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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12082014 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska %pilaff/9 City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page CALL TO ORDER The December 8, 2014 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m.by Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY Lieutenant Doreen Valadez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda David Squires Iris Darling Dale Butts comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk Absent—Christy Terry CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Tim McDonald reminded council about the baseline trail and encouraged them to preserve it into the future. Sara McDonald was representing the Save Our Seward("SOS")Pets and was appreciative of the support the group received at the Holiday Craft Fair this weekend.They had accumulated over 130 letters of support from the public for a new animal shelter. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Darling put Resolutions 2014-097, 2014-098, 2014-099, and 2014-100 onto the consent agenda. Keil requested to postpone council's AML Reports to the January 12, 2015 meeting. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Resolution 2014-093, Amending The 2014 Budget To Record Expenditures Of$372,955.97 Paid By The State Of Alaska On-Behalf Of The City Toward The City's Public Employees Retirement System Liability For The Period January Through June,2014. Resolution 2014-096,Electing To Participate In The Alaska Municipal League/Joint Insurance Association Loss Control Incentive Program For The City Of Seward For The 2015-2016 Policy Year. Resolution 2014-097,Authorizing Purchase Of A Bobcat Toolcat 5600 Utilizing The State Of Alaska Contract In The Amount Of$53,755.00. Resolution 2014-098, Rescinding Resolution 2014-079 And Authorizing The Purchase Of A Replacement Vehicle For The Public Works Department,Unit#120,In An Amount Not-To- Exceed$30,643. Resolution 2014-099, Rescinding Resolution 2014-078 And Authorizing The Purchase Of A Replacement Vehicle For The Public Works Department,Unit#131,In An Amount Not-To- Exceed $32,929. Resolution 2014-100, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $1,100.85 From The Alaska Highway Safety Office For The DUI High Visibility Enforcement Campaign During The 2014 Enforcement Period Of December 10—December 31,2014 And Appropriating Funds. Approval of the September 22, 2014 and October 13, 2014 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes,the September 22,2014 and October 13,2014 Special City Council Meeting Minutes. Cancel the December 22,2014 City Council Meeting. Reschedule the City Manager's Evaluation to the January 12, 2015 meeting. Direct staff to send a letter requesting the State of Alaska maintain the job service office in Seward. SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Certificate of Recognition to Tom Kain for service to the Seward Area Alaska State Parks. Borough Assembly Report. Sue McClure said the assembly met on November 25,2014 and was successful in their first live web streaming broadcast of the meeting. Future broadcasts would also include committee meetings. One of the enhancements would include having assembly members vote via iPads during the meeting. The next assembly meeting would be tomorrow night and the agenda was very brief. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page City Manager's Report.Jim Hunt stated the following purchase orders between$10,000 and $50,000 had been approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting: $20,020 to CRW Engineering Group, LLC to complete the site survey for the location of the North Seward Water Storage Tank & Pumping Facility; $25,740 to CRW Engineering Group, LLC to begin the geotechnical investigation, sampling, testing, etc. on the site of the new storage tank; $12,537 to Univar for calcium chloride; $15,235 to CGR Tires and Service for loader tires and repairs; $10,749.40 to Different Strokes of Alaska for repairs of an auction-purchased Ford for the Parks and Recreation Department; and$34,000 to MacSwain and Associates for city land appraisals. In the Harbor Department,lessees had been notified that appraisals were coming and the draft report would be due February 20,2015. The Harbormaster attended the Fish Expo in Seattle from November 19-21,2014 with Cindy Clock and Andy Mezirow.The harbor was accepting slip renewal contracts this month. This year the contracts that were mailed included as much information as possible already completed in order to be as efficient as possible.A new harbor employee,Kaylene Nuss, started working at the harbor on December 3, 2014. The construction season for the Electric Department finished for the season; the last underground service was installed last week.The downtown holiday lights were ordered but,delayed by the shipper;they were due to arrive in town on December 10,2014 and would be put up as soon as they arrived. Public Works staff met with CRW Engineering to begin surveying and soil testing at the site of the new North Seward Water Storage Tank&Pumping Facility.The grant was extended through December 2015 and the department was on schedule for making the completion deadline.The close out of the Dairy Hill Drainage Mitigation Project was completed,and$29,659.68 was returned to the Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board(SBCFSAB)to be used for other projects.The project came in at budget and no contingency was needed. Thank you to the SBCFSAB and the Kenai Peninsula Borough for their additional contribution to this project. Full funding of this project was made possible from the Department of Homeland Security(DHS)and SBCFSAB.Results were back from the sludge testing at the Lowell Point and SMIC sewage lagoons; all of the results were acceptable to both the Central Peninsula Landfill and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation(ADEC).Merrill Bros.was in the process of getting approval from ADEC for required permits.Dissolved Oxygen Levels at the Lowell Point Lagoon returned to normal and the additional float aerators would soon be removed due to icy conditions on the lagoon. Public Works employee Rex Davis retired last week and the department was seeking an Operator Mechanic to replace him. The Police Department was hosting a Citizen's Police Academy starting in January, 2015. Classes would be held one evening per week for approximately 10 weeks and was free of charge. This was a highly informative and interesting learning experience which offered insight into the law enforcement profession. Prospective applicants must be at least 18 years old and were subject to a criminal background check. Applications would be accepted until December 21, 2014. The Sports and Recreation Department was preparing for fall adult sport leagues end-of- season tournaments,as well as the start of the 2015 winter leagues in mid-January.At the Teen and Youth Center,vacation break day camps would start December 22,2014 through January 2,2015 for elementary ages.The annual Breakfast with Santa was scheduled on Saturday,December 20,2014 at the Senior Center; the first seating was at 9:00 a.m. and the second seating was at 10:30 a.m. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Assistant City Manager Ron Long said Orion Marine Contractors terminated the rock production contract when they concluded their base bid deliverable, per their contract option provision.At the airport stakeholder planning meeting,Long was frustrated with the State of Alaska representatives' recalcitrance for discussing flood mitigation as part of the project. Long thanked Dano Michaud for repairing the lighted Christmas tree on the hillside. In response to Casagranda,Hunt clarified that Merrill Bros.was seeking permitting from the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) to secure an appropriate back-up disposal location for the Lowell Point sludge. In response to Bardarson, Parks and Recreation staff Brennan Hickok did not have the documentation about the new Plexiglas shelter at Kawabe Park with him,but he would provide it to council. Long confirmed that the RV dump station pay station would be installed and operational in time for the next tourist season. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations Council Travel Report by Alaska Municipal League Conference Attendees. This item was postponed to the January 12, 2015 meeting. Update on the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2014-091,Approving The Seward Small Boat Harbor Plan. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2014-091 Long said the Port and Commerce Advisory Board(PACAB)had been working on updating this plan since council assigned them the task in 2013, and the plan had been expanded to be more comprehensive and would include the uplands and parking areas. 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. Motion To Amend (Squires/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2014-091,Seward Small Boat Harbor Plan,section 4.5 Float System Utilities, Fire Protection by striking the words "Uniform Fire Code (UFC)" and replacing it with "International Fire Code (IFC)" and anywhere else "UFC" was referred to in the plan. Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Consent City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Squires requested that administration provide documentation to reflect council's concern that all leases get reviewed for emergency accessibility/easements. Motion to Amend (Casagranda/Darling) Amend Resolution 2014-091,Seward Small Boat Harbor Plan, by creating a new section: "5.5 Leased Properties-all harbor leases, upon renewal and/or change of lease, shall be brought before city council for evaluation of accessibility issues." Secondary Motion To Amend Amend Resolution 2014-091,Seward Small (Casagranda/Darling) Boat Harbor Plan, by changing the location of the amendment to section 4.3 Development Criteria:"Leased Properties- all harbor leases, upon renewal and/or change of lease, should be brought before city council for accessibility issues." Secondary Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Secondary Motion To Amend Amend Resolution 2014-091,Seward Small (Casagranda/Keil) Boat Harbor Plan, under section 4.3 Development Criteria:"Leased Properties- all harbor leases, upon renewal and/or change of lease, should be considered by administration for easement and right-of- way access." Secondary Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Primary Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2014-092,Revising Sections 200 And 205 Of The Harbor Tariff In Order To Revise Billing Practices To Meet Internal Revenue Service Compliance For Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2014-092 Long said the bond bank had alerted administration to a disparity in the city's tariff. The Internal Revenue Service viewed annual moorage contracts in a different light — they did not consider them appropriate for tax-free bonds,and suggested the city modify the tariff to more closely align with billing practice regulations. 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. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Darling requested council have a discussion item in February to accommodate more fishing vessels at the harbor. Hunt suggested including members of the Seward Economic Growth Plan group as well. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2014-094,Amending The 2015 Budget To Reflect Mid-Cycle Budget Changes,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Casagranda/Squires) Approve Resolution 2014-094 Long said this resolution would"clean up"adjustments that had become necessary over the course of the last year. Casagranda wanted to see an effort made by the city to reduce expenses and bring new revenue opportunities brought forward. She was concerned that expenses were creeping up consistently. Keil added that,although she had seen budget cuts in expenses,in the near future the federal and state dollars that the city used to count on would not be available, so she also thought it was important for the city to find new revenue sources. Motion To Amend (Casagranda/) Amend Resolution 2014-094 by removing the $25,000 for nuisance abatement. Motion died for lack of second. Main Motion Passed Yes:Squires,Butts,Darling,Keil,Bardarson No: Casagranda Resolution 2014-095,Adopting The Municipal Lands Inventory And Management Plan—2014 Update. Motion (Casagranda/Darling) Approve Resolution 2014-095 Long said the Planning and Zoning Commission had been working on this plan for the past 18 months. Administration recommended council adopt the amendments presented in a laydown. Motion To Amend (Keil/Darling) Amend Resolution 2014-095 by adopting the following amendments: under Public Facility Lands—Small Boat Harbor,South Harbor Uplands,strike the sentence under City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Description, "Currently governed by navigational servitude."; under Public Facility Lands —Water and Watershed, strike the word under Description,"levee." And under Recommendation, add the sentence, "Continue working with our congressional delegation toward the Army Corps of Engineers accepting transfer of ownership and maintenance responsibility of the diversion wall, tunnel and flume."; under Leased Lands—Small Boat Harbor Area, Kenai Fjords National Park Visitor Center (L85-045), strike the following sentence under Recommendation, "Evaluate future use of building when lease expires."; and,Leased Lands—Small Boat Harbor Area,Marina's Restaurant,change the title by striking "Marina's Restaurant (Scott Bald&Carol Lallatin)and replacing it with Seward Lodging III (Elliott Jackson)". Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2014-101,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Purchase Agreement With Meyer's Power Products To Provide 5KV Electrical Switchgear In Support Of The Movement Of Two(2)Electro-Motive Diesel(EMD)Generators From Arctic Pack Enclosures Into The New Generator Building For An Amount Not To Exceed $182,270. Motion (Casagranda/Squires) Approve Resolution 2014-101 Electric Utility Manager John Foutz said this was the final piece of the electric warehouse project. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2014-102,Approving An Engineering Contract With R& M Consultants In The Amount Of$151,102 For The Design Of The Replacement Of B, C, S, And A Portion Of G Floats At The Seward Small Boat Harbor,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2014-102 Harbormaster Mack Funk said half of the funding for this project should be coming from the state. Long added that Project Manager Rick Wise would be working on this project, so that would be a cost savings to the city. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page In response to Butts,Funk said I Float and T Dock were renovated about seven years ago,and were not contemplated in this new project. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2014-103,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Your Clean Energy,LLC To Complete An Economic Evaluation Of Starter District Heat System In The Library And City Hall Annex,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Casagranda/Keil) Approve Resolution 2014-103 Long said this was a professional services contract that was brought to council with the intention of raising awareness and lowering energy costs. The original hope was to include the Library,Annex,City Hall and Fire Department buildings,but due to poor insulative qualities of the City Hall and Fire Department buildings,there would be no appreciable cost savings to pursue this project for those buildings. In response to Darling, Long said the Alaska Energy Authority would be involved in this project. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2014-104,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With CRW Engineering Group, LLC For Professional Services For The North Seward Water Storage Tank& Pumping Facility Project,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Casagranda/Squires) Approve Resolution 2014-104 Public Works Director W.C. Casey said this endeavor began in 1999 when the city first recognized there would eventually be a shortage of water for the community. Bardarson requested that administration provide council with a budget for this entire project. Motion To Amend (Squires/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2014-104 by adopting the following laydown version changes: under section 1.0 Defmitions, 1.5 Project,replace the defmition with " "Project" shall mean tank design,developing bid documents,bid support services for construction of the North Seward Water Storage Tank & Pumping Facility, as further described in Exhibit A."; and, under section 5.0 Schedule For Completion,extend the Final Completion date from February 15,2015 to March 15,2015. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Continue the term of the Seward Recreation Committee, a Special Ad Hoc Citizen Advisory Committee, through 2015 and direct the City Clerk to solicit interest for one seat on the committee.There was no objection to extending the term of the committee for one additional year, to sunset on December 31, 2015. Discussion and direction on downtown decorative lights.Darling would survey the Downtown Merchants Association about their opinion on having a single-globe light fixture versus a five-prong light fixture downtown. Foutz was directed to obtain photographs of both types of lights. Administration was directed to prepare a resolution for council. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Providence Seward Medical Center Financial Reports through September, 2014. COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil thanked the animal shelter representation and advised those working on fundraising to send all the letters of support sent to their legislators in one big batch.Keil thanked Rex Davis for his service,and thanked everyone who helped prepare the Municipal Lands Plan and Small Boat Harbor Plan on the agenda tonight. Butts thanked everyone for their contributions.Angel Tree gifts were due by Friday and the wrapping party would be held on Saturday at the fire hall at noon. Butts asked administration to assist in council going more paperless. Casagranda said downtown business she encouraged everyone to support small businesses. Some business owners had complained to her that they were paying the highest utility rates,and felt they were getting the short end of the stick; she suggested administration reach out more to the business owners so they felt they were being heard. Squires congratulated Rex Davis on his retirement.He thanked everyone for donating to the "Movember" fundraising effort. He and Fire Chief Eddie Athey attended a memorial service for Seward Volunteer Fire Fighter Clif Simons in New York. Darling thanked City Planner Donna Glenz for her work on the plans. Hunt thanked everyone for working hard this year and accomplishing a lot. Bardarson said thanked everyone for their accomplishments this year.She wished everyone happy holidays. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 8, 2014 Volume 39,Page CITIZEN COMMENTS Jane Belevarick thanked council for supporting the animal shelter and requested that city land be designated for the project. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bardarson said the city would be looking for the appropriate location for the new animal shelter. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 p.m. Johanna Kinney, CMC Jean Bardarson City Clerk Mayor (City Seal)