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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08052009 PACAB Minutes City ref Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 5, 2009 Volume 3, Page 76 CALL TO ORDER The regular August 5,2009 meeting of the Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m. by Chair Ron Long. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG led by Chair Long ROLL CALL There were present: Board Member Ron Long presiding, and Theresa Butts Dan Oliver Deborah Altermatt Paul Tougas Darryl Schaefermeyer in at 12:04p Comprising a quorum of the Board; Jim Lewis' Harbormaster Louis Bencardino, Alaska Railroad Representative Laura Cloward' Director Seward Chamber of Commerce Christy Terry, Community Development Director Angela Buck, PACAB secretary SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS ARRC Representative Louis Bencardino Alaska Railroad Dock Manager— Louis Bencardino reported on the following issues: • There would be three cruise ships and a coal ship in on Friday August 7, 2009. • The Railroad planned to start dredging in October of 2009. • Business on the freight and cruise ship dock was better then it had been for years. • A remodel on the women's bathroom in the cruise ship terminal was a success. • In response to Tougas, Bencardino commented on the trolley and busses seemed to be sufficient for those who chose not to walk. He commented further on possibly adding more signage to direct those who do choose to walk across the street. • In response to Chair Long's question as to whether or not the money being used for the upcoming dredging project was vetoed in the previous budget, Bencardino answered yes, 4 and a half million for the whole project. Chamber Report by Laura Cloward Executive Director— City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 5, 2009 Volume 3, Page 77 • The 2009 Seward Harbor Survey went live and could be accessed at www.seward.com. In wow Letters would be sent out next week, with a survey end date of either Aug 3 1"or Sept 30th. • A marketing meeting would be tomorrow where they would be discussing the Economic Development proposal. • There was a solid prize list for the 2009 Seward Silver Salmon Derby; focus was on the larger prizes and a variety of daily prizes to increase participant's eligibility. The Chamber stilled need volunteers for ticket sales and weigh in of the fish. • The Chamber was working with the Seward volunteer Fire Department to support their efforts for the 2010 State Conference in Seward. • The Chamber was holding its August Membership Luncheon on Friday, August 7, 2009 featuring the Kenai Watershed Forum. • Altermatt thanked Cloward for moving up the Harbor Survey to facilitate collating the answers as fast as possible. Administrative Report - Deputy Harbormaster Jim Lewis reported on the following items: • The Harbor was gearing up for the 54t" Silver Salmon Derby which was scheduled from August 8"' -16"' this year. Staff would be manning the launch ramps on the weekends to facilitate safe vessel launching and to make sure charter vessels were passenger fee and city business license compliant. • oral arguments were heard in Anchorage at the Federal Building and US Courthouse August 6, 2009 concerning the Resurrection Bay Conservation, et al. v. City of Seward case concerning NPDES permitting. • The City of Seward(Harbor Department)was soliciting request for proposals from qualified engineering firms to develop and complete a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery(TIGER)Grant for capital investment in surface transportation projects. The City was endeavoring to submit a grant application that completed the breakwater and basin at the Seward Marine Industrial Center(SMIC),improved the North Dock facility,and accommodated linear moorage for vessels larger than 60 feet in length. The City was also seeking in the grant to install transformers for providing shore-power, insulated pipes to deliver water,and a 5-ton crane for loading/offloading equipment for vessels using the basin and dock facility. This was estimated to be a $10 million dollar project. • The Harbor Department ordered a port-a-potty to be installed at SMIC for users of the vessel storage and maintenance yard. This would be at a cost of$1500 to the SMIC Enterprise fund for the remainder of the 2009 year. The harbor department would keep a lock on the facility and give the key to SMIC users, but would remove the facility if it was vandalized. • The Harbor Department tracked numbers which could be viewed as economic indicators. Passenger fee information was not available at this time,but launch ramp usage was up from 2009. The number of purchased annual launch ramp passes were up, and revenue was up $61,270 through July compared to this time last year. • The City had issued a notice to proceed to Transpac Marinas to build and deliver the 870 foot ' section of floats to construct the linear section of Z-float. City Council authorized a contract Cr y(?I'Seward, Alaska Poet and Commerce AdvisoryJ Board Alinutes August 5, 2009 Volume 3, Page 78 not to exceed $714,817.00 on July 27, 2009. These floats were paid for b a Denali Y Commission grant. • The Harbor Department was working in conjunction with the Finance Department to transfer the Electrical Utility Billing to the Harbor. A trial run was scheduled for August, and the September billing would come from the Harbor. Notices of this thane would be sent to Harbor Customers with their next bill. • 250-ton TraveLift maintenance was completed last month, but rain prevented staff from painting the lift. The lift was closed while this work was being completed, but it was now available for use. • Seward Ship's Dry Dock was scheduled to receive a MARAD grant in the amount of $1,088,078 for ship transport cradles, syncrolift controls, and compressed air. The new cathodic protection system was being installed and City staff was researching the proposed p p coating for the splash zone. • The City was coordinating with Godwin Glacier Tours on developing a lease for Lot 4,Block 3 at SMIC for connex and vehicle storage. • The Port of Anchorage was offering Summer Tours every Sunday this summer—through a C g August 23 . Buses depart from the Alaska Railroad Corporate Office-327 west Ship Creek Avenue. The phone number was 343-6230 for more information. In response to Tougas' comment that Resolution 2009-077 was not available to read prior to the �► work session, Deputy Harbormaster Lewis said that the work session was only to award money to an engineering firm to develop and complete the process to submit the proposal for the TIGER Grant. Lewis referred to Buck to clarify some details about any changes to the billing procedure for . . . Harbor utilities in response to Altermatt's question. Chair Long expresses his gratitude for the portable restroom units the Harbor department had put p into the Seward Marine Industrial Center. Community Development Director Christy Terry reported on the following items: • The upper stretches of Fourth of July Creek had shifted east within its banks, preventing g flooding of the area during the high-water event July 29, 2009. The main item of concern was the bridge to Lowell Point and it was inspected by PND Engineering on Friday Y Jul 31, 2009 and Sunday August 2, 2009 and was certified as safe. PND Engineering Inc. was the same firm that was repairing damage to the bridge sustained during the 2006 flooding. Those repairs were scheduled for completion in fall 2009 so damage from the July 2009 flood should fall into the scope of that timeline. • A meeting of the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board had taken place on Monday August 3, 2009 and KPB personnel gave a report of flooding. An EOC had been activated for outside city limits with a good pictorial record of the event. City .f o Seward, Alaska Port and Corr coerce Advisory Board Minutes August 5, 2009 Volume 3, Page 79 qNNOO • The Kenai River Center was expected to set a permitting day in approximately 2 weeks. • Alaska Homeland Security representatives would be in Seward.on Friday to work with Terry and Assistant City Manager Kirsten vesel on grant application for Dairy Hill drainage system. • Asphalt was being laid at the Long Term Care Facility. Dr. Bill Thomas, founder of the Greenhouse Concept,would be in Seward for a reception August 24,2009 and the board was invited. The en rand opening would be September 19, 2009. Board Members would receive g p g "Save the Dates"' for that event. • Library/Museum Requests for Proposal would be going out in September for project management and 35%design completion of the project.This project would be unique for the City in that it would have a specifically chosen project manager from the architectural firm, instead of having the department head serve in that capacity. This would not go out on construction bid until an advisory vote had taken place. Funding had only been spent from the `Friends of Library' organization and no City money had been spent on this project. • Representatives for the ADEC Air(duality Monitoring office were to be in Seward on Friday and to meet with Terry and the City Manager to discuss the program and plan for placement of the monitors. As these progresses, ADEC would hold a public meeting in Seward to discuss. • The Planning and Zoning Commission was continuing their review and updates of Title 15. The next work session was scheduled for August 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. Revised updates would be distributed to PACAB for their review. There was discussion and Community Development Director Terry answered questions pertaining to the ADEC placement of the air monitors. Chair Long suggested the South Harbor Uplands. Chair Long announced that the last two flood plain task force resolutions had passed by the assembly the night before. Citizens' comments on any subject except those items scheduled for public hearing- PACAB applicant Robert Buck introduced himself to the board and expressed his interest in working with the board in the future. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 5, 2009 Volume 3 Page S Tom Tougas spoke disapproval of the possibility of PACAB moving l ` "` h g to quarterly regular meetings. Tougas sited many reasons such as input from the local business owners and public would p u d decline'�f the schedule were changed. Council Member Marianna Keil and citizen Russ Maddox spoke in opposition of the regular 7 p pp g meeting schedule changing to quarterly meetings as well. Approval of the Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion (Schaefermeyer/Butts) Approve the Agenda and Consent p g Agenda By unanimous consent, the board approved the following changes to the agenda under New Business: Insert a new Item A. discuss possible changes to Title 7 of the City of Seward Code revisions. Discuss a proposal to amend the PACAB meeting schedule to quarterly meetings would be Item B., and so forth. Add new Item G. to vote to keep Chair Long as interim chair until the Council has made their determination of the new PACAB member. Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous Consent The following items were approved under the consent agenda: F) *June 3, 2009 Regular Meeting Minutes. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS A) Possible changes to Title 7 of the City of Seward Code revisions. DISCUSSION: Altermatt looked to scheduling a work session on revising Title 7 of the Seward Cityde possibly co p y with input from the Harbor Survey that the Chamber of Commerce had recently released. Community Development Director Terry spoke about Bob Hicks workingon the revisions to the tariff and code with the input from the Harbormaster as well as other community members.Terry felt that since a draft would be available soon, there should be a work session set for the third week in September. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Corr merce Advisory Board Minutes 81 August S, 2009 Volume 3, Page u g Schaefermeyer requested that Hicks be present at this work session. Community Development ment Director Terry spoke about the inconsistencies between the Harbor Tariff and Title 7. Chair Long suggested ested setting the work session discussing Title 7 for August 19, 2009 instead of in September to work on possible revisions to initialize the discussion for the next regular meeting. Terry agreed to make sure Hicks would be present. Chair Long gave a homework assignment for the next work session to each make suggestions of how changes of the tariff and code would look. Motion (Tougas/Altermatt) Approved to set the August 19, 2009 work session to discuss the possible revisions to Title 7 of the Seward City Code and the Harbor Tariff. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent B) Discuss a proposal to amend the PACAB meeting schedule to quarterly meetings. DISCUk SkWO 1l Chair Long gave background information on this topic. After discussion.from the board as well as members of the public the general consensus was that the board was too beneficial to the Harbor area and local businesses to shorten their regular meeting schedule. C) Discuss improving pedestrian access to and from the Alaska Railroad Depot and Cruise Ship Dock and in the Seward Boat Harbor area. DISC USSION Chair Long updated the board on his trip to Seattle as part of the city and business contingent to talk to the cruise line industry. He included information on the relationship between the cruise ship agencies and the Alaska Railroad in regards to transportation between the depot and the terminal. During discussion from the board and the members of the public it was determined that sinage was inadequate for the current stretch of road between the Depot to the Terminal and was not ,,, entirely safe. C.'in��a f'.S'ewat�d, �1l cxsku Port and C.'otumerce A dvisory Board u d If nutes Augusi S, 2009 Volume 3 Pag e 82 Some suggestions from the Board and members of the public to remedy the i p y situation were, move the Railroad Depot closer to the terminal, find a company that could run an op en air tram style vehicle between the two areas, create a matrix of maps and signs, a baggage p gclaim at the depot, and a covered walkway. An emphasis was put on being inviting, cu stomer service oriented and not prohibitive, while detouring people from the industrial zones. The board discussed where the funds were to come from for these improvements and what at were the limit s of spending on the head tax. D) Discuss improving cruise ship passenger access to downtown business distric t and the Alaska SeaLife Center. DISC USSION The Board discussed critical elements to producing an RFP to improve the passenger a. p p g access to the downtown business district and the Alaska SeaLife Center.Elements that were suggested: gg ed. a two year commitment with amount of money allotted, if the monies would o to the transportation � p n of the pedestrians and/or the pedestrian corridor, scoring criteria, and a regular service in a reasonable easonable interval that meets the needs of the cruise ship passenger based on the varying schedule g ry g u e of the ships. Butts included that quality of the RFP directly related to the quality of services. q Y Schaefermeyer stated that it would be a difficult challenge to accomplish all the goals an g p g d meet the needs of the customer base as well as the business community,and questioned how to structure Y q it to make it work without the public crying out or hindering 7 the completion. p E) Set a work session to discuss the "allowable maintenance policy for work in th p y e Seward Harbor for September 16, 2009. Passed by Unanimous Consent G) Vote to keep Chair Long as interim Chair until the Council has mad e their determination of the new PACAB member. Passed by Unanimous Consent CORRESPONDENCE, INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS -None BOARD COMMENTS - None CITIZEN COMMENTS - None ... BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes Augu st 5 2009 Volume 3, Page 83 , The meeting was adjourned at 2:08 p.m. ,. t Ron Lo An Buck g g Harbor Master Department Chair City Seal �$ + a #�` 0 .,y. ♦'0 ;y eA IV 0Ae � � 1+r ' OF �� •i# I>� is ..ram