minutes from the regular meeting
of the Port of Hoodsport Commission
may 23, 2007
Call to order: 5:05 p.m. Adjourned: 6:39 p.m.
Roll Call: Commissioner Frank Benavente
Commissioner Dick Patterson
Commissioner Tom Young
Introduction of Guests: None
Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Benavente made a motion to “Approve the minutes from the regular meeting held on May 9, 2007 as presented.” The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Vouchers
Commissioner Benavente made a motion to “Approve vouchers for Carol Ferguson for administrative services, mileage and office supplies in the amount of $677.84; R&G Handyman Services for dock maintenance, repair and signage in the amount of $1,456.38; Commissioner Benavente’s reimbursement for conference expenses in the amount of $369.46; and WPPA for conference registration in the amount of $320.”
Commissioner Benavente made a motion to “Pre-approve recurring vouchers for the month of June.” The motion was approved unanimously.
Agenda Changes
Add the primary election under discussion items.
Open Items – None
Action Items
Overnight Moorage Fee Implementation
We’ve collected $70 in fees to date. Commissioner Benavente suggested that we place notices on boats that haven’t paid the fee. Carol will make more notices for Commissioner Patterson to have on hand.
Pumpout
Commissioner Benavente submitted the permit applications to the county on Friday, May 11, 2007. He had to complete a NEPA for the Fisheries Department. The county has to run the applications through their departments, which will take a minimum of 30 days. Commissioner Benavente hasn’t solicited bids yet because the application process will take some time. He had a discussion with the engineer regarding the setup of the public restroom so that he would better understand the new concept.
Moorage Buoys
Commissioner Benavente spoke to Don Olmsted from the DNR about the buoys. We have to get a DNR application for a public access lease. He has spoken to Robin about sending the application to us. Mr. Olmsted suggested that we put in as many buoys as we think we can fit in the area on one application. There will be size limits to allow for swing. This will be another revenue generating project.
Dock Repair
Hurlen Construction came out and installed 34 billets on the low side of the floats. We have to tie concrete blocks to the high side, and Commissioner Patterson is designing those. They also fixed the joint on the end of the float. The steel plates had come apart and had to be bolted back together. The billets are not secured by anything but pressure, which is a cause of concern to Commissioner Benavente. He feels that the billets could come loose. He’s also concerned about the need for concrete counterweights and feels that the dock shouldn’t list if the billets are installed properly, and it could become a liability issue.
Commissioner Young asked if Hurlen considers the job complete and Commissioner Patterson responded that he believes that they do. Commissioner Young believes that we should review the contract to determine if the job is complete, then set up a meeting with Wil Clark to do a walk through. Carol will get the contract to the commissioners and they will review it at the next meeting.
Hoodsport Master Plan Discussion
Commissioner Young asked if we’ve heard anything from Don LeMaster about property acquisition, and we haven’t heard. Commissioner Benavente will contact him and request a meeting at an Executive Session at the June 13 meeting.
Commissioner Benavente talked to Eric Johnson, WPPA lobbyist, at the conference regarding mitigation requirements for a pier. Mr. Johnson indicated that he would be happy to come to one of our meetings to discuss the issue. Commissioner Benavente will contact him to see if he could come to the EAB meeting on June 13.
Commissioner Benavente brought back some grant information from the Spokane conference. He thinks that we may be able to apply for a LIFT (local infrastructure planning tool) grant. We would have to show that the project would increase the property tax and sales tax bases, and we would have to partner with the county. It fits in with the revitalization of the downtown area. It’s best to combine projects, but could also be done in phases, i.e., bathroom, pier and additional docks. The application process opens in the August/September timeframe.
A question came up about the possibility of staff from CERB or the IAC assisting us with the grant process. They each have a representative for our area to do just that. Kammie Bunes, from the IAC, came to one of our meetings to discuss that issue and offer her services. Commissioner Young suggested that we set up some meetings to discuss next steps and what grants may be appropriate for our projects. Some names that were suggested were Kammie, Brian from CTED, the USDA and Pat Jones. Commissioner Benavente will contact some of them to set up some meetings either in our office or in Olympia.
Commissioner Benavente asked Carol to make some CD’s with our Comprehensive Plan and the final Vision Plan.
Park Development Partnership Program
The grant has been submitted through the Parks Department. Their advisory committee will meet and forward their recommendations to the County Commissioners for final approval.
Park Dedication
Commissioner Patterson met with a County Commissioner and with Barbara Adkins, a county planner to get this going. They are aiming for mid-September, and we have a verbal consent tht the county will share the cost of the dedication. There will probably be something at the library and at the Port park. Carol will email a response to the family giving them an update, letting them know that we’ll coordinate dates with them and asking that the family would be represented at the dedication. There will be some kind of monument and Commissioner Sheldon suggested a tree planting. Commissioner Young is concerned about space for a tree and Commissioner Benavente suggested that we could put up a flag instead.
Tourism/Marketing
Commissioner Benavente had a brochure from a small business development center that has offices in Kitsap County and at the Community College. They are involved with the EDC and the Small Business Administration. Their representative is willing to come out here to make some suggestions for our area. Commissioner Young suggested that the Port could sponsor a 2-hour workshop for business, if the business owners would be interested. Commissioner Benavente will get a business card to Commissioner Young, who will call to set something up.
Individual Commissioners’ Reports
Commissioner Benavente reported on the WPPA conference, and said that the meetings were very lengthy. They covered legislative changes, including the commissioner per diem increase to $90, effective July 22, 2007. We have to look at our resolution to check on the language.
The legislation on tourism passed and Ports can now engage in business, although they cannot use eminent domain to open a business. They discussed new technology for docks, pilings and breakwaters. They also discussed the need to look at mitigation regarding the +10 line, and that Ports can now do mitigation banking.
Correspondence
Commissioner Benavente had some correspondence from Rebecca, who owns the property at the bottom of the hill. The Port put in some rocks a couple of years back that she wants to have us remove. He thought that we could check with Mike Purvis to see if his equipment could be used to move the rocks. Commissioner Patterson said that we could use one to fill a big hole by the dock.
Commissioner Benavente also had some correspondence from the Business Association. They are doing the hanging flowerpots again this year, but not the watering. They said that we have to water the four pots on the Port property. We’ll put this item on the next meeting agenda.
Carol made copies of four pieces of correspondence. One is from the WPPA regarding the Director’s Seminar in July. There is an invitation from the Oakland Bay Marina to the Fireboat Launch, one for a WGEP workshop, and one regarding a water quality meeting held by the Department of Ecology.
Election
We received information about the election to replace Port Position #1, which is Commissioner Patterson’s position. Candidate filing is scheduled for the first week in June. No action is required on the part of the Port Commission.
No Executive Session was needed.
Agenda for the June 13, 2007 meeting:
Action Items:
Pumpout
Hoodsport Master Plan
Dock Repair
Park Dedication Follow-up
Business Association Hanging Flowerpots
Discussion Items:
Tourism/Marketing
Individual Commissioner Reports
Correspondence
Motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:39 p.m.
Thomas Young, Chairman Frank Benavente, Commissioner Dick Patterson, Commissioner