Port of Ridgefield
Regular Meeting Minutes
February 8, 2017
Present:Joe MelroyBrent GreningScott Hughes
Bill ElingLaurie OlinSusan Trabucco
Nelson HolmbergMike BomarJohn Barbieri
Lee WellsSandra DayRon Onslow
Wonder BaldwinPaul YoungDave Kelly
1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE:
At 3:00pm Chair Scott Hughescalled the Port of Ridgefield Commission meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES AND ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:
January25, 2017: Commissioner Joe Melroy madea motion to approve themeeting minutes as presented. Commissioner Scott Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
3.CALENDAR:
Transportation Town Hall Meeting: The meeting is Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Clark College and will be facilitated by Representatives Liz Pike and Vicki Kraft. Nelson Holmberg will attend.
State of the County 2017: The Clark County Address will be held at the Hilton Vancouver on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at 3pm. Commissioners Hughes and Melroy will attend.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
5.FINANCE:
Cash Graph:The weekly cash graph is in the Commissioner’s dropbox.
Payment of the Bills:Commissioner Joe Melroy stated he reviewed the bills for the month of February and made a motion to pay the bills. Commissioner Scott Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried. The bills totaled $619,421.12.
6. REPORTS AND BUSINESS:
Executive
Ridgefield High School Scoreboard: Brent Grening showed the Port’s promotional video that is in the gym on the scoreboard of the Ridgefield High School. The scoreboarddisplaysthat the Port works for the community, cares for the environment and promotes building the economy. Susan Trabucco asked the public for feedback on the video when they see it.
Recent Correspondence – Infrastructure: Brent Grening provided an update of the infrastructure regarding funding improvements for the I-5/179thStreet Interchange Project. He signed a joint letter to Senator Curtis King and Representative Judy Clibborn asking to expedite funding for the improvements of the project. Brent stated Senator King is the co-chair on the Washington State Transportation Committee and Representative Clibborn is the chair. Brent also stated this should be the last update and that he will keep the Commissionupdated as this moves forward.
Letter of Support of HB 1702: Brent Grening stated a letter from the Port Commission was sent to Representative Mary Dye and the members of the Washington State House of Representatives that are on the Technology and Economic Development Committee, requesting their support of HB 1702. Brent stated the letter was well received, Representative Dye extended her thanks to the Port Commission.
Letter of Support of SB 5976: Brent recommended to send a letter from the Port Commission to the members of the Senate Energy, Environment & Telecommunications Committee requesting their support of SB 5679. Commissioner Melroy made a motion to approve this letter as presented. Commissioner Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
Nelson Holmberg stated all three Senators in Southwest Washington have signed on to support this bill.
Resolution Supporting Replacement of the Interstate 5 Bridge Over The Columbia River: Brent Grening presented the resolution from the Ports of Ridgefield, Vancouver and Camas-Washougal in support of replacing the I-5 bridge and requested a motion from the Commission.
Commissioner Melroy made a motion to accept the resolution as presented. Commissioner Hughes seconded the motion. The motion was carried.
Interagency Discovery Corridor Meeting: Brent Grening attended a meeting last week with partners regarding the Discovery Corridor. He stated the Discovery Corridor meeting was an extension of the Fairground Neighborhood Association meeting from last year. Brent stated the meeting focused on the need for additional interagency coordination and vision from entities in North Clark County. The groupplans to meet again to further the discussions.
Washington Public Ports Economic Impact Analysis: Brent distributed a sheet of the state-wide summary findings from the Washington State Public Port Association that impacts the Port industry.
Innovation
House Bill 1702Testimony Review Update: Nelson Holmberg stated that the HB1702 is sponsored by Representative Mary Dye and supports the Port’sDark Fiber Initiatives. He stated that Representatives Brandon Vick and Monica Stonier have signed the bill.Representative Dye has strong leadership in the Washington State 9thLegislative District. Nelson stated 15 people provided testimony at the hearing, one in which was our Ridgefield citizen David Morgan. David provided his support of this bill and told his story of needing dark fiber for his business and the community.
Nelson is hoping the bill is out of committee by February 17. The Senate companion bill is SB 5679 in which Senators Ann Rivers and Lynda Wilson have signed on.
Commissioner Hughes asked if the Ports will meet with Century Link. Nelson responded, James Thompson from WPPA and Patsy Martin from the Port of Skagit County are having conversations with Century Link.
Commission
It was mentioned that the WPPA Port Day event was well organized and a success.
7. PUBLIC AGENCY COMMENT:
Mike Bomar, president of the CREDCexpressed his appreciation for the opportunity to join the Ports on WPPA Port Day. Mike stated the event was well organized and showed Legislators that the Ports and partners are working together to encourage dark fiber in Southwest Washington.
It was also mentioned that the Ports met with the Governor’s office to discuss the importance of dark fiber having a huge impact for the Port industry.
Brent Grening mentioned there were several supporters from Clark County of the bill that attended the hearing on yesterday. These included Amber Carter, the Port of Vancouver’s lobbyistand representatives from Identity of Clark County.
Brent Grening stated Port of Whitman County Commissioner Tom Kammerzell has been named the Chair of the Inland Ports Navigation Group (IPNG). Brent stated Commissioner Kammerzell has a concern regarding the use of salmon recovery measures and the possibility of the removal of 14 dams on the Columbia and Snake River System. He stated Commissioner Kammerzell will ask for a balanced environmental impact statement from Ports along these rivers.
The Port of Ridgefield Commissioncontacted and sent a thank-you letter to the Port of Whitman CountyCommission for their support of our dark fiber project.
Councilman Lee Wells mentioned several agenda items that will be discussed at their meeting tomorrow.
Mayor Ron Onslow and staff will be meeting with state legislators in Olympia next week and with Legislatorsin Washington D.C. the week of March 21 to discuss the City of Ridgefieldprojects.
Nelson Holmberg mentioned the Port will attend the annual PNWA Mission to Washington DC the week of March 12 – 16, 2017 to discuss the Ports projects.
Paul Young from the Ridgefield Planning Commission stated the commission is in the process of reviewing open meeting laws.
8. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Mayor Onslow – state-wide significance; Benton issue – budget language; cannot talk with Oregon; WSDOT; this is in the resolution.
Mike Bomar stated there are good projects that are going on in Ridgefield and that CREDClends supports to these projects.
Councilman Lee Wellsinquired about the purpose of the I-5 bridge resolution.Commissioner Melroystated the resolution addresses problems with traffic congestion that impacts freight mobility, businesses, emergency responders etc. The Ports of Ridgefield, Camas-Washougal and Vancouver signed a resolution in support to request funding for planning, engineering and construction for a replacement bridge.
9.ADJOURNMENT:
The meeting adjourned at 3:50pm with no further comments or business. The next regular Commission meeting is scheduled forWednesday,February 22, 2017at 3:00pm. The meeting will be held at the Port of Ridgefield offices in the downstairs conference room located at 111 West Division Street in Ridgefield.
______
D. Joe MelroyScott Hughes
Respectfully submitted by
Wonder Baldwin
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