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Home My WebLink About04072021 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 7,2021 Volume 4,Page 15 CALL TO ORDER The April 7, 2021 regular meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m.by Chair Schneider. OPENING CEREMONY Harbormaster Norm Regis led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Laura Schneider,presiding(via Zoom) and Bruce Jaffa(via Zoom) Carl Hughes (via Zoom) Colby Lawrence(via Zoom; arrived 12:16 p.m) Lynda Paquette Erin Lemas (via Zoom) Be comprising a quorum of the Board; and Norm Regis, Harbormaster/Acting City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused—Smith Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Hughes/Paquette) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve the March 3, 2021 Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations& Awards—None Alaska Railroad Report.Port Manager Christy Terry reported the railroad and terminal were gearing up for a busy time juggling barges and there was a lot of activity expected in the next a City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 7, 2021 Volume 4,Page 16 couple of weeks. She reminded everyone that the railroad followed to CDC guidelines. The successful proposer for the new cruise ship terminal project would be announced soon. There was one cruise ship that would dock in the southeast in May,and they would dock in Seward.The CDC 111 had provided feedback to the cruise lines that were onerous and strict. The railroad was standing by on updates on agreements from CLIA for cruise ships. The Coastal Classic passenger train would run to Seward from May 29 through September 6, 2021. Jaffa wished to confirm with Terry that the railroad board was involved in these issues; Terry confirmed and said she was in touch continually with railroad upper management. Schneider notes that retail was not an authorized use in an Industrial (I) zoned area, and wondered what the impact would be for the new cruise ship terminal. Terry said she was keeping an eye on the plans for the new terminal. Chamber of Commerce Report. Jason Bickling stated the Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station was moving along; he would have a meeting with the vendor next week, and would be accompanied by the city's Electric Manager Rob Montgomery.Regarding the solar panel project,Bickling was working on developing a presentation for the community to learn more about it. The chamber awards event would be coming soon; nominations were being posted on the chamber's Facebook page, and the event would be held virtually this year. The chamber's new website would launch on May 11,2021. Lawrence arrived at 12:16 p.m. Harbormaster Report. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the water would be turned on soon;ship lift activity was picking up.Melody Moline would retire at the end of April;there would be a party for her on April 24 at the American Legion. In a few weeks,the harbor office would be opened seven days a week. Schneider wondered what the outcome was for the Northeast launch ramp public comments period. Regis said it was decided that the fish cleaning station would be put in a location by itself. Other Reports and Announcements—None Presentations Happy Youth Programs & Educational Resources (HYPER) presentation by Casie Warner. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Adviso,y Board Meeting Minutes April 7, 2021 Volume 4, Page 17 Resolution 2021-002, Recommending That City Council Amend The Port & Harbor Tariff Regulations To Increase Vessel Storage Rates In The Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) Yard, Effective January 1, 2022. Motion (Jaffa/Hughes) Approve Resolution 2021-022 Regis said this was the outcome of the work session PACAB had; raising the prices would hopefully deter from long-term boat storage in the yard, and instead allow for working boats to use the space. Regis hoped to have this resolution approved by council in time for the upcoming budget cycle. Jaffa had been at the harbor yesterday, and said it looked vibrant with commercial and recreational activity; the docks were in great shape overall. He didn't believe this proposal would scare any boat owners away. Motion to Amend (Paquette/Schneider) Amend Resolution 2021-002 in Section 1 by adding the word "continuous" so it reads: "The Port and Commece Advisory Board recommends the Seward City Council enact the following rates for continuous vessel storage in the SMIC yard as follows..." Schneider wished to make it clear that the rates increased year over year for vessels that never left the yard. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Motion Passed Unanimous 111 Other New Business Items Lemas left the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Review & provide recommendation to Council on vessel property tax. Schneider said PACAB had reviewed this last year, but had decided to not make a recommendation at that time. She wondered if the board's position had changed since then. There was no response form the board, and Schneider took that to mean they wished to make no changes at this time. Regis thought this might not be the right time to address this issue. That harbor was full at this time. He wondered if this could come back for discussion in the fall. Paquette wondered if there was data available from other communities regarding tax rates. Regis said he had some information, and it had been provided to PACAB last year. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 7, 2021 Volume 4,Page 18 Jaffa thought the new city manager should be given the chance to weigh in, so he was in favor of waiting until the fall. Paquette concurred. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Port& Commerce Advisory Board Priorities (as approved by City Council). Port& Commerce Advisory Board 2021 Goals Calendar. CITIZEN COMMENTS Tony Baclaan thanked Casie Warner for the HYPER presentation. He was excited that PACAB would be looking at this issue.He had attended seminars about early childhood education, and strongly believed that early childhood education was critical in order to mitigate mental health and substance abuse issues. The community of Seward would continue to grow, and the issue of childcare needed to be solved. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Paquette thanked everyone for the meeting, and Warner for the presentation. She had attended a meeting about electric rates with the electric department, and she thought it was time for the city to stop kicking the can down the road and to start working through some of the difficult issues it had,like childcare and electric rates. There were some difficult conversations that needed to be had. Regis thanked Warner for the presentation,and hoped there was a way to make it work. Lawrence was excited about addressing the childcare issue because the community really needed it. He hoped the city would help get this private enterprise up and running. He thought the harbor tariff for storage rates was good to have accomplished. Hughes thanked Warner for the presentation; he couldn't have predicted the issues that PACAB would contemplate. Jaffa thanked the board for their work. He recalled the positive impact that early childcare had on his own children, and understood how important the issue was. Schneider wondered when the board would wish to return to having meetings in person. She suggested thsat PACAB wait for council's decision to continue Zoom or not; she planned to be in person at the May meeting. Schneider understood how critical early childcare was on the development of individuals, and how proper childcare could result in productive adults who were free from substance abuse. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes April 7, 2021 Volume 4, Page 19 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:22 p.m. rends J. Ballo , MMC La a Schne er City Clerk air (City Seal) .....s•,.,, `,�•( OF /47�E . G.•'•GGRPG�A••�O •? 0,1% ' = SEAL = • N2:'•