continue further steps or to proceed further. Barbara Levette suggested that the Port needs to partner with those around them at the beginning and get all entities to the table. Exec. Director McEachin stated that once the study is completed is the time to entertain a meeting such as that.

Public Restroom: Executive Director McEachin stated that he has applied for two grants, one being a $183,000 DOT stimulus grant. There was discussion regarding location of a restroom, amenities of the restroom, grass/picnic tables in common area. The RFP sets out what is needed. Bill Schenken requested additional budget information from the Exec. Director. Commissioner Benavente stated he was not clear as to who is doing what. What is the Contractor to accomplish and what is the Port suppose to accomplish in this effort. Bill discussed the deliverables which are in the Scope of Work. Commissioner Benavente asked for clarification of deliverables and the end result of the completed study. Bill stated that a plan for the wharf will not be done, but they will show benefits/costs for the project. Commissioner Wyatt stated that possibly less time could be spent on the parking lot and restroom issues and more time on the pier/wharf issue. Marcus Hartley made closing remarks saying that they will send the Port a summary of understanding of what they will be doing and discussions at today’s meeting.

 

Adjourn Study Session/Reconvene Regular Meeting:

At 1:02pm, Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to adjourn the Study Session and reconvene the Regular meeting. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

Adjourn:

At 1:03pm, Commissioner Hamlin made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting. Commissioner Benavente made the second, passed unanimously.

 

 

Minutes Approved: March 25, 2009