The Ports and Harbors Advisory Committee last week voted unanimously to ask the Haines Borough Assembly to re-examine what they consider a critical $385,000 piece to the Portage Cove Harbor Expansion project.
It’s a 33-foot-long segment of the steel breakwater barrier that both local fishermen and harbor officials say would not only better protect the boats moored in the harbor, but allow for more maneuverability and bigger slip space for the ever-larger pleasure craft and work boats that ply local waters.
Harbor officials say adding another 33 feet to the project’s planned addition of 600 feet of steel breakwater will allow for more flexibility in the design for 39 new boat slips and work floats that are part of the overall harbor expansion.
“I want the most space available,” said harbormaster Shawn Bell at the meeting.
But officials said they wanted to arrive at a decision on the wall as quickly as possible. “We’re at the witching hour here,” said committee member Fred Gray.
Earlier this month, assembly members approved a contract with Pacific Pile & Marine to install a steel breakwater barrier and fill the harbor’s uplands area for a possible paved parking lot. But the assembly also voted to deny funding for an additional 33-foot-long section of the new wall.
The 33-foot segment was an “add-alternate” to the project, an optional element depending on funding.
The controversial harbor expansion has divided residents, many who believe that the project, estimated to cost between $32 million and $34 million, is too costly and has not been vetted by enough public input. Others say there has already been enough citizen scrutiny and the project should move forward.
But both sides are keeping a close eye the total costs.
The borough found itself with a sudden windfall in discretionary funds when Pacific Pile & Marine’s bid for the project’s first phase came in $1.9 million below expectations. With an eye on further savings, assembly members voted down the 33-foot wall add-on known as “Alt C.” By not spending the additional $385,000 on the breakwater wall, the Phase One savings rose to almost $2.3 million.
Officials say the money could be used for Phase Two of the four-phase project, which involves installing a ramp for sport fishing boats at an estimated cost of between $3.5 million and $4.5 million. The borough is seeking a grant of $3 million to $5 million from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The third phase would add 39 boat slips to the 111 already in the harbor at an estimated cost of about $4.7 million.
But not everyone believes that cutting the length of the new breakwater makes sense.
“The (33 feet) doesn’t sound like much, but by design standards, it’s huge,” said Jeremy Stephens, a local engineer who was in the audience.
One by one, Ports and Harbors advisory members, some of them fishermen, listed the advantages of a fully-expanded break wall, saying that the existing narrow slips and hairpin turns of the harbor make maneuverability difficult for boats over 40 feet long.
“If it were just smaller fishing boats we’re talking about, we could get by with less space – we’d continue to bump into each other like we always have and survive,” said advisory member Don Turner Jr. He added that many boats seeking shelter in Haines now include 55-foot trollers and catamarans.
Advisory member Brad Badger, a fisherman and regular harbor user, said that gusty winds and tight spaces can wreak havoc on many boats negotiating the space. He said he often backs his boat out of the harbor as a safety precaution.
In an arena of boats that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and more, Badger said that flexibility is key. “If you’re coming into the harbor and you see $40,000 worth of engines sitting there on another boat, you need maneuverability.”
Badger added that additional break wall space means more protected room for larger slips many would like to see included in the expansion.
“The reason for this expansion is so we can have larger vessels coming in and have dock space for them,” he said. “Once you get in there, you’ve got to be able to turn your boat.”
Two borough assembly members – Tresham Gregg and Heather Lende – attended the hearing and sat in the public area. Lende said she was willing to reconsider the issue at the assembly’s next meeting – but added that harbor expansion advocates should be ready to compromise down the line.
She warned that many project critics were concerned about filling in the harbor’s uplands area for more parking space.
“If we go ahead and add the 33 feet and you’re more flexible with complaints about the parking, that would show more goodwill.”
She added: “We all want to make sure it’s the best harbor we can get.”