Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-10-07 Harbor Commission SummaryKENAI HARBOR COMMISSION ~oP. O. Box 580 Kenai, Alaska 99611 AGENDA - October 7, 1980 REGULAR HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING: HARBOR COMMISSION MEMBERS: October 7, 1980- 7:00 p.m. Kenai Public Safety Building Robert Peterkin, Chairman John Williams, Vice-Chairman Tom Ackerly Tom Wagoner W. M. Burnett _ Ron Issacs Marvin Dragseth EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: Betty Glick, Councilwoman Mayor Vincent O' Reilly A-G-E-N-D-A A. Call to Order B. Roll Call Ce Agenda Approval De Approval of Minutes (.none E. Introduction of Guests F. Communications 1. Administrative Coordinator Memorandum 2. Letter to Dept. of the Interior 3. Letter to Mr. Roper G. Reports from City Administration 1. Gary Davis · Mayor O'Reilly H. Old Business · Selection Administrati~ Coordinator · Governor's Boards & Commissions Vacancy List AGENDA - OCTOBER~ 7, 1980 I. New Business ..... -~ ........... J. Persons Present Not Scheflul~d to be Kenai Advisory Harbor Commission Regular Meeting, October 7, 19 80 Kenai. Public Safety Building Robert Peterkin, Chairman · Ce Do E® Fe CALL TO ORDER Chairman Peterkin called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 'ROLL CALL Present: Chairman Robert Commissioner Tom Wagoner, Tom Ackerly, Commissioner Peterkin, Vice-Chairman Commissioner Ron Issacs, Marvin Dragseth. John Williams, Comm is si o ne r Others Present: Mayor O'~Reilly, Wm. J. Brighton, and Gary Davis. · AGENDA APPROVAL H. 3. Selection of an Engineering Firm (Addition) H. 4. Corps of Engineers (Addition) I. 1. Possible statements to be prepared for Clarion. (Addition) APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Special Meeting of September 27, and the minutes of the Regular Mee~ting of SePtember 30 were not completed at this time. ~INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS There were no guests present. COMMUNi.CAT IONS 1. Mr. Davis referred to his memorandum in the packet. explained he has revieWed Phase 1 of the Borough Coastal Management Program and the Executive Summary.. There are things to the City included. He stated he would like to He vital se e a contract recommended for the Administrative Coordinator in view of harbor activities. There are things that are important that could be done by the Coordinator. .Chairman Peterkin asked when Mr. Davis' contract was up. Mr. Davis stated it began Sept. 26, it would end Nov. 26. F. 2. The letter to the Dept. of the Tnterior was discussed. Mr. Davis reported he stopped by.the Customs Office for Port of Entry in Anchorage with no result. Chairman Peterkin stated the most important part of the l'etter was "What this effectively means is that ports of entry are established through the political process." He indicated possibly we should shift it to Ted Stevens. Commissioner Wagoner suggested shifting it to Mike Gravel. Mr. Davis suggested indicating to both of them our need for assistance. . Chairman Peterkin suggested Mr. Davis send a letter to Mike Gravel and Ted Stevens. Perhaps an outline should be included .with gasoline and fuel costs and the way fuel is handled. Commissioner Williams stated perhaps the number of foreign ships calling~in Nikiski that need a Port of Entry could be included. Chairman Peterkin felt that was a good idea. He pointed out everytime a foreign ship comes in there are four agents that must come dOwn from Anchorage. They include a representa'tive of Immigration, Agriculture, and a health official. The oil companies have to pay for this. ~ Commissioner Wagoner suggested Mr. Davis contact Larry Porter at Phillips. F. 3. ~Chairman Peterkin asked if anyone had comments on the letter to Mr. Roper. Mr. Brighton reported he received a telephone ~call "~from Rick Baldwin. He informed Mr. Brighton that Mr. Roper has engaged him as his attorney. Basically, he informed Mr. Brighton there will be some negotiations down the road. G. 1. Mr. Davis reported the City has been receiving more letters from the State and Federal agencies responding to the Comprehensive Plan. The COE's response was the COE's authority under Section 10 of the River and Harbor Act of 1899 is on navigable waters. Their authority under 404 is on navigable waters which is further defined as waters of the U. S. which are · navigable waters by legal definition. Senator Towers of Texas has submitted a bill to clarify COE jurisdiction. Mr. Davis stated he had held off on any P.O.'s for Pacific Northwest Waterways Association. MOTioN Commissioner Wagoner moved, seconded by Commissioner Williams that Gary Davis proCeed with procurement of the necessary plane tickets and reservations for himself and the Chairman of the Harbor Commission tomorrow to get in on the Supersaver. There was discussion and a roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Davis report.ed he has been reviewing the Borough Coastal Management Program. One area very important to the City is Areas Meriting Special Attention. In the Borough's Plan, Fish & Wildlife isn't included. Fish & Game has snow geese areas included. Mr. Davis .stated there are some areas that need some response. One is the bluff erosion problem. Bluff erosion is addressed in the Coastal Zone Management act under Hazardous Areas. Also, there is a chapter dealing with historical values. Old Kenai Townsite is of major historical, economical and residential values. There may be some avenue for specific funding for studies on the bluff. Mr. Davis reported he had not called Murray Walsh to see how it fits with the current OCM Grant. The current grant does address the Borough's Coastal Management Program. It states that one of the work tasks is a monthly summary of work accomplishments inclu~ding active summarz of participation in the Kenai Peninsula Coastal Development Program. Mr. Davis stated the contract for the Administrative Coordinator is quite general and allows for the coordinator to spend quite a bit of time in covering the City's interests. There may be a need for additional funds and for technical engineering studies. Chairman Peterkin asked Mr. Davis if he had a chance to talk to the Borough about our participation in CZM at the City level versus Borough level. Mr. Davis replied no. Mr. Davis explained Kramer, Chin & Mayo have a contract with the Borough for Phase 2 of the Kenai Peninsula Coastal Development Program. · Chairman Peterkin suggested Mr. Davis contact Kramer, Chin & Mayo .and see if we can get a meeting with them. Mr. Davis stated the initial step is to fill out the Questions & Comments sheet they distributed. He had been going through their plan and had come up with recommendations for the City to pass on to them. In Chapter One, they quote from ~Woodward Clyde. They have no new input. Woodward Clyde skirted the whole Kenai area. Some definite inclusions are needed to evaluate the small boat harbor, port and the Kenai River. Under Economic Resources & Activities, subtitle Recreation & Tourism it says Kenai has the local intrastructure to accomodate tourism and recreation. There is some evident resource activity and impact. Those were just - two areas. Mr. Davis stated he would find more and bring to the Harbor Commission's attention. Commissioner Williams stated he would like Mr. Davis to pursue the investigation for further funding for study on the bluff. There has been some further subsidence of that bluff along Willow Street. There could be a small creek there. Commission Williams said if it continues at the present rate it could go out to the pavement within 24 months. There were other examples stated of bluff erosion. G. 1.Mayor O'Reilly asked when the next Harbor Commission would be. Chairman Peterkin reported the 21st. There was some discussion and Chairman Peterkin changed the next meeting to October 28th. Mayor O'Reilly stated he felt a responsibility towards the small boat harbor. He spoke on the enthusiam in going for State funding, his convictions and the Commission's. He felt the initiation of solving the problem is in the wrong hands. He felt the City should do some thing. Chairman Peterkin called a recess. Mayor O'Reilly reported representatives of DOW would be here October 23 & 24th. Mr. Brighton asked if the bond money from Juneau can be used, for example, buying back leases. Chairman Peterkin stated he would be getting to that later ~in the meeting under Old Business. He would answer that question at that time. H. 1. Chairman Peterkin, in refe.rring to the Administrative Coordinator position, stated he felt it was indispensible to keep up with the Federal, State and Borough participation for representation for the City of Kenai and the intenseness of PaPerwork. He felt the Comm.ission should follow through and put it in an adfinitive sense to the City Council. Commissioner Williams stated when we originally approached Murray Walsh to fund this administrative portion of this work, three of the areas were AMSA, CZM, and Wetlands. Commissioner Ackerly asked Mr. Davis the status of~the 80-20 Grant. Mr. Davis reported the City .has pre-accepted the grant from the Borough when the Borough accepts it. The total amount of the grant is $64,000. The Borough's share is $51,200 and the City's share is $12,800. That will be reduced by one-tenth. The City's share will come from the Harbor Commission's operating budget funded by the City Council. Commissioner Williams noted that not one dime of the $500,000 has been spent. Chairman Peterkin pointed out the Commission has not selected an Administrative Coordinator. MOTION Commissioner Williams moved, seconded by Commissioner Issacs, a recommendation be sent to the City Council indicating the Harbor Commission has selected from the available applicants, Mr. Gary Davis,-to be the Administrative Coordinator, and requests that they act in having the contract prepared. There was some discussion. Mr. Brighton reported the other party had since written a letter withdrawing their interest. There was a roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously. H. 2. Chairman Peterkin stated the Governor's Boards & Commissions Vacancy~ List would be discussed at the uctober 28th meeting. H. 3. Chairman Peterkin asked the Commission if they would like to select an engineering firm and further have that engineering firm go to work immediately. The City of Kenai has had money in Juneau since 1974. The major problem with this money is that it takes an engineering firm to do the study to spend the money. We should come up with a design for a greenbelt, etc. for Tract A. It will make that $500,000 - $600,000 available. He suggested the Admin. Coordinator could contact either BLM and/or Don Statter's office and clarify whether that money can be used to purchase property. He further recommended the Admin. Coordinator or a subcommittee into negotiations with the Coyles for 30 - 40 acres above -~-ract A. It is a superb piece of land that should be looked at immediately. Commissioner Williams stated he believed in the concept, and the Commission has talked about the acquisition of lands for · development of an industrial park. He stated if the harbor is built where private enterprise has designed it, it only lends more emphasis of development of a private park by private enterprise. Chairman Peterkin called for a recess. Chairman Peterkin asked for the Commission's feelings as far as deciding on the engineering firm, and having them proceed as scheduled. Mr. Brighton stated the Council will have to have some more conversation among themselves and change the direction in the way they are going. They are of the opinion we have ceased any decision as far as a small boat harbor. Commissioner Issacs felt the Council must make some decision on the negotiations first. Chairman Peterkin stated we have had the money in Juneau since 1974 and must have it surveyed and a feasibility study done to free that bond money. Mr. Davis reported some of the firms have asked what the selection criteria was and where they came out in the tally. He suggested ranking them. If nothing is done for six months they might not be interested anymore. Chairman Peterkin stated what he was pressing for was to free the other 1/2 million- Whether or no't the negotiations with Mr. Roper proceed or not we need t° free that money if for nothing else for a greenbelt or for a place for people to launch their boats. Commissioner Ackerly asked if we select an engineering firm and ask them to go to work, wouldn't we ~have to ask for an amendment to the bids? Chairman Peterkin replied no. The first selection, includes the whole packet of lands. Commissioner Ackerly stated we are asking them to study a small boat harbor, bluff erosion, can we come back and ask them about recreation. He thought it might be out of scope. Chairman Peterkin said the $500,000 - $600,000 is to develop a boat harbor for the City of Kenai. That is exactly what it would do. We have made several unsuccessful at. tempts for over a year. They keep telling us you have to have an engineers report to do it. Commissioner Wagoner asked how extensive it would have to be. Mr. Davis explained it would be a feasibility study. There would be 'no detailed drawings, testing or soils investigation. It will be a feasibility to determine public need for the facility. Commissioner Wagoner stated we have a report that says we have the public need. Take the COE Windshield study and ask for the money. Commissioner Williams stated we must remember when they wrote the bond issue, they wrote it to issue monies for construction not for design. The Legislature has since recognized that error and in future bond issues they've compensated for that. We needed to get the money for the design so we could get the other part. He was not sure they would accept the COE Windshield Survey or the Wince-Corthell-Bryson & Freas study. Commissioner Wagoner stated if We have enough information to get that $585,000 loose he was not in favor of sponding more. Chairman Peterkin asked if.the money was tied directly to Tract A. Commissioner Williams said no. Mr. Davis stated the money could be used for lots of things. For example, land acquisitio~n, docking facilities, wharves, boat launching faclities, boat ramp facilities and floats inside the harbor. Mr. Davis stated between himself and compiling the Wince-Corthell and COE Windshield Survey and some subcontracting to the firm might be all it takes to put. it into the formal form. There was some discussion on whether to select the firm and forward the recommendation to Council. Commissioner Issacs pointed out that all the members of the Commission were not present. Chairman Peterkin replied we are only missing one and he didn't hear all the presentations, and has been absent the last 5 - 6 meetings. MOTION Commissioner Dragseth moved, seconded· by Commissioner Williams to get on with the selection of an engineering firm and forward it to the City Council. There was a roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously. Commissioner Ackerly suggested CH2M Hill be the engineering firm selected. Chairman Peterkin agreed with Commissioner Ackerly that CH2M Hill representated themselves to do a more thorough job. Commissioner Williams nominated TAMS as the firm to be selected. Commissioner Issacs preferred TAMS. He stated CH2M Hill as his seconded choice. He felt TAMS had more experience in Alaska. Commissioner Williams stated he was impressed with both. Going through the detailed cost breakdown there was little cost difference except in one item and that was in the modeling. Commissioner Wagoner felt CH2M Hill's meetings were high priced. Commissioner Williams felt the $50,000 CH2M Hill's figures were high for modeling when they indicated the last modeling was under $20,000. The overall plan presented by TAMS was unique and different because there is no other harbor in Alaska like it. Commissioner Wagoner noted TAMS in 'the first ten minutes covered what it took the first presentation one hour to cover. Then they went on to explain how local engineering problems could be handled. They have experience in Alaska and local knowledge of Co ok Inlet. Chairman Peterkin noted CH2M Hill had a good deal of experience in Alaska, all the proper computer data, the staff was good, and they were recently involved with the Port of Homer study. They seem to have gone further with their money. They are the only ones that said they were going to take the project to Juneau for us. They also recently obtained have a good environmental staff. TAMS will consult with Dames & Moore to do the environmental work. CH2M Hill has a strong environmental section. Having recently worked with Yakutat they have more political hammers to pull. Commissioner Williams pointed out the approaches to the permit process. CH2M Hill indicates costs based on Environmental Impact ~ssessment not Environmental Impact Statement which is a difference of $20,000 to 1/2 million. Chairman Peterkin noted all subscribed that they would do an EIA. None said they would do a Statement. Commissioner Ackerly asked are there any other firms that impressed any of the Commissioners? Chairman Peterkin stated his first choice is CH2M Hill, TAMS is second and he would eliminate the other two. One' concern of Commissioner Williams was extra bills coming in from CH2M Hill. TAMS gave us a good hard figure. Commissioner Dragseth stated CH2M Hill has more people, the price is close, CH2M Hill is all in house and they won't have to call on any-other firms. Chairman Peterkin pointed out CH2M Hill went in depth on the industrial park and greenbelt. Commissioner Issacs didn't feel CH2M Hill was quite as qualified in harbor experience. Their key personnel is Outside. The ones here have experience in structural-bridges, etc. Commissioner Williams asked if the City has had any difficulties wi th CH2M Hill. Referring to the Sewer Treatment Plant Mayor O'Reilly stated CH2M Hill did test borings and they didn't turn out. Mr. Brighton stated in or der to get true readings they needed additional excavation. Ther~ was a $90,000 overrun. 10 Chairman Peterkin asked what the total project cost was. Mr. Brighton st~ated four million plus. Commissioner Williams stated this disturbed him. The results of soils samples are important. Chairman Peterkin asked if CH2M Hill did the engineering as well as the contracting. Mr. Brighton said no. Mr. Davis added they subcontracted the drilling. Mayor O'Reilly reported CH2M Hill also did work on the airport. The work done had to be done in time to accomodate the fish flights. Commissioner Wagoner stated he would like someone to call Larry Farnen in Homer and tel.1 him which firms we have and ask about' the working relationship they had with each. Mr. Davis reported CH2M Hill did their dock extension 5 - 8 years ago. Their last big project was the Masterplan for the fisheries park at the end of the spit. CH2M Hill and TAMS we re in the finals. They selected TAMS and both had done previous work for Home r. The dry harbor was addressed. Chairman Peterkin explained the dry harbor will be paved and will have floats and cradles for floats. TAMS is talking about a gravel a'rea. Commissioner Wagoner stated TAMS said they didn't recommend a dry boat harbor. Commissioner Williams stated TAMS was the only firm to come in prepared to present us with a boat ha'rb°r, and said here's a way to beat the siltation problem. Commissioner Issacs stated .the dry harbor isn't the big problem. There was some discussion on the lock system. Chair. man Peterkin referring to the concept of the harbor that ~'AMS distributed, stated personally, he felt they did this as a sell job on the Commission. MOTION Commissioner Ackerly moved, seconded by Commissioner Dragseth that the Commission accept CH2M Hill ~as the engineering firm. There was a roll call vote. There was a tie vote with Commissioners Peterkin, Ackerly and Dragseth voting yes, and Commissioners Issacs, Wagoner and Williams voting no. Chairman Peterkin called a recess. Mayor O'Reilly left the · meeting at this time. MOTION Commissioner Williams moved, seconded by Commissioner Issacs to select TAMS as the engineering firm and send that recommendation to the City Council. There was further discussion. Commissioner Williams stated CH2M Hill in Alaska has been involved in ice studies, water and sewer construction, some heavy dock facilities- no boat harbors. TAMS has worked with ice and docks. Chairman Peterkin stated CH2M Hill has a tear drop design- a new and innovative design. ,They have boat harbors in Coos Bay, Charleston and Wenatchee. We are not° the only ones with sedimentation problems. ~ Mr. Brighton stated CH2M Hill was very competent in the engineering for the Sewer Treatment Plant. There Was a roll call vote on the motion. The motion failed with Commissioners Issacs and Williams voting yes, and Commissioners Peterkin, Dragseth, Ackerly and Wagoner voting no. 12 MOTION Commissioner Ackerly moved, seconded by Commissioner Dragseth to accept CH2M Hill to be the engineering firm. The motion passed with Commissioners Peterkin, Ackerly, Dragseth and Wagoner voting yes, Commissioners Issacs and Williams voting no. H. 4. Chairman Peterkin reported he had a call from the COE and they said the total project has been set back for one year due to lack of funding. There was a cut in the federal budget. It cut back all but two projects in the State of Alaska, one in Homer and one in Seward. Commissioner Ackerly reported October 24th Ted Stevens will be here. It would be a good time to talk to him. I. 1. Chairman ~eterkin reported it has been brought to his attention that possibly the Commission should make some statements to the Clarion regarding the Roper situation. Perhaps the Commission should make some type of rebuttal. Commissioner Williams had a list of prepared statements and questions. Commissioner Dragseth stated maybe silence is golden. There was further discussion. It was decided to hold off on any statements. The next scheduled meeting will be October 28. With no further discussion the meeting adjourned at 11:05 p.m. A Cha%r~~ ~. ob~rt%< '~e~r Zi-n Kenai A~isory Harbor Commission Respectfully submitted, Klm Howard Admin. Assistant 13