HomeMy WebLinkAbout12042019 PACAB Laydown - 4th QTR Report La yd o w /1 —
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Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board
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2019 3`d and 4th Quarter Report
During the second half of 2019, PACAB held 6 meetings, additional work sessions and Climate
Action Plan ad hoc committee meetings. Although we officially took our annual summer hiatus, we
held regular meetings in July and August to attend to pressing business. We are pleased to once again
be a full board with the appointment of Ben Smith in November. The board would like to thank
Mayor Terry for her years of leadership and service on the board.
PACAB continued to work from our list of approved priorities for February 2019-February 2020:
• Review taxes,especially vessel property tax.
• Review the Harbor Tariff.
• Work to support industries to Seward including the Community Development Quota (CDQ)
fleets and related industries, oil & gas related industries, transportation, vessel maintenance
and repair facilities and commercial/sports fishing industry.
• Help lead Seward Marine Industrial Center(SMIC)development.
• Prioritize Federal and State Priorities for Port&Commerce Initiatives(October)
• Continue exploration of energy alternatives (Wind, Solar, Geothermal and Hydroelectric,
etc.), sponsor energy fair and/or other continuing community education, develop a Seward
Renewable Energy Plan, review Title 15 including process and procedures for alternative
energy connection to city infrastructure
• Continue to send a Board Member to the Alaska Municipal League Annual Conference
(AML)
• Create a Climate Action Plan(2020)
• Support the Blue Pipeline Initiative
• Review utility infrastructure for future growth and development
Some highlights of the last 6 months include:
1) Resolution recommending Council continue with the Seward Chamber of Commerce,
Conference and Visitor's Bureau as the designated lead marketing arm of the city.
2) Attended a joint work session with Council and the Seward Chamber of Commerce.
3) Held a community open house to kick off the development of the Seward Climate Action
Plan.
4) Continued to support the efforts to change the project design at the Seward Airport
5) Recommended to Council that Administration hold a meeting to discuss proceeding with the
gauging of Lowell Creek for the Lowell Canyon Hydro Project
6) Forwarded PACAB Resolution 2019-003 recommending updates to the city's Interconnect
Policy to Council.
7) Reviewed the Harbor Tariff.
8) Reviewed the SMIC Development Plan
9) There were no members of the board able to attend the Alaska Municipal League Conference
in November; however,our Council liaison,Council Member Baclaan,City Clerk Ballou,
and City Manager Meszaros attended a meeting to discuss Climate Action Planning in Alaska
and brought back great resources to the board.