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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02022022 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 2, 2022 Volume 4, Page 42 CALL TO ORDER The February 2, 2022 regular meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Vice Chair Lynda Paquette. OPENING CEREMONY Harbormaster Norm Regis led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: presiding; and Lynda Paquette Bruce Jaffa Colby Lawrence Carl Hughes Benjamin-Smith comprising a quorum of the Board; and Norm Regis, Harbormaster Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused—Holmdahl, Smith Absent—None Vacant—One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING —None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Hughes/Jaffa) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve the January 5, 2022 Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards—None Administration Report—None City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 2, 2022 Volume 4, Page 43 Other Reports and Announcements Alaska Railroad Report.Port Operations Manager Christy Terry stated that the cruise ship schedule was holding steady, with the exception of two ships cancelled in April, which was not unusual. In addition, there would be two foreign vessels coming in this spring which would engage the local longshoremen; as well, there would be one or two SBS barges coming through Seward. All of those activities brought workers and revenues to Seward. In response to Hughes, Terry said if the Railroad received permission from the state to issue their own bonds,the cruise dock construction would likely start in 2023.Additionally,Terry explained that the current dock at the terminal was constructed with a number of seams running north/south and east/west, which allowed the dock to retain its structural integrity while construction happened on one side and then the other side. The cruise ship dockings would be coordinated to use both the cruise ship dock as well as the freight dock. Chamber of Commerce Report. Executive Director Kat Sorenson reported the dates for the Silver Salmon Derby(SSD) had been finalized to be August 13-21, 2022; the logo design contest was now open for submissions. The Mount Marathon Race would be following a normal schedule this year,with the race being run on July 4,2022.The Fourth of July Festival would take place Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4, 2022, and the vendor applications were now open. The Valentine's Day Weekend Event featured many fun activities, including speed dating, love letter writing, and a makers' market. There would be an After 5 event on February 24, 2022 at Stoney Creek Brewhouse. In response to Jaffa, Sorenson said the data she provided in her report came from AirDNA, and indicated that Seward's lodging occupancy rate was at 99% during the peak of summer. Visitors should be booking today if they wished to visit Seward over the summer. In response to Paquette, Sorenson reported that the Polar Bear Jump Festival attendance and participation was on par with normal past years. Harbormaster Report. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the anodes replacement on the concrete floats was starting.There would be three ADA restrooms set up at the cruise ship terminal, utilizing state grant funding.Regis reported he would be in Juneau when PACAB met on February 16, 2022 to meet with legislators asking for support of harbor funding. The US Coast Guard was sending an appraiser to Seward next week to examine the property they proposed to use. Presentations Nicole Lawrence from Seward Properties presentation on housing issues in Seward. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 2,2022 Volume 4,Page 44 Resolution 2022-003,Authorizing The Use Of Telephonic Attendance For PACAB Meetings Within Stated Guidelines. Motion (Jaffa/Lawrence) Approve Resolution 2022-003 Jaffa wondered if telephonic participation in a meeting resulted in the same productivity as in person attendance did; he wished to hear the rationale for how this could be effective. Paquette had not included Zoom in the resolution because she didn't want to have an impact on the budget. Hughes said there were some commissioners who traveled,by choice or for work,and that sometimes affected having a quorum for a meeting. Allowing telephonic participation would enable the board to get their work done. Lawrence would be interested in learning what the budgetary impact would be for using Zoom,and would prefer using Zoom to dialing in telephonically. Lawrence said he left sometimes in the winter and would appreciate being able to Zoom into meetings if it counted towards participation. Jaffa stated the board was one member short, and only lost a quorum for one meeting recently; having a quorum was typically not an issue. He didn't think telephonic attendance resulted in the same quality of participation. Regis suggested that the board follow the city council's direction for attendance;if council adopted telephonic participation,then the board could follow suit.Regis felt that attendance should be in person. Motion Failed Yes: Hughes,Lawrence No: Jaffa,Paquette Paquette requested for a cost estimate on Zoom. Regis confirmed he would get the cost. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None CITIZEN COMMENTS—None PACAB recessed the meeting at 1:17 p.m. PACAB resumed the meeting at 1:18 p.m. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Jaffa appreciated the discussion today, and especially the presentation on housing. He felt the solution would come from the private sector, unless the city wanted to get into the housing business. There was a lot of opportunity for investors, throughout the state. The lack of City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 2, 2022 Volume 4, Page 45 tradespeople available was contributing to the problem, however. AVTEC was a local resource that could be used to build our workforce. On a separate note, Jaffa noted that part of PACAB's charge was to explore alternative energy,and the board should be pushing to move the city's heat loop project forward: He planned to bring a resolution to PACAB for the purpose of creating a working group for that project. Hughes appreciated the housing presentation. He strongly supported the heat loop project. Paquette thanked Nicole Lawrence for the presentation; it was excellent and very informative. She would support a collaboration between AVTEC and the city to encourage tradespeople to work in Seward. Hughes stated he would not be able to attend the February 16, 2022 work session. Regis thanked Nicole Lawrence for her presentation. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m. 4‘Z /2-4/( Brenda Ballou, MMC (..- a Paquett City Clerk Vice Chair krts Pec.K Ac1 'A C f CIevK (City Seal) .�r�e:rrodros • (> ••••o9 POR9••%7 % • . ra:0 • SEAL • 4 •• • : w v •+ w sM e• A '. ' aF ;4\-. •,Jt • °°%ta.wv Pry'