Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02052025 PACAB Work Session NotesWORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board Called by: PACAB — Vice Chair Smith Time: 12:00 pm Date: 2-5-2025 Purpose: Pedestrian Flow on Port Avenue Present: Tony Sieminski (Harbormaster) Kris Peck (City Clerk) Jodi Kurtz (Deputy City Clerk) Ashleigh Lipsey (Exec. Assist. CM) Board Members Present: Atwood, Smith, Schutter, Regis Excused: Groom, Jaffa Called to order at 12:00pm Tony Sieminski — spoke on Port Ave to 4th Ave - Multi use traffic - pick up point for shuttle stop (harbor area) - Industrial area (on screen) Dwayne Atwood — spoke on passenger flow Starting project (coal handle equipment has come off coal dock) Pedestrian pathway/crosswalk/pathway on north side Utilize the underpass then switch back to accommodate handicap accessible Busy with tanker from Shoreside/boat lift Signage and benches to make improvements Extend the freight dock — creating a 2nd industrial route to highway Smith spoke on the key feature on reason to cross the street No curb to sidewalk to make it look like sidewalk. Tunnel does flood Regis stated the big thing is getting to North side of road — bench and cover area Paw prints/Fish prints Sieminski added putting fencing (hide yard art) Putting mural up at some location. Atwood spoke on signage on ground to lead them. Directional signage on the ground to keep people on the right path. Schutter asked if there is any data on the current tunnel and who all has used it. Smith questioned if there has been any pedestrian accidents. Only dangerous part is when you have buses at the same time as the boat lifts on street, and pedestrians have to move over. Public Comments Samantha Allen — 2023 survey WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board Stephanie Millane with Chamber — mentioned maybe to follow the path that the people are creating. Sidewalk on the south side of the road Electrical under road (utility easement) Atwood spoke to how the railroad staff provides direction to specific locations. Regis spoke to the fence they put up right up to road to get them to cross and they still stay on the south side. Smith asked about flooding on Lierer Road. Regis spoke on the creek that flows and then drains on the south side into the harbor. Steve Leirer spoke on drainage and tunnel under road — water migrates from Jesse Lee into the flat area, maybe extend underground to make a French drain. Spoke on the drain that goes to tunnel and if that could be clean out. And at the culvert. When they paved Port Ave. — it can't be raised to much as it will drain into subdivision. Port needs dirt added to them Spoke on the ditches (Needs to do the same on Alameda)- haul gravel and have Metco spread it Atwood spoke that the AR would participate with the municipality with storm drain strategy. Drainage throughout industrial area is an issue Regis mentioned the fish ditch Radar — paving road over that industrial area ROW in front of AVTEC and where the hardware store (Leirer Road) Building were built to low — an engineering problem Regis mentioned it was a state project Schutter question if there are any plans on fixing Port Ave and making sidewalks, better signage. Idea — flags that blow around to force people to walk along Smith question Sam — cruise ship survey complained of dust? Sam stated no and spoke that it is a working port and finding a way to highlight that and celebrate it. Atwood — 1000 of visitors going through an industrial area Jena Petersen — time line for industrial trucks route Atwood — Spring of 2026 — extended dock for 400 ft for safety and industrial route out Construction on site - several acres for project Stephanie Millane — very unique port, wide walkways prominent signage, historic signage, WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board In Seward — not wide sidewalk, wraps around parking lot, signage, of what they are walking by and give them information on what this part of the Harbor is. Moving people through Seward is a prominent issue. Atwood - spoke on walk way to tie everything, trails, downtown and all the different locations. Jena Peteresen — signage on ground to lead the people through the town. Shuttle route stops — luggage on shuttle? (Yes) Depot will take the luggage and hold them. Smith -from Board on recommendations Other groups that could take action to help Tony — we have tabled it to see what the Railroad would be doing. QR Codes for pedestrians to scan. CD with Seward Chamber to come up with some signs Start Project Date — after Dock project is completed. Schutter questioned if the railroad would do the signage part to the coal facility area would stop (Blue warehouse) then City would have to take over. Smith — spoke on hydraulic pressure of what Steve Leirer was speaking on. Navy Base is now gone (radio facility) Water table is at ground level. Smith questioned what the board wants as a WS? Request to be presented at future meeting. Traveled route Painting blue fish Bear paws leading to downtown Sidewalks on same side of streets — pedestrians are walking on gravel as they never crossed the street Budgeted to fix certain amount of sidewalks per year Ashleigh Lipsey -if anyone is a writer and wants to compile thoughts and ideas to report to council. Adjourned: 12:58pm