PORT AND HARBOR ADVISORY COMMISSION UNAPPROVED
REGULAR MEETING
FEBRUARY 27, 2008
Session 08-02 A Regular Meeting of
the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:00 pm on
February 27, 2008 by Chair Otto Kilcher at the City Hall Cowles Council
Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS MARTIN, KILCHER, ULMER, VELSKO,
CARROLL, MACKIE, HOGAN
STAFF: PORT
& HARBOR DIRECTOR DEAN
DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE
APPROVAL OF THE
AGENDA
The
agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENT
REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA (3 Minute Time
Limit)
None.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
A.
Regular
Meeting Minutes of January 23, 2008
The
minutes were approved by consensus of the Commission.
RECONSIDERATION
None.
VISITORS
MACKIE/ULMER – MOVED TO SUSPEND THE
RULES TO ALLOW MR. BRUCE HESS TO SPEAK ON SPIT PARKING ISSUES.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
Motion carried.
Chair Kilcher opened discussion by
explaining that Commissioner Ulmer, Port & Harbor Director Dean and himself
attended the joint worksession with Council on Monday, February 25, 2008. He
opined that between the three of them they represented the Port & Harbors’
interest concerning some issues with the Land Allocation Plan. They updated the
Mayor and City Council and remaining attendees on what the Port & Harbor
has been involved in recently. He commented that Mr. Hess was present and had
brought up some issues regarding the parking on the Spit.
Mr. Bruce Hess was speaking as a
private citizen; he was not present as a representative of the Planning
Commission. However, he commented that he might have a bit more knowledge
regarding the parking issues because of his involvement on the Planning
Commission.
Mr. Hess referred to a recent
Conditional Use Permit before the Planning Commission that really brought the
parking predicament on the Spit to the forefront. He mentioned that there are
no current parking requirements on the Spit to provide patron parking. There
are extensive parking requirements in town and virtually none on the Spit.
Mr. Hess would like to see work
start soon on addressing this problem with parking on the Spit. He believes
that it would not be in the best interests for further development such as
overslope development on the Spit without addressing the parking problem. He
would like to see an assessment study performed that will determine the current
parking availability and requirements and what will be needed in the future. He
referred to the east side of the spit using the aerial photo supplied by Port
& Harbor Director Dean in regards to future development areas.
Chair Kilcher commented that Mr.
Hess was not presenting any new information to the Commission.
Mr. Hess pointed out that the
current parking code in regards to the Spit has not been updated since around
1988. He referred to the lease parcels that came up in the land allocation
plan. Mr. Hess stepped to the blackboard and the Clerk was unable to discern
his comments to accurately record them in the minutes. Mr. Hess believes that
when current uses are combined with the potential future growth of the Spit
there will be no place to park but towards the base.
Mr. Hess would like to recommend a
Request for Proposal (RFP) to solicit an analysis to be conducted for the
current and future parking requirements on the Spit.
Commissioner Martin commented that
it would appear Mr. Hess’ first concern was a parking code requirement on the
Spit.
Mr. Hess responded that the “in
town” code requirement was not as onerous comparatively in relation to calculating
business parking requirements. Mr. Hess explained that the City Planner has a
book that would give a parking space requirement for each type of business. He
pointed out that the situation now resembled musical chairs. Mr. Hess referred
to an area on the East side of the Harbor regarding parking availability. Port
& Harbor Director Dean clarified for Mr. Hess that the area he referenced,
the Commission has fought for the last 6 or 7 years in an effort to lease out
the lots that they are important to existing uses and future uses. They did not
want to encourage the same mistakes on the East side of the spit as the West
side.
Mr. Hess continued that where the
timed parking is located is actually a State right of way not City property.
Chair Kilcher agreed with Mr. Hess.
Mr. Hess pointed out a number of
areas where the current parking is in the State right of way. He mentioned that
the state required a permit to park in the right of way by the business. The
majority of parking for businesses along the Spit Road is in the right of way.
Mr. Hess reported that during the Land Allocation worksession the City Manager
mentioned that they could include parking requirements within the lease
agreement. Mr. Hess did not feel that was the appropriate way to handle the
parking problems.
Commissioner Mackie held the
understanding that any new businesses must have parking, that was the reason
for the conditional use permit for the oyster farmers and when Southcentral
Radar was required to have parking. New businesses were required to have
parking, existing businesses were grandfathered in; this was the information
given to the Commission; that the Spit was under the existing parking code.
Commissioner Velsko agreed emphasizing what Commissioner Mackie had stated.
Mr. Hess explained that the
Planning Commission has been applying it inconsistently and after the Shellfish
application the Commissioners examined the code language and it took quite
awhile because of the way it is written, that the majority of them took several
attempts before fully comprehending the code requirements. It was determined that the only parking
requirement on the Spit is a parking space requirement for year round employees
and if you cannot provide that on the same premises you can use City owned property. He gave examples of various current business
owners on the Spit.
Commissioner Mackie responded that
since the majority of the businesses were grandfathered in on the far west
side, the Commission could not retroactively require parking of them; there is
not enough room. Henceforth, the Commissions’ movement towards paid parking and
an attempt to force parking more towards the end where there was room. Mr. Hess
replied that as it stands unless a lease agreement has the requirement, there
is no patron parking requirements. The current code was written twenty years
ago, it was a different place, lots of city owned vacant land that people could
park nearby. It is quite obvious the Spit has limited land space.
Chair Kilcher acknowledged once
again that he was happy to have Mr. Hess here speaking about the parking
issues. He stated that the Port & Harbor Commission went as far as they
could without more information and contemplated arranging a joint worksession
with the Planning Commission to work this out. He believes this joint effort
could bring lots of ideas to the table. He observed that the danger of just
selecting an area for parking without thinking ahead is that those areas will
fill up. Then you end up with a temporary patch and the situation is compounded
if a whole new code or system is not instituted. Previous discussions by the
Commissioners have headed in the direction of a form of self-regulated parking.
You need to ask the question, “What should be done?” Think along the lines of,
“If it was working twenty years down the road what would it be?” Suggestions
offered by the Commissioners were parking garages, a train, and shuttle
services.
Mr. Hess referred to the concerns
expressed by the police chief regarding pedestrian and vehicular conflicts when
the Shellfish issue came up. He believes that unless the parking issues get
under control that will increase exponentially.
Commissioner Velsko commented on
the parking issue with the Shellfish co-op and that the Commission wrestled
with it because they did not want to dissuade an enterprise that would be
beneficial to the Spit. The Port & Harbor Commission agreed that they could
dedicate parking across the road if the Planning Commission agreed to that
plan. The Planning Commission is required to make that final decision regarding
development. Mr. Hess stated that it was fortunate that the Shellfish was a
conditional use. His point was that you could have uses out on the Spit that
require a lot of patron parking and there is nothing that can be legally done.
Commissioner Velsko stated his
understanding was that on the Harbor side a lease would require parking.
Port & Harbor Director Dean
clarified the new information Mr. Hess was bringing to the Commission was that
there are existing and potential new uses that are not going to be regulated.
Commissioner Carroll commented that
they tend to think in terms of lease situations, but the biggest users in the
Harbor are businesses such as Rainbow Tours. They have 20-70 people show up
every day and those cars need to be parked somewhere. They do not have a lease.
There would be no way to accommodate all those parking needs if more similar
businesses were established.
Commissioner Ulmer stated that
maybe private enterprise would be required to provide in town parking with a
shuttle service. She commented that Homer Charters book a substantial number of
people and maybe she will end up driving a bus to pick up customers in town and
take them out to them Spit if that’s what it takes. There has to be some solution.
Mr. Hess countered that if an
assessment is performed it needs to cover things like people coming out there
to walk their dogs, bike, etc.
Commissioner Ulmer asked what the
City is doing with the tax dollars they collect, it seems a shame for those
customers who take a charter, paying to park their cars, all they need is to
get out to Spit and back.
Commissioner Hogan arrived at 6:25
p.m.
Mr. Hess agreed that there was a
potential for shuttles to cover some of those long term parking requirements.
Commissioner Carroll said it
reminds him of resort areas where you park in a huge lot away from the
attraction and they have the trams or shuttles that take you to the park
entrance.
Mr. Hess reminded the Commissioners
that when you have designated parking away from the businesses you have to
provide safe pedestrian crossings.
Commissioner Ulmer commented that
it might be a collaborative effort between the Planning Commission, City
personnel and or management, and Port & Harbor Commissioners. This is an
issue that is way more than the responsibility of the Port & Harbor
Commission alone.
Chair Kilcher requested Mr. Hess’
assistance setting up a meeting with the Planning Commission. He also requested
the Port & Harbor Director send a memorandum to the planning department
personnel and administration to arrange a joint worksession with everyone.
Mr. Hess replied that he has been
recommending it should really be at the top of the Planning Commission agenda.
Commissioner Velsko commented that
the problem with changing the City Code would be the big charter operators, all
the influx of vehicles; it will be a pretty complicated code because there is
off site parking requirements for some and not others.
Chair Kilcher stated if the code
applied to the entire Spit and the remaining available parking was paid
parking, charging $5.00 per day, the private sector will either jump on the
bandwagon saying, there’s money to make, or they will not want their customers
to pay for parking and will provide transportation.
Further discussion followed
regarding the possible problems this might bring up; where available parking
would be depending on the season; determining how much more development can be
allowed on the Spit because of the parking requirements; why it would be
beneficial to look at a shuttle bus option as a revenue source; City allocating
a ½ percent of the sales tax strictly to the Spit to help develop some
programs; the importance of the Spit to the vitality of the City; and that the
parties involved should include private enterprise and arranging a joint
worksession, forum or public hearing between the Planning Commission, City
Administration, Planning Department, and business owners.
Commissioner Martin stated it might
be the time to get a professional involved as the Port & Harbor Commission
does not have the expertise to take it any further and that the money would be
well spent in the long run.
Chair Kilcher commented that it
would behoove the City in general and the invoice should not fall solely on the
Port & Harbor.
Mr. Hess pointed out that the Spit
is not included at all in the updated Comprehensive Plan. It has been totally
cut out.
KILCHER/ULMER - MOVE TO SEND A
MEMORANDUM REQUESTING A JOINT WORKSESSION WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT, CITY
ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC WORKS, AND PLANNING COMMISSIONERS REGARDING THE ISSUES
OF PARKING ON THE SPIT.
Further discussion ensued regarding
scheduling the meeting on the day of the next Port & Harbor meeting at
5:30. Commissioner Mackie commented
that the Commission has struggled for years with this issue and until pay
parking is enforced he is not optimistic. Commissioner Carroll believes that it
should go back to the policy of the user pays, they are the reason for the
problems and should help in paying for the solution. Chair Kilcher stated that
on the other side is the visitor staying at a bed & breakfast in town
driving to the Spit, will also be a user and that is the reason he comes back
to pay parking. Commissioner Martin felt it was being addressed again at the
wrong time of the year and it will get dropped as soon as summer comes. Chair
Kilcher expressed that with the interest shown by Mr. Hess and it’s a start to
get the subject rolling. Further comments stating it would be the perfect time
because the assessment can be done when the parking is the worse.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
Motion carried.
STAFF &
COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS
(Chair set time
limit not to exceed 5 minutes)
A.
Port & Harbor Director’s Staff Report
– February 2008
a.
CIRCAC Clean Harbors Workgroup
Teleconference
b.
Transportation Worker
Identification Credential
Port & Harbor Director Dean
elaborated on the Transportation Identification Credential program and some of
the requirements.
Discussion ensued regarding the
interpretations by different entities for various requirements; if the cost was
going to be yearly; access to the Pioneer Dock will be only by using this card
and a biometric reader; it will be just like the issues with guns, no matter
the restrictions bad guys always get a gun; this will apply to everyone
accessing the docks, terminals, etc., from truck drivers to longshoremen; long
term outlook and effects of this requirement.
Commissioner Mackie asked if any
boats have gone for salvage. Port & Harbor Director stated that there were
a couple of large vessels in the Harbor that personnel have been urging the
owners to look into salvaging these vessels due to the high demand for steel in
Korea.
There was
no further discussion.
PUBLIC HEARING (3 minute time limit)
None.
PENDING BUSINESS
A. Overslope Proposal Comments from Mr.
Yourkowski
Chair
Kilcher asked for a motion to discuss.
There was
none offered. There was no discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS
A.
Harbormaster’s Monthly Statistical
Report for January 2008
B.
Weekly Crane and Ice Report
C.
Pioneer Dock
D.
Pioneer Dock Ferry Landings
E.
Memorandum Re: Land Allocation Plan
2008
COMMENTS OF THE
AUDIENCE
None.
COMMENTS OF THE CITY
STAFF
Port
& Harbor Director Dean responded to Commissioner Ulmer’s question regarding
the derby and slips that anyone interested could contact the Harbor Office.
Deputy City Clerk Krause commented
that the Commissioners were doing great.
COMMENTS OF THE
COUNCILMEMBER (If one is appointed)
None.
COMMENTS OF THE
CHAIR
Chair Kilcher commented that the
Commissioners were great and he enjoyed working with them all. He also asked
Commissioner Velsko if he would be willing to take over attending the Lease
Committee meetings as a representative of the Commission.
COMMENTS OF THE
COMMISSION
Commissioner Carroll commented that
he was glad to see everyone back and good meeting.
Commissioner Martin wanted to know
why they did not have a council member appointed to the Commission and if all
the Commission/Committees had a representative.
Commissioner Ulmer wanted to know
if the slips were going to be assigned for the derby.
Commissioner Mackie commented it
was a good meeting.
There being no further business
before the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission Chair Kilcher adjourned the
meeting at 7:00.m. The next meeting is scheduled for March 26, 2008 at City
Hall, Cowles Council Chambers, 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I
Approved: