Minutes for the regular meeting
of the Port of Hoodsport Commission
september 27, 2006
Call to order: 5:34 p.m. Adjourned: 7:05 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 September 13, 2006, as presented.” The motion was approved unanimously.
Approval of Vouchers
Commissioner Benavente made a motion to “Approve vouchers for Carol Ferguson for administrative services and mileage totaling $489.80; R&G Handyman Services for dock maintenance in the amount of $659.18; per diem for Commissioner Patterson for 8 meetings in the amount of $560.00; and per diem for Commissioner Benavente for 18 meetings in the amount of $1,260.00.” The motion was approved unanimously.
Commissioner Benavente made a motion to “Approve all reoccurring vouchers for the month of October.” The motion was approved unanimously.
Agenda Changes
§ Dock Repair will be moved to Executive Session
§ The Tall Ship Proposal and the DNR Lease will be moved to the October 11, 2006 meeting
Open Items - None
Action Items
Pumpout Grant Application
Commissioner Benavente talked to Dave Christensen and he will complete the project on weekends or after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays only. Commissioner Benavente received copies of the state regulations from the county, but they didn’t include information on specific county requirements. Commissioner Benavente mailed them to Mr. Christensen and they will discuss them when he receives them. Commissioner Benavente recommends that we move forward with the project if there is enough information to satisfy county requirements.
Commissioner Young asked if we should send another letter to the Mason County Commissioners, stating that we may lose the opportunity for grant dollars if we are delayed much longer. Commissioner Benavente feels that another letter won’t accomplish anything and that it may alienate the county. We also got an email from Sue at the Coordinating Council stating that the timeframe is open, so we won’t lose the grant dollars. He feels that our best approach is to research the new documents and find out what we have to do to help the process along. We’ll keep this item on the agenda.
2007 Budget
The word that we received from the county is that the revenue projections and budget forms will be sent out after the September financials are finalized, probably in mid-October. We’ll have about a month to complete our budget and get it back to the county. Commissioner Young would like to begin to prepare the numbers as soon as possible. He’ll set up a meeting with Michael Wittenberg to discuss our year-to-date figures, carryover and investment accounts. The meeting will likely take an hour and a half.
Hoodsport Vision
Commissioner Young began the discussion with the questions, “What is our vision?” and “What is our plan?” He feels that the sky is the limit at this point. He sees the long-term vision as expanding our existing dock into a boardwalk to the hatchery, where events could be held. We could potentially get some of the residential property and put in a breakwater and a full marina. We could put in additional parking and shops behind the businesses as a second tier of businesses. That space could also be used for outreach education and salmon enhancement.
Commissioner Benavente added that we could put a bigger marina and fuel dock system in front of the marina café, and that the new store should be included in our vision. The architect for the store may be able to be persuaded to provide a vision drawing for us.
Commissioner Young added that the vision could be a catalyst to support and grow existing businesses. Hoodsport could be a destination rather than a stop on the way to the Olympics, campgrounds, etc.
Commissioner Benavente contacted Anderson and Assoc. about the vision. They did the Bremerton and Brownsville marinas and could simplify the process for our expanded marina. They’re busy, and hesitate to jump into another project right now, but may be available in a couple of months. They provided a catalog with pictures of some of their work. As he perused it, Commissioner Young commented that the Tall Ship could become part of the breakwater if it were anchored on both ends. Commissioner Benavente added that, if we build a pier as far out as possible, we could lease space to vendors to generate revenue.
Commissioner Young stated that, since the commissioners seem to have a common vision, the next step is to share it at the combined EAB and Port Commission meeting on October 11, 2006 and get their input. Between now and then, Commissioner Benavente will contact Anderson and Assoc. to find out if they have electronic graphics that they can email to us and Carol will put together a visual with those graphics.
Individual Commissioners’ Reports
Commissioner Benavente reported that he attended a Port of Allyn meeting on tourism today. He picked up a brochure while he was there and commented that we didn’t have one like it.
He also provided a Parks Department graphic of Foothills Park, on which a senior center, a BMX course and trails are sketched in. While the park sits on 80 ac., only 2 ac. are currently developed. The goal is to develop 10 ac. and leave the remainder in open space.
Commissioner Young added that he has a meeting on Friday with the RTPO at Mason County Transit. They are meeting to identify projects for their recommended plan. Commissioner Young is pushing for transit in the Foothills Park and Cushman areas because the need is there. They are trying to get special needs dollars to get regular service in those areas by July 2007. There is currently only dial-a-ride service two days a week, which isn’t sufficient. Commissioner Benavente said that a bare minimum would be services to Cushman and Hoodsport on a regular schedule.
Going back to the Parks Department plan, Commissioner Benavente asked what else the commissioners want him to try to get into the Foothills Park plan. Commissioner Young said that he thought we needed additional parking spaces, more bathrooms and a multi-use community center instead of a senior center. He also felt that the BMX course should be at the competition level to bring in more people, which would require vendors to support events.
Commissioner Benavente also brought up the MOU and the meeting that was held by the county, the PUD and the tribe regarding a septic system for Hoodsport. He still feels that the Port should have been invited to participate. He attended the meeting and the consultant asked for a copy of our Comprehensive Plan. The tribe also wants us to be involved. Their current plan is to look at purchasing property for drain fields in the hatchery area, in Potlatch and on the reservation. Commissioner Young asked if it’s appropriate to send a letter to the county expressing our interest in participating in the project. Commissioner Benavente thought that it was.
Commissioner Patterson reported that the new garbage cans have been purchased. The sailboat is still there, but it’s now anchored out away from the dock. There is a fishing boat at the dock that appears to be abandoned. Commissioner Patterson asked the Fisheries Department to check on it and they said that they would take care of it.
Commissioner Patterson also reported that George is selling firewood out of his truck and has been parked on Port property every day. He asked if we could do anything about it. Commissioners Young and Benavente said that no commercial activities could be conducted on Port property, so Commissioner Patterson will talk to him. If he doesn’t respond by moving the truck, Commissioner Patterson will contact the sheriff.
Commissioner Patterson also stopped by the Port of Shelton. Their marina uses an honor system for fees and it’s working pretty well. He brought one of the envelopes that they use for visitor moorage.
Correspondence - None
Agenda for October 11, 2006 meetings:
COMBINED EAB MEETING:
Hoodsport Vision Discussion
BUSINESS MEETING:
Pumpout Grant Application
2007 Budget
DNR Lease
Dock Maintenance contract
Tall Ship Proposal
Individual Commissioner Reports
Correspondence
Motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:52 p.m.
Executive Session began at 6:53 p.m. to discuss dock repair
Motion to adjourn Executive Session at 7:05 p.m.
NOTE: Carol has to go to the East Coast for two family emergencies, and won’t return until October 23, 2006. She will monitor email and voice mail while she is gone. Commissioner Patterson will pick up the Port’s mail and get bills to one of the other commissioners to email details to Carol. Carol will email vouchers back to Commissioner Benavente.
Thomas Young Frank Benavente Dick Patterson
Thomas Young, Chairman Frank Benavente, Commissioner Dick Patterson, Commissioner