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Upcoming Events
May
12-13, 2010
WPPA Spring Meeting
Campbell's Resort, Lake Chelan
Enduris
Partnership Funds Port Access to the MSRC.. 1
Ecology
publishes SEPA climate change guidance. 2
Executive Session Advice
for Hiring Decisions
WPPA
Spring Meeting Just Around the Corner 5
WSDOT
State Freight Rail Loan and Grant Program Call for Projects. 5
Ecology
to Provide Grants for Conservation Projects. 7
A
Chance to Attend A Cultural Resource Planning Summit 7
Port
News. 8
Obituary. 11
Employment
Opportunities. 12
When the Legislature passed its 2009-11 biennial
budget, it cut the funding for special purpose districts’ access to the
services of the Municipal Research Services Center (MRSC).The MRSC is a
highly regarded, professional organization that has provided governance and
legal research services to cities and counties for many years. For the past
two years it also provided limited services to special purpose
districts. However, with the state’s funding eliminated, access for
ports and other special purpose districts was eliminated.
In order to continue to serve special purpose
districts, the MRSC is implementing a new model for providing their services
to special purpose districts. They have entered into contracts directly
with the Association of Washington Public Hospital Districts, allowing all
public hospital districts to be served, and with the Washington Association
of Water & Sewer Districts to provide services to all its
members.
Additionally, and, of most significance to
ports, MRSC has contracted with the insurance risk pool, Enduris of
Washington, to provide full services to all its members. This will
provide services to approximately 450 special purpose districts, including
about 54 port districts.
Issues that are commonly addressed by the MRSC
include public records, open meetings act, ethics, public policies and
procedures, acquisition of property, public works projects and general best
practices governance questions. The participating members of Enduris can
use any of the services at no cost and they can be used as often as
needed. This actually represents an expansion of services from the
limited inquiry services previously provided to ports and other special
purpose districts through state funding.
This new partnership allows Enduris members to
have access to the full array of the services offered by the MRSC. Ports
not covered under the Enduris partnership that are interested in gaining
access to MRSC services are encouraged to call the MRSC Executive Director
Rich Yukubousky, about how they may be able to help you. Rich can be
reached at (206)625-1300 or ryukubousky@mrsc.org
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The state Dept. of
Ecology (“Ecology”) passed an important milepost this spring in the effort to
address climate change when the agency published its report SEPA and Climate: Addressing Greenhouse
Gas Emissions through the State Environmental Policy Act.
The publication is
the product of nearly two years of stakeholder work which began April 2008
when Director Jay Manning notified the environmental community that Ecology
would begin a process to ensure that climate change is considered in the SEPA
process and documents.
After two years of
outreach and discussion, the report provides guidance to assist agencies,
applicants and the public with addressing climate change impacts through
SEPA, but is explicitly “not prescriptive or mandatory.” Rather, it offers
suggestions for how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced or avoided. The
document also provides an overview of global warming, sources of greenhouse
gas emissions, as well as information about how to estimate and reduce
emissions.
In an effort to
develop a consistent approach to evaluate and consider the climate impacts of
a proposal, the guidance recommends that given proposals should incorporate
six basic steps into their SEPA review process:
§ Identify,
quantify and assess associated greenhouse gas emissions.
§ Identify
reasonable mitigation for any adverse effects.
§ Assess the
significance of unmitigated impacts.
§ If required,
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
§ Assess how
vulnerable the project will be to climate change effects; identify
mitigation.
§ Consider
these impacts when making decisions; condition or deny approvals accordingly.
Because there is
currently no standard format for documenting this analysis in a SEPA
document, this area will likely be the subject of future work. For now, the
current worksheet includes questions that relate to greenhouse gas analysis
and lead agencies could append any additional analysis to the worksheet in
order to demonstrate their assessment.
The Association
provided comments supporting Ecology’s decision to provide public agencies
with discretion and flexibility while other appropriate regulations are
developed at the state and federal levels. We agree with agency’s assessment
that SEPA is an imperfect tool for addressing climate change issues,
including regulation of greenhouse gas emissions.
Next steps
identified in the document include training and outreach to state and local
agencies, an update to the guidance that will include information about
non-project analysis, development of criteria for assessing effective mitigation
strategies and development of worksheets to include greenhouse gas emissions
and environmental impacts of climate change. Given recent agency downsizing,
budget pressures and staffing demands it is unclear how quickly the agency
will pursue these matters.
Additional
information about Ecology’s proposal is available on-line at the following
Web address: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/sepa/climatechange/index.htm.
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THE LAW AND PRACTICE OF COMMISSION HIRING DECISIONS
One of the most important acts of a port
commission is the selection and hiring of the executive director. The
selection and hiring of the executive director is also one of the most
politically sensitive actions of the commission. If done correctly, the
commission and the port benefit from public perception of open government and
a well qualified executive director. If done incorrectly the commission and
the port are harmed by a public perception of “back room deal making” and
commission arrogance. Therefore, is important to carefully balance the
understandable desire of commissioners to have frank discussions with
candidates and with each other about candidates’ qualifications with the
requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act (Chapter 42.30 RCW) and with the
public desire for an open process. Here are some suggestions on methods of
reaching that balance.
1. Discussions
between a majority of the commissioners concerning “what we are looking for”
before applications are solicited: These discussions are not
executive session material and should occur in public. These discussions do
not qualify for an executive session; moreover, experience has shown that
this type of discussion is exactly what the public wants to hear and comment
on. Individual commissioners can have
a private discussion about their individual views with the staff person or
consultant charged with conducting the search so long as that staff person or
consultant does not pass that information onto the other commissioners.
2. Discussion
by the commission about of which applicants should be short listed as “candidates”:
It is common practice for the port commissioners to have some confidential
discussion about which applicants will be short listed as “candidates” for
further consideration. Typically, the short list is publically announced as
the potential candidates for executive director; however, there is no
requirement that this be done. RCW
42.30.110(1)(g) provides that discussions about candidates qualifications can
be held in executive session. Indeed, the applications received by the port
(and the names of those applying) are exempt from public disclosure under the
Public Records Act (RCW 42.56.250).
3. Discussion
between the candidates and the commission: This is a somewhat gray
area under the law; however, the prevailing thought is that the commission
could invite the candidate into an executive session to discuss the
candidate’s qualifications because RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) allows the commission
tom meet in executive session to “evaluate the qualifications of an applicant
for public employment.” Again, returning to the practical reality of reaching
the balance between the desire of commissioners to have frank discussions with
candidates and the public desire for an open process, the best advice is for
the commissioners to have some public interaction with the candidates. This
can be done if a formal commission meeting question and answer session or a
more informal “meet and greet” with the commissioners, staff and the public
which is published as a special meeting.
4. Discussion
amongst the commissioners about which candidate to select and thoughts about
salary: Here again, RCW 42.30.110(1)(g) allows this to occur in
executive session. However, I believe it is a mistake for the commissioners
to come out of that meeting and make the hiring decision in a public meeting
without any discussion. The public
expects some reasonable discussion in a public meeting about the selected
candidate. This is frequently a “positive discussion” about the strengths of
the selected candidate and why each commissioner believes that this person
will be the best person to lead the port staff.
5. Actual
selection of the new executive director and setting the salary: RCW
42.30.110(1)(h) requires that this action be taken in public. Again,
experience has shown that commissions are criticized when the public action
is a mere motion followed by unanimous agreement. Although it is “legal” it
frequently leaves the public with the view that a decision was really made
behind closed doors.
In short, port commissioners should look beyond
the law to the political realities of selecting an executive director (and
for that matter any employee that the commission approves) with sensitivity
to how the process will either enhance or damage the reputation of the port
and its commission.
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It looks like
Spring has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest and the WPPA Spring Meeting is just a few
weeks away in what promises to be warm and sunny Lake Chelan.
We’ll start the
meeting off with some innovative ideas for thinking outside the box when
advancing economic development at your port and we’ll continue the
traditional favorites with Port Reports, Roundtables and an update from a
state agency leader – Paula Hammond of the Washington State Department of
Transportation. A full agenda can be found at http://www.washingtonports.org/member_resources/events/eventagendaspring.asp.
If you have not
made your room reservations at Campbell’s
Resort, we encourage you to do so as soon as possible. The
cutoff date on our sleeping room block at the hotel has been extended to
April 26. If you have made multiple reservations in anticipation of sending
commissioners and staff, please confirm the reservations that you need and
release unneeded rooms so that they are available to other members needing
reservations.
And then register
online at: http://www.washingtonports.org/member_resources/events/eventregistrationspring.asp to let us know you’ll be joining us at this vital meeting with your port colleagues
from around the state.
We look forward to
seeing you at Campbell’s!
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The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking proposals
from railroads, port districts, rail districts, private companies and local governments
to compete for $7.75 million in funding under the Freight Rail Assistance
Program and the Freight Rail Investment Bank.
Applications will be judged against criteria related to promoting
economic development through the advancement of freight rail activities.
Project proposals for these programs should
result in benefits to the state including improved freight mobility;
increased economic development and domestic and international trade; reduced
congestion and roadway maintenance and repair costs; and preservation and
restoration of rail corridors and infrastructure. Project examples include:
- Rehabilitate,
restore, add, or upgrade tracks.
- Provide
a rail connection to existing industries not currently served by rail.
- Develop
rail infrastructure that can be proven essential to attract new
businesses or repair damaged rail infrastructure.
- Increase
rail system capacity and/or velocity in general.
- Preserve
a rail corridor.
- Improve
connections to a port or transload facilities.
- Development
of strategic multimodal consolidation centers.
- Improvements
and/or additions to terminals, bridges, trestles, and other railroad
structures.
WSDOT staff will conduct a series of free
workshops to help potential applicants with their proposal. Examples of
completed applications and cost benefit models will be available as well as
staff members to answer any questions. Workshops are scheduled at the
following locations:
- June
15 - Vancouver & Union Gap
- June
16 - Spokane & Wenatchee
- June
18 - Tacoma
- June
24 - Seattle & Mount Vernon
Interested organizations can sign up for a
workshop and/or request a proposal packet by contacting rail@wsdot.wa.gov,
or (360)705-7900.
Applications must be post-marked no later than August 20, 2010.
Applications may be submitted electronically to: rail@wsdot.wa.gov,
or by mail: WSDOT State Rail & Marine, P.O. Box 47407, Olympia, WA
98504-7407.
Additional information is available on WSDOT’s Web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Freight/Rail/GrantandLoanPrograms.
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The Washington Department of Ecology is
anticipating funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service
(AmeriCorps) to provide matching funds for Washington Conservation
Corps (WCC) crews. Ports with trail, campground or
habitat improvement projects are eligible to apply for these matching grant
funds. The WCC hopes to complete critical projects that restore salmon, steelhead, and trout
populations to healthy harvestable levels, address energy efficiency and
weatherization, construct or maintain recreational assets, or otherwise
improve the natural resources in our state.
Highest
priority
will be given to requests for activities that make direct, physical
improvements to the environment including field projects that directly benefit
fisheries, recreation, energy efficiency, or other natural
resources. Examples include, but are not limited to:
· Riparian
improvements
· Bank
stabilization
· Fish
structures
· Wetland
creation and maintenance
· Fish barrier
removal
· Animal
exclusion fencing
· Trail
construction/maintenance
· Campground
maintenance
· Habitat
improvements
· Energy
Efficiency/Weatherization Projects
· Fuels
Reduction
· Tree/Native
Plant installation
Applications
must be received by May 15, 2010. To submit applications, or for additional
information, please contact: Nicholas Mott at (360) 407-6946 or nmot461@ecy.wa.gov
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This June, join an
experienced slate of speakers and presenters as they examine the issues
affecting cultural resource protection and identify solutions that will work
in the broader context of land use. Leave with proven strategies for saving
time, money, and cultural resources.
Public Ports
Highlighted
Hear a group of port employees and cultural
resource consultants talk about how ports fulfill their cultural resource
responsibilities. Presentations will focus on ports and their development
responsibilities, case studies of port projects that have involved cultural
resource issues, and approaches that can be taken to identify potential
conflicts with resources before a development project goes too far. Scheduled
speakers include Eric Johnson, of the WPPA and Scott Keller and Marv Kinney
of the Port of Benton.
For
more information, or to register for the summit, please visit http://www.theleadershipseries.info/
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Ports Honor Earth Day
Washington
ports are leaders of environmental stewardship efforts in our state and
several ports are highlighting their projects with planned Earth Day events.
The Port
of Camas-Washougal is coordinating a volunteer beach cleanup on Saturday,
April 24th from 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. at Cottonwood Beach in
Washougal.
"Earth Day organizers are celebrating 40 years of environmental
awareness and it seemed appropriate to join together in our own environmental
stewardship with a volunteer beach cleanup at Captain William Clark Park at
Cottonwood Beach," said David Ripp, executive director. As we
commemorate the port's 75th anniversary this year, we want to create a positive
community activity that will involve local residents and help maintain one of
our most popular and well-used community assets."
The Port of Tacoma is
hosting a free bus tour on April 22 for a
behind-the-scenes peek at their wildlife habitat and environmental projects.
The tour runs from 9:30 a.m. to about noon and begins and ends at the
Fabulich Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. For more information or reserve your
free seat, e-mail the port at bustours@portoftacoma.com.
At the Port of
Seattle, the first port-built LEED project and a new partnership with
Washington Conservation Corps were highlighted at a recent meeting
commemorating Earth Day.
The port commission
authorized an agreement with the Washington Conservation Corps, a statewide
Americorps program. Twelve young adults will work on wetland mitigation
projects at Sea-Tac Airport, gaining valuable work experience and developing
environmental leadership skills (see
the above story for how your port can partner with the WCC).
In addition, the consolidated rental car facility currently under
construction is the first LEED project to be built by the Port of
Seattle. Though the project is only forty percent complete, twenty-eight
percent of materials used thus far are recycled and twenty-nine percent are
locally-sourced. Those two percentages will increase as the project is
completed, but one statistic is already eye-popping: ninety-nine percent of
the construction waste generated has been recycled.
And finally, members of the Japanese community, the Seattle Cherry
Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival and the Port of Seattle joined
together for a cherry tree planting ceremony at Elliott Bay Park on Monday to
commemorate Japan's first overseas mission to the U.S. in 1860 and the
ratification of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce, and celebrate
the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Port of Bellingham Approves Grants and A New Lease
Five
local cities got an economic boost this month when the Port of Bellingham’s
Board of Commissioners approved $80,000 in funds to support projects in
Blaine, Everson, Nooksack, Ferndale and Sumas.
For
the past six years, the port has provided money through its Small City
Economic Development Fund to support economic development projects in Whatcom
County communities. During the 2010 budget process, Port Commissioners
directed staff to increase funding for the small cities program because of
its high value to the small cities. This year, the port increased development
fund support by $30,000 to a total of $80,000. In 2009, the fund supported
three small cities with $50,000 in matching funds.
“Even
though the economy may be improving, it can still be difficult for small
cities to secure funding for essential early-stage project planning,” said
Commission President Jim Jorgenson. “The projects supported by the Small City
Economic Development Fund this year will provide a real and tangible benefit
to the citizens of these communities for many years to come.”
In
other news, the port approved a 5-year lease with Spyglass Vision Clinic. The
optometry business will be located in the Bellwether Building
in the space formerly occupied by Bergsma Gallery.
“This
is an established, successful business that is going to be located in a
high-profile space in the Bellwether Building,” said Port Commission
President Jim Jorgensen. “We are really pleased to welcome them and we think
they will be an excellent fit with the businesses and services already in the
Bellwether on the Bay development.”
The
business plans to be operating in its new location by June 1, 2010.
Port of Longview Hires Two
New Team Members
The
Port of Longview recently welcomed new Environmental Manager Lisa Hendriksen,
who replaces retiring manager Judy Grigg. Lisa has worked for many years in
the environmental and planning profession, most recently as Planning Manager
for Cowlitz County Building and Planning. She received her undergraduate
degree in Anthropology with a minor in
Sociology from Southern Oregon University and her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from
Portland State University.
The port also welcomed Kara Metzger
as its new Purchasing Manager. She comes to
the port with more than 13 years of experience in procurement and contract
administration. Prior to joining
the port, she was employed as Budget Analyst for the Cowlitz County Office of
Financial Management. Kara
received her Associates degree from Lower Columbia College and is currently pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Operations from Washington State
University.
“Both Lisa and Kara are outstanding additions to
our team," said Port of Longview Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren. “Their exceptional
experience and credentials will be an asset to the port.”
AGP to Expand at the
Port of Grays Harbor
After a record year of soybean meal
exports, the Port of Grays Harbor’s largest shipper, Ag Processing Inc (AGP)
has announced plans to expand their agriculture product export facility that will
include construction of on-site storage silos and infrastructure to increase
unloading capacity at the AGP Terminal 2 facility at the port.
The expanded facility will provide
a gateway destination for soybean meal, grains, distillers grains, gluten meal,
and beet pulp pellets. Detailed engineering has begun and construction is
expected to begin this fall with operations slated for early 2012.
“AGP has been a vital partner in
the growth of shipping activity in Grays Harbor and we are thrilled they are increasing
their presence on Washington’s Coast,” reported Port Commission President
Jack Thompson. “This project will more than double our vessel calls, creating
jobs for our longshore workers, rail operators, tug assists and pilots. It is
great news for our community.”
Commodities will arrive via unit
trains transported by Burlington Northern Santa Fe and RailAmerica’s Puget
Sound and Pacific Railroad (PSAP) direct to the port’s marine terminal
complex. The port is working with PSAP, federal, state and local agencies to
expand rail capacity in the region.
Holmberg to Take the Helm
at Port of Woodland
Earlier this month, Port of Woodland commissioners hired Nelson Holmberg
as their new executive director.
Holmberg has been the communications manager for the Port of Vancouver
for three years and has 22 years of experience in public relations and the
media. He was media director for the Portland Power and Atlanta Glory women's
basketball teams and wrote for The Oregonian and The Columbian.
He replaces Erica Rainford who announced her resignation last month.
Port Commissioner Dale Boon said commissioners wanted a candidate who
could successfully market the Port of Woodland and recruit new businesses.
"As we come out of this economic recession, we want to be out there,
exposed and ready to go," he said.
Holmberg graduated from Washington State University in 1995 with a
bachelor's degree in communications.
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Commissioner
Gronholz Succumbs to Cancer Battle
Robert F.
Gronholz, 78, retired Colfax businessman, died April 13 in Colfax after a two
year struggle with lung cancer. The funeral for Mr. Gronholz, who was also a
Port of Whitman Commissioner, will be May 1 at 1 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran
Church in Pullman where he was a member.
Born Sept.
6, 1931, on the family farm at Vesta, Minn., to Herbert and Evelyn Hall
Gronholz, he was raised on the farm and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and
served as a mechanic with the 92nd Bomb Wing. While stationed in Spokane he
met Carol Wright and they were married April 11, 1953, in Coeur d’Alene. He
received his discharge in 1955 and began a career in the grocery business. He
worked several years for Low Cost Grocery in Spokane, Portland and Montana.
In 1973 he and an Air Force friend purchased stores in Colfax and Davenport.
He operated the store here for 20 years, sold it and then operated a men’s
clothing business.
Mr. Gronholz
was a member of the Colfax Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and served on the
Colfax City Council for two terms. He served two terms of the Port of Whitman
and was elected to a third term last November.
He enjoyed
spending time at a cabin he and his father-in-law built at Lower Twin Lake.
He also enjoyed woodworking, golf, skiing and Mariner baseball.
Surviving are
his wife, Carol, three children, the Rev. Marc (Debbie) Gronholz, Kent;
Marcie (Dale) Engle, West Seattle and Melanie Culbertson (Tom) Thoreson,
Spokane; four sisters and two brothers in Minnesota, eight grandchildren and
14 great-grandchildren.
The family
suggests memorials to Concordia Lutheran Church or the Colfax Volunteer Fire
and Ambulance.
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CEO,
Port of Tacoma
Finance
Director/Auditor, Port of Port Townsend
Executive Director, Grays Harbor
Economic Development Council
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© 2006
Washington Public Ports Association. All rights reserved
PO Box 1518
* Olympia, WA 98507
360-943-0760 * 360-753-6176 FAX
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