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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02092009 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Fc bruroy 9, 2009 City Council Minutes Volurnc 38 Pub>c 14 CALL TO ORDER The February 9, 2009 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Clark Corbridge. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Clark Corbridge presiding and Willard Dunham Jean Bardarson Bob Valdatta Marianna Keil Betsy Kellar Tom Smith comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT -None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULEll FOR PUBLIC HEARING -None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Bardarson/Smith) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda The following was added to the agenda: A Travel Report by Vice-Mayor Dunham. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The January 26, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Christina Stauffer Was Appointed As A Commissioner For The Seward Planning & Zoning Commission With A Term To Expire February 2012. Resolution 2009-007, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,787.40 From The Alaska Cite of Seward, Alaska Ciry Council ll~/inutes Fch~uary 9 2009 Volume 38, Page 15 Highway Safety Office For 2009 Second Quarter ASTEP Driving Under The Influence (DUI) Enforcement Campaign And Appropriating Funds. ""` Resolution 2009-008, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,429.92 From The Alaska Highway Safety Office For 2009 Second Quarter ASTEP Seatbelt Enforcement Campaign And Appropriating Funds. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Certificate of Congratulations was awarded to Kristin Erchinger for being appointed by Governor Palin to the Alaska Retirement Management Board. A Certificate of Congratulations was awarded to Keith Campbell for being appointed by Governor Palin to serve on the Alaska Health Care Commission. Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated it was a privilege to attend AML conferences in Juneau, and that the Borough emphasized the three priorities as education funding, a PERS/TRS fix, and municipal revenue sharing. He urged the city and borough to work together as a united front on their priorities to get the best for the districts. The task force that was formed to look at a long term re-write of the flood mitigation ordinance was proceeding. Long reported on work sessions being held on utility special assessment districts, a -~- resolution introduced which created a flood hazard district outside the city limits and how it would establish the minimum level of protection necessary for stream owners, and the education deed restriction was repealed on the AVTEC parcel. Long said at their next meeting they would address whether to authorize a 5-year extension option to lease land in the Tyonek/Beluga area in regards to coal. They hoped to re-negotiate a lease with more favorable terms and present day values and conditions. He spoke of the STIP projects, their ranking, and hoped this was in alignment with the city so a unified front could go to Juneau. In response to questions, Long stated the school bus strike issue had been solved and avoided. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated Sunday there was a fire at Glacierview Apartments. A Preliminary investigation indicated the origin of the fire came from the individual who was using oxygen and smoking materials together. He cautioned the public on this behavior. He reported that the Spring Creek prison expansion was unlikely to happen in the near future, because of a decreasing head count and other bigger projects currently occurring within the Department of Corrections. He stated the city needed to get a valid lease on the facility. Oates also stated a draft bill was being circulated to get a cooperative agreement between the top six utilities which ultimately would help the state with organizing bigger energy projects. He notified that the city would be issuing the funding of $80,000 to the Library/Museum project, and $30,000 to the Boys and Girls Club per their budget requests being received and City of Sewa~•cl, Alaska February 9, 2009 Ctty Council Miiautes Volume 38, Pa >e 16 enclosed within this packet. Oak Street and Hemlock had a new LED light test for the public to view. ^ PBX/VOIP. The wiring preparation had been completed. TelAlaska should be installing the new phones and providing training to staff within the next two weeks. ^ Personnel. Claire Sullivan was hired as a dispatcher, and both NECA temps, Ben Luna and Butch Scott accepted the full-time lineman positions. This made the lineman crew fully staffed. ^ Long-Term Care Facility. Construction of the Long Tenn Care Facility continued with minor delays, with the contractor's scheduled date of substantial completion remained at September 24, 2009. As of February 3, 2009, the current contract amount with UNIT was $21,729.426.00. $51,230 in additional change orders had been approved so far. ^ Parks & Recreation. This department was collaborating with the Boys & Girls Club on applying for the Title V grant. Rotary offered manpower to assemble the skate park when it was funded. Parks & Rec would be discussing the cost savings for camping, parking and harbor users and automatic pay stations on February 12, 2009. The department hoped to host the Alaska Recreation & Park Associations 35r" Anniversary in Seward, and 2008 Sports and Recreation revenues were up $2,000 from the previous year. ^ Harbor. The harbor offered approximately 65 slips to individuals on the wait list, and applied for the Municipal Harbor Facility Grant with a $1.45 million match. If the harbor was the recipient of this grant, this would fund security Z Float at 93% funded with construction beginning as early as December 2009. The SMIC feasibility study contract with Northern Economics should be completed in April. ^ Other. Public Works had been preparing for the volcano eruption, and repairing the snow blower. Oates divulged the city's plans for volcano preparation, and also summarized what the public could do and provided informational items. Other Reports, Special Presentations An Update on the Economic Stimulus Projects by Phillip Oates. Oates presented that l7 projects were crafted within a couple of days for the Economic Stimulus Bill. In order they were: East Harbor Breakwater Extension, Lowell Canyon Tunnel, electrical interconnect and reliability improvements, two dolphins for the UAA ARRV moorage, Seward highway bridges, Z-float Phase III Harbor Expansion project, water storage tank and pumping facility, roads, Pump #3 wastewater collection system, harbor dredging project, Coast guard building relocation, Jesse Lee Leadership Charter School, fish ditch, harbor boardwalk, shellfish hatchery repairs and upgrades, medical clinic expansion, and Ft. Raymond satellite fire station. The congressional delegation reported that no specific projects would be earmarked within the bill but would be handed out through existing federal agencies. He stated two projects; $1 million City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes ~~~~~~~~~~ ~ 209 Volume 38, Page 17 for the East harbor breakwater extension and $500,000 for the Lowell Canyon re-design, were still in the omnibus appropriations bill. Oates also reported on his meeting with DOT officials, a disputed •-~ bill from them on a contaminated water issue, city moneybeing held hostage by DOT, maintenance shop, and other issues. Travel Report by Vice-Mayor Dunham was presented in writing. Dunham re-capped his travel report for the council. NEW BUSINESS Ordinance for Introduction Ordinance 2009-002, Amending Seward City Code Title 15, Land Use Allowed Table 15.10.225 To Allow Lodging, Multi Family Dwelling Apartment By Conditional Use Permit In The Harbor Commercial Zoning District (HC). Motion (Bardarson/Kellar) To Introduce Ordinance 2009-002 Community Development Director Christy Terry answered that this change had passed through the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the request was brought by the applicant, the owner of Harbor Lights Condominiums. Motion Introduced Unanimous (Set for public hearing on Febr°uary 23, 2009) Resolution 2009-009, Approving The City Of Seward's Calendar Year 2009 State Legislative Revised Priorities. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Approve Resolution 2009-009 Oates stated council had passed an initial list, and he was now recommending adjustments to that. After trips to Juneau, and speaking to the lobbyist, he proposed putting forth the projects most likely to receive funding. He pointed out the changes from the last resolution and gave clear indication that funding would be tight this year. Dunham wanted to help the shellfish hatchery. He thought they needed a little help to show their true potential. Kellar wanted net metering incorporated within the beneficial legislation portion. Amendment (Bardarson/Keil) Add #15 under Beneficial Legislation to read: Support the legislative efforts to -~ develop a statewide net-metering policy. Cite of Seward, Alaska February 9, 2009 Ciry Council Minutes Voluiru 38 Pa c 18 Amendment Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) The Providence Seward Medical Center December Financials. Library Museum Budget Development. Seward Boy's & Girls Club Funding Informational Item. COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil notified she would be in Juneau for the February 23'~d meeting and wished to be excused. She had researched her $384 electric bill and found for the same, she would have paid $410 in Homer and $1,146.56 in the village. Keil said Seward was lucky to have the rates it did and that it was more economical than most places. She just wanted to put that in prospective. Smith was glad to see the Planning & Zoning finally had enough people to run this important commission. Dunham wanted the public to be vocal and write the legislators in Juneau on the DOT STIP projects to get Seward's needs met. He stated the city had to be vigilant this year to receive any state ... money. He wanted a welcome proclamation for the Legion Convention, and was not happy with the borough attorney decision that did not allow the Planning & Zoning representative in our area, to vote at the borough level if they had already voted on the same issue at our local level. Dunham stated this resulted in being penalized for voting when they knew the most about the issue. He wanted fluoride in the water brought up. Bardarson welcomed Christina Stauffer to the Planning & Zoning Commission and also wanted the issue of fluoride in the water brought up. Kellar also welcomed Stauffer to the Planning & Zoning Commission and congratulated Campbell and Erchinger on their appointments. She wanted the issue of fluoride in the water brought up also. Corbridge also indicated he could support fluoride added in the water. CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None ADJOURNMENT ,.,.,,,, The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m. City Council Minutes City of Sewrn~d, Alnska Volume 38, Pnge 19 Fehr iun y 9 2009 L ~. , ,. ~~ 1 Je Lewis, CM Ci' Clerk (City Seal) ~.~~~ti~~~csi~~~ ~~ '~a~ 4 ~ 4 .. 4y .P b 4 ~ °i ~. ~ ,.. .< e .a w ~ .. .a ~ ".. -• ~ ~ r+ i7 M C$ Clark Corbridge Mayor