ITEM TITLE:
Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between Alaska Rail Development Corporation (A2A Rail) and the City of Valdez
SUBMITTED BY: AnnMarie Lain, Community Development Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
None.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
In 2016, the City of Valdez Assistant City Manager, Community Development Director, and AnnMarie Lain met with representatives from Alaska Rail Development Corporation known as A2A Rail.
On October 23, 2017 John Falcetta, President and CEO of A2A Rail sent a letter to Mayor Knight to request a meeting in Anchorage. The letter stated that A2A is developing a freight railway with a route between Northern Alberta and Alaska which would intersect and potentially interchange with the Trans Alaska Pipeline System near the town of Delta Junction.
Mayor Knight, along with the City Manager and the Economic and Community Development Directors met with representatives from A2A Rail in Anchorage on November, 13, 2017.
During the meeting several aspects of the project were discussed, including aboriginal engagement, a signed MOU with Alaska Railroad, and route potentials. A2A delivered a draft MOU that they requested to be brought back for Council Consideration.
The draft MOU and corresponding documentation, including Mr. Falcetta’s letter to the Mayor are attached for Councils review.