Port commission to consider comp scheme amendment

VANCOUVER, Wash.-The Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners will take public testimony, and consider an amendment to the port’s Comprehensive Scheme of Harbor Improvements and Industrial Development at its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 22.

The meeting is set to begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Commission Room at the port’s administration building, located at 3103 NW Lower River Road in Vancouver.

Other action items on the agenda include a request for authorization to solicit an On-Call Master Roster for Architects & Engineers; a request for authorization to award a personal service contract to Tangent Services; and a request for authorization to issue a Request for Proposals to improve maritime domain awareness.

Resolution 5-2008: Comprehensive Scheme Amendment

Port staff will propose an amendment to its current Comprehensive Scheme that would authorize the port to acquire 640 square feet of property from Columbia Waterfront LLC – the former Boise waterfront property – that lies adjacent to the port’s recent land exchange between the port and Boise White Paper, LLC. The additional land is required for construction of the West Vancouver Freight Access project.

A second amendment is a proposal to authorize the demolition of the port’s Building 2705, also known as the Sand Shed. This concrete building is aged and has no future operational value to the port. Eventual replacement of the building is a possibility.

On-Call Master Roster

Staff will recommend to the commission that it authorize establishment of an On Call Master Roster for obtaining professional engineering and architectural firms.

Personal Services Contract to Tangent Services

Commissioners will be asked to authorize the award of a contract with Tangent Services for strategic rail consulting services for the West Vancouver Freight Access project. Tangent’s rail system knowledge and unique specialization in being able to provide education, understanding and assistance networking with the rail industry has been an essential element to the success of the port’s rail development.

Staff is requesting authorization from the commission to sign a Personal Services Contract with Tangent Services in an amount not to exceed $300,000 over three years to provide such services.

Request for Proposals to Improve Maritime Domain Awareness

Commissioners will be asked to authorize the executive director to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase additional cameras, portable computers and a wireless network that would be installed on the terminals to supplement the port’s existing video monitoring system. The wireless network would allow for monitoring by both mobile and stationary security officers and supervisors, and will expand the port’s ability to monitor the secure areas of the port as required by the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) implementation regulations.

The project is approved in the 2008 Port of Vancouver budget ($198,000) and 75 percent of the project will be funded in part by federal port security grant funds.

The public session of the commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Commission Room at port headquarters on Lower River Road in Vancouver. The meeting will be televised live on CVTV, and will be streamed live on www.cvtv.org.

At a Glance

Who:Vancouver Port Commission, Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker, Jerry Oliver
What: Regular meeting of the   Vancouver Port Commission
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Port of Vancouver USA Commission Room
Quick Facts: The commission   will consider a comprehensive scheme amendment, and will take public testimony on the issue ... the meeting will be televised live on CVTV Channel 21, and will be streaming live on www.cvtv.org

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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.

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