HomeMy WebLinkAbout10192022 PACAB Work Session Notes
WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board
Called by: Vice Chair Paquette Time: 12:00 p.m. Date: 10/19/2022
Purpose: Seward Harbor Boat Plan
Present: Norm Regis Board Members Present:
Lynda Paquette, Bruce Jaffa, Ben Smith, Fred
Woelkers, Dwayne Atwood
Vice Chair Paquette called the work session to order at 12:00 p.m.
PACAB discussed the security cameras in the harbor area and who had access to them.
Harbormaster Norm Regis hoped a new harbormaster’s office could be built on the South Harbor
Uplands and overlook the harbor. Their current office does not have a view of the harbor slips.
Regis covered ADA accessibility in the harbor. Harbor staff had gone above and beyond code
requirements to include more ADA accessibility in the harbor. The beginning two slips of each ramp
were designed to ADA accessible. These slips were updated to ADA standards as soon as there was a
vacancy from the previous slip holders.
Atwood asked about launch ramp activity and vessel size. Regis responded the automated pay stations
tracked the revenue, but not vessel sizes. There would also be new annual launch fee permit stickers in
2023. It was still being discussed if they would be mirror hanger tabs to switch between vehicles.
Woelkers asked if the fire fighting system could be used by anyone other than the Fire Dept. Regis said
a fire truck would have to be hooked up to the dry pipes. The unit was separate from city water.
Woelkers asked about the public crane location. Regis said the permitting was done for the location at
the old travel lift dock and they were just waiting to find the funding source.
Regis said the harbormaster and uplands bathrooms are open 24-7 and Seward Police does patrol them
to reduce vandalism. The lights are motion sensor which helps the Police in their patrols. SMIC also had
a public restroom plus two additional Port-O-Pottys during the winter activity.
Regis confirmed there were no more old asbestos floats left in the harbor. The harbor staff walks the
docks every day and fixes any “spongy” boards. The new floats would be easier to repair and would
save a lot of money in future years in maintenance costs.
Woelkers asked about the sea otters and seals getting up on the docks. Regis responded the new docks
were higher and more difficult to get up. Once there was an Elephant Seal on the docks and NOAA got
involved and blocked off the area.
Paquette wanted to add a section about concrete floats being replaced. Regis said he would find out the
year that they were due for replacement.
WORK SESSION NOTES Port and Commerce Advisory Board
Smith asked about parking permits for slip holders only on the South Harbor Uplands. He felt there were
a lot of general vehicles in the area with no permits.
Paquette inquired about the potential loss of parking stalls in the South Harbor Uplands with the
relocation of the harbormaster’s office. Regis confirmed the parking along the edge of the water on the
north side would be lost for sure.
Regis said the Northeast Boat Ramp restrooms could be refurbished rather than replaced. The restrooms
were built around 1996 and the structure itself was still holding up well. Paquette asked if a date should
be specified and Regis responded within the next five years would be a good timeframe.
Woelkers recalled the original agreement of the hotel in the north harbor area was to provide a public
restroom. Regis confirmed this was true and the hotel continues to have a public restroom, however it is
not well known.
Regis said the electric utility on the South Harbor Uplands needed to be moved away from the edge.
After that was complete, the area could be platted for lot sizes. Paquette wanted this information added
to the plan in section right after 4.17. Woelkers commented how the original harbormaster’s building
could view the water and then all the little shops sprang up and blocked the view. Regis said the
harbormaster’s office in Homer has rounded corners with full visibility and additional camera screens
for additional coverage.
Paquette asked about staffing and employees being included in this Seward Boat Harbor packet. Regis
said it would be up to council to fund a new position. Ideally, he wanted another Harbor Worker 2, but
Harbor Worker 1 would suffice. The summer aide who walked the docks and logged the boats was gone
over the winter. Having an additional year-round staff member would allow for more Travel Lift
service.
Atwood asked what would happen to the old harbormaster building. Regis said the focus would be on a
facility with restrooms, showers and a laundromat that would be run by a third party.
Regis thanked everyone and said he would make the proposed changes and bring it back to first PACAB
meeting in December for approval.
Adjourn: 1:51 p.m.
Kris Peck
Deputy City Clerk