PORT ANGELES — The Port of Port Angeles is considering adding a position to market the North Olympic Peninsula and draw new businesses.
The position, which would fall under the marketing department, would be scheduled to travel about three days a week speaking to businesses and marketing the benefits of locating on the North Olympic Peninsula, Executive Director Jeff Robb told commissioners at the Monday meeting.
The position is tentatively budgeted for an annual salary of about $71,600.
“This is a position we have talked about for several years,” Robb said.
“We need to be very aggressive in promoting economic development in the area.”
The person, if the position is approved, would work with David Hagiwara, who was hired as the trade and development director last December.
Hagiwara had been the port’s deputy executive director, but his position was eliminated and he was fired in September 2008 before being rehired with a salary reduction of about $10,000 in December.
Hagiwara will be tied up working on long-term waterfront master planning, overseeing property and other duties, and the new person would be in place to travel and aggressively market the port, Robb said.
“I’ve been an advocate for the past three years to do this,” Commissioner George Schoenfeldt said.
“This is all about going out and getting the jobs we want.
“With the reduction in staff, the staff we have are too stretched to do this aggressive marketing.
“Obviously if it is the right person, he will end up paying for himself.”
All three commissioners expressed support for the position but took no formal action.
“It is part of the port’s strategic plan to be the economic development leader of the county, and in a time when a lot of agencies are drawing back in that area, it only makes sense that we would step into that role,” said John Calhoun, commission president.
Robb said the person would also work with other North Olympic Peninsula agencies as well as existing renters at the port to develop marketing strategies.
The position would be formally adopted if approved in the 2010 budget, which is set for approval Nov. 23.
In other business, the commissioners renewed a lease with Clallam Transit, which rents a building at the port’s industrial park for the paratransit, Robb said.
Clallam Transit had a 20-year lease with two five-year renewal options, which began in 1981.
The commissioners increased the rent from $164 per month to $325 per month. The increase was determine after an assessment of the building, Robb said.
The rent will increase in increments to $525 per month at the end of the first five-year term.
The lease is for five years with three five-year renewal options.
Clallam Transit already approved the lease at the Oct. 19 meeting of the board, Robb said.
Surplus items
The commissioners also granted Robb authority to surplus a number of items for sale including a winch, a reducer, three marina float ramps and four vehicles.
Jerry Demetriff, public works manager, said he hoped the port would make about $2,000 off of the sales.
The items will be sold through a sealed bid process which will open Nov. 18 and will last for 48 hours.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.