Deliberations on Phase Two of the Portage Cove Harbor Expansion are about to begin.
Haines Borough manager Bill Seward provided the assembly Tuesday with the first document on Phase Two, with the assembly expected to discuss it on Nov. 29.
Phase Two is installing a ramp for sport fishing boats with an estimated cost of $3.5 million to $4.5 million. The borough is seeking a $3 million to $5 million grant from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The borough also has roughly $2.3 million theoretically left over from Phase One, which could be applied to Phase Two.
The document distributed by Seward is a draft of an agreement between the borough and the fish and game department on the boat ramp project.
The draft predicts that the ramp would have a 20-year life with the agreement tentatively set to end Dec. 31, 2039. That implies that construction would be completed in 2019.
The first stage of Phase Two covers preliminary design and permitting for the project with an estimated budget of $500,000. The federal government would provide 75 percent of the cost and the state would provide 25 percent.
The second stage – which covers final design and construction– would have its budget calculated prior to it beginning.
The draft agreement calls for the borough to handle any hazardous materials at the site with the state exempt from any liability if such substances are found.
The borough would also be responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits. The state would not reimburse the borough for administrative work or overhead.
The draft would allow the borough to charge user fees for the ramp, but not in excess of existing fees for recreational boating and sport fishing use of the harbor.