By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly at its Tuesday meeting told city staff to continue moving forward with plans for a major renovation at the airport terminal.
An architects rendering shows an expanded airport waiting area. (Image provided to the Sentinel)
“Sounds like a general consensus to continue forward as you can,” summarized Mayor Steven Eisenbeisz, after a presentation by public works director Michael Harmon and comments by the Assembly.
The renovated airport terminal would include expanded passenger holding areas, clearer routing for passengers entering and exiting the building, more space for baggage screening and handling, and a fish box staging area, among other features to “improve passenger flow.”
All seven Assembly members attended the meeting.
In other action, the Assembly took up the routine business of approving marijuana and liquor license renewals, made commission appointments, approved a budget item to cover pet adoption expenses, and approved a resolution for federal funds for a Cross Trail connector in the Jarvis Street Hillside Subdivision.
Airport Renovation
The public works director’s Power Point presentation on the airport terminal included funding scenarios as well as options for constructing in phases and avoiding disruption in airport operations.
The PowerPoint, including designs and the history of the project going back to 2005, can be viewed online at cityofsitka.com and under “Assembly Agenda and Minutes.”
Costs are estimated at $18.28 million, with some $14.8 million available in such “secured funding” as:
– a $4 million revenue bond covered by new passenger facility charges (PFCs).
– $245,386 from a TSA design grant for baggage screening.
– $264,468 in accrued PFCs before May 2018.
“Anticipated funding” includes:
– $3,271,076 from a TSA baggage screening construction grant.
– $7 million from an FAA/state Department of Transportation aviation airport improvement grant.
The projected funding shortfall is $3.453,035.
In his memo to the Assembly Harmon said: “Given current revenue streams in the airport fund as well as the impact of the pandemic on the airport fund, additional bonding is not an option to fill the shortfall.”
His recommendation was to proceed with a full design project, while continuing to seek funding, and to get a contractor on the project team as soon as possible to help develop construction phasing, project costs and a funding plan.
“Proceed with a phased construction approach as funding is secured,” he recommended.
No vote was taken on the recommendation, but after discussion the Assembly members in general were receptive to the plan.
Eisenbeisz said the Assembly would like regular updates with changes in costs and funding opportunities that become available.
“This (the terminal upgrades) is one that’s been looming in my head for quite some time,” Eisenbeisz said. “I think the case can be made that it’s necessary but the case can also be made that it’s expensive.”
Thor Christianson said if the city can put together a project that’s “shovel ready” it may be in line for some of the $3 trillion in stimulus funds approved by Congress.
Noting the goals of the federal construction “Build Back Better” strategy, Rebecca Himschoot asked that the Climate Task Force be brought into the discussion, to help make it not only shovel-ready but the kind of project that federal agencies would view favorably.
“It’s supposed to be as green as possible. I’m sure you have an eye to that,” she said.
City staff members said they were working on the project with companies that also want to go in that direction, including consultant McCool Carlson Green Architects and Alaska Airlines.
Cross Trail Connector
In another project involving federal funding, the Assembly unanimously passed a resolution supporting the city’s application to the 2021 Alaska Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) for $1.2 million for construction of the Jarvis-Hillside neighborhood connector of the Cross Trail Multimodal Pathway.
The intent is to provide “direct walking and biking access to the dense neighborhood” of more than an 270 households and 80 businesses, in the Price Street and Hillside subdivision neighborhoods. It would run from Indian River Trailhead, and behind the industrial area and neighborhoods for about a third of a mile.
The memo from City Administrator John Leach said the total project cost is $1.2 million, of which the city must contribute 9.03 percent ($111,600) in matching funds.
“Sitka Trail Works has offered to cover the match through foundation grants and membership donations raised by Sitka Trail Works, participation by the city through in-kind staff time, materials and cash match has occurred previously. However, the city would need to appropriate general fund working capital to cover the in-kind match.”
After discussing how the matching funding has worked in the past – with STW writing a check for the match – the Assembly approved the resolution to apply for the funds.
If the money is approved, the $1.2 million would come to the city, and the city would be the project manager. There was some discussion about using Sitka Trail Works as a sole-source procured contractor, but that’s not guaranteed because that would require a “sole-source authorization” from the granting agency, city staff said.
“If a sole source authorization isn’t granted, it would have to be competitive bidding,” Finance Director Melissa Haley said today.
The project was proposed by Sitka Trail Works, which has done most of the legwork on the project, and filled out the grant application. The Parks and Recreation Committee approved advancing the project to city staff, to present to the Assembly.
Assembly members gave mostly positive comments about the project, saying it would enhance Sitka’s quality of life, and be an asset to not only visitors but residents.
In general, co-sponsor Kevin Knox said, “It is an opportunity for the city as it has been in the past to enhance our trail system, and to enhance access to the Cross trail, continuing to be able to expand that all the way across town is a great opportunity for us.”
Sitka Trail Works executive director Lynne Brandon highlighted the strong working partnership with the city that has resulted in the construction of almost 10 miles of trails, attracting more than $4 million in federal funding, matched by $574,000 raised by STW. Brandon said she’s confident supporters will be able to raise the required match ($111,600) for the new connector route.
It’s the fourth FLAP grant STW has worked with the city on. “We always make sure all our T’s are crossed and I’s are dotted,” Brandon said. “We’ve been in this business for a long time.”
From the public, Richard Wein had questions about “what this is and what it will cost.” He said he’s interested in a firm commitment that the match would be covered, estimates of the cost of staff time and the cost of a single audit of the program, if one occurs.
Other Business
The Assembly also:
- approved a standard marijuana cultivation facility renewal license application for VanGreen’s LLC at 224 Smith Street #D.
- approved two liquor license renewal applications for Triple C Ventures Inc. (Cascade Convenience Center at 1211 A Sawmill Creek Road, and Watson Point Liquor at 1867 Halibut Point Road).
- appointed Lauren Mitchell to an unexpired term on the Gary Paxton Industrial Park Board of Directors.
- appointed Dave Miller to a three-year term on the Local Emergency Planning Committee.
- appointed Lakota Harden and Tristan Guevin to unexpired terms on the Health Needs and Human Services Commission.
- approved a supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 2021, for pet adoption services, $10,000 in additional funds for spaying and neutering animals adopted from the shelter. The ordinance passed on first reading and will be up again on April 13.
