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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11232009 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 195 CALL TO ORDER The November 23, 2009 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Vanta Shafer Willard E. Dunham presiding and Linda Amberg Jean Bardarson Bob Valdatta Tom Smith Marianna Keil comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Christy Terry, Community Development Director standing in for the City Clerk's Office Nanci Richey, Administrative Assistant ABSENT — None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Tim McDonald objected to passing Resolution 2009 -106, the SMIC Enterprise Fund budget. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil /Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Resolutions 2009- 104,105,108,111, 129 and the cancellation of the December 28, 2009 regular city council meeting were pulled from the consent agenda. Resolutions 2009-112 and 107 were added to the consent agenda. A Mayoral Report was added to 6E of the agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The October 12 And October 26, 2009 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes And The October 20 And November 9, 2009 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 196 Resolution 2009 -106, Adopting The Seward Marine Industrial Center Enterprise Fund Budget For ..- Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -107, Adopting The Small Boat Harbor Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -109, Adopting The Hospital Debt Service Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -110, Adopting The Seward Mountain Haven Long -Term Care Facility Debt Service Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -112, Adopting The Electric Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -114, Adopting The Capital Improvement Plan For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Resolution 2009 -127, Rescinding Erroneous Resolution 2009 -123 And Approving Amendment No. 14 To The Contract With Hoffman, Silver, Gilman & Blasco, P.C. To Extend The Term For Federal Lobbying Representation Through December 31, 2011 For A Total Of $6416.66 Per Month IN 2010 And $7,058.33 Per Month In 2011. (Corrects the previous resolution typo from quarterly to monthly) -- Resolution 2009 -128, Authorizing And Supporting A Small Sign Honoring Long Time Resident Patricia Williams And Family To Be Placed Under The Spruce Tree In Pat Williams Park For An Amount Not To Exceed $1,200. Resolution 2009 -130, Adopting An Alternative Allocation Method For The FY2010 Shared Fisheries Business Tax Program, And Certifying That This Allocation Method Fairly Represents The Distribution Of Significant Effects Of Fisheries Business Activity In The Cook Inlet Fisheries Management Area. Resolution 2009 -131, Authorizing Early Adoption Of Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 54. Establishing New Fund Balance Classifications, To Be Consistent With The 2010/2011 Biennial Budget. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Certificate Of Appreciation Was Given To Mike Gillen, Project Manager For The Long - Term Care Facility. Mayor Dunham presented the "Just a Darn Good Idea" Award that Seward won at the - Alaska Municipal League Conference for the Seward Mountain Haven Long Term Care City of Seward. Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 197 Facility, and thanked Christy Terry, Phillip Oates and Kris Erchinger for their dedicated involvement. Oates also thanked City Clerk Jean Lewis for coming up with the idea. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated since the last Council meeting there had been no city expenditures of $10,000 to $50,000 and no Requests For Proposals (RFPs). Oates notified that Representative Seaton visited Seward November 11 and 12` and attended sessions with the city council, various commissions, and the public as well as a number of Veteran's Day events in town. Also, the Library/Museum design planning sessions were held last week and the Alaska Sealife Center would host a "Marine Gala" on January 17, 2010 at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage. H1N1 vaccine clinics were held at all three schools with a second clinic scheduled for January 6, 2010. Oates attended a Renewable and Natural Resources Conference in Anchorage. Oates also clarified that the party planner for the City Christmas Party was paid 100% by the employees themselves and no city funds were expended for these parties. Chamber Of Commerce Report, Director Laura Cloward discussed how 72% of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce businesses were disappointed with government on all levels. There was a campaign for free enterprise to consider alternatives because of jobs needed and public partnerships were being encouraged. City Financials for September 2009 were discussed. Oates stated overall revenues were lower in September than in the prior year. Finance Director Kristin Erchinger thanked the Kenai Peninsula Borough for their promptness in delivering the new numbers. Mayor Dunham gave a report on the AML and the ACoM Conference held in Anchorage. Council Members Marianna Keil and Jean Bardarson also reported on their trip to AML. PUBLIC HEARING Resolution 2009 -126, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A New Lease With Alaska Logistics, LLC For Lot 2, Block 3, Seward Marine Industrial Subdivision, Plat 97 -27, Seward Recording District, Third Judicial District, State Of Alaska. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2009 -126 City Manager Phillip Oates stated Alaska Logistics, LLC submitted a proposal to lease this property within the Fourth of July area at Seward Marine hidustrial Center. This property would be used to construct a large vessel maintenance and repair facility in support of their western Alaska barge service operation. They would be storing vessels, conducting ship repair, and storage. The company had submitted a plan for water and sanitary disposal and a plan for compliance of environmental hazardous waste laws and stormwater permitting. They would be stacking connex shipping containers within an enclosed facility. _ Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 198 Tim McDonald wanted clarification of the location of the property and wanted to know how the barges would be lifted out. He felt the lease rate was under market value. —� Oates stated the boats would be lifted out of the water by the 250 -ton travelift. Harbormaster Kari Anderson clarified the lease rate was low because the company would only he using about 40% of the land because of soil farming that would continue for another year. After all contaminates are removed, Alaska Logistics would pay the full market value of $13,600 annually for this site. Public hearing was closed. The rules were suspended by unanimous consent to allow another comment about containment by Tim McDonald. Motion Passed Unanimous NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2009 -104, Adopting The Water Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Motion (Keil /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2009 - 104 - Oates reminded council the tariffs with changes had already been passed and approved by the city council at a prior meeting for Water and Wastewater. Council Member Keil wanted clarification on the increased personnel costs. Amendment (Keil /Bardarson) Put the personnel costs for the Project Manager position back into the General Fund Amendment Failed 6 -1 Yes: Keil No: Bardarson, Valdatta, Smith, Shafer, Amberg, Mayor Dunham Main Motion Passed Unanimous Council recessed at 8:33 p.m. Council resumed 8:40 p.m. Resolution 2009 -105, Adopting The Wastewater Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. City of Seward, Alaska November 23, 2009 City Council Minutes Volume 38, Page 199 Motion (Bardarson /Keil) Approve Resolution 2009 -105 Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2009 -108, Adopting The Parking Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Motion (Bardarson /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2009 -108 Oates stated there were no increases in rates to this enterprise fund, only restored the rates that were reduced this past year because of the recession. Amendment (Shafer /Keil) Go back to 2009 rates of $5 including parking passes Finance Director Kris Erchinger clarified that the daily rates were reduced from $10 to $5 because of the recession, but the rates for the parking passes remained the same. If these levels were kept, the city would lose $80,000 revenue in 2010, after some Phase I sealing, patching, striping and the payment of two pay stations. If that rate decrease was continued into 2011, that would put the account in the negative. If passes were cut in half, that would result in a depletion in 2010 of $40,000 with no money for capital replacement and maintenance list. Shafer wanted to reduce the 2010 rates back to 2009 rates of $5 per day and reevaluate this in 2011. The clerk clarified the notion to be: For FY2010 continue the daily parking at the reduced 2009 amount, and keep the parking passes the same. Parks & Recreation Director Karin Sturdy further clarified that this was a daily parking rate of $5 a day and the parking passes would stay the same rate at they were. Amendment Passed 4 -3 Yes: Amberg, Shafer, Bardarson, Keil No: Valdatta, Smith, Dunham Main Motion Passed as Amended 5 -2 Yes: Smith, Amberg, Bardarson, Keil, Shafer No: Valdatta, Dunham Resolution 2009 -111, Adopting The Motor Pool Internal Service Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2010 And 2011. Motion (Keil /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2009 -111 Oates requested the Motor Pool budget be approved. He reiterated that all purchases would still have to come before the council before purchase. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 200 Resolution 2009 -113, Adopting The City General Fund Operating Budget For Calendar Year 2010 ROM And 2011 And Approving The Mill Rate For 2010 Motion (Bardarson / Amberg) Approve Resolution 2009 -113 Motion Passed 6 -1 Yes: Shafer, Bardarson, Valdatta, Smith, Amberg, Dunham No: Keil Resolution 2009 -129, In Support Of Home - Porting The Alaska Region Research Vessel In Seward And Designating The City Of Seward As The Northern Maritime Research Capital Of Alaska And Requesting The State Of Alaska To Endorse This Designation Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2009 -129 Oates described this resolution as a strong signal of support to homeport the ARRV in Seward. This vessel is being built by the National Science Foundation and operated by the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This would bring the focus of arctic and national research to Seward. He recommended approval. Amendment (Bardarson /Smith) At the end of the 12 whereas, add; "and has hosted the National Ocean Sciences Bowl — competition in 2008." Amendment Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous Resolution 2009 -132, Authorizing The City Manager To Select And Purchase Outright, Vehicles And Equipment In An Aggregate Amount Not To Exceed $286,000 In 2010 And $130,000 In 2011, And To Purchase Heavy Equipment With Accessories, Subject To Obtaining Financing, In An Amount Not To Exceed $380,000 In 2010, From The Motor Pool Internal Service Fund. Motion (Bardarson, Smith) Approve Resolution 2009 -132 Oates stated considerable work had been done on the motor pool fleet replacement list within the last two years and many vehicles were taken off the list. A study of the city's motor pool fleet was commissioned to determine if contributions were sufficient to meet the goal of forward funding of the replacement of city fleet and equipment. The motor pool replacement plan was the result which lists all vehicles on the city fleet and prioritized those items when replacement should occur. The items on this resolution were recommended for replacement these years from the Bird Efficiency Study. Oates felt these vehicles were needed now because they were critical equipment and postponing would just compound the problem of backload down the road. He was pleased the city had such a valid and systematic replacement schedule in place and needed the flexibility for purchasing. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 201 Public Works Director W.C. Casey addressed concerns from the council and stated his concerns with emergency responses and safety for his working crew. Much discussion between staff and council ensued. Motion Passed Yes: Bardarson, Shafer, Valdatta, Smith, Dunham No: Keil, Amberg Motion (Bardarson /Amberg) Cancel the December 28, 2009 regular city council meeting. Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) The Providence Financials for September 2009 were discussed. COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil thought the budget proccss had been a thorough one this year and she brought up the question on contracting roads and streets after conducting some research. Of 42 miles of road, Seward's budget indicated the city spent $23,000 per mile on roads. Keil still believed it may be cost effective to contract in SINEW the future for roads and lawn mowing of cemetery and parks. She did not find it was a comfortable position to be spending more money than what was being brought in. Keil also mentioned that she was proud to be at AML with the Mayor and be presented the award for "Just a darn good idea." Bardarson thanked the staff and the public for their work and input into the budget process, and also thanked Christy Terry and Nanci Richey for stepping in during the City Clerk's absence. Valdatta wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and mentioned the free meals that would be offered through the Senior Center and the Legion through the holidays. Smith wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and thanked the staff for the budget process. He knew it was painful, and he was concerned about next year, so hoped some of their figures and forecasts would be close. Shafer also wished everyone a nice Thanksgiving and realized this was a painful budget process because of the uncertainty for next year. Even though she was opposed at first of the mass purchase of vehicles, she knows of all the emergency situations those dozers were used in and did remember paying for the one that was not the city's when it was destroyed. Dunham wished all a Happy Thanksgiving and urged people to remember those less fortunate. He sent his congratulations to the new Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was called from AT &T who stated after a few hiccups, they hoped to have the tower in operation by the end of December. He thanked and appreciated the clerk's office for the new packet format and the individual pictures on the front. He thanked Council Member Keil for her help and comments at the AML conference. His thoughts City ofSeward, Alaska City Council Minutes November 23, 2009 Volume 38, Page 202 went out to Jim Lewis who had a procedure to remove a blood clot in his leg, and City Clerk Jean Lewis, and hoped for a speedy recovery. —� CITIZENS' COMMENTS Tim McDonald thanked the administration for their budget process, but felt 74% of the people now days were unhappy with their state and local government. He said the council's constituency felt alienated and he would always bring the positive answers with the negatives to balance things out. McDonald stated SMIC had shown no revenue for the past 20 years, and was not happy with council entering into another lease. He accused that all negotiations were done in secret and behind closed doors. He continued to speak about the volunteer city council not representing people well, the flawed system, their multiple multi- million dollar mistakes, how all other boards in the city were professional but this one, and then he proposed that a different form of government system was needed. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Valdatta had his own thoughts on government systems but would not argue it here. Keil noted there were some points well taken, but defended the people on this city council as an experienced group that were smart, professional and competent. She assured nothing had been done behind closed doors by this council or for her own benefit, as insinuated. Dunham had listened to this a lot lately, and responded that SMIC had an interesting history. He .—. agreed there had been differences of opinion with the lease and whether to enter into a new lease. Although the SM1C area may had been a hole where a lot of money had went into, the operator of Seward Ships Drydock was not at fault for that, and had put more money back into this community than most businesses excluding Harbor Enterprises. Dunham iterated many more businesses started up from this owner who started with a beat up welding truck in a quonset hut and defended this business and the decisions made. He also wanted it known that looking into a new form of government had been researched before, and this form still seemed to be the best. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m. Jean Lewis, CMC Willard E. Dunham, Mayor o nv.aq . ,' Ci{k Clerk a r a i ' ° Pf w R. 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