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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-11 Harbor Commission SummaryKENAI HARBOR COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 11, 1999 KENAI COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. CHAIRMAN WILL JAHRIG AGENDA ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR ITEM 3: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - December 7, 1998. ITEM 5: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 6: a, REPORTS Director Dock Foreman ITEM 7: OLD BUSINESS a. Discussion -- Kenai River Bluff Erosion Study Discussion -- Potter's Marsh Boardwalk ITEM 8: NEW BUSINESS ITEM 9: COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS/QUESTIONS ITEM 10: INFORMATION a,, Kenai City Council Action Agendas of December 16, 1998. ITEM 11: ADJOURNMENT ® ® ® ® ® ® REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1998- 7:00 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL VICE CHAIRMAN TOM THOMPSON~ PRESIDING *** MINUTES *** CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice Chair Thompson called the meeting to order at 7' 12 p.m. Members Present: Werner-Quade, Clay, McCune, Spracher, Thompson Members Absent: Eldridge, Jahrig Also Present: Councilman James Bookey, III, Public Works Manager Keith Kornelis, Contract Secretary Victoria Askin ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR MCCUNE MOVED TO ELECT WILL JAHRIG AS CHAIR AND TOM THOMPSON AS VICE-CHAIR. SPRACHER SECONDED. MOTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Kornelis asked to add Cunningham Park under New Business. WERNER-~UADE MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. MOTION SECONDED BY MCCUNE. THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS AMENDED. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting of November 2, 1998 McCune asked that his comment on page four "... has become a problem" to "... is a potential problem..." MCCUNE MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 7, 1998 AS AMENDED. MOTION SF~ONDED BY CLAY. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS AMENDED. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None REPORTS KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1999 Page 1 Director's Report City Manager Kornelis reported the Tustumena 200 will be held on January 30 and will follow the same route as last year, starting at the boat launch parking area. Kids will be in the dogsleds riding from that point on through where the proposed Boardwalk is located, across the Warren Ames Bridge, to Kenai Supply. Thompson asked for the time it will start. McCune and Kornelis related it will start at 10:00. McCune stated it was a very positive event and the kids enjoyed participating. b. Dock Foreman Kornelis stated the Dock Foreman is working with the City road crew at the present time because the dock is closed. OLD BUSINESS Kenai River Bluff Erosion Study Kornelis reported he had received a letter from Dennis Nottingham advising they have reached a point for review by the Commission. The Commission retired to the tables where they could all view the drawings and Kornelis summarized the drawings regarding the erosion reduction methods, the footpath from Pacific Star Seafoods to the beach road off South Spruce, strand bridges, and other improvements to the area. Bookey stated if this became a reality, it could stabilize the property behind it and allow property owners to stay at their location. Clay noted that a couple of buildings are currently right on the line and he would like to see them saved because it is such a nice area. He added, the Russian River is installing some of the strand bridges as depicted in this study and thought they will really save the area. Kornelis related that the City owns some of the lots that are already on the slope in the proposal because so much has eroded. He added, the "open cell" method was much more expensive because a pile driver has to be used while the sloping method with riprap is a bit cheaper and seems to be just as effective. Bookey indicated his understanding the footpath would be 12' wide and paved so it can be used as both a bike path and footpath. KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1999 Page 2 ® be Kornelis noted there is a proposal to the Fish & Game to close the area to dipnetting. Bookey noted that was the intention of the Council. He added, a resolution was submitted to the Fish Board to have this area closed, but he was not sure it will happen. The main reason for the resolution was to keep people from going over the bank to fish. The Fish Board denied it last year so the Council decided to go back with it this year. Hopefully, it will slow down the activity because of the erosion from people climbing up and down the bank. Thompson asked if it was as bad this year. Bookey answered it wasn't as bad as the year before but some public education has been done to help mitigate damage. Bookey further related that a second resolution has been sent to the Fish Board to limit the dipnetting fishery from midnight to 6:00 a.m. This was done for both safety and allocation purposes. A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the methods of erosion reduction addressed, cost of each method, footpath, buildings and bridges that are included as part of the study. A short discussion was also held regarding other funding sources and the length of time it will take to complete the project. Consensus was reached to ask Mr. Nottingham to continue the study and provide costs for each method of erosion reduction. Thompson asked if any action needed to be taken. Komelis stated he thought perhaps a motion of support for the study. As stated in the letter, he wanted everyone to be aware that many encroach- ments on private property were going to take place so a significant amount of right-of-ways that will need to be addressed. Kornelis will write a letter to Mr. Nottingham indicating the study was discussed by the Harbor Commission. He would further state the Commission felt he was headed in the right direction and to provide the Commission with cost estimates of both types of erosion reduction methods. Potter's Marsh Boardwalk Bookey asked if any more information had been received from the Potter's Marsh Project. Kornelis stated he had not received the information since his last request so he will call and request the information again. NEW BU$INF~$ Cunningham Park KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1999 Page 3 Kornelis provided a drawing of the proposed Cunningham Park improvements. Bill Nelson did the engineering and provided the drawing. Kornelis reported the proposed drawing was going to the Council at the next meeting and would like some comments from the Harbor Commission. Kornelis related the Kenai River Sport Fishing Association has pledged $100,000 for improvements to Cunningham Park. The Commission reviewed the drawings at the table. Bookey expressed his concern the direction of the park would be changed drastically. He also noted permits still need to be obtained for the improvements. Thompson suggested instituting parking restrictions but noted the difficulty in enforcing such restrictions. He added, he has launched 14'- 16' motorized skiffs there and felt that should only be done at high tide. Bookey expressed concern regarding the type of ramp suggested; a honeycomb laid down and filled with concrete. There was no information on how it would withstand ice but they had been used in Washington and Oregon successfully. Werner-Quade noted she had used the ramp for drift boats and thought it should be restricted to only drift boats. She added, if motorized boats are allowed to launch for free, the municipal dock would experience less usage and Cunningham Park could become very congested. McCune expressed his concerns that the boat ramp would be the main attraction and it would no longer be a day park because of the disruptions of sport fishers. McCune asked if the Sport Fishing Association would be committed to the project if a brand new ramp is'rejected and minimal improvements are approved. Kornelis stated they have not seen the drawing yet but felt they are more committed to bank erosion protection. Clay stated, as a drift boat owner, he was opposed to upgrading the Park. He stated he would like to see some place not congested with guides and felt that at 5:00 a.m. the guides would take advantage of it. He added, he was all for spending money to improve the existing park, put in more picnic tables for the locals and to encourage drift boat use only. His additional safety concern was cars parked along the side of Beaver Loop Road. KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1999 Page 4 A lengthy discussion ensued regarding changing the whole flavor of the park, minimal improvements to the ramp to keep the "day park" character, and what restrictions could be put on its usage. WERNER-i~UADE MOVED THE HARBOR COMMISSION APPROVE THE NELSON PRESENTATION DRAWING TO THE KENAI CITY COUNCIL WITH MAINTENANCE OF CURRENT EXISTING GRATE LAUNCH ONLY IN KEEPING WITH THE NON-COMMERCIAL CHARACTER OF CUNNINGHAM PARK. CLAY SECONDED THE MOTION. After considerable additional discussion, MOTION PASSED. Se COMMISSIONERS~ COMMENTS / QUESTIONS Councilman Bookey reported there are seven candidates for the Council position. January 26th or 28th will be interviews of the candidates and the successful applicant will be seated at the February 3rd Council meeting. Commissioner McCune asked about the status of student commissioners. Bookey related there was considerable discussion by the Council, who reached the decision to allow students to apply to a Commission if there is an open position and become a voting member like everyone else. All Commissions would be included with the exception of the Planning and Zoning Commission. 9. INFORMATION 10. Kenai City Council Action Agendas of December 16, 1998. ADJOURNMENT WERNER-i~UADE MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY CLAY. MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:26 P. Respectfully submitted, Victoria Askin Contract Secretary KENAI HARBOR COMMISSION JANUARY 11, 1999 Page 5