Minutes of August 1, 2006 Regular Meeting
Expo Center Conference Room
5:30 P.M.

Present: Commissioners Sherry Bohn, Fred Duckwall, Don Hosford, Hoby Streich, and Kathy Watson; Attorney Jerry Jaques; from staff, Michael McElwee, Mike Doke, Linda Shames, and Linda Hull

Absent: Laurie Borton, Staff

Media: Sue Ryan, Hood River News

1. Call to Order: President Sherry Bohn called the meeting to order at 5:34 P.M. Jerry Jaques asked that the approval of Linwood Professional Bldg's Sale Agreement at John Weber Business Park and its associated driveway construction bid by Mid-Columbia Asphalt Company be added to Action Items.

2. Information - Communications - Announcements: None

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

Motion: Move to approve the July 11, 2006 work session/regular meeting minutes.
Move: Hosford
Second: Streich
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

4. COMMISSIONER, COMMITTEE REPORTS
a) Industrial Lands Work Group: Mike Doke reported that the next Industrial Lands meeting would be August 8, at 3:00 P.M.
b) Affordable Housing Work Group: Doke reported that Cindy Walbridge presented a draft report to City Council last week and he believes the committee will not be meeting again. The Port Commission should be given a report by both work groups when completed.

5. Director's Report

· Schedule: McElwee informed the Commission that his family has just finished the move to Parkdale over the weekend. He will submit a written monthly report by September 1. He told the Commission he has experienced a lot in his first three weeks on the job, including today's incidents of a barge hitting the bridge and an airplane flying under it. McElwee said Hal Hiemstra from Ball Janik will be in Hood River on August 29 and asked any Commissioners to let him know if they would like to meet him on that day. McElwee also said he will take over the regular monthly radio assignment and any Commissioners that would like to accompany him are welcome. He has met with over two dozen local government, public, and business leaders in the community. Commissioner Watson asked that McElwee prepare a written general summary of these discussions for the Commission. McElwee also acknowledged the good work staff does almost 24 hours a day during the summer season.
· Waterfront Recreation: McElwee acknowledged the drowning in the Columbia River last week and informed the Commission he will be meeting with Wayne Tengwall next week to discuss beach safety strategies and the costs, liabilities, and vandalism issues related to them. He believes the Port should be responsive to the current situation as well as plan for future seasons. Mr. Tengwall, as a Lions Club member, will have information from that organization and how they are willing to help.
· Waterfront Development: The agenda for the Parks & Recreation, City, Port, and County joint meeting tomorrow evening was discussed. McElwee stated the purpose of this discussion is to strategize funding options for the Waterfront Park. Commissioner Duckwall told the Commission he would not attend resulting in no quorum for the Commission. Bohn stated the Park Development Committee (PDC) is looking for maintenance money. McElwee commended Jaques for his work on the zoning ordinance language for the Recreation/Commercial zone for the Spit and Hook. Jaques believes it will be presented for hearings in September. Jaques will review the draft again to clarify several Commissioners' comments. McElwee reported the Nichols property rezone planning commission hearing is August 2. The Port's previously submitted letter regarding the access road was incorporated into the staff report which recommended approval. The Commission acknowledged the resignation of Joanie Thomsen as Port representative on the PDC. The PDC will be forwarding names of possible replacements at a later date.
· Airport: McElwee reported that the Port would enter the Voluntary Cleanup Program of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for the spray operations sites at the airport. The evaluation of the prior work at the sites and the report's recommendations for further testing will be completed for DEQ's review as part of the process. Doke stated the DEQ is looking statewide at all sites and Hood River is just one of them. Commissioner Watson asked if any of the spray companies have responsibility for the cleanup? Jaques said the user is the primary responsible party but that the owner and user have joint and several responsibilities.
· Transportation: McElwee informed the Commission that the intergovernmental agreement with Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the bridge inspections was reviewed and revised with the assistance of Jaques. Under its own program, ODOT will complete and pay for the required bridge inspections that the Port did in the past. Shames stated the inspectors from Burgess and Niple will be here this fall and that they did our prior inspections. She said as a sub-task, they will write up a long-term paint maintenance schedule. On the archaeology issue, another meeting is scheduled for August 16 and the Port is hopeful for resolution. On the one-way toll issue, McElwee stated that although he was new to this issue, there seems to be significant reasons why that proposed solution to the backups might not be the most effective or appropriate at this time. He believes the toll house is only one cog in the wheel. He suggested that for a trial period the Port would waive the toll northbound if the toll collector saw there was no stack room from the 4-way intersection from 3 pm to 6 pm. Staff would assess the effectiveness of this and report back to the Commission. Consensus from the Commission was to implement and publicize this plan as soon as possible.
· Other: McElwee told the Commission the Oregon Tort Claims Act has had a recent challenge and he will keep them posted on any developments that may affect the Port Commission. He also reported that he attended the Rural Development R2R conference last month and felt it was an excellent networking experience. He informed the Commission that Kathy Watson was an originator of this conference. McElwee stated he would be attending the Chamber Board meeting next week and that an agenda item was the Expo Center. He stated Craig Schmidt is waiting for direction from the Port Commission before they look at alternative sites for events. Doke stated Chuck Bugge was to be the facilitator of the stakeholder task force that will discuss the issue. Commissioner Duckwall commented this topic had been discussed in the past and he felt the Chamber had direction.

6. Action Items:
a) Waterfront Development: Embarq has requested an extension of the Wi-Fi Trial Agreement dated August 15, 2006.

Motion: Move to approve an extension of the August 15, 2006 Wi-Fi Agreement between the Port of Hood River and United Telephone for five 30-day periods.
Move: Duckwall
Second: Watson
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

b) Authorize Approval to Waive Fees: The Hood River County Museum is requesting a fee waiver to use the Marina Green on September 23, 2006, for the Cars of Yesterday Auto Show. They will be driving through the Mosier Tunnels and then returning to the Museum for the show and a BBQ. The American Legion is requesting a fee waiver for use of the Expo Center area for a Fallen Heroes of 9/11 parade on its five-year memorial.

Motion: Move to approve fee waivers for the events of the Hood River County Museum and American Legion in September 2006.
Move: Hosford
Second: Streich
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

c) Accounts Payable: Pacific Power and Light requires an additional junction box on 2nd Street that was not in the original bid documents. The Finance Committee approved the change order request.

Motion: Move to ratify Change Order #2 to the Second Street Improvement Project in the amount of $2,730.
Move: Hosford
Second: Duckwall
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

d) John Weber Business Park Sale Agreement and Access Road: Three quotes were solicited to construct the access road to Lot 7. Purchaser of Parcel 3, Lot 8, will share in the costs to construct the road. Jaques has prepared a revised Sale Agreement with Jon Davies, Linwood Professional Bldg., LLC, which incorporates road construction cost sharing.

Motion: Move to approve and authorize the execution of the Sale Agreement and Receipt of Earnest Money with Linwood Professional Bldg., LLC for Parcel 3, Lot 8, in John Weber Business Park in the amount of $62,300.
Move: Hosford
Second: Duckwall
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

Motion: Move to approve the contract with Mid Columbia Asphalt to construct the access road to Lot 7 at John Weber Business Park in a not-to-exceed amount of $34,000.
Move: Watson
Second: Hosford
Vote: Aye: Bohn, Duckwall, Hosford, Streich, Watson
MOTION CARRIED

Commissioner Watson asked if staff would check on the road arrow markings on the new 2nd Street intersection. She does not believe they line up correctly when driving northbound and they are confusing to drivers. Shames stated she would check with Dave Bick, City Engineer, because the City and ODOT approved the intersection as currently signed.

7. Commission Call: Commissioner Streich asked Jaques about the article on barring condemnation for private developers that appeared in the current Special Districts newsletter. Jaques replied that it was a Supreme Court ruling that allowed condemnation for a private housing development and this is Oregon's response to it. The legislation would restrict condemnation for developments but not for roads, etc. Commissioner Watson thanked everyone for the cards and flowers sent to her upon the passing of her mother. Commissioner Bohn stated she and Commissioner Streich would be playing in a golf team challenge for the community college on August 12. She also wanted to thank staff for responding to the issues on Saturday, July 29, with regards to the traffic congestion created by Summit to Surf. She commented that the lineup to the tollbooth was not full and that the backups were created because of the traffic on the Exit 64 off-ramp and Highway 35 bicycle traffic into Port Marina Park. Bohn stated Shames contacted the tollbooth and instructed them to lift the tolls when needed.

8. Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 6:25 p.m.