HomeMy WebLinkAbout09132010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 442
Lir CALL TO ORDER
The September 13, 2010 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present: Bob Valdatta
Willard E. Dunham presiding and Vanta Shafer
Linda Amberg Tom Smith
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
ABSENT — Marianna Keil, Jean Bardarson
arm
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Blair Rodebaugh foresaw the Civil Air Patrol eventually working with emergency
responders and serving as emergency back -up command centers. They could use a donation to finish
the new hangar building. He stated costs of aviation fuel and airplanes were going up and noted
Seward was the only hard runway with general aviation fuel between here and Valdez. Rodebaugh
stated the Civil Air Patrol would appreciate any city support.
Tim McDonald supported the revenue sharing going to the electric fund that was on the
agenda tonight. He thought the money pulled out of the utility over the years was considered
taxation and he wanted to co -op the utility. He thought this utility should not fund other enterprise
funds. He stated, go co -op and live within our means.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
,,.• The following was pulled from the consent the agenda:
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 443
Resolution 2010 -080, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With
Service Electric, Inc. For A Total Project Not To Exceed $345,300 To Design And
Implement A Security System.
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The August 23, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved.
Ordinance 2010 -002, Repealing And Re- Enacting Seward City Code Chapter 7.10, Harbor
& Port Facilities. (Was introduced and set for public hearing September 27, 2010)
Resolution 2010 -079, Electing To Participate In The AML /JIA Loss Control Incentive
Program For The City Of Seward.
Resolution 2010 -081, Transferring Library Property Rental Income To The Library Museum
Project In The Amount Of $26,079.79.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
A Welcome Firefighters Proclamation was read for the 2010 Fire Conference for the
Alaska State Firefighters Association and the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association to be held ..r�
September 27 through October 2, 2010.
The Parks & Recreation Conference Was Welcomed for September 22 through 25,
2010.
A proclamation was read for Sea Otter Awareness Week.
National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week was recognized with a
proclamation.
A proclamation was read for National Recovery Month.
A proclamation was read for Active Aging Week.
Borough Assembly Report. Assembly Person Sue McClure stated the Assembly
meetings had been dominated by the partial sale of Peninsula Hospital and the decision to possibly
change the make -up of borough government. The 5 -4 vote did not advanced the hospital issue for
another public hearing. She expected this issue to go dormant for awhile. Peninsula Hospital would
be purchasing more land for growth. McClure told of her community meetings on revenue sharing
for the communities of Cooper Landing, Hope and Moose Pass. She said the next borough meeting
would be in Homer. McClure stated the CEO of Pebble Partnership gave a vast presentation that
was interesting and very different from what you saw on TV commercials.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 444
City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated there had been no purchases
hug
approved between $10,000- 50,000 since the last Council Meeting.
Police Chief Tom Clemons spoke to the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers on the alleged
assault in Bear Creek area. An extensive investigation was ensued and the troopers did not believe
the allegations to be factual, but they could not prove this to a sufficient degree without a recantation
from the victim. The Alaska State Troopers were closing the case and did not believe the public was
in any danger from this incident. On the bear situation, the police try not to kill a bear unless an
emergency situation. He explained their criteria and procedures, and the incidents they had been
challenged with this year.
• Harbor. Impounded /abandoned vessels not sold in the recent bid sale would be evaluated
and the intention was to scrap all parts in 2011. Deputy Harbormaster Jim Lewis retired after
23 years of dedicated service and Norm Regis was promoted to that position. Breakwater
rock placement for the East Breakwater extension had begun. Installation of the security (Z)
floats was currently being advertised with the bid opening to occur on September 23, 2010.
The floats should be installed and available for moorage July 2011. Staff accompanied a
certified NACE coatings inspector on September 8th to report on the splash -zone coating
applied to the sheet piling by Seward Ship's Dry Dock. A copy of this report would be
forwarded to City Council as soon as it was available.
• Community Development. Seward Shuttle Ridership numbers were provided in writing
r•• through the end of August, and the City would schedule a "debrief' meeting with interested
parties to discuss ideas to improve the service in 2011. Seward Mountain Haven Flag pole
installation would begin and the low bidder was awarded the flagpole purchase and
installation for $4,775. 00. The pole would accommodate two flags and include an internal
steel halyard and internal winch.
• Public Works. Lowell Creek fence repair and emergency sidewalk repair had been
completed. EECBG Grant bid documents for window and door replacement were finalized
and released to the public for bidding, and the Public Works boiler was installed. The Coast
Guard relocation bid documents for the foundation, water (Phase 1), and storm drain
relocation were finalized and released to the public for bidding, and Z -float water design
project contract would be awarded with work to be completed before the end of October
2010. The SMC Dolphin project was proceeding and all required permits had been given to
ADOT for 3 Avenue sewer line repair.
Utilities Manager John Foutz received bids from transmission line repairs and levee re-
route. Both bids came in under what was originally projected by the engineer.
Mayoral Report. Mayor Willard E. Dunham stated the recruiting process for the National
Guard was going to be changed. They would work with the city and schools to bring another unit
back to Seward if ten members could be recruited. The General might be able to bring in another
armory and staff it. He had attended the World Trade Annual Awards dinner, and visited the Denali
Commission with a possible energy grant idea of heating Seward's downtown streets and sidewalks
similar to the Alaska Sealife Center's heat pump project, which the Denali Commission funded a
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 445
portion of. Dunham spoke of Fire Island and utility legislation for the future. He predicted power
um" would be a major discussion topic soon. Dunham would speak before the Resource Development
Council for Alaska (RDC) on the city's 9th circuit appeal.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
An ALPAR and Automated Parking Pay Stations Report was given by Karin Sturdy.
A Senior Citizen Center Program and Renovation update was given by Dana
Paperman.
PUBLIC HEARING
Resolution 2010 -078, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Amendment To The
Lease Agreement 75 -055 With The United States Of America For Lot 2, Block 6, Marina
Subdivision, Seward Small Boat Harbor, For The Purpose Of Extending The Term Of The
Lease To September 30, 2011.
Oates stated the U.S. Coast Guard leased the shore support building and infrastructure. They
requested a one -year extension to move the relocation of the building to the security float. This lease
crossed a lot line on the Alaska Railroad property. This extended the city owned land to 2011.
Motion h f r
(S a e /Smith) Approve Resolution 2010 -078
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the
public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was
closed.
Motion Passed Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2010 -080, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Service
Electric, Inc. For A Total Project Not To Exceed $345,300 To Design And Implement A
Security System.
Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2010 -080
Oates stated this would be for critical infrastructure only and would abide by the policy. It
was the infrastructure established in the document passed, and by FEMA. He said it would be
brought back to the council for approval.
Shafer wanted government to notify people they were being video taped unless it was sought
erj for commission of crimes.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 446
Resolution 2010 -083, Establishing A Repayment Schedule For The
Electric Enterprise Fund $1,889,765 In Contributions Made Since 1996 For Hospital And
SMIC Shortfalls, And Appropriating 2011 Revenue Sharing Funds In The Amount Of
$226,846 Toward Repayment.
Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2010 -083
Oates wanted to put money back into the fund over time. Payments were made to the Seward
General Hospital and SMIC when there were insufficient funds in the general fund. This was done
so taxes didn't have to be increased. Electric fund reserves covered the costs during better times, but
since, the utility had absorbed rate hikes by Chugach and higher heating costs. Failure to increase
rates and cover these added costs, resulted in depletion of the fund over time. The city had
borrowed $1,889,765 over the years. This resolution would enable the fund to re -coop funds using
2011 revenue sharing funds of $226,846 this year.
Amendment (Shafer /Smith) Delete words from the heading "the general
fund to repay" and remove in Section 1,
"from the general fund ".
Amendment Passed Unanimous
In response to Smith, Oates stated the utility was not keeping up with replacing capital items,
but were keeping up with deferred maintenance which was being addressed every day.
Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
A town meeting on the Economic Development Study would be scheduled for either Thursday,
November 4, 2010 at 7 pm or Tuesday, November 9, 2010 with the place to be announced later.
On fish enhancement, Cook Inlet Aquaculture, the Regional Planning Board and Jeff Milton
would be invited to speak in Seward. The Alaska Sustainable Salmon Grant program would
be supported. A work session would be scheduled later in the spring.
Rules were suspended to allow Howard Ferren to speak to the Alaska Sustainable Salmon
fund grant program, who stated this would give an opportunity to create a report for future
activities to get money for. This grant would bring more resources and should be scheduled for May
2011.
Rules were suspended to allow Tim McDonald to speak, who stated species not enhanced were
doing well, but better management of the fisheries was needed. He thought local knowledge should
be sought.
A work session was scheduled on the memorandum of understanding for the Library /Museum
for Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 447
The city would consider adding the Seward Senior Citizens Center and the Civil Air Patrol to
the legislative priority list for 2011.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
Thank you letter from the Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel.
Thank you letter from the AML /JIA.
COUNCILS' COMMENTS
Shafer thought the armory National Guard idea was a good one and wanted to have a
community discussion on alternative energy. Infrastructure would cost the City of Seward and raise
utility rates and it was time for a conversation in the near future. Shafer got a lot of compliments on
how neat and clean the town was and how friendly the community was this summer. She thanked
the community for their patience.
Valdatta said there were pre- engineered buildings to put up in the Public Works yard. He
thought the pole yard and sand shed could be constructed with pre -fab buildings.
Dunham noted the passing of Jerry Dixon. Jerry had written thousands of dollars of grants
for schools and for the Alaska Sealife Center establishment. He said the "Wada" celebration and
three nation hook -up was a success. Dunham noted Sapporo, Japan had heated sidewalks by
saltwater, and that the Arts Council would be at the Railroad terminal September 24 -26, 2010.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Tim McDonald spoke on the electric utility, alternative energy and fish enhancement. He
thought council was on the wrong track. He did not think limiting users for their windmill was
correct. He thought other options for alternative energy should be pursued. He thought people
should be able to supplement power for their own homes. The citizens wanted cheaper power and no
more increases. This resulted in taxation without representation once money was taken out of the
electric fund. McDonald thought the utility should be a co -op. On fish enhancement, better
management by the state was needed.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Valdatta commented that solar panels were kept going by gamma rays, not necessarily direct
sunlight, which was hidden energy.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 448
L ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 p.m. ., 24,1
Jan Lewis, CMC % Willard E. Dunham
it Clerk C� �- Mayor
(City Seal)
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