Port of Bandon

Regular Commission Meeting

August 27, 2009 5pm

Bandon Public Library, Bandon, Oregon

July 23, 2009-Meeting cancelled. July agenda combined with August.

Commissioners present: Reg Pullen, Steve Martizia, Robert S. Miller III

Staff: Gina Dearth, Trudy Spanier

Guest: Dawn Williams

Vice President Pullen called the meeting to order 5:05PM. Gina Dearth explained

that the consent calendar included both June and July financials, as the July meeting

had been cancelled. Commissioner Martizia made a motion to approve the consent

calendar, and Commissioner Miller asked for a quick explanation of the budget financials

before voting. Gina Dearth explained that on page J the Port Moorage was up over budget

by $22,658.53, and the leases were slightly under budget due the fact that the lease held by

Pacific Seafood was not being paid due to litigation. Printing and advertising were over

budget due to the Festivals and events held to stimulate the local economy. Legal fees were

under budget and that amount has been carried over. USCG Improvements included new

signage, plumbing, and in general the port stayed well within the budget. Commissioner

Miller commended port staff, then proceeded to second the motion to approve the consent

calendar. It was voted and carried unanimously.

Dawn Williams from the port budget committee stated that during her lunch hour

from her job with the city, she often spent time on the boardwalk, and had noticed

speeding in the parking lot particularly between the vendors and the bathroom. She

would like to see something done to decrease the possibility of a pedestrian auto incident.

Gina Dearth stated that she will look into getting additional speed bumps when Knife River

comes to repair the asphalt for the OSMB grant.

During the staff report, Gina Dearth said that the river side of the Coast Guard Building

was finished being painted, and that the pre-bid meeting for the sidewalk in front of the

building took place this morning. 6 contractors have bid, and it is Ms. Dearth’s hope that the

bids come in reasonable, but if not the port may wait until next year to finish the product.

The design is very beautiful, and it will take 263 engraved bricks, which will offset the costs.

At this time the port has sold $1,789.00 in bricks. The engraved bricks sold prior to the

installation will be set and blank ones set in sand to await the final installation if they are not

sold out by the time the sidewalk is completed. The season started off with the Marine Swap

Meet, the port sponsored 5 events in the lecture series, The Flower Show, several indoor plant sales,

various art for kids projects sponsored by Sage Gallery in the picnic shelter, vendors on the week-ends,

WindFest and 2 new sculptures installed with one on the way for the boardwalk.

The port received a thank you in the mail from a Bandon couple, the Vedders who expressed how

much they enjoyed the WindFest and hope it will be an annual event.

Ms. Dearth reported that during the past 3 months there were over 1000 launches, which

do not include marina tenants or anyone who buys a launch pass. Perhaps we need a

system to count the number of launches.

One interesting fact for the summer is that the port used 2496 rolls of toilet paper for the public restrooms.

The maintenance person estimated that every 8 hours there are 36 rolls of TP used in the women’s side.

The Port has sold 73 bricks for the sidewalk in front of the USCG Building with a potential fundraiser of

$8,000.00. Port staff mailed off a grant application for engineering of the ADA Accessible Wildlife Viewing

Platform for Redmon Pond to Coquille Community Tribal Fund.

During the Flower Show, a porcupine swam across the river and climbed up on the crab dock. Kay from

ODFW along with Port volunteer Max Pollin put it in a box and released it in a safe place. That same day

2 teens fell off the dock (without life jackets) and a marina tenant who was crabbing that morning swamped the dock.

Yesterday Bill Cook who is an ex-director of Port of Astoria contacted Ms. Dearth about the Port Strategic Plan

that the state of Oregon intends to do. Mr. Cook serves on the review board for the Port Strategic plan, and he is

thrilled about Bandon and wants to come and visit next Tuesday. At some time in the future after the state plan

comes out the Port of Bandon will be required to do one of our own. Mr. Cook was encouraged because Bandon is

unique and continues to “think outside the box”. Commissioner Miller inquired as to the community attitude after

the full season of activities. “Were there any repercussions?” Ms Dearth responded that all the feedback has been positive.

Vice President Pullen discussed the informal meeting with the Coast Guard and Army

Corps. of Engineers about dredging. His opinion is that it was a good meeting but there are still a lot of issues out

there on the bar. The port will continue to lobby for more dredging, maybe once early and once later in the season.

Regardless, the past practice of giving away our dredging time must change. Port staff was directed to collect statistics

of bar crossings and launches so that there is good data to back our requests. Commissioner Miller asked if the recent

newspaper article on dredging sounded like a hostile message to the community. Ms. Dearth stated that the Port had asked

for dredging to be in late June and the dredge actually started on May 26^th, almost a whole month early. Commissioner Pullen

feels that we need to ask for two times and suggested that John Craig of the Army Corps of Engineers works for the public

and should be open to public input. Commissioner Miller states that if we are going to lobby the Representatives that we must

have all our ducks in a row, and list the benefits of having the bar dredged two times. Commissioner Pullen states that Port of

Bandon needs to go to the Representatives with all the data on bar crossings, whether it is collected with infrared counters on

the jetty, cameras, traffic counters or whatever it takes to achieve the data collection. Port staff was directed to find out how

others keep track of their crossings…. Gina Dearth stated that no one up at the Bandon Coast Guard station is keeping track

like they did in years past. Commissioner Miller stated that what we need is to negotiate people/crossings to dollars. Other

ramps like Bullards and Rocky Point need to be taken into consideration. Staff will look into how to get these counts. Bullards

just got a grant for more boat trailer parking. Commissioner Pullen stated that the former Port Director was mistaken in believing

that the bar flushes itself well enough to maintain project depth. In May the rains stop and the velocity of the river declines and

it silts up. Commissioner Miller asked how the port would get an infrared counter. Commissioner Pullen said that one answer might

be obtaining a remote sensing camera like the BLM has in place at New River. Commissioner Miller said that John Craig may take

the attitude that the Port thinks the two extra days is our right, and that perhaps what should be done is to write a letter to the editor

expressing appreciation to the Corps. and representatives. Commissioner Pullen would like to take the position that Port of Bandon

will not back down or placate. Commissioner Miller offered to draft the letter and let Commissioner Pullen adjust the tone.

Commissioner Pullen definitely agrees that it is very good to express our sincere appreciation.

Gina Dearth reported that the Redmon Pond Park Project is underway, the engineering grant applied for the platform, the

trails and native vegetation and all the proposed plans have been positively embraced by the city and adjacent property owners.

Having an accessible natural habitat to enjoy our river resources is a wonderful addition to our Bandon area. The port is making

a deliberate effort to be a good steward of this area in relinquishing the idea of development along the river rather than following

the previous south jetty report written by MCI. Commissioner Miller asked about the gorse mitigation, and suggested that

perhaps the next thing to do would be to spray the sprouting in September before the rains begin. There are several types of

herbicides that would be safe to use. He also asked if having the domestic geese there is a deterrent to the wild birds that would use

the area. Ms. Dearth will consult with Dave Ledig, director of the Bandon Marsh, and will take his direction in this matter. He is

the perfect spokesman, as this is his field. He has also given a verbal commitment of funds for help with the development of the

wildlife viewing areas.

Johnson Log Pond is a slow process, but Ms. Dearth feels that we are getting there. Coos County and the Tribe have a memorandum

of understanding, but the port owns the pond until this is all done. It has been mowed 2 times this summer for a total of $1600. and

Bruce Sampson is cleaning the restrooms as well as booter crews working there. It is still costing the port dollars, but Coos County

tax assessor Bob Main made it clear that he wants the Port to hold it for the summer. Commissioner Martizia remarked that it has

gone very well without a caretaker. Commissioner Miller vowed to stay on the commission until Johnson Log Pond is no longer on the agenda.

OCZMA representative for the port has been Reg Pullen. Ms. Dearth asked if there was any change with any commissioner, or if they

would like to continue this way. All present were of the opinion that Onno Husing does an excellent job, and Commissioner Pullen is

happy to keep on as representative for the Port of Bandon.

Lonnie Beutel was invited to attend this public meeting, and chose not to attend; therefore all present agreed that this issue is final.

The drag line buckets were awarded to him, and he chose to sell them for scrap metal. He must come up with documents in order

to claim anything else.

Commissioner Pullen adjourned at 6:10PM providing a brief recess before opening Executive Session under ORS 192.660(2)(i),

evaluation of port manager.

Following the executive session, Commissioner Pullen reconvened the regular session at 6:30PM. Commissioner Pullen stated that

Ms. Dearth had a successful evaluation, has done an outstanding job and the commission greatly appreciates her efforts. Commissioner

Miller will research fair and proper compensation for Gina and will report the outcome at the September meeting.

Commissioner Pullen adjourned the meeting at 6:40PM.

Submitted by Trudy Spanier