HomeMy WebLinkAbout08272012 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 27, 2012 volume 38, Page 882
CALL TO ORDER
The August 27, 2012 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor David Seaward.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
David Seaward presiding and
Christy Terry Vanta Shafer
Ristine Casagranda Marianna Keil
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney
Absent — Bardarson, Valdatta
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
A travel report by Council Member Terry for her attendance at Industry Appreciation Day on
Saturday, August 25, 2012 was added to the agenda.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The July 23, 2012 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved.
Ordinance 2012 -008, Revising Seward City Code Chapter 14.05 (Garbage And Refuse),
Increasing Allowable Container Sizes, Changing "Occupant" To "Occupant And /Or Owner ",
And Requiring Bear - Resistant Dumpster Lids And /Or Containers For Repeat Attractive
Nuisance Violations. (Introduced and set for public hearing and enactment for September 10, 2012)
Resolution 2012 -069, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Metco
Inc. In The Amount Of $143,695 For Z- Float/North East Harbor Grading & Drainage Upland
Improvements, And Appropriating Funds Totaling $165,249.25.
City Council Minutes •
City Seward, Alaska Volume 38, Page 883
August 27, 2012
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
A Proclamation for Founders Day was accepted by Patricia Linville.
Chamber of Commerce Report, Cindy Clock stated the Silver Salmon Derby was a
success this year. The heaviest fish was caught by Seward local Earl Cagle and weighed 16.14
pounds, and Mike Rogers of Seward caught the tagged fish worth $50,000. She thanked Ron Wille
from Kenai Fjords Tours for sending out the tagging boat and all the many other volunteers who
helped out for which there would be a volunteer party on September 6, 2012 at Chinook's. There
would be a follow up work shop for Seward's Economic Development Plan on September 18, 2012
at the Legends Building. The Chamber was working with the clerk's office to organize Meet The
Candidates night prior to the city /borough election on October 2, 2012. Sailing, Inc. was hosting a
boat show on September 8, 2012 and Bryan Zak from the Small Business Development Center
would be the guest speaker at the regular Chamber meeting on September 21, 2012. John Torgeson
contacted all the Chambers of Commerce throughout the Kenai Peninsula Borough to create a
borough -wide conference to focus on regional economic growth. The website
www.sewardevents.com had a shared ownership by two Chamber members and, hopefully, would
become Seward's community calendar as the Chamber had plans to replace their own website's
calendar with this one.
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City Manager's Report, Jim Hunt stated there had been no expenditures between $10,000
and $50,000 approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting. He recognized the support
the city had received from the Providence Anchorage leadership team during recent weeks, as they
assisted the community in dealing with the tremendous loss of Regina Paul. The census at Seward
Mountain Haven was at 36 elders, which was the original target census set to maintain long -term
financial sustainability. The State /Federal Primary Election was on August 28, 2012 and the new
polling place was at the KM Rae Building at 125 3` Avenue. The polling place for the Bear Creek
precinct remained at the Bear Creek Fire Hall. All the polls were open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On August 16, 2012 the harbor crews assisted two men whose boat hull was cracked and
taking on water. Metco completed preparations for the dredged material disposal site at SMIC and
was also performing weekly inspections required per their Stormwater Permit. The harbor had
completed a new policy related to vessel lengths and rounding rules. September was the first month
that the harbor would use their new software system for billing. The Silver Salmon Derby was very
special this year due to the largest fish being caught by a Sewardite, which was the first time in 32
years this had happened.
Infra -red asphalt patching was progressing towards Phoenix Way and ditch work was
continuing on Dora Way. Municipal Matching Grants had been submitted for Lowell Point and
SMIC Sludge Removal, the Maple Street Sewer /Water Project, and the Lowell Canyon Water Tank
Refurbishment Project. twirl
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 27, 2012 Volume 38, Page 884
The maintenance warehouse for the Parks & Recreation Department was being inspected for
structural and safety issues, which were becoming critical.
Hunt, Long and Deborah Altermatt attended the National Speakers Association Conference
last week with Speaker Mike Chenault where, in the days following the conference, there were over
40 Capitol Representatives in Seward. At the annual Industry Appreciation Day last Saturday, Ron
Long was the recipient of the Don Gilman Award for his efforts in industry and community service,
which was presented to him by Senator Murkowski.
City Attorney's Report, Cheryl Brooking stated for the period of July 21, 2012 through
August 20, 2012 she had provided advice on the refuse contract, resolutions, and proposed land
transfers. She had also responded to records requests and provided advice regarding the Open
Meetings Act, had continued to work with administration on administrative and employment issues,
and code enforcement issues. She worked with Community Development on platting issues,
concerns over with vacant properties, and worked on proposed ordinance and tariff changes that
would be coming before council in the near future.
Seaward asked for clarification on when a document actually became public and Brooking
replied it was a public document as soon as it existed. Hunt interjected and said as soon as the letter
to RBCA [dated April 23, 2012] was authorized for release by the city attorney, Hunt sent it to the
Seward Journal, Anchorage Daily News and sewardcitynews.com. Hunt said he made multiple
attempts to disseminate that information, and sewardcitynews.com chose not to publish it. Brooking
said there was no responsibility for the manager to release information, unless there is a specific
request for it, but Hunt had the authority to do so at his own discretion. Terry suggested that going
forward it may be helpful for the clerk's office to receive an advance copy of any documentation
prior to its release to the press.
Mayoral Report, David Seaward stated on August 20, 2012 he called Kenai KSRM radio
station to promote recreational activities in Seward, visited the Senior Center and learned of their
concerns over road conditions in town, and on August 24, 2012 he welcomed representatives from
Senator Begich's office. He shared an announcement from the Department of Natural Resources
regarding a proposed non - competitive sale of state land in Moose Pass; there was a public meeting
scheduled for this on September 19, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Moose Pass Community Center.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Travel Report by Council Member Terry on her attendance at Industry Appreciation
Day on August 25, 2012. Terry stated she traveled to Kenai's Industry Appreciation Day where
there were approximately 2,000 residents from the borough in attendance. She gave a short speech
thanking the industries and the contributions they made to communities and for providing
employment opportunities. She thanked them on behalf of the City of Seward.
Other New Business Items
Discussion on a community recreation committee. (Casagranda)
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City Council Minutes
City of Seward, Alaska Volume 38, Pale 885
August 27, 2012
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Casagranda said she asked
for this agenda item, but had since conducted more research on the
Something For Us committee and discovered that it had started as an ad hoc committee, but it had
morphed into the library /museum building committee. Shafer said the original Something For Us
committee was appointed by former Mayor Blatchford and were tasked to find a community project
that would commemorate Seward' s 100 year anniversary.
Casagranda clarified her vision by saying there were several organized wintertime recreation
activities in Seward, but there was a lot of room for improvement. The outdoor skating rink on the
baseball field was a great concept, but the winds made it extremely difficult for small children to
enjoy themselves. She wanted to see something created that was aimed at Seward citizens rather than
tourists. Shafer said a recreation committee was great idea, but she strongly suggested that there be
someone in charge of organizing and fundraising on behalf of the entire community. Shafer believed
that the Something For Us committee was virtually disbanded at this point in time, so she suggested
that a new committee be created. Keil added that perhaps the Parks & Recreation Department's
master plan could be reviewed, updated and shared as a starting place.
Council directed the City Clerk to solicit public interest about creating a Community
Recreation Ad Hoc Committee.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
...j June Providence Financial Report
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Keil congratulated Long on his award. She was looking forward to getting a new sound
system in council chambers. She wished all the candidates good luck in the upcoming election, and
hoped everyone would remain issue -based and factual.
Shafer asked Hunt if he'd had any response from the person who owned the Oleander
Building. Hunt said he anticipated that the owners intended to continue making improvements,
which began at the back of the building, but it had been a slow process and he would be working
with the city attorney to resolve the problem. Shafer was also concerned that last winter, the
sidewalks in front of that building were not shoveled and it had created a slippery, icy condition that
endangered citizens. She congratulated Long on his award, and the Chamber on having a successful
Silver Salmon Derby. Shafer said it was her 39 wedding anniversary today and she thanked her
husband, Bob, for putting up with her for all those years.
Casagranda thanked everyone who submitted candidacy packets for the upcoming election
and wished all luck. She was doing the final edits on her ordinance related to drinking water
treatment and would be submitting it at the next meeting. It had been a good summer.
Terry reminded the public to vote tomorrow. She thanked the Public Works Department for
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their quick road work at the intersection of 3 Avenue and Adams Street.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
August 27, 2012 Volume 38, Page 886
Long thanked everyone for their good wishes on his recent award.
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Seaward thanked the audience for attending and Martha Fleming for running the camera. He
congratulated Long and encouraged people to vote tomorrow.
CITIZEN COMMENTS - None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Keil congratulated Bardarson on her daughter's wedding this last weekend. It was a great way
of drawing Seward together. Hunt added thanks to Police Chief Tom Clemons for the traffic control
at that event.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
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Davi Seaward
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