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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03092009 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Mnrch 09, 2009 CAI,I, TO ORDER Cih~ Council ,Minutes Volume 38. Paee 2 B The March 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 Lieutenant Louis Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Tom Smith Clark Corbridge presiding and Jean Bardarson Betsy Kellar Marianna Keil Willard Dunham comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT -Bob Valdatta CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULF,D FOR PUBLIC HEARING Russ Maddox thought the Coal Dust Task Force meeting was good and well attended. He stated a number of the commm~ity members spoke up on their issues and health professionals spoke up on their concerns. Maddox notified that the interest in this subject was a community issue, not just an issue with the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Bardarson/Smith) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The February 23, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes And The March 2, 2009 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Non-Objection To The Liquor License Renewal For American Legion Post #5 And Package Store Liquor License Renewal For Oaken Keg #2728. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS City nfSeward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 09, 2009 Voli~nre 3$ Page 29 Proclamations and Awards A Memoriam Vas Read For Alaska Statesman Curt Menard. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates introduced the new Electric Utility Manager John Foutz, his wife Tammy, and their two small children. He mentioned that he had fun travelling with Vice-Mayor Dunham and was impressed on how tirelessly he worked for the City of Seward. Japanese Creek Levee. The Corps of Engineer permit was finally in hand. They were dill working on getting the DOT right-of--way permit for where the levee road met the Seward Highway. Oates expected property appraisals occurring next week and noted all offers were contingent on council approval of the sale. An RFP for Phase I which relocated the creek would be coming up in the future. Long Term Care Facility. Painting had begun in the first residential building. The large commons building walls were going up and completion was still set for September, 2009. September or October was being targeted for an opening ceremony. Y Economic Stimulus. The City had assigned an internal task force to start aggressively tracking stimulus funding sources and identifying and prioritizing al] Cityprojccts that may qualify for the federal stimulus programs. This task force would meet weekly and determine what projects and finding departments would pursue. This would betaking up a lot of time --~ and a work session would be needed in the future. The city also intended to propose an RFP for general project design services because projects needed to be "shovel ready" to qualify for such funding. Staff would continue to provide council reports on the task force's initiatives. Coal Terminal. The ARR Task Force decided to disband but had hvo town hall meetings a year. The city manager would report back via manager's report, email or council action any decisions. The ARR anticipated coal shipments going up to 15 shipments a year, so he was hoping the Railroad would put more money into that facility in the fitture. Oates gave updates on Department of Transportation (DOT) projects and bridge replacement schedules. He noted there would be public meetings held in Moose Pass April 1 and 2, 2009. Topics would include an update on Emergency Bridge Replacement and the Seward Hwy Mile 18-2C project. He also announced Seward could receive $478,000 for the Seward Harbor Breakwater Extension and $235,000 for Lowell Creek Tunnel through the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations. Oates stated the city did not receive the Community Block Grant for the ADA boardwalk, but now had a package put together for other grant opportunities. The Harbor Department was reviewing procurement documents for Z float. These engineering plans would be included with the bid package and advertised in the corning month. Oates lastly notified that the Seward Fire Department was awarded a $48,607 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, and would purchase new bunker gear, and a washer and dryer that specialized "` in cleaning that equipment. Ciry of Sewm•d, Alaska City Cormcil Minurrs March 09, 2009 Vnlunse 38, Page 3 0 'T'ravel Report. Vice Mayor Willard Dunham provided a written travel rcpori for the council on his and the city manager's two week trip to Anchorage, Washington DC, Seattle, and Juneau. He highlighted he went to the REGA meeting in Anchorage to participate in workable solutions to the governor°s continuing request for the six utilities to become one state entity. This subject would affect Seward utilities and take considerable time and effort to protect the utility. He reminded this utility be]onged to the local taxpayers. Both Cily Manager Oates and Vice-Mayor Dunham met with John Katz in Washington DC, along with the Corps of Engineers, Congressman Don Young, the National Science Foundation, Senator Lisa Murkowski, the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Senator Mark Begich. Dunham was happy to report the letter of interest went out to build the Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV), so work needed to be done to secure adequate mooring to keep this vessel in Seward. They met with Royal Caribbean, Holland America, and Princess Tours along with Foss and Crowley Maritime and discussed their trends in the industry and concerns. Once in Juneau, they met with many legislators on topics like AVTEC, HB 134, the library/muscwn project, citypriorities and DOT issues. Oates thought the federal delegation of Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Begich was encouraging. He thought that both federal and state lobbyists for Seward were superb. He thought it was time well spent to visit this delegation. Other Reports, Special Presentations An Update Was Given By The Friends OI'The Jesse Lee Home. Mary Elizabeth Rider, stated this project was receiving money through anon-profit board under the Alaska Community Foundation. Emergency repairs were completed. UNIT Construction had put a solid roof on the building and the board was waiting on their Stabilization Report to come out next week. The hope was to turn these buildings into a residentia] charter leadership school. Since it was not a good time for private philanthropy, the focus was on relationships and coordination of etlorts. The estimated price tag to re-build three buildings was $24 million, with 513.5 million for two buildings. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2009-013, Recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval Of The Seward Small Boat Harbor, South Harbor Addition, Replat, Located Within The Harbor Commercial And Park Zoning Districts. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Approve Resolution 2009-O13 Oates stated the next step was sending this to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Cor plat approval, which needed the consent of city council. This resolution dealt solely with the platting action of the south harbor uplands. He pointed out the zoning would come after this action. The property was already served by utilities. This was a single parcel of 9.63 acres in size and provided right-ol=way access l0 4`h Avenue. Oates recommended approval. City nfSewar•d, Alaska City Council Minutes ,49arch 09, 2009 Volume 38. Pane 31 In response to questions, Community Development Director Christy Terry stated it would be platted as Park and 1 {arbor Commercial for now, until PACAB and P&Z made a detern~ination and rezoned it. Notice of the publ rc hearing being posted and published as required bylaw was noted and the publrc hearing was opened. No are appeared to address the Coaurcil and the public hearing Naas closed. Motion Passed Unanimous NE~~' BUSINESS Resolution 2009-015, Acknowledging Support Of The Proposed Seward Community Library Museum (SCLM), inro~ r,... n r a r r ~ o a• r ~ • t• nrT~- car na a r And Authorizing The City Manager To Begin Site Preparation Of The library Museum Site Utilizing City Resources As Available. Motion (Bardarson/Dunham) Approve Resolution 2009-015 Oates stated this resolution moved the project forward and authorized Community Development to proceed with replatting, and Public Works and the Fire Department offering personnel and equipment for demolition and site preparation as in-kind contributions to the program. Oates wished to remove all the language on the resolution referring to an RFP al this time, because the city did not have the $800,000 needed for design and engineering funds on hand. Without that tlexibility, it was premature to start an RFP at this time. Estimated cost increase for operation and maintenance of a new library/museum was estimated as low as an extra $190,000 annually to $350,000 annually, and administration wanted to make the city council aware of this increase to the city budget. Amendment (Dunham/Bardarson) Remove the wording; "authorizing the city manager to generate a request for proposals 12FP for design and engineering services in preparation for construction of the SCLM" from the title; remove the 3r~ and 4`~ Whereas, and remove Section 1. Oates hoped to have this resolution which showed council support for the project, so they could use it for grant opportunities. He was concerned on going into the RFP process without finding certainty. Oates thought this signaled the council had continued involvement with the project. In response to the question of whether the city could form a service area for this, Library Director Patty Linville stated a service area had been discussed but it was found to be a hurdle. Motion Passed Unanimous Cih~ of Seward, Alaska March 09- 2009 OTHER NEW BUSINESS Cih~ Council A~/inutc~s Volume 38, Page 32 "I'he Evaluation Process Was Discussed Briefly And Council Decided They Did Wish To Change It. Evaluations For The City Manager, City Attorney And City Clerk Were Postponed Until After A Work Session Scheduled To Review The Process. The City Council Discussed Whether To Accept The Letter Of Invitation By The Mayor Of Yeosu City, Korea To Attend Their Great Turtle Ship Festival May 2 To 5, 2009. They Wished To Pursue This And Put On The 1~7arch 23 Agenda. The December City Financial Reports Were Discussed. Various Work Sessions Were Scheduled For The Future. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required COUNCIL COMMENTS Bardarson congratulated the Seward Seahawks Boys Basketball team for being number 1 in the regions. She asserted they would he heading to the State Tournament in two weeks. Dunham thanked the American Legion and Commander Richard Smith for holding their convention in Seward this past weekend. He stated it was a huge gathering and was the first time all top Legion heads were in attendance. He also thanked the Fletchers for the use of their theatre for the welcoming ceremony. Dunham thought the Coal Dust Task Force railroad meeting was positive and noted it had a full house with members Crom DEC attending. Two meetings a year would continue as a citizen open house forwn. He af'rmed the Alaska Railroad was an important link for the community. Dunham complimented the City Manager [or assigning staff to address the economic stimulus because it was very important. He disclosed 5200,000 in a bill for the hatchery and found an article that Homer Electric was possibly hooking up alternate energy to their grid. Dunham mentioned the bill on daylight savings time. Smith thanked Seward High School Senior Samantha Feemster for attending the meeting and assisting the city clerk with minutes. Keil thanked the road department for their speedy response of providing a sanding truck on a slippery intersection when called. She had seen the harbor Ilyer for commercial businesses and thought it was very user-friendly. Kei] thought business licensing should go for a period of two or three years, and also congratulated the Seward Seahawks on their Regional Tournament win. She welcomed John Foutz and after seeing the list ofconferences in the Chamber newsletter, thought the Mary Lowell Center should continue to be pursued. CI1'IZGNS' COMMENTS -None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None City of Sex~arrl, Alaska March 09, 2009 ADJOURNA1ENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. -. Jean~~Lewis, CMC City~Clerk ,,,~,~.,~, rs+ +°''° ~ M+ v ~A~`°a ~~" u "~°,x~`,, °~ q~ (City Seal) y " ~'~ ~,-, - " ^ °' u~ ~ w ~ LO q. ~ ~ 8 ® s,,: ~ [w ~ 0 ~. e ~iC p~® tit '.Fi l' ~'~ ~l[ ~1'V ~, d t ~ o. , ~ .,.,..~. ,.,, s~:°~a ~e,c+ersnue ~ aee` Crty Courtcrl Minutes Volume 38, Page 33 Clark Corbridge Mayor