PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend commissioners decided in a split decision — during the first of two last-minute special meetings Wednesday — to rescind last week’s vote setting a mid-September start date for demolishing and replacing the failing Point Hudson south jetty.
Commissioners Steve Tucker and Bill Putney voted to undo the previous vote while Commissioner Pete Hanke dissented, meaning the port will solicit bids for both a July 15 start day and a mid-September start day, which would avoid the annual Wooden Boat Festival set for Sept. 7-9.
“At the end of a very long day for us, I think we were probably a little rushed on our decision,” said Putney, who requested the meeting. “My concern is that the change to the bidding process was not listed as an agenda item.
“It was brought up at the end of the meeting in response to a public comment,” he said, referring to the contentious meeting last Wednesday.
Hanke called it “precedent setting” to solicit bids for two start dates and said he needs more information before he is comfortable with it.
“I think it exposes us to a lot of challenges,” he said.
The south jetty project is estimated to cost $3,067,000. The port has received a $1,059,173 grant from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.
Last fall, commissioners directed staff to move forward on the process of issuing a $3.2 million limited tax general obligation municipal bond to cover the rest of the project costs.
Putney said the port commissioners typically don’t vote on non-agenda items and said it was “not very good” procedure.
A major focus of Wednesday’s meeting, other than the vote, was how to properly conduct business in a public meeting.
Early in the meeting, prior to the public comment session that was not on the agenda, Tucker held up a book on how to conduct a meeting saying that everyone needed to read it.
“I got this last night and I skimmed it really quickly and discovered we’re not doing things very effectively,” he said. “I’m going to go through and read it over and suggest a new section so we can have efficient meetings and not replicate what we’re having today, because today is a disaster.”
On Monday, the Port of Port Townsend provided notice it was canceling its 8 a.m. public workshop Wednesday and replacing it with a special meeting at the same time.
At 9:24 a.m. Tuesday, the port notified newspapers it was adding a second special meeting for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, which included the same items on the first agenda, but added an executive session to review the performance of a public employee. The commission took no action after the latter meeting.
Notice of special meetings must be provided to the public and to newspapers within 24 hours of the meeting, according to the Municipal Research and Services Center. The port had six minutes to spare in providing notice to newspapers.
When the second meeting was set to start, commissioners were still in an executive session included on the first agenda, discussing real estate.
Hanke noted that adding public comment on any topic early in the meeting is “way out of order from how we conduct business.”
Sam Gibboney, the port’s executive director, told commissioners that staff members were ready to move forward on soliciting bids.
In a memo to the commission, she said it would be necessary to bid the project in March and award a bid in April.
The port consulted with engineering firm Mott MacDonald on cost estimates for mitigating construction impacts in the area.
The options included overnight access and weekend access; end of day and overnight access and weekend access; middle of day and overnight access and weekend access; and extended weekend access and overnight access. Each option is estimated to cost an additional $50,000, $100,000, $200,000 and $220,000, respectively.
Gibboney recommended the extended $220,000 weekend access and overnight access option, which would require the barge to be clear of the channel between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 6 p.m. Thursday through 7 a.m. Monday.
“While this is the highest cost, we did feel it was very important that we try to mitigate the impact of the construction project,” she said.
Hanke questioned why the port couldn’t switch options partway through construction once summer ends.
“Beyond Sept. 15, you could get away with option one or two,” he said. “It would be substantially less than what you are proposing.”
Gibboney also said Mott MacDonald estimated “based upon professional experience and contractor outreach, starting the project in mid-September could add as much as $500,000 to the project.”
“I never heard the term ‘$500,000’ until today,” Hanke said.
Hanke expressed concern about soliciting bids for two start dates, noting that the port is required to select the lowest responsible bidder.
He said it could create a situation where the port awards a higher bid for the project, based on the start time.
Port staff said that could be addressed in the language of the call for bids.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
