REGULAR MEETING
AUGUST 26, 2009
Session 09-06 A
Regular Meeting of the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission was called to order
at 6:00 pm on August 26, 2009 by Chair Cathy Ulmer at the City Hall Cowles
Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer,
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS ULMER, HARTLEY, ZIMMERMAN, WEDIN, AND HOGAN
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS VELSKO, CARROLL (EXCUSED)
STAFF: PORT & HARBOR
DIRECTOR HAWKINS
DEPUTY
APPROVAL
OF THE AGENDA
Chair Ulmer
requested a motion to approve the agenda.
HARTLEY/HOGAN –
MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
There was no
discussion.
The agenda was
approved by consensus of the Commission.
PUBLIC
COMMENT REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA (3 Minute Time Limit)
There were no comments.
RECONSIDERATION
None.
APPROVAL
OF MINUTES
A. Meeting
Minutes of June 24, 2009
Chair Ulmer requested a motion to approve the minutes.
HOGAN/HARTLEY - MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS PRESENTED.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
VISITORS
None.
STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS
(Chair
set time limit not to exceed 5 minutes)
A.
Port & Harbor Director’s
Staff Report – August 2009
Port
& Harbor Director Hawkins briefly summarized the visit from the Corps of
Engineers trainees. He related they were very interested in the Harbor, grids
etc. They did speak about what the Corps could do to provide better service. He
provided a brief summary on the evening meeting of the Spit Comp Plan. They
briefly discussed the difference this summer in the parking challenges.
Commissioner
Hogan inquired if the Department of Transportation (DOT) has further plans to
address the sinkhole/pothole in the middle of the road. He commented that
hopefully they are keeping an eye on the problem as it seemed to be sinking
again.
Port
& Harbor Director Hawkins stated that they will have management and
enforcement rights regarding parking in the right of way. They have been in
discussions with the DOT. The City can start signage and determining vehicle
length limitations in certain areas, set limits on the time, and the city will
be able to issue citations, but the city cannot install meters.
Commissioner
Hartley inquired if during high congestion periods, such as the 4th of
July, if EMT services can be provided on the Spit. He noted that there has been
discussion at the hospital on this subject. Comments were made regarding
temporary offices in a new harbor office building. Commissioner Hartley stated
it was something to think about.
A
few additional topics briefly discussed were the Open House event for the NOAA
vessels, Freight Dock Road is being paved this week and will celebrate by
having the last set of ball joints installed on the truck. This task had become
a yearly repair item and the wireless internet service proposal.
There
was no further discussion.
1.
Budget
Talk with Finance Director Regina Harville
Finance Director Regina Harville presented the commissioners
with the proposed 2010 budget submitted by Port & Harbor Director Hawkins
to the City Manager. She included the budget worksheets as an informational
item for the commissioners to review at their convenience.
She explained that this information was intended for
review at the July meeting but since there was a lack of a quorum and City
Council requested to have the preliminary budget earlier the commissioners did
not have any input in the budget submitted to the City Manager for review.
Ms. Harville explained that there were no revenue rate
increases and the City Manager has not reviewed this yet that is scheduled for
tomorrow, August 27, 2009.
Ms. Harville proceeded to review various line items of
the budget. She noted the following items:
1. The
charts depicted the revenues and expenses for 2010.
2. The Port
and Harbor Fund showed the actual, proposed and projected budgets from 2007 to
2012 along with operating expenses and income before depreciation, capital
contributions, reserves and leave cash out.
3. The expenditure
summary is by line item for the current budget and proposed 2010 budget. She
explained that there was no request for capital outlay.
4. There is
a narrative for each section of the budget.
5. The
leave cash out covers employees who cash out leave upon retirement.
6. There is
a small balance remaining for the debt.
7. There
will be no COLA increases for 2010. There are only required step increases to employee’s
salaries.
8. The
salaries for the patrol employees are split between the Police Department and
the Port and Harbor.
There was a brief discussion on the patrol duties, the
disparity between the decrease to administration and the salaries. Ms. Harville
will forward information regarding the general rate schedule in pay to
Commissioner Hogan per his request. She further explained that there were several
employees with step increases and there was an accounting error in the formula used
to calculate the benefits that accounted for some of the increase shown.
9. There
was an increase in electric but decreases in other utility areas.
10. The line
item for Port Security has been added due to increase federal security requirements.
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins responded to questions
regarding the regulations imposed on the Deep Water Dock regarding landings of
cruise ships and vessels carrying hazardous materials, the additional training
required and increased costs to meet these federal requirements. These costs
need to be tracked and the other line items where the costs have been pulled
from do not track these costs.
Commissioner Hogan asked about the General Fund
Administrative transfers showing a reduction of about $32,000.00. Ms. Harville explained
that it covered the costs of city hall and doing the billing and the general
fund is in the process of cutting expenditures due to the loss of sales tax
revenue. The general fund transfers are based on dollar amount and services
provided. Ms. Harville gave an example using the services provided by the
Clerks office. She explained that she does not have the detailed information as
the cuts are still be implemented by the City Manager. She then explained the
reserve fund balance.
Commissioner Hogan requested information of withdrawals
made during the previous 10 years. Ms. Harville stated she could provide
inception to date history for the next meeting.
Ms. Harville noted on the budget for the Fish Dock that
there was a decrease in the electricity. She also noted some small decreases in
the budget for the Deep Water Dock.
There was a brief discussion on the Outfall and Grinder
electric being included into the Fish Dock Budget. Port & Harbor Director
Hawkins will provide information at the next meeting regarding the operating
agreement for the fish grinder. There was a minor increase due to higher costs
for equipment maintenance for the Fish Grinder Budget.
The Port & Harbor Administration, Harbor, Pioneer
Dock and Deep Water Dock Maintenance Budgets will show a decrease due to
reallocation by public works. Ms. Harville confirmed that these budgets are
created by Public Works. Port & Harbor does not perform any actual
maintenance it is cover by Public Works personnel. Ms. Harville stated that
there will be changes and adjustments. She advised the commissioners to
consider that as the Commissioners submit any input.
Port & Harbor Director Hawkins responded to a question
by Commissioner Zimmerman regarding the purchase of tools and equipment. Tools
purchased are shared between the departments. The Public Works employees are
included in the budget.
The Commissioners thanked Ms. Harville and looked
forward to the next meeting.
There were no further discussions.
B. Lease Committee Report (if a meeting was held since the last Commission
meeting)
Port & Harbor Director Hawkins reviewed the memorandums
submitted to Council by the Lease Committee regarding Snug Harbor, Seldovia Village
Tribe (SVT) and Harbor Enterprises/Sport Shed. They are in negotiations with
SVT and are waiting on some third party engineering. He explained that the
$0.50 per square foot is what was proposed by SVT.
There was a brief discussion on the Consumer Price Index
affecting leases.
The short term yearly lease for Snug Harbor which is
atypical is being encouraged by the Committee.
Snug Harbor does pay rent year long on the property. It
can be advertised each year and if a long term lessee is obtained then they
would have to vacate the property. Commissioner
Hartley did not feel that it would be too difficult to get them to sign a lease
and getting their attention could be as simple as asking them to leave.
Commissioner Hogan commented that the boiler-plate lease
document will be reviewed by the Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDC).
He then gave a brief synopsis on what the EDC has been involved with in regards
to the lease policies to bring Commissioner Zimmerman up to speed. Port and
Harbor Director confirmed the document has not changed since 2003.
There was no further discussion.
PUBLIC
HEARING (3 minute time
limit)
None.
PENDING
BUSINESS
A. Memorandum dated July 15, 2009 Re: Video Surveillance on the Fish Dock
Port and Harbor
Director Hawkins summarized that they had a discussion with various persons
involved and the City Attorney advised that privacy issues with other fish dock
users may come into play. He further stated that he had an issue with privately
owned equipment being installed on city-owned property. National Marine
Fisheries Enforcement indicated that it may not meet their requirements.
Commissioner Hogan
stated that it was determined that cameras could be installed on his property
in a manner that may suit their requirements for chain of custody of the fish.
He further explained exactly what was needed. He further stated that
cleanliness was one of the issues, safety and that it was more geared toward
the halibut industry. They can install and use a wireless system.
There was no further
discussion.
B. Capital Improvement Plan 2010 Recommendations
Deputy City Clerk Krause distributed a
project that had been omitted from the packet regarding the Kachemak Bay Tidal
Power – Feasibility and Conceptual Design.
Commissioner Hogan pointed out that several
of the projects included in the information had been funded and should be
removed. They were Spit Trail Completion/Harbor Pathways, Williamsport Pile Bay
Road Rehabilitation, Freight Dock Road Paving, and Skyline Fire Station, Jack
Gist Park Improvements Phase I, and Fishing Lagoon Improvements. The last three
projects were included on a Stimulus grant request. These have not been fully
funded.
There was a brief discussion on how to
select the projects for recommendation to council. There was a brief discussion
on the erosion control issues for the harbor, additional restroom facilities at
system five, the condition of the outhouse at system two, ramp five.
The commissioners took turns listing their
top five projects in priority order. The individual recommendations were as
follows:
Commissioner Hogan: Sterling Highway Preservation - Redesign and Reconstruction Mile
Post 154 to Homer City Limits to Address Severe
Erosion Issues
Replacement
of Harbor Float & Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach Replacement
Alternative
Water Source
Homer
Intersection Improvements
Remove
City Hall Town Square Project
Commissioner Hartley: Sterling Highway Preservation - Redesign and Reconstruction Mile
Post 154 to Homer City Limits to Address Severe
Erosion Issues
Harbor
Entrance Erosion Control
Port
& Harbor Building
Public
Restrooms at All Ramps and Various Locations throughout the Spit
Commissioner Ulmer: Deep Water Dock Expansion Phase I
Harbor
Entrance Erosion Control
Public
restroom – Fish Dock
Port
& Harbor Building
Replacement
of Harbor Float & Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach Replacement
Commissioner Wedin: Replacement of Harbor Float & Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach
Replacement
Port
& Harbor Building
Sterling
Highway Preservation - Redesign and Reconstruction Mile Post 154 to Homer
City Limits to Address Severe Erosion Issues
Public
Restrooms – Fish Dock
East
Boat Harbor
Commissioner Zimmerman: Harbor Entrance Erosion Control
Replacement of Harbor Float &
Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach Replacement
Deep Water Dock Expansion – Phase I
Public Restrooms Fish Dock
Homer Intersection Improvements – He
would like to see round-abouts everywhere
The
Commissioners requested Deputy City Clerk Krause to take the information and
list in priority order the top five recommended projects and prepare
memorandum. The overall top five recommendations were:
1.
Harbor Float Replacement &
Ramp 3 Gangway and Approach Replacement
2. Public Restrooms – Fishdock
3. Port & Harbor Building
4. Sterling Highway Preservation - Redesign and
Reconstruction Mile Post 154
to
Homer City Limits. – New Project (added by the EDC)
5. Deep Water Dock Expansion – Phase I
6. Homer Intersection Improvements
7. Alternative Water Source
8. East Boat Harbor
9. Remove the City Hall Town Square project
The top five projects will be included in
the memorandum to city council with mention of the runner up projects.
There was no further discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
INFORMATIONAL
MATERIALS
A. Harbormaster’s Monthly Statistical Report for July 2009
B. Weekly Crane & Ice Report
C. Deep Water Dock
D. Pioneer Dock
E. Ferry Landings
F. Water Usage
G. Commissioner Attendance Schedule for Council Meetings 2009
H. Lease Expiration Schedule
I. Port & Harbor 2009 Strategic Plan
J. Memorandum dated July 16, 2009 from Lease Committee Re: Homer Enterprises, LLC
K. Memorandum dated
July 21, 2009 from Lease Committee to City Council
Re: Seldovia Village Tribe Lease for Lot 21
L. Memorandum dated July 17, 2009 from Lease Committee Re: Lot 13B Snug Harbor Seafoods
Commissioner Hogan requested that the crane and ice report could be
broken down into monthly totals too. It was noted that this may be one of the
best years with high ice sales.
There was no further
discussion.
COMMENTS
OF THE AUDIENCE
There were no comments.
COMMENTS
OF THE
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins commented on the budget stating he has a
meeting scheduled with the City Manager and Finance Director. He has not
submitted a request for projects or equipment. He will be submitting a request
for a new plow truck to replace an early 1990’s Chevy 2500. He has a
representative with a company to replace the Secom card reader system that is
DOS based. He noted that replacing this system will save time and equipment.
This system is a proven system that is similar to one recently installed in Auke
Bay near Juneau, Alaska.
Deputy City Clerk Krause commented on the Ordinance and Resolution that
was presented to City Council on Monday and Council person Howard requested these
to be postponed until the commissions, committees have a chance to offer input.
There was a brief discussion on the reason that is necessitating the changes.
The recommendation is to schedule the Port & Harbor every other month.
This can be added to the September agenda and one of the commissioners
could report on the viewpoint of the commission. Commissioner Zimmerman will be
added to that schedule.
COMMENTS
OF THE COUNCILMEMBER (If one is appointed)
None.
COMMENTS
OF THE CHAIR
Chair Ulmer thanked everyone for attending
and the efforts of staff; she welcomed Commissioner Zimmerman and noted that
she would not be at the September meeting.
COMMENTS
OF THE COMMISSION
Commissioner Hogan welcomed Steve Zimmerman.
Commissioner Wedin extended a welcome to Steve. Thanked
Bryan and staff. He reported that he has been inundated with comments regarding
the conditions down at ramp four with the seagull situation. The approach is
very dangerous and the waste is a health hazard. Staff has done a great job
keeping the cleaning station area clean. This does offer any deterrent.
There was a brief discussion on what steps could be
taken to prevent attractants, such as spikes on roof lines, cannon shots, electrical
charges, netting.
Commissioner Hartley had no comments.
Commissioner Zimmerman thanked everyone for the
invite and thanked Bryan for his assistance.
Chair Ulmer asked who the Vice Chair was and response
was Commissioner Velsko. He will have to be reminded to attend the next meeting
since she will not be here.
There being no
further business before the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission Chair Ulmer
adjourned the meeting at 7:43 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for
6:00 p.m. on September 23, 2009 at City Hall, Cowles Council Chambers, 491 E.
Pioneer Avenue, Homer,
Renee Krause, Deputy
City Clerk I
Approved: