ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Recommendation to the Valdez City Council to Waive or Credit 2025 Annual Moorage Fees for Valdez Resident Owned Commercial Fishing Vessels
SUBMITTED BY: Sarah Von Bargen, Harbormaster
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: Yes - Estimated $49,771
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: Unknown
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve recommendation to the Valdez City Council to waive or credit 2025 annual moorage fees for Valdez resident owned commercial fishing vessels.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Valdez City Council has referred a request to the Ports and Harbor Commission for consideration; to waive or credit the 2025 annual moorage fees for Valdez resident owned commercial fishing vessels. The request stems from the hardship caused to local Valdez commercial fishing vessel owners from the 2024 Pink Salmon Fishing Disaster. The waiver or credit of fees will result in an estimated $49,771 budget impact. It is unknown at this time if there will be an offset to this possible revenue reduction from the General Fund, federal disaster relief funds, or another source.
Staff recommends that the Commission approve the moorage waiver or credit request as presented under the following guidelines:
1. Commercial fishing vessel owners must be local Valdez residents and provide proof of residency by submitting a copy of a State of Alaska issued identification with physical Valdez address.
2. Commercial fishing vessel owners must have a 2024 pink salmon ticket and have actively fished, or attempted to fish, for pink salmon during the 2024 season. A copy of the ticket must be provided.
3. Commercial fishing vessel owners must have a valid 2024 and 2025 commercial fishing licenses and intend to commercial fish in the 2025 season. Copies of the licenses must be provided.
4. Applications for a 2025 fee waiver or credit will be accepted between November XX, 2024 and March 31, 2025 at the Valdez Harbor Office located at 300 North Harbor Dr. The application includes a letter of hardship addressed to the Valdez Harbormaster and copies of the items outlined in items 1-3 above.
A copy of the draft Council resolution, the claim letter that will be sent to commercial fishing vessel owners, and the list of all 2025 commercial fishing vessel owners with annual moorage are attached for reference. The Valdez City Council will be taking action on this resolution in the near future.