Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout07092007 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska July 9, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page380 CALL TO ORDER .... The July 9, 2007 regular meeting ofthe 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 Steve Schafer Robert Thomas comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Johanna Dollerhide, Assistant City Clerk .... ABSENT - None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING John French, stated the Prince William Sound (PWS) contingency plan was in the public comment stage and up for its five year review. He encouraged anyone to look at the website and assist with preparing responses to this plan. He had hoped for a more detailed response plan for outside Prince William Sound and downstream oil spill prevention and response. , Brad Snowden, spoke on the moratorium resolution about the property across the bay. He still wanted to purchase this land and mentioned that the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission had voted unanimously to allow this. He was well aware of the expense ahead of him. Randolf Westphal was a world traveling cyclist and cancer survivor who traveled and spoke of overcoming obstacles in life. Westphal spoke at colleges and would be willing to speak to the public in Seward. He participated in the Fourth of July parade and would speak to any group that wanted to listen while he was in town. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA - Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda City a/Seward, Alaska July 9, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37. PaKe381 Councilmember Schafer abstained from voting on the approval of the agenda and consent agenda due to a conflict of interest with an item. -i Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The June 25, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Resolution 2007-064. Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,822.66 From The Alaska Highway Safety Office For 2007 Fourth Quarter ASTEP Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2007-065. Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $4,050.40 From The Alaska Highway Safety Office For 2007 Fourth Quarter ASTEP Driving Under The Influence (DUI) Enforcement Campaign And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2007-066. Authorizing The City Manager To Sign An Extension Of A Special Services Contract Between The City Of Seward And The Department Of Public Safety Providing Dispatch And Clerical Dispatch And Clerical Services To Public Safety Employees In The Seward Area For $48,500. ; I -i Resolution 2007-067. Authorizing A One-Year Contract For $449,472.00 With The State Of Alaska, Department Of Corrections To Provide For Operating The Seward Community Jail And Housing Prisoners Charged And/Or Sentenced Under Alaska Statutes. Ordinance 2007-004. Amending The Land Use Plan And Rezoning Of Lots 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,21, CP1, CP2, CG1, CG2, BC1, BC2, BD1, And BD2, Forest Acres Subdivision From Institutional (INS) To Rural Residential (RR) (24 Parcels); Tract A Forest Acres, Afognak Addition And Lots CM, CL, CK, A W, And A V From Institutional (INS) To Resource Management (RM) (6 Parcels). (Introduced and set for public hearing on July 23, 2007) SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A proclamation was presented by Friends of the Jesse Lee Home for Alaska Flag Day. A proclamation was read for National Parks and Recreation Month. The top Mt. Marathon runners and volunteers appreciation proclamation was read. A certificate of appreciation was read for Shannon Huber, serving almost two years on the Historic Preservation Commission. .... City of Seward, Alaska July 9, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page382 ... Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated the assembly met on the 19th of June, had held work sessions, and discussed the operating and maintenance agreement for the South Peninsula General Hospital. It passed and would be a proposition on the ballot. A two-part question regarding the Bear Creek Fire Service Area would be introduced at a hearing on August 7, 2007 for voters, on the $3 million dollar station project, and whether to commit to a $1.4 million general obligation (GO) bond to fund the remainder of the capital improvements. Final adoption of the coastal zone management plan was on the agenda for August 7, 2007. Long noted an ordinance would be introduced soon, addressing assembly authority to rescind by resolution, authority of service area boards. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates wished absent City Clerk Jean Lewis a happy birthday as well as his own anniversary. A public meeting was scheduled for tomorrow to discuss access and all the advantages and disadvantages on the Long-Term Care Facility (L TCF). The state budget was announced last week and the city received $1 million dollars for levee construction and repairs, $198,412 for municipal energy assistance, but lost money for pavilions, and $ 1 million dollars for electrical generators. Oates noted the 4th of July celebration was a big success and thanked the Chamber of Commerce and city staff for preparation and clean-up. The City's health insurance trust, APUIT, was forced to increase their rates by 10% beginning September 1, 2007, and all departments would try and absorb the increase through December 2007. ... In response to council comments, Oates confirmed they would first wait on a decision from the state before bringing John Binkley to Seward. In response to Valdatta, Oates stated they were searching for a replacement at the DMV, and agreed with him on the responsibility and maintenance of Port Avenue. Oates would look into having more police in the harbor at its busiest times. City of Attorney Report. Attorney Brad Meyen stated during this period, the attorneys continued their assistance with resolution and contract drafting, issues with the Long-Term Care Facility and Clean Water Act depositions. In response to Mayor Shafer, Meyen didn't know the actual court dates for the Trustees litigation, but noted there were events that could prevent the court date. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A Report on the Shellfish Hatchery was given by Jeff Hetrick. Introduction of P.A.R.K.S. (Parents Advocating Recreational Kid's Stuff) by Crissy Shepard & Emanuel Williamson. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance Requiring a Public Hearing - Ordinance 2007-003. An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Amending The Land Use Plan And Rezoning Of Lots 1-9 Block 8, Original Townsite Of Seward, From Auto Commercial (AC) To Central Business District (CBD). City afSeward. Alaska July 9. 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa~e383 Oates stated the city purchased this land in preparation of development for the library/ ...... museum. Additional property owners had requested to be a part ofthis rezone. Staff recommended enactment of this ordinance. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Keith Campbell, spoke as the chair of the library steering committee and expressed his support for the rezone ordinance before the council. Motion (Thomas/Dunham) Enact Ordinance 2007-003 Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2007-063. Authorizing The City Manager To Appropriate An Additional $254,000 For The Site Re-Design Of The Long Term Care Facility And $333,000 For On-Site Construction Management Services To Architects Alaska's Contract For Regarding The New LTCF Site On The Un subdivided Remainder OfU.S.S. 1864 Which Is West An Adjacent To The Seward Middle School. . ...... Oates stated this re-design by Architects Alaska would include: re-worked geotechnical work, conditional use and re-platting process, and detailed onsite construction management services which entails procurement, construction, oversight, general inspection, scheduling and other construction duties. He informed that construction project managers were absolutely vital to provide a good building and to entice feedback. Oates recommended approval of this re-design which brought the total paid to Architects Alaska as $1,876,200.00. Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2007-063 In response to Valdatta's concerns on oversight, Oates agreed on the importance of a project manager to catch problems as they happen. He pointed out these costs were well within the budget established for the facility. Dunham was pleased to hear the city would hire a project manager, but was not satisfied with the high cost of the re-design. Motion Passed Unanimous ..J Resolution 2007-068. Adopting A Moratorium Of All Property Lease And Sales Of City Owned Land In The Nash Road Ben Area Until A Development Study Of The Area Is City of Seward, Alaska July 9, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37. Pa[!;e384 - Completed And Reviewed By Council; The Moratorium Includes The Request By Brad Snowden To Purchase An Approximate Five (5) Acre Portion Of City Owned Property Which Has A Legal Description Of Tract HI Fourth Of July Creek Subdivision, Roberts Replat. Oates stated this was a sensitive issue. With concerns on safety, access and lack of infrastructure, it made it difficult to sell portions ofthis land without a plan. A bench study would help the city determine the usage of the land in the area. Motion (Dunham/Amberg) Approve Resolution 2007-068 Oates was not able to locate the bench study. Schafer said as far as snow removal, it would be a private drive and up to the property owner to maintain, and the infrastructure was the responsibility of the owner or developer. He personally was against the resolution as it stood. He was inclined to honor Snowden's request since the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission had approved it. Dunham wanted to know ifthere were tidelands involved, which was unclear to determine. It seemed like a lot more research needed to be done before this land sale should go through. In response to Amberg, Oates hoped to have the study analyzed enough to come back to the council by the end of August to discuss how to proceed ahead. - Motion to Postpone (Dunham/Bardarson) Postpone to September 24, 2007 Council Meeting Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS A work session to discuss the generator replacement and public works and electric shops was scheduled for August 14, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. Another work session on the Forest Acres levee for August 13, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) Providence Seward Medical Center May 2007 Financial Statements. COUNCIL COMMENTS .... Amberg said the chamber and city staff did a great job during the fourth of July and congratulated the Mount Marathon winners as well as all runners. City of Seward, Alaska July 9, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa~e385 Bardarson echoed Ambergs' comments and wished City Clerk Jean Lewis a Happy Birthday. .... Schafer said it was important to let pedestrians cross the road while traveling on our crowded city streets, especially the boat harbor area. Thomas also said great job on the fourth of July to all involved, but didn't understand why the town insisted on fireworks when it was too light out at midnight. Valdatta remarked unfavorably on situations on the resolution passed regarding dispatch and clerical services. Police Chief Tom Clemons spoke on the new issues associated with 9-1-1 dispatch going through Soldotna before being transferred, It amounted to many dropped calls. He hoped this situation would change eventually. Clemons assured council he was always looking into ways to change this. Dunham congratulated the chamber and the city crews for their hard work during the fourth of July also. Dunham expressed his thanks to Sue Fleetwood for her amazing work in the DMV office, as today was her last day. She was a great employee and would be missed, He recommended council read the latest AML Touchstone. Dunham wanted the city manager to review the contracting service as well as RFP process. He also inquired as to what would happen to the old Wesley J property and thought funds could be donated towards the Jesse Lee Home. Mayor Shafer congratulated the teen center in winning the first prize in the float contest, and congratulated Skip and Marie Fletcher on their 50 year anniversary of the Liberty Theatre. CITIZENS' COMMENTS John French spoke on the tanker contingency plan. The plan represented a 500-page document that would require more deliberation. He noted it was a very short time line, and he was trying to move forward as quickly as possible with the comment period ending July 28. It was an important issue to Seward and French suggested more discussion. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9: 11 p.m. ~ ~\tll'II'"" 4 ' ..",..... Of S12I.1,""#, ~ J- / .,...~ ...... ~..;'~" MIl<- :.~ <.i ,,'-;'Or. ~;'~" <) \Vanta Shafer "" ...::-,..'-1 '""..:. ~ : !~ __ 0\ tKayor ~ . . ~~ '\I . BE AT. ~ ;;: 0 : Jr.U-4: . :: (City Seal) :.~. -- ! S ~ e.."", tr,/:: -:. Ol,.....(/1\-...1 '\~"',".~': " Q I. &0; .' ....~ ~ " -,)': ......1... r:.::O ","ltt "'" ~ OF ~t ~..~.. """Il""~~ ....