HomeMy WebLinkAbout04142014 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska
April 14, 2014 City Council Minutes
CALL TO ORDER Volume 39 Page 306
The April 14, 2014 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Jean Bardarson presiding and
Dale Butts
Christy Terry
David Squires
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Eric Wolforth, City Attorney
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Nanci Richey, Administrative Assistant
Absent — None
Ristine Casagranda
Marianna Keil
Iris Darling
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Teri Arnold, resident of Lowell Point was concerned that a Request For Proposal had not
been issued for dredging the Lowell Point Sewage Lagoon but would put her faith and trust that this
would move forward.
Sue Lang, owner of A Cottage on the Bay at Lowell Point, was ninety five percent booked
for the 2014 summer season and hoped the odor problem at the Lowell Point Sewage Lagoon would
be dealt with by the City of Seward. Lang felt neither the businesses nor the city wanted to deal with
lost income and customers.
Brad Snowden requested a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Seward to
research and develop a cruise shop dock in Seward if there was interest.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Terry)
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Keil added Resolution 2014 -034 to the consent agenda.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 14 2014 Volume 39, Page 307
Bardarson pulled Ordinance 2014 -002 off of the consent agenda.
Casagranda pulled Ordinance 2014 -001 and Resolution 2014 -031 off the consent agenda.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2014 -034, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,834.75 From The Alaska
Highway Safety Office For The DUI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign During The 2014
Enforcement Period Of March Through September, And Appropriating Funds.
Non - objection to the new Brewpub Liquor License for Seward Brewing Co.
Approval of the new Restaurant/Eating Place — Public Convenience Liquor License for Seward
Brewing Co.
Non - objection to the Beverage Dispensary — Tourism Liquor License Renewal for the Breeze
Inn.
Approval of the February 24, 2014 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
Approval of the March 10, 2014 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Proclamation for Dallas Seavey, winner of the 2014 Iditarod Sled Dog Race.
Gold Pan for Sandie Roach' for 10 years of service on the Planning and Zoning
Commission.
Long asked to suspend the rules and the City Council agreed to read the proclamation for
Bear Awareness Month which was under Informational Items and Reports.
Bear Awareness Month Proclamation.
Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure encouraged the public to attend the Kenai
Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting on April 14, 2014 at Seward City Hall in the City Council
Chambers at 6:00 p.m. Borough Mayor Navarre would be at Seaview Plaza from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. on Tuesday April 14, 2014.
City of Seward, Alaska
April 14, 2014 City Council Minutes
Volume 39 Page 308
City Manager's Report, City Manager Jim Hunt stated the following purchase orders
between $10,000 and $50,000 were approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting:
$35,750 to Michael Hubbard DBA, the Financial Engineer for a services /rate design study;
$19,419.59 to Browns Electrical Supply for electrical supplies for the warehouse.
In the Public Works Department, Dairy Hill Drainage Mitigation Project was ready and fully
funded. Staff had responded to the ADEC Notice of Violations regarding Lowell Point Wastewater
Lagoon and had learned that sludge removal /disposal was not possible this spring. Discussions had
been positive with the Kenai Peninsula Borough for eventual disposal at the Soldotna Landfill. That
would require additional testing of the sludge. The Public Works staff was discussing additional
temporary aeration systems. Staff would continue to follow ADEC recommendations regarding odor
control, dissolved oxygen levels, and sludge disposal requirement.
The Electric Department had received a qualified proposal for electrical engineering for the
generator grant. Jim Pipkin and Charlie Forrest had tendered their resignations and their last day
would be May 30, 2014.
In the Harbor Department, the Gypsy was sold at the recent impounded vessel auction. The
final inspection of D float would be on April 10, 2014. Harbormaster Mack Funk worked the
ComFish Trade Show in Kodiak. H Construction of Palmer was awarded the contract to re -paint the
harbormaster office roof. The city planned to construct a new restroom at SMIC and the project
should be completed by June, 2014.
In Administration, City Manager Jim Hunt and Assistant City Manager Ron Long, Mayor
Jean Bardarson and Vice Mayor Marianna Keil were in Washington, D.C. and had met with
Congressman Young and staff, Senator Murkowski and staff, and Senator Begich's staff. Hunt and
Long were also in Juneau and met with Speaker Chennault and representatives.
In response to Keil, Electric Utility Manager John Foutz stated the Electric Department
would follow through on required licensing and documentation for the Financial Engineering
Company. Foutz further explained the funds to pay for the services /rate design study were in the
operating budget under contracted services.
Long discussed the trip to Juneau where they spoke to legislators about PERS, TERS, SMIC
Breakwater and the Lowell Point Sewage Lagoon.
Public Works Director W.C. Casey stated staff had been actively pursuing options for
sludge disposal and it had been with the Kenai Peninsula Borough landfill. There would be a new fee
of $45 per ton beginning July 1, 2014. The $490,000 loan the city was granted would expire in 2015,
and to take advantage of the loan the city must have an approved sludge removal plan. Staff was
diligently pursuing a sludge removal plan and it had been a problem throughout the state. Casey a
Request For Proposal had not been completed because nothing could be done until a plan for sludge
removal was in place.
Terry suggested the city should hire a project manager to deal with the sludge removal, since
it was budgeted for. Hunt and Long intended to get out a notice for a project manager within the
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 14 2014 Volume 39, Page 309
week.
Keil and Bardarson noted concern about losing the money from the Federal Highway
Department that had been earmarked for street improvements.
City Attorney's Report, Eric Wolforth summarized the report for February 21, 2014
through March 20, 2014 dealing with SMIC, the Seward Small Boat Harbor and Seward Land
Leases.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
City Council Travel Report by Mayor and Vice Mayor on legislative trips to
Washington, DC and Seattle, Washington, Mayor Bardarson stated they met with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Senator Begich's staff and Senator Murkowski and Representative Don Young.
They also met with representatives of Shell Oil, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Kip Knudson, with
the Office of the Governor, Holland America, AK Logistics, Vigor, SeaTac, Samson Tug, and Totem
Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE). Both Bardarson and Keil felt this was a very productive trip.
Planning and Zoning Commission Quarterly Report, Planning and Zoning Commissioner
Martha Fleming reviewed the work that had been done by the Commission since January 2014
including plats, code updates, mobile vendors, work sessions and emphasized the need for more
commissioners.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolution Requiring Public Hearing
Resolution 2014 -030, Amending The Harbor Tariff By Establishing Rates For The Vessel
Wash Down Pad At The Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC).
Motion (Terry /Keil)
Approve Resolution 2014 -030
Harbormaster Mack Funk stated the Vessel Wash Down Pad at SMIC was built with funds
from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
In response to Squires and Butts, Funk stated there would be no charge for a set up time. It
would be up to the owner of the vessel how much time they spend on the pad.
Terry agreed with the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's recommendation and the
research that had been done for these rates. She supported this resolution.
Motion Passed Unanimous
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April 14, 2014 Volume 39 Page 310
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
6 NEW BUSINESS
Ordinances for Introduction
Ordinance 2014 -001, Amending Section 7.10.315 Of The Seward City Code Relating To
Payment Of Transient (Guest) Moorage.
Motion (Terry /Squires)
Motion Passed
Introduce Ordinance 2014 -001
Unanimous
Ordinance 2014 -002, Amending Portions Of Seward City Code §15.10.140 (B) Specific
Definitions And §15.10.225 Land Uses Allowed Table Affecting Storage Containers And
Temporary Structures.
Mayor Bardarson declared a potential conflict of interest because her husband used storage
containers at his business. Keil ruled that a conflict did not exist and there were no objections.
Motion (Terry /Casagranda) Introduce Ordinance 2014 -002
Squires congratulated the Planning and Zoning Commission for their outstanding work on the
ordinance and stated he would support it.
Long responded to Casagranda that a building permit was needed for storage containers and
that they could still be a temporary structure. They would not need a foundation if removed when
agreed upon.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2014 -031, Amending The Legal Services Agreement Between The City Of Seward
And The Law Firm Wohlforth, Brecht & Cartledge.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda)
Approve Resolution 2014 -031
In response to Casagranda, Hunt stated the length of the contract was at will.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
Resolution 2014 -032, Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Additional Grant Funds From
The Alaska Division Of Homeland Security And Emergency Management In The Amount Of
$33,145 Plus Reallocate $8,160 For Purchase Of Communications Equipment, And
Appropriating Funds.
Motion (Keil/Terry) Approve Resolution 2014 -032
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 14 2014 Volume 39, Page 311
Fire Chief Eddie Athey stated the grant money would allow the city to replace the portable
radios now and the mobile radios as needed.
Police Chief Tom Clemons stated the grant did not cover enough to replace both the Seward
Fire Department and the Seward Police Departments radios.
Council Member Butts declared a potential conflict of interest due to the fact that he used
these radios as a Fire Fighter Officer. Bardarson ruled that a conflict did not exist and there
were no objections.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
Resolution 2014 -033 Contracting With First Student For Operation Of The Seasonal Seward
Shuttle Bus Service In An Amount Not To Exceed $245,415, And Appropriating Funds.
Council Member Terry declared a potential conflict of interest since the Shuttle Bus Service
would stop at her place of business. Bardarson ruled that a conflict did not exist and there
were no objections.
Motion (Terry /Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2014 -033
Darling suggested there be more supervision and training of the drivers, but otherwise she
found the Shuttle Bus Service to be a wonderful addition for the City of Seward.
Long stated he had only received compliments and to refer complaints to the Community
Development Department and he would follow up. In response to Casagranda, Long responded the
city received only one proposal.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items - None
Rescheduled the Work Session with the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home for May 27, 2014 at
5:30 p.m.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
National Libraries Week Recognition.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Terry congratulated Terri McKnight winner of the 2014 BP Teacher of Excellence. Terry
announced the new position for Christi Bell, Associate Vice Provost and Executive Director of the
Business Enterprise Institute (BEI) at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). Terry thanked
Sandie Roach' for an outstanding job on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 14, 2014 Volume 39 Page 312
Butts stated it had been a pleasure to work with Sandie Roach'.
i
6W Casagranda thanked Chief Clemons on a wonderful job of hiring officers that had gone
above and beyond in the line of duty. She was looking forward to progress being made at the Lowell
Point Sewage Lagoon.
Squires thanked Sandie Roach' for her time on the Planning and Zoning Commission and
asked her to take a break and come back. Squires thanked Deputy Chief Mathis and crew that
operated the ham radios at Seward Providence Hospital for the March 27, 2014 emergency exercise.
Squires asked for excused leave May 4 through May 20, 2014.
Darling thanked Bardarson, Keil, Hunt and Long for their representation in Washington D.C.
and on a job well done.
Hunt thanked Chief Clemons and congratulated Doreen Valadez as the new lieutenant on the
Seward Police Force.
Bardarson thanked Sandie Roach' for 10 years on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Bardarson showed the thank you cards from the first grade for their visit to City Hall and pizza party.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Sue Lang was very disheartened to hear what staff had to say about the Lowell Point Sewage
Lagoon.
Sandie Roach' said that First Student was looking forward to providing Seward Shuttle Bus
services.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (Keil/Terry) Go Into Executive Session And Give
Direction To The City Attorney Regarding
Potential New Agreements Or Contract
Changes To The Ground Lease And The
Maintenance And Operating Agreement
Between The City And Seward Ship's
Drydock Related To A Potential Transfer
To Vigor Industries.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council went into executive session at 9:03 p.m.
Council came out of executive session at 9:59 p.m.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 14 2014 Volume 39, Page 313
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:59 p.m.
Dianna Kinn MC
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(City Seal)
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