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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03162022 PACAB Work Session Notes - Tariffs, Mission & GoalsWORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board Called by: PACAB I Time: 12:00 pm Date: 3/16/2022 Purpose: 1) Vessel taxation and tariff 2) Mission and Goals Norm Regis Stephen Sowell Board Members Present: Present: Kris Peck (Acting City Clerk) Holmdahl, Paquette, Jaffa, Hughes, Lawrence, Smith Christy Terry, Carol Griswold, Tom Tougas Excused: Woelkers Called to order at noon Harbormaster Norm Regis would like to remove page 6 and 7 from packet and come back to it at a later date. Chair Holmdahl permitted Carol Griswold to speak Griswold agreed with Chair Holmdahl's letter in the work session packet about scope of PACAB being too broad. The washdown pad is too close to the public areas in harbor due to the toxic nature of the process. The harbor creosote poles should be removed, rather than adding more and wants these two issues to be top priority. Holmdahl moved into discussing vessel taxation and tariff Christy Terry stepped forward from audience and stated she was not taking sides here, but wanted to clarify what the other side of the story is getting at: Others would like to see the flat tax. If other companies brought their vessels here it would be more crews working and more business for Seward. Regis- Currently for large vessels we are actually full. Tom Tougas came forward to comment — To lower the cost would be like a full hotel lowering their price just means less money. Personally thinks current system is fair and since it's already full, it would be silly to lower prices to try to bring new boats to a harbor that's already full. Not in favor of lowering prices. PACAB is now looking at laydown Exhibit A and page 4 of the packet Smith — Can you clarify who needs loaders/graders? Regis- Uncommon but part of the tariff. Like if we had to take a loader to move something that was in the way of a boat. Regis — For overtime, the rate for the equipment stays the same, but the operator gets the overtime rate. Paquette- If these rates are locked in, but the wages for City employees will be going up over the years Lawrence- You have employees getting raises and employees being brand new WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board Holmdahl- Every 5 years is too long to evaluate the wages because things change fast. Jaffa- Felt things were due for a change after being the same for 15 years (Since 2007) Regis- Reminder, none of this will happen until January of 2023 Regis — In summary, we think all the equipment and labor go with inflation rate and bi-annual rate. Then the travel lifts go with "recommended" rate. Homdahl — Next topic which is ahead of our joint meeting would like to talk about PACAB mission and goals. Page 9 Is what PACAB is tasked with too big and too much? Housing, sustainable energy, etc Feels like a mini -city council right now. Consider renaming board or narrow scope. Most recent revision was in 2009 Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell — Lined out in code is very broad. City Code is a living, breathing document that can be updated. Looking forward to the dialog with City Council on the 29tn Admin feels the best use for PACAB is the port and commerce as how it applies to the port. Tackling all of it could end up tackling none of it. Paquette- Disagrees with Holmdahl about PACAB being too broad. Likes the open venue aspect of PACAB for citizens to have a voice and doesn't want to lose it. Doesn't feel that anything we've done is outside of the scope as to what's been defined. Plus it's tough to fill all the seats on new boards that might be created. Smith — Questions talking about items that are not actionable other than writing a letter. Overall recommendation is trying to keep things one degree from things that affect the port. More limited scope of discussion. Child care is impacting Seward, but not specific enough to PACAB. Jaffa — Does not agree that the board is over tasked. It was always understood that "commerce" meant something bigger than just harbor related. Enjoys the challenge of wondering if he's in over his head. Council can red -line the list for things PACAB can work on. Lawrence- Kind of agreed with everyone. PACAB does take on a LOT of things. But if we talk about all of them we might never make a decision. Stream lining and fine tuning would be helpful. Whenever he gets a packet he thinks "Wow that's a lot of information to absorb" and then by the next week it's moved on to something totally different. Hughes- Had to leave at 1315 and exited the meeting. Paquette — There are some things that feel out of range. Like the Climate Action Plan fell by the wayside. Consider forming a new committee for this, but this is one item that is beyond the scope of PACAB. Smith — Would agree with that. The energy workshop also fell by the wayside and too much for PACAB. They require a significant amount of time and effort outside of what PACAB can do here. WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board Jaffa- Can see where those are a distraction and takes us out of the arena of this meeting. Most of the other priorities however, seem appropriate for PACAB. Confused by definitions of "priorities" vs "goals". Stephen Sowell- PACAB is best positioned to deliver product to council as it regards to harbor and SMIC. Cautioned against being spread too thin and it might seem hard to find the right balance. Jaffa — Agreed that it's hard to find the right balance. We had one meeting that didn't discuss some harbor issues due to presentations taking up so much time. Christy Terry — Recommend to PACAB to work closely with the Admin to put items on the agenda. Keep your chair in the loop and work with admin rather just sending to the Clerk which is not her role in the situation. There was a time and place where the Clerk was stepping in, but it's not Clerk's role. Regis — Send emails to Stephen and Cc Norm and Cc the Chair if there's something to put on the agenda. Nobody has reached out to him about these issues. Please reach out to him about questions and concerns. Give him a call. Jaffa- The intent of the ad hoc committee is not to create a monster organization. It should not be an additional burden on this board. Paquette- There's nothing stopping citizens from forming their own committees. Stephen — Is it the board's opinion that the ad hoc committee ties back to port and commerce, like 1- degree separation from port and commerce ? Holmdahl- Personally does not feel that it does, but depends on where you get your definition. Regis- Wanted to revisit the topic of boat ramp fees, since they didn't touch on the price. Asked if slip holders should have to pay to launch their boat? Regis — Summarized that $12 per launch and $120 annual permit sounded good to PACAB Lawrence -Question about priorities — We give our list to council and they approve it, does anything come back specifically from council for PACAB to focus on? Would like to see more direction from council instead of PACAB setting their own goals. Holmdahl — Would also like more interaction from council as well. Just to make sure we are giving them what they want and what they expect. Regis — Encouraged PACAB to bring up their questions regarding direction from Council up at end of the month at the Special City Council Meeting Adjourn 1340