HomeMy WebLinkAbout09122011 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 Volume 38, Page 661
CALL TO ORDER
The September 12, 2011 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
Jean Bardarson Vanta Shafer
Ristine Casagranda
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Absent — Valdatta, Keil, Smith
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Keith Campbell noted the recent ground breaking ceremony at the library museum site a few
weeks ago and carne tonight to ask the council to sign a golden shovel to commemorate that day.
Campbell stated he hoped to have this on display at the new facility to acknowledge those who
helped make this project successful.
Kari Anderson pointed out she no longer worked for the City of Seward, but had been a
member of this community for her life. She expressed concern regarding the litigation with the
Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance (RBCA) and the City of Seward. She did not understand
why the city would pay $150,000 in legal fees for this lawsuit or why RBCA was taking actions
against this community. She encouraged the community to urge RBCA to end this legal battle. The
public should also encourage this group to not only end the lawsuit but also to educate the
community. Dunham thanked Anderson for her service to the community. He appreciated her
bringing this topic up to the council as a citizen.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 Volume 38, Page 662
Two proclamations were added to the agenda, Remembrance of September 11, 2001,
and American Legion Day.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The August 22, 2011 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and the August 29, 2011 and
September 1, 2011 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved.
Council appointed Mark Kansteiner, Betty Casey, Rose McSwain, Mary Williams and James
Herbert to serve on the Election Board for the 2011 Municipal Election on October 4, 2011.
Resolution 2011 -070, Approving A Financial Advisory Agreement With Blitch Associates, Inc.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
A proclamation was read in remembrance of September 11, 2001 (9/11).
A proclamation was read honoring American Legion Day on September 16, 2011.
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A certificate of memoriam was read for the family of Patricia Redmond. Mayor
Dunham asked for moment of silence to be given in her honor.
Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated the Assembly voted to close the borough
landfills on Sundays, but that was overturned and they would remain open. During the August 16,
2011 meeting, the Assembly overrode the veto to redefine a full term of assembly members, which
meant it now stood an assembly member's term was three years. A cap may be set on full and partial
terms not exceeding eight years. At the last meeting they heard a report the finance department had
refinanced several bonds, which was a cost savings to the borough. The Assembly overturned an
ordinance that would have limited the borough planning commission number of members to 11 from
13, but it would remain at 13. The Borough Assembly's next meeting was on Tuesday in Homer.
During the October 11, 2011 meeting, there would be an ordinance to establish enforcement
processes on the borough's Title 21 violations. Money from state had been reassigned to put in the
smart boards at Seward Elementary School. She encouraged those to get out and vote and read the
election pamphlets when they become available. There were many propositions on the ballot. There
was one proposition for a 0.1% sales tax increase to go to economic development, one to eliminate
the non - prepared food sales tax exemption, and one to reapportion the Borough Assembly and
School Board members to either nine or eleven members. McClure explained if the Borough did not
have ballot language for this, the state would mandate a plan for the borough, so that was why it
would be on the ballot in this manner.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 Volume 38, Page 663
She was running out of the meeting to attend the borough planning commission meeting in
town this evening. It would be an interesting meeting because the item on the agenda to rename
roads, including the renaming of Salmon Creek in Seward. She felt this issue was pretty important.
City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated there were no purchases
approved for between $10,000- 50,000 since the last Council Meeting. Harbor personnel continued
with ongoing maintenance and the number of boat lifts had increased on both sides of the bay. The
contractor and the electricians have re- started work on Z -Float with an anticipated completion date of
September 23, 2011. Mack Funk accepted the offer of employment for the Harbormaster position
and he would start soon and attend the upcoming Harbormaster's conference in October. The harbor
was working with Marine Exchange of Alaska to develop a SMIC security plan. The harbor
impounded three vessels and were in the process of selling them by a public bid process.
In the Police Department, Oates noted in 2009 Council did not pass a hunting ordinance that
would have permitted hunting in specific areas within City limits. Included in that proposed
ordinance was the allowance of duck hunting in the area around the airport. In 1993, a resolution was
passed allowing duck hunting at the airport with them permission of either the Chief of Police or
City Manager. Community members had recently requested permission to hunt ducks at the airport
and the Chief of Police was advising against it. The issue would likely be brought to council for
clarification in the near future.
Parks and Recreation recently hosted the statewide Alaska Recreation and Park Association
Conference here in Seward and it was a successful event. The department would be participating in
the Healthy Lifestyles event on October 8, 2011, which was part of the Seward Prevention Coalition.
Park staff assisted with the turf seeding at the new Scheffler Creek Bridge. Staff was experiencing a
rash of late night parties requiring extra staff time for cleanup. The August campground attendance
and revenue numbers were not available yet. After the Salmon Derby, the level of parking activity
had dropped significantly. Two of the city's crew members returned to college for the fall semester.
The remaining parking crew continued with normal daily tasks. One of the northeast pay stations
was out of service due to wiring issues.
In Public Works, the 100% design for the SMC Dolphin Project was complete and the bids
began advertisement on September 1, 2011. Bids were due no later than 3:00 pm on September 26
and the contract would likely be presented to council at the October 10, 2011 meeting. Personnel
was aggressively pursuing the construction of a new motor vehicle storage building to replace the
storage building demolished last year. The Public Works Department was preparing to solicit bids to
construct the storage building (pole barn) for the purpose of protecting valuable city heavy
equipment from the elements, in an amount not -to- exceed $95,000, utilizing funding approved in the
2011 budget. They were currently negotiating the cost of land for the water storage tank location and
had submitted all final paperwork to ADEC for the Phase 1 of the water storage tank project. Loan
repayment would start on or before October 1, 2011.
In closing, Oates thanked Bev Dunham for her article in the Seward Journal recently and her
write up of the role of the city manager and Oates' efforts during his time with the City.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 Volume 38, Page 664
Mayoral Report, Willard Dunham gave a summary for the period of August, 2011. He
also had additional laydowns to provide tonight, including two resolutions by the City of North Pole
and the Fairbanks North Star Borough, as well as a resolution that would be before AML in
November on unfunded mandates. The city was not included in the rail studies conducted and
Dunham thought Seward should request to be included.
Dunham stated he saw completion of several projects in Seward this month. He attended the
Mayor's Conference in Sitka and was able to meet with Senator Bert Stedman and Deputy Chief of
Staff Randy Rauar, who were interested in learning more about Seward's library /museum project.
He spoke with many people on the ground water litigation with RBCA and also his efforts in trying
to get the Corps of Engineers funding plan on the conference agenda. They were unable to get the
funding plan on the agenda, but hoped to discuss this in Fairbanks in November. He and the city
manager had been working in upgrading the railroad and the coal exporting would set another record
this year.
He and the city manager went to Juneau to meet with the governor's staff on the Coastal
Village project. They had met with many people, and Dunham felt they were very fortunate to have
such a meeting with the governor's staff. He stated Seward had a shot at being in the governor's
budget requests.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
A presentation was given on the Kenai Mountains - Turnagain Arm National Heritage saJ
Area (KMTA NHA) by KMTA NHA President Jim Richardson and Moose Pass Board
Member Bruce Jaffa.
The 2012/2013 Budget Introduction presentation was given by City Manager Oates.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
Letters to Fairbanks Northstar Borough and National Association of Counties RE: U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers Pacific Ocean Division Marine Funding.
COUNCILS' COMMENTS
Casagranda looked forward to the budget season.
Dunham wanted to know if council had seen the Senior Center kitchen remodel — and
encouraged all to check it out. He was thankful for the American Legion and was glad that council
acknowledged their birthday. He noted the Mural Society submitted a proposal for $20,000 a year to
partner with them and Oates planned to allocate $10,000 with this upcoming budget. He thought the
city could look at the head tax or possibly the bed tax to help with this.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 Volume 38, Page 665
Patty Linville encouraged the council to check out the museum. She was concerned with the
idea of shooting at the airport.
Mike Meeks said he came from the Borough Commission meeting this evening and
announced Salmon Creek Road would keep its name.
Tom Tougas said he spent the weekend reading the budget. The biggest challenge was they
had a declining population and making it more expensive to live in Seward was not a good idea. It
was further promoting Seward as a tourism -only driven town. He referred to the latest
Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) and noted the investment balances were high.
These should be community -based and decided upon rather than trying to build these accounts up as
much as possible. Tougas referred to the preliminary operating budget and stated the motor pool
fund was originally set up for a pool fund for motor equipment, but now it seemed to become a huge
pool of money. The amounts the cash balances anticipated at the end of 2012 and 2013 were $1.2
million and $1.7 million. Just the increase in the motor pool funds proposed in this budget was more
than what was needed for the library /museum project — bond payments and maintenance and
operating costs together.
Bruce Jaffa said the motor pool fund as a whole sustained all the vehicles for the city. These
were specially - equipped vehicles. Personally, half of his fleet was purchased used and they put the
money in wages while his employees run around in older trucks. If the community looked at
maintaining older vehicles, there could be some cost savings there.
Mayor Dunham allowed Tom Tougas to speak again. Tougas concluded that if there
were no contributions to the motor pool fund for the next two years, at the end of 2012 the city
would still have $500,000 cash and at the end of 2013 they would have $322,000 still in the motor
pool fund. The budget was focused on building cash reserves, which Tougas disagreed with. Was it
council's job to represent the company to build up reserves or represent the citizens and make
Seward a better place to live? He said a two year moratorium could really help the city's financial
situation. The challenge of the budget was not just to build up the reserve accounts — and if they did
that, population would continue to decline.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Shafer said putting money into new cars and trucks didn't make sense to her either. She
stated she planned to be very verbal through these budget work sessions.
Oates asked the public to attend the budget work sessions. He stated the city also had a lot of
old vehicles.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (Shafer /Bardarson) Go into Executive Session To Discuss City
Manager Candidates.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2011 volume 38, Page 666
Council went into executive session at 9:16 p .m. ..
Council came out of executive session at 9:35 p.m.
Motion (Shafer /Bardarson) Form a negotiating committee to extend the
position of City Manager to Eric Philips
pending successful contract negotiations,
background checks and drug testing.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Mayor Dunham appointed Tom Smith, Jean Bardarson, and himself to serve on the
negotiating committee for the City Manager contract.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
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