Patrick Cowart

The meeting included a Tourism Department Update providing a verbal report from the Tourism Director. Key discussions involved the Tourism Department 2025 Year End Report. New business focused on recommendations for appointments to two open seats on the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), including recommending the reappointment of two members and recommending the appointment of one new member to a non-voting seat. Old business addressed the HBC 5.18 Commercial Tour Permits.

The committee approved the agenda and consent agenda. Under unfinished business, discussion focused on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Four Winds Resource Center concerning the management of the Mosquito Lake Facility, including a Long-Range Cost-Share Plan. Key areas identified for GASC committee importance included establishing self-audit timelines, clearly defining responsibilities between the borough and FWRC for facility maintenance (including inspections and tracking in-kind work), planning for future major repairs through financial reserves, and determining a fair-market valuation for services provided by FWRC versus facility maintenance costs. The Clerk's office was directed to research and provide agreements between the Borough and the Museum for the next meeting.

The meeting agenda and consent agenda were approved, following a motion to divide the question regarding the minutes approval. Key discussions included the approval of the July 7th, 2025 and December 3rd, 2025 Code Review Commission Regular Meeting Minutes, with an amendment to detail discussions noted only as 'verbal updates' in the December minutes. The Clerk provided verbal updates on current and future borough legislation, including the Title 18 communication ordinance. New business addressed the postponement of the election of the Chair and Vice Chair until the next meeting. Discussions also centered on adopting a Work Flow Chart for CRC Work and constructing an Annual Prioritized Work Plan, which included identifying immediate needs such as ORD 25-05-715 and HBC 18.30.040(I)1), and scheduling future work items like a February 2022 legal review and a Title 18 presentation.

The meeting agenda included a discussion regarding the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Four Winds Resource Center for the management of the Mosquito Lake Facility, including a long-range cost-share plan. The committee was reviewing the most recent draft MOU, following a request at a previous meeting for the current agreement between the Borough and the Museum for reference. New business items included establishing a process for addressing items on the Manager's Report, a review of current referred topics to update the list, and a review of Ordinance 25-07-715 for potential revision and recommendation to the assembly.

This memorandum outlines a long-term funding strategy for the Haines Borough's $8.5 million Letnikof Cove dock replacement and rebuild project. It provides a detailed assessment of funding opportunities, focusing on meeting the 50% local match requirement for the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities Municipal Harbor Facility Grant Program. The strategy identifies and evaluates various eligible funding sources, including municipal funds, state-derived revenues, federal grants, and private capital. The core strategic approach emphasizes a multi-source funding model, particularly leveraging federal grant braiding and potential private contributions, to address the financial complexities and secure the necessary resources for this critical marine infrastructure project.