ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Alaska Rail Development Corporation
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Detter, City Manager
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Memorandum of Understanding between A2A and City of Valdez.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Several discussions have occurred in the past about developing rail from Alberta to Alaska. The A2A firm provided a presentation to City Council on August 13, 2020 detailing economic, political, and engineering considerations related to the expansion of rail from Northwest Canada to Alaska and potentially to Valdez.
The Valdez Port is uniquely situated to handle the oil product extracted in Alberta for shipment to Asia. The Valdez Ports location is 4-5 days closer to Asia than ports on the west coast of Canada and the United States and Valdez’s experience with the Oil industry makes Valdez a top candidate for handling the commodity from Alberta.
A2A is asking for City of Valdez cooperation in terms of promoting Valdez for rail connection, including staff time dedicated for such a proposition. The four members of City staff initially identified in the MOU as the “working team” for such collaboration are the City Manager, Economic Development Director, Ports and Harbor Director, and Planning Director. These staff members will be a key resource to the A2A firm.
During the course of creating the new Comprehensive Plan rail service must be factored into key portions of such plan, including the future land use map.