by Michael Armstrong

Special to The Seward Folly

Photo credit: Yelp

Resolutions 2026-010 & 2026-011: Harbormaster’s Project Design & Bonds

Following a briefing on a proposed new Harbormaster’s Office development at the Jan. 12 Seward City Council meeting, this week the council passed unanimously two resolutions that move the project forward. It approved Resolution 2026-010 to accept a proposal from R&M Consultants and appropriating $2 million for design and engineering of the project. It also approved Resolution 2026-011, providing for the issuance of up to $13 million in bonds to fund the project.

In another harbor project action, the council also approved a $147,000 contract with AK Built Construction & Design for the renovation of the boardwalk between Ray’s and Kenai Fjords. That project will be paid out of a Commercial Vessel Passenger (CVP) fees fund.

The new Harbormaster’s Office is part of the south uplands project and would be built on land at the south side of the harbor near the harbor mouth and the mariners memorial. The project will include the two-story office, parking, green space, a boardwalk and path tying it in to the existing waterfront trail system, and an area for leasing of private buildings.

The total cost would be about $14 million, with $13 million paid for through bonds and the rest through CPV funds. Boat trailer parking fees and about $100,000 in annual lease fees also would help pay for the project.

City Manager Kat Sorensen noted the immediate goal is to get the project to what’s called the 15% design phase.

“But that 15% design doesn’t pigeonhole us into what that project is going to be,” Sorensen said. “So tonight, by approving this, you’re telling R and M to go forward and finish that design and get it to a point where we can bring it back and put it out to bid.”

R & M will come up with a 35% design, the phase at which requests for construction proposals can be sent out. Ground work and foundation work would start this summer, with construction starting in the fall. As the project moves forward, the council and public will have many opportunities to comment, Sorensen said. As part of that process, the council and the Port and Commerce Advisory Board will hold a joint work session on Feb. 9.

“A lot of the pictures and space concepts are drafts at this point, so we’re really excited to follow the community engagement so that we can include those in the next steps,” she said.

Approval of Harbor Improvement Revenue bonds extends the current bonds beyond its expiration in March. The bonds would be paid for through a current $3.50 tour boat passenger fee; that fee will not increase. The balance of the project would be paid for through cruise ship passenger fees. 

For more information on the new harbor project, visit https://www.cityofseward.us/home/showpublisheddocument/5642/639047001641857027.

Gender-Neutral Terms Ordinance 2026-001

As part of an update of Seward City Code, the council passed unanimously a sweeping ordinance, 2026-001, to change masculine-feminine terms to gender-neutral terms. The 21-page revision makes changes like this example:

“The full name of the candidate and the manner in which he/she wishes his/her name to appear on the ballot” to “The full name of the candidate and the manner in which the candidate wishes said name to appear on the ballot” (Old language in bold and new language in italics).

In a public hearing, Christiana Smith spoke in favor of the ordinance, saying the changes made sense.

“With a lot of the time, it’s omitting or very minor changes just to a general neutral term. For example, changing ‘workman’s compensation’ into ‘workers compensation, ‘” she said. “… it’s just kind of bringing the code up to date with other areas that have already made the changes.”

Tom Reese spoke against the ordinance.

“I believe that and how a person wants to address themselves is up to that person,” he said. “But I think as far as community wide, we need to leave things the way they are. We’re drifting away from God too many times, and there’s a day coming when there’s going to be a reckoning for all of that.”

John Wisel also spoke against the ordinance.

“I believe that this is led by an ideology move,” he said. “I don’t think it helps. I think if a man calls himself her, where does the boundary stop? Is he going into the women’s restroom, is he going into the girl’s locker room? Think you’re opening up, opening up something, and trying to make it normal.  … I think this is just an entry point into something that’s way worse.”

Council Member Mike Calhoon said he understood the citizen concerns. As he looked into it, he said he realized the changes were geared toward who’s sitting in a position.

“There are things in here that would refer to what the city manager was doing, and would actually say ‘him,’ when our city manager is not a him,” Calhoon said. “And so I, I get some of the concerns, but if, if people take time to really dig into some of the changes, it’s more geared towards matching the gender of, you know, compatibility of who’s in a certain position in the city.”

The next Seward City Council meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026, starting at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Find the latest Council Packet here.

Michael Armstrong is a retired journalist currently volunteering as the editor of the Homer Independent Press. Reach him at wordfolk@gmail.com.

The Seward Folly publisher Robert Barnwell is a current member of the Seward City Council, but he did not participate in the editing of this story