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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03122007 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska March 12, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page332 CALL TO ORDER .... The March 12,2007 regular meeting ofthe Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer. OPENING CEREMONY Police Lieutenant Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Vanta Shafer presiding and Willard Dunham Bob Valdatta Robert Thomas Linda Amberg Steve Schafer comprising a quorum of the Council; and Marvin Yoder, Interim City Manager Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney Johanna Dollerhide, Acting City Clerk ... ABSENT - Jean Bardarson CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING - None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Thomas/Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Yes: Amberg, Valdatta, Schafer, Thomas, Mayor Shafer No: Dunham The following was removed from the agenda: Items 6 A 1 and 2, Police Certification for Judy Parris and Correctional Certification for Alan King. These items would be presented at a later meeting. The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: .... The February 26, 2007 regular city council meeting minutes and the March 6,2007 special city council meeting minutes were approved. City of Seward, Alaska March 12, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page333 Resolution 2007-022. accepting a grant in the amount of $1,215.12 from the Alaska Highwayi Safety Office for 2007 ASTEP SeatbeU Enforcement Campaign and appropriating funds. .....I Resolution 2007-023. accepting a grant in the amount of $1,518.90 from the Alaska Highway Safety Office for 2007 ASTEP Driving under the influence (DUI) Enforcement Campaign and appropriating funds. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A proclamation was read for Women's History Month. City Manager's Report. Interim City Manager Marvin Yoder stated a meeting occurred for the dock project and SAFETEA-LU funding, where it was discovered a technical committee in Washington D.C. had voted to change the language from "ferry" to "port." It was decided to move ahead with the #1 priority to build the dock downtown at the Seward Marine Center. Seward had notified the legislature they wanted the funds released. Yoder was arranging lobbyist Kent Dawson and University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton to meet with DOT to see they could get the money released. Yoder felt the city was close to a solution. He commended Brad Gilman for doing a great job in D.C. on this issue. A VTEC - A VTEC was reviewing the rent lease draft. A long discussion ensued about the B street vacation, which had gone to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Drainage was a big issue in this area. DOT had looked into this and would sit down with Public Works and Community Development to agree on drainage. There needed to be easements to get through to First Lake. Since A VTEC wanted more parking in that area, a fire lane was essential. J Yoder mentioned the items discussed at the recent council retreat and thanked council for spending their Saturday with him. Head Tax - Last year, voters of the state passed the issuance of a head tax. The way the language read, the state would collect the head tax in the first five ports ships went to. With this logic, everything that came into Seward should be paying head tax, since cruise ships only had a maximum of four ports. Lobbyist Kent Dawson said there was a movement in Juneau saying if a municipality was charging their own fee, they would get the money directly, such as Juneau and Ketchikan does currently. Oualitv Asphalt Pavine - ready to work with Seward to pave Fourth Avenue. Public Works Director WC Casey would be getting price quotes and information to administration. Yoder hoped to have something on the next agenda to move forward. Yoder responded to questions from the council. Some of council felt it might be worth J looking into enforcing a head tax of their own so they could receive the tax instead of a smaller percentage of the state tax. In response to Dunham, Yoder felt the city had a solid case in the final hearing on the vacation of Washington Street on March 15,2007. Yoder stated he received a letter City of Seward, Alaska March 12, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page334 ..... from Fish and Game confirming earlier discussions on how they would approach the levee. Moving the stream was the most logical thing to do. More meetings would ensue, hopefully early next week. City Attorney Report. Cheryl Brooking stated the attorney's continued to work on drafting contracts, resolutions, and assisting with administrative matters including platting, land use, and the Washington Street rep lat. Brooking would be present during the March 15, 2007 borough hearing on the Washington Street replat. A hearing was scheduled for Friday on the Egger right-of-way litigation. Brooking continued to work with the small boat harbor on lease and land use matters, harbor expansion, and the clean water act by the Trustees of Alaska. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Patricia Linville reported on the Library/Museum Project and read the facility's mission statement. A brief overview of the new format of Emergency Operation Plan was given by Fire Chief Dave Squires. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions ... Resolution 2007-021. authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Skyline Steel, LLC for the I&T Dock Pilings for an amount not to exceed $1,160,598.80. Yoder stated this would be purchasing sheet piling with gravel fill behind it for the travel lift dock. This purchase would begin the dock project. Motion (Thomas/Dunham) Approve Resolution 2007-021 Harbormaster Scott Ransom stated this resolution was for materials only. Construction costs would come at a later time. In response to V aldatta, Yoder the Auction Block had some ideas to go down and lobby for funds to extend this new dock to the old dock. This was not on the original priority lists that went to the legislature, so it would be another year before they city could pursue this fully. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2007-024. appropriating $45,000 for lift station control reconfiguration materials. ...... Public Works Director W.C. Casey stated the cost ofthis project was underestimated when the grant for the lift station was completed. The Department of Homeland Security suggested the city get moving on this grant before funds were depleted. Because the grant money needed to be spent soon, engineers recommended Casey get this money appropriated for materials. This would put the contractor right to work, instead of waiting for the successful bidder to acquire the materials. City of Seward, Alaska March 12, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page335 Motion (Thomas/Dunham) Approve Resolution 2007-024 \ ..... Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS Council scheduled a work session on the generator replacement for Monday, April 9, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. Council discussed and exchanged ideas for Military Appreciation and Armed Forces Day the weekend of May 19, 2007. Council decided to show their appreciation and volunteer for the upcoming events. Council decided to decline an invitation to the Turtle Ship Festival from Yeosu City, Korea. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) COUNCIL COMMENTS Valdatta, noted the gray cod fishing was good, but could be better if the city got together with the canneries. He suggested the city meet with the appropriate officials down in Juneau. J Dunham, thanked Theresa Butts and Allison Barnwell for their presentation tonight and attendance at the recent energy conference in Ketchikan. Alaska's 50th anniversary was approaching and the city needed to recognize and participate in this huge event. Funds and grant money could come out of it. Dunham heard University President Mark Hamilton speak today on the state of education in Alaska. Dunham would like to see the city make energy saving changes in our community. Mayor Shafer, stated pending approval on March 27,2007, a contract had been negotiated and Phillip Oates was set to start May I, 2007. She would like council to approve a welcome reception for Oates for the community to meet him. CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion (Schafer/Amberg) Go into executive session to discuss matters pertaining to pending litigation. Motion Passed Unanimous , .... Council went into executive session at 8:35 p.m. City of Seward, Alaska March 12, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page336 Council came out of executive session at 9:10 p.m. .... Motion (Thomas/Amberg) Go into executive session for city attorney evaluation. Motion Passed Unanimous Council went into executive session at 9:13 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 9:43 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:43 p,m, i~fer ~ Mayor ... Joh na Dol erh'd Ac' g City Clerk ",nil 11'", ~~, ~ Sf::. ~"!f ~,.. ~,O.r '." t,t:.:" ::>"t ~ ~-.". ~....'.O".. ': '\ $ ,.~ ,,'o?-?OJ1.tj'~.: ". " ~ "oJ.' r.; "/\ ,. I l~ _ '\'1' ! 0 l ~\?/'^I. ' _, : "'" J;,~..,!"\;~ . .,>,c' J .. . ~< \ -~ '\ cS\ 'O.Y6i\t ('~'l;. ~... ~1'':'''. ,,:C 1..~,/, ., -7'" ..... 1\..'. " IS' Or: r\ -~~' ~II -, !- 111..n'il~;' (City Seal) ......