Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04232007 City Council Minutes L L L City of Seward, Alaska April 23, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page 348 CALL TO ORDER The April 23,2007 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Vanta Shafer presiding and Willard Dunham Bob Valdatta Jean Bardarson Linda Amberg Robert Thomas comprising a quorum of the Council; and Marvin Yoder, Interim City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Johanna Dollerhide, Assistant City Clerk ABSENT - Steve Schafer, excused CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Allen Drake, from the Department of Transportation, gave a brief update on the Mile 0-8 project. Drake announced DOT was back to finish the project. Electrical work should be completed within the next three weeks, signage was going up, striping was planned for the following week, and paving the final layer of the road was scheduled to start on May 7, 2007. Drake hoped to get everything done by the first week of June. Kerry Martin, spoke on the negotiation of the conveyance of Block 6 that was before the council tonight. Martin felt this piece of property was valuable and wanted to see that negotiations included something in return for the city. Martin pointed out the city had still not received all ofthe municipal entitlement under the Statehood Act. He thought land on the comer of B Street and 5th A venue, across from the state shop, the property recently acquired by the state for the bike path, and a place for the boosters to put their school sign back up in the Clearview Subdivision, were all places Martin hoped the city would consider during this conveyance negotiation. Christy Terry, announced that after over 30 years of Little League, the league may be empty of members this year. The association needed volunteers. Anyone interested could contact Terry and she thanked all the past volunteers who helped make Little League successful thus far. City of Seward, Alaska April 23. 2007 City Council Minlltes Volume 37, PaKe 349 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA u Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The April 9, 2007 regular city council meeting minutes were approved. Non-Objection for the liquor license renewal for the following businesses: American Legion Post #5, Apollo Restaurant, Christo's Palace, The Crab Pot Restaurant, Oaken Keg #2728, Ray's Waterfront & Grill, Tony's Bar and Tony's Liquor Store. Resolution 2007-039. supporting the Qutekcak Native Tribe Federal Recognition Efforts. Resolution 2007-040. authorizing change order #6 to the contract with Wm. J. Nelson and Associates for Engineering and Consulting Services on the Japanese Creek Levee, and appropriating funds. Resolution 2007-042. amending Resolution 97-003 to provide for a waiver of land management, 11 sign and platting fees for City of Seward Departments. U Resolution 2007-043. opposing HB 193 which seeks to change the composition of the Alaska Police Standards Council. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A proclamation was awarded to Melissa Witzler-Stone for her appointment as Behavioral Health Director for the State of Alaska. A proclamation was read for Historic Preservation Month. A proclamation was awarded to Brian Hutchison, Spring Creek Correctional Center Employee of the Year. A proclamation was read for the Library's "The Big Read." A proclamation was presented for Super Saturday Clean Up Day Saturday, May 5, 2007. A proclamation was read for Terry's Tires Bike Rodeo Day Saturday, May 12, 2007. u L ~ lJ City a/Seward, Alaska April 23, 2007 -1 City Council Minutes Volume 37. Pa~e 350 A proclamation was read welcoming participants of the State of Alaska's American Legion Convention. City Manager's Report. Interim City Manager Marvin Yoder statcd the A VTEC lease at SMIC had been revised again, and hc hoped the approval would come to council in May. Passen!!er Fees - Yoder didn't think the bill had moved since this issue was last brought to council. He received a phone call today that Princess would be coming into Seward next year. Senior Center - Siding on the Senior Center continued. Yoder was apologetic the elevator had to be shut down, but it was simply not safe enough to continue operation. Staffwas trying to accommodate people to get them up and down the floors. New information would be coming to the council soon for repair costs and plans. Lobbvin!! in DC - Federal lobbyist Brad Gilman submitted a formal request for funding on the multi-agency facility, downtown roads, levee protection, and harbor floats. Coal Dust Task Force - A meeting occurred last week on the railroad coal dust issue, and Yoder said the Alaska Railroad was working with the community to help solve the problcm. New City Mana!!er - Phillip Oates was scheduled to arrive May 1,2007 as the new city manager. He would be mecting with staff during the day and later in the evening with the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly for dinner. The next day was full of meetings including a community reception for Oates that evening on May 2, 2007 at the Alaska SeaLife Center. In other areas, Yoder announced that Parks and Recreation received a $2,000 check for the youth litter control program, ALP AR. The Finance Department and the City of Seward received a Certificate of Achievement for finance reporting. Yoder handed out a memo about event insurance. The city's insurance requirements, in certain circumstances, were very difficult to reach and the city would be helping out with their insurance company, AMUJIA. In response to council members, Yoder thought the entire elevator shaft would have to be taken out, as it was discovered during the re-siding project that the framing was rotten. It would be a major job to get it up and running again. Dunham hoped this issue would be expedited quickly. Chamber of Commerce Report. Director Laura Cloward updated council on recent marketing statistics and activities the Chamber was doing in conjunction with the city's marketing contract. There had been an increase in destination guides given out. A TV producer would be coming in May to film in Seward. The Seward All-America Highway Road Partnership was back up and running. Cloward was elected as treasurer and press releases were set to come out in May. Seward Planning and Zoning Commission Report. Margaret Anderson stated the Commission had a special meeting on March 20th where they granted a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Iris Darling for a recreational vehicle camp on Nash Road. An additional condition was added by the commission for bird nesting sites to be cleared in the area. A CUP was granted to the school district for the use of conn ex containers on school property. Resolution 2007-01 modified a City of Seward. Alaska April 23. 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, PaRe 351 CUP issue with Providence during the AprilS, 2007 meeting to allow for removable fencing. A CUP was granted to Tom and Lori Swann to develop an 11 room hotel on their downtown property, The Commission approved Resolution 2007-06, which recommended the vacation ofB Street as well as Resolution 2007-07, which recommended A VTEC property be conveyed to the state. Anderson stated this issue had been pending for many years. She suggested the city look at some kind of exchange of property. The Commission said goodbye to Interim Planner Scott Williams, who recently resigned. Executive Liaison Christy Terry would be sorely missed and wished her luck in her new position with the Engineering Department. u Mayor's Report on trip to Juneau. Mayor Shafer stated she, Vice Mayor Dunham and Yoder traveled to Juneau last week and met with various Representatives and Senators. They lobbied mainly for funding for the levee. Mayor Shafer didn't know if it was going to be in the Governor's budget, but hoped it would be. They met with the Department of Corrections and Department of Labor, and stated the new DOL commissioner was a very strong advocate of A VTEC. The Seward team met with representatives of the Federal Department of Transportation in efforts to get the booster club sign figured out and back up for the public to see. DOT noted they would research this and get back to Seward. House Bill 222, the passenger cruise fee bill, was a well touched on topic that Shafer, Dunham, and Yoder talked with many representatives about. The way the bill was written, required the city to ask the state for appropriations on the projects Seward wanted to do. To avoid this, Seward asked for a certain amount of money to go directly to the community, instead of into the state's general fund. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations - None u PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution Requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2007-032. confirming the special assessment roll of the Afognak Acres Electrical Improvement District and providing for the levy, payment terms, and penalties of the Special Assessment District. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Yoder stated the costs were calculated, and the assessment on the lots would be paid by the property owners. Citizen and property owner Paula Gibbs spoke from the audience. Gibbs was concerned the notice she received didn't give any indication as to when she was supposed to pay this assessment. Motion (Dunham/Amberg) Approve Resolution 2007-032 Thomas was concerned for voting on this because this was the second person who was told U their lots already had electric on them. Finance Director Kris Erchinger stated public notice did go out to property owners in 2005, informing the proposal to have an assessment district formed. Council authorized $111,973 L lJ L City of Seward. Alaskn April 23. 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37. PaKe 352 for the estimated cost of the improvements, and the next step was to inform the property owners (who may have increased) that the final costs were calculated and the assessment was going forward. The property owner who sold the lots should have told the purchasers about this assessment and the estimated cost at the time of the sale. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2007-037. authorizing the negotiation for the conveyance of Block 6 also described as: TIS, Rl W, Section 10 Seward Meridian SW 0000004 Original Townsite of Seward Federal Addition (School Reserve) Block 6 to the State of Alaska Department of Labor Alaska Vocational Technical Center (A VTEC) for education facilities. Yoder stated this project was a long time coming. It had recently gone through the planning commission and A VTEC had been using the land belonging to the city. A VTEC was now asking the city to transfer the land to them. Motion (Thomas/Amberg) Approve Resolution 2007-037 Council conveyed their wish to negotiate this conveyance and expressed their wishes to go forward in discussing a land swap. Parking and First Lake access was an important issue and concern to the council. Yoder assured the council parking and access was a large part of the negotiations up to this point. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2007-038. recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough approval of the Vacation of "B" Street between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2007-038 Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2007-041. authorizing the city manager to pursue environmental permits for the "2007 Red Line" alignment for the North Forest Acres Levee/Road Project, and to pursue property acquisition. Yoder directed council to the levee alignment comparisons before them. The "Red Line" version was the most acceptable to agencies. It was requested by the agencies that some lots be purchased to be turned into a conservation easement. An appraisal had been requested of Mac Swain City of Seward. Alaska April 23. 2007 & Associates to detennine the value of the lots. A request was made by some property owners that U the levee be paved right away so there wasn't as much dust. City Council Minutes Volume 37. Page 353 Motion (DunhamlValdatta) Approve Resolution 2007-041 In response to Val datta, Erchinger stated the city hoped to limit the use of the road to commercial use and to the dump. Even though that decision had not been fonnally made by council, staff was operating under that presumption. Yoder noted this action still needed to be pennitted, the application still needed to be filed and then staff could begin moving forward with the realignment of the levee. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2007-044. approving a contract with Colaska Incorporated, dba Quality Asphalt Paving, utilizing thc State of Alaska competitive bid process, for paving various sections of city streets, and appropriating funds in an amount not to exceed $936,500. Yoder said the big issue was the city initially agreed to pay for most ofthe paving of Fourth Avenue. This resolution expanded that decision a bit to pave more of Fourth Avenue and some side streets. It was felt that the pavement on Dimond Boulevard was in such bad shape that it should be LJ repaired as well. The resolution was broken up so council could subtract a portion of the total cost if they so wished. There were funds available for this, but it would take quite a bit ofthe cash reserves from the capitol improvement projects fund. A question was brought up on the $2 million dollar eannark for road paving. Mayor Shafer would rather use grant funds on this than take the money out of city accounts, if possible. Motion (Thomas/Amberg) Approve Resolution 2007-044 Bardarson wanted to know the time line on this project, especially when Third Avenue was being finished. She was concerned about the downtown area being tom up, especially after the road closures last year and how the businesses were affected. Public Works Director WC Casey stated QAP had indicated they would be done with the Fourth Avenue project by Memorial Day weekend. The grinding and paving project before them was a two to three day project, so QAP would be moving very quickly. Generally, asphalt pavement had a life expectancy of 8-12 years. Valdatta was concerned by the area by the ball fields. Casey noted there was a small contingency to pave additional areas included in this resolution, but the areas Valdatta was addressing had drainage problems that would have to be a different project. Regarding the $2 U million in funding, Casey remarked it would take months to spend those federal funds. There was a lot of required preparation and protocol that needed to be followed to fully receive the funding. L l L City of Seward. Alai'ka April 23. 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37. Page 354 I I In response to Bardarson, Casey thought the city could ask them to pave the downtown area first, so both Third and Fourth Avenue wouldn't be paved at the same time. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) September 30, 2006 financial report for SAAMS. Thank you letter addressed to the city of Seward by the Alaska Community Foundation for our donation to the Alaska Meth Education Project Fund. Hospital financial reports from December of 2006 through March of 2007. COUNCIL COMMENTS Amberg, congratulated Melissa Stone on her new adventure and thanked her for the services she provided to the community. She would be missed. Amberg welcomed the 88th State American Legion Convention to Seward. Shc thanked the people involved in making this convention possible. Bardarson, spoke on the possibility of fixing the boardwalk with an old floating dock from the harbor and hoped someone would look into the idea. Dunham, stated HB 222 would be held until next year, according to the committee. That bill would allow Seward to get their money up front should a head tax be implemented. He thought Seward should put their own head tax in place before this bill got implemented on the state level. The feds were supposed to call Dunham back about the student school sign. Dunham attended a World Trade Center Alaska event last week where Mat-Su Borough Manager John Duffy was the speaker. They were doing a lot of things he wished Seward and the Kenai Peninsula Borough would do. Roads needed to be incorporated into the borough's system. Dunham stated he wanted staff to look into the electrical service charge. Bardarson, thanked Yoder for his services done at the city. Mayor Shafer, was happy Council passed the support resolution for Qutekcak, and hoped Seward could talk to our federal representatives and senators to achieve federal recognition. She was pleased to hear the Princess Cruise Ships were coming back to Seward. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Margaret Anderson, commented on the Fourth Avenue paving and wanted council to authorize money for extra fill and proper drainage. The pavement on Fourth Avenue had really lasted a long time given the conditions of Seward. Anderson wanted council to consider the idea of City of Seward, Alaska April 23, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa/<e 355 annexation and thought the city should look into the land on 5th A venue and B Street across from the U state storage shop for a possible land swap for the conveyance ofB Street to A VTEC. Kevin Clark, spoke on the electric rates Dunham had previously commented on. Clark felt commercial and residential should be charged the same. Brad Snowden, was pleased to hear Princess was coming to Seward and reiterated his prior dock proposal at the end of Adams Street. He agreed with Dunham on looking at the land by the waterfall and thought the city should move the bridge in an event of another flood. He believed the land deposited belonged to the City of Seward. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Valdatta, remembered businesses being loaded with tar during some past paving projects, and didn't wish for that to happen this year. Dunham, noted Penny Hardy passed away last Saturday. Hardy and her family were some of the first people to homestead at Lowell Point. He requested the city send a card to the family. Amberg, wished her husband a happy one year anniversary. Yoder, thanked council and staff for being great to work with, as this was his last meeting. U Yoder wished everyone luck and thanked them for this opportunity. EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion (ValdattalDunham) Go into Executive Session to discuss information about the Forest Acres Levee that may have a negative impact on the finances of the city. Motion Passed Unanimous Council went into Executive Session at 9:30 p.m. Council came out of Executive Session at 10: 17 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10: 17 p.m. . \~'UI~U,.t.,. ~\'_I r 0.;:/.1'... ~'# ~..~ 4'""" ........... ---r,,~ #', ~ ,.~ "';'.'(,1'0):)<';... '0 -:. .... v",.V .&.iI"j;~', '11' ~ ....;;J '0'0.. = l~ ~ .. ~~ - . ~ ., : 0: F',~;tlL : (l ~: ~ : ......./..,;... . ::: -. --.- . ,. ~ . 0 ~ -;.. ... V'u: ''''00- ':"l-. .: -:. u~""''IV~ I ,,<:,....p ..... ~ ,,/)... ......t.. r..~ t.... #'" l2' I"\~ f>.\...P...... v~~ Mayor u (City Seal)