Bethel port panel takes up two resignations, tariffs on Aug. 17

The Bethel Port Commission has lost two of its seven members to resignation, deepening a quorum crisis that has left the panel unable to conduct business for a full year. Stacey Reardon and Victoria Sosa stepped down as the commission heads into a Monday, Aug. 17 meeting loaded with fee increases, the port's next budget and an engineer's warning about the City Dock.

The commission's own minutes show all 12 scheduled meetings from August 2025 through July 2026 lacked a quorum, with meetings called to order and stamped "NO QUOROM" without business conducted. Reardon wrote to Port Director Edward Flores and the commission that she was moving out of Bethel and that the September 2025 meeting was the last one she could attend.

The Port of Bethel is the receiving and transshipment center for petroleum products and barged freight for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, which has no road or rail connection. The port took in 1,087,944 gallons of petroleum in July and handled 39 river vessels.

One item awaiting the commission's review concerns movement, erosion and settlement at the City Dock. The Army Corps of Engineers' 2025 inspection of the Bethel Bank Stabilization project found the seawall generally in good condition but identified shifting sheet piles, erosion and settlement behind the City Dock wall. The inspection recommended the owner bring in a qualified geotechnical and structural engineer to evaluate the damage and develop a repair plan.

Monday's agenda also includes electing a chair and vice chair under Bethel Municipal Code 2.60.040D, approving minutes stretching back to January 2025, and taking up an amended terminal tariff rate increase. The proposal includes a 5% annual increase in dockage charges, a 5% annual increase in the stevedoring permit rate and a $5 annual increase in the man-hour rate. The proposed fiscal 2027 municipal dock budget projects operating income of $153,684. Alan Murphy is listed as chair.

In his July manager's report, Flores wrote that the commission "did not meet last month due to a lack of a quorum," adding: "It has been a while since we have had quorum, so this months agenda looks heavy but we just need to clear up the agenda at this next meeting. I am hoping to have a quorum this coming month."

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at 300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway in Bethel and can also be joined by Zoom.

Written public comment is due to [email protected] by 4 p.m. Monday.