PORT AND HARBOR ADVISORY COMMISSION                                                                    UNAPPROVED                                                                                                                                                                  

REGULAR MEETING                                                                                                                                  

SEPTEMBER 24, 2008  

 

Session 08-09 A Regular Meeting of the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:00 pm on September 24, 2008 by Chair Otto Kilcher at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:                     COMMISSIONERS VELSKO, ULMER, HARTLEY, KILCHER, MARTIN, CARROLL, HOGAN

 

 

STAFF:                          PORT & HARBOR DIRECTOR HAWKINS

                                    DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

 

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 

VELSKO/HARTLEY – MOVED TO ACCEPT AGENDA AS WRITTEN.

 

There was no discussion.

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA (3 Minute Time Limit)

 

None.

 

RECONSIDERATION

 

None.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES          

           

A.                  Regular Meeting Minutes of August 27, 2008        

 

ULMER/VELSKO – MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

 

There was no discussion.

 

The minutes were approved by consensus of the Commission.

                                                             

VISITORS        

 

None.

 

It was noted Commissioner Martin and Carroll arrived at 6:05 p.m.

 

STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS

(Chair set time limit not to exceed 5 minutes)

 

A.                  Port & Harbor Director’s Staff Report – September 2008

 

Port & Harbor Director Hawkins elaborated on the teleconference regarding the status of the East Boat Harbor Expansion Feasibility study. He was able to give better direction in some of the areas. The bottom line concern is the construction costs. A local source for armor rock to build the breakwater is needed. There are a few sources that are being looked into in the Kachemak Bay area.

The Commissioners discussed the options that could be looked into for the required materials which included Seldovia and Nanwalek; if there would be any additional projects that could be dove-tailed onto that project; a rumor regarding linking a water/hydro power generation project to the harbor expansion project. Port & Harbor Director Hawkins explained that there were discussions regarding linking those two projects. There have been discussions concerning what to do with the left over power.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

B.         Lease Committee Report

 

Commissioner Velsko reported that there was a worksession with the Economic Development Advisory Commission on Tuesday September 22, 2008 and it went very well. They discussed establishing regular meeting times for the Lease Committee and it was determined that the decision for monthly or quarterly meetings would be made by the Lease Committee Chairperson, Administration and the Port & Harbor Director. It was noted that a preference for quarterly meetings was made by the Committee members. Several issues were identified to begin work on in the near future such as lease transferability, review of the entire lease policy and identifying which leases would be coming up, establishing a yearly calendar, etc.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

PUBLIC HEARING (3 minute time limit)

 

None.

 

PENDING BUSINESS

                                     

None.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

A.                  Dedicated Sales Tax Funding for Port & Harbor Revenue Fund

            Memorandum from City Clerk, Re: Dedicated Sales Tax Funding for Port & Harbor Revenue Fund

 

MARTIN/HARTLEY – MOVED TO DISCUSS ITEM A.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Martin requested clarification on increasing revenue for the shoulder seasons and reconfiguring the floats how those two went together.

Commissioner Velsko and Hogan explained what the Commission discussed at the last meeting.

Further discussion regarding seasonal rates on moorage fees; overslope development; rearranging floats to accommodate larger vessels; city council talks on raising harbor fees; conservative approach to price increases were recommended; incentives to make Homer a more attractive option for mooring; target marketing the 50-75 foot vessels; overall fairness to local and long term customers of the harbor; removal of derelict boats and status of these vessels; using the derelict vessels for reef building (scuttling); total space used by these vessels and which vessels were paying the moorage fees.

 

Commissioner Martin would like to have further information on the costs or processes for removal (scuttling) of the derelict vessels in the harbor.

Commissioner Hartley recalled there was winter and summer rates for transient vessels at one time and consideration of re-establishing that practice should be considered. A brief discussion on a few different scenarios regarding pricing for consideration of establishing “hotel rates”. Higher during season and lower in the off season.

Commissioner Hogan pointed out that raising rates does not increase revenue. They must concentrate on lowering rates to increase revenue. Further discussion on the effects to private enterprise was discussed and it was noted that although the intention would not be to cause a loss of revenue for private enterprise they must focus on increasing the revenue for the port.

 

It was agreed to keep this on the Commission radar and to relay any ideas to the Port & Harbor Director to bring to the next meetings.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

B.         Changing Harbor Overhead Lights to LED

 

MARTIN/HARTLEY – MOVED TO BRING TO THE FLOOR TO DISCUSS ITEM B.

 

There was no discussion.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Velsko opened the topic to explain that there was an article in the Anchorage Daily News on the Port of Anchorage was changing out the lights and the cost savings to the City. He proposed that they should consider doing the same and that there may be some grants and other benefits that could be applied.

Port & Harbor Director Hawkins stated that they have contacted the supplier for Anchorage and there was a discrepancy regarding how high those lights can be placed to be effective. The maximum height was 27 feet. He explained that the average cost was approximately $1.00 per hour per pole multiplied by the number of hours. He figured average yearly cost to run the current lights was $35,000.00.

 

Further comments from the Commissioners regarding placement of the lights; the initial expense for installation; possible installation of LED lights set lower on poles to be used at certain times; the benefits of having the dock in a u shape and that the one side will not be used; limitations on LED lighting.

 

The Commissioners requested further research on the change over prospect to LED lights.

 

Discussion ensued over alternative energy sources and new technology. They agreed it was a topic to keep on their list to discuss periodically.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

A.            Harbormaster’s Monthly Statistical Report for August 2008

 

Commissioner Martin commented on the figures was down for a number of items compared to last year. Port & Harbor Director commented he noticed the shoulder seasons were shorter this year. Commissioners offered that folks were being a bit more cautious this year with their trips.

 

B.                   Weekly Crane and Ice Report

C.                  Pioneer Dock

D.                  Pioneer Dock Ferry Landings

E.                   Deep Water Dock

F.                   Memorandum From Port & Harbor Commission, Dated September 8, 2008 Re: Elevate Port & Harbor Enterprise Fund to the Same Level as the Water Sewer Enterprise Fund

 

Commissioner Velsko commented on Item F.,  it was requested to elevate the Port & Harbor Enterprise Fund, he referred to resolution 99-53 that was written to establish the Water Sewer program and if the Commissioners should direct staff to draft a resolution that would be submitted to Council. He explained it would not be increasing the sales tax just allowing the Port & Harbor Reserves to collect the sales tax raised by the Harbor.

 

HOGAN/ULMER – MOVED TO DIRECT STAFF TO DRAFT A RESOLUTION TO BE REVIEWED BY THE PORT & HARBOR ADVISORY COMMISSION REQUESTING CITY COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH AND DESIGNATE THE PORT & HARBOR ENTERPRISE FUND ALONG THE SAME GUIDE LINES AS THE WATER SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND AS CONCERNS THE COLLECTION OF SALES TAX.

 

The Commissioners discussed staff drafting a resolution and submitting at the next meeting for review and additions or corrections. They also addressed which revenues to include and discussed including all revenues generated by the Port & Harbor.

 

Commissioner Ulmer called for the vote.

 

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

G.         Memorandum from Port & Harbor Commission, Date September 5, 2008 Re: Establishing Regularly Scheduled Lease Committee Meetings

H.         Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk dated September 18, 2008 Re: City Council Approval of Ordinances 08-22(A) and 08-33.

 

Commissioner Hogan questioned when the RFP would be advertised for this parking study. Port & Harbor Director Hawkins stated he would check with the City Manager.

 

Further discussion on the Spit Comprehensive Plan and the Parking Study ensued regarding the relationship of each document to the other. The Commissioners agreed by consensus that the Parking Study should be done prior to the Comprehensive Plan and then incorporated into the Comprehensive Plan. Discussion then turned to placement of dredge spoils and creating a large parking area which would then solve all parking problems for the spit.

 

The Commissioners then turned their focus on the Dredge Spoils and Port & Harbor Director Hawkins reported on the entities that purchased the product as follows:

-          Lands End

-          English Bay

-          Sunland Development

-          Dan Young

-          Some was used on outer berm of sand lagoon.

 

The Commissioners requested the status on Kenai River Seafoods. Port & Harbor Director Hawkins has not new information on that lease. The Commissioners then discussed the parking issues and the issue that was raised by Commissioner Hogan regarding the size of the building in comparison to the lot size.

 

There was no further discussion.

 

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

 

There were no comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CITY STAFF

 

Deputy City Clerk Krause had no comments.

 

Port & Harbor Director Hawkins had no further comments.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COUNCILMEMBER (If one is appointed)

 

None.

 

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

 

Chair Kilcher thanked the Clerk for all her hard work and making sense out of everything the Commissioners said.

 

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

 

Commissioner Hogan requested water usage, volume, charges and meter review and the budget to be on the agenda next month and commented that it was a great meeting.

 

Commissioner Carroll and Martin commented it was a good meeting.

 

Commissioner Hartley commented it was a good meeting.

 

Commissioner Ulmer thanked the creative minds and the good meeting.

 

Commissioner Velsko commented on the Tesoro Spill drill.

 

ADJOURN

 

There being no further business before the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission Chair Kilcher adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on October 22, 2008 at City Hall, Cowles Council Chambers, 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

                                                           

Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

 

 

Approved: