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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07272009 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 27, 2009 Volume 38, Page 120 CALL TO ORDER The July 27, 2009 regular meeting ofthe-Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-Mayor Willard Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Lieutenant Louis Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Clark Corbridge presiding and Betsy Kellar Tom Smith Willard Dunham Bob Valdatta comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT -Marianna Keil, Jean Bardarson, Clark Corbridge CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Robert Buck was present and running for the vacancy on the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. He stated he had been in Seward full time since the spring of 2000, and had worked as a commercial fisherman, dock foreman, with the City of Seward Parks & Rec. and currently was employed at Shoreside Petroleum as a driver and dispatcher. He had a wife and two small children and was interested in moving Seward forward and making it a great place to grow. Buck thought he would add a good voice and fresh face to the process. Russ Maddox also put his hat in the ring for the Port and Commerce Advisory Board vacancy. He thought he would have a lot to contribute and said he would still participate in the process whether appointed or not. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Smith/Kellar) Motion Passed Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: City of Seward, Alaska Ciry Council Minutes July 27, 2009 Volume 38, Page 121 Resolution 2009-064, Recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval Of The City Owned Lots 1-6, Block 8, Seward Original Townsite, Library Replat, Located At The Southwest .rr. Corner Of Adams Street & Sixth Avenue. Resolution 2009-065, Authorizing Emergency Repairs To The Basement Floor In City Hall In An Amount Not To Exceed $30,000, And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2009-068, Exercising The Option To Extend The Contract For External Audit Services With Mikunda, Cottrell & Co. For Two Years. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Proclamation Was Read For Sea Otter Awareness Week. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated the city would be pursuing a Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) Grant. He said up to $300 million could be awarded to each state for highway or bridge, freight and rail, and port infrastructure projects. Oates would request an engineering firm to complete the grant for the city. He had visited with Dr. Brian Rogers, Chancellor of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and discussed the homeport berthing of the Alaska Region Research Vessel (ARRV). Funding became a reality under the American Reinvestment Recovery Act. Seward was the leading port to homebase the ship, with Kodiak and Juneau competing. Although Seward had the advantage, a permanent basing solution would have to be sought in order to secure this vessel long term. Oates mentioned how important it was to complete the basin at SMIC which could also be linked with economic development and usage by the Coast Guard vessels. This grant must be submitted by September 15, 2009 and would then be available for the next legislative session and available for other grants. Oates reported on three city expenditures between the $10,000 to $50,000 amounts: 1. Seward would be featured in two pages of Alaska: North to the Future, Volume 1I/ at a cost of $11,340 with an option for expanded coverage to four pages at a cost of $19,360. He stated another two pages may feature the Seward Mountain Haven (the new Long Term Care Facility). These books would be distributed to the Congressional and Legislative delegations and communities throughout Alaska and the United States. 2. The Parks and Recreation Department issued a request for proposal to improve skate park safety and design. The contractor with the best design and delivery schedule (American Ramp Company) was selected at a proposal of $SOK. The project must proceed immediately to fabricate components and complete before winter. The price of this project was included in this year's capital budget. 3. The engineering, testing, hauling, and treatment of approximately 415 tons of contaminated soil from the generator project were expedited over the past two weeks because of the urgency to -~ complete construction prior to winter. Four separate projects were required along with price quote solicitation for each project. City of Seward, Alaska Cdty Council Minutes July 27, 2009 volume 38, Page 122 Project 1 went to Rozak Engineering for site layout, sampling, supervision of excavation, and ADEC reporting at a cost not to exceed $15K. ~"~` Project 2 went to SGS Test Labs for testing the soil at a cost of approximately $18K. Project 3 went to a subsidiary of Alaska, Sand, and Gravel, Alaska Soil Recycling, for transportation of the contaminated soil at a cost of approximately $17K. Project 4 also went to ASR for treating the contaminated soil at a cost of approximately $37K. Oates also stated the City of Seward had been awarded Title V Delinquency Prevention grant funds in the amount of $45,000 from the Division of Juvenile Justice for Fiscal Year 2010, and on July 16, 2009, MARAD announced that Seward Ship's DryDock, Inc. had received $1,088,078 for ship transport cradles; syncrolift controls and compressed air as part of its shipyard grants program. On July 22, 2009 this grant was put on hold, so hopefully SSD would receive this grant at a later time. - Harbor/SMIC. The 250-ton TraveLift maintenance was completed this week and was available for use. The Harbor was gearing up for the 54`" Silver Salmon Derby which was scheduled from August 8-16, 2009. Seward Ship's Dry Dock was installing the new cathodic protection system and city staff was researching the proposed coating for the splash zone. Oates mentioned Godwin Glacier Tours was requesting to lease an area of SMIC (Lot 5, Block 3) for connex and vehicle storage. They were requesting to occupy the leased area beginning August 1, 2009, due to melting conditions on the glacier. The City would enter into ashort-term lease (120 days was allowed per 7.05.410 of the code) until the lease documents could be finalized and brought to council. ~. Police Department. Seward Police Department's Corporal Patrick Messmer and Officer James Roleau attended the annual APOA (Alaska Peace Officer's Association) Pat Tobin Memorial shooting match in Fairbanks. Cpl. Messmer placed first in the individual competition and Office Rouleau placed fourth. Together in the team competition, Cpl. Messmer and Office Rouleau placed second. Public Works. Water/Sewer personnel had been completing the #3 Lift Station Project, resolving equipment malfunctions elsewhere in the sewer system, and planning for the new water storage tank. On July 27, 2009, PND would look at the Alaska SeaLife Center erosion problem at the city sheet pile wall and submit a report after their visit to include options and costs. Sports and Recreation The total 2009 camp revenue for the week of the 4`" of July including tax, was $49,502.00. This was a decrease of $2,647.00 from 2008. June revenues and camper nights were up $l 1,994.17 from 2008, and June parking permit sales were up $460.00 from 2008. - Finance. This department was working with the State Department of Health & Social Services and Providence to provide necessary financial documentation, compute expected capital add-on components and obtain new rates for when the long-term care facility project was completed. They also had begun negotiations with Providence for a new management and operating agreement which expires at the end of the year. Utility Ciry of Seward, Alaska Ciry Council Minutes July 27, 2009 Volume 38, Page 123 billing in the harbor would be switched to the harbor department beginning October 1, 2009 and implementation of an electronic purchasing program was being prepared. ._. Chamber of Commerce Report. Director Laura Cloward stated visitors were down 19% which was the third year in a row a decline was seen. She noted this was not necessarily an accurate reflection because visitors could just be more prepared. Guide requests were down 10% and Internet usage was up 15% with web statistics down 2% from last year. The chamber had contributed $10,000 on smolts this year which were released in the Bear Lake system. Cloward saw a 60% participant increase in the halibut derby this year. She thought fish restoration and smolt purchase was important. She heard some retailers state that business was down and others saying this was their best year yet. She noted it was hard to budget without knowing what the bed tax and other revenue generating numbers were. Cloward stated their economic development proposal would be completed in a couple of weeks and thought the TIGER grant would increase the capacity for vessels and cargo locations at SMIC. A report was given by Council Member Betsy Kellar on the National League of Cities Conference. This conference was two days of leadership training in Cleveland, Ohio. The main item taken from this conference was the way cities were partnering with one another to generate revenue. PUBLIC HEARINGS Non-Code Ordinance 2009-004, Appropriating Funds In An Amount Not To Exceed $500 To -- Make Expenditures Which Could Influence The Outcome Of An Election Concerning 2009 Advisory Ballot Proposition #1 Which Addresses The Addition Of Fluoride To The City Of Seward Drinking Water To The Level Of 0.7-1.2 Parts Per Million As Recommended By The U.S. Public Health Service. Motion (Smith/Kellar) Enact Non-Code Ordinance 2009-004 City Manager Phillip Oates stated this non-code ordinance would allow funds to be expended and preserved this opportunity if necessary. This ordinance provided flexibility to educate the public on issues that could influence the outcome of the election and followed state law to appropriate funds. He wished to stay neutral as an administration on this issue and recommended passage. Notice of the public hearing being posted and p~nblished as required bylaw was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Clerk's Note: (In. a worksession immediately prior to this meeting, City Clerk Jean Lewis indicated she had heard a comment from the public about perception and t12at they thought it would be negligent of a city council to ask voters to vote on an issue and not print a pro and con statement about why this item should or should not be passed. Council members decided during the work session that the city would maintain a neutral position and not produce apro/con statement.) Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska July 27, 2009 Ciry Council Minutes I~olurne 38, Page 124 ..~ Non-Code Ordinance 2009-005 Appropriating $500 To Make Expenditures Which Could Influence The Outcome Of An Election Concerning 2009 Advisory Ballot Proposition #2 Which Asks The Qualified Voters If The City Should Increase The Sales Tax From 4.0% To 4.5% With The Understanding That The Additional Funds Are Expected To Be In An Amount Sufficient To Cover A Portion Of The Proposed Library/Museum Operating And Construction Costs. Motion (Smith/Kellar) Enact Non-Code Ordinance 2009-005 Oates stated this non-code ordinance would appropriate money if needed to educate the public on the proposed library/museum construction and operating costs. Ballot Proposition #2 to voters increased the sales tax to cover a portion of the proposed library museum operating and construction costs. He thought the city may find it needed to disseminate information and this authorized public funds that could influence the outcome of the election if neutral material needed to be disseminated. He recommended approval. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required bylaw was doted and the public hearing was ope~ied. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. While Kellar and Dunham hoped this would include a sunset tax, Smith thought this was for operating and construction costs. Oates stated this tax would defray both construction and operating costs and would not be enacted unless the facility was actually being built. This tax would generate sufficient revenue to repay the GO bond to construct the building, and pay for additional operation costs associated with the building. Motion Passed Unanimous Non-Code Ordinance 2009-006 Appropriating $500 To Make Expenditures Which Could Influence The Outcome Of An Election Concerning Advisory Ballot Proposition #3 Which Asks The Qualified Voters If The City Should Pursue The Issuance Of General Obligation (GO) Bonds Not To Exceed $5 Million Dollars To Finance The Library/Museum Construction And Capital Costs. Motion (Smith/Kellar) Enact Non-Code Ordinance 2009-006 Oates again stated this would allocate funds in case the council wished to publish materials that could influence the outcome of an election. This proposition would establish a GO bond to show the state of Alaska there were matching funds for other sources sought to assist in the payment of the estimated cost of $10 million for the new library/museum. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required bylaw was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Ciry Council Minutes Ciry of Seward, Alaska Volume 38, Page 125 July 27, 2009 Motion Passed NEW BUSINESS Unanimous Resolution 2009-066, Authorizing Purchase Of A Used Rather Than New Water Tanker Truck From Cascadia International, Previously Authorized By Resolution 2008-134. Motion (Kellar/Smith) Approve Resolution 2009-066 Oates needed to bring this item back to the council to purchase a used vehicle rather than anew one as previously approved. The used truck had less than 2000 miles on it with an additional savings of $60,000. This water tanker truck would be purchased outright and separate from the plow truck in order to prevent the duplication of two separate financing transactions. Finance Director Kris Erchinger stated this vehicle was a 2009 and had been held for months on the west coast. The contingency funds could be used to purchase tires if needed. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2009-067, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Transpac Marinas, Inc. To Provide Timber Floats For The Seward Small Boat Harbor East Harbor Expansion Project (Z Float) For An Amount Not To Exceed $704,817.00, And .-.~ Appropriating Funds. Motion (Smith/Kellar) Approve Resolution 2009-067 Oates reminded that this security float would be used for such vessels as the Coast Guard Mustang, the NOAA vessel, trooper boats and the city's fire boat. Project funding was secured by a grant by the Denali Commission and would allow the purchase of materials to install the float system. Additional funding, possibly from cruise ship head tax funds, was needed for completion of the security dock. Oates recapped the justification for this project began in 2007 when Tryck, Nyman & Hayes, now URS, did engineering services for Phase 3 of the harbor expansion project. Other items associated with the floats were; fire suppression, utilities, upland improvements, and gangway. This resolution provided 870 linear feet of floats delivered and stored in the railroad area. Transpac Marinas, Inc. was the lowest bid received. Harbormaster Kari Anderson stated this bid was under the estimated budget. There was fluctuation in the pricing which was why the contingency was built in. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2009-069, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Purchase Agreement With General Switchgear Inc. For The Purchase Of Switchgear To Be Used In The Fort Raymond Substation -Generation Addition Project For A Total Amount Not-To-Exceed $213,074.00 And Appropriating Funds. Ciry of Seward, Alasku July 27, 2009 Ciry Council Minutes Volume 38, Page 126 Motion (Smith/Kellar) Approve Resolution 2009-069 Oates advised that three switchgears would be purchased to control the new generators in the new building. It was concluded the city would save money by directly purchasing the switchgear from the manufacturer to cut the cost of overhead. The purchase of approximately $225,000 would occur after EPS bid the materials out to four separate suppliers. These suppliers were chosen after considering price, timetables and the advice of EPS. This would start the delivery process to get this switchgear installed. Smith asked if this invalidated the warranty. Oates stated EPS would do the actual installation and that it did not invalidate the warranty. Electric Utility Manager John Foutz looked to have the project completed next year. In response to questions about generation this winter, Oates stated the city had four operational generators, and noted the prison and the Alaska Sealife Center had their own generators. Finance Director Kris Erchinger stated $7.5 million was the total cost of this project, which left $40,000 not committed after this. Motion Passed Unanimous The Rules Were Suspended By Unanimous Consent To Allow PACAB Candidate Darryl Schaefermeyer A Chance To Speak To His Qualifications To Be Re-Appointed To The Port And Commerce Advisory Board. Council Voted And Re-Appointed Darryl Schaefermeyer And Theresa Butts To The Port And Commerce Advisory Board With Terms To Expire July 2012. The Appointment Of Either Russ Maddox Or Robert Buck Was Postponed And Set On The Next Council Agenda August 10, 2009. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) 1. City Financial Report. 2. Providence Financial Report. 3. A Certificate of Completion was given to Johanna Dollerhide for the Northwest Clerks Institute Master Academy. COUNCIL COMMENTS Valdatta complimented staff on the treatment and washing and waxing of the parking attendant truck. Smith thanked all the candidates for applying to be on the Port and Commerce Advisory Board tonight, and thought it was good to have candidates to choose from. Ciry of Seward, Alaska Ciry Council Minutes July 27, 2009 volume 38, Pnge 127 Kellar thanked Sadler's Challenge Alaska for choosing Seward as the start of their race. She thought it was spectacular to watch. ~"' Dunham also thanked the candidates for applying to be on the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. He announced that Nikki Gilman, mother of city lobbyist Brad Gilman, had passed away last week and noted the time of the memorial service. He asked the community to participate in the "Fish for the Future" program put on as a research fundraiser by the Alaska Sealife Center. He also requested council involvement as board members for the Utility Board Meeting on August 5, 2009 in Kenai. CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS -None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:41 pm. k ~ ~ _'^-~ ~ i~ f °. 4 ~ 'tom t ~ ~. 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