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From the Washington Public Ports Association |
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November 2010 |
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Upcoming Events January
10, 2011 March
14, 2011 Annual
Meeting Looks to the Past and the Future
Vancouver,
Beck and Woodworth Honored by Colleagues Interested in a Book on
the History of Ports? Guidelines
and Best Practices for Social Media Use in Washington State Available! Legislative Issue Talking
Points Draft Land-Use Planning Guide Available for Review Satsop Development Park
Sells Complex to NewWood More Funding for Rail
Improvements The 2010 WPPA Annual Meeting in
Tacoma was well attended by approximately 250 members who learned about topics
ranging from the history of rail in our state to the future of technology in
our global economy. Attendees were
treated to a Pavilion full of historical port photos that many members had
brought to share. Brian Goffman, CEO and Co-Founder of
Optify, Inc. served as opening keynote speaker for
the program. After noting that the most important technology tool today is
the cell phone, he spoke about using social media successfully and gearing it
toward your customers with a well thought out strategy of what their needs
are and how to meet them. He went on to stress the importance of meeting the
public’s expectation of constant, open access to information and noted that
it can be done on a very limited budget. During Wednesday’s General Session,
Social Media in the Era of Open Government was presented by Ramsey Ramerman of the City of Everett who noted the importance of
social media in building public trust in government. He was followed by Cheryl
Bledsoe of CRESA who spoke on the importance of making your social media-use
policy a conscious choice. And finally, Kris Rietmann from the Governor’s
Office reported on their recent success using web-based IdeaScale to gather public input on the state budget. All three
speakers reiterated the many benefits of being active with social media and
telling your story in your own words while engaging the public. The panel was followed by Paul
Sorenson of BST Associates who noted that the economic recovery was slow, but
it was happening and he highlighted the importance of exports as a means to
get there. The final presentation was given by
Centennial Committee Co-Chairs Dave Ripp and Jack Thompson. They highlighted
the plans for the upcoming Centennial celebration year and offered ports the
option of having HistoryLink produce a timeline book on the history of ports. Later that evening everyone had a
great time at the auction for the Robert Goodstein Memorial Scholarship. The
event was a grand success and raised over $10,000 dollars for this Tacoma
Community College scholarship fund. On Thursday, the ports of Clarkston,
Friday Harbor, and Moses Lake provided a port report, which continue to be a
highlight of the annual program. Each
port discussed where their port started, the things that make them unique to
their community and where they are today. The keynote speaker for Thursday’s
lunch was David Nicandri of the Washington State Historical Society who gave
a fascinating talk about the history of rail and the integral part it played
in the development of our state. During the afternoon’s General
Session, attendees listened as Wolfgang Opitz of the Office of the State
Treasurer, Brian Enslow of WSAC and Mike McCarty of AWC stressed the need for
government levels to work together in these challenging times to meet the needs
of our citizens and communities. Roundtable discussion topics
included Using Citizen Advisory Groups,
Trends in Agriculture, and Partnering with Conservation Districts. New
Officers At the conclusion of the Annual Meeting,
members voted on the 2011 Executive Committee. The slate of officers is: President: Scott
Walker, Port of Bellingham Commissioner.
Vice
President:
JC Baldwin, Port of Chelan County Commissioner. Secretary: Jerry
Oliver, Port of Vancouver Commissioner. Treasurer: Larry
Crockett, Executive Director, Port of Port Townsend. Past-Presidents: Dick Marzano, Port of Tacoma Commissioner
and Mike Ahrenius, Port of Friday Harbor Commissioner. Port
of Vancouver Wins 2010 Port of Year Award
“A
prospective major tenant at the Port of Vancouver said they were drawn to the
Port because of the capability and professionalism of its staff and by the
significant investment the Port had made in rail infrastructure. The
Port of the Year award is a reflection on the staff and the economic vitality
they bring to Vancouver,” said Jerry Oliver, Port of Vancouver Commission
President. Beck
and Woodworth Receive Outstanding Service Awards
This award recognized those who have
provided “a significant and meaningful contribution to the success of a
public port district or the public port industry at the local, national or
international level.” Beck
served the Port of Port Townsend for 37 years and his direct efforts made the port a regional
example of efficient operations and environmental stewardship. Woodworth
served the Port of Sunnyside for 19 years and was instrumental in bringing
major industries to the port. The
port community extends a sincere thank you to these two men for their
dedication and service on behalf of the industry. Centennial
Committee Co-Chairs Dave Ripp and Jack Thompson offered a great new option
for ports to take advantage of the quality work being done by HistoryLink and
purchase another tool to tell their story within their community. A highly
illustrated timeline book on the history of ports can be printed if enough
ports choose to order these finely crafted historical books. If your port is
interested in buying the books, please complete and return this order form before the end of the year.
Once a final tally
is done, requestors will be notified whether or not enough orders were placed
to make the minimum print run. If the minimum is met, requesting ports will
be invoiced for their order in January 2011. The Office of the Governor and
numerous state agency representatives worked collaboratively to create
guidelines to assist agencies currently using social media and to encourage
social media use to engage Washington state citizens. The purpose of this
document is to provide guidelines for social media use in Washington state
government. Ports can use these guidelines as a component of policy and
procedure development as they see fit. These guidelines are based on the
shared experiences of other states, state agencies, industry best practices,
and social media research. Given the evolving nature of social media, agency
guidelines and policies related to social media should be reviewed and
updated periodically as technologies or law develop. Read the
Guidelines and Best Practices for Social Media Use in Washington state. The 2011 session arrives in January, and once again,
the state is facing a major deficit of another $5.7 billion, or more. WPPA continues to focus on strategically
targeting policies and investments that will help grow private sector
businesses and jobs, strengthening the state’s economy as a whole. Keeping
our ports healthy, and providing us with the tools to incent the private
investment necessary to rebuild our economy will go a long way toward
bringing back economic prosperity to our state. Our priority items for 2011
are as follows: Building
Infrastructure · CERB
(Community Economic Revitalization Board) funding must be continued in some
form, whether through the traditional program or through a new iteration. WPPA will support efforts to provide $20
million in funds out of the state’s capital budget specifically for economic
development infrastructure investment.
Criteria for awarding funding should allow for adequate flexibility
and should focus the ability to leverage private sector investment and job
creation. · With
state funding difficult to come by, ports must better utilize current funding
mechanisms in order to build necessary infrastructure. Providing additional
flexibility to current IDD levy financing tools will provide more
opportunities for ports to fund infrastructure projects themselves. WPPA
will work for passage of legislation that will allow ports to use smaller
portions of their IDD levy capacity on specific projects over extended
periods of time without forfeiting their remaining capacity, while
maintaining the current level of taxing authority. · Transportation
Infrastructure Funding is facing a crisis very soon. As need grows and
funding shrinks, state and local governments must strategically prioritize
projects, and come up with innovative new ways to fund those projects. WPPA will work to ensure that the state
prioritizes strategic freight mobility projects, including rail. Cleaning
Up the Environment · Stable
predictable funding for remedial actions continues to be a primary concern
for ports. During the last biennium we
enjoyed some success at preserving existing funds and maintaining the
integrity of MTCA (Model Toxics Clean-up Act). WPPA will seek stable, robust MTCA funding in the 2011-13 biennial
budget. · Providing
additional funding stability and flexibility for remedial action projects is
critical for long-term project planning purposes. A financing report organized by WPPA and
the State Department of Ecology last fall has given rise to the idea of grant
funded trusts as a possible concept. WPPA
will work towards development of grant funded trusts in order to create
additional funding stability for future clean-up projects. Keeping
Public Agency Costs Down · Providing
an opportunity for requestors and agencies to clarify and resolve issues
relating to public record requests prior to lawsuits being filed would save
public agencies millions of taxpayer dollars in fines and court costs. WPPA will work for passage of legislation
to allow public agencies and requestors to “meet and confer” prior to
litigating public record request disputes.
· Being
able to recover the research costs of extensive public records requests would
save time and money. WPPA will work
for passage of legislation that will limit free research time, and allow for some
recovery of costs for public records requests. For more information contact the WPPA staff at
(360) 943-0760.
The public has an opportunity to weigh in on the state’s updated guide for airport land use compatibility planning. Effective and proactive land-use planning is critical for managing development around airports. WSDOT updated the guidebook to highlight the importance of airport and land-use compatibility planning and to streamline the process for airport sponsors and local jurisdictions. The guidebook does not change land-use requirements. It is intended to serve as a better tool with reader-friendly graphics and visual aids to communicate concepts and effective practices. It includes a six-step planning process with tools, worksheets and reference materials to assist local jurisdictions, planners and airports in making informed land-use compatibility decisions The guidebook was released previously for a 30-day public comment period on May 10. WSDOT reviewed and incorporated feedback from that comment period into the latest draft. WSDOT plans to publish the final version of the Airports and Compatible Land-Use Guidebook early next year. For more information, visit the project web page at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/aviation/Planning/Land UseGuidebookUpdate.htm A match made in heaven – between an
idle factory and an eager entrepreneur who saw its promise – will bring 150
jobs and a state-of-the-art “green” company to Satsop Development Park in
Southwest Washington. NewWood Corporation just signed the paperwork to purchase and re-open the 275,000-square-foot-manufacturing complex on 15 acres, formerly owned and operated by Boise Cascade. NewWood Corporation is the parent company to NewWood Manufacturing Inc., which will manufacture a unique wood-plastic composite utility board material, “Polyply,” to be used in products such as fruit bins, pallets, fencing, concrete forms and engineered flooring. NewWood is acquiring all of the equipment and technology assets from OfficeMax Inc., parent company of Boise Cascade, who owned the plant, which was never in commercial production and closed in 2006, due to corporate reorganization. NewWood has signed a 20-year lease with Satsop Development Park with two optional 10-year extensions. While the plant will take about four months to be fully “recommissioned,” the hiring process will begin immediately. NewWood plans to hire 150 people from the area, said John Bowser, president and CEO of NewWood Corporation and NewWood Manufacturing Inc. As part of a statewide push to
enhance high speed rail transportation, Washington state will receive $31
million in federal funds to improve passenger stations in Seattle and Tukwila
and ease rail congestion in Mount Vernon. When combined with $590 million in federal stimulus funds awarded earlier this year, this latest grant brings Washington’s total funding for high speed rail to $621 million. "This funding will help create and save good paying jobs as we work to modernize our state's rail infrastructure," said Senator Patty Murray. "In addition to helping commuters get where they're going this investment will also benefit the movement of freight rail in our state that is so critical to our economy." “Washington is building high-speed rail systems for the future, and creating hundreds of jobs for the present,” said Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire. “We are delivering more reliable and expanded passenger service.” More than $18.2 million will be spent to seismically retrofit King Street Station in Seattle and its clock tower, as well as restore the station’s main hall and upgrade electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. This work will transform the busy and historic station and adjacent tracks and platforms to meet current and future needs of expanding intercity and commuter rail service. The effort is a partnership by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Amtrak, the city of Seattle, Sound Transit and BNSF Railway. The grant also contributes $9 million to Sound Transit’s Tukwila Station project, a new train station for use by Sounder commuter trains and Amtrak Cascades intercity trains. The project converts the existing temporary platform to a modern full-service station. “Making these improvements will help give passengers the reliable intercity train services that allow them to choose transit over driving, and help us meet our state goals for reducing how much we drive,” Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond said. In Mount Vernon, $3.3 million will be spent to build sidings – passing lanes for trains – to improve speed and reliability for freight and passenger trains. The remaining $400,000 will be spent developing a State Rail Plan integrating freight and passenger service – a move that makes Washington more competitive in winning future rail funding. This latest round of grants comes from two Federal Railroad Administration programs. A total of $2.4 billion from the 2010 DOT Appropriations Act was made available in August to continue the development of high-speed intercity passenger rail corridors across the country. Nearly $1 billion in federal, state and local capital and operating funds has been invested in high speed intercity passenger rail in the Pacific Northwest since 1994. This investment has resulted in the state-supported Amtrak Cascades passenger rail service, which has served over six million travelers and provided a valuable alternative to driving. Washington state has invested nearly $331 million. Learn more about WSDOT’s high speed passenger rail program online. Port of Seattle Green
News The Port of Seattle Commission authorized over $110,000 for one of its most successful environmental initiatives, the At-Berth Clean (ABC) Fuels program, which encourages shipping and cruise lines to burn cleaner fuels while at berth. The funding brings this year's total to over $950,000 to cover qualifying vessels’ visits for the remainder of the year. "Our Clean Fuels program shows how we can help both the economy and the environment," said Commission President Bill Bryant. The port earned a national Green Fleet award for its environmental practices, making it number 20 out of 100 in a nationwide survey of federal, state, and local vehicle fleets. The port achieved this award by its use of biodiesel, CNG and hybrid vehicles, a fleet policy which includes a green fleet section, the port's overall commitment to programs relating to air quality, and aggressive green practices at its Marine Maintenance shop. "I'm very proud of this award - one more demonstration of how the Port of Seattle is the Green Gateway for moving goods from Asia to the heartland of America," said CEO Tay Yoshitani.
Join the Port of Everett for their Holiday on the Bay Bundle up the family and join the holiday fun along the Everett waterfront. Saturday, December 11, 2010 Location: 15th St. & West Marine View Drive Time: 1 p.m. ‐ 6 p.m. Bring Toys for Tots and Canned Food!
First Cargo Ship in Pacific Northwest Plugs into Shore Power at Port of Tacoma State and federal officials joined Port of Tacoma and Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. officials to flip the switch on the Pacific Northwest’s first cargo ship shore power. Sparked by an EPA grant worth nearly $1.5 million, two TOTE cargo ships will now plug into electrical power and shut down diesel engines while docked during weekly calls at their Tacoma terminal. The $2.7 million shore power project will reduce diesel and greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90 percent during TOTE’s 100 ship calls each year in Tacoma. That equals about 1.9 tons of diesel particulates and 1,360 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Officials on hand to plug in the first ship included Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Chief of Staff Jay Manning and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 Administrator Dennis McLerran. “Not only does this shore power plug installation help us clean the air, this project has created dozens of living-wage jobs at a time when we need them the most,” Gregoire said in a statement. “This is the kind of investment we need to emerge from this recession ready for the 21st century economy – one with a healthy environment and a good supply of clean energy jobs.”
Port of Longview Increases Industrial Property by 70 Percent The Port of Longview seized the opportunity for future development as the successful bidder of 306 acres of undeveloped property near the Port’s existing facility on the Columbia River. The acquisition nearly doubles the port’s existing 437 acres of industrial property, which is near capacity and has no remaining riverfront property available for development. “The current zoning and location of the property adjacent to the Columbia River shipping channel make this property ideal for future marine industrial development,” said Port of Longview Executive Director Ken O’Hollaren. Situated just four miles downriver from the port, the new site is adjacent to the deep-draft Columbia River, located within Longview city limits and zoned manufacturing, as is the port’s existing industrial property. The property was purchased with a winning bid of $2,451,750 at a trustee sale at the Cowlitz County Administration Building on October 22, 2010. “The Commission has been well aware that we lack industrial property for expansion and have made this issue a key placeholder in our new master plan,” said Commission Chairman Bob Bagaason. “With this purchase we are ensuring that we will have the space to grow and generate benefits for our community for years to come.” Senior Project Manager, Port of Olympia © 2006 Washington Public Ports Association. All rights
reserved PO Box 1518 * Olympia, WA 98507 |
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