Port of Bandon

Budget Hearing

&

Regular Commission Meeting

June 24, 2010-5pm

Bandon Public Library

Bandon, Oregon

 

Commissioners present: Donny Goddard, Reg Pullen, Robert S. Miller III

Staff: Gina Dearth, Trudy Spanier, Leigh Stiles

Guests: Dawn Williams, Eric Himmelreich of Coos SWCD, Caryn Fieger of The Loft, Dennis Graham

 

President Goddard convened the budget hearing at 5:04pm. Leigh Stiles explained that the amounts previously approved at the last meeting had a modification in the Capital Outlays, due

the fact that the grant money for the Coquille Riverwalk project had to be moved.  That was the only revision to the Resolution regarding the budget.  Commissioner Pullen moved to approve Resolution 2010-2 seconded by Commissioner Miller and passed unanimously.

 

Gina Dearth read Resolution 2010-3 (Carry over sick leave) and Commissioner Miller moved to approve, seconded by Commissioner Pullen and passed unanimously.

 

Commissioner Miller moved to approve Resolution 2010-4 (Worker’s Compensation for Volunteers) and seconded by Commissioner Pullen and passed unanimously.

 

Budget hearing was adjourned by Commissioner Goddard, and he thanked everyone for participation. 

 

President Goddard convened regular commission meeting at 5:14pm.  Commission Pullen moved to approve the consent calendar, seconded by Commissioner Miller and passed unanimously. 

 

Under public comment Dennis Graham said there had been no official notice from the state of the grant money for the Coquille River Walk.  He assumes that the May 20th consent calendar was approved and this item was on it, but there has been no further communication.  He invited all present to a guided tour of the River Walk to be held on Tuesday June 29th.  The group will meet at Fat Tuesdays at 10AM.  Commissioner Miller said he planned to attend.

 

Caryn Fieger representing her family owned restaurant The Loft expressed her opinion that though the restaurant had not yet opened, the brightly colored windsocks flying above the first level of the High Dock building were distracting.  She also feels that they advertise another business in front of the restaurant.  Commissioner Goddard asked Gina Dearth what time the windsocks were taken down each night.  Ms. Dearth responded that they were removed each day when the store closed at 5pm.  Commissioner Goddard then asked what time the restaurant would open, and Ms. Fieger answered that it would open at 5pm for the dinner hours only.  Commissioner Pullen commented that he felt flying the windsocks during the hours the restaurant was not open was not a problem.  Ms. Fieger said that windsocks represented someone else’s tastes, not reflecting the tranquil and calm atmosphere her family strived for in the restaurant.  She went on to say that the last restaurant that occupied the upstairs had no continuity.  Ms. Dearth said that every tenant since the building was built has had that same look.  Windsocks and kites flying on the boardwalk look festive and inviting to the visitors and residents alike. She repeated that the owners of Koffee ‘N Kites have already agreed to take down the windsocks before the restaurant opens each day.  Commissioner Miller commented that he had met with Ms. Fieger and her family earlier in the day, and was sympathetic to their situation.  He then asked Ms. Dearth if there was somewhere else high enough on port property to fly the windsocks.  Ms. Dearth has talked with the owners of the kite shop and offered several places on the boardwalk and in front of the marina to fly their products.  The previous owners had flag poles mounted on each side of the building for this purpose and the owner of the kayak shop before that have all flown windsocks.  It was an established practice long before the new owners of the restaurant came to the port in March to rent the upstairs. 

 

Ms. Fieger said she feels that flying windsocks is advertising someone else’s business in front of their business, and how would the owners of the kite shop like it if she put a banner on the front of the balcony that hung down over the kite shop business.  Commissioner Miller said to Ms. Fieger that he saw how important this issue was to her, and there may be some rights to the air space on that level.  He will be out of town for a day or two but will be glad to meet with both the upstairs and downstairs tenants.  Commissioner Pullen repeated that flying windsocks from the kite store was an established practice.  Port staff pointed out that the kite business is seasonal and they need to make most of their income in just 5 months or tourist season.  The restaurant business is a year round business.  Ms. Fieger still objects to someone else’s décor and art.  It does not reflect the calm and tranquil subdued atmosphere her restaurant will project.  Ms. Dearth would like to see some sort of compromise.  Ms. Fieger was silent at that point.  Commissioner Miller would defer to staff to meet with both parties.  He said it would have been nice if Ms. Fieger had seen the windsocks as bringing attention to the building.  Ms. Fieger said that it is hard to concentrate on calm when the windsock is going back and forth in front of her windows. 

 

Election of officers-Commissioner Goddard nominated Commissioner Miller to be president for the next term; this seconded by Commissioner Pullen and passed unanimously.  Commissioner Pullen then nominated Commissioner Goddard for Vice President seconded by Commissioner Miller and passed unanimously.  Commissioner Miller then nominated Commissioner Pullen for Secretary, seconded by Commissioner Goddard and passed unanimously. Ms. Dearth suggested that for convenience the port would still keep Commissioner Goddard on as a check signer and add President Miller. 

 

Ms. Dearth then introduced Eric Himmelreich of the Coos County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Mr. Himmelreich is the only representative in his official capacity for water quality management in our area.  His outlook is to help educate the land owners to different practices that better stabilize the adjacent stream banks and try to keep the DEQ water quality action plan Best Management Practices in a functioning capacity rather than a punishing capacity.  He would like to have the Port of Bandon as a partner in the future.  Mr. Himmelreich also mentioned that Zone 2 elections are open in the Coos Water Shed District.  Commissioner Goddard asked if the district included all the tributaries of the Coquille or just the main river.  Mr. Himmelreich answered that his main concentration right now is on the forks.  Commissioner Miller asked what the budget for the CSWD is currently.  The answer was $150,000.  He is literally a one man band.  His background prior to holding this position was ODFW and supervision of inmate crews.  He is hoping this position will give him additional management skills and is working toward the goal of being an ODFW Biologist. 

 

Commissioner Pullen feels that there should be stricter riparian fencing.  Mr. Himmelreich agrees, but the farmers fight for every foot of usable land.  He is a hands on kind of guy and tries to work with the farmer on pasture management or putting trees in along the banks.  He mainly just tries to get creative with the land owner and help keep them in compliance.  Commissioner Miller asked if this is voluntary or are there regulations.  Mr. Himmelreich answered that the ODA Management Plan is there to meet the requirements for water quality.  In his tenure, only once has there been a fine, most people will try to meet the goal.  Sometimes a neighbor will complain and he has to try to figure out a fix.  He writes ODA grants to try to educate people.  He wanted to be sure to invite our staff and commissioners to the meetings on the 4th Thursday of the month at 7pm.  Commissioner Goddard then asked if he only works on water quality due to erosion.  Mr. Himmelreich is currently working with the Myrtle Point drinking water system.  He stated that it is a challenging job.  Commissioner Goddard thanked him for coming.

 

The Port of Bandon Moorage License Agreement and new rates for monthly and quarterly moorage were discussed.  Commissioner Pullen made a motion to approve both the MLA and Rates for 2010-2011, seconded by Commissioner Miller and approved unanimously.  These will take effect on July 1, 2010 and as each moorage tenant renews, they will fill out a new agreement.  

 

Commissioner Miller reported that he had met with people concerned with the “Septic Summit” and that it would be an ongoing education.  He will stay on this task.

 

Ms. Dearth reported that in researching the Economic Import on Ports (OPPA) she found that the Port of Bandon was actually responsible for 51 people having jobs on port property.  That felt pretty good.  She went on to give the July-August calendar of events and said that John Craig of the Army Corps. of Engineers has said that the dredge will come this next weekend.  We will have 3 days of dredging and he will save one more day for August.  Ms. Dearth will continue to work on the dredging of the federal channel in the boat basin, as Mr. Craig has said that he would rollover the funds into the next fiscal budget.  Ray Bucheger from Federal Relations called to say that Allison Dane from DeFazio’s Office had been in touch with Mr. Craig.

 

President Goddard adjourned the meeting at 6:20pm.

 

Submitted by Trudy Spanier