Port Commission kicks off New Year with first meeting of ‘09

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners will hold its first meeting of the New Year on Tuesday, January 13, and will consider the following action items.

Among the action items, Commissioners Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver will take care of some New Year housekeeping items, including the election of officers, appointment of staff and organization assignments in the public meeting which is set to begin at 9:30 a.m., in the Commission Room at the port’s administration building (3103 NW Lower River Road).

Other action items include requests to authorize amendments to active professional and personal services contracts; authorize approval of a contract for advertising, marketing and public relations services; and authorize approval of a contract for groundwater monitoring services.

The Commission will also hear workshops on the port’s recent community survey, and the Columbia River Crossing’s interchange designs. The Commission will also participate in a tour of the Northwest Packing Company’s facilities on port property. Workshops are open to the public.

Housekeeping Items
In the election of officers, commissioners will vote for president, vice president and secretary of the board. It is expected that Baker will be elected president of the board, Oliver vice president, and Wolfe secretary.

Appointment of Staff
Staff appointments for the positions of executive director, general counsel and auditor are made annually at the first regular Board of Commissioners meeting in January, and the commission will make those appointments at this meeting. It is expected that the commission will appoint Larry Paulson executive director, Lisa Lowe of Schwabe Williamson and Wyatt as general counsel and Maggie Smith as auditor.

Organizational Appointments
The commission will review present assignments of port representatives who have voting rights on committees and boards for the organizations the port holds membership in, and make any changes that may be deemed necessary.
 
Authorization to Amend Active Contracts
The renewal of professional and personal services contracts is necessary to keep them active in order to help achieve the goal of maximizing the industrial business and development that is necessary at the Port of Vancouver. As contracts expire, port staff asks the commission for the renewal of designated professional and personal services contracts that require extensions in order to continue the scope of project work. Extending these contracts allows the port to better serve its customers expeditiously. Each of these contracts – for berth dredging, banking services, industrial property engineering services, environmental and stormwater consulting, rail corridor surveying, and risk liability assessment for Terminal 5 – has objectives, goals and milestones based on the scope of services required. The contract extensions and amendments to funding are approved in the 2009 Port of Vancouver budget.

Authorization of Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Services Contract
External marketing and advertising services provide value-added counsel and expertise in reaching global, regional, and industry markets and customers. After five years partnered with Coates Kokes port staff saw it was time to review the contract and open it for competitive bidding. The port solicited a Request for Proposals (RFP) on October 15, 2008 and six agencies responded with proposals, three of which were finalists. Grady Britton of Portland was selected from that group.  The 2009 budget includes $190,000 for agency advertising billings and advertising placements. The total contract period is structured for three years. The second and third year of expenditures for services shall be contingent upon 2010 and 2011 budget approval.

Authorization of Groundwater Monitoring Contract
Groundwater monitoring and reporting will begin, under a contract awarded to Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, pending Commission approval, beginning in the first quarter of 2009 and occur over five years. The contract includes the five-year site assessment for Terminal 5 (formerly Alcoa/Evergreen) and Fort Vancouver Plywood as required by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The proposed contract with Kennedy/Jenks is not to exceed $498,100 and runs through December 31, 2013. The 2009 cost is $93,100 and is included in the approved 2009 budget.

Tuesday’s meeting will be cablecast live on CVTV and streamed live on CVTV.org. It will also be archived for future viewing on CVTV.org.

About the Port of Vancouver USA
Even in difficult economic times, the Port of Vancouver is anchoring the economy of Clark County and the City of Vancouver. By diversifying its cargo mix between bulk commodities, breakbulk and project cargos, the port is responsible for job generation and significant contributions to the tax base for not only its own community, but also the state of Washington. Current expansion of the port’s rail system and development of new port industrial and marine properties will bring new jobs – both short term and long term – to 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 –