Assembly IEOC Meeting – September 18, 2025: Port Updates, AWWU Emergency Projects, and Bond Ratings
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Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise, and Utility Oversight Committee (IEOC) Meeting – September 18, 2025
The Assembly Infrastructure, Enterprise, and Utility Oversight Committee met on September 18, 2025, at 19:17 UTC to discuss port updates, emergency water and wastewater projects, and strategic planning for utilities. The meeting began with introductions, including Mike Gabbott, the new interim Port Director (day five/six on the job). Chair Constant noted the recent rededication of the Track J public park and requested that fence-moving continue with available budget.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public provided testimony.
Discussion Items
USACE 7001 Requests
- Chair Constant introduced a request to extend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ operating authority for the Municipality of Anchorage, to be included in the 2026 Water Resources Development Act. This would allow future partnerships on water-related projects (e.g., erosion, drainage, port, hydropower).
- Member Brawley asked about potential downsides (strings attached). Eric Adams (Program Manager) explained that if the Corps acts as a contractor (pay-for-service), few strings are attached; if there is a cost share, more regulations apply, but the Corps does its own permitting.
Port of Alaska Updates (General PAMP Update)
- Fender Repair Project: Change order authority request of $85,000 (made the addendum for next Tuesday’s agenda). The total contract value is $1.2 million. A future $30,000 change order will follow. The repair addresses rusted steel beams discovered when fenders were removed.
- POL2 Condition Assessment: An RFP for a condition assessment was issued yesterday (September 18, 2025), with expected completion by end of 2024 (corrected to 2025).
- PAMP Construction: North Extension Stabilization 1 marine base dredging completed; shoreline revetment using Armor Rock expected completion October 12, 2025. Terminal 1 construction meeting on September 16 was positive; Merit Grant Agreement unlocking $50 million federal funds to be completed shortly; site work to begin in 2026. Congestion anticipated; stakeholder coordination ongoing.
- Pile Driving Concerns: Member Constant requested that pile driving not occur on Sundays (6–8 a.m.) to give Government Hill neighbors a break. Adams noted the contractor’s baseline schedule shows six days per week, but they will be responsive to constituents.
- Crane Agreement: Request to continue the agreement for two more meetings to allow for further negotiation amid port leadership transition. Member Constant suggested inviting Matson’s new primary contact to introduce themselves to the committee.
- PCT (Petroleum Consolidation Terminal): Adams reported that the goal is to put “P in PCT” (i.e., begin petroleum product use) as soon as possible; anticipated ready by mid-late October. Chair Constant requested a celebration event when the first commercial gallon flows.
- Port Director Recruitment: Municipal Manager Wynn Pearson stated the position has been widely posted, over a dozen applicants passed initial screening, first-round interviews underway, hoping to make an offer by end of October, with someone potentially in place by end of year.
Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility (AWWU) Emergency Projects
- 42-Inch Transmission Main Break (August 29, 2025): Occurred on North Pine Street near the Glenn Highway. A privacy fence post likely damaged the pipe 30 years ago, causing failure. No private property damage, minor DOT fence damage. Specialized repair needed ($500k estimated, operating cost). Fire flow concerns mitigated with AFD coordination.
- Sewer Line Break at Airport (August 14, 2025): 21-inch concrete trunk sewer line failed, likely earthquake-related (2018). Temporary repair (~$250k) completed; permanent repair may require pilings (cost not yet determined). No overflow occurred. Member Brawley asked if FEMA reimbursement is possible; Persinger said the ship has sailed.
- Alley Break Behind Glacier Brewhouse: Leak into basement. Temporary water system being set up; estimated repair cost ~$150k (operating). Property lines likely at building face, so public expense.
- Eagle River Leak: New leak on pipeline that feeds correctional facility, possibly earthquake-related. Fire protection concerns; slope stability being evaluated. Permanent repair likely next summer.
- Water Main Break at Furrow Creek: Occurred in June, isolated with valves. Trenchless construction needed; scheduled for 2026 construction season. No customers out of service but reduced fire redundancy.
- System Condition and Planning: Persinger noted breakage is back to normal after a post-2018 earthquake dip. AWWU is updating water and wastewater master plans. Members requested a future presentation on how projects are prioritized and financed, including strategic planning and condition assessments.
- Fire Hydrant Backlog: Persinger explained that bagged hydrants are prioritized based on radius coverage; some old downtown hydrants lack parts and are scheduled for replacement in 2026.
- Bond Ratings: Fitch reaffirmed double-A bond ratings for both Anchorage Water Utility and Anchorage Sewer Utility, with stable outlook.
- Aspen Permit: Biological evaluation submitted to EPA Region 10. Persinger requested a joint work session with the assembly and administration in coming months. Informal tribal engagement ongoing.
- Waste Energy RFP: Multiple RFPs issued for site selection, air quality, and financial viability; evaluations underway. These are not for construction, but to inform a go/no-go decision.
- Stormwater Utility: Persinger had no update; deferred to Deputy Municipal Manager Spafford. An account exists but the utility has no body.
Other
- AWWU unveiled a pink jet truck (employee-led fundraiser) debuting October 4 at the Making Strides Walk.
Key Outcomes
- Change Order Authority Request: $85,000 for fender repair will be on the next Assembly agenda (September 23, 2025).
- Crane Agreement: Continued for two more meetings (expected end of October) pending further negotiation.
- AWWU Supplemental Appropriation: Possible request late 2025 for emergency project costs.
- Future Presentations: AWWU will provide a strategic planning and project prioritization presentation; Chair Constant will request a work session on the Aspen permit.
- Port Director: Recruitment ongoing with goal to have someone in place by end of year.
- Meeting Adjourned: No audience participation.
Meeting Transcript
We're just resolving some last minute technical issues and then we'll get started here. We're on the record though. All right. Thanks for being patient, everybody. I'm gonna go ahead and call the community order. We're here for the assembly infrastructure enterprise and utility oversight committee, the whole meeting. We are notice today until 1215 p.m. I'd like to start first with introductions with the members in the room. Felix Rivera. Anna Brawley. Christopher Constant. Aaron Baldwin Day, Yaro Silvers. Thank you. And then uh by way of introduction, we have a um not new face per se, but new role. Would you go ahead and introduce yourself and then speak briefly to your capacity and function here? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um my name is Mike Gabbott. I'm the uh new interim port director. So this is day five, maybe six on the job. So uh I've worked for the municipality before in a couple of different gigs uh in a couple of different administrations and uh happy to be back and helping out um briefly briefly at the at the port. Okay, thank you. And do you have something to add? I just want to add for the record how grateful we are that we to have Mr. Abbott here. For those who don't know him, he has served twice previously in my role as the municipal manager, has served in other leadership positions in the community in the interim capacity since attempting to retire. Uh and we were very thankful to be able to have him come and uh serve uh as the uh acting port director while we complete what is now a very active search um for the permanent next director of the port of Alaska. So thank you, Mr. Chair. All right, thank you. And just before the record, those municipal manager uh Beggy Went Pearson. I will um before we move to the next item, Mr. Costson. So um I pre-briefed Mr. Abbott about a question I was gonna put on the record here that he doesn't need to answer. Um really the question is uh have you been briefed on the track J Fence conversation that Miss Wynn Pearson and I have been having that the previous port director and I had had for a number of years. We just finished the rededication of the track J to public park and the original ordinance passed in 2023 and negotiations kind of took until last week to get to the point where all are in agreement and the rededication happened. So Mike, um I'm just putting you here on the record to know that there is a piece of your budget, I'm told that is available to move the fence, take down the old fence, put in the new fence. I want to make sure that that continues until we get to done. Um I'm now officially aware of it. And thank you. Uh I'll uh I'll ask some smart people that I work with uh what's going on. Perfect. Thank you so much. All right. Thank you. And let's go ahead and roll into new business. We have the USACE 7001 requests. Yeah, this is just an informational item. I wanted this committee to be aware of, and that that is that um in conjunction with Mr.
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