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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. ,' ..(, J 1. r ,. s ?' . 'c c ~ ! L.,- Jea Lewis, CM ~,+° "~ ~ ~ ,~~' Vhillard Dunham ~ ~ ~~ ~~~ ,,,~, Cit' Clerk ' Nice Mayor r ~ 4a a: ~it'~ (City Seal) ~ ~: ~4~ "~ p a0' ~~ t~;~ `~.