Unalaska, AK – The public input process for the new Carl E. Moses small boat harbor inner harbor design is now underway. The City Council awarded the design portion of the contract to Pacific Pile and Marine PND Engineers for $2.4 million in late December. Their proposal was given a technical and cost score and compared to the competing proposal from the Dutra Group. The Pacific Pile proposal's technical score was 500 points higher, and their proposal was much less expensive than their competitors. Public Works Director Nancy Peterson said it is well-suited for the community's needs.

"We just had a lot of confidence in Pacific Pile and Marine's proposed design. It's very similar to our Spit Dock, which is a proven design here in Unalaska. We know that it will hold up to the weather and the use that it will get."

Community members can review the design and give comments at an information kiosk at city hall. The designers will also give a presentation and collect more input during a meeting on January 26, before the scheduled city council meeting.

"The public involvement process is really focused on: do we have the layout right, are we getting the most vessels that we can in the area that we have, do we have the electrical service specified right," and other specifics, Peterson said.

The company will also collect information from fishermen during random on-the-spot interviews as they wander the docks. Peterson said all of this information will be worked into the final design before the construction portion of the contract is awarded in late February. The current cost estimate is $24 million. The city has only budgeted $18.5 million and will look into other funding mechanisms.

Pacific Pile and Marine plan on continuing with the inner harbor construction even if the federal government has not yet completed the outer breakwater. The inner harbor is designed to be functional and withstand conditions even without the floating breakwater in place. The new road leading to the boat harbor will be constructed with money from a separate grant.