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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10102011 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 678 L CALL TO ORDER The October 10, 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 Tom Smith Vanta Shafer Marianna Keil Bob Valdatta Ristine Casagranda comprising a quorum of the Council; and Kris Erchinger, Acting City Manager John Foutz, Electric Utility Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Absent — None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Christy Terry said Resolution 2011 -076 should be approved but removed from the consent agenda. She wanted council to set a work session to make sure these library expenses were set ahead of time. Terry stated Resolution 2011 -078 should also be pulled from the consent agenda and Council should regroup with the public to make sure how to move forward since the Community Health Center (CHC) application was not approved. She felt the native health clinic should be involved and the board's minutes and resolutions should be made public. They need to not duplicate services in this community and work together. Hilda Lespron with the Seward Arts Council handed out information on a paper mache mask making class that began on October 4, 2011 by local artist Abby Wentworth. It would be on Thursdays in October and cost $25 total. Lespron also noted there would be autumn readings in October. She also noted a blue grass event that was corning up in Seward. Doug Capra asked for support on his appointment on the Historic Preservation Commission. He was a member in the past and also a member of the State of Alaska Historic Society. Capra said City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 679 he could bring more of a statewide knowledge of Historic Preservation and had a lot of relationships in the state historical commission. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Resolution 2011 -078 was pulled from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda for discussion. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The September 26, 2011 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and the October 3, 2011 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Certification Of The October 4, 2011 Municipal Election Results As Final. Results Are Listed In The Same Substantial Form As Certified By The Canvass Board: FINAL CERTIFICATE OF RESULTS FOR THE REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTION HELD OCTOBER 4, 2011 The City Canvass Board has completed their review of all absentee and questioned ballots of the Regular Municipal Election held October 4, 2011. Their totals are: [Note: Total Counted plus Total Rejected =Total Voted) Report of Absentee and Questioned Ballots Absentee ballots voted 104 Questioned ballots voted 1 Special Needs ballots voted 2 Total Voted 107 Rejected Not registered, registered too late or registered out of City 18 Form not completed properly 0 Signed /witnessed after Election Day 0 Total Rejected 18 Counted Absentee 104 Questioned 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 680 Special Needs 2 Total Counted 107 The Election Day results, after canvassing are as follows: Two -year Mayoral Seat _ Election Day Votes After Canvass Votes Total Votes Willard E. Dunham 248 37 285 David Seaward 232 64 296 Write -ins 8 2 10 Three Two -year Council Seats Election Day Votes After Canvass Votes Total Votes Christy Terry 387 71 458 Vanta Shafer 275 50 325 boo Bob Valdatta 258 55 313 Tom Smith 236 63 299 Write Ins 27 6 33 PROPOSITION NO. 1 A vote of the citizens of Seward on repealing Ordinance 2011 -003 Shall Ordinance 2011 -003, An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Amending Seward City Code Sections 5.35.010 And 5.35.035 To Allow For An Increase In Sales Tax For Alcohol Beverages And Tobacco Products, be repealed? Election Day Votes After Canvass Votes Total Votes YES 346 81 427 NO 161 25 186 A total of 515 people voted at this election plus 107 counted absentee votes = 622 Total. Council appointed Doug Capra to the Historic Preservation Commission with a term to expire May, 2013. City' of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 681 Resolution 2011 -075, Approving An Employment Agreement With James Hunt For City Manager Services. mai Resolution 2011 -076, Appropriating $22,200 In Library Grant Funds For A Contract With Northern Geotechnical Engineering, Inc. For Special Inspections During The Construction Phase Of The Seward Museum /Library. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards An Appreciation Proclamation Was Read For Keefer Brown. A Proclamation Was Presented for Fire Safety Month. Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated a lot had happened since her last report. As a result of the Borough election, the proposition repealing seasonal non - prepared food sales tax exemption was defeated as well as the .1% sales tax increase. The voters agreed to a nine member assembly and school board as before, which was on the ballot because of reapportionment. Some districts would gain a few people, McClure's district would move close to Moose River because her area lost a little in population. The election was not over as there was a run off for the Borough Mayor — the election date would be October 25, 2011 between Mike Navarre and Fred Sturman. Absentee in- person voting would begin in the City Clerk's office on October 17, 2011, with the exception of the office closure on October 18, 2011 in observance of Alaska Day. On the Assembly, the three incumbent members were retained, so the Assembly remains the same. At the meeting on October 11, 2011, there was a public hearing to appropriate $5,200 to install smart boards at Seward Elementary, which was from grant funds. Also on the agenda was Ordinance 11 -34 to establish enforcement for Title 21 violations (streams and rivers). McClure offered exciting news for Seward — the Borough's general services director was pursuing teleconferencing in Seward and Homer. There would be more to come on that and McClure would keep the council and public posted. McClure held community meetings for those eligible for revenue sharing. On October 1, 2011 she made an annual trip to Cooper Landing, Hope and Moose Pass. There would be one Assembly meeting in November and one in December. She would be attending the Alaska Municipal League in Fairbanks in November. City Manager's Report, John Foutz stated there were no purchases approved for between $10,000- 50,000 since the last Council Meeting. The City Clerk's Office was publishing an RFP for the Recording /Sound system in Council Chambers. The scoring criteria were announced as follows: • Company Qualifications - 15 Points • Proposed Equipment /Specifications - 15 Points • Features - 20 Points • Pricing - 20 Points • Quality Assurance & Technical Support - 30 Points City ofSewara! Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 682 The new Harbormaster, Mack Funk, had started work and harbor personnel had been working hard with Funk to ensure a smooth transition. Funk has met with the US Army Corps of Engineers staff in Anchorage: Steve Boardman, Allen Churchill and Tina McMaster - Goering. Funk also had a meeting with Captain Jason Fosdick and Commander Paul Albertson of the Coast Guard. Introductions and tours of faculties were ongoing, including the new Z float which was nearly complete with the possible future addition of lateral docks. On Friday, Funk met with the design engineer on the development project at the Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) and planned to meet with Deputy Harbormaster Norm Regis, PACAB Chair Ron Long, Mayor Willard Dunham and Vice Mayor Jean Bardarson to discuss the Coastal Villages initiative. He also planned to meet soon with Jim Pruitt. In the Electric Department, Chugach Electric Association (CEA) had filed with the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) for a change in rates. This would reflect a decrease in the city's energy and demand charges and would go into effect when the RCA has approved the new rates. Currently the rates to the City of Seward for energy and demand were $0.00612 per kilowatt - hour (kWh) and $8.99 per kilowatt (kW) and were proposed to be reduced to $0.00579 per kWh and $8.50 per kW. The RCA was expected to approve these changes by January 2012. Construction season was nearing its end for the year and the Electric Department was attempting to complete several open job orders and construction projects prior to the ground freezing. The department hired two NECA temporary employees for 2 weeks to assist the electric crew in finishing as many of these projects as possible. The City of Seward electric department was negotiating with AVTEC in developing an agreement that would eventually connect the AVTEC wind turbine. A resolution would be presented to City council upon completion of the agreement. In Public Works, the SMC Dolphin Project received five bids and the contract for the successful contract with Pacific Pile and Marine was before the council for approval this evening. The GIS system at Public Works would be set up the first week of November. They were currently negotiating cost of land for the water storage tank. Staff was working with ADEC to submit the final paperwork for the Third Avenue waterline and loan repayments should begin at the beginning of next month. The department followed ADEC recommendations to mitigate potential issues from more contaminated soil removed from the new library site. The Street and Shop Department was patching roads in various locations throughout town and working on drainage issues in preparation for the winter season. They were preparing for the winter season and ordering the proper and needed equipment. Foutz reminded the public to keep all vehicles out of the right of way in anticipation of the pending snow plowing season. Mayoral Report, Willard Dunham stated on September 27, 2011, he attended a Kenai Fjords National Park meeting in Anchorage regarding the extension of Exit Glacier Road open times to include winter transportation. That day council hosted a lunch for outgoing City Manager Oates. On September, 28, 2011, he attended a meeting in Anchorage for an update on two contracts for the Coastal Villages project. Northern Economics reported good progress on information gathering. Dawson Hooper of Coastal Villages was assigned the job of direct liaison with R & M Consultants and Northern Economics. R & M Consultants have scheduled meetings in Seward with the Port and Commerce Advisory Board and the public on October 7, 2011 and a larger public based meeting on October 19, 2011. They had a harbor design expert from Annapolis, Maryland to help evaluate SMIC wave barrier needs. They wanted public input as to what local people thought the needs were. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 683 On September 30, 2011, Dunham flew to Fairbanks to meet with the University of Alaska Fairbanks President Pat Gamble, Chancellor Brian Rogers, and Vice Chancellor Pat Pitney. It was a very important meeting about the future of the research vessel Sikuliaq home porting in Seward. President Gamble's conclusion was that Seward will be the homeport for the vessel and said UAF needed to do a better job working with Seward to make sure the ship was fully recognized by Alaska and the world when it arrived in 2014. They were also able to show the UAF delegation the Coastal Villages video of their request for help to move from Seattle. Dunham attended the World Trade Center Alaska Transportation seminar on October 6, 2011; the PACAB meeting with R &M Consulting on October 7, 2011; and the Healthy Lifestyles Celebration in Seward on October 8, 2011. Ketchikan Shipyard Director Doug Ward contacted Dunham by phone and asked for information about Coastal Villages and how Seward was coming along. He offered to have the Ketchikan Borough do a resolution of support of the move. The City Clerk forwarded the city's and the borough's support resolutions to assist in their creation of a support resolution. Dunham had been contacted by the owner of the Spartan Drill Rig about mooring in Seward's harbor for the winter. Dunham attended a meeting in Girdwood and met the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. They talked of the safety issues on the Seward Highway and what was needed to reduce the accidents. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations ma An update was given by Bryan Zak on the Alaska Small Business Development Center. Zak stated he came to Seward last week for a workshop which had 9 people, which was the most attendees ever. It gave him an opportunity to know there were a lot of small businesses in this area and he wanted to let them know they were working to hire a business advisor for Seward. The development center had not filled it yet, but was advertising for it. Zak hoped someone from Seward applied for this job. Any small business could get a free website right now for a year with their organization. He encouraged those without a website to come to the work shops to get one as well as participate in the "Buy Alaska!" efforts. The AK SBDC goes through an annual accreditation. He commended the council for what they were doing for economic development. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2011 -077, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Construction Contract With Pacific Pile And Marine In An Amount Not To Exceed $1,584,000 For The Seward Marine Center Dolphin Project To Construct Two Breasting Dolphins And Improve Dock Conditions Necessary To Berth The New Alaska Region Research Vessel, And An Additional $208,400 In Project Contingency And Construction Management Costs, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Shafer /Keil) Approve Resolution 2011 -077 Erchinger gave a brief history of the project. The city received a $1.5 million dollar grant for City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 684 this. PND had been hired to engineer the project. The city's winning bid on this construction project was Pacific Pile and Marine. Erchinger thought it was prudent to set aside money for contingency, which those costs would still be approved by the council. She felt they needed to hire a professional firm to manage this project, which was estimated at $50,000. She thought it was critical to have a professional on board because of the importance of this project. Shafer asked if they would receive moorage payments from this ship. Erchinger did not think so. Shafer said it was a big benefit to the community, so it offset the initial costs the city was planning on making. Valdatta said maybe the university could contribute some of the funds. He hoped they were going to purchase American steel because it was better quality. Smith suggested they get rid of the $90,000 included for dredging. His thinking was the fill came as a result of flooding of Lowell Canyon. It would be better to put it off and address it later. Keil liked Valdatta's suggestion about university assistance. Dunham agreed about the dredging. It would look good for Seward that they had already put this funding up although they had been given a grant. He agreed Seward needed an engineer covering this project to protect themselves. i Discussion ensued about if the contract should include the $90,000 for dredging, if the city could charge moorage, if the city could use the dolphins for other vessels when the RN Sikuliaq was not in Seward, and if they could charge moorage for those vessels. Motion to Amend (Keil /Shafer) Amend Resolution 2011 -077 to remove $90,000 for dredging from the contract amount. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -078, Accepting An Affordable Care Act Health Center Planning Grant In The Amount Of $80,000 From The U.S. Department Of Health And Social Services, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Bardarson /Keil) Approve Resolution 2011 -078 Keil and Bardarson noted they both sit on this board and requested a ruling on any possible conflicts of interests. Mayor Dunham ruled no conflict of interest existed. Erchinger gave a brief history on the project. The City Council established the board for the Community Health Center, appointed the charter members of the board, and from that point after the board would replace the vacancies. The city did apply for the Federally Qualified Health Center City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 685 (FQHC) grant in association with this board. Unfortunately, over 800 entities applied for the same grant, which was unusually high, and the Seward CHC did not receive the grant. Very few new access point grants were successful, which was what Seward was applying for. The CHC Board, with city funds, hired a grant writing firm to apply for a planning grant to strengthen its application. They received the scoring results of the application and their weaknesses were identified. The Seward CHC planned to use these funds to strengthen the application to include holding public meetings to find community concerns. This could allow federal dollars to come to Seward to foot the bill instead of tax payers, could allow other health services like dentistry to join in the health center, and allow those who do not have insurance or lower income citizens to be guaranteed health care. Erchinger clarified the board membership had to represent the demographics of the community, which was challenging at times. Neither the city nor the council had authority over this board — it was designed to be a standalone entity board from the city and from Providence. The board had public meetings and they were announced in advance. They were responsible for their own advertisements and did not have funds for a secretary, so there were volunteers within the board to take minutes. Shafer and Keil both felt this money was needed for this board and a benefit to the community to further advance the CHC application. Smith thought this needed to be discussed in the public. It was a complex and confusing issue. Shafer pointed out it was a huge savings in that the CHC could pay for the very expensive doctor's malpractice insurance and also helped with medical student loan repayment, which could recruit more qualified staff. Keil said it could bring in more grants. Bardarson said she didn't mind having a work session on this. Shafer said this was a newly formed board and many kinks were yet to be worked out. Erchinger stated she would follow up with the other medical providers in Seward about the benefits of this model. Casagranda asked if it was possible to take the $65,000 the city gave to the board to start up and be repaid with these grant funds. Dunham felt that would be counterproductive. Erchinger said the original $65,000 was planned to be used to hire a professional in running a CHC to help figure out the logistics of running such a facility, and to hire grant writing services. The $80,000 in grant funds was intended to strengthen the application to become a FQHC. They had one year to spend the planning grant dollars. Dunham said the ultimate goal was to provide health care for all of Seward. Erchinger said she would personally call Chugachmiut to get their input and try to involve the native health care provider. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 686 July City Financial Report. August Providence Financial Report. August City Financial Report. Mayor's Congressional Delegation Letter RE: Coastal Villages Region Fund. COUNCILS' COMMENTS Shafer said it was a busy weekend in Seward. The Emblem Club had an event; the Coast Guard Cutter was in town and the Healthy Lifestyles Celebrations occurred. It was nice to see people in town in October and it was good to know things could go on in the shoulder season. She knew how hard it was to be the Mayor and it was more demanding than people thought. She commended Dunham on doing a good job and bringing so many things to Seward. Keil said Dunham's approval rating was much better than Congress and he should walk away with his head held high. She thanked him for his hard work for the community and they on council would try to carry on his legacy and she hoped he would not stop. He was valuable to Seward. Bardarson said the Healthy Lifestyles Celebration was a great community event. She thanked the people for taking the scrap metal out of Seward for recycling and cleaning up our town. Bardarson thanked Dunham for all that he has done. Casagranda thanked Martha Fleming for always being there behind the camera at their fir meetings. She thanked Dunham and Smith for their service. She was excited to have hours outside the normal clinic hours to go to the hospital. Smith thanked everyone and the City Clerk's Office for their gourmet meals. He had enjoyed being on City Council and was now ready to retire. He commended Dunham for what he did for this town. Valdatta thanked all who voted and wished Smith and Dunham the best. Dunham said it was critical to vote. There was a run off coming up and it was crucial to vote. He thanked McClure for her actions on keeping the Borough's waste facilities open on Sunday. He thanked the public for their support. It had been an interesting ride and he had worked with a lot of great people. He hoped they saw more accomplishments. Dunham noted there were a lot of big projects and things on the horizon. He was going to take some time to relax and he was really humbled by remarks and talks he had received not only locally but around the state. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Terry reminded the council and public that colocation was promised to pull Providence out of the red. The board should advertise their meetings and minutes to the community. They needed to advertise and follow their bylaws. aim Long thanked Dunham and Smith for their service and congratulated the newly elected members. Long wanted to let everyone know that PACAB would be stepping away from their usual City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes October 10, 2011 Volume 38, Page 687 work session and meet in the evening on October 19, 2011 and really wanted to get as much public involved for a meeting with the Coastal Villages Region Fund and R &M Consultants to discuss SMIC improvements. They really wanted public participation. Coastal Villages wanted to know if they would be able to find the commercial support needed to move here and Long encouraged those to come out and show support private sector and business support. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Keil said she had recently met someone who started a brand new business that would benefit if Coastal Villages came to Seward, so it appeared people were already thinking this way. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m. / • h anna Kinney, CMC Willard E. Dunham City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) al •• ...a. � to p SEAL r r i EAL • r ® F r • • • F ' '• �r OF ��l�► • + •'