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Upcoming Events
May
12-13, 2010
WPPA Spring Meeting – Registration Materials Coming Soon!
Campbell's Resort, Lake Chelan
Welcome to HistoryLink 1
Launching a successful
Marketing & Outreach Campaign 2
U.S.
Dept. of Transportation Launches Online Forum.. 3
FMSIB
to Issue a 2010 Call for Projects. 4
Washington
Transportation Plan Update 5
From
Ask the MSRC.. 5
Port
News. 6
Employment
Opportunities. 10
We are writing to let you know about a new
project being undertaken by www.HistoryLink.org, the online encyclopedia of Washington
state history, with the sponsorship of the Washington Public Ports
Association (WPPA). The purpose of this Project is to celebrate the
centennial of the 1911 Public Port District Act by telling, in a compelling
way, the story of the first 100 years of Washington's Public Port Districts
and their significant social and economic contributions to the state and its
history.
The project will consist of the following essays
to be posted on www.HistoryLink.org:
o
a detailed overview essay (up to 5,000 words) on
the general history of public ports in Washington, covering the major, and
many minor, events in that 100-year history;
o
seven "Cyberpedia" articles (up to
3,000 words each) to convey the broader aspects of the Washington Public Port
Districts, whose themes will address the four main areas of authority and
power that ports have (Airports, Seaports, Public Access to the Waterfront,
and Jobs and Industrial/Economic Development), the Formation of Public Ports,
Ports' Role in Environmental Protection (and a final theme to be determined
by the research); and
o
shorter (1,500 words or less) timeline essays on
the histories of each of the state's 75 port districts
HistoryLink will conduct all historical research
needed to complete these essays, so it is not necessary for a port to provide
research or materials in order for that port to be included in the essays.
However, we welcome suggestions from any ports that wish to identify
particular noteworthy events in their history, or information and sources,
including any published books on individual ports, regarding that history.
Suggestions and materials should be provided, as soon as possible, to
Kathleen Olson at kolson@washingtonports.org.
Our research will include review of the records
at the Washington Public Ports Association office in Olympia, which has files
on all Washington public ports; use of secondary sources including books on
specific ports, on topics related to port history (maritime, aviation, etc)
and on general state history; and examination of news coverage and online
sources including each port's website.
Authors of individual port timeline essays will also research relevant
local sources, although they will not necessarily be able to examine archival
records.
Staff Historian Kit Oldham, who co-authored
(with Walt Crowley) Moving Washington Timeline: The First Century of the
Washington State Department of Transportation, 1905--2005, and has
written more 200 HistoryLink.org essays including suites of essays on the
history of the Port of Tacoma and of Sea‑Tac Airport, will be the lead
researcher on the project and will write the overview and some other essays.
The individual port history timeline essays will be written by writers
familiar with the area of the port district(s) they are assigned to based on
prior research and/or residence. HistoryLink Staff Historians from around the
state who are currently assigned to write port timelines include Michael J.
Paulus, Jr. of Walla Walla, the Whitman College Archivist; Jim Kershner of
Spokane, a writer for the Spokesman-Review; and Margaret Riddle of
Everett, an historian at the Everett Public Library for many years.
We at HistoryLink look forward to working with
WPPA and the ports of Washington in telling this important story in our
state's history.
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Beginning in the second quarter of
2010, the Port of Bremerton will launch a new marketing and outreach campaign
of our Jobs Initiative: A commitment to bringing 1,000 new jobs to the Port
and Kitsap County. With the addition of Chris Case to our "Sales
Team" we will begin by hosting the first ever Annual Meeting of the Port
of Bremerton and will present our Jobs Initiative and enlist the support of
community and government partners. The meeting will be held at the Bremerton
Conference Center on April 28.
Also, this year we hope to upgrade
our website, and produce some first class marketing materials to promote our
Port of Bremerton Industrial Park. We need to produce the tools that
will help sell our product to potential clients and bring new business to our
properties. We work in a very competitive world where every community is
trying to grow their economies by creating and recruiting new jobs. We
have a lot of strengths in terms of our location and facilities, but we still
have to work harder, be smarter, and have a sense of urgency to our
work. I am a bottom line, show me kind of person, and I expect us to
produce results in terms of bringing new jobs and new facilities to our port. It’s
all about selling the port as a place where companies and individuals want to
invest their hard earned money, and making good business decisions that in
the long term will have a positive impact on our bottom line.
Finally we must maintain the port’s
financial stability and begin again building back reserves and putting money
aside for the upgrade of our facilities. Many of our facilities are old
and in a decaying situation and will have to be repaired or replaced in the
not too distant future. We cannot take on projects that will bring
financial risk to our company and would prevent us from being able to keep
the port in a positive financial position.
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In support of the White House’s Open Government
Initiative, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) launched opendot.ideascale.com – an online forum
where you can post ideas and comments on how USDOT can be more transparent,
participatory, and collaborative in the way they do business.
They want to hear your suggestions on how USDOT can:
· Work better with others inside and outside the government
· Solicit feedback from the public
· Improve the availability and quality of information
· Be more innovative and efficient
· Create USDOT's Open Government Plan
USDOT will incorporate the ideas and
comments you post on IdeaScale in their USDOT
Open Government Plan, which will be publicly available on www.dot.gov/open by April 8, 2010.
For more information on USDOT’s Open
Government efforts, including their approach to making USDOT more open and
updates on their progress, please visit the USDOT Open Government website at www.dot.gov/open.
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The Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board (FMSIB) is
issuing a call for projects to maintain a six-year list of active projects.
The legislature has approved funding for all but eight of the Board’s current
projects and it is expected that the legislature will consider a new revenue
package in 2011. Of the 71 locally sponsored projects on the FMSIB list, only
28 had confirmed funding when they were selected. This is to demonstrate that
even though they cannot pledge a financial commitment based on dedicated
agency funding the majority of projects that FMSIB adopted did in fact
receive the funding they recommended.
The two most recent state revenue packages targeted funding for
specific projects to assure that funds authorized would deliver priority
outcomes. Most of FMSIB’s requested projects were included in the list.
Projects selected by FMSIB during this call will be included for funding
consideration in the next state revenue plan and for any new federal funding
that may be authorized. The Board is seeking projects that will be ready to
go to construction in the next six years and wants to be sure that when the
legislature approves new funds that the FMSIB projects are positioned to be
recipients. FMSIB advocates for project funding each year based upon an
individual project’s ability to proceed to construction and assists project
sponsors to secure other partnership funding.
The Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board will issue the
2010 Call for Projects on April 26, 2010. Applications and instructions can
however be found now on the agency’s website www.fmsib.wa.gov
Freight projects may be submitted by WSDOT, cities, counties and
ports. Projects must be on a strategic freight corridor (annual tonnage
minimums: 4 M tons for roadways, 5 M tons for railways & 2.5 M tons for
waterways). Projects planned for construction after 2011 are being sought to
maintain a six year list of active projects. Additional statutory
requirements may be found on their website or in RCW
47.06A.
After selection, the board works with project sponsors
to develop and advocate for additional partner participation and in
development of needed agreements.
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The
Washington State Transportation Commission has established a blog to
provide an opportunity to share and discuss information about the development
of the 2011-2030 Washington Transportation Plan (WTP 2030). WTP 2030 is a comprehensive and balanced statewide
transportation plan that establishes a 20-year vision for the development of
the statewide transportation system, from state highways and ferries to
sidewalks and bike paths, county roads, city streets, public transit, air,
and rail. The blog will feature WTP 2030 elements, such as the
Vision and Goals, along with specific questions for your consideration and
response. The Commission wants to hear from you about your priorities and
hopes for the state’s transportation system. You can visit the blog at http://wtp2030.wordpress.com.
WTP 2030 identifies the total unfunded statewide
need over 20 years, identifies significant statewide transportation issues,
and recommends statewide transportation policies and strategies to the legislature
and Governor (RCW 47.01.071(4)). WTP 2030 will be based on the new six
transportation policy goals established by the legislature: Preservation,
Safety, Mobility, Environment, Stewardship and Economic Vitality.
A broad-based Advisory Group is assisting the
Commission WTP Team in developing the vision, themes and framework for the
2011-2030 WTP. The Advisory Group is a sounding board and includes a
diverse representation of interests who will bring ideas from their
associations and organizations and report back on the development of the 2011
– 2030 WTP. Geraldine Poor, Port of Seattle, has recently joined the
Advisory Group on behalf of the Washington Public Ports Association. Should
you have input or questions regarding the WTP, please contact her at poor.g@portseattle.org.
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What is the law regarding overbroad public disclosure
requests?
The idea that a
public disclosure request can be overbroad was established in case law,
though it was tempered subsequently in the Public Disclosure Act (PDA). In Hangartner v. City of Seattle,
151 Wn.2d 439, 448 (2005), the state supreme court held as follows:
We agree
with the Court of Appeals that a government agency need not comply with an
overbroad request. We reach that determination because if a requesting party
could meet the PDA's requirement of identifying the desired documents by
requesting all of an agency's documents, the identification requirement would
be essentially meaningless. We will not interpret a statute in a manner that
leads to an absurd result. State v. J.P., 149 Wn.2d 444, 450, 69 P.3d 318
(2003). The PDA was enacted to allow the public access to government
documents once agencies are allowed the opportunity to determine if the
requested documents are exempt from disclosure; it was not enacted to
facilitate unbridled searches of an agency's property. We hold, therefore, as
did the Court of Appeals in Wood, that a proper request under the PDA must
identify with reasonable clarity those documents that are desired, and a
party cannot satisfy this requirement by simply requesting all of an agency's
documents.
In response to the
Hangartner decision, the legislature in 2005 amended RCW 42.56.080 by adding that
"Agencies shall not deny a request for identifiable public records
solely on the basis that the request is overbroad." The state attorney
general's office, in its "Model Rules for Public Disclosure," is a
bit more helpful; WAC 44-14-04002(3) states:
An
agency cannot "deny a request for identifiable public records based
solely on the basis that the request is overbroad." RCW
42.17.270/42.56.080. However, if such a request is not for identifiable
records or otherwise is not proper, the request can still be denied. When
confronted with a request that is unclear, an agency should seek
clarification.
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Port of Longview Posts Record Year
Operating revenue tips $25 million, reaches
all-time high second year in a row
In a
presentation to the Board of Commissioners, Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren
reported 2009 as a record setting year for the Port of Longview, just one
year after reporting records in 2008.
In 2009 operating revenue reached a Port best $25,115,703, a reported 7%
higher than $23,486,930 in 2008. Prior to the records set in 2008, the Port
had never exceeded the $20 million mark, with the closest being $19,825,917
in 1999. Net operating income (before depreciation) was $2,729,556 in 2009.
“It’s important to note these operating results don’t simply happen by
themselves,” said Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren. “They happen as a result
of the combined efforts of the entire Port team in support of our customers.”
The Port of Longview recorded 1.5 million metric tons of total cargo handled
last year, up 12% from 1.3 million metric tons in 2008. While both imports
and exports were up for the year, there was a significant shift in cargos.
The overall picture for the year showed a decrease in handling steel
products, with a strong increase in logs, bulks and wind energy cargo.
“The synergy of all port departments is evident in 2009’s successful outcome,”
said Commission President Bob Bagaason. “In this tough economic market, the
Port of Longview is holding strong.”
In 2009 the port signed a long term lease for the first export grain terminal
built in the United States in more than 25 years. EGT is currently under
construction, providing a much needed boost in jobs and revenue to the
region. The $200 million private development is expected to be online for the
fall 2011 harvest.
Executive
Team Changes at the Port of Seattle
Kurt Beckett, the
port’s Director of External Affairs since late 2007, has been appointed Chief
of Staff. Beckett will focus on economic development, international trade,
and environmental initiatives.
Patricia Akiyama,
currently director of government and community relations for Russell
Investments, will join the port as External Affairs Director, taking the helm
of the government relations, public affairs and regional transportation
groups.
In her role
at Russell Investments, Akiyama worked with state and federal elected officials
and oversaw Russell’s corporate sponsorships and charitable grant-making
programs. Prior to joining Russell in 2008, Patricia worked in government and
community affairs for Weyerhaeuser Company.
A former chief of staff for U.S. Senator Patty Murray, she also served as
Senator Murray’s press secretary and later as senior staff coordinator for
Rep. Frank Chopp when he was co-speaker of the Washington State House of
Representatives.
Linda Styrk
has been chosen to helm the seaport division. Styrk currently serves as the
port’s Director of Seaport Marketing.
Styrk came to the port in 2005. Prior to joining the organization, she served
as president of the office and warehouse operation for Universal Freight
Forwarders in Seattle. Styrk also spent twelve years with APL, Ltd., one of
the world’s largest international logistics and container transportation
companies.
Styrk received her degree in Nautical Industrial Technology from the
California Maritime Academy and has done graduate work in international
studies. She serves on a number of boards, including the executive committee
of the Manufacturing Industrial Council and the advisory board for the
University of Washington’s Global Trade, Transportation and Logistics
program.
Prefix Change
Reminder: Port of Seattle phone numbers share the same
prefix - 787. So whether you're calling the main number at port
headquarters or a port seaport office or the airport - the first three digits
of the number are 787. The last four digits did not change. The former
port phone numbers are no longer rolling over so please note the new prefix.
Port of
Whitman Awarded Federal Stimulus Funds for Rural Broadband Infrastructure
Expansion
The Port of Whitman, a sub-applicant on a
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) grant was informed by the
lead applicant, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) that an $84M award was
approved by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA). Port of Whitman’s portion of this BTOP award, approximately $9.8M, is
to expand middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure to the unserved and
underserved rural citizens in the areas of Whitman County.
“Port of Whitman is thrilled to have these
dedicated broadband infrastructure funds to help bridge the digital divide in
our area. This will help provide our citizens and our rural region the same
opportunities for economic growth that you see in metropolitan areas. We
thank NoaNet for giving us the opportunity to partner with them on this
grant. We also thank the participating Whitman County libraries, medical
facilities and government partners without whom we could not have been
successful,” said Joe Poire, Executive Director of Port of Whitman.
Once the fiber infrastructure is in place,
private service providers (last-mile fiber builders) will have the
opportunity to create fiber or wireless connections to residents and
businesses. This connectivity will further
allow for new job opportunities and enhance the local economy.
90% of
trucks serving Port of Tacoma meet 2010 clean air standards
Port of Tacoma Commissioners received a study recently that showed that 90 percent
of the heavy-duty trucks serving terminals meet the port’s 2010 clean truck
standards. That’s 4 percent more trucks than a year ago.
The Port of Tacoma Clean Truck Program’s 2010 standards,
aimed at reducing port-related diesel particulate emissions, require trucks
to have 1994 model year engines or newer.
Clean air goals were adopted in early 2008 as part of the
ground-breaking Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy, a partnership among the Port of Tacoma,
Port of Seattle and Port Metro Vancouver, B.C. The strategy outlines jointly
established short- and long-term clean air goals for ships, cargo-handling
equipment, rail, trucks and harbor craft.
In 2009, the Port of Tacoma launched its clean truck program,
adopting the regional strategy’s goals as standards.
The Port of Tacoma’s recent truck study captured about
3,100 short-haul, commonly called drayage, trucks that regularly serve
terminals on the Tacoma Tideflats. Study results show:
·
90 percent of the trucks are model
year 1994 or newer, meeting the Port’s 2010 clean truck standards. That’s 4
percent more than last year.
·
About 6 percent meet the 2015
standard of model year 2007 or newer. That’s 2 percent more than last year.
·
Newer trucks are replacing older
trucks.
·
Newer, cleaner trucks visit terminals
more often than older, dirtier trucks, reducing overall emissions even more.
The Port continues to work cooperatively with customers,
tenants, and air and environmental regulatory agencies to make port
operations cleaner and safer for workers and neighbors.
Port of
Vancouver Signs Lease with Keyera Energy
Port of Vancouver commissioners authorized a
ground lease with Keyera Energy, allowing the company to relocate its
Vancouver Terminal to the port’s new Terminal 5.
The agreement makes Keyera the first industrial
tenant at the port’s new Terminal 5 – formerly the site of Alcoa and
Evergreen Aluminum. Keyera receives and distributes propane in the Vancouver
area.
“We look forward to having Keyera as a tenant,”
said Commission President Jerry Oliver. “The addition of their terminal
operations to Terminal 5 is reason to celebrate, as it not only keeps jobs in
our community, but it provides for the first industrial tenant at Terminal
5.”
Port commissioners approved a 20-year lease,
which will commence on March 1, 2010, and includes an option to extend for 10
years. The port will earn nearly $3.4 million from the lease over the initial
20-year term.
“Keyera is a very good fit for this piece of
heavy industrial property, located at Terminal 5,” said Curtis Shuck, the
port’s director of economic development and facilities. “They will utilize
the new rail line, the fit within the leasehold footprint and they allow a
local company to continue to thrive in our community, and to keep their
employees here.”
Port of
Anacortes Celebrates Mitigation Project Completion
The Port of Anacortes held a ribbon
cutting ceremony last month to mark the completion of the “O” Avenue
Mitigation Project. Funded through a Job Development Fund Grant from the
Community Education Revitalization Board (CERB) of the Washington State
Department of Commerce, this $1.25 million dollar project removed old
creosote pilings and rubble from the shoreline, removed a concrete bulkhead,
re-graded parts of the beach to create more aquatic area, installed shoreline
restoration and protection, and created public access to the beach west of
the port’s main warehouse and events center, known as the Transit Shed. The project
also included repaving Railroad Avenue and improvements to “O” Avenue between
Railroad and 2nd Street.
At the ceremony, Port Executive Director Bob Hyde
praised the contributions and cooperation of all agencies and those involved
in bringing this project to fruition, noting it will benefit the community
both today and for generations to come.
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Environmental
Specialist, Port of Olympia - The
Environmental Specialist will be responsible for performing activities
necessary for maintaining compliance with the Port’s Industrial General
Stormwater and Phase 2 Municipal Stormwater Permits. The incumbent will be in
charge on performing and documenting necessary sampling events and
inspections. This position reports to the Port’s Environmental Programs and
Project Manager. This is a one-year project position.
Airport Director, Pangborn
Memorial Airport. This small but growing commercial
airport is located in one of our country's most beautiful regions, with an
extremely high quality of life based on a wonderful climate, a diverse
economy, and a quality community with strong schools, medical facilities,
cultural and recreational opportunities.
Executive Director, Grays Harbor Economic Development
Council,
Aberdeen, Washington, Position Description & Qualifications
available at www.ghedc.com.
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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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