HomeMy WebLinkAbout02102020 City Council Laydown - Jaffa 1 Q.20 6.2/o
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City of Seward Special Ad Hoc Airport Advisory Committee
Bruce Jaffa, Chair, Stephanie Presley, Lynda Paquette, Steve Leirer, Walter Corrigan,
Carol Griswold, Bob Linville, Fred Woelkers, Bob Reisner, Duke Marolf
February 5, 2020
Re: Seward City Council Meeting, February 10, 2020
9. NEW BUSINESS
A. Resolutions
4. Resolution 2020-013: Supporting Council Resolution 2019-111 State
Legislative Priorities, and Council Resolution 2019-115 Federal Legislative
Priorities, that request the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to design and
construct a flood damage control project to protect airport runways and
property from flooding, and the State of Alaska Department of Transportation
(ADOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to repair and restore
existing long Runway 13/31 in order to accommodate larger aircraft and provide
effective disaster response.
WHEREAS, numerous public meetings since 2008 have shown overwhelming
support to retain the crosswind Runway 16/34 and to retain and restore the
existing long Runway 13/31; and
WHEREAS, after many meetings and deliberation, the City of Seward Special
Airport Ad Hoc Advisory Committee rejected both Alternative 1.1 and Alternative
2.2; and
WHEREAS, ADOT has not posted or otherwise made public the comments
received on the draft Environmental Assessment; and
WHEREAS, the draft Environmental Assessment is based on inaccurate data and
is flawed, leading to the erroneous conclusion that Alternative 2.2 has the least
environmental impact and a Finding of No Significant Impact (EONS!), and
WHEREAS, the float plane pond slices through jurisdictional wetlands that were
not addressed in the draft Environmental Assessment; and
WHEREAS, the ADOT's proposed Alternative 2.2's 3,300'x75' new runway will
not meet future needs and will forever prevent use of the existing crosswind
Runway 16/34 and long Runway 13/31; and
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WHEREAS, Alternative 2.2 will severely impact the estuary, coastal wetlands, and
pond, disrupt wildlife and salmon, and increase flooding potential of surrounding
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, ultimately extending Alternative 2.2's runway to 4,000' into the
estuary, wetlands, and pond will require extensive permitting and expensive
mitigation, and funding by the City of Seward; and
WHEREAS, abandoning the long Runway 13/31 will increase the potential of the
Resurrection River to breach and flood the airport with devastating impacts to
surrounding environment and infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, confining all air traffic to Alternative 2.2 eliminates essential cross-
wind options and points air craft towards the shipping lanes; and
WHEREAS, repairing and restoring the existing long Runway 13/31 will allow use
by the USCG and other state and federal aircraft not permitted in Alternative 2.2;
and
WHEREAS, other federal agencies, grants, and other funding sources may be
available to the City to fund the design and construction of a flood damage
control project to protect airport runways and property from flooding, and to
repair and restore existing long Runway 13/31 in order to accommodate larger
aircraft and provide effective disaster response; and
WHEREAS, on December 5, 2019 the City of Seward Special Ad Hoc Airport
Advisory Committee meeting voted unanimously that the ADOT proposed
Alternative 2.2 does not meet the community's and stakeholders' expressed
needs and requirements and should not be accepted by the City; and
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2019 Seward City Council adopted Resolution 2019-
111 State Legislative Priorities and Resolution 2019-115 Federal Legislative
Priorities in support of a flood damage control project to protect the airport
runways and property from flooding, and to repair and restore the existing long
Runway 13/31; and
WHEREAS, on February 10, 2020 the Port and Commerce Advisory Board
meeting, PACAB established their list of priorities and goals for February 2020 to
February 2021 which included "Support the work of the Airport Committee; and
WHEREAS, at the February 10, 2020 the Seward City Council adopted Resolution
2020-010 accepting the PACAB Priorities and Goals; and
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WHEREAS, on February 4, 2020 the city attorney, Holly Wells, advised that ADOT
has the authority to enter into memoranda of agreements, leases, and other
contractual arrangements with municipalities for up to 55 years for the
management and operation of all or portions of airport property; and
WHEREAS, the attorney further advised that the City could contact ADOT and
discuss creative options in which the City would take a more direct interest in
the airport in exchange for more control over the mitigation and construction
efforts regarding runway design; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
Section 1: The Seward City Council has weighed the existing challenges,
costs, detriments, and benefits and supports the public's desire of a flood
damage control project to protect the airport runways and property from
flooding, and to repair and restore the existing long Runway 13/31.
Section 2: The Seward City Council hereby rejects Project Alternative 2.2
and requests the Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT) and the FAA
reserve the existing funding to support a flood damage control project, and
repair and restoration of the existing long Runway 13/31.
Section 3: This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption.
5. Resolution 2020 014 Directing the City Clerk to conduct a special election to
Alternative 2.2.
5. Resolution 2020-014 Directing the City Clerk to conduct a Special Election with
ballot language crafted to-determine whether or not Seward voters desire to
approve funding and related long-term expenses for the City of Seward to take
ownership of the Seward Airport.
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