Joint Work Session: 2025-2026 Ports & Harbors Commission Goals – August 19, 2025
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Joint Work Session: 2025-2026 Ports & Harbors Commission Goals – August 19, 2025
On August 19, 2025, the Valdez City Council and Ports & Harbors Commission held a joint work session to review and discuss the commission's proposed goals for the 2025-2026 period. The meeting was led by Ports and Harbor Director Jeremy Talbot and included introductions from commissioners and council members, each sharing their waterfront background. The session focused on six commission goals, budget challenges, safety concerns, and long-term waterfront planning.
Introductions
- Commissioners and council members introduced themselves, noting their maritime experience (commercial fishing, tour operations, pilot services, Coast Guard, recreational boating).
- Jeremy Talbot highlighted the department's mission, safety culture, and a record of 479 days without a lost-time workplace injury.
Discussion Items
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Revenue Review & Budget Challenges: Jeremy Talbot presented Goal 2 (annual revenue review). He noted that the harbor budget faces significant pressure due to declining fish tax revenue (projected ~$100,000 next year) and rising costs. The city manager emphasized the code requirement for the harbors to operate as an enterprise fund, stating, "You can only cut so much... at some point you gotta get revenue." Several council members and commissioners expressed support for diversifying revenue streams beyond raising rates, including potential campgrounds, lease opportunities, and better utilization of waterfront assets. Commissioner Colleen Stevens argued against being the cheapest harbor in the state, saying, "I don't know why we pat ourselves on the back for being the cheapest... we have beautiful waterfront facilities." Director Talbot cautioned that the harbor cannot sustain another significant rate increase but agreed that rates may need adjustment.
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Safety & Congestion (Goal 6): The goal to increase safety and decrease congestion was discussed at length. Colleen Stevens, champion of this goal, described the harbor as unsafe during peak pink salmon season due to oversized tenders (exceeding the original 100-foot design limit). She stated, "If you're the little boat while he's trying to turn, it's gonna get squished like a grape." Director Talbot noted that the new harbor reduced rafting depth but created new challenges with larger vessels. Ideas included adding a fuel slip, moving fish offload to deep water, and facilitating discussions with Silver Bay Seafoods.
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Waterfront Master Plan & Sea Otter Project (Goal 3): The commission aims to update the waterfront master plan and prioritize infrastructure projects. The Sea Otter project was highlighted as a potential site for Coast Guard icebreakers, a third fish processor, or industrial boatyard expansion. Director Talbot noted that a planning grant for PIDP (Port Infrastructure Development Program) is being submitted in September. Council member Lester Green asked about break down projects into smaller phases (e.g., $5–10 million increments) to make them more achievable. City Manager Nate Deval (mentioned indirectly) and others stressed that the master plan update should be actionable.
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Kelsey Dock Dolphin Replacement: A question from council about the status of the Kelsey Dock dolphin replacement. Director Talbot reported it is still pending with DOT; a temporary use permit is expected. Long-term options include dredging and extending the dock, but state land availability is uncertain. Lightering cruise ship passengers into the harbor is a current backup plan.
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Cruise Ship Growth & Community Character: Council member Jamie Pierce expressed a desire to avoid becoming like Juneau or Skagway, saying, "I want cruise ships to meet our community where we're at, not grow our community to meet cruise ship demand." Director Talbot and others agreed, noting that Valdez's unique appeal (access to nature, no diamond shops) is valued by high-end cruise lines. Data sharing with local businesses about cruise passenger demographics was discussed as a way to help them prepare.
Key Outcomes
- Commission Goals Approved: The six goals were presented and received informal approval (four head nods from council members). They include: (1) strengthen meeting consistency, (2) annual revenue review, (3) manage waterfront master plan priorities, (4) align commission activities with strategic plans, (5) focus on seasonal operations and continuous improvement, (6) increase safety and decrease congestion.
- Next Steps:
- The commission will compile a list of top infrastructure priorities (short-term), with Harbor Master's office replacement, Kelsey Dock project, and CR (likely container dock) mentioned as frontrunners.
- Director Talbot will pursue the PIDP grant and update the waterfront master plan with an appendix for the Sea Otter project.
- Staff will schedule a meeting with Silver Bay Seafoods to discuss partnership opportunities and offload alternatives.
- The revenue review will include a rate comparison and expense analysis presented to the commission in January 2026.
- No Formal Votes: As a work session, no binding votes were taken; the council will formally consider commission recommendations at a future regular meeting.
Meeting Transcript
I'm Jeremy Talbot, the Ports and Harbor Director, and I'll be your MC for at least the first portion of this meeting. The City Council asked for a joint work session with the commission to go over the 2025-2026 goals, and the commission's been working on the goals that are provided in your packet tonight. I would want to start with some introductions because I'm not sure that everybody knows everybody's uh who everybody is. If you when you're on the commission, if you'll just talk about your waterfront background as well. I would like the council to know kind of where you come from as a user in the ports and harbors, or if you just represent the community at large. Andrew works for the team. So mainly on the port uh side of the department. Help oversee our cruise ships and security plans at Kelsey Dock and Valley's container turbo. Jamie Pierce. Um parents own a business on the waterfront, and I just want to be more involved in the community. So join the Portsmouth Harbors. Uh Alan Steed, I work for the Southwest Alaska Pilots as a pilot boat operator. And then uh I work for Colleen Stevens on tour boats on my time off from the pilots. My name's Jimmy. I sat on the wrong side of the table. Vinch Kelly. Um I've been harbor user since 1979, I guess. Congratulations. Colleen Stevens. Um in and out of the harbor since I was born, literally. Um, both figuratively in the water and using boats. So um, but um Stan Stevens Cruz is so from the tour perspective side, and then work with Jeremy and Andrew and Martha on the economic development side on cruise marketing outreach. So Douglas Fleming, mayor. Austin Love, uh on City Council, and in terms of just harbor experience, you know, my wife was a longtime staff for Stan Stevens, so have that you know, outlook. Uh, I worked commercial fishing for a couple seasons out of the the dock too, they're um standing, so did that, and then also recreational user as well, um, and then also still working you know through the SERIS fishing vessel program too. So it's still definitely down at the harbor on a regular basis, also helping with uh I helped put the uh boom around that fuel barge too every once in a while as well, so part of that as well. So I'm driving out that way. So anyway, that's my harbor experience here. Joe Lally, City Council. Um previous Coast Guard for 27 years, was the captain of the port here, probably 10 years ago or so. Um boatless Mr. Kelly, and feel good about it. Uh try way to use city council. I own a boat and I love to use the harbor. My name's Lester Green, uh newly appointed to city council. Looking forward to being sworn in this evening, and I've had a small slip in the harbor since 1992, and I very much enjoy the fishing and shrimping and recreational opportunities right here. Pretty awesome. Advance the slides for me. Sure. This quick question are all the commissioners here tonight, or are we missing any? I think we're missing one. Who's that? Edge. Okay. Another one. Um, this just this is your city. This is your mission values. Um, we've started this process um of setting the goals based on the uh waterfront master plan, economic development plan, city comp plan, and city goals, mission, and values, and the council priorities as well. Um more uh this is the harbor's mission statement. Basically, we're there to serve the community and the public, um, take care of the boats and their assets, and do so.
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