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Home My WebLink About04292008 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 29, 2008 (continued) volume 37, Page 562 CALL TO ORDER The Apri128, 2008 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was recessed at 11:00 p.m. and called back to order at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Apri129, 2008 by Mayor Clark Corbridge. ROLL CALL There were present: Clark Corbridge presiding and Willard Dunham Linda Amberg Bob Valdatta Jean Bardarson comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney ABSENT -Tom Smith Betsy Kellar Resolution 2008-037, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Worthington Ford For The Purchase Of A 2008 F-550 4x4 Service Truck, For An Amount Not-To-Exceed $56,502.00. Motion (Valdatta/Dunham) Approve Resolution 2008-037 Oates stated that John Bird would be finishing his efficiency study later this summer. A better comprehensive motor pool plan was needed. Bird agreed that the electric truck vehicle was needed and purchasing the wrong vehicle was not efficient. Oates thought the electric department was not a place to penny pinch. Oates felt this was one of the most important resolutions the council would vote on. Amberg reminded administration that council members must make decisions based on information presented. She felt the estimate was inflated. She would have liked an independent person to look at this. Not confident of information presented. It was her job as a council person to question. Bardarson wanted the expert to do his job, and was happily awaiting his study. Obviously the old vehicle did not meet the requirements needed for the lineman. Dunham stated if this was critical equipment it wouldn't have been down for three months. He understood perfectly why this was needed. He didn't feel it was needed for safety purposes. Electric Utilities Manager Tim Barnum said the vehicle could not be driven in its current condition and he did not know the full extent of the airbag issue. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes Apri129, 2008 (continued) Volume 37, Page 563 Valdatta understood the problems and why this was needed. Oates stated this was the third council meeting this was being addressed. He thought part of the problem was the purchasing process itself. Point was well taken on asking locally but the city process made him ask for more money than the quotes so they didn't have to come back to the council for more money. Barnum stated he had not leased a vehicle, because staff had anticipated this approval. Then the purchase changed to a repair. He had hoped to eek by until purchase. Currently this vehicle was estimated 3-4 weeks from receiving if purchased today. Barnum anticipated a longer useful life of about seven years for this vehicle, and stated it was difficult to get a vehicle with exactly what was wanted. Certain accessories were required and needed, but vehicles usually come with other accessories you didn't need. Initial estimates were low because he wasn't aware of all repairs that needed to be done. 30% more jobs were completed last year than in past years from the lineman. Dunham thought when the city was looking for specialized equipment, he thought it would be cheaper to buy one after long term planning was involved. Bardarson stated the city needed to be pro active instead of reactive. Motion Passed Unanimous A Work Session On The City Financials Was Set For Thursday, May 8, 2008. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action require Providence Seward Medical Center Financial Report for March 2008. COUNCIL COMMENTS Amberg wanted to have a discussion on the agenda regarding reports and presentations. She felt the process should be condensed. Two hours of reports was too much. In the future she wanted council to address how to best handle that. Valdatta wanted John Bird to approach his vehicle efficiency study addressed like they do in the military and cut the red tape. Dunham hoped the city would do a welcoming for the two Navy ships. He congratulated ASLC and UAF on the Ocean Sciences Bowl. Dunham wanted to know if there was anything he should know about being appointed on the Mary Lowell Center value analysis. He was hazy on what his role would be. Upon a question by Dunham, Corbridge answered he was not aware the old Mary Lowell Center Committee had ever been formally dissolved. Ciry of Seward, Alaska Ciry Council Minutes aril 29, 2D08 (continued) volume 37, Page 564 Dunham also stated he had been contacted by the Charter Boat Association for bringing up a flat tax. The increase in fuel and upfront cost was having a serious cost to this industry. He stated ti.r. the CEO of TOTE thought Seward would be a good place for their ship to berth if the city had a dock. Bardarson participated in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl. They appreciated the efforts by the city. The navy ships may help in the PARKS playground build. Oates took exception of being put on notice by council members. He advocated the high quality of effort staff put into quotes and items brought forward to the council, and thought this just made for an adversarial relationship. Dunham wanted the reports and presentations to continue. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Dale Hoogland, was glad to hear from exchange students. Most people were overburdened with financial responsibilities and he thought it was the main reason for the lack of student interest this year. Obihiro was special with a big tax base. They kept an independent contractor on staff full time. He said the cost to travel to Japan was expensive and thought the City could support the program more financially. He asked that a presentation to the Resurrection Bay Lions Club and the City be put on the next agenda. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Dunham thanked Hoogland for appearing and he hoped others could participate in this great program. Bardarson reiterated it was a wonderful program. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 a.m. -~ ~, ~ ~ -~~ r Jea Lewis, CM ~ ~,,,,,~ ••` • Cit Clerk ~ .• ~. ~~.~ O~ ~l~'yy~•••• (City Seal) A `, ~~' ~'`~•• G r , b s '' ® • ~, ~, ,~.-.sue ~ ® ~ ... rt ~ ~ ~ e p a + u ~ i C e r e f ~~ ~ es~ ; • • O.A! ~ti~ssss~ Clark Corbridge Mayor