Ketchikan: Port & Harbors Advisory Board June 2026 Meeting

Do you want to get started? Um, all right, well Call to order the regular meeting of Parks and Harbors Advisory Board for June 9th, 2026. Do you call the roll? Mr. Coffer? Here.

Lucy? Here. Mr. Bethel? Here. Mr. Lundy?

Mr. Rhodes? Here. Spaper? Here. Mr. Garut?

Here. Here.

Thank you. Uh, allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right, uh, do we have a motion to approve the minutes? So moved. Second. All right, motion passes.

Uh, do we have any communications?

No communications.

Should we add in there that we did get the email from Mr. Youngblood during his resignation?

Uh, looks like no one to be heard, no unfinished business. Uh, brings us to new business.

I can just speak real quick. You all have memorandums in front of you. The new business, the first thing's the DOCO management software. Mr. Wilson put together a memorandum for you to break down what's going on with that software and the future efforts that Ports and Harbors are currently involved with trying to get an updated system. You know, as I understand, we're currently looking over and over again at various management software.

We'll find one that kind of fits our need, but not exactly right. We'll get another, another one. We're also having some issues with, you know, just setting up appointments. We'll have an appointment and they won't show up. And then when they do, oh, we forgot about this and we'll need to set up another appointment.

So it's a slow process. Nothing has really changed with what we're doing right now, but we are certainly hoping that we can find a software program that better fits our needs. Okay. And I, you know, I think that's kind of the bottom line. There's a lot more detail in Mr. Wilson's memo.

I appreciate that he put that together for you. And if you have any questions, let us know.

Yes. Who is— where's Dacqua from? Not for sure. East Coast, Rhode Island area.

Any other questions on that? Do any of the other arborists and Alaska have something similar? You know, I think they all have, you know, they're all using, you know, certainly different programs. We're kind of unique because of our makeup. So we have a little, I think in some cases we have a little bit of a harder time finding some software.

I'm pretty sure James has reached out to the various harbors as well, but nothing seems to fit what we need here. We did find— I mean, we've gone as far as look at companies in the UK as well and overseas to see if we can find something. I think it will happen, but I think it's going to take a little while to find the specific software that we have. We're still able to do what we're doing and process, you know, billing, but we think we can find something that's better. It's just a little, you know, a little slower process than we'd hoped.

Okay. Uh, the next item here, uh, on new business is electrical billing review. Um, this kind of got brought up last, uh, uh, FAB meeting. Um, it was brought up actually by Lucian Ballad, and, uh, Mr. Wilson, uh, went in and pulled this information with— I'm pretty sure with the help of May. We wanted to let everybody here know that they seem to say that they were the only people that were getting charged that way.

That's really not the case. All transient vessels coming through are getting charged the transient vessel rate based on the size of their vessel. That's how we do it. And, you know, they're not being treated any different than any other transient vessel. So we wanted just to make you aware of that.

And put together a memo so you're, you know, you can see that in fact we're charging everybody that same rate that's a transient vessel. Okay. And then Tender Float 3 safety improvements, that also was brought up with the Aleutian Ballad. The first thing I did the next morning, I actually picked up the phone and I called P&D engineers down in Seattle. They were involved in putting that Berth 3 tender float in.

And I actually called them. I said, did you guys— is there something missed here? Is there, you know, we've got this complaint. Is— did you miss, you know, something in code and regulation? And I'll read you actually what they They did some research, they got back to me, and basically what they said is, based on my review of potential applicable codes, including building codes, OSHA and ADA requirements, and internal discussions with our owners here at P&D, we're not able to identify any code requirements mandating guardrails on the float.

The closest provision we found in the building code requirement for guardrails were fall heights exceeded 30 inches. However, the float has a design freeboard of 18 inches, so that requirement does not appear to apply. After further review, they basically kind of said what, what I said in that meeting, allowing temporary measures such as cones, stanchions, removable barriers during loading and unloading, provided they do not block access or vessel operations. Any operator could also consider using a short gangway ramp or boarding aid from their vessel to provide a more controlled transition for passengers. You know, the city's position on this is pretty much, you know, it's the vessel's responsibility to get their passengers down safely.

They can certainly put up barriers, but we can't put, you know, it's not the best idea to put up guardrails all the way around it because it'll impede other people trying to do their operations as well. And on that last page, if you look, I actually put a picture here to give you an idea of that floating dock, um, you know, it's not, you know, I, I could see cones and very, you know, put around there where, you know, and you walk people down to get on your vessel. I, uh, I also reached out to, uh, Craig Bisson, who's been down there for quite a while, the port operations coordinator, and asked him, I said, have you heard of people falling in the water or anything like that? And, and that answer was no, I would have heard about it. So we have not seen that, and he's been down there at least 5 years.

He's not seen any anything to that nature or heard anything to that nature. So, um, just wanted to pass that on. We did do a little research on that, and that's kind of where that, uh, that landed, uh, after doing some research.

I guess that brings us to the director's report. I'm sorry, any questions on what we just talked about? Okay, I'll just go down and kind of hit the highlights in the director's report. Mountain Point and Knutson boat launch, there's no change since the last meeting. As far as Knutson boat launch, we're still in the holding pattern.

Harbor master, as you know, summer season's kicked off. We've got summer hours going on. We have our temp harbor masters that are working evenings And I think they're doing a pretty good job, so pretty good coverage and they're picking up and it's working nicely. Floating breakwater Bar Harbor North, we just had a meeting today. It's still pretty much on schedule.

It's looking like it's going to be mid-July when they start heading this way. So I don't think construction is going to start right away, but it'll be towards more towards the end of July, I think. But they're still planning on getting here, getting it installed, and getting it done this season. So that's what that's looking like. Vessel disposal this week, the vessel Tulip actually was taken up, put on the ramp there by the harbormaster's office.

The harbormaster did a great job with the help of Public Works. They broke down that vessel, loaded it on a boat and, or I'm sorry, loaded it in a truck and took it up to the landfill. It was a good effort all the way around by multiple people through the city. A little note here about the Race to Alaska from Port Townsend to Ketchikan. We're looking to receive 70 vessel entrants.

So these, they travel 750 miles with no engines. So you can paddle, you can canoe, you can kayak, you can row. I don't think I'll be doing that. So, but we're looking forward to them showing up. The Port Berthrie Dolphin upgrades, I unfortunately got some bad news here.

We thought we might have somebody that was interested in doing that work, and they told us last week that they couldn't do a bid. They had something else come up, and we're going to have to think about putting that back out to bid. I don't see that happening real soon just because of the nature of the construction industry right now. Everything that I'm getting is That's a one-off project. Uh, there's, uh, other projects that are, uh, easier and, uh, well, and closer to home.

And, uh, you know, probably, um, you know, we'll have to regroup and think about what we're going to do, uh, with that. Um, 10 port security workers, as you know, if you've been driving through town at all, you see these guys out doing, uh, uh, crossing guards, uh, safety to port, getting people across. Uh, they're doing a pretty good job as well. And we already talked about the berth 3 inside tender float and what we found out there. And that's pretty much the maintenance or the director's report.

I do have a statement here at the end here, and I'll just hit the highlights there. P&D is actually working on port maintenance items, cathodic protections. They're putting the plan specs and estimates together for that project that will hopefully get out on the street in the fall. We have Alaska Architects and Engineers are working on a redesign for the ports and harbors maintenance building. Um, port electrification federal grant was submitted and, uh, for consideration of MARAD.

So we'll, uh, we might get lucky and get, uh, some port electrification money and, uh, we'll stand by and see if that happens. Uh, berth 1-2 safety and security building, uh, that is, uh, ongoing. We have the foundation actually poured down on the, uh, uh, on berth 1-2, uh, at the end of the season. We have a construction company that will come in and put up a, uh, it's essentially a palletized prefabricated building. They'll put that up and it'll be ready to use by next tour season, cruise season.

Mountain Point float redesign, we have that totally designed out, ready to go. We submitted it for consideration for a federal grant and we're just standing by to hear something back. Mr. Wilson's actually going to start working on dredging diverter for Bar Harbor North. That's a project we're looking at this year. It's pretty much just trying to maybe get some plans together and talk about permitting, see what we're going to have to do there.

And Float 12 electrical pedestal replacements, that's something that Mr. Wilson's also working on. We have a company up in Juneau that are currently working on those pedestals. I'll get them sent down here and hopefully we'll get those installed towards the end of the season. And that is the director for any questions.

Okay, uh, do we have any future agenda items anybody would like to add?

I don't know if it's agenda item, but what can the city do—. Derelict cars in our limited parking For the harbor, I think that's, that's borough responsibility. And I think they're removing the derelict cars. We've had one there at that little lot next to Kate. Go ahead.

I can speak a little of that as well. Um, and which lot are you talking? Kate's Kitchen. Yeah. Uh, over by the VFW.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, no. Oh no.

Further down. Yeah. The middle, the old Bar Harbor entrance. Okay. So, what I do know is, um, for a while, the city did not have a contract in place.

They do have a contract in place again. So, um, the, uh, police department and parking enforcement, they've slowly been going through the various lots, identifying those vehicles that are abandoned, and they have been removing them. They actually removed a few at, uh, the bar at the harbormaster's lot there. So, um, it's, uh, it's kind of a weird, weird thing. Yes, uh, the borough does have that enforcement where they can come and take, take vehicles away, but we also do that, and they're slowly working on that.

So I'll make sure that I make a note of that. Do you have any idea which— what kind of vehicle that is off the top of your head? It was a little SUV type thing, uh, It's parked on the north side, or it was. I haven't been down there in a week, but it was there a week ago, and it's been there for a couple of months. It's probably got 20 or 30 parking tickets on it.

Okay, so, so I had to call parking enforcement to get rid of one that was by the, um, Eyeliner guy because, um, that guy was there for weeks, months, right? And, uh, the parking enforcement lady said she was aware of it You know, I go down to my boat early in the morning and the guy's building a time machine down there. Okay, so I don't think I should be, or Russell, or any of us should be subjected to the type of activity that goes on in those parking lots. Um, since I got back, I know somebody OD'd right down there a couple weeks ago, and you know, you have people living in their cars And they really have no business being there at all. I mean, parking should go to the harbor.

Um, I—. They definitely don't own boats. They don't own boats. And the guy that was building the time machine at 4:30 in the morning, he doesn't own anything. And the, um, parking enforcement told me they're all— he's not even supposed to be there.

And I'm all, so is the harbor parking a junkyard for tweakers? Yeah. Um, yeah, and I, I certainly understand where you're coming from, but, but I do need to clarify something. That's not our lot, that's Public Works lot. I just need to make that clear.

I understand that. Yeah, and that, that part, that parking lot is not just for the harbor, it's, it's public parking. And I know that's, that's a point of contention for a lot of people, but That's, that's really what it's designed for. But I agree with you, and we are slowly trying to do that. I've been talking to parking enforcement for months as well.

And for a while, for a few months, they did not have a contract and they just got the new contract. So there's a backlog of vehicles that they need to get out of there. Not making excuses for them, but I am just saying that that's, that's the situation. I do know that they have been slowly moving vehicles out. And I will make sure that I make a note of, of that vehicle for you.

I will call them. They did go get the car after I complained, right? And I went into detail of why I shouldn't have to be involved when I'm just simply walking to my boat. I agree. I understand it's not the harbor area, but the city has a problem there.

Like, they have a problem with the, you know, the Bar Harbor restaurant was supposed to be torn down 2 years ago, and it's, it's still there. Yeah, still there. Yeah, it's, it's a, you know, a friend of mine told me there were— he went to his boat, somebody OD'd down there. That's within the last couple weeks. So, you know, that kind of, it gets kind of old.

I agree. Yeah, I didn't know the city had a contract. That's good to know. Yeah, so this, the city's preview is still on that old building, right? Yeah.

Public Works and Army Corps of Engineers, that is supposed to come down soon.

Okay, I'm just curious because we heard this story for a couple years now. Yeah, the last— the last— I— and I've heard that as well, but the last I spoke with Public Works, you know, they, they have to get a permit to, to get it torn down because it's considered a historical trestle. So they have to go through that process and it's a slow process, but we're hoping that'll happen and they'll get that soon. The last I heard, they should have it, I would think, in a month or so. Getting there.

What I'm hoping.

Yes. Okay.

Board member comments?

Thank you everyone. Thank you. Thank you for the as well.

We only got what, 3 more months of chips still coming? Uh, yeah, I just say thank you for coming out on such a nice day. And, um, we have a motion to adjourn. Adjourn. Thank you.