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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10052022 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 5,2022 Volume 4,Page 79 CALL TO ORDER The October 5,2022 regular meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m.by Vice Chair Lynda Paquette. OPENING CEREMONY Lynda Paquette led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: BfafiElii-O'R ,presiding; and Lynda Paquette(presiding) Bruce Jaffa Benjamin Smith Fred Woelkers Dwayne Atwood comprising a quorum of the Board; and Stephen Sowell,Assistant City Manager Norm Regis, Harbormaster Kris Peck, Deputy City Clerk Excused—O'Reagan,Hughes Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Jaffa/Atwood) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approve the September 7,2022 Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards—None City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 5, 2022 Volume 4,Page 80 Administration Report. Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell reported that on September 26, 2022, city council held a special meeting where R&M Consultants presented their feasibility study on the SMIC Bench subdivision. City council appreciated the study, but elected to table the project for the time being. On September 28th, 2022, Victus Advisors made two presentations on the proposed community recreation center.He recommended all interested parties watch the Victus presentation to city council on the city's YouTube channel. Sowell continued that the Coast Guard was interested in having an increased presence in Seward that included an icebreaker. The Coast Guard was in the process of doing a housing evaluation survey in Seward. In regard to the Heat Loop Ad-Hoc Committee, Sowell commented that the committee would automatically expire at the end of this year. He asked the board if they felt there was a need to continue the Ad-Hoc Committee into 2023. Paquette responded they would discuss adding it to their list of priorities and goals. Jaffa said he followed the Victus Advisors presentation on the community recreation center and the noted the citizen attendance was very high and overwhelmingly supportive. He asked if the staffing costs were included in the estimates for the daycare options. Sowell responded it was assumed that a third-party entity would lease out the space and run the daycare. Harbormaster Norm Regis reported the city harbor department was fully staffed again. He expected to find out soon about the Port Infrastructure Development Grant for the harbor washdown pad. Jaffa commended the harbormaster for having a full staff while so many other organizations were struggling with staffing issues. Regis responded the harbor department had a good turnout of local applicants and housing was not an issue for any of them. Woelkers asked where the Coast Guard icebreaker would be located. Regis responded the blue coal facility would be removed to make room for the icebreaker.Regis continued that Seward was one of the top four locations along with Anchorage, Ketchikan, and Juneau. He felt Seward was a strong contender for being the chosen location for the Coast Guard icebreaker. Other Reports and Announcements Alaska Railroad Report. Port Operations Manager Dwayne Atwood said they were entering their shutdown phase after the 2022 cruise ship season and the terminal building would shift over to public use. Catalyst marine had been involved in a steel fabrication project on the freight dock all summer and they were wrapping up soon. The future dock expansion would allow for more spacious work areas for everyone who needed to use the dock. In regard to the Coast Guard icebreaker, the water depth by the coal facility location was 52 feet deep and would serve the needs of a good-sized ice breaker. Atwood also wanted to mention that both he and Norm Regis attended City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 5,2022 Volume 4,Page 81 the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators conference.The conference was originally scheduled to be held in Nome,but due to severe storms it was relocated to Anchorage. Atwood reported that a lot of communities and ports around Alaska had been struggling with extreme weather events this year. Presentations —None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Discuss the 2023 PACAB Priorities Sowell wanted to revise the current PACAB reporting schedule to allow for budget requests to city council. Any requests for appropriation of funds needed to happen in the fall months in order for council to pass priorities that required funding. PACAB discussed their priorities and goals. Sowell confirmed the result of the discussion would be an actionable resolution brought to the next PACAB meeting. Discuss PACAB Attendance at AML in December Paquette asked if any board members would like to go to the conference in December. Woelkers expressed interest in attending. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS PACAB Meeting Schedule PACAB Priorities & Goals CITIZEN COMMENTS—None BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sowell thanked PACAB for their good work at today's meeting. Smith wanted to recognize the amount of work that went into the Victus Advisors feasibility study for a recreation center. The coast guard potential in town was also very exciting. He thanked PACAB for a good meeting. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes October 5, 2022 Volume 4, Page 82 Jaffa said he appreciated the city's efforts for the feasibility studies on the recreation center and the SMIC Bench housing idea. Both ideas were controversial and he appreciated all public discussion as well.PACAB was looking toward the future and there was bound to be some growing pains with big changes or development. Atwood appreciated PACAB's wide range of discussion and topics,but also wanted to get down to tackling actionable items for administration and council. Paquette wanted to thank the O'Reagan for the work she did on the priorities & goals portion of the packet. She thanked everyone at the meeting for their time and energy. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:59 p.m. 7\-</ / ,117—tA Kris Peck Lynda Paquette Deputy City Clerk Vice-Chair (� (City Seal) `<<.• F SE 74, • ar $ 100 F`i•: . • = SEAL •° • ♦ i ..�. : Nti •t , OFA