The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About02052020 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes February 5, 2020 Volume 3,Page 412 CALL TO ORDER The February 5, 2020 regular meeting of the Port & Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Laura Schneider. OPENING CEREMONY Erin Lemas led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Laura Schneider presiding, and Bruce Jaffa Erin Lemas Carl Hughes Celby-L-awrenee Lynda Paquette Benjamin Smith comprising a quorum of the board; and Norm Regis, Harbormaster Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Excused— Lawrence Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Hughes/Paquette) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The city clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the January 8, 2020 PACAB Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Alaska Railroad Report — Christy Terry said 182 large vessels and 86 cruise ships visited Seward in 2019. 87 cruise ships were expected to dock in Seward in 2020 for a total of 95 cruise ship days. There would be 16 double cruise ship days and 1 triple cruise ship day. The cruise ship terminal was available for community use. The cruise ship dock repairs had begun and it was currently in the Request for Proposals (RFP) stage with two proposers: Global Ports Holding, Plc. and Conrac Solutions Holistica Destinations, Ltd., Norwegian Cruise Line City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes February 5,2020 Volume 3,Page 413 Holdings and Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. The estimated cost of these repairs for this year was $350,000. The freight dock repairs had been completed. Two buoys were pulled from the end of the Seward loading facility dock. In response to Hughes, Terry said there were 229,509 cruise ship passengers in 2019. This was the total number of passengers in Seward for port-of-calls or who got on and off cruise ships in Seward in 2019. In response to Jaffa, Terry said she could be contacted directly for use of the cruise ship terminal. In response to Jaffa, Terry said the railroad owned and managed the coal dock. The railroad had a Memorandum of Operating Agreement (MOA) with Aurora Energy but it was terminated in 2016. The railroad was making sure the coal dock was keeping up to standard and Terry and her assistant conducted visual inspections on it. Chamber of Commerce Report — Jason Bickling said Seward's visitor guides were available to the public. The Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD) Industry Outlook Forum held on January 8, 2020 was a success. The Seward Marine Industry Discussion There were 70 direct marine serviceproviders and suppliers was held on January 21, 2020. e e pp interested in the Seward Marine Industry. Bickling hoped to get a group to study Seward's marine economy. Bickling was working with the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) to put a sign on the Seward highway on Nash Road, and the Chamber was given permission from ADOT to purchase a sign. They were working on getting two camping signs, and Bickling hoped to eventually turn this project over to Parks & Recreation. A presentation on supporting Alaskan growth with Alaska Industrial Development and Expert Authority (AIDEA) was scheduled for February 18, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at the Breeze Inn. The Blue Pipeline was a work in progress. In response to Jaffa, Bickling said he was working closely with Tim Dillon at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District(KPEDD)and they were coordinating efforts. In response to Schneider, Bickling said the KPEDD Industry Outlook Forum was usually held in a different part of Alaska each year. He said this year's forum held in Seward was the most well attended forum so far. Harbormaster Report. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the harbor staff was cleaning up the harbor. In response to Paquette, Regis said there were no frozen pipes at this time and issues were usually discovered when the weather began to warm up. In response to Hughes, Regis said the harbor was getting new computer software that would improve customer relations with transient vessels. Administration Report—None City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes February 5, 2020 Volume 3,Page 414 Other Reports,Announcements, and Presentations —None NEW BUSINESS Discuss the halibut fishery. The commission directed the clerk to schedule a presentation on halibut bycatch for either their March or April meeting. Change the topic for the February 19, 2020 work session from "Review the January 20, 2020 council work session on electric rates and utilities". Motion (Schneider/Paquette) Correct the February 19, 2020 work session topic to read "Review the February 3, 2020 council work session on electric rates and utilities". Motion Passed Unanimous Reschedule the March 4, 2020 PACAB meeting. Motion (Paquette/Lemas) Reschedule the March 4, 2020 meeting for March 11,2020. 6.r Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS — None BOARD COMMENTS Smith thanked Hughes for the discussion on halibut bycatch. Lemas thanked everyone for attending the meeting. Hughes thanked the board members for participating in the halibut bycatch discussion. Paquette thanked everyone for attending the meeting. She thanked Hughes for speaking about the halibut bycatch. Paquette would be speaking against the airport resolutions at the February 10, 2020 council meeting. Jaffa said this board was important to the community and he encouraged citizens to be more involved. He thanked his fellow board members for their time and efforts. Schneider looked forward to finding a solution to the bycatch problem. She thanked the harbor for their hard work. She encouraged everyone to either attend the February 3, 2020 City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes February 5, 2020 Volume 3,Page 415 council work session on electric rates and utilities or watch it on YouTube before their February 19, 2020 work session. CITIZEN COMMENTS Christy Terry thanked the Public Works Department for keeping Port Avenue and the surrounding area clean year-round. She was excited the board was planning to work on the high vessel property tax at their March 18, 2020 work session. She had worked on a draft resolution for halibut bycatch in the past that she would be happy to share with the board. Anthony Baclaan thanked the board members for their time. He suggested that the Finance Department be present for the February 19, 2020 work session. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Regis said he would ask the Electric Utility Manager and the Finance Department to attend the February 19, 2020 work session. The Management Information System (MIS) team was working towards making the presentations given during meetings and work sessions easier to view on YouTube. Paquette thanked Terry for sharing the work she had previously done on the halibut bycatch. Schneider requested Phil Kaluza's letter on the electric utilities be included in the packet for the February 19, 2020 work session. ADJOURNMENT This meeting was adjourned at 1:14 p.m. Jessica Stallard our Schne Deputy City Clerk C it (City Seal) .•`*A OF Seh" e. - .••o P �'••. o • /t ' • SEAL • .-.— / Q• 1 .tiq,F OF,A c P,••