VANCOUVER, Wash. – The July 26 Port of Vancouver USA Board of Commissioners meeting was a busy one, despite the seemingly light agenda.

The lone action item was a lease agreement with longtime port tenant Vanport Trucking, which the commissioners unanimously approved. Vanport Trucking currently employs 22 full-time workers and occupies 31,500 square feet of warehouse at the port. The lease is expected to generate $1.55 million in revenue to the port over the initial 10-year term.

New business: CEO search
During the new business portion of the agenda, Commission President Jerry Oliver raised the need to discuss the port’s search for its next CEO.

Todd Coleman, who served as the port’s CEO from 2012 to 2016, stepped down May 19 after 15 years with the organization. The Board of Commissioners appointed Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Julianna Marler as interim CEO while the port moves through the recruitment process.

The port hired Jones Strategic Consulting to perform an assessment to help inform the CEO recruitment process. Pat Jones, president of Jones Strategic, presented his assessment and recommendations to the commission during their July 12 meeting. His recommendations included options to conduct a national executive search or hire a transitional CEO.

The commissioners took some time last week to consider this information and talk individually with port Director of Human Resources Jonathan Eder before sharing opinions with each other during the July 26 commission meeting. The commission discussed internal talent, public sentiment, impacts to staff and uncertainty surrounding the process for Vancouver Energy.

At the board’s request, Eder provided strategic advice on the recruitment process. He explained that a national search could produce candidates with strengths and qualifications that meet needs for both a transitional or long-term CEO.

After a lengthy discussion, the Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to direct staff to begin a national CEO search on Oct. 1. This timeline would likely bring a new CEO on board in early 2017.

Terminal 1 public workshop
The port, consultant NBBJ and developers Holland Partner Group and Vesta Hospitality are working through the planning and Concept Development Plan (CDP) process for Terminal 1, the port’s 10-acre waterfront redevelopment in downtown Vancouver.

This comprehensive process includes examining factors such as the port’s guiding principles; public and stakeholder input; highest and best use; permitting; site constraints; community fit and many other elements of use and design. As the port moves through the process, issues are emerging that will affect the development’s final configuration.

During a public workshop Tuesday, port staff and NBBJ shared these issues, which include the footprint of the future Interstate 5 Bridge replacement; FAA height restrictions; dock repair; City code; construction phasing; and parking. They also presented two additional alternatives for redevelopment that address these issues. Alternatives five and six both relocate the Terminal 1 building, maximize public space and build a development that is sustainable for the future of the port and community.

Commissioners asked questions, provided feedback and encouraged staff to continue moving forward with the port’s aggressive planning, permitting and construction schedule.

Next steps
The port and its consultants have a CDP pre-application meeting with the City of Vancouver on Aug. 25 and plan to submit the final CDP late this year. Under an expedited process, the City could approve the CDP in mid-2017 and the first phase of construction could begin late that year.

– POV –

The Port of Vancouver USA is one of the major ports on the Pacific Coast, and its competitive strengths include available land, versatile cargo handling capabilities, vast transportation networks, a skilled labor force and an exceptional level of service to its customers and community. For more information, please visit us at www.portvanusa.com.