PORT OF ORCAS
Minutes of the Regular Meeting
December 14, 2006

The meeting was called to order at 7:00P.M. in the Port conference room by Jack Becker, Chairman.  A quorum was present.  Attending were: Ulanah McCoy, Steve Hopkins, Al Edwards, Jack Becker, Garth Eimers, Bea vonTobel.

Approval of minutes

Hopkins moved, Becker seconded approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of November 9, 2006 as corrected.  The motion was unanimously carried.

Public access time

None

Unfinished Business

1.  Looking Down the Runway:  Continuing Discussion

            a.  Lantec Offering:  Continuing Discussion

            The airport manager reported that Heber Kennedy, III had contacted the port and advised that the appraisal would be completed by next week; that Eric Johnson had stopped by the port office to check on the status of the appraisal and hinted at possible additional funding schemes.  The commissioners agreed that discussion was stalled until the appraisal could be received and studied.

            b.  New Terminal: Discussion on Planning and Procedures

            Discussion centered on how the development of the Larson property could be accomplished with stakeholder and public input.  The airport manager presented two companies which could guide the commissioners and others through these portions of   the project, which would entail the hiring of a moderator to outline the process.  Eimers   commented that the commissioners should undertake this portion of the process themselves, defining boundaries of what would be discussed, and soliciting input from stakeholders and the public who might offer help and suggestions.  The format for public input would be constructed from information the commissioners would provide regarding what subjects would be open to input.  These meetings would comprise phase one of the project, with phase two being architectural and engineering aspects, and phase three the construction portion.

            Hopkins noted that it would be important to solicit public input from the outset, and that a larger space would be needed for those meetings.  It was also decided that Becker and Eimers would write an informational article for the Sounder, outlining the       process and inviting public participation.  The first meeting was to be scheduled for January of 2007, at a time and place to be arranged.

2.  Master Plan Update: Commissioner-Generated Plans for Larson Property

This discussion was included in the preceding item.

New Business

1.  Consideration of Cancellation of December 28, 2006 meeting

McCoy moved cancellation of the December 28, 2006 meeting.  The motion was lost for want of a second.

2.  Economic Development Meeting

Eimers discussed happenings at a recent economic development meeting.  SJC had underwritten a consultant to produce an element for inclusion in the SJC Comprehensive Plan.  This meeting was a follow-up to a June meeting which was attended by Becker and the airport manager.  Present at the meeting were representatives of Eastsound Water Users Assn., Eastsound Sewer, Century Tel, etc.  There has not been a clear plan developed as yet, with the moderator noting that each of the islands in the county was substantially different in its present economic development and future goals.  It was noted that on each of the islands, infrastructure elements which would facilitate economic development were missing.  Additional discussion included housing, jobs, IT possibilities, and educational requirements which would allow local residents to move into local high-tech positions.

3.  Chairman for 2007

Becker asked for volunteers to chair the commission for 2007.  Hearing none, he volunteered to serve another year.  This will be formalized at the first January meeting.

4.  Consideration of Resolution #12-14-06.

Hopkins moved, Eimers seconded adoption of Resolution #12-14-06, the Appointment of Agent to Receive Claims according to RCW 4.96.020, and the motion was unanimously carried.

Airport Manager’s Report

Communications were received from:  1)WPPA: newsletter for November 2006.

The airport manager reported on:

1.  Around the Port

            a.  Hunting Season Opens

            b.  AWOS---Off and On

            c.  Storm Stories

            d.  UPS Storage

            e.  CTAF Solution

            f.   North Shore Stormwater Pipe

2.  The Gates/Orcas Connection

3.  Lantec Offering

4.  Capital Funds Budget 2006

5.  Resolution #12-14-066

6.  Out of Office

All items were informational in nature, with the exception of item #3.  Eimers moved, McCoy seconded moving $10,000 from capital projects line item 63.2005 (drainage project) to a new line item 61.2001 (land acquisition) to cover anticipated costs relating to the possible purchase of the Lantec property, and the motion was unanimously carried.

The November transmittal summary and treasurer’s report were accepted as presented.

The airport manager thanked the commissioners on their thoughtfulness for the Christmas present which arrived that day.

Approval of Payroll/Vouchers

Hopkins moved, Becker seconded approval for payment of December 2006 general fund vouchers in the amount of $2,584.25, and the motion was unanimously carried.                                                                                                                               

Hopkins moved, Eimers seconded approval for payment of December 2006 capital fund vouchers in the amount of $3,092.85, and the motion was unanimously carried.                                                                                                                                  

Hopkins moved, Becker seconded approval for payment of the December 2006 payroll in the amount of $3,885.85, and the motion was unanimously carried.

Next Meeting and Adjournment

The next regular meeting of the Commission was scheduled for 7:00P.M., December 28, 2006 in the Port conference room.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:15P.M.

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Garth Eimers, Commissioner and Secretary

Prepared by

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Bea vonTobel, Airport Manager