MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR PORT COMMISSION MEETING
OF THE PORT OF HOODSPORT COMMISSION October 11, 2017
Call to Order: 9:00am Adjourned: 11:45am
Meeting Held at: Hoodsport Port Commission Office 24113 N US Hwy 101 #A Hoodsport, WA
Roll Call: Commissioner Petz – Commission Chair
Commissioner O’ Laughlin
Commissioner Brazil
Staff Present: K. Wyatt, Port Operations Manager
B. Osborne – Maintenance Director
Public: John Wynands, P.E. Region Administrator WSDOT
Steve Kim, P. E. Region Traffic Engineer WSDOT
Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Brazil made a motion to approve the October 11, 2017 meeting agenda, Commissioner O’Laughlin seconded, unanimously approved.
Minutes: Commissioner Brazil made a motion to approve the Regular Port Commission minutes of September 13, 2017; Commissioner O’ Laughlin seconded, unanimously approved.
Vouchers: Commissioner O’Laughlin motioned to approve the following Vouchers for payment: October 2017 1of1 in the amount of $7,857.11; Commissioner Payroll $1,840.83 and October 2017 2of2 in the amount of $1,108.04 Commissioner Brazil seconded, unanimously approved.
Public Communication: John Wynands and Steve Kim with Washington State Department of Transportation were in attendance to discuss pedestrian traffic safety devices with the Port commission. These devices and concerns were initially talked about in a community meeting in September of 2015 at the fire hall in an open forum with the Port Commission, Hoodsport business owners, residents and WSDOT representatives. At that meeting a determination was made to relocate a crosswalk at Hwy 101 and State Rt 119 to the North side of State Rt 119 which was done immediately by WSDOT and has made a significant impact on the safety of pedestrians crossing at that intersection. Installation of 2 hour parking signs, one in front of the library and one in front of the port marina were also put in by WSDOT and have been very beneficial to help with public parking issues. Prior to the community meeting, radar speed feedback signs and flashing crosswalk beacons were discussed and researched; it was determined the cost would be approximately $19,800.00 to purchase the devices. Steve Kim agreed that WSDOT would cover the cost of installation but suggested applying for a source of public funds to purchase the devices. In 2015, WSDOT and the Port of Hoodsport jointly applied for grant funds that were available through a pedestrian and traffic safety grant. In February of 2017 the Port learned that the public funds were denied. After witnessing increasing volumes of tourists and residents traveling the Highway 101 corridor through Hoodsport during the Spring/Summer of 2017, the Port Commission requested another meeting with WSDOT to find out what can be done to purchase the traffic calming devices. A growing concern for pedestrian & traffic safety after several near misses, has become a priority. John W. suggested the Port of Hoodsport put together a Transportation Plan that would be a helpful document serving as leverage when requesting future public or private entity funds. John W. recommended forming a partnership with WSDOT to create this document and offered to help the Port by using resources such as their planning experts and research with data. He mentioned the Port of Allyn had recently completed a transportation plan and it was suggested the Port obtain a copy for review. Commissioner Brazil asked if WSDOT could put traffic counters across highway 101 at both ends of Hoodsport to determine the number of vehicles traveling during the summer months for data that could be helpful in the transportation plan. John W. and Steve K. acknowledged that was a good idea and said they could definitely set that up to start in the spring and continue through the summer of 2018 to capture data. Commissioner Petz along with Commissioners O’ Laughlin and Brazil agreed that the transportation plan could be helpful, they thanked John W. for offering resources and expressed that any help with the purchase of the traffic safety devices would be greatly appreciated and that it would be tragic if a near miss turned into a horrible or fatal accident because the Port and WSDOT wasn’t able to calm traffic on Highway 101 through Hoodsport. Commissioner Petz explained that the Port has a very limited budget that supports the public dock, waterfront park, 80 acre Trail Park with growing concerns with maintenance costs to the ports Public restrooms in regard to supplies and maintenance due to an increase in tourism in Hoodsport and along the highway 101 corridor which brings up another issue. He said that people traveling the highway 101 corridor have discovered the Ports public restroom which is heavily used especially in the peak spring, summer season and year round for everyone traveling the highway 101 corridor. The Commission brought attention to the fact that on the Interstate 5 corridor, there are public restrooms every 40 miles funded by WSDOT and that the only public restroom on State Hwy 101 is the Ports public restroom in Hoodsport. Commissioner Petz suggested that the Port and WSDOT mutually support the Public restrooms in Hoodsport. John W. acknowledged the growing number of travelers and said the maintenance costs of maintaining public restrooms along interstates and highways are also a concern for WSDOT. He said they were brainstorming ways to possibly partner with private entities to help defer the growing public restroom costs. He said they would look into what could possibly be done to help the Port but suggested finding private entities to partner with for assistance with the Ports public restrooms growing maintenance costs.
John Wynands and Steve Kim graciously acknowledged the growing concerns with both the pedestrian traffic safety devices and public restroom maintenance costs. John W. stated that he does have the ability to contribute $10,000.00 toward traffic calming devices which were originally discussed in earlier meetings. The Port Commission expressed gratitude and appreciation and thanked both John W. and Steve K. for their time, concern and contribution. The Port will pursue purchasing the traffic safety devices and follow up with review and consideration of creating a transportation plan for the Port of Hoodsport.
Morgan Rothrock with the Mason County Disc Golf Assn said the summer of 2017 was not a good summer for volunteers to work on the disc golf course in Hoodsport. Many people were extremely busy with work, family and other obligations. He said they discussed other options to create a better workforce by developing a different plan. One of the challenges was the uphill terrain that took a lot of time when trying to develop the course on the North side of the trail park. In brainstorming with the other disc golf members who are committed to developing this disc golf course, they determined it would be a better idea to create the beginners course first so they could attract and develop local disc golfers. They could then have local people interested in volunteering to create the upper course. Morgan presented a map to the port commission showing the first 9 holes (Phase I) that were already created in the trail park, they then would focus on the South side of State Rt 119 showing the commission how placement of the beginners course would look. He said they would take the t pads and baskets they were going to use in the upper course (Phase III) and make 9 holes on the South side of the road (Phase II) for the beginners. They can then develop local golfers because of easier access which would be scaled down in difficulty creating a common platform attracting beginners who could be seniors and children, and used for casual events. All of Phase I is complete, Phase II could be completed by Summer of 2018 thereby developing local volunteers to help complete Phase III at a later date giving golfers 27 holes that can be played in three different degrees of difficulty. Commissioner Petz asked what was needed to create Phase II. Morgan said they would reallocate the baskets, 4×8 t pads, and will need concrete. The parking area would also need to be developed on the South side of State Rt 119. B. Osborne reminded the commission that a culvertwhich was approved by WSDOT was already installed and the parking area would need to be leveled out and compacted with a load of gravel. Morgan said they would try to position the t boxes in a straight line with the clubhouse and design it in a way that would start from the parking lot area. Commissioner Petz asked it they could design it with the mindset that it could be family friendly, senior friendly and that it could possibly be ADA compliant at some point in time. Morgan said the design is guided with a different skill level in mind and as far as ADA compliance another level or layer of development over the top of the basic design would be needed such as wider trails, etc. Commissioners Petz, Brazil and O’ Laughlin all agreed that they liked the new idea which would better serve the community since it was a retirement community and they thought this could get more people engaged as volunteers in the project. Commissioner O’ Laughlin suggested talking to the prison to find out if they could help with labor. Morgan said some of the fairways in Phase III were already roughed in and that they would continue to maintain it since the forest grows so fast they would not want to lose the work they have already put in to it. Morgan said he would laminate the final version of the disc golf course and put it into the kiosk at the upper parking lot for everyone to see.
Commissioner Reports: None
Port Maintenance Reports: Hoodsport Trail Park: B. Osborne reported that Household garbage is continually being left in the trash cans at the Hoodsport trail park. He and S. Lindgren would coordinate with Morgan to make the wood trail signs this winter to be installed in the spring. Hoodsport Marina, Dock & Waterfront Park: B. Osborne will be draining down the standpipe on the dock prior to the first freeze. S. Lindgren will determine costs to repair the boards and cleats on a slip from a boat owner’s damage.
Public Restrooms: Data collected from the septic drain field was submitted to the septic engineer who sent the assembly diagram relative to the diverter. They will pull up the top to make sure nothing was plugged preventing the diverter from diverting the flow. Heavy duty steel toilet paper holders with metal locks will be installed in all of the restroom stalls.
Port parking/maintenance shed: Household trash is regularly being left by the Port dumpster. B. Osborne will be draining down the irrigation system.
Port Operations Manager Report:
The Ports Insurance Company is in spearheading the dock repair. K. Wyatt researched the Mason County Municipal Codes regarding the Ports public dock rules and regulations as it pertains to enforcement of and rules around moorage at the Ports public boat dock.
Transient boat Registration & mooring fee regulations are available in the kiosk at the Ports waterfront park. Regulations on vessel registration and moorage fees and time limits are clearly printed on the envelopes in which the moorage fees are to be submitted. There was some question as to exactly what the rules and regulations are around boat moorage and enforcement of rules. In November, 1977 the Port of Hoodsport’s commission wrote a letter to the County commission regarding rules around moorage at the port dock. At that time, large numbers of fisherman were tying up at the ports dock for long periods of time discharging or transferring cargo, leaving nets and other gear about the docks and leaving large amounts of litter about the area. They stated further that members of the Port commission and Mason County Sheriffs office have either been ignored or met with limited success. They requested having been advised by the Sheriffs office and the Prosecuting Attorney, a method in the form of a county ordinance be adopted whereby enforcement of rules could be established. Reviewed by the Board, permission granted and the request referred to the prosecuting attorney for further action. The following ordinance was established and is a part of the mason municipal county codes and regulations which can be found on their website at the following link.
Budget: September 2017 Financial Statement was reviewed
Old Business: As discussed above
New Business: None
Next Meet: November 8, 2017
Adjourn: Commissioner Petz made a motion to adjourn the Regular Port Commission meeting, Commissioner O’ Laughlin seconded, unanimously approved, meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.
2017 Regular Port Commission Meetings are scheduled as follows: Wednesday’s at 9a.m.
November 8th, December 13th
________________________ _______________________ _____________________
Commissioner O’ Laughlin Commissioner Petz Commissioner Brazil