MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR PORT COMMISSION MEETING FOR THE PORT OF HOODSPORT
August 17, 2022 Call to Order: 9:15am Adjourned: 10:00 am
Meeting Held at: 24113 North Highway 101, Suite A Hoodsport, WA 98548
Virtual Zoom Conference Meeting Room ID#406-238-9936
Roll Call:
Commissioner Kincannon – Chairwoman -Commissioner Brazil – 2nd Chairman / Trustee -Commissioner Morris
Staff Present: K. Wyatt, Executive Director, S. Lindgren – Maintenance Supervisor
Public: Forest McCullough – NW Land & Tree, Katherine Yackel – YSS Dive Shop
Approval of Agenda: Commissioner Brazil motioned to approve the agenda dated August 17, 2022, as written; Commissioner Kincannon seconded; all in favor, unanimously approved.
Minutes: Commissioner Brazil motioned to approve the regular port commission minutes for July 20, 2022, Commissioner Morris seconded, all in favor, unanimously approved.
Vouchers: Commissioner Kincannon motioned to approve the Vouchers for July 30, 2022, in the amounts of $7,776.37 and $3,168.58 for Q2 Commission payroll, Commissioner Morris seconded, all in favor, unanimously approved.
Public Communication:
Commissioner Morris welcomed Katherine Yackel with YSS Dive Shop to the meeting, we appreciate having the Dive shop in town, it brings divers and activity to the downtown area; I like seeing business’ popping up, young blood and changes in ownership in our community. The port recently sent a second letter to you at the Dive Shop regarding usage of the Port’s public property, what is your interpretation of what was conveyed in the letter. K Yackel said she wanted to confirm everyone in the meeting room wanting to confirm the maintenance supervisor, then said, we’ve heard complaints from divers that they are receiving parking tickets on their windows from the port’s maintenance person for parking over two hours in public parking, however we see no one else receiving notices. We heard inappropriate pictures are being taken of divers and their families when divers use the waterfront park, dock, and public parking, garbage cans are overflowing, we pick up the trash because we want a clean environment. We notice commercial activity on the dock and people parking for longer than two hours on shrimping days, we feel it skews the perception of what the port does. On the other hand, the waterfront park looks great, people are happy, Captain Lee is dropping off and picking up passengers from the dock bringing tourism to Hoodsport. On Monday and Tuesday, the Model T pub was so busy there were people everywhere, it was nice to see. We apologize for using the public waterfront park, dock, and parking area on April 30th without the port commissions permission. We don’t have a problem filling out the proper paperwork, making the deposit and providing liability insurance. We don’t sanction other people from using the waterfront park, dock, or beach, we encourage them to be safe and use safe practices. Our attorney feels we are in the right to use the dock occasionally because we are not exchanging funds and we don’t want to get into a legal battle. Commissioner Morris thanked K Yackel for her observations and said the Port commission will check in to your concerns. The main reason for the letters sent to you was to make sure you understand there is a process to schedule events at the waterfront park and to ensure public property is not being monopolized by private entities when there are specific Washington state constitution rules governing usage around public property. People in the public have said it is difficult to use the waterfront park and picnic tables when all the tables are used and there is dive equipment on the tables. K Yackel said you need to keep a clear distinction between private and public use and not show preferential treatment to one private entity to avoid ligation we feel there is a lot of focus on what we are doing. Commissioner Morris said the Port commission is happy to talk about hosting your occasional dive events at the waterfront park and is only stating what has been seen. Commissioner Kincannon said there is an event application on the port’s website, it requires approved dates to be calendared, a facility use agreement, deposit fee and liability insurance, it is a formal way to give people who hold events equal time. Remember the park is for everyone, please don’t monopolize the waterfront park, parking, and dock. We will internally address your concerns and discuss them at another meeting. We are a small port, with a small budget and contracted personnel, we do then best we can, we don’t want anyone to have to pick up garbage and will monitor the garbage better on known busy days. The Port strives to be good steward’s and neighbors. Our maintenance personnel have long days keeping up the grounds, it gets frustrating sometimes when people don’t follow the rules, please be mindful of that, it is a two-way street; we are all on the same page for compatible usage of public properties. Commissioner Brazil said the biggest problem in town is parking, the port in the past looked for additional public parking but was unable to find anything suitable. Commissioner Morris asked K Yackel if she has met the new owners of the Hood Canal grocery store, she said, not yet. Commissioner Morris said, I would like to send an introductory email to the new store owners as a fellow small business owner and to address community parking issues. I would also like to talk to you personally about additional parking you may be interested in behind my building. Thank you for your time and concerns today. F McCullough said we are almost finished cutting trees on the North side of State Rt 119 and will be moving over to the South side of the road to cut the trees close to houses in the subdivision since that is a big concern. I really need S Lindgren to help with core boring, Poria root rot spreads from diseased trees to adjacent healthy trees and shows little symptoms. If the commission can come up to the site, I can show you an example of what the Poria laminated root rot does to the middle of a tree and how to tell by core boring. I have had a big problem just recently with vandalism, people are stealing my logging signs and there’s been damage to my skidder. They took the cables, I found out who they were and confronted them, told them it was us here working and to leave our stuff alone. Commissioner Brazil said why would they do that, F McCullough said because they are not in the right frame of mind. Commissioner Kincannon asked are you still on schedule. F McCullough said there are a lot more diseased and damaged trees than originally anticipated, one section of trees has all been blown down by storms last winter, it’s a big mess they are tangled and criss crossed so we are behind schedule for sure. S Lindgren said there are bad danger trees everywhere, once they are removed it will make room for trees that were planted during the reforestation project 10 years ago by the forester after the last removal of diseased and dead trees. Commissioner Brazil said yes, we planted over 17,000 trees impervious to root rot. I walked through the park recently, it was impressive to see the logging operation and trees coming down, there is caution tape everywhere. Commissioner Kincannon asked if there were any issues with people in the park. F McCullough said yes despite chainsaws running, our logging signs and yellow caution tape everywhere, there are the same people who always walk their dog and berry pickers, people don’t read signs or listen, we have to shew them away. Commissioner Brazil said he drove by to see people lifting the chain to park inside of the parking area, S Lindgren says it happens daily. F McCullough says he walks out of the woods and people are parked next to his trucks behind the chain. I put out a game camera but what good does it do after the fact, I see them, but they have already been there and taken stuff. Commissioner Brazil said he will speak to the Lake Cushman maintenance company to look around the Hoodsport Trail parking areas when they are on patrol. Lake Cushman maintenance company delivered three big piles of chipped wood that we can use on the trails, there are volunteers who are ready to help spread the chips. F McCullough said I spoke to Bill Grondin, warden of the disc golf park, he will be contacting disc golfers to let them know part of the disc golf course will be closed while we work of the South side. The homeowners are getting anxious for us to cut those danger trees down. Are any commissioners coming up today, the logging trucks will be here to pick up trees. Annie Bowers from the Timberland Regional Library said I am just here to listen, when you have the trails ready for the fall storybook, I am ready to post the story. I will bring up additional metal frames in case any of them were damaged.
Commissioner Reports Commissioner Kincannon said I have the final copy of the Hoodsport Trail brochure showing the hiking trail, disc golf course and restrooms. S Lindgren said there is one change, the restrooms are across State Rt 119 in the parking area at the disc golf park. Commissioner Kincannon said there used to be small signposts along the trail identifying trees, flora, and fauna, they are very old, and water damaged, I would like to see if we can replace them using revenue from the trees that is slated to go back in to the park. If everyone agrees, I will contact the Shelton high school to find kids who will help identify plants and trees, what do you think? Commissioners Brazil and Morris both said, yes, great idea! Commissioner Brazil said in the summer, garbage cans fill up quickly, but its seasonal.
Port Maintenance Reports:
Hoodsport Trail Park & Disc Golf Park: Closed for fallen and hazard tree clean up
Hoodsport Marina, Dock & Waterfront Park: Summer is attracting many people to the waterfront park, dock, and marina. It has been tremendously busy; people are dumping trash in all 5 garbage cans consistently. Our second maintenance person is leaving, I could use someone to help me for the rest of summer. Commissioner Kincannon asked if we could advertise. S Lindgren said he may have someone in mind.
Portable Restrooms: During the summer season, the Port rents 3 portable restrooms with hand washing stations for the publics use. The grocery store also rents 3 portable restrooms for the publics use.
Port parking/Office building/Maintenance shed: S. Lindgren monitors live stream surveillance cameras overlooking the public restrooms, office building, port shed, parking lot, waterfront park and marina dock. It appears the same people continue to dump household garbage in the trash receptacles.
Port Directors Report:
The Port director asked the port commission if September 21st, October 12th, November 16th, and December 14th will work for the commission for upcoming regular port commission meetings. All commissioners said it will tentatively work. The port director said she is working of the dock lease renewal application and will be working with the representative from Washington State Department of Resources to fill in required information for the Washington State Aquatic Resources Permit and its attachment. An email was sent to the representative and a conference call has been set for when she returns after August 15th. The port received an event application and deposit from Jan Morris to host the Fjordin Crossin festival on a Saturday next June 17th, 2023. It will be calendared on the Community Events page on the port’s website. The port director said Commissioner Morris and I will be visiting the logging operation today to learn more about the Poria root rot and to see the loggers remove trees at the Hoodsport Trail park if anyone would like to join us.
Budget: July financial statements were reviewed
Old Business: As discussed above New Business: As discussed above
Next Meeting: September 7, 2022
Adjourn: Commissioner Morris made a motion to adjourn the Regular Port Commission meeting, Commissioner Brazil seconded, all in favor, unanimously approved, meeting adjourned at 10 a.m.
2022 Regular Port Commission Meetings are scheduled as follows:
Wednesday’s at 9am September 7th, October 12th, November 16th, December 14th
Commissioner Kincannon Commissioner Brazil Commissioner Morris