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#25-01 - Waiving 2025 Annual Fishing Vessel Moorage Fees for Valdez Resident Commercial Fishing Vessels Active During the 2024 Commercial Fishing Season
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SUBMITTED BY: Sarah Von Bargen, Harbormaster
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: Estimated Loss of Harbor Revenue $49,771
Unencumbered Balance: NA
Funding Source: NA
RECOMMENDATION:
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None.
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SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Valdez City Council informally asked that the Ports and Harbor Commission to consider and provide a recommendation on the waiver of 2025 moorage fees for Valdez commercial fishermen due to a disastrous 2024 Pink Salmon commercial fishing season in Prince William Sound.
Staff provided the following information and recommended guidelines to the Ports and Harbor Commission at the meeting on November 18, 2024:
The waiver or credit of fees would result in an estimated $49,771 negative impact to the Harbor budget. It is unknown at this time if there would be an offset to the possible revenue reduction from the General Fund, federal disaster relief funds, or another source.
Staff recommended that the Ports and Harbor 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 vessels 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 license 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 no later than March 31, 2025 at the Valdez Harbor Office. The application must include a letter of hardship addressed to ...
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