Schnabel to draft Portage Cove MOU
A memorandum of understanding between the Haines Borough and Alaska Arts Confluence (AAC) will be drafted next week to describe how decision making is going to flow in the development of the Portage Cove Trail, borough manager Debra Schnabel said.
“We’ve got so many players in the project and it’s important to know who’s in charge.”
Involved in the project are: the Haines Borough; proHNS, a design engineering firm the borough contracted in December to engineer the trail; AAC who has received a grant to pay James Corner Field Operations; Chilkoot Indian Association, that partnered with the borough to apply for a federal grant in 2018 that would allow for construction of portions of the trail.
The MOU will set the scope of work and the relationship of stakeholders for the Portage Cove Trail, Schnabel said.
In January the planning commission unanimously voted to recommend that the assembly bring an internationally recognized architectural firm to Haines for design of the Portage Cove Trail.
The firm, James Corner Field Operations, is responsible for New York City’s High Line green space, Seattle’s Waterfront Park, as well as parks in South Korea, China and the Netherlands.
If approved by the assembly, the firm would be paid with an $86,106 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, secured by the Alaska Arts Confluence in June 2017.
Alaska Arts Confluence director Carol Tuynman said that James Corner Field Operations would work in partnership with the borough’s contracted proHNS to implement local art in the design.
Tuynman said that an MOU with the borough would specify the arts confluence’s role in the trail project.
“We’re acknowledging, which we always have, that this is a borough project and field operations engaged would build on the work that’s already been done,” Tuynman said.
“It’s true that proHNS will engineer the trail, but it’s important to have things like the viewscapes and …areas for people to have amenities like benches,” she said. “That is something that comes from an architecture firm. It’s another step that makes the project have more depth and continuity for the whole trail that comes from an architectural firm with experience,” Tuynman told the planning commission in December.
In December, the borough assembly adopted a resolution to pay contractor proHNS $57,000 in commercial passenger vessel tax funds to execute portions of the Portage Cove Trail design. The design contract will cover three areas: Picture Point, from the harbor to Port Chilkoot Dock and from the dock to Portage Cove campground.
Schnabel said she expects the MOU to be presented to the assembly for approval at the March 26 meeting.
Assembly approves pump station work
The Haines Borough Assembly advanced a resolution on Tuesday that will authorize a $288,700 upgrade to the wastewater treatment facility and pump stations on Tuesday.
“I would argue that this is the most important thing for public works right now,” said Brad Ryan, public works director who recommended the resolution.
The project will install variable-speed pumps in the wastewater treatment plant and at the 1 Mile lift station, which would allow increased or decreased speed as needed, Ryan said.
Funds would also upgrade the electrical system to support pumps operating at a higher voltage, Ryan said.
The Haines Borough received two sealed bids: Island Contractors for $288,700 and Dawson Construction for $289,100.
Funds will come from the capital improvement budget and sewer fund revenues.
Ryan said this is just part of an estimated $1.7 million capital improvement upgrade project needed for the wastewater treatment facility.