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2001-04-23 Economic Strategy Meeting~ .` - - _ KODIAK _ . _ .CHAMBER _ _ OF COMMERCE P. O. Box 1485, Kodiak Alaska 99615 April 23, 2001 Memo to: CEDS Committee Members Frum: Debora King, Econonuc Deveioprieni Sp~ci4::st CEDS Committee Meeting Minutes (907)486-5557 FAX: (907) 486-7605 !~'"'~`~""j rrr. ~ _ _ ! pRR 2 6 ,, ~dr~ .~,~,:,.,,.4,..:... _ .::,_.: Enclosed please find the minutes of the April 19~', 2001 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy committee meeting. For those not in attendance at the meeting, please find an entire meeting package. Thank-you. oYQ Debora King RODIAK ~D !t OFFICE OF T'~!g ~'I CLEiIt COPIE TO: ~ "` ~ -. MAYO~'~ '. ~~~;I =... OT :~ ~ r. ; ~'.~.'.: 'E c7r: CLERK..,... FILE Dedicated to Kodiak's Future "~` '`"" Minutes of the Kodiak Island Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee Meeting Date of meeting: April 19, 2001 Time: 12:00 noon Place: Buskin River Inn Members present: Mike Machulsky, Charlie Davidson, Thomas Goldston, Alicia Reft, Murphy Forner, Rick Lindholm, Gabrielle Ledoux, Wanda Kaiser, Allan Panamaroff, Jim Nestic, Arum Kone, Tony Drabek, Jeff Derrickson, Darron Scott Members absent: Jeff Stephan, Carolyn Floyd, Pamela Foreman, Tom Panamaroff, Diana Simeonoff, Zach Chichenoff, Matt Moir, Lacey Berns, Pat Carlson, Linda Freed Other people present: Wayne Stevens, Debora King Approval of Minutes: - Approval of minutes of the January 26, 200 CEDS Committee Meeting. Sub-committee Reports: 1) Transportation -Murphy Forner - Results of village surveys presented. - Tony Lara plans to provide year round, island-wide, freight and passenger service via landing craft. Wanda Kaiser volunteered to be the contact person in Port Lions. - Steve Harvey will be providing charter air service to the villages - Murphy spoke about the need for an agent in every village. 2) Communications - Darron Scott/Jeff Derrickson - Fiber line is the best way to get broad band to Kodiak -need for continued monitoring of the fiber optic cable being laid to Shemya. - Gabrielle reported that the state has waived the E-rate that would allow rural Alaskans in villages which currently have no local dial-up access to the internet, use of telecommunication services currently provided to their schools and libraries through the federal E-rate program. - Kodiak Wireless -city area secured with Pasagshak, Narrow Cape and Port Lions next on schedule, over 1100 subscribers - Working on feasbility study to determine costs of installing a power line that would provide internet service to Port Lions - Dispatch-type of frequencies are being tightened by the FCC. If there is a need, KEA will investigate setting up some sort of network. - KEA Update -Cost of Power Adjustment (COPA) -due to a reduction in diesel prices and substantial snow-pack at Terror Lake, we should see a 1.4¢ per kwhr reduction in the near future. Investigating new rate structures. KEA Strategic planning meeting scheduled for this summer. - Wayne reported on the fiber optic line that is being laid between Japan and Portland. Originally the technology required a midpoint power boost, but that is no longer the case. He also reported that Andy Tierney, Anchorage is involved in a satellite communications business that would be able to provide telecommunications for small rural communities at a significantly lower cost than that being currently provided. Economic Development Report: - Written report as presented Old Business: None New Business: - Mission Statement discussion. The following mission statement was adopted by the Kodiak CEDS Committee: " to help develop strong economies and healthy communities by providing leadership and information to increase Kodiak Island's economic position." Board Comments: - Thomas Goldston -discussed PKIMC's continuing efforts to provide healthcare for the underinsured and uninsured. He advised the Board that he will be leaving Kodiak this summer. - Jeff Derrickson - acknowleged the support of the Chamber in assisting Kodiak Wireless/New Horizons up and running. - Darron Scott -encouraged input from members of the board and the outlying communities on electrical and communications issues - Alicia Reft -suggested that someone from the Committee travel to Karluk to discuss economic development opportunities - Tony Drabek -discussed the timber industry. The Natives of Kodiak have elected to discontinue operations on Afognak Island because of the downturn in the timber industry and the rising freight rates to the lower 48. The opening of a new subdivision is under review. - Wanda Kaiser -Port Lions has a number of projects on their slate including the rebuilding of their cannery, a regional high school and a multicultural center. - Gabrielle Ledoux -The Kodiak Island Borough is concentrating on the budget process. She encouraged input from community and business leaders on the issue of raising taxes. - Charlie Davidson - We have great opportunities on this island and we need to expand into other areas such as tourism. We need to publicize our uniqueness. - Allan Panamaroff -Villages need to stay involved with the activities of the City of Kodiak and the Kodiak Island Borough. There is a need to develop strategies in industries in order for more industries to want to locate to the villages. There is a need for a strategy to have more of the money made in the community, stay in the community, e.g. Out-of-town lodge owners. The City of Larsen Bay is looking at the feasibility of deep-sea docking in their community. - Arum Kone - KANA is providing free Commercial Drivers License (CDL) training in the villages (50 slots available) and additional training with the goal of keeping jobs in the villages. - Jim Nestic -The tank farm and pipeline in Old Harbor should be completed by August. They have a 2-year project to reconstruct all of their roads. The hydro project should be starting in August. They want ferry service around the island. - Michael Machulsky -formally acknowledged Thomas Goldston's contribution to the Committee. Their has been interest shown in the activation of the foreign trade site at the Kodiak Launch Complex. Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 26, 2001 .,.a . ti Adjournment: 1:50 p.m.