Port Commission approves design services contract for rail

For Immediate Release
December 9, 2008

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners approved a design services contract for the West Vancouver Freight Access project worth more than $6 million over the next three years and six other action items during today’s meeting of the board.

Commissioners Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver also heard project updates and were presented with a report on the port’s due diligence on the successful environmental cleanup of the Evergreen Aluminim property. Before those reports, the commission considered staff recommendations and background on each of the following seven action items.

Public Works Contract
The commission approved the staff’s recommendation to terminate the award of a public works contract that was given to Axis Crane LLC in October for the port’s 2008 Pilings Project, which includes the replacement of more than 60 pilings over three different areas of the port’s waterfront. Problems with acquisition of a performance bond by Axis Crane spurred the need to termination of the contract.

However, the project remains on the port’s list of needs, so the commission voted to award the contract to Advanced American Construction – which was the next lowest bidder in the October review. The bid from Advanced American Construction is $193,678.00 (including Washington state sales tax).

Design Services Contract
Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize Paulson to sign a design services contract – rail task order No. 2 – with HDR, Inc. for final design and construction management of the West Vancouver Freight Access rail master plan project.

The task order provides consulting services including rail engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering, traffic engineering, geotechnical engineering, land surveying, planning, signal design, program management, culutral resource studies, and permitting assistance for the port’s WVFA rail master plan.

Spanning through the end of 2011, the task order totals $6,212,803, $2.8 million of which is budgeted to be spent in 2009. The remaning amount will be contingent on 2010 and 2011 budget approval.

Authorization to Solicit for 2009 Budget Expenditures
Commissioners authorized port staff to publicly advertise for public works capital projects, services, materials and equipment that were approved in the 2009 budget.

Those projects include: property development, stormwater improvements, the West Vancouver Freight Access project, and the TCE groundwater cleanup project.

2009 Compensation for Executive Director
The board of commissioners, after performing Paulson’s annual performance review last week, determined that Paulson’s 2009 salary should be set at $165,600 (a four-percent increase), and kept his monthly automobile allowance at $500 per month.

“I think it is important for everyone to know what this port has accomplished in 2008 under Larry’s direction,” said Commission President Brian Wolfe. “We’re having another great year. The three of us (commissioners) would like to take credit for that, but Larry and his leadership of our staff is what makes it happen.”

Commissioner Nancy Baker concurred.

“Larry has done a great job,” Baker said. “I also want to compliment the entire staff. This port has an excellent staff that absolutely performs.”

Resolutions
Commissioners approved and adopted the following resolutions as a matter of important annual business.
• Resolution 14-2008, which authorizes Paulson to sell and convey port district property of $10,000 or less in value.
• Resolution 15-2008 which provides for the prepayment of claims including general expenses of doing business such as salary and wages, travel, telephone service and other utilities.

Public Records and Disclosure Policy
Resolution 16-2008 was presented to the commission by staff, along with a recommendation that it be approved and adopted in order to create a new public records and disclosure policy for the port, as required by RCW 42.17.250, approved by the State Legislature in 2008. Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution.

Due Diligence on environmental cleanup
During the executive director’s report portion of the agenda, the port’s Director of Environmental Services Patty Boyden presented a brief report on the due diligence the port recently completed on the cleanup performed by Evergreen Aluminum of the property the port is purchasing. The report concluded that all of the cleanup efforts performed by Evergreen were over and above the efforts included in an Enforcement Order issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Ecology has also issued a letter complimenting Evergreen on its efforts to clean the property, and declaring the cleanup efforts complete.

The port’s purchase of the 118 acres is expected to close in late January 2009.

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 –