[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6209063,"mediaKeyId","3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b","parentId",3738243,"title","Merrill Field staff propose 10% rate increase; committee hears plan to pursue nearby City Electric property for advanced air mobility","audioSeconds",1654,"startMs",239000,"endMs",1893000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b&start=239&end=1893","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b/thumbnail_239000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6209063/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Merrill-Field-staff-propose-10-rate-increase-committee-hears-plan-to-pursue-nearby-City-Electric-property-for-advanced-air-mobility","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209063-a4e2c493013662ce8537204992d04fbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453072&Signature=WW0orndOdMkrmaaR0sg--vRxMlGeE57QK4dayZow9VMk1w9qrmvRBwdi~7rUyw1gbcJ6WFeoYL0PpgtsuOW68FMpTfXH9e4Bzo-9dyrLNMu96l5VduuYLWVot5s6njM8oIqWSB00xYIt5l3XGwC8ef03p04kP8Et2A7KiIl6pYJ1~iY0bLoQ8jlU6bjKPS5as0L4Y4Mcx8jB2bEavSKpnwp~FdC4Yio~Iv-aUrnL~0a-rZEA-wun3eB947p~zd-o1Y41E4aYtE0NBIChfe7s1Js7UaP1FtU63R0tP7lhKktnjYFjrBoVaOdULYNVTAgl7RALAlwjANLzFSa5KP9eIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Municipality of Anchorage","date","2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","article","Merrill Field managers told the Anchorage Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee on May 31 that they will propose a roughly 10% across‑the‑board rate increase for fiscal 2026 covering land leases, aircraft tie‑downs and long‑term vehicle parking, and that the airport is evaluating purchase or lease of the nearby City Electric property to host advanced air mobility infrastructure.

The proposal, presented by Merrill Field Director Earl Malbus and Deputy Director Amy Garcia, was introduced for committee awareness; Malbus said “we are proposing a 10% increase across the board on the, for the, land leases and also, increase the tie downs for the aircraft, 10% as well.” He told members a formal written proposal and line‑item budget will be provided to the assembly.

The rate discussion centers on a multi‑year pause in annual adjustments. Malbus said the current land‑lease rate is 24¢ per square foot and that, had annual CPI adjustments been applied over six years, the rate would be about 39¢ per square foot; he said airport staff judged that CPI would be “too high” and instead plan a 10% increase. The proposed rise would also cover long‑term vehicle parking, short‑term and transient parking, and new fee schedules for some landing and transient‑operator services; Malbus said staff intend to add a phone‑pay option for tied‑down customers to improve convenience.

Committee members sought documentation. Assembly member Mitch Carlson asked for a written breakdown of proposed rates and the underlying budget changes; Malbus said the administration will provide the detailed proposal. Members also flagged comparisons to other Alaska airports and predicted public pushback: Malbus said state‑run facilities such as Lake Hood show lower nominal square‑foot rates but that differences reflect other revenue streams at larger airports (fuel flowage fees, landing fees), and that the FAA has been encouraging rate adjustments at state airports.

Malbus also raised the City Electric property, describing the parcel’s current sale listing price of $3,750,000 and saying the current owner, Spire Properties, has completed soil studies and engages with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on mitigation; he said the FAA could reimburse as much as roughly 90–93% of eligible costs if the property and cleanup meet FAA and EPA requirements. He said partners such as Launch Alaska and the University of Alaska Fairbanks have expressed interest in collaborating on electric charging and other advanced air mobility infrastructure at a campus north of Fifth Avenue.

Assembly members urged early, robust community engagement and cautioned about neighborhood impacts. Assembly member Christopher Constance and others noted the parcel sits adjacent to residential areas and asked the airport to study buffers, noise impacts and cleanup responsibilities before pursuing acquisition. Malbus said he has discussed the idea with Fairview community leaders and that a Merrill Field master plan and public outreach process are being accelerated to explore options, including sites north of Fifth Avenue.

No formal action was taken by the committee at the meeting; staff presented the proposal for awareness and follow‑up. Malbus said the airport will return with written rate schedules, the economic impact study and more detailed proposals for any property acquisition or FAA grant applications.

Clarifying details provided in the meeting: the current nominal land lease rate cited was 24¢ per square foot; staff estimated a CPI‑adjusted rate at about 39¢ per square foot over six years but are proposing a single 10% increase instead; the City Electric asking price discussed was $3,750,000; FAA cost‑share figures discussed were in the neighborhood of 90–93% for eligible remediation or acquisition costs; staff cited an economic impact study for Merrill Field showing roughly $85,000,000 in wages tied to airport jobs and about $241,000,000 in total statewide economic contribution, with $64,000,000 attributed to transporting patients to Anchorage for medical care.

The airport said next steps include delivering the written rate proposal to the assembly, continuing the Merrill Field master plan with public outreach and, if there is assembly interest, returning with a refined proposal linking property acquisition options to advanced air mobility infrastructure and grant strategies.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Merrill Field managers told the Anchorage Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee on May 31 that they will propose a roughly 10% across‑the‑board rate increase for fiscal 2026 covering land leases, aircraft tie‑downs and long‑term vehicle parking, and that the airport is evaluating purchase or lease of the nearby City Electric property to host advanced air mobility infrastructure.","taxTitle","Anchorage Municipality, Alaska","taxId",2653,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6209053,"Port staff move substation design toward construction; state grant funds project and assembly approval expected in June",1116,2808000,3924000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b&start=2808&end=3924","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b/thumbnail_2808000.jpg","/articles/6209053/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Port-staff-move-substation-design-toward-construction-state-grant-funds-project-and-assembly-approval-expected-in-June","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209053-fb9f8634a8f62832deb3a751af0c21dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453072&Signature=lDMw~WtpO16JISIbeNWOGwX2vJY9bFBxUdN~OLGMOzVcRmmDW4EeNChdu5EmM6vQyX7HHlk~BBGUPA2TckM6PHoB3ivipQHIn3YOVTZlTx9gdKLIzLQW-lYY3cbCVc2TM9QLdblfVOtJwWo1hQ7iRphkbNJRIz7KtRmPe5fmXCtK5jQRHjwPCtxr5uhPnTz2eBQxs13jrSpSk3c9HF809lT7cfSAbiLeMuJWbjTZYFKc50lkM--~NzUjX4emNV~BLb-TE14~zYQmu2CwBuQ0264Y~MQoms1UqMmmuAEYPnlLX7lSIpv2SQqDlkotY41roQxq2Rd0ReJAyS7S5fp~2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Port of Anchorage staff told the Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee on May 31 that they have broken out a new electrical substation as a separate design‑build project to supply power for three ship‑to‑shore cranes at the new Terminal 1, have received three responsive proposals within an engineer’s $30 million estimate, and are in negotiations with the preferred proposer with the intent to seek assembly contract approval on June 10.

Port Director Steve Rebuffel and engineering manager John Daly said the project is fully funded by a State of Alaska grant and will require long‑lead electrical equipment such as large transformers and switchgear. John Daly said many items face multi‑year lead times and that the schedule calls for design and ordering of long‑lead items in 2025, site work and underground conduit in 2026, arrival and installation of major equipment in 2027–2028 and a planned completion date of July 2028 with cranes arriving in August 2028.

Committee members raised schedule and liability concerns. Assembly member Christopher Constance asked whether a delay in substation completion could expose the municipality to damages if cranes or other terminal work are ready before power; port staff acknowledged the risk and said contract documents include schedule terms that allocate risk between multiple parties. Port staff also said Terminal 1 procurement strategy is being revisited and that Madison (the terminal contractor/owner representative referenced in discussion) is exploring used cranes versus new units; those procurement changes could shift liability and delivery timing and are a subject of ongoing negotiation.

Port staff said they selected a proposer through a design‑build solicitation that weighed quality and cost, that negotiations are underway and that municipal purchasing rules prevent release of the proposer name until contract signing. They said the substation’s base site is adjacent to the port administration building but that the design‑build team will study an alternative north‑end site that may reduce operational conflicts and preserve multi‑use parking and staging space.

In other port planning, staff said they intend to seek approval for a battery energy storage system funded by a Department of Defense Defense Community Infrastructure Program grant as a step toward operational resilience in a major power outage; staff described the battery project as a separate but related step in port power independence.

No assembly contract was approved at the May 31 committee meeting; port staff expect to present a fully negotiated contract for assembly action on June 10. Staff warned that schedule slips on long‑lead items or changes to crane procurement could create cost or liability exposure that must be addressed in contract terms before final award.

Clarifying details from the meeting: engineering estimate for the substation was about $30,000,000 and the project is funded by a State of Alaska grant; staff reported three responsive design‑build proposals within the estimate, and schedule milestones include ordering long‑lead items in 2025 and a target project completion in July 2028 with cranes in August 2028.","The Port of Anchorage said it has selected a proposer for a new electrical substation to power three ship‑to‑shore cranes at Terminal 1, is negotiating terms and expects to seek Assembly approval June 10; long lead electrical equipment and scheduling risks could expose the municipality to damages if timelines slip",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6209058,"Anchorage utilities advance joint waste‑to‑energy effort; regulators and technical hurdles remain",1034,1846000,2880000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b&start=1846&end=2880","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3738243-53439c484861aa2b13d4a5ed26835c1b/thumbnail_1846000.jpg","/articles/6209058/Anchorage-Municipality/Alaska/Anchorage-utilities-advance-joint-wastetoenergy-effort-regulators-and-technical-hurdles-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6209058-6ffc812024643a662514634924ab08df/orig.mp4?Expires=1770453072&Signature=c-wSTlb8bqLceIkSPi9hWFHtMcPtokQxI-q9PLXQxuHdFby6lp~pCpLxe5giDbxOOo~Y7Gxbxh3uNIwVkYqNiu56cp1I2a2N87PyAUEIDJZeo~y8bMENbd9HkMmSqUYY5hRYnZr~4td610daj6HJx7sUe7p71qkRQOdd-AhNJBr0VgGTCeZKZ0kkokLGS9NOyXfFVO7QicsC29fiHEe5rncDD6ISjUttMPX3j1Peal3uv8OUGQt507I7IAGL~VFSshkOFyQo3~JmszgsbPIv6eul-uMLIhcKjf0dpdu-CE1RTIbT-wVWvq7f5j02cihORxfZxSxEa3PyIanwS0usDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Anchorage Water & Wastewater (AW) and Solid Waste Services (SWS) staff told the Infrastructure, Enterprise and Utility Oversight Committee on May 31 that their joint waste‑to‑energy program has progressed from conceptual approval to active procurement planning and stakeholder outreach, but regulators have rejected an initial supplemental emissions project (SEP) proposal and technical and permitting work remains.

David Persinger, general manager of Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility, said the program has completed a kickoff, set vision and goals, and is preparing requests for proposals (RFPs) with the municipal purchasing office. He said selection‑committee drafts are in progress and that project managers are beginning stakeholder engagement with energy partners, Anchorage International Airport, JBER and technology providers such as Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.

Kelly Toth, general manager of Solid Waste Services, said the municipality’s compliance order by consent (COBC) remains in process and that regulators rejected the alternate SEP the agency proposed. Toth said SWS is working constructively with regulators and pursuing partnership approaches to identify feasible technical solutions for landfill gas issues. She said a new flare blower and panel procurement has been signed for another project and that materials are on order.

On leachate and PFAS treatment, staff said earlier deep injection and large‑scale evaporation options were not viable; they described a planned hybrid pretreatment approach and said they will convene the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) to host a full‑day PFAS training for municipal staff and stakeholders to explore treatment options. Persinger said the program will perform benchmark testing and seek technical guidance from Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) water staff before committing to final disposal or discharge approaches.

Staff also summarized publicly available plant operations: the municipality currently incinerates biosolids at the Aspen wastewater plant and cited a throughput figure of about 20 tons per day of sludge from that facility. Persinger and Toth showed examples of operating waste‑to‑energy plants, and Persinger highlighted an economic case for beneficial use rather than routine flaring of landfill gas.

Financial exposure tied to the COBC was discussed. Municipal staff said the potential value of fines linked to landfill gas exceedances was about $200,000 and that spending $271,000 on a supplemental environmental project could offset that exposure if the agencies agree on a SEP approach; staff stressed the figures are for planning and are tied to regulator negotiations.

No final technical choice was made at the meeting. Staff said next steps include finalizing RFPs, continuing stakeholder engagement, scheduling a potential site visit or “lunch and learn” at the Central Transfer Station for committee members, convening national expertise on PFAS treatment, and submitting revised permit packages to EPA for the wastewater plant process in early June.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the COBC remains active and the municipality’s alternate SEP was rejected and reworked with regulators; the potential fine exposure without a SEP was cited as $200,000 and an SEP cost estimate of $271,000 was discussed; Aspen wastewater incineration was described at about 20 tons of sludge per day; staff plans to submit a revised wastewater permit package to EPA in early June and to host a SWANA PFAS training to inform technical choices.","Anchorage Water & Wastewater and Solid Waste Services told the assembly their joint waste‑to‑energy program has moved from concept to procurement planning, but regulators rejected an alternate SEP and technical work on landfill gas and leachate treatment continues","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Merrill Field staff propose 10% rate increase; committee hears plan to pursue nearby City Electric property for advanced air mobility

Port staff move substation design toward construction; state grant funds project and assembly approval expected in June

Anchorage utilities advance joint waste‑to‑energy effort; regulators and technical hurdles remain