HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2014-057 Sponsored by: Hunt
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2014-057
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT A
MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT APPLICATION TO THE
STATE OF ALASKA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND
PUBLIC FACILITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.684 MILLION FOR THE
REPLACEMENT OF B, C,AND S FLOATS IN THE SEWARD HARBOR
WHEREAS, the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities
administers the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward owns and maintains the Seward Harbor and is eligible
for a Municipal Harbor Facility grant; and
WHEREAS, B, C, and S floats were constructed in the 1960's and they have reached the
end of their useful lives; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward has the required 50% in local matching funds for
construction of the B, C, and S Float Replacement Project per the Harbor Facility Grant
program; and
WHEREAS, the City of Seward is capable of completing the B, C, and S Float
Replacement Project within eighteen (18) months after award of a Harbor Facility Grant; and
WHEREAS, the Seward Small Boat Harbor is critical to the City of Seward.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA:
Section 1. The City Manager is authorized to submit a proposal to the Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities for the replacement of B, C, and S Floats in the amount of
$2.684 Million.
Section 2. The City of Seward supports the project entitled B, C, and S Float
Replacement Project and agrees, subject to available Alaska Legislative funding and selection by
DOT&PF, to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Alaska, Department of Transportation
and Public Facilities for a Harbor Facility Grant.
Section 3. Subject to available Alaska Legislature funding and selection by the
Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, the City of Seward will enter into a grant
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2014-057
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agreement with the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for a
SY2016 Municipal Harbor Facility Grant.
Section 4. The Seward City Council confirms its intent to utilize internal City funds to
match grant funds for this project.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 14`hi day of
July 2014.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
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can Bardarson, Mayor
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AYES: Keil, Casagranda, Terry, Squires, Darling, Bardarson
NOES: None
ABSENT: Butts
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
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Johanna aliff MC
ity Clerk
(City Seal) .••05 SSSSS�"6�
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Agenda Statement
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Meeting Date: July 14, 2014 --
406.7
To: City Council
Through: City Manager Jim Hunt
From: Mack Funk, Harbormaster
Agenda Item: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT
A MUNICIPAL HARBOR FACILITY GRANT APPLICATION TO THE STATE
OF ALASKA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC
FACILITIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $2.684 MILLION FOR THE
REPLACEMENT OF B, C,AND S FLOATS IN THE SEWARD HARBOR
BACKGROUND & JUSTIFICATION:
Project Summary
Now is the time to replace the remaining docks in the southwesterly corner of the Small
Boat Harbor. The administration's recommendations are based on the 2011 detailed engineering
report as modified by experience and funding limitations. On or before August 1, 2014 a grant
application will be submitted to the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public
Facilities' (DOT&PF) Municipal Harbor Facility Grant program. If successful, the state funds
for construction would be available in mid-2015. In order to be awarded a grant, the City must
identify the local matching funds now.
Per the attached engineer's drawing, the scope of the project is proposed as follows:
1) Replace C dock in place.
2) Replace B dock in place.
3) Remove fingers from the north side of A dock using harbor labor.
4) Remove B dock to be rennovated and reinstalled at the S float location, for side tie,
linear moorage.
5) Renovate the relocated B dock to include additional floatation. Install bullrails across
former finger float access and provide water service and fire protection. Electrical
service may be included as an additive alternate.
6) Replace trestle and gangway at S dock.
7) Drive new pilings B, C, and S docks.
8) At the top of B dock, reuse the nearly new, 100-foot, fully compliant with Americans
with Disability Act (ADA) aluminum gangway set aside during the D dock project.
9) In order to accommodate the ADA gangway, reduce the length of the B dock trestle
and tie the new trestle in at Saltwater Safari..
10) Replace G dock (headwalk) between B & D docks.
DOT Grant Program
The Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program is managed by DOT&PF. The program
provides 50/50 matching funds to eligible applicants. The program was created in 2006, but not
funded until 2007. The legislature supplied funding in subsequent years (but not in 2009). The
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money can only be used for construction ready projects, not for planning or engineering. This
grant program is funded on an annual basis at the discretion of the Alaska Legislature and
consists of two tiers, Tier I and II. This application will be submitted in the Tier I category. The
first tier has priority and consists of major maintenance and repair of a harbor facility that was
previously owned by the state and now is municipally or regional housing authority owned. A
harbor facility may only receive one Tier I grant regardless if it is for all or only a portion of that
harbor facility. The boundaries of a Tier I harbor facility will be based on the department's 1995
Alaska Harbor Directory or as determined by the department. Once a Tier I eligible harbor
facility receives a Tier I grant, the status of that harbor facility changes from Tier I to Tier II
henceforth. After all eligible Tier I projects have been selected, the department will consider Tier
II projects. With State revenues projected to decline over the next few years, funding for the
municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program will be a bigger challenge for the Legislature, therefore
the Administration recommends getting our application in soon before the fund is depleted.
The City of Seward has applied twice for these grants before (both times as Tier II) and
was successful once. This program paid for one-half of the D Float Replacement Project.
Project Need Statement
This project will replace docks that are almost fifty years old. This project has been
included in the City's Capital Improvement Plan since 2009 (see attached Harbor Five-Year
CIP). The 2011 report (see attached photos) recommended a four-phase approach to the dock
replacement problem. During 2013-14 the City replaced D Float-- the first phase of the
recommended work.
The remaining docks are unsafe. The floating docks are slowly sinking- the freeboard
distance from the deck to the water, averages about half of a new dock (approximately 20
inches). The current docks do not float level- they are twisting, bending and listing. The deck
height above the water varies widely from 5 inches to 15 inches. The connecting hardware
between the main walkway and the finger floats is rusting; the harbor has installed heavy rubber
belt material to try to strengthen and cushion the connection between the two dock components.
Still, many of the walking surfaces on the docks are not very stable. The wooden timbers are
rotting, Customers have installed outdoor carpeting that has becomve very unattractive. A 2011
windstorm caused a broken piling (see attached damage report). This project will replace the
old, creosote treated pilings with fewer and stronger galvanized steel pilings. The new gangway
will be less than half the slope angle of the current gangway and it will be fully ADA compliant.
Replacing the old docks is the best way to solve these safety and environmental issues and
improve the economic viability of the Seward Small Boat Harbor.
The engineer's report recommended that Phase Two should be S Float Replacement,
Phase Three should be Boat Ramp Improvements, and Phase Four should be A, B, C, and G
Float Replacement. The recommended approach would complete Phase Two and most of Phase
Four. It appears that Phase Three, the South Boat Ramp Improvements can be partially funded
by another grant opportunity, so postponement of that phase is recommended. Another
modification to the 2011 engineer's recommendations is intended to save money by renovating
and reusing B float in place of S float.
Currently, the spacing between B and C floats is too narrow. In order to provide a safer
facility, the new float layout will have fewer small slips because one half of A float and all of S
float will no longer have stalls, but only linear moorage.
Plan to Fund, Construct, and Maintain the New Docks
In the fall of 2014, after the grant application has been evaluated and it appears that state
funding is likely to be secured, the City will select and hire an engineer to finalize the design of
the new docks by April 15, 2015. (One preparatory step has already been completed. The
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asbestos cement board was professionally removed from these docks in January 2013). After
design, the next step will be to execute a construction contract with the goal of installing the new
docks no later than April 15, 2016. The City will be regularly evaluating progress to ensure that
the project is completed on time and within budget.
Keeping the nearly fifty-year old docks functional is getting to be a greater and greater
challenge. Replacing the docks will reduce maintenance costs (estimated at $20,000 per year)
and minimize the possibility of an injury claim caused by an unsafe condition (estimated cost
factor of$10,000 per year).
This project's successful completion will mean that within the last ten years every
quadrant of the harbor has new infrastructure.
INTENT:
To authorize the grant application to the state Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program in the
amount of$2.684 Million.
CONSISTENCY CHECKLIST: Yes No N/A
2020 Seward Comprehensive Plan (page 23): Create a thriving port of
1. Seward through harbor improvements, infrastructure expansion, and X
implementation of management plans.
2 City of Seward Strategic Plan (page 7): Complete the renovation of the
Small Boat Harbor X
3. Other:
FISCAL NOTE:
The Administration's goal is to purchase and install the new docks without raising
moorage rates (beyond the annual cost of living adjustments).
The Harbor Enterprise Fund currently has more than $6 Million in long term debt.
Annual harbor debt service is approximately $732,086. As you may recall, in 2009, the Harbor
did not meet its revenue coverage ratios as required by bond covenants. Since the dock cannot
generate enough income to support the debt service for another revenue bond, the
Administration's recommended plan is to use borrowed funds from other City Funds.
The final details of the loans can be worked out at a future date (by mid-2015). Now, the
Council's commitment to finance the local match is what is required.
Approved by Finance Department: i 6 ,,
ATTORNEY REVIEW: Yes No X
RECOMMENDATION: c,
Council approve Resolution 2014-d', authorizing the City Manager to apply to the state
Harbor Matching Grant program for$2.684 Million.
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