2009 budget, public hearing on Port Commission agenda

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The Port of Vancouver USA’s 2009 final budget will be presented to the public and the port’s Board of Commissioners during Thursday’s regular meeting of the commission.

Commissioners will also take testimony regarding the budget from the public during the open meeting before considering approval of the budget.

The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, November 13 in the Commission Room at the Port of Vancouver Administration Building (3103 NW Lower River Road). This meeting was moved from Tuesday, November 11, due to the Veteran’s Day holiday.

The commission meeting agenda includes a total of four action items, including the budget. Others are an addendum to an Interlocal Agreement between the Ports of Vancouver and Portland, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and two actions concerning the West Vancouver Freight Access project.

2009 Budget
Brian Wolfe, Nancy Baker and Jerry Oliver, the commissioners who represent three districts across greater Vancouver, will be asked to approve Resolution 10-2008 to adopt the budget, for the amount of $59,635,843, and to approve and execute Resolution 11-2008 authorizing an increase in the port’s tax levy in the amount of $94,666, which is a 1 percent increase over the 2008 tax levy.

The public hearing on the budget will be held during the Open Forum segment of the agenda, and those who would like to address the commission will be asked to keep their comments to three minutes.

Interlocal Agreement
The Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners will be asked to approve an addendum to the Interlocal Agreement established between the Ports of Vancouver and Portland and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide funds for expediting permit decisions.

The Port of Vancouver’s current quarterly pre-paid contribution is $11,250. Costs for funding these services are included in the 2009 budgets (pending commission approval).

West Vancouver Freight Access action items
A goal to develop and preserve multi-modal transportation access to the Port of Vancouver is included in the Strategic Plan, and is a key driver behind the port’s West Vancouver Freight Access (WVFA) project, which will provide access to the port that allows for increased service to existing and potential future new customers as the port expands to the west.

On May 8, 2007, the commission approved the exchange agreement between BNSF Railway, Boise Cascade, and the port to allow for land exchange during the construction of the initial projects in the WVFA. That exchange agreement took place on January 31, 2008.

With the Revised Alternative Proceed Notice, the escrow company will be directed to move on to the next stage of closing on the property transaction.

The second action item regarding the port’s rail project  is to terminate the Replacement Track Easement; execute an Alternative Replacement Track Easement agreement that allows BNSF to provide industrial rail service to Albina Asphalt and Lafarge North America; and transfers $750,000 held in escrow from Boise to the port.

Commissioners will be asked to authorize Executive Director Larry Paulson to sign the Termination of the Replacement Track Easement and execute the Alternative Replacement Track Easement, as well as sign the Revised Alternative Proceed Notice.

The commission will also hear project updates for the WVFA and construction of the port’s TCE Interim Action facility.

The meeting will be televised live on CVTV Channel 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m., and will be re-cablecast at various times over the next two weeks. It will also be available live (streaming) online at www.cvtv.org, and will be archived on the same website, for replay anytime 24 hours a day, shortly after the meeting is over.

About the Port of Vancouver USA
While working on some of the most important port development on the U.S. West Coast, the Port of Vancouver USA is cooperating with its tenants and customers to schedule and maximize business potential during construction. The end result will show why the port is “On Track to the Future,” as the completed developments will mean expansion of business and resulting new jobs for the community.

The Port of Vancouver USA, created by Clark County taxpayers in 1912, is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast. Its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a dependable labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community.

At A Glance

Who: Port of Vancouver Board    of Commissioners
What: Regular meeting of the commission
When: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, November 13, 2008
Quick Facts: The commission will consider four action items including the 2009 final budget … the meeting will be aired live on CVTV (Channel 21) and streamed live on www.cvtv.org.

– POV –