HomeMy WebLinkAbout03082010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 250
CALL TO ORDER
The March 08, 2010 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Vice -Mayor Jean Bardarson.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Lieutenant Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Jean Bardarson Presiding and Linda Amberg
Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta
Marianna Keil
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
ABSENT — Mayor Willard Dunham, Tom Smith
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Keith Campbell spoke in support of Resolution 2010 -022. This change order would allow
for management of the next phase of the Library/Museum project and an RFP to screen general
contractors to help identify cost saving items. Campbell wanted this general contractor on board as
soon as possible. He noted the funds were coming from the Library/Museum Building Committee
and passed through the city. He urged council to extend their contract.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
The following was pulled and postponed from the agenda due to weather:
• Jesse Lee Home Stabilization Report was given by John Conway, Project Management
Engineer for the Friends of Jesse Lee Home.
• City Attorney Report
• Go into executive session to conduct the City Attorney's Evaluation.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 251
The February 22, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved.
Resolution 2010 -021, Authorizing The City Manager To Submit A Grant Application To The
State Of Alaska Historic Preservation Office To Construct An Iditarod Trail Centennial
Monument At Trailhead Park Requesting $36,380, Including $21,858 Federal Share And
$14,552 Applicant Share In The Form Of Cash Donations And In -Kind Volunteer Labor.
Resolution 2010 -022, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Change Order With Rise
Alaska, LLC (Rise) For Professional Project Management Services For CM /GC RFP
Development And Solicitation Process Management For The New Co- Located Library
Museum Facility, Accepting Granted Funds And Appropriating Twenty -Six Thousand One
Hundred Dollars ($26,100).
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards - None
Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated she had two meetings to report on. The
February 26, 2010 meeting appropriated the cruise ship head tax money unanimously for Seward,
and Ordinance 2009 -052, which requested a Mayor appointment instead of Board appointment for
service area boards, was unanimously defeated, with every commission and board opposing it.
mai McClure also stated the borough conveyed ten acres for $2 for the Soldotna cemetery project to be
built and maintained by the city. At the meeting on March 2, 2010, the borough extended the sunset
date on Ordinance 2009 -09 which dealt with the for the Seward/Bear Creek flood area. The
Floodplain Task Force would meet again to hear reports and updates on the Ordinance 2009 -09
results, and whether to dissolve the task force and to extend the May 4, 2010 sunset date. She said
two culverts were upgraded in the Salmon Creek area and the borough approved purchasing three
scrapped railroad cars from the Alaska Railroad to use as bridges across three creeks in the Grey
Cliff /Moose Point area. McClure remarked there would be a public hearing on an ordinance to
amend the comprehensive plan to include Cooper Landing's Walkable Communities Project.
Ordinance 2010 -010 would enact a code of ethics for the borough assembly and Ordinance 2010 -07
which would amend borough code keeping members from being on the assembly and a city council
seat, both should draw input.
City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated the Bear Creek Fire
Department requested money from the Borough out of the cruise ship head tax for equipment needs.
He said both the City of Seward and the Borough felt the tax was to go proportionately to the
communities where cruise ship's docked. Oates stated the Bear Creek Fire Department could make a
request to the borough for a state appropriation.
He also noted two items purchased under his spending authority. A contract in the amount of
$42,872.46 was approved with ProComm Alaska, LLC for the final equipment required by the Police
Department to complete the installation of the VOIP/PBX phone system which must be integrated
into the system. Funds used for equipment purchase were from the contingency built into the VOIP
project. Oates also intended to approve a 3 -reel wire trailer for $46,300. This piece of electrical
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 252
equipment was used to load wire cables into conduits 3 at a time, shortening work time, improving
personnel efficiency and reducing friction on the wires. This was a standard piece of equipment for
most utilities and the electric department had several jobs and/or projects scheduled this construction
season requiring this equipment including: Lowell Point Road, AT &T, and the Railroad Terminal.
Oates had distributed RFP selection criteria on March 3, 2010, which would solicit
transportation services in and around Seward to cruise ship passengers and other visitors during the
summer tourism season from May 15, 2010 through September 16, 2010. The city would be
comparing proposals using the following criteria: age, condition, quality of coaches 20 %; customer
service 20 %; safety record 20 %; seating capacity and ADA accessibilityl 0%; and Cost 30 %. He
stated there was no local preference with RFP's, just with bids.
➢ Haiti earthquake relief. The fundraising effort with employees and council members raised
$595.00 with a matching dollar for dollar donation from the City for a grand total of
$1,190.00.
➢ Alaska State Firefighters Conference. The city would donate $5,000 from the city manager's
contingency fund for their state conference that would be held in Seward September 2010.
➢ Public Works. This department had been busy keeping roads passable during the recent
snow storms, had started a records management project, working on spring projects and a
Water and Wastewater Master Project List, continued scoping work for the Federal
Transportation Earmark funding, and was ready to issue Notice to Proceed to Prosser Dagg
for Phase I of the North Seward Water Storage Tank and Pumping Facility.
➢ Community Development. The National Flood Insurance Program congratulated the city for
its two step improvement which would give city residents a 15% discount on their flood
insurance policies rather than the 5% previously received. FEMA stated the City of Seward
would have the proposed updated National Flood Insurance Program Maps distributed on
March 15, 2010.
➢ Jujiro Wada Memorial Association. On Saturday, March 6, 2010 a reception was held at the
Hotel Seward for the Jujiro Wada Memorial Association delegation visiting Alaska from
Japan. In conjunction with others, this group hoped to bring marathon runners to Alaska to
participate in long distance races in honor of adventurer and hero Jujiro Wada. Born in
Japan in 1875, Mr. Wada come to Alaska in 1892 and was a major influence on historical
events across the State of Alaska. In 1909, sponsored by the Seward Commercial Club, Mr.
Jujiro Wada was one of the individuals that linked the dog sled trails into the current Iditarod
Trail, luring gold seekers to Seward rather than Valdez.
In response to questions, Oates said baggage and transportation for cruise ship passengers had
been a long problem. This RFP provided the opportunity to have baggage taken between the two
venues with the objective being a better experience for the passengers. He reminded council the
passengers were essentially paying for this with the head tax money. Oates reported the AT &T
tower had an issue getting electricity to it and would be looked into as soon as the ground thawed.
Mayoral Report. Vice -Mayor Jean Bardarson noted Mayor Dunham was called to Juneau
for a GRETC meeting. The state attorney general had been visited and he had more information to
report on what ARR and Aurora needed for their lawsuit.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 253
NEW BUSINESS
esti
Resolution 2010 -023, Proclaiming The City Of Seward As The Wellness Capital Of Alaska
And Authorizing The City Manager To Seek State And Federal Recognition As The Wellness
Capital Of Alaska And Appropriate Funds For A Designated Wellness Fund Under The
Seward Community Foundation And Seek Partners From National Service Programs
(AmeriCorps And Vista) To Develop, Enhance And Implement Wellness Initiatives Within
The City Of Seward.
Motion (Keil/Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -023
Bardarson disclosed she had been approached to be on this committee as a citizen, but was not
on it yet.
Council declared no conflict existed.
Oates summarized the City of Seward wanted to foster wellness for its citizens. This would
set an example of a progressive attitude. A community -wide wellness- for -all group identified five
categories to target wellness for the community. Utilizing grant funding, model projects would be
implemented to create a neighborhood wellness model. This designation would work towards state
and federal recognition to expand on available grant opportunities. He said Americorp and VISTA
would create a wellness model to capitalize on the federal expertise. A fund would be set up with
the Seward Community Foundation. An initial $5,000 investment would be needed to establish a
venue to encourage community philanthropic investments towards wellness programs. Oates
explained more initiatives should come out of this, with one being individuals selected for a test to
receive a year of primary care and coaching opportunities. This could be applied for by citizens to
improve wellness. Oates reported the city had asked for a federal earmark to expand the primary
care clinic and hospital based on this program. He felt a council work session should be scheduled
for later.
Motion Passed Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Discussion on priorities for road and sidewalk earmarks.
(A laydown of possible projects was presented).
Oates stated the city was working with Department of Transportation (DOT) on approving two
federal earmarks to use. With DOT timeframes and workloads, roads could not be worked on until
2011. Oates thought of taking part of the earmarks this summer and using them for sidewalk
improvements. A lot of design work had to be done and roads could come next year. Oates would
bring a PowerPoint presentation to the council at the next meeting.
Valdatta wanted water running in pipes under the sidewalks. He felt if approached, many business
owners would desire heated sidewalks.
Public Works Director W. C. Casey stated there were liability issues and questions about who was
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 254
responsible for repairs, etc. Casey would do more research on it. He did not think this project could
realistically get done until the fall at the earliest. He said the electric vaults under the sidewalks
needed to be leveled and replaced. He felt while tearing up the sidewalks, the curb and gutter may
come up also. He noted he had more work to do on sidewalk scoping.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
Mayor letter to Governor Parnell re: assistance with coal facility lawsuit.
Mayor letter to Seward Team congratulating on National Sciences Bowl.
Two City Manager letters written to Rep. Seaton and Sen. Stevens on cruise ship dredging and
passenger transportation.
Utility write -offs.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Shafer said people were expressing their happiness with the Community Development
Department and she complimented the staff on a good job.
Amberg thanked the city crews for their work on the city roads and thought they were doing
a great job with the amount of snowfall. She noted it took a lot of time and volunteers to bring a
conference to town and mentioned the raffle on the 4 of July to win a new Harley Davidson bike.
Keil wanted a resolution on April being sexual assault awareness month and a resolution of
support on Governor Parnell's campaign against domestic violence.
Bardarson noted Harley Davidson owners were putting on a rally June 10 -12, 2010. She
also thanked the city crews for their work on the roads. She also heard wonderful things about the
Community Development Department.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (Keil/Amberg) Go Into Executive Session To Provide
Direction To The City Attorney Relating
To Exercising Eminent Domain Authority
To Take Private Property For Use Deemed
Necessary For The Japp Creek, North
Forest Acres Levee/Road Project.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March 08, 2010 Volume 38, Page 255
Went Into Executive Session At 8:10 p.m.
Council Recessed for 5 minutes.
Present by telephone were:
Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney
Kris Erchinger, Finance Director
Vivian Dietz - Clark, Real Estate Services Manager for HDR Alaska, Inc.
Came Out Of Executive Session At 9:12 p.m.
Motion (Keil/Shafer) Gave Direction To The City Attorney To
Bring A Resolution To The Next Council
Meeting To Approve Eminent Domain For
Taking The Public Use Easement On Tract B
Of Dieckgraeff /Gillespie Replat, Plus
Damages On The Remnants Of The Property
To The North Of The Public Use Agreement.
Motion Passed Unanimous
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 p.m.
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