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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05042022 PACAB MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory .Board Meeting Minutes May 4, 2022 Volume 4, Page 65 CALL TO ORDER The May 4, 2022 regular meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Brandii O'Reagan. OPENING CEREMONY Chair Brandii O'Reagan led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Brandii O'Reagan, presiding; and Lynda Paquette Bruce Jaffa Colby Lawrence (arrived at I2:3Op. rn) C—ar4 14Thes Benjamin Smith Fred We comprising a quorum of the Board; and Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Norm Regis, Harbormaster Kris Peck, Deputy City Clerk Excused — Woelkers Absent — Hughes CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Jaffa/Paquette) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the April 6, 2022 PACAB Regular Meeting Minutes. Approval of the April 20, 2022 PACAB Special Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards — None City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes May 4, 2022 Volume 4, Page 66 Administration Report. Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell reported that last night the Planning & Zoning Comission considered two resolutions regarding the proposed Hemlock Subdivision and both were failed. Paquette asked about the possibility of the Kenai Peninsula Borough opening up land for local development. Sowell responded that he had talked with borough representatives and planned to walk some property outside of city limits. Paquette wondered if there was a way to ensure the opened land wouldn't go straight to vacation rentals. Sowell responded there could be provisions in the contract of a purchase agreement. Smith asked about the status of vacant city lots that hadn't yet been considered yet for housing. Sowell responded that administration was waiting to see what residents wanted in terms of building an ice rink or a community recreation center. Jaffa recalled land sales with the borough had been problematic, because the borough couldn't limit anyone to a specific zoning use. He cautioned that if too much land was opened at once, it might create a frenzy and careful planning would go by the wayside. Sowell said the city was advocating for the borough and private enterprises to step up and meet the housing needs of the Seward area. However, he noted there was always going to be more people who wanted to live in Seward that were actually able to. Paquette wondered if the city could encourage private entities to help solve the housing crisis. Major players like the Sealife Center, school system, and the hospital could potentially pool their resources to create employee housing. Many other private enterprises had successfuly built housing for their employees. Harbormaster Report. Harbormaster Norm Regis reported the waitlist for the travelist was at least a week. The harbor crew had been shortstaffed due to Matt Chase's retirement and Tony Sieminski learning his new role as Deputy Harbormaster. The remaining concrete blocks for the Northeast boat launch ramps should be arriving soon. Jaffa asked about the life expectancy of the new launch ramp.Regis responded there was a 50-year life span for the new launch ramp. PACAB Chair report. Brandii O'Reagan announced PACAB had received two more letters of interest for the heat loop funding Ad -Hoc Committee. She appointed both Mary Tougas and Mike Brown to the committee. Other Reports and Announcements Alaska Railroad Report. Port Operations Manager Christy Terry estimated around 175,000 total cruise ship passengers would be in Seward this summer. These figures were similar to the passenger numbers from 2016. This year would mark the absence of Holland America ships in Seward, as they had relocated their operations to Whittier. In regard to Covid-19 protocols, City of Seward, .4laska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes May 4, 2022 Volume 4, Page 67 - Terry stated every crew member or passenger able to get vaccinated would be required to get vaccinated. Paquette asked what the plan was if a passenger tested positive for Covid-19. Terry responded the passenger would instantly be put on a shuttle and transported straight to Anchorage. Terry continued that Viking cruiselines had a new business model which included a two night stay in Seward to encourage shore excursions. Studies indicated that the cruising demographic was getting younger, and the passengers were becoming more independent. Lawrence arrived at the meeting at 12:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce Report. Executive Director Kat Sorenson reported that over the past five years visitor trends in Seward had shifted from a two day stay to four and a half day visit. As the summer season was gearing up, the chamber staff had been doing familiarization trips with locals excursions and businesses. Sorenson addressed the long wait times at restaurants last summer and said there was more preparation this year. More dining options such as food trucks and mobile vendors would also help meet the increased demand. Sorenson emphasized how we don't want visitors to depart Seward with bad memories of two hours wait times for food. During the winter months, Sorenson hoped the locals would be understanding of the lack of variety. Restaurants would not stay open in the winter simply as a favor, if the business model did not support it. Presentations Update on the project to clear trees from the electric lines and status of net metering by Electric Director Rob Montgomery. O'Reagan left the meeting at 12: 55 p.m. Smith wondered what caused the recent Saturday night power outage. Mongomery responded that a small tree near Bear Creek fell onto the power lines and tripped the breaker. Paquette asked if widening the road in Moose Pass would make it easier to maintain the lines. Montgomery responded the Electric Department already had their own access points. In some cases, the new construction actually exposed new trees that could be problematic to the power lines. Jaffa brought up how GCI had a history of outages do that same Moose Pass area. He wondered if the city shared the right of -way with GCI. Montg6mery responded that sometimes GCI and AT&T attached their equipment to city poles for aXee. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions- None INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS PACAB's 2022 Priorities & Goals. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes May 4, 2022 Volume 4, Page 68 Jaffa felt PACAB had done all they could in regard to the housing crisis and it should no longer be a hot topic with this board. CITIZEN COMMENTS — None BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMF,NTS & RFSPONSF TO CITIZFN COMMENTS Sowell thanked PACAB for their work this past year. He wished everyone a busy and successful summer. Regis thanked Montgomery for his presentation. He encouraged PACAB members to call the harbormaster's office with any questions over the summer. Jaffa thanked the board for their helpful discussions. He enjoyed his daily commute into Seward and was glad to travel from one beautiful environment to another. Smith thanked Montgomery for the utility presentation and thanked the city staff who made these PACAB meetings possible. Lawrence observed there was only one more PACAB work session and then the summer craziness would begin. Paquette thanked Montgomrey for his presentation. She appreciated the two new members who joined the heat loop funding Ad Hoc Committee. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m. Kris Peck Brandii Q'Reagan Deputy City Clerk tI111318r84rChair (City Seal •`` `�JkP 010 •'•. • SEAL•= �l%loggia%*