Members of Wrangell’s Port Commission have set a timetable for themselves for reworking how lot leases at the boatyard are arranged.
At their meeting Monday, commission chair Clay Hammer and harbormaster Greg Meissner said they are putting together an ordinance proposal to
consider after the summer season winds down. In its drafting stages, it would reflect discussions held last year and feedback from various yard contractors. The conversation has been an ongoing one for a year and a half, and the commission had previously intended to settle the matter last winter.
“We do have some bugs to work out of it,” said Hammer. He envisions allowing for more flexible lease durations, which could match the length of loans contractors might take out for capital investment, in the neighborhood of 15 or 20 years. Speaking to the commission last year, Superior Marine Services owner Don Sorric suggested such a change would help local firms secure larger loans, and would incentivize investment at the yard.
Meissner expressed interest in including wording that would ensure lease holders possessed some form of environmental insurance, to protect the yard and also lenders from potential liabilities upon transfer or foreclosure.
Commissioner John Martin also wanted to take up the issue of lease lot prices, which have remained about the same since the first round of five-year leases were signed. Most contractors at the yard are by now on their second lease. However, he explained that part of the discussion, as well as what would make for a fair lease arrangement, would need more input from the lease holders.
“We are pretty close to this, and probably this fall will get everybody together for a workshop and flush this all out,” he commented.
Commissioners also expressed interest in putting together an ordinance that would allow dockside zoning for skiffs, specifically for space-saving bow tying. A nominal monthly fee like $5 would be charged, and would likely make use of part of the ramp at Reliance Harbor.
“I think we would see a lot more skiffs back in the water,” said Hammer.
During commissioner reports, Gary Morrison raised several facilities and maintenance concerns with the group.
One was an issue of parking enforcement, over the past month noticing that about a third of boat trailers in harbor lots were without permit stickers.
This was not fair to those who had purchased their permits, he reasoned, and quickly amounted to substantial revenues being missed. In just one harbor over four weeks, he estimated about $1,200 worth of unpaid-for permits missing on trailers.
“It seems like we’re missing out on a lot of money,” he said. Morrison suggested staff give warnings through July, then buckling down on enforcement.
Meissner said he would instruct staff to start issuing tickets, explaining the whole permitting process had been developed in response to a surplus of trailers taking up parking spots at the city’s public harbors.
“I’m fine not giving out any more warnings,” he said.
Also on Morrison’s mind was Public Works’ water shortage management plan, a proposal which lays out restrictions on water usage depending on reserve levels. He noticed that in the second and third threat stages, service to the boatyard gets reduced and eventually cut off completely.
“That’s quite a problem if you’ve got a floathouse,” he said. A number of residents live on board vessels in the harbor, and in the event of an emergency cutoff they could be forced to resort to bottled water. Speaking with floathouse and liveaboard residents in the harbors about the proposal, Morrison said it was a concern.
He suggested arranging instead an allowance for scheduled availability from a centralized source in each harbor during Stage 3 conditions, allowing dockside residents to replenish their personal water stocks a couple or several times each week.
Meissner said the management plan was already on his mind, as a cutoff to the harbors could pose a fire safety issue. He had already spoken with the Public Works director about the plan, and told commissioners further conversations were planned.
On the other hand, Meissner said his department would be working to reduce water waste in and around harbor facilities. This includes repairing leaky connections and putting up additional signage reminding users to turn off and put away station hoses and utility hookups.
Lastly, Morrison recommended looking into adding dockside ladders at the far ends of harbor launch ramp fingers. Adding to that, commissioner Walter Moorhead had noticed a number of safety ladders located around Wrangell’s harbors had become encrusted in barnacles and mussels, and recommended those get cleaned off by department staff.
Commissioners also recounted coming across increasing amounts of dog feces on city floats and docks.
“It was the worst I’d ever seen it,” said John Yeager, recalling a recent walk at Inner Harbor. “It was pretty disappointing that people, even with the hose, wouldn’t clean it.”
Fellow commissioner John Martin commented that Wrangell Parks and Recreation is dealing with a similar issue around its trails and outdoor facilities. Keeping water waste concerns in mind, the group recommended making available more wash buckets at harbor facilities, similar to a system Petersburg uses.
As summer draws near, Meissner reported that pressure washing at the various harbors is under way. A hoist by the department office overlooking Reliance Harbor was repaired on Monday, after being out of commission for the weekend. The 20 year old piece of equipment has been rebuilt a few times over the decades, but with the commercial crabbing season about under way for the summer, the mechanical failure came at a bad time.
A maintenance crew was unable to go down to Meyers Chuck last week, but Meissner reported they will most likely head down next week. Harbor staff have made the rounds on Wrangell Police Department’s boat for the extended journey, but due to scheduling conflicts have not been able to make the run just yet.
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