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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 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes 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 rk (City Seal) ! •rw•• ♦hr i'•N •��A[`' f`ts ' V • V p e. s ••,q rF of P�,,. J J n Bardarson Mayor