LIFAC Minutes AUGUST 2021

LummiIslandFerryAdvisoryCommittee(LIFAC)August2021Meeting:6pm,August11onZoomplatform

CALLTOORDERRhaymaBlake,Chair,calledthemeetingtoorderat6:01pm

ROLLCALL(Quorum)RhaymaBlake;CharlesBailey,JimDickinson,JudyOlsen.(LateArrival:MikeMcKenzieat6:30.Absent:GregoryRice.)WhatcomCountyPublicWorks:FerrySeniorCaptainRichHudson.OthersAttending:Gallery—TomPhilpot,MaryRoss(Zoomhost),MikeSkehan,MaryJaneVanHoesen,DavidKershner.

MOMENTOFSILENCE

OPENSESSIONMaryRoss:“DuringarecentunscheduledferryoutageonSaturday,July31July,myhusbandJimexperiencedanurgentneedtogettothehospitalemergencyroom.Itwasnotenoughtocallthe(airlift)helicopterbutifithadlastedmuchlonger,itwouldhave.WecalledtheEMSservices,theyresponded,andwedecidedtotrytogoontheferry.Thatcouldn’thappen.

“Fortunately,(IslandChapelpastor)ChrisImmerwasprovidingridesandwewereabletogetdowntheriprapandontoChris’sboat.(Note:MarywasreferringtotheshorelinewhereChrisdocked.)Weweremetbyanaidecar,gotJimtothehospital,theproblemwasresolved,andhe’sOK.

“Thatbecameareallystrong,powerfulmomentforme,andIrealizedhowmuchtheIslandneedsacommunitydockwherearegular,privateboatcangetpeopleofftheislandattimesofanemergency[ferry]outage.Also,wehad24guestsherefordinnerthatnight,andsomeneededtogetofftheisland.Onewomanwasn’tabletogetdowntheriprap,andafriendgothertotheotherside.

“IspoketoCountyExecutive(Satpal)Sidhu,toCouncilmanToddDonovan,withRolandMiddleton(PublicWorksprojectmanager),toJonHutchings(DirectorofPublicWorks),andtoLICAmembers.Iwanttostateclearlyontherecord,LummiIslandneedsacommunitydockforemergencies…awaytoevacuateinnon-life-threateningsituations.Walkingdowntheriprapisnotacceptableorsafe.

“(Ipropose)takingtheissuetoBellinghamandWhatcomCountytoadvocateforapublicdockthatarecreationalboatcantieupto.I’dlovetoseeLIFACsupportthiscommunityeffort.Wecan’twaitfiveyearsfornewdockstobedesignedandinplace.”RESPONSES:JudyaskedifMary&JimtrippedtheEMSsystemwitha911call.Marysaidtheydid.Butairliftisnotanoptionunlessthesituationislife-threatening.Shesaid:IcouldhaveeasilydrivenJimtotheERbecauseEMSwouldhaveputmeinfrontofline.Butwesawthattheferrywascominginsideways.”RichHudsonnotedthatIslandEMSsometimesusestheBellinghamFireDepartmentfireboatanditpicksupattheScenicEstatesdock.Marysaidthatoptionwasnotoffered,ortheywouldhavetakenthat.(Inrelationtothat,Jimstatedthat“EMSservicescancommandeerprivatedockfacilitiesinanemergency…justlikeaSafeHarborinabigstormwhensomebodyhastoland.”]CharlesaskedwhattheCountyExecutivesaidaboutit.Marysaidhesaid“hewassorryandthoughtitwasimportant.”Sheinformedhimthatshe’sanactivecommunitymemberwhowillorganizepresentingtheissuetoCountyCouncilandwhoeverelsecouldgetsomethingmoving.RhaymainquiredaboutrulesforusingtheScenicEstatesprivatedock.Itisforresidentsandrentersonly,butMaryJanesaidtheyare“flexible.”Charlespresentedtwoideas:One,intheshorttermputafloatingdockatthecounty-ownedbeachparkacrossthestreetfromBeachStoreCafewheretheferrydockwaslocateddecadesago.That,hesaid,wouldavoidacquiringanexpensiveshorelinepropertyandcouldbeinstalledmorequicklythantheproposednewterminal(5yearsout).Inthelongerterm,whenthenewferryisunderconstruction,thenewterminalcouldbeconstructedtoincludeanaccesspointtodealwiththeemergencysituation.JimsaidtheIslandneedsanemergencyairfield.HedetailedhowgroupsassociatedwiththeAmericanPilotsAssociationandtheExperimentalAircraftAssociationdoairlifts“absolutelyfreeofcharge…theycouldflyinaCessna182orlargerplaneandtakeyoutotown.Not(anairstrip)foraGulfStreamjetforpeoplegoingtotheWillowsInn...apurelylocaloperation.”

Jimadded,“TheCountyhas“quiteabitofstashofPublicparksmoneyandcouldmakeafieldforwalkingdogsandotheractivities,butalsohavearunwayof2,000feet.Itwouldrequirealotoftreeremovalandmanyneighborsdon’twanttodothat.”Hefurtherpointedout,“We’retheonlyislandintheSanJuansgroupthatdoesn’thaveanoperatingairfield.”(MaryRosssaidthatshelearnedfromlong-timeLICAtreasurer/archivistPaulDavisthatwe’realso“theonlyislandintheSanJuanswithmajorpopulationthatdoesn’thaveapublicdock.”)CharlesinquiredaboutpossibleuseoftheprivatedockoftheVillagePointMarina.Jimsaiditrequireshavingafloatinplaceandthatit’snotbeeninusethelastfiveyearsorso.RhaymaconcludedthediscussionbyaskingMaryRosstoletLIFACknowspecificallywaysitcanhelp.“ParksandRecreationseemslikeagoodplacetostart.”(MaryJanesaidthatTerryTerryistheislandrepresentativeforParks&Rec.)APPROVALOFMINUTESCharlesmovedforacceptanceoftheminutesofJuly14,submittedbyJudyOlson—thanks,Judy!—inMike’sexcusedabsence;Judyseconded.Approvedunanimously,4-0.LIFACINTERNALBUSINESSRhaymarevisitedthematterofstagingmonthlymeetingsonlybyZoomorwithahybridin-personoption.Sherecommendedtablingthatuntilnextmonth…”untilweseewhathappenswithDeltavariantofCovid-19.CharlesandJudyagreed.JimandMikeareonrecordpreferringanin-personoption.TheSeptembermeetingwillbeonZoomonlyandtheissuewillbeaddressedonceagain.OLDBUSINESS:RichHudsonreportedonnumerousitems:

• Re:theportabletoiletatGooseberryPoint:Itappearsnotterriblyabusedandit’sgoingwell.Judysaid,havinguseditacoupleoftimes,it’sinfineshape.

• Weatherstation:MikeMcKenzieandFerryCaptainJohnMulhernarepursuing

funds.Theprojectisongoing.

• Re:arequestforidentificationandscheduleofFerryemployees:“Ibroachedthiswith(PublicWorksAssistantDirector)LizKosaandherresponsewasahardno.It’samatterofprivacyandsafetythatwedon’tshareinformationaboutthe

comingsandgoingsofourcrewmembers.”Richaddressedpastsuggestionsofhavingnametagsandpubliclylistingnamesofferryworkers(similartotheFire/EMSDepartment).“Crewmembersarejustnotintoit.Igetit,itwouldfeelreallynicetohavearoster,buttheycollectivelydon’twanttoandwecan’tmakethem.It’sOKtojustintroduceyourself.And,ifyouhaveabadexperience,phoneandletmeknowwhenandIcandeterminewhowasworkingatthattimeandaddressit.”Drydockplanning:

• Everythingisonschedule.Alldetailswillbepublishedinthenextweek—passengerboatschedule,parkingmaps,coming-inandout-of-servicetimes,shuttlevanschedulesandmaps(servicestartsSept.10,thedaybeforedrydock).“Onethingnoteworthy,”Richsaid.“OnSaturday,September11whenyouwakeupthere’llbenoferryofanykinduntilthepassengervesselgetsupandrunningintheafternoon.We’llbesuretohighlightthatpublicly.”WhentheWhatcomChiefreturnsfromSeattle,therewillbeapassengerboathereprovidingservicethroughoutthemorninghours.Change-overtoregularvehicleserviceisscheduledtooccurabout8pmonOct.2.MaryRossaskedaboutstatusofthesinkholeonWestShoreDrive.Richsaidhe’sattendingapreconstructionmeetingnextweekandconsensusgoinginisthatCountywouldliketohaveitrepairedtopreventdisruptionofthevanshuttleserviceroutes.(NOTE:TherepairstookplaceinAugust.]

• Capitalwork:GooseberryPointdocksandblastingandpaintingareallon

schedule.Countydoesn’tanticipateanydisruption.“Justnoisyandnastyandnotpleasantlikelastyear,”Richsaid.

• GaryPooleassumesthepositionofon-siterepresentativefortheCountyatthe

shipyardduringDryDock.“Havinghadbacksurgeryrecentlypreventsmefromconductingmydutiesasrequired,“Richsaid,“includinglotofcrawlingaroundwiththeCoastGuardclosebehindme.Garywillbeoureyesandearson-siteandIwillprovidesupportfromtheisland…andI’mstillresponsibleforsigningoffonpaperworkandbusinesstransactions.

• EmergencyOutagePlanningontheAgenda:Richpresentedadetailedaccountofeventsthatoccurredthedayoftheemergencysuspensionofferryserviceforabout9hoursonSaturday,July31.HisaccountisAttachment1totheseminutes.“Wehadfollow-upmeetingsaboutwaystoassurethatnothinglikethathappensagain.”Onthetopicofinstallationoffloatsattheferryterminals,Richsaidthatconversationhasgoneonforquiteawhileaboutthat,especiallystepped-upbyinternalplanningonthereplacementvesselandterminals.“There’salottobegainedfromit.”However,hesaid,evenifthatwerepossiblenow,thefloatwouldnotbeavailabletopersonalvesselsunless(a.)theywereundercontractwithPublicWorksand(b.)theyhada100-tonorsix-packlicenseandwerefullyinsuredtocarrypassengers.Liabilityisamajorissue.

Iffloatswereavailable,theCounty’scontractedpassengervesselcouldoperateonemergencystandbyandrushtotheisland“reallyquick.”RichsaidthatemergencyoutagesituationsgetcomplicatediftheWhatcomChiefisnotabletomove.“Howwouldthatlook—OK,iftheferryisbrokenfourhours,dowegetatugboatandpullittoBellingham?Dowegetthepassengervesseluphereandstarttakingpeoplebackandforth?Perhaps.Thatallcomesatagreatcost.Andifanunplannedoutagetakeslongerthananticipated,whendowelaunchfloatsandcallitquits?Allthattakesabout12hourstogetupandrunninganddependsontides.

• Richestimatedthataround90percentofunplannedemergencyoutageshasto

dowith“superpeskyrudderfeedbackunits.”(Seebelow.)“Whenweupgradedfromananalogsystemtoadigitalsystem,thoseunitsweresupposedtobeofamorerobustquality.ButtheywereInstalledhastily;theylookfinefromoutside,butwhentakenapartitbecameobviousalotofthingsdidn’tgowell.”

• Thegoal,ofcourse,istopreventrecurrences,andwhenunplannedoutages

occurtoinsureitdoesn’ttakeaslongtogetbackintoservice.

a. Tothatend,PublicWorkscreatedanemergencymarinecontractwithanindividualRichdescribedas“super-talented,whohasabusinessinBellinghamandlivesontheisland…(he’s)retainedasaconsultantifweneedhim,oranemergencyifneedhim.He’salsoprovidingusawholelistofrecommendationswecanimplementduringdrydock.”PublicWorksalsoboughttwomorerudderfeedbackunitssotheywouldalwayshavethosecriticalsparepartsonhand,ontheboat.

b. Further,somemoreitemshavebeenaddedtotheinspectionsheetfor

SeniorEngineerGaryPoole,whoinspectstheferryeverythreeweeks,changesoilandfilters,etc.

ReplacementFerryStatus:OnbehalfofRolandMiddleton,theprojectmanagerwhoisonvacation,RichreportedthattheonlythinghewasinstructedtoreportisthateverythingisonscheduleforgrantapplicationsbeingsubmittedinSeptember.MikeMcKenzieisworkingonaletter-writingcampaignconsistingof:

• OnetoU.S.SecretaryofTransportationPeteButtigiegspecificallyinvitinghimtovisitLummiIslandandseeourferryneedsandplansfirst-handandwhattherequested$20millionfederalgrantwouldprovide.[Attachment2)

• TemplateletterstoallofourgovernmentrepresentativesrequestingsupportoftheCounty’sgrantrequests.Thelettertemplateswouldbecomeavailabletothepublicinasmanywaysaspossible(websites,emails,in-person,etc.)andconstituentscanpersonalizethem,thenprintandmailoremailthem

Roland,whentoldoftheintenttoinviteSec.Buttigieghere,responded,“That’sgreat,youneverknow.”AndhetoldofatimewhenPublicWorksinvitedthegovernorofthestatetocomevisit.OnedayhedroppedinoutofthebluewhileonabusinesstriptoVancouver,B.C.TheletterswillbepresentedtoLIFACattheSeptembermeeting.RolandtoldMikeit’snoturgentrightthisminute,buttimeisripetogetthemailcampaignrolling.Rep.LarsonisontheTransportationCommitteeinCongress,andRolandsaidallofourrepsareawareoftheneedforgrants,so“keepnudgingthem—themoreletterstheyreceive,thebetter.”TheotherrepresentativestocontactareDelBene,Murray,andCantwell.

NEWBUSINESS:Replacementferryfuelconsumptionreport:CharlesaskedforthereportfromElliottBayconsultantsandtheback-and-forthemailsexchangehehadwithRolandMiddletontobeattachedtotheminutes.ThedocumentationofbothcompriseAttachments3-5.Charlessummarizedthehighlightsofthereport:

1. TheWhatcomChiefconsumes180gallonsoffueladayduringsummer,lessduringwinter

2. Thenewdiesel/batteryhybridferryconsumers186gallonsadayeventhoughitismorethantwicesizeofChief.“That’swelcomenews,”Charlessaid.“Progresstowardourgoalofcarbonneutrality.”

WhenLIFACtakesupissueofferryscheduling,asrequestedbyPublicWorks,thisreporthasgraphsandtablesthatcompareconsumptionpatternswithfrequencyoftraffic.“Thegoodnewsisthatconsumptionislessthanwethought,”Charlessaid.Rhaymawonderedwhythere’sasenseofurgencyaboutLIFACworkingonthenewferryscheduleofruns.CharlessaidthatRolandis“ago-aheadguy”andjustwantsustostartingthinkingaboutit.Richtakeonschedulingruns:“I’mthrilledtoseethenewfuelconsumptionnumbers—greatnewsacrosstheboard,awesome.Regardingfuelvs.ridership,IhammeredoutascheduleIthoughtwasprettydecent…conscientiousaboutfuelbutalsothelevelofserviceweintendtoprovide.Whenthetimecomeswecancraftaninterimschedule,thenwhentheboatshowsupwe’llhaveagoodideaofwhatwewantittodo.“Oncewegetinservice,we’llseewhatinformationitprovides.Whenwedothatovertime,we’llhavehard,conclusivefuelconsumptiondata.Wecanstartdrillingdownaftermaybeayear,onseasonalschedules,checkridership,allthat.Butthisisreallygoodnewscomparedtowhat’sgoingonrightnow.”Rhayma:“Schedulingshouldn’tbeonouragendaanytimesoon.”Charles:“Imadeanotetoputontheagendain2026.”�Jim,whenaskedbyRhaymawhathethoughtaboutthereport,replied:“I’mnotcomfortablewiththenumbersonfuelconsumption.NumbersthatIworkedout,notwiththehybridbutwithastraightonewiththatparticularhull,baseduponour

horsepowerrequirements,wouldburnaminimumof210gallonsaday.ThedailyaverageoftheChief,year-long,isabout145aday.Thenewboat(asdesigned)wouldbeabout186.Hestatedthatasummerschedulewouldn’tmakemuchdifferenceandhedevisedascheduleof27runsadayinsteadof39becausetheboatisbigger,which“triestokeepfrequencywhereitisnow,whichiswhatpeopleseemtowant.”Jimsaidhe,BillFox,andseveralothershavejointlyreachedouttoportengineersinTexastoobtainnumbersandreceivednumbers“higherthanwethoughtontheamountoffuel…ona28-carferrynota34.Jury’soutonthis.”Jimopined,“Thishullisdraggingandit’sthereasonIdon’tlikeit.Withaproperhull,fuelwouldrunabout140gallonsadayaverageon27trips.ReasonIdon’tlikeit.”Hecitedstatisticsofthenewferryrequiring750horsepowertogetto10knotscomparedwith210HPontheWhatcomChief.“Also,they’remakingashallowboat,whichwedon’tneed…that’swherewecomeacropper.On-shorepowerassessmentCharlespresentedadraftLIFACrecommendationforaCountyCouncilresolutionthatwouldkeepthecountymovingforwardonitscarbonneutralgoalstatedseveralyearsago.LIFACrecommendsthatCountyCouncilpassthisresolutiontoasktheCountyExecutivetoaskPublicWorkstocommissionadetailedtechnicalandcostassessmentofoptionstoincreasethesupplyofelectricpoweratbothterminalssufficientforfuturefull-timeoperationsofthenewferry.CharlesreportedthatwelearnedfromElliottBayconsultantsthatthenewboatconsumesabout1megawattofpowerperday.Thereiscurrentlynotenoughpoweravailableateitherterminaltomeetthisneedandfullychargetheboat’sbatteries.“Wewanttoconsideroptionsofamicro-gridandbatterystorage,etc.,andfortheCountytostartthinkingaboutthisnecessarynextstep.Werecommendthatthereportofthisassessmentbecompletedby1Dec2023,givingthemover2yearstocompleteit.That’ssowedon’tpressnowwhilethey’regoingfull-boretowardgettingtheferryfunded.Thiswouldbethenextorderofbusinessoncetheboatisfundedandunderconstruction,andwewanttokeepthissuggestionfromslippingofftheradar.RolandMiddletonandToddDonovanaresupportive.”RichHudsonraisedthequestionoffundingthisstudy,concernedhowCountyCouncilwouldallocatethecosts?“Everynickelanddimewespendoutoftheferryfund,”he

said,“Igainmoreanxietyaboutthemaskingustorevisitfares.I’mallforthisproposal,butifviewedascomingoutoftheferrybudget,it’spoortiming.”CharlesrespondedthathelearnedthatCountyCouncilallocatesbudgetsandmoneyallthetime,asapartoftheirroutineoperations.Theywouldputoutproposalsforbids,astheydoallcontracts.Rhaymaconcludedthattheissueisn’tpressingtoday,yetit’sgoodtogetexpertstochimeinsoonerthanlater.Judyraisedaquestionaboutincludingbothterminalsintheassessment,recallingthatweconcludedpreviouslythatchargingthevesselonGooseberrywasnotinthebestinterestoftheIslandEMSsystem.“IsitworthspendingmoneytoevaluateGooseberryPoint?”sheasked.Charles:“Right.Givenallthecomplexitiesandthatthevesselspendsthenighthere,it’sbesttochargeonthisside.Nottopre-judge,butPublicWorksmightdecidetodividetheworkintotwoparts,comparingeachside,anddrilldownonthat.”DiscussionledtoconcentratetheresolutiononbeefingupshorepoweronLummiIsland.Factors:Dieselcapabilityasbackup,itmustbeontheislandside,anditmustabletoleavequickly.AtGooseberry,it’sgettingtoocomplex.Jimraisedaconcernofhavingtokeepcrewonboard,whichwouldgetmoreexpensive.Also,he’softhebeliefwewon’tgettheelectricalsupply,citingnationalmovestowardshutdowns.“Current(U.S.)administrationdoesn’twantgasplants.”Jimcharacterizedtheresolutionrequestas“adeadduck.”Andsaidhewouldn’tvoteforitunlessthereportisfreebecause“wedon’tneedmoreoutofferrybudget.”CharlesmovedtochangethewordingtoreflectthattheresolutionwouldcoverincreasingtheLummiIslandelectricalsupplytoalevelsufficienttosupportthecarbonneutralresolutionin2017byCountyCounciltobecomecarbonneutral.Fromthegallery,MikeSkehan,whohasspearheadedeffortstocreateamicro-gridontheisland,saidhethoughttheideaofresearchingitontheisland(insteadofbothterminals)wasappropriate,andMikeMcKenziesaid,“It’sallconsciousness-raising,solet’sgowithit.”

Rhaymamovedtoadopttheresolutionwiththetwominorchanges.Charlesseconded.Motionpassed4-1(Blake,Bailey,Olsen,McKenziefor;Dickinsonagainst.)PUBLICAWARENESSMikeMcKenziewillprepareadraftofanarticleforSept.10Tomedeadlinewithdetailsoftheletter-writingcampaigntogovernmentrepresentativesseekingsupportoftheCountygrantapplicationsforferryfunding.CharlesrequestedthatthearticleincludehowtosignupforLIFACbetween-meetingsannouncementsbygettingonouremaillist.ADJOURNMENTMovedandpassed6-0.Meetingadjourned7:26pmATTACHMENTSRichHudsonOutageNarrative:“Igotphonecall(notexactlytime)2-2:10pm)fromCapt.KentDixonthatuponapproachhe’dlost(No.1end)rudder.ChoseNo.1andNo.2endtorefer.EndthatfacesLI.Non-responsive,goeshardoverandcan’tmoveit.Sailsusuallytothestarboard.Calledengineer,GaryPoolecamedown.Lookedateverything,randiagnostics,startedworking.LoadedstartedtotransporttoGPside.Atwhichtime,No.1endrudderagain,nosteerage,makesittrickytohandle.Capt.Kentmadesafelanding.Unloadedtraffic.Calledme.Hopingforbest.That’swhenwentoutofservicefirsttime.Wecalledregularchannels—Marie,infoofficergetmessagingout…mechanicstogethelpontheway(PW),alsoPooleandass’tengineerDixoncontactedourHamiltonJetrep,ourtechnicianwhohandlesoursteeringsystem–actuallyonacampingtripwithhisfamily.GaveKentandGaryexactlystepbystepwhattodotodiagnose.WhenPWmechanicshowedup,randiagnostics.Steeringstartedworkingagain.We’regoodtogo(thumbup).Then,onapproachtoLIsidethinkingfixed,loaded,leftforLI,bothruddersfailedoverhard.Gotintodock.Dixongoingintoengineroomandmanuallyforcingthehydraulicstohandlewayweneededtotogetin.Gameover.CalledMarieagain.Wordout.GotaholdofHJsalespersononvacationinHawaii.Soundedalarm,getHJtechonsitewithsparepartsandhisgear.Marinemechanical

technicianandelectricaltechresidentonislandandhasownbusiness(inBellingham)onemergencycontract,heagreed,wentdowntoferry.GPassistedhiminchangingarudderfeedbackunit(onNo.1end),elecdevicethatcommandsandrelaysinfofromsteeringwheel.GotbacktoGPtomeetHJtech.Changedoutotherrudderfeedbackunit(hadgonebad).Backupandrunningabout11:15pmTypically,alwayscarryonerudderfeedbackunitinreserve.Witholdsystem,thosetwoendsdon’ttalktoeachother.Innewdigitalsystem,theruddersdotalktoeachother.No.1installednotwell,hadfailed,pollutedtheotheroneonNo.2.Inresponse,addedgentleman—whowishestoremainanonymousfornow,ownbiz,livesonisland—agreedtoworkforusundercontractwheneverneeded,primarilyemergencies.Purchasedtworudderfeedbackunits,sohavetwoonhand.Whentechlocalprovidesusinvoiceforworkthatnight,alsoprovidelistofrecommendationsthatwecanimplementindrydocktoinsuredoesn’thappenagain.INSTALLINGFLOATSATTERMINALS—Aconversationbeengoingonforawhile.Lottobegainedfromit.Planningallinternalconversationslastfewmonthsinprepforbringingonnewvesselandterminals.Evenifhadwaytolaunchandputfloatsinwaterwouldnotbeavailabletopersonalvessels,unlessundercontractwithPW.Unless100-tonorsix-packlicense,insured,tocarrypassengers.Whatwouldbehandy,ifhadfloatsandfindwaytomakeitwork,ourpassengervesselthatwecontract,wehavehimonanemergencystandby.Couldsimplyrushtoisland.WhatcomChiefsitting?Andhowthatwouldlook—ok,ferrybroken4hours,gettugboattob’ham,getpassengervesseluphereandstarttakingpeoplebackandforth.Perhaps.Allcomesatagreatcost.Getherereallyquickandprovideservice.Unplannedoutage,longerthananticipated,whendowelaunchfloats,callitquits,alltakesbout12hourstogetupandrunninganddependingontides.Liabilityinquestion.MJ:Coordinationw/PW?Parts?WholethingIseeittoo.90percenthasunplannedemergencyoutagehastodowithsuperpeskyrudderfeedbackunits.Whenupgradedfromanalogsystemtodigitalsystem,thoseunitssupposedtobemorerobustquality.Installedhastily,lookfinefromoutside,whentakeapartlotofthingsdidn’tgowell.

MJ:Assembly.Butalso?Rich:Insure,ifrecurs,goalnever,doesn’ttakeaslong:addedemergencymarinecontract,super-talented,livesonisland.Retainedasconsultantifweneedhim,emergencyifneedhim.Alsoboughttwomorerudderfeedbackunits,alwayshavethosecriticalsparepartsonhandontheboat.IncorporatedintoGary’severythreeweeksinspectseverything,changesoil,filters,addedafewthingstohisinspectionsheets.Also,techwehiredfromislandprovidewholelistofrecommendationswecanimplementduringdrydock.MJ:(oldmaintenanceperson)Preventivemaintenance?MaryJaneVanHoesen.Attachment2:Hon.PeteButtigieg,SecretaryofTransportation1200NewJerseyAveSEWashington,DC20590DateDearSecretaryButtigieg,PleasevisitusonLummiIsland,Washington.We’dlovetoshowyouourparadisiacalcorneroftheU.S.andwhyit’sessentialthatweobtainaRAISEgranttobuildanewferry.Oursisalmost60yearsoldandreallyoutdated!WhatcomCountyneedsfundingfortheonlyavailablemeansofpublictransportationtoandfrommainland.ThenewferryWhatcomCountywouldbuildwithaRAISEgrantwillhavedieselbatteryhybridpropulsionexplicitlydesignedtoconverttoafullycarbon-neutralvessel.Theferry—anequivalenttoaroadorbridge—hasfunctionedover100yearsasacruciallifelineforemergencyservices.TheWhatcomChief,ourcurrentferry,hasexceededitsusefullife.

Itdeliverspassengers,vehicles,andgoodsandservicesfornearly1,000full-timeresidents,includingseveralmulti-generationalfamilyhouseholds.

Thepopulacecomprisesadailycommutingworkforcethathasbroadimpactontheregionaleconomy.Manyothershaveretiredhere,manyhaveasecondhomehere,andthousandsofvisitorsjourneytoLummiIslandeveryyear.

You’lllovethiscommunitythatbustleswithseveralsmall,enterprisingbusinesses(eateries,farms,construction,furniture-makers,artists,agrocery,onlineentrepreneurs,etal),naturewalksandhiking&bikingappeal.AndLummiIslandboastsuniqueness:

• Reef-netsalmonfishing,acenturies-oldpractice;

• A100-year-oldelementaryschoolwhichfollowstheInternationalBaccalaureate(IB)curriculum;

• Aworld-classdestinationrestaurant—TheWillowsInnonLummiIsland.

Pleasejoinus,SecretaryButtigieg,andexperiencetheessenceoflifeonLummiIsland.Youwillreadilyseetheurgencyofupdatingtheferrysystemthatbegsyoursignature,providingreliable,affordabletransportationthat’sbeenrequiredbyordinancesince1924.

We’reexcitedaboutyourconsiderationofavisittous.Gratefully,WhatcomCounty-appointedLummiIslandFerryAdvisoryCommittee(LIFAC)[signatures]Attachment3:>>-----OriginalMessage-----(Roland’srepliesareinred.)>>From:Charles<[email protected]>>>Sent:Friday,July23,20217:03AM>>To:RolandMiddleton<[email protected]>>>Cc:RichHudson<[email protected]>;ElizabethKosa<[email protected]>;RhaymaBlake<[email protected]>;MikeMcKenzie<[email protected]>>>Subject:Re:Comparativefuelconsumption-Chiefv.newferry>>>>DearRoland,>>>>ThankyouforyourswiftreplywithyouranalysisandtheEBDGreport.Ihaveseveralclarifyingquestions:

>>>>1.Inlastweek’sLIFACmeetingandinyournoteyouindicatethatthefuelcomparisonisbetweentheWhatcomChiefandthenewdieselbatteryhybrid(DBH)boat.HowevertheEBDGreportdoesn’texplicitlysaythis;itscomparisonisbetweentheDBHboatand“aconventionaldieselpropulsionsystem”(paragraph2,etc.).ThereportcitestheearlierEBDGanalyses—“PropulsionSelectionStudy”and“SpeedandPoweringAnalysis”—asitssources.HoweverIsearchedbothofthesedocumentsandcouldfindnofuelconsumptiondatafortheChief.SoisEBDG’scomparisonreallybetweenanewboatwithDBHpropulsionandanewboatwithconventionaldiesel?Thetablesinthememorandumarethe34carhybridvesselandaconventionaldieseloftheexactsamesizeandhullconfigurationasthe34carhybridvessel.TheWhatcomchiefburnsanaverageof180gal/dayinthepeaksummerand160gal/dayintheslowseasonwinter.TheaveragefuelconsumptionnumbersfortheChiefarenotfoundinanyEBDGstudy,thesearetheactualamountsthatwepurchase.Thisissoliddatafromourfuelsupplierinvoices.>>2.Ifthethecomparisonistoanewboatpoweredsolelybyadieselengine,Figure3andFigure4challengetheconventionalwisdomthataDBHvesselwillburnmorefuelthanadieselvesselowingtotheenergysupposedlylostingeneratingtheelectricityonboardwiththedieselengine.CanyoujustconfirmthattheDBHvesseloutperformstheconventionaldieselonfuelconsumptionplease?Yes,thehybridoutperformsaconventionaldieselofthesamesizeandhullconfiguration>>3.Yournotealsosays“ComparingthenewboattothecurrentnumberofvehiclesmovedbytheChief…”butthereportdoesn’tcontainanydataonnumbersofvehiclesmoved.Onecanperhapsinfervehiclenumbersfromthedata.Forexampleinthetwographsthepointofoptimumfuelconsumptionistheintersectionpointofthetwocurvesatabout42minutesperroundtrip.Thetablesmakethis40minutesperroundtrip.Atthisleveltheboatwoulddo24roundtripsper16hourday.Withthedeckfilledeachtrip,thenewferrywouldmake48singletripsx34vehicles/trip=1,632vehiclesmovedbothwaysoverthe16hourday.ThisnumberisthesameforbothboatsanalyzedintheEBDGreport,whichalsosuggestsitisnottheChiefthatisbeingcompared.Notquiteunderstatingyourquestion.However,ifyouarelookingatfig.1andfig.2theintersectionofthelinesarenotindicatingtheoptimalfuelconsumptiontheyaremerely2differentgraphsoverlaidontoeachotherasindicatedbythe2differenty-axisvalues.>>4.YouwererighttoadviseLIFACweneedtostartthinkingaboutascheduleforthenewDBHferryandtheEBDGreportalludestothis.Indoingsoitwouldbehelpfultohaveanadditionalcolumninthesetablesthatshowsnumberoftripsperhourforeachoption.Forexample,atthe40minutesperroundtriplevel,optimalforfuelconsumption,translatesinto24/16=1.5roundtripsperhour.Ofcourseweneedwholenumbersherebutaddingthiscolumntothetablewouldmakethetradeoffbetweenscheduledtripsandoptimalfuelusemuchclearer.Putanotherway,at40minutesperroundtripand8knots(average?)speed,thenewboatwould

take6minutes45secondstocrossonewayor2x6mins45secs=13minutes30secondsforoneroundtrip,leavingthebalanceoftimeforloading/unloadingandidlinginthedockat26mins.30sec.Thisisthescenarioforoptimalfuelconsumptionlevelof40minutesroundtriptime,ieoneroundtripperhour.Theboatiscapableofuptotworoundtripsperhoursoaddingthisarithmetictothetablewouldbebothstraightforwardandhelpful.Thisexampleistheperfectstartingpointindiscussingtheschedule.InthecomingmonthsWhatcomCountyPublicWorksisaskingLIFACtoprovideinputintothetripscheduleforthenewvessel.Anopenandthoughtfuldiscussionisnecessarytobalancetheneedsofabundantcrossingsandthecriticalnatureofreducedcarbonemissions.>>Attachment4:

Approved by the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee- August 11, 2021

PROPOSED BY: INTRODUCED: RESOLUTION NO.

ASSESSING SUFFICIENT ON-SHORE ELECTRIC POWER FOR THE LUMMI ISLAND FERRY SYSTEM

WHEREAS, the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee was established to review and provide recommendations on proposed changes to ferry operations and fares; and, WHEREAS, the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee was established to assist the county in collecting information from ferry riders on actual and desired ferry services, concerns, and ideas for improved service; and, WHEREAS, the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee was established to analyze and develop recommendations to continue and improve the cost-effective operation of ferry service to Lummi Island; and, WHEREAS, the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee was established to research, review, and make recommendations regarding ferry replacement, long-term planning, parking, transportation to and from ferry docks, alternative docking locations, alternative funding sources, and other major capital and operational issues regarding ferry service to Lummi Island; and, WHEREAS, the alternatives analysis identified in Policy 6C-9 of the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan is complete; and, WHEREAS, the Whatcom County Council approved the Level of Service Action Plan for the Lummi Island Ferry Service proposed by the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee as Exhibit A in Council Resolution 2018-026; and, Whereas the Level of Service Action Plan sets the goal of a carbon neutral vessel to be approached through a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system designed flexibly for future full- electric conversion; and, Whereas the capacity to charge the ferry vessel at either or both terminals will be required to achieve the goal of a carbon neutral ferry; and, Whereas currently available electric power at the two terminals is not sufficient to allow future all-electric conversion; and, Whereas the Lummi Island Ferry Committee recommends that the Whatcom County Council pass a resolution asking the County Executive to direct the Department of Public Works to commission a detailed technical and cost assessment of options to increase the supply of electric power at the Lummi Island ferry terminal to a level sufficient for future full-electric operations of the new ferry. The study should include, but not be limited to, increasing the voltage on the

Approved by the Lummi Island Ferry Advisory Committee- August 11, 2021

existing undersea cable and a Microgrid on Lummi Island. The study should be completed on or before December 31, 2023. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Whatcom County Council asks the County Executive to direct the Department of Public Works to commission a detailed technical and cost assessment of options to increase the supply of electric power at the Lummi Island ferry terminal to a level sufficient for future full-electric operations of the new ferry. The study should include, but not be limited to, increasing the voltage on the existing undersea cable and a Microgrid on Lummi Island. The study should be completed on or before December 31, 2023. APPROVED this day of , 20__. WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL