Submitted by the LWVSJ Observer Corps:

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization encourages informed participation in government. The Observer Corps attends and takes notes at government meetings to expand public understanding of public policy and decisions. The notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the League or its members.

Friday Harbor Port Commission regular meeting of June 28

Craig Blake from Blake Marine described the full maintenance services that the company can offer at the shipyard. The Executive Director will draw up a draft agreement for the Commission to review. The Commission agreed that the IOSA lease be adjusted to reflect lower required insurance coverage as they are a low-risk entity. The lease will be for 10 years then transition to month to month. The Port recognizes the service that IOSA offers to the Port.

The Commission approved the Summer Staff Scholarship Policy. It offers a tiered system with differing cash and scholarship awards with an emphasis on those planning to enter marine trades and similar occupations. The amounts awarded could accrue with years of service at the Port and an incentive for returning students to stay employed with the Port in the summers.

The Commission decided to keep available lease parcels unchanged and to hold pending approved Concept Plan parcels in the application phase until winter. This will give interested parties more time to decide about going forward with their plans and will open the parcels for other potential new applicants. A time limit for holding parcels will be set so that if any of the current concept plans don’t move forward there is time to advertise for new proposals, a public comment period, and make final selections. The Executive Director will put the three parcels back on the website as available. A Harbor Propane proposal was declined to avoid having propane tanks near the airport runway.

Hazmat removal at the boatyard is complete and the travel lift will be weight tested on July 10. The Commission decided to do one print newsletter and one electronic newsletter per year to cut costs.

Commissioner Black recounted two accounts of positive feedback on the management of Port and Shipyard facilities. The Art Museum asked about a sign to point visitors to the museum from the marina area. The Port will review possible options. New pet relief signage has been put in place per previous discussions. August meeting dates were changed to an Aug. 23 regular meeting and an Aug. 13 bill pay meeting.