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Port of Olympia Citizens Advisory Committee (POCAC) faces a membership shortage with two of its members resigning and two others ending their terms last year.
During POCAC’s meeting yesterday, April 20, Port of Olympia Executive Director Sam Gibboney revealed that POCAC members Daniel Sheppard and GiGi McClure have tendered their resignation from the committee.
“I think he has a new baby in his household and has some other priorities,” Gibboney explained regarding Sheppard. McClure was present at the meeting, but only to bid farewell to the group.
Meanwhile, member Kevin Decker and Vice-Chair Tom Symoniak’s terms ended in December 2021, leaving Joel Hansen, Deborah Pattin and Cameron Wilson as the remaining POCAC members which should have nine to 13 members, according to the Port’s website.
Because of the member shortage, POCAC is currently not in quorum and cannot take action on committee matters.
Gibboney remarked that the Port is reaching out to Decker and Symoniak to see if they are interested in extending their term. However, committee member Deborah Pattin informed the attendees that Decker told her that he cannot commit another three years, and that “he is out.”
Pattin raised her concern that POCAC’s extended hiatus will cause their activities to lose momentum, saying, “We basically lost all of 2021. And then we've already lost three months (this year).”
Pattin also suggested that the break may have been the cause of the POCAC members leaving.
“It's disheartening, remarked Pattin, “And that might be why people are dropping off because they were working on projects and then boom, you know nothing.”
Staff shortage
According to Gibboney, several factors brought about POCAC’s inactivity, such as the pandemic affecting 75% of the staff and the rest having to cover for them in various Port operations.
“It's not that everyone had contracted it,” explained Gibboney, “but they had been in contact we were having to maintain quarantines and isolations, etc.”
The Port director also alluded to the recent departure of key personnel and other turnover of office staff left them shorthanded, forcing the Port to put POCAC meetings on hold to focus on other matters, such as the commissioners’ meetings.
“The Port of Olympia is experiencing some …disruption within the the labor force as are so many other places,” Gibboney said.
The current POCAC members have yet to decide how to find replacements to fill their ranks to present to the Port commissioners.
According to the Port of Olympia Resolution 2019-10, the commissioners determine the POCAC application process, with the committee tasked to provide advice assigned to them by the commission.
“We need a full body of people who have committed to, to do all this research in all these meetings,” remarked Pattin. “And of course, there's no pay.”
“Cookies,” Gibboney interjected. “Don’t forget the cookies.”
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PaulTheOak
This should not be surprising. I was on a Citizens Advisory Committee for the New Market Campus, and our recommendations were ignored. The Port Commission went ahead and did what they wanted, cutting deals with developers in contradiction to the plan. Don't waste your time being on a Port Citizen Advisory Committee.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022 Report this
JulesJames
Juxtaposing the JOLT article on the Social Justice committee that had 40+ applicants for a dozen seats and the Port's Citizens' committee institutionally short of a quorum. I'm guessing plenty of citizens of all types are willing to volunteer -- if their efforts are perceived to have value.
Thursday, April 21, 2022 Report this
ejzita
PaulTheOak and JulesJames have valid points. People are more willing to serve when they feel their work is valued. In the past, the Port Commission agreed to implement projects studied and recommended by the POCAC, including EV chargers and Community Solar. What has changed in recent years?
1. Port leadership reneged on agreements to fund Community Solar, even though that's a high priority for participants in the port's Vision 2050 study.
2. Port boss Gibboney appointed herself to the POCAC with a heavy hand, changing rules and reducing the Committee's autonomy. Cookies are not enough, sorry.
3. The only in***bent port commissioner often micromanages the POCAC too.
4. Highly qualified POCAC applicants are often ignored in favor of political appointees. We got a good crop of POCAC people a few years ago, with Decker, Hansen, Szymoniak, and a couple of others. Sorry to see that they are choosing not to re-up.
Recommendations:
* Restore autonomy to the POCAC
* Port staff should serve as resources to the POCAC - not managers of the volunteers.
* Study the port's Vision 2050, and note public priorities: environmental cleanup, waterfront recreation, and social issues. Reach out to people in these areas - including excellent past applicants.
* Support good POCAC studies with Port action - and follow through on promises.
* Have the Port's HR director interview recently departed POCAC members. Why did they leave? What role did current POCAC leadership play in their decision? Listen, and make changes.
Thursday, April 21, 2022 Report this
ejzita
What's wrong at the Port of Olympia? About a dozen staff left last year (including many director-level staff, plus two commissioners). Another dozen unionized this year. The port employs only 30+ people.
"The Port director alluded to the recent departure of key personnel and other turnover of office staff left them shorthanded..."
Could this be related to the port's difficulty retaining and recruiting POCAC members? Two years ago we had 13/12. Now they have 3/12.
Recommendation: Port leadership needs to look in the mirror and make improvements. Blaming outside factors is not enough, sorry.
Thursday, April 21, 2022 Report this
UrsulaEuler
Excellent comments by ejzita. The Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater community may soon discover that the State of Washington is selecting the Olympia Regional Airport for commercial expansion to absorb a purported growing need for commercial aviation services (passenger and cargo). It will be wrapped (already is) in promises of new clean and quiet technology and being part of developing and testing that new technology, but in reality the need and forecast, according to the WA Dept of Transportation Aviation division and its Commercial Aviation Coordinating Committee (CACC) is looking for conventional services, at least for the foreseeable future. It is more important than ever for the Public to have input in growth plans for the Olympia Regional Airport, its master plan, and for that matter the comprehensive plans for Tumwater, Lacey and Olympia.
I have participated in a Master Plan 'Open House' and have observed several meetings: it is my conclusion that the Port is and has not been a good neighbor. I am saddened to know for a fact, that the CACC, WSDOT and the FAA are not concerned with the public health effects on the surrounding community, nor the environmental effects, that come with Commercial Service. This despite of their lip service. Currently the Olympia Airport conducts general aviation (private planes, flying school, emergency services, private helicopters, etc), therefore, it is even more important for the public to be heard when it comes to commercial aviation services. Seems to me the Port (sea and air) is an outdated model, if it cannot be a good neighbor.
Thursday, April 21, 2022 Report this
Southsoundguy
Ursula is on point. Port’s are inherently bad neighbors for the community. Their activity is always billed as good for the community, when it really only benefits the taxman and a few developers.
Monday, April 25, 2022 Report this