MembersLetter
From the Washington Public Ports Association
	January 2010
Upcoming Events Port Centennial Committee Meeting January 27 The Fabulich Center, Tacoma Port Day 2010 February 1 Capitol Campus, Olympia Contents CPARB Aims for Optimization. 2 WPPA Educational Opportunites for 2010. 2 WPPA Now Accepting Holcomb Scholarship Applications. 2 Port Centennial Project Planning Kicks Off 3 Sail Into the 2010 Boating Season. 3 Be A Part of CHOOSEWASHINGTON.. 4 RCO to Hold Grant Workshops. 4 Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop. 4 Reminder: Celebrate Washington’s Ports in 2010. 5 Issues Watch. 6 Knowing the Waters by Robert Goodstein, WPPA Counsel 6 Port News. 7 Employment Opportunities. 10 CPARB Aims for Optimization The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board recently released a white paper on optimizing efficiency in capital project delivery within current public works statutes.  This paper resulted from the pressure on public entities to provide better value for capital dollars. Public owners, particularly ports, are frequently compared to their private sector counterparts on costs and schedule performance metrics. Because ports operate under a different set of rules, it is difficult to truly compare the two, and it often seems that the current laws do not allow ports to procure construction in the most efficient manner. The white paper includes delivery approaches available to ports under current legislation. It includes discussion of the benefits and risks of different options and approaches, and is intended to be used as a platform for further deliberation. It also provides some potential pitfalls in using certain approaches, based on comments from various public owners that participated in the development of this paper. Those who are involved in public works projects are encouraged to read this document and to exercise careful and thoughtful deliberation of the risks and benefits in using the tools outlined in the paper. The white paper is available on-line at http://www.ga.wa.gov/cparb/Meeting%20Minutes/2009-11-23-IntegratedProjectDelivery.pdf top WPPA Educational Opportunites for 2010 Once again the WPPA has put together several varied educational opportunities with its seminars and meetings for the coming year. The events promise to address timely issues in the port industry as well as give attendees ample time to exchange ideas with colleagues. Many of the seminars and both the Spring and Annual Meeting also offer the perfect opportunity for WPPA Associate Members to promote their firm by sponsoring a portion of the event. More information about the 2010 WPPA Seminar and Meeting schedule is available at http://www.washingtonports.org/member_resources/events/default.asp. Be sure to mark the dates on your calendar and plan to join us! top WPPA Now Accepting Holcomb Scholarship Applications In 1988, the Washington Public Ports Association's Trustees established a college scholarship in the name of Lewis R. Holcomb, who served for 19 years as WPPA Executive Director. The $1,500 scholarship is available to employees and commissioners of a Washington public port, their spouse, children or grandchildren who demonstrate a need and intend to pursue studies in academic areas related to port district purposes, including international trade, foreign languages, finance, business, engineering, environmental sciences, and other port related fields. The Association is accepting scholarship applications between now and February 26, 2010. Applications are available online. Announcement of the 2010 scholarship recipient will be made during the business meeting at the WPPA Spring Meeting at Campbell’s on Lake Chelan. top Port Centennial Project Planning Kicks Off The Port Centennial Project assessment was approved by a vote of the Board of Trustees at the Annual Meeting. The first meeting of the Port Centennial Committee will be held: January 27, 2010 10:30 a.m. - Noon Room 104, The Fabulich Center, Tacoma Member ports are encouraged to attend and participate in the planning process. top Sail Into the 2010 Boating Season The 2010 Recreational Boating Facilities in Washington State, published by the WPPA Marina Committee, is now online, at your local port marina and will be available at the 2010 Seattle Boat Show. Thank you to all those ports who promptly responded with their updated marina information in order to meet the boat show deadline. And a special thank you to the Port of Olympia marina staff for taking the brochures to the Boat Show. The 2010 Seattle Boat Show will be January 29 - February 6 at Qwest Field. It is the West Coast's largest boat show and features more than 1,000 recreational watercraft, seminars and the latest accessories indoors at Qwest Field Event Center, plus afloat on South Lake Union. Tickets can be purchased online at http://seattleboatshow.com/buy-tickets.html. The show is organized in part by WPPA Associate Member, Northwest Marine Trade Association, and several port marinas will have exhibits set up where the new boating brochures can be picked up. Be sure to stop by one of the many port booths during your visit and pick one up! If you need more brochures for your marina visitors, please call the WPPA office at 360.943.0760. top Be A Part of CHOOSEWASHINGTON The Department of Commerce is pleased to share some exciting news – the redesigned ChooseWashington.com website has launched at www.choosewashington.com. This new ChooseWashington.com site elevates the agency’s efforts to showcase Washington’s competitiveness and industry sector strengths, and serves as a primary marketing and business recruitment tool. Target users of the site include site selectors and the business community. If your port has a site you would like listed on ChooseWashington.com, please contact Penny Thomas at penny.thomas@commerce.wa.gov. top RCO to Hold Grant Workshops The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) will host two workshops in February to give you details about grants available in 2010: Ø February 23, 2010 – Moses Lake Ø February 26, 2010 - Tacoma Grants available in 2010 include: Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account Boating Infrastructure Grant Land and Water Conservation Fund Recreational Trails Program Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program For additional information about RCO, please visit their newly designed web site at www.rco.wa.gov or contact Tauren Ibarra at 360.902.3013 or tauren.ibarra@rco.wa.gov. top Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop A Pacific Northwest Weather Workshop will be held March 5-6, 2010, at the NOAA Western Regional Center campus at Sand Point in Seattle. This annual conference, sponsored by NOAA's National Weather Service, the University of Washington, and the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Meteorological Society, covers recent developments in weather forecasting and observational technologies, major weather events of the past year, and topics dealing with Western U.S. meteorology. The 2010 meeting will be open to all topics dealing with Northwest weather and climate and the current status of the new coastal weather radar will be reviewed. Pre-registration is requested for all attendees.  More information and registration can be found at www.atmos.washington.edu/pnww. If your port is interested in giving a presentation on the use of weather/flood forecasts in their emergency management operations, please contact Clifford Mass, Dept of Atmospheric Sciences, Box 351640, University of Washington, Seattle WA 98195 (206.685.0190, cliff@atmos.washington.edu) top Reminder: Celebrate Washington’s Ports in 2010 Don’t forget to join us for the 2010 Legislative Port Day on Monday, February 1, in Olympia.  We have several events planned, but you are encouraged to use the open time to visit with your legislators. Legislative Briefing – 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Please join us in the Legislative Building – Columbia Room on the 1^st floor, for an update of WPPA’s legislative items and talking points for the day. Complimentary coffee and pastries provided!    Celebrating Washington’s Ports – 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Several ports will have displays set up in the Columbia Room highlighting the many benefits ports bring to their community and our state. Currently Bellingham, Bremerton, Chelan County, Grays Harbor, Longview, Olympia, Port Angeles, Ridgefield, Seattle, Tacoma, Tri-Cities, Vancouver and Whitman County have all reserved display space. If your port is interested in setting up a display, please contact kolson@washingtonports.org. And remember to invite your legislators to come take a look and join you for some clam chowder at noon. Clam Chowder – Noon – 1:00 p.m. If you do not use this time to meet with your representatives or senator, please join legislators, staff and visitors to the Capitol for Clam Chowder in the Columbia Room while you enjoy the many port displays. Reception – 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Please join us at the State Capitol Museum and mingle with legislators and your port peers in the beautiful and historic Lord Mansion. We look forward to seeing you in Olympia! top Issues Watch Guidelines for Digital Archiving of Web sites and E-mails Starting January 1st all Washington local governments are required to comply with WAC 434-662-140 & -150, dealing with web site and e-mail archiving. The State Archivist has recently provided guidelines to assist with the archiving process. MSRC Announces Public Records Seminar The newly-formed Washington Association of Public Records Officers is sponsoring an all-day seminar on Public Records 101 at the McGavick Center in Lakewood on Tuesday, January 26, 2010. All public employees who assist with Public Records Act compliance and want more knowledge about the Public Records Act should attend. For more information, see the seminar announcement. Puget Sound Region Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) A summary of the current status of the three currently open PSGP rounds - FY08, FY09, and FY10 – can be found online at http://www.marineexchangesea.com/psgp.pdf. Marine Exchange of Puget Sound, Fiduciary Agent for PSGP FY09 and FY10, will host an information meeting for applicants on Friday, January 22, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Galaxy Room at Federal Center South, 4735 East Marginal Way South, Seattle. At least $64,000,000 remains in Port Security Grant funds available to stakeholders in the Puget Sound region.  Some of the money requires cash or in-kind matches, but waivers are available. The Port Security Grant Program provides funding for protection from and prevention of terrorism affecting critical port infrastructure and functions, as well as for resiliency and resumption of trade after any major incident that affects or impairs port security and functions, throughout the Puget Sound region. top Knowing the Waters by Robert Goodstein, WPPA Counsel Can the boundaries of an Industrial Development District be different than the boundaries of the port district?  If so, may a port levy an IDD tax on properties only within that less-than-district-wide area? Chapter 53.25 RCW allows for “marginal lands” to be condemned and redeveloped to create an Industrial Development District (“IDD”). RCW 53.25.010-.030. IDDs can be created, upon notice and by resolution of the port commission, anywhere within the port district and the boundaries can be changed from “time to time by resolution of the port commission.” RCW 53.25.040(2). Thus, not only can the boundaries of an IDD be different than the boundaries of the port district, but a port district may have multiple IDDs within its district. For the purpose of developing an IDD, ports can finance such a development by levying a property tax of up to 0.45 cents per $1,000 of assessed value for a period of up to twelve years by following statutory procedures. See RCW 53.36.100. This IDD levy is not affected by the geographic location of the IDD boundaries; the purpose of an IDD is to benefit the port district as a whole. Thus, the port has authority to levy the tax on all properties within the district. See RCW 53.36.100; see also RCW 53.25.010 (proper development and redevelopment of marginal properties is in the best interest of the inhabitants of the port district in which they exist). In conclusion, a port district may levy an IDD tax on all properties within the port district in order to finance a less-than-district wide IDD. As always, consult your local counsel with any questions regarding this issue. If you have a “Knowing the Waters” question you’d like to see answered in this column, please submit it to kolson@washingtonports.org. top Port News Port of Woodland Launches Social Networking Sites The Port of Woodland can now be followed on social networking sites, Twitter, Facebook, and My Space. The Port of Woodland has established a goal to be more visible and accessible to the public. The social networking sites will allow the Port of Woodland to communicate with a wider audience and breadth of constituents. This action falls directly in line with the port’s strategic 2010 marketing plan. Another new marketing introduction this year includes the launch of advertising on Portland’s KXL radio station. Port of Bremerton Airport/Industrial Park Earns EnviroStars Five-Star Rating The Port of Bremerton's airport and industrial park has earned a five-star rating in Kitsap County Health District’s EnviroStars program, becoming the first airport/industrial park to be recognized in the five-county EnviroStars region for its environmental stewardship practices. The five-star rating is the highest level of certification in the EnviroStars program, which has certified more than 600 businesses since 1995 in Kitsap, King, Pierce, Jefferson and Whatcom counties for practices that reduce hazardous waste and encourage environmentally sustainability. Niels Nicolaisen, EnviroStars program coordinator, said, “No other airport or industrial park has even submitted itself for certification -- demonstrating the Port of Bremerton's leadership in support of the program and its values of protecting natural resources and contributing to healthier communities. Coming into the EnviroStars program at a 5-star level further illustrates the Port’s leadership on a variety of environmental issues.” Port of Everett Commissioner Phil Bannan Retires After 20 years of Service After 20 years of service to the Port of Everett, Phil Bannan has retired from the Port Commission. Bannan began working with the Port of Everett as its executive director in 1986.  Following eight years as port director, he was elected to the Port of Everett Commission in 1997. One of his proudest accomplishments during his tenure as executive director was negotiating the sale of 110-acres of port property to the U.S. Navy to build Naval Station Everett, and modernizing the port’s terminal facilities to accommodate the growing marine traffic. During his service as Commissioner, Bannan worked to strengthen the port’s shipping business and also begin the process of redeveloping the port’s 65-acre North Marina property into a new waterfront neighborhood. “I am very proud of the direction the Port of Everett is headed, and my hope is that the port continues to invest in its trade facilities and maintain its excellent track record of responsibly managing the taxpayer’s money,” Bannan said. “I have enjoyed my time as Commissioner, and will continue to keep tabs on its continued progress.” “Phil’s leadership has successfully carried us through a lot of changes in recent years, and his experience and knowledge will be greatly missed,” Executive Director John Mohr said. Construction starts on new cold storage facility at the Port of Tacoma Versacold Logistics Services has broken ground on a new $30 million cold storage facility at the Port of Tacoma. The facility will offer 200,000 square feet of freezer and refrigerated storage space. There are also future plans for an 85,000 square-foot expansion. The facility is being built by Fisher & Sons, Inc. The company has built more than 100 cold storage facilities since 1954. The construction project currently has about 35 workers. That number is expected to grow to more than 100 during the peak construction time. The first phase of the facility (about half of the building) is scheduled to open in July 2010, and the second half will open in mid-August. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to create up to 100 new jobs. Staff Changes In other Port of Tacoma news, John Wolfe has been named the interim executive director at the Port of Tacoma. He will serve in that capacity until the Commission conducts an executive director search. Former Executive Director Tim Farrell left his post Dec. 31, 2009. Wolfe has been the deputy executive director at the port since June 2005. Before joining the port he served as the executive director of the Port of Olympia and as Olympia's director of operations and marine terminal general manager. He also spent 10 years with Maersk Sealand/APM Terminals in Tacoma, most recently as the terminal's operations manager. Wolfe is graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a B.A. in business administration. In addition, the port has named Erin Galeno as its new chief financial officer and Curt Stoner as the new senior manager of container terminal business. Galeno spent 23 years with Weyerhaeuser Company, most recently in the position of controller for corporate support functions. Prior roles at Weyerhaeuser included internal auditing director, leading the implementation of a common finance system and various financial and accounting roles in the company’s wood products segment. Galeno holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, with an economics minor, from the University of Puget Sound. She also is a certified public accountant and has completed Seattle University’s Executive Leadership Program. Stoner spent almost 15 years as commercial manager at Totem Ocean Trailer Express, a Port customer that serves Alaska. Prior to that, Stoner worked 10 years in sales at American President Lines. He worked as a sales trainer for both shipping companies. Stoner holds a bachelor’s degree, with honors, in international finance from the University of Southern California. Port of Kennewick’s Cryer Appointed to Enduris Board Dan Cryer, Director of Operations/Airport Manager for the Port of Kennewick, has been appointed to Enduris Washington Board of Directors. Dan has been employed with the Port of Kennewick for almost six years. His duties include facilities management, construction and contract management, insurance procurement, leasing, safety and accident prevention, and management of Vista Field Airport. Dan brings energy and expertise from his 18-year career in the commercial insurance industry. Enduris Washington is a WPPA Associate Member providing risk management and insurance solutions to Washington’s ports. top Employment Opportunities Environmental Affairs Manager, Port of Longview top © 2006 Washington Public Ports Association. All rights reserved PO Box 1518 * Olympia, WA 98507 360-943-0760 * 360-753-6176 FAX