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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03112020 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes March 11,2020 Volume 3,Page 416 CALL TO ORDER The March 11, 2020 regular meeting of the Port&Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Laura Schneider. OPENING CEREMONY Lynda Paquette led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Laura Schneider presiding, and BrueeJaffa €nn berms Gard-des Colby Lawrence Lynda Paquette Benjamin Smith comprising a quorum of the board; and Norm Regis, Harbormaster Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Excused—Hughes Absent—Jaffa, Lemas CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Phil Kaluza said he turned in his request to install a solar panel at his home to the Electric Department in November 2019. He received a letter from Electric Utility Manager John Foutz in January 2020 and on March 11, 2020, he received a more formal letter from Foutz with specific requirements that he needed to meet before he could install his solar panel. Kaluza asked the board to adopt an interconnect application similar to Homer's. He felt that Homer's application was more concise than Seward's and it outlined the code requirements for installing a solar system. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Paquette/Lawrence) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The city clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: 111 Approval of the February 5,2020 PACAB Regular Meeting Minutes. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2020 Volume 3,Page 417 Direct the clerk to order Robert's Rules books for the board members to use during their term. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Alaska Railroad Report— Christy Terry said the Marathon Wrestling Tournament on March 6 and March 7, 2020 was a success and there were 480 wrestlers. The annual Ship Escort/ Response Vessel System (SERVS) training in the cruise ship terminal was scheduled for April 17, 2020. Repairs were being continued on the cruise ship dock. The Cruise Ship Dock Project was currently in the Request for Proposal stage with two proposers: Global Ports Holding, Plc. and Conrac Solutions Holistica Destinations, Ltd. The railroad began the application process for a BUILD grant and Federal Port Grant for the lengthening and widening of the freight dock and the extension of Port Avenue. Terry said the railroad was actively staying informed of virus concerns and working closely with the coast guard and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Economic ramifications of the coronavirus were unknown at this time. Two Viking cruise ships had been added to the Seward's itinerary for 2020. No cruise ships had cancelled due to the coronavirus, but some ships had cancelled for other reasons. There were 40,000 railroad passengers who came to Seward in 2019. In response to Lawrence, Terry said there was not a decline in railroad reservations at this time. Chamber of Commerce Report—None Harbormaster Report. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the appraisal process for the 43 lots leased out by the City of Seward had been completed. He would be coming before council in April to request a change in the Seward City Code and harbor tariff on how the rates for transient vessels were processed. Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations Coronavirus Presentation by Cristan McLain, Providence Director of Quality, Infection Prevention and Steven Clegg, Providence Emergency Management Coordinator. NEW BUSINESS Consider rescheduling the April 15,2020 work session to April 22,2020 due to the auditors being in council chambers from April 13-17,2020 and April 27-May 1,2020. The board kept their April 15, 2020 work session at 12:00 p.m. They were willing to change locations, if needed. Determine and provide recommendation to council on electric department matters. Smith said the energy ad hoc committee met before this meeting but did not finish their review of the February 19, 2020 PACAB work session on electric matters. The largest concerns City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes March 11,2020 Volume 3,Page 418 were the power factor adjustment and the interconnect policy. Smith said electric rates were relatively proportional for the region, and Chugach Electric was in charge of the electric rates. In response to Schneider, the clerk said the second council work session to discuss electric matters had been scheduled for March 23, 2020. The board added the topic of"Discuss power factor adjustment and interconnect policy" to the March 18,2020 PACAB work session. Discuss sending a member of the Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) to the Electrify Alaska Conference in Cordova on April 27-29, 2020. In response to Lawrence, the clerk said the board could use their budget to send a citizen to the conference. Regis said if the board sends a citizen using their funds, then it should be brought before council. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Tips to Avoid Coronavirus CITIZEN COMMENTS Brenda Ballou said council had solicited interest from citizens in the past and PACAB also had the option to solicit interest from citizens. Tony Baclaan asked employers to help protect their employees and the community from the coronavirus. He encouraged everyone to reach out if they need help. He wanted to work towards a solution to the electric department matters. He would be attending the Climate Action Plan conference in Anchorage on March 19,2020. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Smith thanked the public for attending the meeting. He said the coronavirus would be affecting the community, and there was no way to prevent it from coming to Seward. He reassured Kaluza that the Port & Commerce Advisory Board was working towards a solution for the interconnect policy. Paquette requested that Kaluza send the board the letter he had received from the Electric Utility Manager regarding his solar panel installation. She reminded everyone to pay attention to the little things and be more cautious about the spread of germs. Lawrence thanked the public for attending the meeting. He thanked Cristan McClain and Steven Clegg for educating the public about coronavirus. He wanted to solicit interest from citizens for the Electrify Alaska Conference in Cordova on April 27-29, 2020. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Regular Meeting Minutes March 11, 2020 Volume 3,Page 419 Schneider feared misinformation about coronavirus would cause economic impacts for Seward. She was grateful to live in a community where everyone took care of each other. Sustainable Seward had a meeting on March 11, 2020. She thanked Baclaan, Paquette, and Jaffa for attending the Climate Action Plan meeting in Anchorage on March 19, 2020. ADJOURNMENT This meeting was adjourned at 1:05 p.m. 9—tA4 Jessica Stallard a a Schneid Deputy City Clerk hair (City Seal) >fr \ \/Op —0-- 't • ' SEAL �qTF 0. A�PS,�• 1