City updates assembly on Seawalk priorities, seawall condition assessments and shore-power planning; funding options discussed

Docks and Harbors and waterfront staff provided an informational briefing on multiple waterfront capital projects and potential funding approaches. Staff stressed that the discussion was preparatory and that projects would require later funding decisions.

Miss Pierce said the Franklin-to-AJ Seawalk alignment remains a priority and that private land ownership and easement issues are the primary challenge for connecting segments. The last cost estimate for the Franklin-to-AJ alignment was about $20 million, Pierce said, and staff noted $7.4 million currently exists in the CWOC CIP.

Pierce also described a proposed Auk Landing-to-Gold Creek Seawalk alignment and a possible inland alignment near the Coast Guard right-of-way to address safety concerns. She said the city has not started design on the Auk Landing–Gold Creek segment and recommended engaging engineers now to take advantage of concurrent development activity.

Seawall condition assessment and shore power

Pierce said Docks and Harbors has funded a condition assessment of seawall structures near the Alaska Steamship Dock and that assessment work could uncover expensive replacement needs once completed. Separately, the borough’s shore-power CIP carries a planning-level figure of about $55 million (staff noted $13 million in a related CIP line — the memo and discussion indicated varying figures depending on scope).

Pierce described an existing memorandum of agreement with AEL&P for shore-power design; AEL&P has contracted to produce 35% design work. She warned that a key long-lead procurement item — a transformer — can be costly and slow to deliver: “The one we purchased for the Franklin Dock ... cost $3,000,000 and had a lead time of 28 months.”

Funding and debt instruments

Pierce emphasized the city is considering revenue-backed debt using marine passenger fees or dockage fees rather than general-obligation bonds for some waterfront projects. She said staff will bring prioritization and funding scenarios back to the assembly as design and condition-assessment work advances.

Assembly questions and next steps

Assembly members asked about the magnitude and sequencing of projects, the use of marine passenger fees versus dockage fees for revenue bonds, and whether long-lead items could be procured ahead of final design to reduce schedule risk. Pierce and finance staff said they would return with estimates, prioritization scenarios and options for financing, including potential federal or state grants and private partnerships.

Ending: staff asked for any firm opinions or priorities from the assembly and said they would proceed with further design, condition assessment and funding-option development as projects move toward construction.