Assembly moves Port McKenzie land administration to port director, keeps revenues in port enterprise fund

The Matanuska‑Susitna Borough Assembly adopted Ordinance 25‑068 to amend borough code and reassign responsibility for administering land selection, management and development within the Port McKenzie Special Use District to port administration.

David Griffin, port director, told the assembly the Port District "requires specialized attention" and that the ordinance will allow the port administration — with consideration of the Port Commission’s recommendations — to manage borough lands in the district and to keep revenues generated by port activity within the Port District enterprise fund.

The change passed without objection at the July 15 meeting after staff presentations and public comment. Supporters at the public hearing said they viewed the shift as a way to streamline decision‑making and to position Port McKenzie for near‑term economic opportunities tied to regional industrial projects and potential tariff revenue.

Port director Griffin told the assembly the district contains roughly 9,000 acres, much of which is intertidal or water, and that the intent is for the port to operate more like an enterprise: "Infrastructure maintenance and operational activities would be funded amongst itself similar to an enterprise fund," Griffin said. He added that operational revenues would reduce reliance on area‑wide tax dollars.

Public commenters who spoke at the hearing described economic and workforce benefits they anticipate if the port attracts freight, rail spurs and industrial development. Resident testimony specifically praised the ordinance as a step toward local revenue generation and infrastructure investment.

Separately the assembly referred Ordinance 25‑066, which would repeal the port development permit standards in Title 17 and move related review to planning commission review, to the planning commission for 90 days for consideration.

What happens next: With the transfer of administrative authority to the port director, the borough says future port revenues will remain within the Port District enterprise fund; policy and operational questions will come back to the assembly as needed. Ordinance 25‑066 now goes to the planning commission for a 90‑day review period.

Speakers and staff noted the move is intended to better align administration with the port’s operational needs as local projects and regional energy pathways create new opportunities.