Port of Ridgefield
Regular Meeting Minutes
November 26, 2014
Present:Joe MelroyBrent GreningBruce Wiseman
Laurie OlinScott HughesJeanette Ludka
Bill ElingWonder BaldwinSandra Day
John BarbieriBetty T.Mark Burton
Susan TrabuccoRhidian Morgan
1. CALL TO ORDER:
At 3:04pm Commissioner Bruce Wiseman called the Port of Ridgefield Commission meeting to order.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Brent Grening led the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND AGENDA:
Commissioner Joe Melroy made a motion to approve the November 12, 2014 minutes as presented. Commissioner Scott Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
4. CALENDAR AND CORRESPONDENCE:
WPPA Annual Meeting: This year’s annual meeting is scheduled for December 10 – 12 in Bellevue.
This is also the same week for our first monthly meeting, it was decided there will be one Commission meeting in December. This meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, December 17 at 3:00pm.
CREDC Q4 Luncheon: The date and time for the luncheon is Monday, December 15 from 11:30am – 1:00pm and will be held at the Heathman Lodge. The Commission and Brent will attend.
Clark County PubTalk: This event is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16 from 5:00 – 8:00pm at Fort Vancouver Artillery Barracks.
5. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Councilwoman Sandra shared she attended legislative meetings on November 11 & 12 in Olympia.
6. PORT BUSINESS:
- Finance Report
Cash Graph – Jeanette Ludka stated the cash graph for the week is in the commissioner’s dropbox.
Resolution 2014-291: A Resolution of the Port of Ridgefield Commission Providing for Acceptance, Approval, and Adoption of the Final Operating and Maintenance and Environmental Remediation Budget for 2015 Pursuant to RCW 53.35.045.
At 3:10pm a public hearing was convened to take public testimony regarding the Port’s 2015 operating budget.
Brent distributed a memo addressed to the Commission with the attached 2015 Operating and Capital Budgets and stated that the final 2015 Capital Budget will be presented to the Commission at the December 17, 2014 meeting.
Brent explained the budget summaries; he announced that the Port’s proposed operating budget bottom-line was approximately $250,000 to the positive, and that the positive amount offset the projected capital expenses for maintenance and funding annual capital reserves. Grening explained that this is an important milestone for the Port of Ridgefield as it seeks to strengthen its balance sheet, maintain its assets and fund against asset replacement.
Brent continued to explain the operating budget and noted he will not fill the Director of Business Development (which was included in last year’s budget) position at this time.
After hearing no public comment or discussion, Chair Wiseman closed the public hearing at 3:15pm. The public meeting reconvened.
The Commission was pleased with the 2015 Summary Budget and thanked Brent and staff for their efforts. Brent thanked the Commission for the kind words and noted he is pleased with the budget as well.
Commissioner Scott Hughes made a motion to approve this resolution as presented. Commissioner Joe Melroy seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
Resolution 2014-290: A Resolution Authorizing 2015 Levy Increase RCW 84.55.120. Commissioner Melroy stated the levy was increased by 1% due to the bonds received.
Commissioner Joe Melroy made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Commissioner Scott Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
When explaining the capital budget, Brent noted that the Port reserved monies to be conservative via the commission’s directive. Reserves were put aside to rebuild the $281,000 for the cost of the Marina repair and maintenance. There are also monies allocated in this budget to pay off the balloon balance in 2065 for the DOE repayment loan. Brent stated that the draft 2015 capital budget includes $800,000 of capital investment that could potentially be used to develop a building on the Port’s 11th Street property.
- Executive Report
New Agreed Order with Washington State DOE: Brent explained that a new Agreed Order (AO) has been drafted by the Washington State Department of Ecology for Port consideration. By entering the agreement, the Port will be committed to executing a remedial investigation and feasibility study, and if necessary drafting a Cleanup Action Plan for the neighborhood east of the South Pole Yard. The AO will allow the port to access Ecology funds to pay for the work specified in the agreement. Grening recommended for Commission approval of:
Resolution 2014-292: A Resolution Approving Washington State Department of Ecology Agreed Order No. DE 11057, An Order Requiring the Completion of a Remedial Action for Off-property Releases or Threatened Releases of Hazardous Substances
Commissioner Joe Melroy made a motion to this resolution as presented.
Commissioner Scott Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
- Commission
Old Business – Laurie Olin provided an update on the following:
Lake River Project: – Next week the contractor will begin to place sand over the dredge area to improve natural recovery of the sediments. The US Fish and Wildlife Refuge will be planting 15,000 trees on the Carty unit near Lake River to support the Columbia White Tail deer recovery.
Railroad Overpass Project: The contractors are almost done with installing the pump station. On Monday they will test the pump station. Laurie explained the testing process and stated that after the pump station testing is completed and passes inspection, the Port will give ownership to Clark Regional Wastewater District.
11th Street Project: Lights have been installed on the street.
Carty Lake Project: Sediments are completed and the contractors will be planting in January, 2015.
7. TOPICS FOR NEXT MEETING:
The appointing of Port officers will be done at the next meeting.
Commissioner Melroy will provide an update of the Port safety and emergency plan.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT:
None
9. ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 3:45pm with no further business or public comments. The next regular Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday December 17, 2014 at 3:00pm. The meeting will be the only meeting in December and is held at the Port of Ridgefield office in the downstairs conference room located at 111 West Division Street in Ridgefield.
______
D. Joe MelroyScott Hughes
______
R. Bruce Wiseman
Respectfully submitted by
Wonder Baldwin
1
11/26/2014 Minutes