December 8, 2020 - Public Meeting Minutes

On December 8, 2020, PND Engineers and Corvus Design hosted a public meeting to discuss the three schematic options developed for the Jim's Landing Boat Launch. Below are the items discussed and feedback received from the public during the meeting.

MEETING MINUTES
Jim’s Landing Boat Launch Public Scoping
December 8, 2020 5:30-7:30pm (AKST)
Location: Zoom
Recorded by: Alexandra West Jefferies
Submitted: December 11, 2020

Attendance:
FWS: Amy Klein, Steve Miller
PND: Paul Kendall, Alex Jefferies, Anna Kopitov
Corvus: Peter Briggs, Linda Pringle

 Items Discussed:

  1. Introduction
    1. Project team introductions

                                                    i.     Corvus – landscape architect and meeting facilitator

1.     Peter Briggs, landscape architect

2.     Linda Pringle, landscape architect

                                                  ii.     PND – designer

1.     Paul Kendall, contract manager/lead civil

2.     Alex Jefferies, project manager

3.     Anna Kopitov, NEPA coordinator

                                                iii.     FWS – owner

1.     Amy Klein, project manager

2.     Steve Miller, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Deputy Manager

    1. Housekeeping

                                                    i.     Meeting was recorded

                                                  ii.     Introduction of project website: www.usfws-jims.blogspot.com

                                                iii.     Comments and questions to be saved until end of meeting

    1. Project purpose and need

                                                    i.     Project location within the Skilak Wildlife Recreation Area in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge

                                                  ii.     USFWS has identified the need for improvements to the ramp and parking areas to address deficiencies such as:

1.     High velocities at the ramp

2.     General congestion

3.     Limited parking capacity

    1. Review of the site’s existing conditions 
  1. Presentation of Options
    1. Options A-C

                                                    i.     Options generated for review and to solicit comments on various components. Pieces of each option can be used with others

                                                  ii.     Generally discussed differences and impacts of each option

                                                iii.     Option A provides least impact to the environmental (similar to existing conditions), but makes the fewest improvement to the traffic circulation.

                                                iv.     Option B shows a slightly larger area of impact, and pushing closer to riparian area. Provides linear trailer parking and provides significant improvements to traffic circulation while prioritizing non-trailer parking near the ramp.

                                                  v.     Option C shows the largest impacts, particularly into the wetlands. Prioritizes trailer parking near the ramp. Parking and circulation more similar to Sportsman’s.

    1. Offsite parking options 1-2

                                                    i.     Offsite parking options along Skilak Lake Road with option for trails through wooded area to connect parking to Jim’s Landing.

                                                  ii.     Shown with Option A since adequate parking is provided for Options B & C onsite, but could be combined with these options as well.

    1. Ramp area improvements

                                                    i.     Not really shown on the drawings, but options that are being considered:

1.     Articulated concrete block mat surfacing (similar to Sportsman’s Boat Launch)

2.     32-foot wide ramp area

3.     Addition of tie-offs on either side of the active ramp

4.     Installation of rootwad structures for bank stabilization and local velocity reduction upstream of ramp

5.     Extension of the ramp improvement area downstream for additional landing and staging area

6.     Potentially pulling ramp inland and creating a backwater basin

                                                  ii.     These are all being considered and additional analysis is currently being completed to assess feasibility of the various options.

  1. Procedures of submitting comments
    1. Link to comment collector (Survey Monkey) can be found on the project website.
    2. May also leave verbal comment as a voicemail by calling (907) 646-2784 
  1. Environmental Assessment Schedule
    1. Currently in schematic design, and the developed designs were made to solicit public comments
    2. Scoping comment period opens now, ends January 8th
    3. A second public meeting and associated comment period are tentatively scheduled for mid-March
  1. Miscellaneous

a.      Discussed previous evaluation in the area. Wanted to note that previous alternatives were assessed in the past (and not here). These included options, such as a loop road that would encroach into riparian areas, or crossing Jean Creek. In order to minimize these impacts, these options were discarded

b.     Offsite parking areas were selected to avoid wetland areas

c.      Reiterate that the schematics were developed to show a wide range of options, and that different components can be used with the other alternative components to create a preferred alternative.

  1. Q&A Summary
  • Not a design question but a usage question: with the additional spaces, would this mean commercial operators/guides will be allowed to park in the new area, or will they park in the new overflow areas off of Skilak Rd? Currently only private users can park at Jims
    • Secondary parking as permit parking—parking closest to the ramp for public
    • Steve Miller—no decision has been made at the moment. Priority is safety, and limiting the number of people to cross the Sterling Hwy (especially with the improvements). Likely the ones closest to the ramp would be for public
  • You may have mentioned: (1)is construction funded and, if so, what is the timeline for construction? (2) You showed that the boat launch area may be hardened, would the driving surface remain gravel or be paved?
    • 1) construction is not currently funded—not designed yet
      • Funding potentially in 2021 or 2022. It is also a ADF&G Sportfish Division project. USFWS and ADF&G looking for funding concurrently.
    • 2) Will be assessed during design. See Schematic Design Report on the website for concept-level cost estimate
  • I have a few questions to establish comparison: How many truck/trailer spaces exist at the existing Jim’s overflow parking across the sterling highway? How long is the Sportsman’s landing in comparison to the existing Jims’s Landing listed in the documents as 90’ long? How many boat tie ups are considered to be located on either side of Sportsman’s right now? What is the plan for the existing overflow parking? What would be the intended windows of construction?
    • Not sure on the existing number of parking across Sterling
    • Sporstmans: 90’
    • Boat tie ups: unsure
    • Existing overflow parking: no plans; still overflow parking
  • The current design for the ramp only shows one to two boats on the ramp at a time, the current ramp system allows for 5 to 7 boats at a time, that’s not enough to handle the needs for the ramp, during the heavy weekend traffic?
    • Trying to increase flow, but can’t hit peak; assisting with flow and congestion
    • Currently shown as double the width as Sportsmans (on the active area)
  • Is someone from the design team going to observe the ramp during Salmon runs this summer?
    • Members from the design team will be onsite, and have onsite experience throughout the season
  • Starting construction in 2021?
    • Design wrap up next fall, so observations will be made onsite. Construction TBD
  • If construction will be necessary during the summer, is site access planned to be maintained during this construction and can you expand on how that would be maintained?
    • Construction will be necessary during the summer, but has not been thought through thoroughly at this point. It is a significant logistics concern.
    • Need to balance use and project cost.
    • This will be an important thing to assess in the future, and feedback is important.
  • Jims landing really needs some break water to create an eddy safely land boats.  a small rock vein on the upper most section would be great.  could you give some details?
    • A jetty is not permittable in the Kenai River. Other options are being considered to reduce velocities.
    • Would be good to get comments on use of rootwads upstream of the ramp
  • Will there be additional comment periods for the different phases of planning once a preferred option is chosen so that responses to the preferred alternative can be incorporated once others know what the plan is?
    • Yes—after the draft EA in mid-March
  • How about an area for people who come just to looky loo.  Sportsmans has a nice viewing platform?
    • Good comment
    • Potential interpretive signs
    • Adding parking for those people
    • Speaking of signage—discussed adding sign upstream of ramp for landing warning
  1. Summary of Comments:
  • As much staging area as possible for people waiting for their boats to arrive.
  • Option B – wheel stops will be required, and should be placed on the south side, but could mix some of the parking with the wheel stops on the north side to add additional tie-down area. Jim’s sees roughly 90% for retrieval/10% launching, so prioritize pull-in parking from coming into the ramp.
  • An expanded area for landing is needed.
    • Multiple people suggested area upstream of active ramp for landing.
    • “Hail Mary” zone needed downstream for last chance landing area.
  • Minimizing impacts to user access during construction in an important concern of the project. Attendees were polled to determine the Ideal construction period which may include closures:
    • Four supported April/May
    • Two supported May 1 to June 11
    • One supported late October into November
  1. Summary & Next Steps
    1. Comment period open through January 8, 2021
    2. Project team will be working on the Environmental Assessment and developing the alternatives based on this scoping
    3. Environmental Assessment will be released to the public for review, with another public meeting and comment period tentatively scheduled for mid-March 2021
    4. Updates will be posted on the project website

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