HomeMy WebLinkAbout08292011 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska
August 29, 2011 City Council Minutes
Volume 38, Page 653
CALL TO ORDER
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The August 29, 2011 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:20
p.m. by Vice Mayor Jean Bardarson.
OPENING CEREMONY
Officer James Rouleau led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil
Vanta Shafer Tom Smith
Bob Valdatta Ristine Casagranda
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Michelle Weston, Assistant City Manager
Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk
Absent — Mayor Dunham
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Steve Zernia asked the city to weigh in on the Halibut Catch Sharing Plan to express support
for the charter businesses as well as Seward's economic welfare; he provided council with some
language that he drafted that the city might consider using; his write -up was neutral but expressed
concern about the economic impact of the plan.
Rhonda Hubbard said she appreciated that the city and chamber did not have a dog in this
fight and instead let the business sectors fight it out amongst themselves; she asked council to go on
record saying both resources, commercial and charters, were valuable.
Elle Zernia said her business was to sell commercially- harvested fish as well as process sport
fish coming in from charters, so she saw both sides of the issue. She has had customers tell her they
would not travel to Alaska if the Catch Sharing Plan went into action; she was concerned about
Alaskan residents as well as visiting tourists curbing their fishing trips.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion (Keil /Shafer) Approval of Agenda
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Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 654
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2011 -068, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract For $217,292
With R &M Consultants Inc. For Marine Coastal Engineering Services For The Seward
Marine Industrial Center And Appropriating Funds.
Motion (Keil /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2011 -068
Assistant City Manager Weston gave a brief overview of the two proposals submitted for the
conceptual design; she elaborated that a third proposal was returned with a letter stating that the
project was non - engineerable; the two bids received were very close from a money standpoint.
Shafer asked how deep the basin was from the North dock to Seward Ship's DryDock;
Harbormaster Kari Anderson replied that the existing basin at mean lower water was 35 feet.
Valdatta asked if R &M Consulting Inc. was the firm who originally installed the Nash Road;
Harbormaster Kari Anderson replied that R &M Consulting Inc. had extensive experience with
various projects around the city.
Anderson said R &M's scope of work would get the harbor to about 35% completion and
would uncover any issues that needed to be addressed; the kick -off meeting with R &M would be
held next week.
Motion Passed Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Selected City Manager In Person Interview Questions.
Discussion on council submitting a comment in opposition or support to the National Marine
Fisheries Service on the Halibut Catch Sharing Plan (0648 -BA37) to meet the September 6,
2011 comment deadline.
Smith suggested that the city request more time to respond, but felt it was important for the
city to formulate a comment. He said in his experience each fishing season was unpredictable, and
the more that the experts believe the season might be bad, the more they would want to manage the
process.
Shafer said she would agree to ask for more time for response, but did not think it was
appropriate for the council to take sides.
Bardarson agreed that more time should be asked for; she didn't want to see either side of the
sector get harmed.
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Council asked for the letter to request the comment period to be extended to the end of
October.
City ofSeward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 655
Gave clarification on written decision issued by the City ouncil for the August 3
tY g 3, 2011
NVision /AVTEC Fire Department Appeal Hearing. City Attorney Cheryl Brooking joined the
meeting via telephone.
Fire Chief David Squires asked for clarification on council's decision. Specifically, he
asked if AVTEC obtained a demolition permit, would that negate the requirement for then to install
the other safety measures?
Bardarson said that was correct; if AVTEC were moving forward to demolish the building
then they would not have to install the additional safety measures.
Shafer asked for clarification on the timing; Bardarson and Squires responded that AVTEC
would have 180 days, once they applied for the demolition permit, to complete the demolition. She
continued on to say that in her mind, council had asked AVTEC to install the safety measures as a
stop -gap measure until they could move ahead with the demolition.
City Attorney Cheryl Brooking clarified the way the original decision was written for the
council. The safety measures were requested in order to provide a safe environment for the students
and staff from now until the time when AVTEC was ready to demolish that portion of the building.
If the building was going to be demolished now, was it still the wishes of the council to have
AVTEC install the safety measures even if AVTEC was prepared to move forward with their
demolition permit?
Squires added that council had required the safety measures be installed within 30 days in
order to allow AVTEC time to apply for their demolition permit; if AVTEC were ready to apply for
their permit now, would council still require the safety measures?
Keil said council's intent was to have AVTEC either install safety measures or knock down
the building.
Brooking offered to prepare a written clarification for the council to approve.
Bardarson asked what the conditions would be on AVTEC, by city code, once they were
approved for the demolition permit. Brooking allowed Squires to explain to council what those
would include: explanation of how AVTEC would tear the building down; locate all utilities for the
building; conduct a hazardous abatement on the building to verify there was no asbestos, etc.; obtain
a right -of -way permit; explanation of where the materials will be sent once deconstructed; plan for
entrance and egress to the adjacent cafeteria and dormitory buildings during demolition; timeline;
fire watch throughout demolition; safety /alert system to protect students and staff.
L,,,, COUNCILS' COMMENTS
Smith commented about the Catch Sharing in support of asking for a time extension; he
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 656
suggested having a work session for interested parties to be able to voice all sides of the issue.
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Valdatta said the quickest and cheapest way to extend the Seward Ship's DryDock rail to
accommodate the Coast Guard ships was to lengthen the rail and install a fabric cover.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Rhonda Hubbard warned the council about prolonging the response period for the Catch
Sharing Plan. She said the industry needed stability and an extension would create more acrimony
between the sectors and be detrimental. There was over 100 years of research on halibut runs and it
was more predictable than salmon runs. She encouraged council to express their support and
concern, perhaps using the language provide by Steve Zernia.
Steve Zernia said his intent for Hubbard introducing the language was specifically not to be
divisive between the sectors. His intent was for the council to express their concern that a
comprehensive economic study had not been done. Bardarson asked if Zernia thought an extension
was appropriate; he replied that only if the council was intending to take action. Bardarson said the
extension was intended to allow more time for each sector to provide input as their season waned.
Niklas Ranta didn't think a complete and thorough economic analysis was conducted and
NOAA should put a little more effort into that research and analysis.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Casagranda said she didn't think council should ask for a time extension, but instead should
send a letter of support, perhaps using the language Steve Zernia supplied.
Shafer said she didn't think it was council's purview to take sides but would be in favor of
writing a letter that was middle of the road; she said the language in the drafted letter provided was
neutral and acceptable.
Keil was concerned that council was not knowledgeable enough as a body about this subject,
and thought it was best for the two sectors to keep communicating.
Smith said it would be very impactful for both sectors to come together and provide a joint
response.
City of Seward, Alaska Cite Council Minutes
August 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 657
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8 :34 p.m.
_ Olt -t - tr en. a Ballou c an Bardarson
Deputy City Clerk Vice Mayor
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