PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend has a slate of projects on its 2023 calendar that will keep it busy preparing and vetting RFQs, overseeing construction and monitoring progress through the end of the year.
Commissioners learned at their Wednesday meeting that the port had moved ahead with replacing 550 feet of the breakwater that protects Boat Haven moorage from winds and high tides by issuing an RFQ (request for quote) from engineering firms. The port owns the eastern portion of the breakwater at the marina entrance, while the Army Corps of Engineers maintains the western end that is connected to land.
Port Executive Director Eron Berg said port officials made a request to the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Seattle, for funding for the $7.7 million project.
“The senator’s office will identify how it can be funded and we will then learn what the local responsibility would be,” Berg said.
The port also must work out authorization of the transfer of its portion of the breakwater to the Army Corps of Engineers, which it hopes will assume ownership and maintenance of the structure once construction is completed.
Interviews with firms that can provide permitting, design and engineering services will begin this month, said Matt Klontz, director of capital projects.
“We’re looking for looking for somebody who’s really familiar with the Army Corps’ requirements; that’s key,” Klontz said.
The port recently wrapped up construction of the north jetty at Point Hudson; replacement of its south jetty will start after the Wooden Boat Festival ends in September.
Construction will start sometime this year on a connector taxiway at the Jefferson County International Airport. Design is nearly complete and the consultant working on the project has sent the plans to the FAA, Klontz said. When construction might begin was uncertain.
“That will depend when the FAA approves and gives the green light for starting,” Klontz said. “They just have a tremendous number of projects on their plate.”
Replacement of the Gardner Boat Ramp on Discovery Bay is tentatively planned to begin late this year after permitting has been completed and when the work window for fish protection ends Nov. 15. When construction is completed, the port will install an iron ranger self-pay station at the ramp to collect launch fees. A day pass for port launch ramps is $15.
Marina parking
The commissioners’ morning workshop that starts at 9:30 and usually runs about an hour lasted until past noon Wednesday as they discussed and debated a draft plan Berg presented, which he said was intended to establish some order and consistency in parking and pricing at Point Hudson.
Parking at the marina is currently a mix of paid parking at various rates, unpaid parking, parking taken over by tenants but not part of their lease agreement with the port, and paid parking for such tenants as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and state Department of Fish and Wildlife.
“What spawned this is we’ve got enough land … people just park anywhere they want to, but as we seek to increase the boatyard use, we need to maintain and organize it better,” Berg said.
Commissioner Carol Hasse said she had a number of concerns about the proposed plan, primarily its effect on businesses that would be hard pressed to pay for parking that had been free in the past.
“If I were still running the sail loft and thinking of my employees and having to buy permits for them, it would be a stretch,” Hasse said. “Marine trades and restaurants run on such a low, low profit margin.”
Commissioners said conversations with businesses explaining the port was moving in the direction of revising its parking policies had to start so businesses could start planning for the change.
Hasse and commissioners Pete Hanke and Pam Petranek determined it was too soon to make a decision on the draft plan, so no action was taken.
“It was a long and robust discussion,” Berg said afterward. “And where we’re at is that we need more discussion.”
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached at paula.hunt@soundpublishing.com.
