2009 Port of Vancouver budget approved at commission meeting

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners approved the 2009 final budget during today’s regular meeting. This meeting was moved from Tuesday, November 11, due to observance of the Veteran’s Day holiday.

Commissioners offered the opportunity for the public to comment on the port’s $59,635,843 budget during a public hearing, but no comment was offered. The final budget was presented at a reduced amount from the preliminary budget approved in October. That reduction came when the port had the opportunity to make the second payment on its purchase of a second mobile harbor crane in November, due to favorable exchange rates. That second payment had been scheduled to be paid in 2009, but when exchange rates allowed the port to save nearly $280,000 by making the payment in 2008, the budget was amended.

Commissioners also approved Resolution 11-2008, which authorized an increase in the port’s tax levy in the amount of $94,394 – which is a 1 percent increase over the 2008 tax levy. The total property tax allotment the port will receive in 2009 is expected to be $9,561.300.

Interlocal Agreement
The commissioners also approve an addendum to the Interlocal Agreement established between the Ports of Vancouver and Portland and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide funds toward funding a position at the Corps offices to help the two ports expedite permit decisions. The Port of Vancouver’s current quarterly pre-paid contribution is $11,250. Costs for funding these services are included in the 2009 budget.

West Vancouver Freight Access action items
Commissioners also authorized Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign a pair of documents that allow for the closing process on land exchanges between BNSF Railway, Boise Cascade, and the port to take the next steps.

With the Revised Alternative Proceed Notice, the escrow company will be directed to move on to the next stage of closing on the property transaction. Upon execution of that document, the port will receive $750,000 that has been held in escrow from Boise.

“The West Vancouver Freight Access idea came up several years ago and it will help us allow for continued growth into the future,” Baker said. “I have to say that without this project, the waterfront development on the former Boise property and continued rail service to private industries like Albina and Lafarge – which are important to this community – would not happen, and that sometimes is not fully recognized.”

The second action item regarding the port’s rail project  is to terminate the Replacement Track Easement; execute an Alternative Replacement Track Easement agreement that allows BNSF to provide industrial rail service to Albina Asphalt and Lafarge North America; and transfers $750,000 held in escrow from Boise to the port.

“This gives you an inkling that dealing with all of these companies is challenging,” Wolfe said of the confusing process. “But through partnering, it can get done.”

The commission also heard project updates for the WVFA and construction of the port’s TCE Interim Action facility.

The meeting will be televised live on CVTV Channel 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m., and will be re-cablecast at various times over the next two weeks. It will also be available live (streaming) online at www.cvtv.org, and will be archived on the same website, for replay anytime 24 hours a day, shortly after the meeting is over.

About the Port of Vancouver USA
While working on some of the most important port development on the U.S. West Coast, the Port of Vancouver USA is cooperating with its tenants and customers to schedule and maximize business potential during construction. The end result will show why the port is “On Track to the Future,” as the completed developments will mean expansion of business and resulting new jobs for the community.

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.

– POV –