Commissioner meeting. And I'm
calling the public meeting to
order at 9:30 a.m. There was no
executive session held this
morning. Please note this
meeting is being recorded. My
name is Don orange and I'm the
president of the Port of
Vancouver. Joining me is
Commissioner Eric LaBrant and
Commissioner Temple Lentz.
We're conducting a hybrid
meeting along with our
in-person meeting we are having
here. We are also set up so
that those who are not
physically able can provide
oral testimony, virtually.
Please join me in the Pledge of
Allegiance. I pledge allegiance
to the flag of the United
States of America and to the
Republic for which it stands
one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Moving into
the agenda. First item is
approval of the minutes we have
before us Commissioner Linse.
>> Chair, I reviewed the
minutes of the April 28th, 2026
regular meeting and find them
to be in order and move
approval.
>> I'll second the motion. All
those in favor? Aye. Aye.
Unanimously. Next on the agenda
is the open forum.
>> Good morning commissioners.
We did not have anyone sign up
to speak virtually this morning.
And we do not have anyone in
the audience signed up to speak
today. So nobody for open forum.
>> All righty. Next up, action
items.
>> We have one action item
today and I'd like to welcome
Greg Westrand, Senior Project
Manager, to present our action
item. Good morning Greg.
>> Good morning. Good morning
commissioners. Good morning.
Greg Westrand, senior project
manager here at the Port of
Vancouver. We have action item
E one today. This project
aligns with the port's
strategic plan goals to pursue
opportunities that utilize the
port's property and
infrastructure investments to
create jobs and support the
economy. Improvements.
Improvements making the port
rail system more robust and
dependable, support growth and
economic opportunities for
existing and future tenants
that rely on port
infrastructure. The Hill Track
operated as the port's only
entrance and exit for decades
and was maintained accordingly.
The completion of the grade
separation, constructed as part
of the West Vancouver Freight
Access Program, redirected the
majority of port rail traffic
away from the hill track.
Rigorous maintenance still
regularly occurs on the section
of track, even with the
reduction in rail traffic. Over
time, however, the Hill track
has experienced thermal wear to
the point where component
replacement is needed. The
subject section of track
consists of three turnouts and
two road crossings within a 650
foot section of track. The
turnout components are worn and
the rail suffers from wheel
burns and varying sizes of. The
project will replace the
turnouts and install a
consistent run of 136 pound
rail throughout this section.
With the opening of the
upgraded dry bulk facility
planned for this fall, the
timing is right to renew this
critical piece of
infrastructure prior to it
experiencing a substantial
increase in rail traffic. The
rail work is scheduled to be
completed by the end of
September 2023. On April 23rd,
2026, the Port of Vancouver
issued the invitation to beg
2621 for track replacement. A
private conference in sidewalk
occurred on April 28th. On May
14th, 2026, American Track LLC
of Vancouver, Washington,
submitted a low bid of
$1,117,537.42. Staff has
reviewed. American Track LLC is
responsive bid, concluding they
are a responsible contractor
capable of performing the work.
The bid is within the range of
the engineer's estimate of
$862,590, to $1,179,690. This
project is included in the
approved 2026 capital budget.
The recommendation is that the
Board of Commissioners
authorize the CEO to execute a
public works contract with
American Track LLC, the lowest
responsive and responsible
bidder for bid. 26. 21 track
replacement in the amount of
1,000,170 $117,537.42.
Excluding the Washington state
sales tax. Are there any
questions?
>> Do we. A couple of quick
questions. Do we anticipate any
change orders coming coming up
as part of that process?
>> Well, none that we're aware
of. You know, we we typically
we try to design the Potratz
Ordanza project designed to
avoid change orders. However,
change orders are a natural
part of construction. You know,
there are no matter how hard
you look, there's always
something else that may turn up.
So it is a possibility, but we
don't anticipate it.
>> All right. And then the
other question was just
curiosity. Why is when you say
136 pound track you know what
that refers to?
>> Yeah. So that is the
actually the, the weight of the
track. It is the size of it.
When you look at the, the rail,
if you look at it in the cross
section, is kind of a sort of
like an I-beam shaped 136 pound
is actually 136 pounds per yard
is what it weighs right now out
there. We have through the
years, you know, with with
repairs and repairing things
with what we might have on hand.
It's a little bit of a
conglomeration of some 136.
There's some 132 and there's
some 115. Our typically our our
main lines like this, the track
being one of those would be 136
pound throughout. And so we're
going to make it a nice
consistent 136 very robust
section of track. Okay.
>> And then last but not least,
that road crossing on the
southern end of, I guess it's
probably exemption, for example,
like it turns into Harborside
drive is rough. So I appreciate.
>> Yeah. The, the two road
crossings, the one really just
access. I think that would have
been the old Siemssen. That
includes the entrance for
northwest Pax warehouse. But
yeah, Thompson Avenue I believe
is the one. And right now it is
currently just an asphalt only.
And it does see a lot of truck
traffic, you know, especially
with with the businesses that
are down there. So we are going
to be upgrading that to a
concrete crossing. So it will
be much better than we did.
>> I appreciate it. Yeah that's
great to be part of this. Yes.
Oh lovely. We had good
questions this morning. I know
the 136 Dannen track was. You
got anything for him? No, no, I
move that we adopt the
recommendation as presented.
Second. All those in favor? Aye
aye aye. Unanimously. Thank you.
Thank you much, Greg. Looks
like unfinished business.
>> Yes. So, commissioners, each
month in your packet, you have
a copy of the port contract
logs. This includes contracts
that are public works projects
as well as service contracts.
The highlighted portion of the
the list are. The is the most
recent activity and the
contract logs are also listed
on the port's website. So
others in the public have the
ability to look at the
contracts, the active contracts
that we have. Any questions on
anything that you saw in your
packet? No. Perfect.
>> New business.
>> No. New business.
>> Accounts payable.
>> We have those pretty
consistently. I'd like to
welcome Nick McIntyre,
accounting manager, to present
payables. Good morning Nick.
>> Good morning. Thank you.
Good morning commissioners. We
did not receive any questions
prior to the meeting. So I'll
start by reading the
recommendation and then open
the floor for questions. The
recommendation is that the Port
of Vancouver, USA, Board of
Commissioners by motion
ratifies and approves the
payment of April 2026 vouchers
127644 through 128030 in the
amount of $5,527,333.69,
including electronic payments
generated between April 1st,
2026 and April 30th, 2026, and
the amount of $1,704,732.60 in
April 2026. Direct deposits
150001 through 150131 and
170001 through 170132 in the
amount of $804,295.62.
>> Any questions? Comments? I
have none, and I'll move that
we adopt the recommendation as
presented.
>> Second.
>> All those in favor. Aye aye
aye. Unanimously. Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you Nick. CE0 yes. We
also have several projects that
we are working on. And so Mark
Newell, our project delivery
manager, is going to provide an
update. Good morning Mark.
>> Good morning commissioners.
A couple updates on some
projects that are continuing.
And so right now this one is
the 2025 berth repairs.
Although the project is titled
2025 where we're constructing
it in progress. Currently, this
project really is focused on on
berths four, eight and nine.
And so periodically, as you can
imagine, there's maintenance
elements that come up similar
to what Greg was talking about
with the rail, with ship ships
resting against our berths. And
there's a lot of wear and tear
that goes on there. So, so each
year the team evaluates which
areas might be the priority.
And and this is a contract that
is, is addressing some of those
areas. So right now the project
is 60% complete. The contractor
is bergerson construction. And
so and berth for repairs are
100% complete. The some of the
some of the focus areas here
you can see some some different
bowl rail and other elements
that are kind of being
strengthened and constructed.
We also have timber, timber
chocks and whalers that that
are on the fender system that
brace those fender systems
together. They wear and break.
And so replacing those and some
structural steel replacement is
usually pretty typical. In
addition to some some covering
systems and associated with the
with the fender piles
themselves. Next slide. Here's
an example of a little bit of,
of some of the areas where you
can see clearly some pieces of
bracing that are being replaced.
And so the contractor is, is
assessing those areas and then
working with the project team
to, to deliver those results
and make sure that they're done
in accordance with the design
documents. That project will
continue for a while. One
interesting thing about that
project is there was some early
work that was done just because
of the of the water levels that
was had to occur underwater.
And so a dive team came out and
did some underwater welding. So
as you can imagine, that's a
little bit atypical, but but
yeah, since the fluctuating
water levels, sometimes that's
necessary to complete the work
that we're trying to complete.
All right. Next project. On the
terminal one dock replacement.
And so project is around 48%
complete. So here you can see
looking down on the project,
it's continuing to progress
similar to to previous. You can
see the sections of the of the
dock. And in each one of those
pile caps under construction in
the, in the foreground area and
then kind of progressing,
progressing upstream, we can
see panels, Hollowcore panels
being set underneath the future
marketplace. And then and then
kind of the, the kind of the
structural surface decking
piece on the far upstream
portion there. So a lot of a
lot of staging going on right
now with the contractor,
there's, there's a lot of
permanent materials that have
been arriving on the site, a
lot of structural reinforcement
that's going on and, and other
elements. So we'll jump into a
couple more photos, get a
little bit closer picture of
what's going on. Next slide,
pile cap placement. I guess
this, this photo just kind of
shows where they're at from a
progress standpoint relative to
the Vancouver landing. So
periodically the contractors
barge will. Will has been
mobilizing in to cut off the
pile caps that are all that can
all be seen here and cut them
off to the proper elevation.
And as you can see, the on the
far left hand side, the pile
cap falsework supporting system
and formwork is just
leapfrogging its way down.
After they cure a section of
concrete, they then lower that
down and then repeat the
process. Next slide. This slide
here is is just really showing
the far upstream side. And
right here you can see each one
of those panels that are
installed are spanning across
the pile caps resting on the
pile caps. And then there is a
closure, poor section that is
formed up between those two
spaces. And one of the
interesting things about that
is the design just calls for
for welding an angled bracket
at those points where the
precast panels connect with
each other. So there are
hundreds and hundreds of those
that have to be welded and tie
the structure together. So that
happens first. And then they
bring all this bar over the top
of it. And and then eventually
they will be kind of a more of
a topping slab surface poured
on top of this, this piece as
well. But for right now,
they're just focusing on tying
those pieces together and, and,
and welding and connecting
those, those elements. Next
slide underneath the project as
well as catwalk installation.
And so, and really, this is,
this is pretty straight forward
process. It's really done prior
to the panels coming on top of
it would be much more difficult
if that was the case, but the
contractors planned that work
to come in. They they first
install those braces on the top
between between the pile caps,
and then they drop these
hangers down and then bring in
these prefabricated sections of
of the catwalk and make all
those connections in space. So
this, this catwalk allows it
just allows for some space to
continue to observe the
underside of the dock, perform,
you know, any adjacent
inspections and some of the
other pieces of access that is
necessary. And that will
continue through the project as
as they continue to progress,
they'll find those windows. And
then finally, there are
utilities that will be
installed underneath here as
well, mechanical work. And so
these provide access to that as
well. Next slide. And just the
concrete work continues here.
You can just see the crews
making a pour out here. We have
approximately 800yd³ of
concrete installed on the
project. And this is mostly
8,000 pounds per psi psi
concrete pounds per square inch.
So it's very strong, strong,
strong and fast, fast strength
concrete, which allows the
contractor, you know, some good
schedule to be able to strip
forms and kind of move things
forward. There's a lot of
complexity within the concrete
on this project just because of,
of the amount of pours and
connections and structural
steel tie ins. And the crews
are doing a fantastic job of
identifying things that come up.
And our design team as well,
where there are areas where
there might be conflicts or
areas that they need to adapt
to. The team's been really,
really good and proactive at
that portion of it, and there's
a pretty significant amount of
construction workers working on
site at any given day out there.
And with that, just one more
slide here. And that's just the
office renovations here. The
new siding installation is
complete. I think since the
last time that I provided an
update and future painting is
pending here. And so hopefully
we'll move, move forward on
that piece of it. And there are
other projects that are kicking
off building 2001 is, is
getting started. We also have,
you know, the trail is
continuing in that space, but
wanted to provide those updates
to you for this month. So any
questions?
>> I have not so much a
question, but a comment. It's
great to see the progress. And
I just wanted to say thanks,
especially with regard to the T
one dock. Your explanation of
the projects and the pieces and
the process is really clear and
thorough and I appreciate it.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you much. Thank you.
And thank you for your comments.
>> Thank you commissioners.
Thank you.
>> Juliana, I appreciate it.
>> That's all I have today.
Commissioners.
>> Very cool. I think we're
moving in record time. It's
time for commissioner reports.
I can't remember what order.
>> Well, I had the the pleasure
of a vacation. So I didn't have
a lot in the last few weeks.
But I met with some
constituents. I met with a
group of folks to talk about
environmental issues, and also
had some meetings related to
the IBR, and also had the
pleasure of attending yesterday,
the Memorial Day Remembrance at
the historic site. And that was
a very nice event. Cool.
>> Thank you. Eric. Let's see
here. Not a whole lot to report
other than I had the
opportunity to attend the
Washington Public Ports
Association spring meeting last
week. That's brings together
ports from all across
Washington state to talk about
what's going on in the port
business right now. A lot of
good information, everything
from what's happening in the
nuclear industry to what's
happening in the timber
industry. We had updates from
several ports around the state
and also got to have a
presentation around the the
Maryhill Museum up in the
Columbia Gorge. I did find out
that they do not have the
peacocks anymore, which is a
bummer, but they have a turkey
now instead, so. Apparently
it's to keep the rattlesnakes
down, so that's handy. And then
I had the opportunity to attend
Labor Roundtable last Friday.
And that concludes my report.
>> I went to the same get
together as Eric, and I never
knew they had peacocks, so
apparently I wasn't paying
attention. What? They replaced
it with a turkey.
>> With a turkey?
>> It doesn't seem like a 1 to
1.
>> Apparently. It's apparently
it's friendlier than the
peacocks were, so.
>> Probably tastier as well.
Let me. Besides going to that,
which was informative in many
ways, the WPA conference. I
also about two weeks ago, right
this very moment, went to a. An
opening of a technical center
down at Hudson's Bay that.
They're breaking the kids in.
They brought together about 15
employers and dozens and dozens
of seniors that are looking to
go to work in, in the trades.
And this is a building that is
used to teach these folks metal
skills, carpentry skills and so
on. And it's a new set of
buildings being built, as I
understand it, largely with
with private donations at the
high schools throughout the
district. I think the next one
is either at Columbia River or
Skyview, and they're finishing
one up right now at at Fort.
It's kind of exciting, and it
kind of ties into some of the
workforce development stuff we
do here. Along with that, I was
at the same Memorial Day
celebration, and I don't think
we noticed it, and I don't
think we bumped into each other.
So if we bumped into each other,
I have a short memory, but it
was a good, good presentation.
There was a mayor, the mayor
was there, congresswoman was
there. It was set up by CMac,
which is. It's it's a group
that supports military families
in the area. So. Finishing up
on that, I think that finishes
my report. And the next thing
on the agenda, I believe we've
got no no, no, no. Next thing
on the agenda is to properly
hand this back to the director
and say, would you bring us to
our coming events, please?
>> I will do that. So we have
upcoming events. So the next
commission meeting is Tuesday,
June 9th. And as you can see,
there are several several
community events. I would like
to highlight that we are in a
port public tour season, so we
are getting ready to kick off a
tour number 3rd June second,
which is a great opportunity
for folks to see the the port.
And we do have secured area. So
you are required to do a tour
to be able to see behind the
secured area and what's
happening on the terminal. And
if you are interested in being
waitlisted because they get
full very fast, make sure you
go to the port's website and,
and register for that. And then
just a reminder on ways to
communicate with the commission,
we can have people join us here
at our regular meetings for
open forum to share their
thoughts. You can email the
commissioners, you can contact
the office. We'll make sure and
get you in touch with the
commissioners. And again, just
refer folks to the port's
website. A lot of great
information on the projects
that we have and, and things
about our regular meetings.
>> Cool.
>> With that? We go on to sign
documents after we sign
documents. There's no workshop,
there's no administrative
meeting. I'll adjourn this
thing in a few minutes after we
sign the documents. And thank
you all.