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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06142010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 296 CALL TO ORDER itnig The June 14, 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 Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil Linda Amberg Bob Valdatta Vanta Shafer Tom Smith comprising a quorum of the Council; and Kris Erchinger, Acting City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Johanna Dollerhide, Deputy City Clerk ABSENT — Mayor Willard E. Dunham CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Catherine Richardson was a candidate for the Historic Preservation Commission tonight and hoped for their support on the commission. Jennifer Headtke and Dot Bardarson briefly spoke on the recent murals both placed in the community in the last week. They were happy to be a part of the mural exchange with Seward's Sister City Exchange Program and supported the resolution on the agenda before the council tonight. They would be giving a report later in the agenda. Jack Walganski, local cab owner, had questions about the shuttle busses for cruise ship passengers. He thought the busses were doing more than was supposed to and felt they were taking the whole volume of cab income. Walganski wished cabs would have been part of the process and were more than willing to help with the cruise ship transportation. By unanimous consent, council suspended the rules to allow for comment by the Acting City Manager Kris Erchinger and Community Development Director Christy Terry to respond. Erchinger stated this was in response to cruise ship grant monies dedicated from the state cruise ship tax. Terry echoed these comments, elaborating that the RFP for this service occurred, but also agreed with Walganski's suggestion of a voucher plan for the cabs. She also addressed the issue of the bus running on non cruise ship days and that was because they could keep cruise ship goers in City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 297 town, hopefully. Terry did not know if the capacity of the taxis in town would satisfy the need. Overall the response was good; cruise ship companies had reported to the city that they were air addressing the biggest, most major need, which was transportation. Terry also noted the grant was for two years, but only funded through this year and they certainly could evaluate for the next year. Shafer confirmed Terry's comments that this was a need identified by the cruise ship industry. Amberg hoped administration could look at amending the contract for the cab companies. Smith liked the voucher system idea. Michael Stewart, driver for PJ's taxi, stated they pull into the cruise ship terminal and there would be no activity of cruise ship goers for cabs — all look for the bus. He felt it should have been looked at in the beginning. It was a huge impact on the taxis in town. They were there year round and felt they should be considered. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda The following was placed on the regular agenda: Appointed candidates Ryan Reynolds, Tim Sczawinski and Catherine Richardson to fill three vacancies on the Historic Preservation Commission with terms to expire May 2011 and May 2013. Motion Passed Unanimous The following was added to the agenda: Under other new business items, scheduling a work session for T Line emergency repair was added. The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The May 24, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Resolution 2010 -056, Authorizing A One Year Contract For $449,472.00 With The State Of Alaska, Department Of Corrections, To Provide For Operating The Seward Community Jail And Housing Prisoners Charged And /Or Sentenced Under Alaska Statutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A memoriam was read for Donald McCloud. omi Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated the Assembly passed the budget and amended the mayor's budget by cutting approximately $2 million dollars. The teacher jobs that were City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 298 put on hold were reinstated, thankfully. The mill rate would stay the same. Locally, the contract for replacing the elementary school floors was awarded. The seats in the Seward High School auditorium would be replaced. The Assembly had to authorize more funds for the smart boards in the school system as a result of federal grant money, but needed installation funds. McClure thanked council for the navigability work session last week. She invited public to come to the Seward Historical Society Annual Cemetery Walk on June 21, 2010. City Manager's Report, Acting City Manager Kris Erchinger stated the city manager would return from his summer travels on June 27, 2010. The Harbor purchased a transformer for Z- float at a cost of $11,700.00 using Denali Commission funds. In addition, $10,000 was spent on the destruction of unsold derelict vessels at SMIC, and an additional $13,691.47 was spent on the transport and processing of the contaminated soil from the Nash Road spill site. The public works department had engaged the services of M.L. Foster to conduct an assessment of the City's wastewater system (to evaluate the condition and performance of the system) in the amount of $20,000. The electric department was spending $22,641 to purchase 14 treated wood power poles. Council was also given a lay down of a few more items that were not included in this report. On Friday, June 11, 2010, the city received a copy of a stop work order by the Department of Labor that was served on Godwin Glacier Tours, LLC. Godwin Glacier Tours was given a short term lease on property at SMIC from the city for a 120 day period which expired November 28, 2009. Godwin Glacier Tours had been told to vacate the property and remove all their equipment to no avail. Connexes, fuel tanks, etc. were still on the site as of today, accruing daily yard storage fees. r.. When the owner was informed he again needed to remove the equipment and pay the city the fees, he now stated the city owed him for the donated helicopter rescues of 2009, which tallied over $8,000. A final decision had yet to be made on whether the City should pay for the rescues. At issue was the fact that the owner donated those rescues and announced such at a City Council meeting, but then withdrew the donation after the City failed to approve his requested lease. In any case, the City would at least offset any payment to the company; against charges the company owes the City for storage fees. In reference to the City filing with the courts of eminent domain for the final property acquisition for the North Forest Acres Levee Road, Attorney Bill Cummings was served on May 29, 2010. An answer from him on the complaint, made on behalf of all owners, was due on or before June 18, 2010. Governor Parnell did not veto any of Seward's projects in the State's budget process. The list of approved projects included the following: $1 million for Alaska Sealife Center Biofouling Remediation, $150,000 for Alutiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery Repairs and Upgrades, $1.5 million for Jesse Lee Home Restoration, $1.5 million for Mooring Dolphins and Dock Improvements at SMC, $300,000 for Coast Guard Building Relocation, $2 million for Security Float in the Small Boat Harbor, and $4.7 million for the Seward Community Library. In total with other awards to the community, Seward received approximately $49.67M for projects that impacted Seward. West construction was setting up operations to begin blasting quarry rock for the harbor breakwater extension. They had set up an office trailer in the south uplands parking lot. They started blasting last week and will continue until August. Actual work to extend the breakwater was City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 299 scheduled to begin after the Salmon Derby. A chain link fence was installed around the Q -float gut barge in an attempt to keep our friendly sea lions out as a test project. The Harbor was currently in awl the process of upgrading the northeast fish cleaning station. The finance department was working with the City's refuse contractor to bring forward a new contract for the City Council's review and approval. If approved by the Council, administration intended to request that Council put this before the voters at the upcoming election in October, as required by the Seward City Code and Charter, which require franchise agreements to be voter - approved. The draft RFP for construction of the North Forest Acres Levee/Road was being finalized. The next task would be to begin preparation to bid the banking services contract for the City. Public Works was busy with Phase 1 of the Water Tank Project was ahead of schedule and the contractor should be completed by end of June. The tie in would occur early in the week. There was ongoing hydrant repair, replacement and valve maintenance. Many locates had been done at the request of summer contractors. In the street department, painting was almost complete. The new CAT (tractor D6) was in shop and ready for use. Storm surge work on the beachfront had been completed and staff was working with P &R Department to complete the bike path paving in June. They had also been preparing for Dept. of Homeland Security inspection on June 24 The Electric department was beginning the process of relocating the transmission line in conjunction with the North Forest Acres Levee/Road project. Minimizing the amount of time spent with this line down was critical because the City would be on generation as long as the transmission line was down. The Electric line crew completed installing the new electric service to the AT &T cell phone tower on June 10, 2010. Wood poles were ordered to use on the North Forest Acres Levee project and to repair the damaged poles on the transmission line. City Clerk's Report, City Clerk Jean Lewis stated in May she attended the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in Reno, NV which helped with clerk certifications and recertification. She attended classes on leadership, ethics, customer service, motivation, records management and more. Lewis noted her focus was on records management as it was a big problem currently in their office. A resolution would come forward to the council regarding this. She sent an email around today stating Seward had been announced as a runner up for the Civic Plus website makeover contest. Lewis thanked council and citizens to allow her to go to training in these economic times and it was much needed. Both she and Deputy Clerk Johanna Dollerhide were both on committees for the Alaska Association of Municipal Clerks and both were chairs of committees. Lastly, Lewis noted the trophies displayed tonight were from Obihiro, Japan for the Mount Marathon Race and the Silver Salmon Derby. Mayoral Report, Vice Mayor Bardarson referred council to the written report in the packet as provided before the Mayor. She briefly listed the many events the mayor had attended for the month of May. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 300 A report was given on the International Friendship mural project by Dot Bardarson and Jennifer Headtke. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2010 -053, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Settlement Agreement With Chugach Electric Association. Motion (Keil/Amberg) Approve Resolution 2010 -053 Erchinger noted during budget approval, rates increased by five percent as well as an interim rate increase for Chugach's customers. The city had been fortunate to team up with fellow utilities against Chugach with their rate increases. Seward experienced a rate increase as a part of this interim rate. The settlement agreement would be a slight decrease in what Seward was currently paying. To individual customers, it wouldn't be a rate change, necessarily, but this was being assessed. Erchinger felt it was time to have a full blown rate study, but not with this resolution tonight. In response to Shafer, Erchinger estimated a rate study would probably cost about $80,000. In response to Shafer, Electric Utility Manager John Foutz stated expanding services would probably help and hurt the utilities. There would be more cost associated with the imp maintenance, but the revenues would certainly out weigh the costs. Erchinger stated this was just the cost of them doing business, and had nothing to do with fuel charges. The bottom line was there should be no negative impact to the customers with this rate settlement. In response to Valdatta, Erchinger said the fuel costs were what was really hurting users. Shafer echoed this was not the city's fuel charge; it was Chugach' fuel charge. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) considered the price of fuel in their reviews. Foutz stated the RCA at one point did review Chugach' rates presented for fuel. Because there was such a fluctuation in costs, they went to the RCA and requested to be able to break out the energy charge from the fuel charge. RCA noted the fuel charge was to be just for the cost of fuel. Shafer wanted to know what Chugach was doing about gas supply being limited in Southcentral Alaska. Foutz said they were putting in new generation, but it would be natural gas. Basically they were at a standstill. GRETC addressed more of the long term issues rather than the short term. The task force he and the mayor were on was attempting to address the short term issues - one was gas storage — where a company would come in and pump natural gas into the ground as a reserve tank. He thought that was the best solution at the moment, hydro electric was another possibility but wouldn't be ready for many years. The gas pipeline was another long term solution. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -054, Approve The Seward Area Public Transit Human Services Community Coordination Plan For Submission To The Alaska Department Of Transportation And Public City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 301 Facilities. Motion (Keil/Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -054 Erchinger stated the purpose of this resolution was to be eligible for grant funds with the ultimate goal to reduce redundant services in the community. This was a six month process with a goal of getting entities together to provide transportation. She pointed out no one was committing to specific funding in this resolution. Terry added some of the groups participating were the Seward Senior Center, Providence, Seaview Community Services, the Independent Living Center, as well as the Mayor and city staff. Several public meetings were also held. These were strictly proposals and a draft to submit to the state. Smith wanted to know if they would hold us to the fire on these recommendations. Terry did not know if they could ask for something not in this recommendation. By unanimous consent, council suspended the rules to allow Jennifer Beckmann with Central Area Rural Transit System, Inc. (CARTS) to speak. Beckmann called the report conceptual and that CARTS needed something to turn into the state to apply for grant funds. CARTS had tried to spend funds in the past and it was difficult because it required a match. The requirement for this coordinated plan involved a certain group of funds for transportation. Approving this would allow funds to start July 1 to expand the already in place voucher program that the Independent Living Center had with the taxi companies. The report was a draft; and Beckmann hoped to meet again in the fall. It was not set in stone nor did it carry any fiscal note. She stated the plan would like to utilize vehicles in the community rather than put new vehicles on the road. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2010 -055, Supporting The Seward Mural Society's Proposal To Oversee Japanese Artists Paint An International Friendship Mural In Obihiro Japan In 2010 And Inviting Artists To Paint A Similar Mural In Seward In 2013 As City Birthday Gifts In Honor Of The Withstanding Sister City Relationship. Motion ( Keil/Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -055 Erchinger spoke in support of this concept. This agenda statement noted the individuals from the community who would travel, but she thought the city would do what they could to support the mural society. Bardarson didn't think they could commit funds. Motion to Amend (Shafer /Keil) Amend Resolution 2010 -055, by striking "a couple Seward artists" and adding "a small group of Seward artists" in the 4th Whereas, and replacing "resurrect" with "erect" in the 5 Whereas. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 302 Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Motion to Amend (Shafer /Keil) Amend Resolution 2010 -055, by striking "reciprocate" and adding "participate in a mutual exchange" in Section 2. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS Appoint three applicants to the Historic Preservation Commission. Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Appoint Ryan Reynolds, Catherine Richardson, and Tim Sczawinski to the commission with two terms expiring May 2013 and one term expiring May 2011. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Council scheduled a work session on emergency repairs to the T -line for June 21, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) CITIZENS' COMMENTS — None COUNCILS' COMMENTS Shafer said it was her bookstore's second year anniversary today and thanked the citizen's for their support. Smith said Seward did well on the governor's budget, and the city manager and mayor spent a lot of time on this. Valdatta complimented all involved with the combat fishing tournament. Amberg echoed Valdatta's comments and noted disappointment on the lack of coverage in the media on this combat fishing event. She hoped next year there would be more involvement. Bardarson thanked all volunteers in Seward. ,,,,• COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None ADJOURNMENT City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes June 14, 2010 Volume 38, Page 303 i taiii The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m. avrt.) odUiCea l an Lewis, CM ean Bardarson ,•••'� ♦os Vice Mayor ity Clerk i ® , 3 ,.....210.. • 1 (City Seal) �-"' `' c e i j 0 .. t p f1,—, ,� evii wail