By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Selecting the “full build-out concept” for the planned seaplane base on Japonski Island, the Assembly Tuesday night approved the transfer of just under $2.1 million into the harbor fund as the local match for the project.
The decision followed a presentation by Public Works Director Michael Harmon on three options available to the Assembly. One was to fund the land purchase only. Another was to select and fund a scaled back plan for the seaplane base in light of higher than expected costs. The third, which the Assembly approved, was to commit to the project as originally designed, at an estimated total construction cost of $34 million.
The FAA is covering 93.75 percent of the cost. The required city match would be $1.5 million for the “minimal” concept, with the FAA providing $24 million. With the “full build-out” concept the FAA will provide $31.9 million, the city $2.1 million, to cover the estimated $34 million construction cost, said Harmon.
The end of Seward Avenue is pictured today. The dead-end street leads to a seaplane base in city plans. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
The full-scale seaplane base will replace the 65-year-old facility off Katlian Street, which consists of a dock and a floating ramp for parking a few float planes.
Studies to locate a suitable site narrowed the choices to the preferred site on the northwest side of Japonski Island, at 1190 Seward Avenue.
The funds approved will pay for the land and the start of the full build-out project. The funding ordinance will be up for second and final reading November 22.
Assembly members agreed that the full build-out option made the most sense, since 93.75 percent of the construction cost will be covered by the FAA, the likelihood that expansion at a later time would cost more, and that the full facility will have a passenger covered area, fueling capabilities, uplands improvements, and space for airplane storage and maintenance.
One of the upcoming deadlines is Dec. 31, by which time the city must purchase the 1.8 acre parcel, under the purchase and sale agreement between the state and city. The parcel was valued at $749,894 in 2019.
The Assembly discussed the options under one item, then took public testimony on the ordinance to transfer $2,175,000 from the general fund to the Harbor Fund.
The 7-0 vote supporting the matching fund amount for the “full build-out” concept followed testimony from the aviation community and others in favor of that option. The less expensive minimal concept lacked features that the pilots said were critical needs.
“The minimal concept is much better than what Sitka has but it does not solve issues relating to fuel and public restrooms,” Jackson McGraw said. “Another substantial difference is the upland portion. The full build-out offers a ramp in the water and upland availability to work on airplanes. Similar to boats, aircraft must be hauled out for routine maintenance. All of us that own seaplanes must have them worked on and having space available to do that is crucial.”
McGraw said having the FAA offer such a generous funding amount is “remarkable.”
Dave Gordon, another pilot, told the Assembly that he could see the benefit for the commercial and charter operators, because the larger plan has room to perform maintenance on the planes, and a more protected area to store them.
From the general public Karen Lucas spoke in favor of the full buildout, saying the seaplanes can function “like medevacs,” and the new facility could accommodate SEARHC’s expanded facility.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for an industry and for growth,” she said.
Some of the discussion and testimony related to the decline Sitka has seen in its aviation industry because of inadequate facilities for sea planes. Commercial operators haveroutes through Juneau instead of Sitka to reach popular sites, such as Baranof Warm Springs, that are closer to Sitka.
Other speakers mentioned the potential for jobs and growth that would come with the new facility. There was also some discussion about setting user fees high enough to make the facility sustainable, and cover maintenance costs.
Harmon said the FAA will provide $150,000 a year for maintenance.
“We can bank those for up to three years to do a larger scale maintenance project if necessary,” he said today.
Those who came to the meeting to testify were clearly pleased with the decision, as they shook hands, smiled and congratulated each other as they left following the vote.
Also at Tuesday night’s meeting the Assembly:
– passed on final reading an appropriation of $2.1 million in matching funds to repair the seawall at the marine services center. Sitka received a $7.8 million federal RAISE grant for the project. The matching funds will come from the harbor and marine service center enterprise funds.
– passed on final reading an ordinance allocating $104,918 to improve the DataCenter disaster recovery system project in the city’s information technology (IT) department. The project is designed provide security for the city’s digital data.
– approved on introduction an ordinance to transfer $8.18 million from the city permanent fund to the Gary Paxton Industrial Park capital project fund, for construction of the haulout and shipyard at the park. Voters on Oct. 4 approved using these funds – the proceeds from the sale of the old Sitka Community Hospital property – for the project.
– passed a resolution to support full funding of the state 50-50 harbor matching grant program for FY24, in the amount of $8.2 million. The program requires cities to pay for design and permitting, and 50 percent of construction. A memo from Harbor Master Stan Eliason said if the governor fully funds the program, and Sitka scores high enough in the rankings, Sitka could receive $2.1 million toward repair of the fishermen’s work float on Japonski Island. The work float is now 34 years old, and has a number of items that need attention, Eliason said.
