REGULAR MEETING
SEPTEMBER 23, 2009
Session 09-07 A
Regular Meeting of the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission was called to order
at 6:00 pm on September 23, 2009 by Vice Chair John Velsko at the City Hall
Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer,
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS VELSKO, HARTLEY, ZIMMERMAN, CARROLL, AND
HOGAN
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER ULMER AND WEDIN (EXCUSED)
STAFF: PORT & HARBOR
DIRECTOR HAWKINS
DEPUTY
APPROVAL
OF THE AGENDA
Vice Chair Velsko
requested a motion to approve the agenda.
Commissioner Hogan
requested Item C be moved up to Item A, Item A then moves to Item C and so
forth. There was no further discussions.
HARTLEY/HOGAN –
MOVED TO APPROVE THE AMENDED 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 August 26, 2009
Vice Chair Velsko requested a motion to approve the minutes.
HOGAN/ZIMMERMAN - MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
VISITORS
Mr. Jeff Erickson with Home Run Oil reading from a prepared statement - announced
that he has become aware of a growing desire to have a competitive fuel service
in the Homer Harbor. Home Run Oil would like to provide that service. He would
like to begin discussions with the Port & Harbor Commission concerning this
possibility and potential location. In order to provide a viable competitive operation
they will first need to develop a terminal to receive fuel by barge. Without
this facility Home Run Oil will not have the necessary position in the market
to provide the competitive price and service the community desires. A fuel
terminal is a serious venture, constructed and maintained, will serve several
generations. It must be located, managed and funded properly in order to
achieve a lasting benefit to the community. Mr. Erickson expressed the desire
to contact each of the Commissioners in the near future with a preliminary
description of the scope of the project and proposed location. Further progress
in this endeavor depends on agreement on the desirability and location of this
project.
He then thanked them for their time.
A brief discussion included the size of the storage tanks required, which
lot or lots they were currently interested in; if there was a planned service
station for the future; time frame for completion of the project. Vice Chair
Velsko stated that for further discussion this subject needed to be placed on
the next agenda. He noted the impending meeting schedule changes. Port &
Harbor Director Hawkins commented he will have this on the Lease Committee
agenda for September 8, 2009. Mr. Erickson stated they did require ˝ acre or
more. A pipeline would be needed for the deep water dock. The terminal would
service trucks that would service a separate facility. Included in the brief
discussion was a permitting time frame for the project and arranging a longer
lease term considering the average life for a business like this was
approximately 70 years. Mr. Erickson stated they were interested in lot 13B.
Port & Harbor Director Hawkins indicated that the City Manager is fully
aware of this proposal.
There was no further discussion.
STAFF & COUNCIL REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS
(Chair
set time limit not to exceed 5 minutes)
A.
Port & Harbor Director’s
Staff Report – September 2009
Port
& Harbor Director Hawkins summarized his report for the Commissioners. He
commented that it was discussed that since the recommendations for the budget
were submitted for review that it was unnecessary to have the Finance Director
Harville attends the meeting tonight. He stated if the Commissioners had any
questions to let him know and he will get answers for them.
In
response to a question on the derelict vessels, he responded that the Orace and
Sally Ann were sold and leaving town. He did not believe the new policies were
the reason for the sale. They were purchased from an outside buyer. The past
due moorage was forgiven along with the lien with the understanding they were
to never darken the harbor again. The City lost approximately $130,000, this amount
included the damaged ramp and unpaid moorage.
There
was a brief discussion on getting an engineer to approve the usage of the ramp
in a harbor. The staff is still working on the remaining derelicts in the
Harbor. They have even received calls from a broker in New York. There are two
boats that are in arrears that do not move and one in arrears that does go in
and out.
There
was a brief clarification that the 2010 Budget did not have any fee increases;
and the Port & Harbor is debt free as of last month.
There
was no further discussion.
1.
Budget
Talk with Finance Director Regina Harville
There was no discussion.
B. Lease Committee Report (if a meeting was held since the last Commission
meeting)
The next meeting is scheduled for October 8, 2009.
There was no discussion.
PUBLIC
HEARING (3 minute time
limit)
None.
PENDING
BUSINESS
A. Memorandum of Agreement with Coast
Guard Auxiliary and the City of Homer Port & Harbor
Craig Forrest, President, Rescue 21 stated that they are a private
non-profit corporation that assists the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. They own the Quanah P and offer assistance to the Coast Guard Auxiliary
as needed.
Mr. Forrest gave a brief history on how the Quanah P
was purchased and equipped. The City agreed to provide moorage and electricity
since 1984. It has been off and on a primary rescue boat since then when the US
Coast Guard safe boat is unavailable or in for repairs.
Port and Harbor Director Hawkins explained that when reviewing files
there was no indication regarding the gifting by City Council of the
electricity and moorage to Rescue 21. This agreement will give direction for
future Harbormasters.
There was a brief discussion on the separation of Rescue 21 and the US
Coast Guard Auxiliary; the need of a reserve slip due to the nature of the
operation; and corrections to the MOU Agreement; if there was a more preferable
berthing location.
Vice Chair Velsko asked for a motion to accept the changes to the
Memorandum of Agreement and submit to City Council.
HOGAN/ZIMMERMAN – MOVED TO RECOMMEND HARBORMASTER HAWKINS FINALIZE
AGREEMENT WITH RESCUE 21 AND SUBMIT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
C. Proposed
Ordinance 09-39(S) Amending the Meeting Schedule to Every Other Month
Vice Chair Velsko
requested a motion to discuss.
ZIMMERMAN/HOGAN –
MOVED TO DISCUSS.
Commissioner Hogan stated
that the EDC voted not to support this change. There are too many time
sensitive subjects and discussions that would not be addressed and he felt that
this commission governs themselves in a responsible manner and that it would
not be conducive to addressing important issues. There were other ways to cut
costs besides cutting out meetings that stop the commissions from doing their
work.
Commissioner
Zimmerman agreed and used as an example the proposal that would be upcoming
from Home Run Oil. He agreed with recommending against changing the meeting frequency.
Commissioner Hartley
agreed that there are things that come up that need to be acted on and so the
Commission should meet every month.
Vice Chair Velsko commented
that the City does have some valid concerns on the some committees and
commissions as it does take money to take the minutes but that this commission
is one of the more important ones and should meet every month however in the
spirit of saving money and cutting costs this commission should endeavor to
hold meetings to no longer than two hours.
HOGAN/ZIMMERMAN - MOVED
TO send a memorandum to city council
that the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission DESIRES tO maintain the same MEETING
schedule.
There was further
discussion on being mindful of the budget and each commission should have their
own budget. That they should be watching what is requested from the Clerk since
she is on overtime. That there were too many time sensitive issues that would
put off people from dealing with the City.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
B. Memorandum
to Port & Harbor Advisory Commission Re: Fish Grinder Information Request
Vice Chair Velsko
requested a motion to discuss.
HOGAN/CARROLL – SO MOVED.
Discussion ensued on
the status of the EPA permit and who the permit belonged to – City of Homer.
The language in the Lease Agreement; it was noted that the DEC manages the
process for the EPA. There were no changes to the permit. The number of totes
that the Fish Factory put through the grinder was brought up however that
information was not immediately available.
The peak operating season
would require 2 full time personnel.
The Fish Factory
currently uses the City’s facility. It would be nice to hear the numbers as it
appears the Fish Factory is getting a pretty good ride from the outside. It was
noted that immediate equipment required would be a fork lift. Monies originally
came from a grant for the building of the facility.
It was questioned if
there were performance and maintenance standards for the facility. There were
concerns expressed about the existing conditions of the facility.
More discussion
including total dollar amounts for the Charter industry usage.
There is oversight on
throwing carcasses in the bay.
There was a brief
discussion on the charter and commercial companies using the fish cleaning
tables. If there was anything that could be done to prohibit people from
feeding the birds. It may be a mistake from putting a roof over the table. Also
discussed was the frequency that the tables were cleaned and trailers were
dumped, getting more control over people flicking bits into the parking lot.
Commissioner Carroll
felt it would be interesting to get the perspective from a biologist. He felt
that there was an over abundance of crows and they are voracious. Further
comment was inaudible to the Clerk for transcribing.
There was no further discussion.
NEW BUSINESS
Vice Chair Velsko asked if there was
anything to add for the next agenda.
1. Proposal
from Home Run Oil
2. Discussion
on Water Meters on the Floats
3. Discussion
on Parking Meters
There was a brief discussion regarding the
Parking Meters and if it would be appropriate to have on the agenda since a consultant
was working on the Spit Comprehensive Plan. It was determine that a 15 minute discussion
would not hinder any progress.
INFORMATIONAL
MATERIALS
A. Harbormaster’s Monthly Statistical Report for August 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 Updated 08.31.09
I. Port & Harbor 2009 Strategic Plan
J. Memorandum to May & City Council Dated August 28,
2009 Re: 2010-2015 CIP Recommendations
K. Ordinance
09-44 Overslope Development
L. Press Release – Tustumena’s Mechanical Malfunction Dated
September 14, 2009
There was a brief discussion on the cause of the breakdown of the Tustumena,
the status of the Overslope ordinance, the Deep Water Dock usage, scrap iron
shipment going out and possible extension, revenue from SERVS, and the repairs on
the Tustumena were conducted here by their own repair technicians.
There was no further
discussion.
COMMENTS
OF THE AUDIENCE
Jeff Erickson asked if there was an estimate for the amount of fish
carcasses that was ground up and dumped into the Bay? Harbormaster Hawkins
answered that approximately 1-2 million pounds.
Commissioner Carroll inquired about another use of the product from the
fish grinder. Using it for fertilizer. The Harbormaster commented he looked
forward to the day it is pumped into a truck instead of the Bay. The quantities
do not make it lucrative enough to have a business.
COMMENTS
OF THE
Deputy City Clerk Krause commented that the Commissioners have done very
well addressing the long term goals in the strategic plans but have overlooked
the short term goals. She complemented them on holding more efficient meetings.
She commented that they could change the meeting times to earlier in the work
day.
Harbormaster Hawkins inquired who was going to attend the Council meeting
to show support and answer questions on the overslope ordinance. He will distribute
the email address for Pat Coleman on the Spit Comp Plan. He put out a survey to
city staff regarding the parking on the spit. He received good responses.
Commissioner Carroll commented on an article in the
paper regarding paid parking only created an empty parking lot. It moved
everyone over and created a worse situation. It did not solve anything in his
opinion. He mentioned a brown truck by the Salty Dawg that went from one
parking lot to another.
Commissioner Zimmerman commented on paid parking for
the daily rate, leaving and have to pay again.
The City is looking into the right of way paid parking issue.
COMMENTS
OF THE COUNCILMEMBER (If one is appointed)
None.
COMMENTS
OF THE CHAIR
Vice Chair Velsko
thanked everyone for bearing with him conducting this meeting. It’s been a learning
curve.
COMMENTS
OF THE COMMISSION
Commissioner Hogan updated the status on the Lease
Policy with the EDC. They thought they were done but he went to a Chamber of
Commerce meeting and there were a few issues that came up. There are
improvements He thanked Harbormaster Hawkins and Deputy City Clerk Krause for
their efforts.
Commissioner Carroll comments were inaudible.
Commissioner Hartley commented that it was a good
meeting and very excited about the prospect of the proposal from Home Run Oil.
Commissioner Zimmerman echoed Commissioner Hartley’s
comments and also stated he would not mind seeing a gas station on the Spit where
people can buy fuel on the Spit.
There being no
further business before the Port and Harbor Advisory Commission Vice Chair Velsko
adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for
6:00 p.m. on October 28, 2009 at City Hall, Cowles Council Chambers, 491 E.
Pioneer Avenue, Homer,
Renee Krause, Deputy
City Clerk I
Approved: