Borough Special Committee

February 18, 2009

7 pm City Hall

Present  Greg Streveler, Dan Zobrist (by phone), Bruce Tedtsen, Joe Lassiter, Mike Taylor, Sean Neilson, Karen Taylor.

Minutes of  January 28, 2009 approved with amendment.

Agenda

• Update on borough issue
• Discussion of tasks for annexation petition

Borough concept update

Hoonah involved with other priorities.  No comments from other communities.

Progress on Tasks

Went systematically through Van Altvorst’s request for info

Boundary, Development Potential and Residency

Need to ask Dick one more time to look at land records and FERC permit regarding land holdings near Falls Creek—Mike will do.  Karen noted Dan Zobrist had contacted Melissa Taylor regarding definition of “inhabitant” and she could not find one in the regulations.  Landholders in the area have addresses elsewhere in the state and lower forty-eight and are not voters of record in Gustavus. 

Revisited the proposed boundary.  All agreed that our rationale was sound.

Bruce:  will ask Ken Klawunder the boundary question (why the LBC reduced the original City boundary proposal).

Other uses of Falls Creek area (in addition to hydro, site for Internet tower, fish & wildlife habitat):  bedrock/gravel; development of private land; recreation (hiking, skiing, birding, fishing).  Dick’s permit says he will build some trails for public use.

City Services in Proposed Extension

            Fire/EMS—2 EMS calls last year; one this fiscal year, one last fiscal year: will get details from Mossy; has city formalized service outside city limits—yes, standing MOU with NPS and unwritten MOU with state forest service.  Bruce will locate MOU with park.

Dock, Small Boat Harbor and Anchorage in Icy Passage     

Karen reported on questions related to value of waters fronting Gustavus (tidal energy; commerce (freight barges, ferry); city role in dock, mooring floats; tourism; local charter industry; general public use; emergency response. 

Other comments:  there are conflicts between freight barges and positions of mooring buoys—eventually city may have to assume more responsibilities by ordinance in coordination with USCG; number of boats moored near dock has increased tremendously over past ten years (from less than ten to over forty).  By having jurisdiction over the waters in the proposed annexation, the city has a say in the movement of freight—i.e., commerce—that affects all Gustavus citizens.  Our suggested annexation sets the City’s outer limits of direct local interest.

Potable Water

Sean will contact John Barry and John Scott regarding possibility of using excess water from hydro project for city water source at some point in the future. 

Solid Waste 

Greg will take on the solid waste issue.

Tidal Power

Joe has sent e-mail to company interested in working in Icy Passage for more details on their plans and permits.

Greg will send the resolution on tidal energy to Jim.  Joe said that the city will go after grants for the project.  Joe will talk to Dick about interaction of Gustavus Electric with potential Tidal project.  Dan:  ask  Dick about his obligations under certificate of public convenience--public utility obligated to use cheapest source of power available to it.  According to such a certificate, if power is available at a competitive price, the utility has to use it.

Adjourned 8:20 PM

Next meeting:  7 pm March 31