HomeMy WebLinkAbout12072009 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
December 07, 2009 Volume 38, Page 203
CALL TO ORDER
The December 07, 2009 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
6:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham.
OPENING CEREMONY
City Manager Phillip Oates led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Willard E. Dunham, presiding and Marianna Keil
Bob Valdatta Tom Smith
Vanta Shafer Jean Bardarson
Linda Amberg
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Johanna Dollerhide, Assistant City Clerk
ABSENT — None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Ron Long thanked council for their advocacy for this disaster. Residents of Lowell Point
dodged a bullet this time, but who knows about the next time. Also, he felt the borough declaring a
disaster today definitely happened much quicker due to the city's promptness. He hoped they could
work together to find a solution to the ownership and maintenance of Lowell Point Road.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Bardarson /Smith) Approval of Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2009 -140, Declaring A State Of Disaster Due To Storm Surge Damage In The City
Of Seward And Requesting Assistance.
,,,,, Motion (Bardarson /Keil) Approve Resolution 2009 -140
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
December 07, 2009 Volume 38, Page 204
City Manager Oates stated the disaster that occurred from the December 1, 2009 storm surge.
Damage had been done to the bike path, a seawall at the Alaska SeaLife Center and Lowell Point
Road. He was within his jurisdiction to declare a disaster and council was to consent if the disaster
was to occur more than seven days. The Borough Mayor acted hastily in declaring a disaster on
behalf of the City of Seward, and to also request state assistance. He recognized the value of council
ratification of the disaster, as he felt it would help in further gaining support and assistance from
various entities.
Oates noted that before council was a laydown version of the resolution. He noted the minor
changes he made earlier today that he hoped council would consider. Oates was trying to find ways
to encourage the borough and the state to help maintain and take responsibility of this road and had
been consulting with the city attorney on what jurisdiction he had to close this road if they deem it
unsafe. He noted the retaining wall at the Alaska SeaLife Center was also damaged from the storm.
Oates noted the city had established an accounting code for repair purposes. He had met with
safety engineers for evaluations and cost estimates.
Fire Chief David Squires and Deputy Fire Chief Eddie Athey showed footage and
damage of the storm to the council.
Public Works Employee Mike Moore gave a brief update of Public Work's efforts since the
storm. He noted Metco had put up a few rocks along the road to help define a barrier. With the
recommendations from the engineers, they established a more defined barrier and had Metco re-
establish the barrier. Measures were taken to ensure people would not drive on the damaged, broken
parts. They were still working on it as of today, Moore stated. They had a fairly good line marked
up as to where the road was. The traffic lanes were defined, and luckily the most eroded, more
damaged parts of the road were the wider parts.
In response to Shafer, Oates thought the engineers should have something for him this week,
but probably not a complete report. If the road was not stable, then Oates stated they would close it
immediately.
Finance Director Kris Erchinger noted they issued a purchase order to Metco and were
prepared to make initial expenditures towards repair and would continue until they couldn't feasibly
expend more until looking into other options.
Council recessed at 6:43 p.m.
Council resumed at 6:47 p.m.
Motion to Amend (Shafer /Bardarson) Amend Resolution 2009 -140, by adding a
"WHEREAS, the city's sole sewer line from
the City of Seward to the Lowell Point
Sewage Lagoon is located along the center
line of the Lowell Point Road; and
WHEREAS, the loss of the sewage line
under the Lowell Point Road would
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
December 07, 2009 Volume 38, Page 205
constitute a major threat to public safety
and the environment; and WHEREAS, the
Lowell Point Road provides the utility
corridor for all electrical services to Lowell
Point; and WHEREAS, the Lowell Point
Road provides the only access to state and
federal parks at Lowell Point; and"
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed As Laid Down Unanimous
And Amended
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Valdatta stated they had lost four or five feet at the Coast Guard, he thought it was part
owned by the borough, and part by the city.
Smith clarified the wind came from the South West.
Keil had been approached to light a Christmas tree in Hoben Park area.
Irom Bardarson wanted to know how the former tree used to get electricity.
Shafer noted a lot of people weren't happy with the tree in Kawabe Park. People wanted a
bigger tree.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Tim McDonald recommended the city get a discount on cement.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
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