The Port of Coos Bay retains the services of lobbyists to intercede or assist with legislative and executive matters at the State level. Two lobbyists mentioned here before are Ken Messerle of Coast Consulting and Services and former chief of staff to Governor Kitzhaber, Steve Marks of The Marks Network. Marks has returned to work with Kitzhaber under the new administration and has given up his work for the Port.
The Port was kind enough to provide copies of the contracts with both firms and links are provided below but here is a summary. Marks was paid from $5,700 to $8,500 per month plus expenses for the following duties.
Duties to be Performed
5. Steven S. Marks, L.L.C. (The Marks Network) shall advise, assist, and provide government affairs services for the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay. Under the direction of Port, these services include, but are not limited to, communications among government entities and officials, legal counsel, the media, and the public; and such other duties as mutually agreed upon by the parties to this agreement.
6. Steven S. Marks, L.L.C. (The Marks Network) shall primarily be focused on the opportunity the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay is currently pursuing concerning the development of a cargo terminal at the port and assistance with efforts to reopen rail service to Coos Bay.
Messerle now receives $2,500 per month plus expenses for the following duties.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 Contractor accepts employment with Port on the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement and any attachments, that may be subsequently agreed upon by the parties. CCS shall represent Port and advise Port with regard to the Oregon Legislative Assembly, the governor of the State of Oregon and the administrative agencies of the State of Oregon.
4.2 CCS shall maintain its filing as a lobbyist with the Oregon Government Standards and Practices Commission, and shall file all required statement of lobbying expenses and reports as provided in the Oregon Revised Statutes.
Thank you, fred. It seems the Port is planning on paying another $160K to Parkers Brinkerhoff to conduct yet another study to “effectively develop conceptual alternatives for the development of a bulk export facility at the Oregon Gateway site on the Coos Bay’s North Spit.” That is a lot of money to ‘conceptualize’ so I certainly hope these concepts are ‘effective’.
I have asked for scope of work records to explain the payments made to Marks and Messerle. The Port is going to send me an estimate of what it will cost me, including legal fees so their attorney can make sure they aren’t violating any non-disclosure agreements. Did you seen anything about non-disclosure in these contracts?
I would never consider the Marks document to be a “contract” – as defined by Black’s – or by any other dictionary. I would consider it to be a gift of a huge sum of money from the citizens. Hopefully we got a thank you. The document has conflict and is unclear if the man is an employee or is an independent contractor. I note that the executed document has the scrawl of Bishop. I would be shocked to learn that the port lawyer put his chop on that one. The Messerle document is a contract. I would certainly ask what monies were paid to these two fellows – monthy retainer and expenses – and for what? I will send my comments to you on both documents as an e-mail attachment. Re the Marks document, APM Terminals (a part of Moeller Maersk) who was previously identified as the probable container port developer, was unaware in 2007 and now that there is an “opportunity” to place a container port here. You have the private e-mail addresses of the top two people in the company.