HomeMy WebLinkAbout11082010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska
November 8 2010 City Council Minutes
Volume 38, Page 481
F
CALL TO ORDER
The November 8, 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:
Willard E. Dunham presiding and Marianna Keil
Tom Smith Jean Bardarson
Vanta Shafer Ristine Casagranda
Bob Valdatta
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
ABSENT — None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Keith Campbell and Jed Wilde gave a certificate of appreciation to the city council
thanking them for all the times council had resolutions before them on the Library/Museum Project.
Jed Wilde was excited because the community would receive a new Library/Museum in
2012 which was the same year he would graduate from high school. This library/museum
represented the future. It was an honor to present an award to each council member and the city
manager and Christy Terry.
Keith Campbell also would honor Patty Linville for her commitment and effort towards the
project. He noted new federal money because of the health care reform bill. Campbell thought the
Community Health Clinic was an avenue to seamlessly transition to the health clinic. He thought it
was the right thing to do for the community. Communities were floundering on how to support rural
community health care viability. Campbell's perspective was to have this flow of dollars to assure
the viability of the health care system for Seward. This concept also allowed a medical student to
serve a four year stint and have most of their medical debt forgiven.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
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City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
November 8 2010 Volume 38, Page 482
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
The City Council unanimously added work session scheduling for an Economic Development
Town Hall Meeting, an Ad -Hoc Land Committee work session and a Library /Museum work
session.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The October 11, And October 25, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved
along with the November 1, 2010 special meeting minutes.
Resolution 2010 -105, Authorizing A Contract Through December 31, 2011, With Alaska
Newspapers, Inc. For Display Advertising In The Seward Phoenix Log At The Same Reduced
Rate Of $335.50 Per Week Along With Other City Department Advertising Rates Staying At
$11.00 Per Column Inch.
Resolution 2010 -107, Authorizing The City Manager To Accept State Of Alaska Certified
Local Government Grant #10532 A Federal Grant To Provide Public Access To The Seward
Cemetery Information Requesting $8881, Including $5329 Federal Share And $3552 Applicant
Share In The Form Of In -Kind Volunteer Labor.
Resolution 2010 -108, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,837.30 From The Alaska
Highway Safety Office For 2010 October - December ASTEP Driving Under The Influence
(DUI) Enforcement Campaign And Appropriating Funds.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
A Welcome Certificate Was Read For The Lions Club International District 49A Mid -
Winter Conference To Be Held November 11 -13, 2010.
Borough Assembly Report. Sue McClure wanted the public to know that if sometimes they
felt items were passed without much discussion, the Assembly met in committee meetings
beforehand during the day, which were publicly noticed. The Assembly had passed an ordinance
approving a land sale in Hope. She thought this subdivided area had some nice parcels to it and told
the procedure for submitting a bid. A resolution passed for the Borough to become a "recovery
zone" which would allow for more money qualification. McClure said school project money would
be used to put security cameras at the Soldotna High School area. The schools that had these
cameras saw a significant reduction of crime. The three rail cars purchased as bridges arrived and a
grant was applied for to put these bridges in. She said Wednesday there would be a joint Assembly,
Administration and School Board meeting to discuss budgeting issues. The Assembly was trying to
come up with a better way to fund schools.
City of Seward, Alaska
November 8 2010 City Council Minutes
Volume 38, Page 483
City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated breakwater rock placement for
the East Breakwater extension would continue into November. Harris Sand & Gravel had mobilized
in the NE Harbor to begin work on installing Z float and the Harbor and Chamber would be
exhibiting the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle November 18 -20` Oates added that the transmission
line reroute for the North Forest Acres Levee was completed November 5, 2010, and there would be
another outage to finish the Lowell Point Road project. He reported Metco had 95% completion of
Phase I and 65% completion of Phase II of the Coast Guard Relocation and Z Float Project Water
line. The water crew was assisting with water service to X and the gas float. Bids had went out to
repair the Lowell Creek Bridge and budget adjustments would have to be made before year end due
to unforeseen large maintenance projects. Oates stated five men were in the field at 5 am and dug
out their equipment first.
In response to questions, Oates said Lift station #3 now had a triple redundancy system and
many upgrades. The auxillary was built into the system.
Mayoral Report. Mayor Willard E. Dunham stated he was invited to speak before the
Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. Four Mayors were invited. All spoke about their towns.
Seward was the lowest on the peninsula for property tax. Wasilla had suspended their property tax
but instituted a 2% sales tax, only to have the borough put a 9% tax on them. He spoke about credit
card theft in town and would talk to the state attorney general about it. He spoke about his trade
delegation trip to Yeosu, Korea. Korea wanted to have an administrative staff exchange between the
two cities, wished to get direct landing rights into Anchorage, and wanted Seward's support and
attendance for their World Expo in 2012.
A Slideshow Was Shown of the Yeosu, Korea Trade Delegation Trip by Mayor Willard
Dunham
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Resolution 2010 -103, Approving The City Of Seward's Calendar Year 2011 Federal
Legislative Priorities.
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -103
City Manager Phillip Oates had compiled a list of projects for federal legislative priorities
which validated the projects to assist in funding efforts. He spoke of the top two appropriations and
grant priorities. He spoke of the top four authorizations and beneficial legislation heading. This
technical language was a key piece of legislation and important to Seward.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2010 -104, Approving The City Of Seward's Calendar Year 2011 City Priorities.
Motion Keil/Bardarson
( ) Approve Resolution 2010 -104
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
November 8 2010 Volume 38, Page 484
Oates stated this priority list was in the planning phase and ready for grants. This list also
validated the projects to assist the lobbying effort to seek funding. He stated the list of city priorities
must be approved in a public process by the City Council.
Motion to Amend (Shafer /Keil) Remove B #8
Amendment Passed Unanimous
Motion to Amend (Keil /Bardarson) Add the word "the" instead of "a" on C1
Amendment Passed Unanimous Consent
Motion to Amend (Keil /Casagranda) Move #9 to #4 and #4 to #9 under A.
Public Facilities
Amendment Passed Unanimous Consent
Oates pointed out an error which put #16 - -$150 thousand to improve public restrooms in the
Seward Small boat Harbor, in the correct spot.
Motion to Amend (Casagranda /Keil) Move #11A to the #5 position
Amendment Passed Unanimous Consent
Motion to Amend (Dunham/Bardarson) Change #12B to add words "support" and
"federal request"
Amendment Passed Unanimous Consent
Motion to Amend (Casagranda /Shafer) Move #13B to #5B
Amendment Passed Unanimous Consent
Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2010 -109, Granting Approval To The City Manager To Submit An Application
For Federal Funding To Establish A Community Health Center To Serve The Seward
Community.
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -109
Oates instructed that Community Health Centers (CHC) were governed by a community
board, and were open to all with or without insurance. These CHC's paid a higher reimbursement
rate and accepted private insurances. Two important reasons to accept were it would bring financial
viability while improving and increasing the primary health care for the underinsured. Oates also
City of Seward, Alaska
November 8 2010 City Council Minutes
Volume 38, Page 485
iftw stated it would reduce the losses in primary care, improve efficiency, enable implementation of best
practices and critical access strategies for operational and fiscal benefits. Oates stressed this
approval would allow the city manager to apply for funding to establish a Federally Qualified Health
Center (FQHC) or CHC. This also made it possible to attract new doctors by working off student
loans, and give the ability to contract out services and collaborate with other care providers within
the community. This clinic would be owned and operated by the City of Seward. Oates stated
Chugachmuit was applying also and he urged the council to pass this resolution to assist with the
viability of healthcare in Seward.
Smith was concerned and uncomfortable with the City being too involved with healthcare
and the financial aspects and volatility of it.
Oates agreed there were unknowns with the passage of the federal healthcare legislation but
there was no luxury of waiting.
Rules Were Suspended By Unanimous Consent To Hear From The Administrator Of
Providence, Chris Bolton On How To Move Forward And Minimize The City's Losses, And
For Tina McLean To Speak.
Motion Passed Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
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The need for a Public Works Shed to house trucks for the winter was discussed again, and
council agreed to decide on a resolution to be brought forward on November 22, 2010.
A second town meeting on Economic Development was scheduled for Tuesday, December
14, 2010 at 7 pm. at the IMS Rae Building.
A work session on the sale of city land recommended by the Ad -Hoc Land Committee for
disposal was set for January 11, 2011 at 7 pm.
Oates noticed the November 29, 2010 work session on the Library /Museum and warned
council this would focus on how to pay for the funding for construction, maintenance and
operating costs.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
July and August City Financials.
July and August Providence Financials.
Mayor Thank you letter to Chugach Electric.
Mayor letter to DNR re: Seward Recorder position.
Information city website can produce.
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COUNCILS' COMMENTS
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City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
November 8 2010 Volume 38, Page 486
Casagranda said the elementary school was inviting persons to attend Veterans Day at 12:30
pm on the 11 of November. She thanked everyone who worked on the snow removal today. She
received an email from the Connors and had concerns about small businesses paying more for fuel
adjustment rates. She wanted that to be addressed along with the winter maintenance of 3 Avenue
and snow removal from the sidewalks.
Smith congratulated Public Works for being on top of the heavy snowfall. He was really
concerned about the Community Health Center.
Valdatta said Third Avenue needed alternate parking for vehicles so the State could plow the
avenue better.
Shafer was glad to see the turnout at the economic town hall meeting. She hoped for another
great turnout for the second one.
Keil thanked the people for coming forward to assist with changes to the camera surveillance
policy. She thought Yeosu City sounded exciting and wanted to attend the Expo.
Bardarson thanked all who participated in the economic town hall meeting and welcomed
Rene Cournoyer back to Seward.
Dunham also was thrilled with the town turnout for the Economic Development meeting.
He wanted electrical lines and utility systems more available for owners, and thought the City needed
to find a way to have utility corridors going to properties. He thought initial outlay cost was
excessive. Dunham congratulated the swimmer who set the record.
All of council agreed to look at utility corridors and how that would help with economic
development.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 p.m. d Lt------
Je _ � + Willard E. Dunham
. i Lewis, Mai 4.1; OF S + +
CI Clerk ••• ° ° Mayor
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(City Seal) • '�°J 7 ')
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