Meeting last week for the first time since June, Wrangell’s Port Commission set some priorities for its coming sessions.
“We have a number of items we’re going to have on our plate,” explained commission president Clay Hammer.
Of these, the three largest issues will be organizing a steering committee for construction of a new Mariners Memorial, reassessing the duration of lot leases at The Marine Service Center, and managing public access to the boatyard.
The longest in the works, construction of the
memorial weighed highly among commissioners. With architectural designs completed this summer,
commissioners decided in February that a steering committee ought to be established, involving some of their own current and former members and
interested community members. The committee’s task would be to establish a nonprofit board to raise and handle funds for the memorial’s construction, oversee that work and report to the Port Commission on a
quarterly basis. Commissioners decided a formal
memorandum of understanding would need to be signed between a board and the city as well,
as the memorial will be on land managed by
the Harbor Department overlooking Heritage
Harbor.
Draft designs for the memorial were presented to the public last year. On the project, PND Engineers of Juneau estimated it could cost more than $330,000, including contingency costs. Planners recommended a phased approach to construction, with a memorial wall for commemorative plaques and a pavilion to be the first built.
Commissioner John Yeager proposed a workshop be held with possible committee members.
“It would be nice to bring this up,” he said. “There’s been a lot of interest in forming this subcommittee.”
“It’s a very important project, and I want us to stay on top of it,” Hammer added.
After consulting the calendar, a date of November 9 was fixed, with a workshop on the memorial to precede the commission’s meeting at 6 p.m.
Of the other issues on the Port Commission’s
plate, Yeager advised that the topic of access to the boatyard be moved up as a priority. At their last
meeting in June, commissioners considered drawing up an agreement with local tour operators which would help regulate access to the yard.
Tour businesses Gold Rush Tours and Alaska
Waters have for several seasons been taking visitors through the yard on buses, a practice which the
managing Harbor Department had problems with. At their request, the city issued letters to the tour
operators instructing them to refrain from entering the yard.
“None of us want to see something tragic
happen out there,” explained harbormaster Greg Meissner. He pointed out that yard employees,
contractors and barge company Alaska Marine Lines are often busy during the day operating heavy machinery, which does not mix well with unattended sightseers.
Tour companies have argued their clients
remain onboard the bus during tours, and that drivers keep out of the way of work traffic. Meissner added it was not only the buses, but pedestrians and bicyclists that also are a problem. The subject of television programs like National Geographic’s “The Yard” also came up since Wrangell’s MSC is of interest for visitors to the island.
“I understand why it’s so intriguing to look at,” Meissner conceded. But he reiterated his view that operations there were unsafe for visitors.
In order to discuss options moving forward, a workshop between commissioners and outfitters was recommended. At Yeager’s advice, the timing was moved up in priority.
“I think it is a little more time-sensitive
than it seems,” he explained. For advertising, tour companies have to submit descriptions of their services well ahead of the season. “I do feel it would be possibly best if we can have an answer for them earlier instead of later.”
Rather than bump back the memorial workshop to a later date or else split time between both issues, commissioner John Martin suggested an additional workshop be added ahead of the next meeting to deal with the problem separately.
“We have some pretty heavy topics here that
might require holding two or three of these a month,” he said.
“Golly, we’re going to get workshopped to death, I can see that right now,” Hammer commented.
A date was set for October 27 at 7 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend.
Also of importance is potentially offering longer terms on leases at the
boatyard. Currently contractors renew their leases on a
five-year basis, but some
at the yard have come forward with requests for 15- or even 25-year leases. Discussing the item in February,
commissioners acknowledged allowing for a longer lease could help incentivize businesses to invest more into their operations and facilities. But it was noted one of the benefits of the shorter-term leases was that it allowed the city a measure of control over how the lots were being used.
With the next round of leases not due to expire for two or more years, commissioners decided the issue could be taken up later in November or December. Hammer explained there were factors to consider that could make implementation of longer termed leases more complicated, but that they owed it to the interested contractors to find an acceptable resolution.
“It’s time to get back at it,” he said.
In other Port Commission business, members thanked colleague David Silva for his service. He opted not to run for reelection this year, with his seat expiring with this month’s elections.
“Dave Silva did a good job, had a lot of good opinions,” Martin commented. “It’s been a real pleasure.”
Commissioners also recommended that the Assembly approve a consent to assignment of a leased lot in the boatyard. J&R Fiberglass Repair owner Josh Young wants to sell his business to CTT Marine owner Steve Christensen (see article on new business). Young acquired fast food restaurant J&W’s at the beginning of the year and would like to focus more on that business.
“We’ve got a written agreement and a contract,” he told the commission.
Yeager asked whether Christensen was familiar with the terms of the lease and the property, a 3,600 square foot lot, as well as drainage issues the site had been experiencing. Young had approached the commission last year with a request to share costs for rerouting water passing through his shop area. The acquisition of the lot had been as-is, and that proposal not taken up.
“I really would hate to revisit that,” Yeager said. Christensen replied that he was aware of that. Commissioners approved the request, which went to the Assembly for its Tuesday meeting.
In his monthly report, Meissner also reported that replacement of the Shoemaker Bay Harbor facilities was named a number-one priority for state Department of Transportation grant funding for next year. The city is seeking a $5,000,000 match for the $10.7 million project, but a lack of funds in the program for this year meant the project was passed over.
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