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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08042010 PACAB Minutes City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 4, 2010 Volume 3, Page/08 CALL TO ORDER The regular August 4,2010 meeting of the Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:07 p.m. by Chair Long. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG led by Chair Long ROLL CALL There were present: Chair Ron Long presiding, and Board Members Dan Oliver Rob Buck Darryl Schaefermeyer comprising a quorum of the Board Excused: Deborah Altermatt, Paul Tougas, Theresa Butts Absent '66.• Also were present: Christy Terry, Community Development Laura Cloward, Chamber of Commerce Suzi Towsley, PACAB Liaison Public: SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS- Chamber of Commerce Report: Director Laura Cloward • Reports are varied for local tourism this year; Army resort numbers look good; Visitors centers numbers are down; Local businesses are varied. • There were a record number of applicants for July 4th Mount Marathon race. • The Silvers are in and it looks like it will be a great year for the Derby. • The chamber continued to pursue alternatives for future funding of salmon stocking programs. There was general discussion of the limits during the silver salmon derby,conservation/replenishing of stock in the bay and the fishery sustainability. General discussion of the upcoming Ombudsman position resolution between Board and director Cloward took place. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 4, 2010 Volume 3, Page l2 l Community Development Report: Christy Terry • Kenai Peninsula Economic Development Division report excerpts were reviewed. • Community Development City July camping numbers are up. • Representatives from the United Methodists Women's division had a walk through of the old Wesley building on Monday with representatives from the City and had recommitted to being good neighbors in the community and working to keep the vacated facility form becoming an attractive nuisance and moving forward • The Chamber lunch was on Friday and the Lt Governor was scheduled to be in attendance and speaking. • City Council Land Policy and Lease procedure work session would be August 5, 2010. • Planning and Zoning were continuing to revise Title 15 of City Code and would being sending approved portions to council for consideration and approval, including sign code. • Terry explained that there was an executive session on Title 7 prior to the work session on Monday August 9 beginning at 5:00 pm. • The energy conversion interconnect policy changes to the tariff were being discussed by Planning and Zoning Commission, There were no Citizens Comments. Approval of agenda and consent agenda; umoi The consent agenda was approved via unanimous consent. PACAB reviewed the schedule of City Council Work sessions in June and July. The board touched briefly upon the upcoming WTC meeting to announce the Governor's North Star Awards for Excellence in Anchorage. Chair Long stated he would be in Anchorage and was tentatively planning to attend. Board discussed the notes and ideas included in the packet on the Economic Development study: Idea 1 and 2 were discussed and not supported by the board. 3- The idea of extending or waiving payment for infrastructure(electricity/sewer/water). This had been done in the past,post earthquake and was possible as far as PACAB knew.The board expressed support for this program. This rolled into Item 4-Special tax assessment district classification was discussed and the potential for how that could affect city coffers. Would that have performance based thresholds involved? 5- Chair Long expressed the desire to see the City be revenue neutral on the development of economic incentive by making sure these were neither cost or revenue generators. 6 and 7-The fairness of lowering new businesses tax rates or lease payments as opposed to existing ones was discussed. The board asked director Terry to rework numbers 6 and 7 into any resolution of support. The board supported the idea of the city lowering or delaying lease payments required from businesses, sometimes on individual criteria. This incentive could also be based on the business improving property, infrastructure development and meeting a threshold of viability. Provision for a reasonable exchange of value for developed infrastructure should be considered as an City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 4, 2010 Volume 3, Page /30 low incentive in city leases. This topic would be addressed at the Council work session on August 5 2010. The plausibility of the City helping to get businesses lower insurance rates was discussed by the board. 10- The board supported the idea of the city refunding building permit fees after one full year of operation. The board also discussed and supported the idea of refunding or waiving conditional use permit fees or variance fees if those were approved. All of these would potentially affect the general fund, though the board believed the affect would be nominal. Schaefermeyer asked about specific business dis-incentives, i.e.; sign code, zoning code. Terry responded that she believed that these were being discussed and ironed out as individual cases. 1-City engineer- the board was informed that each department hired or contracted out for specific projects and the city does not currently have an engineer or civil engineer. 2- Building inspector-the board believed that this would be in competition with the private sector. 4-List of all the leased and sale property on the website-use of the Alaska prospector was supported, 11,12,13,14 all went together, as the idea of Port Marketing Director history was discussed. The board expressed that they would like to see this discussion compiled in a resolution for council. Marketing and capital improvement,completion of the SMIC basin was discussed for all its positive potential. The possibility of a private investor fronting capital was discussed. A Hydro study of the basin was being done some while ago and the board members remarked that they would like to see `,ro that if it had been completed. 17,Business"How To"kit was supported by the board. Directed Terry said that she had started that work. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2010-06 Motion (Schaefermeyer/Buck) Adopt Resolution 2010-06 of the Seward Port and commerce Advisory Board, supporting and providing recommendations on the creation of a Seward Ombudsman Public Comment made in support of the resolution Motion to amend 2010-007(Long/Buck) add and business retention and expansion program to title And Changes WHEREAS, an economic development ombudsman position would serve as the primary point of contact for existing Seward area new businesses and attracting new businesses to the Seward area and as a liaison between the business community and relevant MINIM City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 4, 2010 Volume 3, Page 13( government departments and commissions; and And WHEREAS, this position would pursue assisting growing existing business,recruiting new businesses, •. - - - - • Addition WHEREAS, will be most effective if independent of the City administration in developing its findings and recommendations but with the necessary cooperation of the administration in order to fulfill its functions. Amendment passed unanimously Motion for secondary amendment to 2010-007 (Long/Buck) Change Section 1. to read: Section 1. For the reasons stated in the recitals, the Board recommends Council .. authorize the development of an ombudsman position and business retention and expansion program to be implemented by a qualified employee or by contract with such contract with the chamber of commerce with such contract detailing the specific services to be provided. Secondary Amendment passed unanimously Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous Board approved unanimously canceling the August 18 works session and replacing it with the August 5 council work session. July 7 2010 Minutes approved by consensus, with amendments. BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS— Rob Buck: would like to see better communication with admin on future title changes to help streamline the process. Schaefermeyer agreed. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Minutes August 4, 2010 Volume 3, Page /.--3Z ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:56 leamiur AlpTows ley Ron L•ng cutive Liaison Chair (City Seal) Ib ovosegag,„,, of N,‘ °.*. •• lic,0" • •••- .10 • 0 .1 CIF ft,• • 4.4