HomeMy WebLinkAbout01262009 City Council MinutesCtty of Setiva~-d, Alaska City Council Minutes
January 26, 2009 Volume 38, Pa >e 9
CALL TO ORDER
The January 26, 2009 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Vice Mayor Willard Dunham.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Willard Dunham presiding and
Bob Valdatta
Betsy Kellar
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
ABSENT -Clark Corbridge, Jean Bardarson
Marianna Keil
Tom Smith
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEllULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Tena Morgan, introduced herself to the cowlcil and wished to be appointed to the Planning
& Zoning Commission.
Paul Schuldt, was applying for a special event permit for June and hoped the council and
city manager would approve it. He offered to answer any questions that the public would have
beforehand.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Kellar)
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed
Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The January 12, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved.
There Was No Objection For The Renewal Of Liquor Licenses For: Yukon Bar, Ray's
Waterfront Bar And Grill, The Ivory Cove And Christo's Palace.
Tena Morgan Was Appointed As A Commissioner For The Seward Planning & Zoning
City of Seward, Alaskrl City Council Minutes
Jcmuciry 26 2009 Volume 38, Pnge 10
Commission With A Term To Expire February 2010.
Council Approved PACAB Delivering Periodic Reports On A Quarterly Basis.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates noted his report would be lengthy
tonight and stated he would be adding more city projects to the economic stimulus package. He
would be bringing a resolution to the council to update the state and federal priorities after their visit
with the delegation in Washington, D.C. Oates invited the public to a public meeting on February
24, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:00 pm to allow the public to provide input on the Mills Street grant, and
noted that the AT&T tower proj ect was not waiting on the city but, suspended by AT&T as they were
waiting on funding options. He stated six community leaders were honored at the Annual Chamber
Membership Luncheon. Person of the Year: Mary Daniel, Business Person of the Year: Charles
McEldowney, Excellence in Profession: Terry Cockrell, Business Site Improvement: The Breeze
Inn, Civic Affairs Person of the Year: Lori Draper, and Devoted Service to Young: P.A.R.K.S.
^ Bridge Repair at Trail River Falls Creek and Ptarmigan Creek. DOT's plan and goal was to
get a temporary detour bridge in place at Trail River Bridge by the end of the summer, with a
replacement bridge built in the summer of 2010 provided funding and permitting were
obtained. A temporary modular bailey style bridge would be put over the top of the existing ~.
bridge at Falls Creek. The approaches would be paved in late May or early June with the
bridge being built in the summer of 2010. The current plan with the Ptarmigan Creek bridge
was to also install a temporary modular bailey style bridge, only upstream of the existing
bridge, with final replacement the summer of 2010.
^ Harbor. Staff assisted in facilitating the annual Polar Bear Plunge and combined activities,
where over $150,000 was raised for cancer research. The City of Seward's motion to dismiss
the order for the Harbor to obtain an NPDES permit for stormwater pollution would be heard
by the ninth circuit court with further details to be disclosed in February. The Seward
Planning & Zoning Commission would be meeting in February to discuss the installation of
an Alaska Harbor Observation Station on the breakwater near the entrance to the harbor.
This project would be the first of its kind in Alaska and would monitor meteorological and
oceanographic systems, including a web cam. This city would be working in conjunction
with the Alaska SeaLife Center on this project.
^ Librarv• Members of the Seward Statehood Symposium were finalizing the details for the
event to be held in Seward on May 1 and 2, 2009. Playaways, or single books on an audio
player, were now available for checkout.
^ Communit~Development. An ordinance would be coming to the council for introduction
that amended the land uses table to allow lodging in amulti-family dwelling. The P&Z _.
Commission held work sessions with the Area Flood Board to update the floodplain
management ordinances, and would be holding another work session on the Annual
Community Values and Comprehensive Plan Review on February 17, 2009.
City of Seward, Alaska
City Council Minutes
Janucuy 26, 2009 Volume 38, Pa e 1 1
• Other. Suzi Mack was hired as the DMV Clerk/Administrative Assistant, with the goal to
have the DMV office open during the lunch hour and also on Saturdays. The electric
department and Statewide Clearing Inc. had completed 2/3 of the Nash Road and Seward
Highway T-lines. The Fire Department received nine proposals for the new pumper truck
and was in the process of reviewing them. Oates stated the police department had begun its
second Citizens Police Academy, and the MIS department was making good progress with
minor delays on the PBX/VOIP project. TelAlaska would begin the conversion in February.
Other Reports, Special Presentations
A Presentation Was Given By Kevin Smith From AML/JIA On Event Insurance.
A Presentation Was Given By Matt Gray On The Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat
Partnership.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Ordinance Requiring A Public Hearing
Non-Code Ordinance 2009-001, Temporarily Increasing The Stipend For The Vice Mayor And
Setting The Effective Dates.
'~"' Vice-Mayor Dunham Declared A Conflict Of Interest And Handed The Gavel To Senior
Member Valdatta.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
Oates stated this increased the stipend for the Vice-Mayor and was sponsored by Mayor
Corbridge and Councilmember Keil, because of current medical and other issues which have kept the
Mayor from traveling. The requested funds amount to $1000 and are in the city council contingency
budget.
Motion (Kellar/Smith) Enact Non-Code Ordinance 2009-001
Kei 1 notified the public that this was not increasing the budget, but would be coming from the
council contingency fund, which was budgeted for purposes like this.
Motion Passed
Yes: Smith, Kellar, Keil, Valdatta
Abstain: Dunham
Resolutions Requiring A Public Hearing
Ciry of Sex~ard, Alaska Ciry Council Minutes
Janumy 26 2009 Volume 38, Page 12
Resolution 2009-006, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Amendment To The
Amended And Restated Agreement For Lease Of Tract 2A, Waterfront Tracts, And Adjacent
Tidelands, And The Lease, Operation And Maintenance Of The Alaska Sealife Center With
The Seward Association For The Advancement Of Marine Science dba Alaska Sealife Center.
Oates stated with the new leadership of Ian Dutton, the Alaska Sealife Center was well
postured for the challenges that faced the nation and world. With button's past success and vision,
they hoped to bridge the shortfall of federal earmark reliance with more research and grant funding.
Due to the current financial situation, this lease specifically allowed SAAMS to access $500,000
from the $700,000 termination fund that was set up in 2006, and replenish the account by September
30, 2009. Oates informed that within the contract, if SAAMS was not able to manage the facility any
longer, there was a requirement where another consultant would operate the facility for one year
before ADF&G would decide whether the facility would operate or be mothballed. He mentioned
the renewal and replacement fund was not impacted by this resolution. Oates reported the council
had held two work sessions where SAAMS justified the need for the use of this money.
Oates pointed out the city already had considerable risk, and the amount of $700,000 was
inadequate to operate the facility for one year anyway. He thought the risk was better managed with
transparency between SAAMS and the city, and it was best to invest efforts and wisdom in the
people that were best to accomplish that goal. Oates stated the city would have an annual update and
periodic financial updates from the SAAMS Board.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
Motion (Kell/Smith) Approve Resolution 2009-006
Councilmember Kellar declared a conflict of interest because of her husband's employment.
Vice-Mayor Dunham ruled a conflict existed. Councilmember Kellar left the dais.
Dunham remembered the citizens and SAAMS raised over $1 million dollars to start the
facility. Millions more came from the governor and legislature and EVOS. Some people put up
money of their own. After $2 million in bonds were paid off, the federal government wrote off the
remaining $15 million. He said this was a huge investment by the people of Alaska and this
community to make this facility happen.
Keil thought it was in the public interest to allow temporary usage of the termination fund for
the operation of the Alaska Sealife Center. She stressed the Center's importance of being an
economic generator for the community, paying PILT, sales tax, providing full time jobs, being a vital
component of education, marine life and environment, and a premier institute for mammal and bird
rehabilitation in the state. Keil stated the Alaska Sealife Center was vital to Seward, its quality of
life, and was globally important.
Motion Passed Yes: Smith, Keil, Valdatta, Dunham
Abstain: Kellar
City of Sei~~ru~rl, Alaska
Januruy 26, ?009 Cite Council Minutes
Volume 38, Pa ~e 13
NEW BUSINESS
~. The November City Financials Were Discussed.
Finance Director Kris Erchinger was pleased with expenditures and stated preliminary
figures showed December revenues were over budget by about $100,000 and sales tax collections
were interestingly $81,000 over the previous year.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action regt~irec~
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Kellar thanked the street crews for plowing the roads and doing a great job for all access
roads and keeping them safe.
Keil congratulated the polar bear plunge committee and thanked Tena Morgan for stepping
forward and volunteering on the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission. She also congratulated
Sandie Roach for being appointed Chair of the Commission and facilitating the meetings. She
thanked the Alaska Sealife Center for being in our community.
Smith also thanked Tena Morgan for volunteering on P&Z and Marilyn Reynolds and crew
for the polar bear plunge.
....
Dunham would be having lunch with the local Fish & Game Advisory Board to listen to
their issues. Dunham was not happy with the Trooper shortage, nor the governors state hiring freeze
with 10% of state employee positions already not filled. He wanted the public to pay attention and
speak with representatives. Lastly he congratulated Terry Cockrell for receiving the employee of the
year award.
Oates notified the public of his upcoming meetings and topics to be discussed.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:36 p.m.
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