Session 10-05, a Regular Meeting of the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission was called to order by Chair Ulmer at 5:00 p.m. on June 23, 2010 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS ULMER, CARROLL, ZIMMERMAN, HARTLEY,
ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS WEDIN, VELSKO, HOTTMANN
STAFF: PORT AND HARBOR DIRECTOR HAWKINS
DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN
AGENDA APPROVAL
HARTLEY/ZIMMERMAN MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
The agenda was approved as written by consensus of the Commission.
PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA
There were no public comments.
RECONSIDERATION
There were no reconsiderations scheduled.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
ZIMMERMAN/HARTLEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MAY 26 MEETING MINUTES.
The meeting minutes were approved as written by consensus of the Commission.
VISITORS
STAFF AND COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS
A. Port and Harbor Director’s Reports for May and June 2010
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins reviewed his staff reports and answered questions from the Commissioners.
PUBLIC HEARING
There were no public hearing scheduled.
PENDING BUSINESS
A. Request for Proposals Lots 9A, 10A, 19, 20, and 12A
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins said there were no proposals and this was provided for information.
B. Spit Comprehensive Plan
City Planner Abboud updated the Commission on what the PC and EDC have done. He said he would take notes to pass on to the Planning Commission and suggested they may want to have discussion and prepare a formal recommendation if they see a need for specific changes.
Discussion points included:
· Types and location of residential uses as accessory uses. People should be able to live above their businesses, but not B&B’s or rooms for rent. Fish processing businesses need to have a provision for staff on site 24 hours and need to have a sound location that can meet fire code, not campers and busses.
· Overslope and parking standards. The City should at least build the platform for overslope. Most won’t do that for just 3 or 4 months of business.
· 1% for landscaping. Issues with landscaping on the spit as you can only grow particular things. It is an arts community, perhaps statues or murals.
· Recreation and Community Space. Parks are important. We need picnic and play areas for locals. Some camping may need to be displaced to provide a community space near the Pier One Theater area.
· Identification of land to be purchased for conservation areas.
· Enhance area around deep water dock. Currently there aren’t many amenities for cruise ship passengers. There are not a lot of opportunities once the passengers disembark to direct them to the opportunities happening in our area. Currently there is no welcome or cultural experience for passengers. It is an industrial area so how do you combine the two. It is important to consider revenue from cruise ships to revenue from the industry of the port, and how the two work together.
· Traffic flow. There are very few accidents and congestion is bad for a very small part of the year. Eliminating big RVs parking along the road to improve visibility, having business owner’s park away from their buildings, and fining jay walkers would solve a lot of the problem.
· Safe movement at the base of the spit. There should not be a cross walk where the speed limit is 45 mph. Put in a pedestrian culvert under the highway and people could park at Mariner Park.
He advised them that the Planning Commission hopes to have a draft for public review by the end of August.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Capital Improvement Plan 2011-2016
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins identified some of the changes in the document and current projects specific to the harbor.
Most of the Commissioner’s listed their priorities and agreed to discuss them further at their next meeting to allow for more input from the other Commissioners.
Commissioner Carroll said he is interested in proposing an item for the list to revamp the ice house. It is an opportunity for economic development for several reasons including a market for wild fresh fish.
B. Lease Committee Membership
Commissioner Zimmerman volunteered to take the seat on the Lease Committee. There was no objection expressed by the Commissioners.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
A. 2010 Commissioner Attendance at City Council Meetings
B. Harbormaster’s Monthly Statistical Report
C. Weekly Crane and Ice Report
D. Deep Water Dock Report
E. Pioneer Dock Report
F. Pioneer Dock Ferry Landing Report
G. Memorandum to Harbor Staff Dated June 11, 2010 Parking Enforcement Update
H. Letter to AKDOT Regional Director Wilbur date June 7, 2010 Parking Regulations and Enforcement on the Homer Spit from City Manager Wrede
COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE
There were no audience comments.
COMMENTS OF CITY STAFF
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins reviewed the information in the packet regarding spit parking. He noted that signs are being posted regarding the parking changes. They broke up the 33 diagonal spaces along the boardwalks on the west side into two sections and set a 20 foot size limit for vehicles and a time limit of two hours. Loading areas will be marked accordingly.
COMMENTS OF THE COUNCILMEMBER
No Councilmembers were present.
COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR
Chair Ulmer had no comment.
COMMENTS OF THE COMMITTEE
The Commissioners had no comment.
ADJOURN
There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK
Approved: