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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10212020 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes October 21, 2020 Volume 3,Page 433 CALL TO ORDER The October 21, 2020 special meeting of the Port & Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:05 p.m. by Chair Laura Schneider. OPENING CEREMONY Council Member Tony Baclaan led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Laura Schneider presiding, and Bruce Jaffa Erin Lemas (telephonically) Carl Hughes Lawrence Lynda Paquette Benjamin Smith comprising a quorum of the board; and Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Matt Chase, Deputy Harbormaster Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Excused—Hughes, Lawrence Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING The City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), so alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments were created. Unless otherwise noted, the following Citizen Comments were submitted in advance and read into the record by the Deputy City Clerk: Mareth Griffith supported a rebate,pay-over-time,or on-bill-repayment program to help interested homeowners add heat pumps to their houses. She strongly encouraged that any rebate or incentive program adopted by the City of Seward be made available to electric customers both inside and outside of city limits. Phil Kaluza commended the board for promoting heat pumps in Seward and encouraged them to continue their efforts. Steve Leirer was concerned with pollution and contamination from vessel hull pressure washing on Lot 7 of the old Raibow yard. He requested that the city have a design,drawings, and plans for a wash station at this location by February 1, 2021. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes October 21, 2020 Volume 3, Page 434 Tony Baclaan said in person that he provided a laydown of Council Resolution 2020- 082 advocating for the reduction of halibut bycatch. This was a good first step towards opening up more fishing days, which he believed every business would benefit from. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Jaffa/Paquette) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous There were no consent agenda items. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations—None Other Reports, Announcements, and Presentations—None UNFINISHED BUSINESS —None NEW BUSINESS Discuss the proposed Heat Pump Rebate Program. The board suspended the rules to speak to Interim Electric Utility Manager Cory Borgeson. Interim Electric Utility Manager Cory Borgeson recommended special electric rates that would accommodate heat pump users. He would welcome heat pump systems and try to make the rates fair for all ratepayers. In response to Schneider, Borgeson said Seward did not have a system in place for off- peak rates for heat pump systems. In response to Smith, Borgeson said the City of Seward could handle an increase in heat pump users, even if they had to use generators to power them. In response to Jaffa, Borgeson said the City of Seward's contract would end with Chugiach Electric at the end of 2021. In response to Schneider, Borgeson said the electric department wanted to encourage heat pump rebate programs and would come up with the money for it if they were directed to do so. The board went back on the rules. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes October 21, 2020 Volume 3,Page 435 Motion (Paquette/Smith) Direct Chair Schneider to draft a letter to council on the proposed heat pump rebate program. Motion Passed Unanimous Discuss having virtual webinars in place of an Energy Fair. Smith suggested the Chamber of Commerce sponsor a zoom webinar in place of an Energy Fair in Spring, 2021. Jaffa wanted to make sure this platform would reach all audiences. He suggested utilizing the newspaper, local radio station,and flyers for advertisement. The board directed the clerk to add this topic to the November 4, 2020 meeting agenda. Erin Lemas left the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Review and approve PACAB's report to council. Motion (Jaffa/Paquette) Approve the report to council. Motion to Amend (Schneider/Jaffa) Amend the report by striking the last sentence in the Climate Action Plan section and adding "PACAB fully supports Council Resolution 2020-082 in support of Borough Resolution 2020-074, a resolution advocating for the reduction of halibut bycatch" at the end of the halibut bycatch section. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Recommend a schedule for implementation of the city interconnect policy. The board suspended the rules to speak to Interim Electric Utility Manager Cory Borgeson. Interim Electric Utility Manager Cory Borgeson said October, 2021 was a reasonable deadline for implementing an interconnect policy. The board went back on the rules. Motion (Schneider/Jaffa) Direct the clerk to send the interconnect policy implementation schedule to council and recommend they direct the city City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes October 21, 2020 Volume 3, Page 436 manager to report on its progress quarterly until completion no later than Sept. 30, 2021. Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS —None CITIZEN COMMENTS The City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), so alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments were created. Unless otherwise noted, the following Citizen Comments were submitted in advance and read into the record by the Deputy City Clerk: Tony Baclaan said in person that he appreciated the board making the energy fair more equitable. He thanked the board members for their hard work. He looked forward to continuing to work on the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP) with the board. The climate cohort had a reorientation scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on October 21, 2020. He suggested a "Did You Know?" column in the newspaper. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Chase thanked the board members for their hard work. Smith was in favor of a "Did You Know?" column in the newspaper. Paquette was in favor of a "Did You Know?" column. She wanted the Alaska Municipal League(AML) virtual conference added to the November 4, 2020 meeting agenda. Jaffa thanked the board and administration. He said Absentee-In-Person Voting had begun at city hall. He was excited to work towards an energy-efficient policy. Schneider thanked Mareth Griffith and Phil Kaluza for their comments. She thanked the harbormaster for working towards acquiring funding for the wash down pad. She thanked MIS, the clerk, administration, and Tony Baclaan. ADJOURNMENT This meeting was adjourned at 1:30 p.m. stca Stallard, CMC ..••••,•, r c eider Deputy City Clerk ••.%� OF S (City Seal) ��' Fo'�� • SEAL ) • -.- '% 9'`. I OF AY".••" ......iit•'•"