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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04132015 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 507 CALL TO ORDER The April 13, 2015 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice Mayor Marianna Keil. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Marianna Keil presiding and Ristine Casagranda Christy Terry David Squires Dale Butts Iris Darling comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Will Earnhart, City Attorney Absent—Jean Bardarson CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA • Motion (Terry/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Keil requested a City Attorney's Report be added under Special Orders,Presentations and Reports. Keil requested Resolution 2015-030 be pulled from the consent agenda. With no objection from council, Council Member Terry added Resolutions 2015-031, 2015-032, 2015-033, and 2015-034 to the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2015-031,Authorizing An Agreement With Electric Power Constructors(EPC)Inc. To Repair Load Tap.Changers On Four Station Transformers Located At Lawing, Spring Creek And Fort Raymond Substations For A Cost Not To Exceed $70,500. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 508 Resolution 2015-032, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With Hotwire Electric LLC To Replace Electrical Conductors Along Moat Way And The Southern End Of Excalibur Drive For An Amount Not To Exceed $58,722. Resolution 2015-033,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Grant Agreement With The State Of Alaska Department Of Commerce, Community, And Economic Development With A Total Award Of$1,991,999.99 For Phase II Of The North Seward Water Storage Tank And Pumping Facility, And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2015-034,Accepting Funds From The Alaska State Library For The Public Library Assistant Grant In The Amount Of$5,351.53 And Appropriating Funds. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,April 12-18,2015. Borough Assembly Report. Sue McClure reported the assembly had two long and extensive meetings since her last report. The consideration of removing the seasonal borough sales tax exemption on non-prepared food was a big topic. The ordinance to remove it and the substitute ordinance to change the exemption to six months was first decided to go to a vote of the people,but then a motion to reconsider was filed.It would be brought back before the assembly at their April 21, 2015 meeting in Seward. There was seven ordinances total on the agenda for public hearing, one being an appropriation of approximately $348,000 of cruise ship head tax money to Seward and another being$50,000 to the City of Seward to go to the cost of renewing the city's comprehensive plan. McClure reported the timeline for recall was being evaluated. She was happy to announce the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board was now full. April 16, 2015 was the borough's annual permitting day. On May 5, 2015, the budget would be introduced by the mayor to the assembly, beginning the budget process. The assembly was slated to consider an ordinance raising the sales tax cap from $500 to $1,000. City Manager's Report.Jim Hunt added the following purchase orders between$10,000 and $50,000 were approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting: $3,988,530 to Merrell Brothers Inc. to proceed with the Sludge Removal and Disposal Project. Hunt noted the vendor was now moving their equipment to work on the Lowell Point Sewage Lagoon. Hunt reported he intended to have financial reports to the council at their April 27, 2015 meeting. The automatic pay station for the RV Dump Station should be installed in the next few weeks. Hunt updated the council on the status of the newly vacated Seward Air Force Recreation Camp property and said staff was putting down on paper what their expectations would be for vacation of property for the lease holders. Harbormaster Mack Funk updated the council on the crane project.Administration wanted to approve an engineering contract to consult on this project.The funds need to be transferred from the general fund since the resolution appropriating funds used an account that was quickly shrinking. City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 509 Funk hoped by July 8, 2015 to receive a report on the feasibility of a crane in Seward. Terry thanked council for holding the lessees at the recreation camp accountable. She really didn't like to see that lot vacant and really hoped the city could get that land back sooner than later. Earnhart stated this was a lease that didn't have a lot of language in it. It was stated in the lease documents anything the Air Force installed on the land they were required to take back out,but they were still currently paying rent. She hoped council and the city would continue to pursue vacation and be ready to decide what to do with this land. Terry asked if they'd given the city an official date of vacation, Hunt stated at this point the Air Force's letters had been letters of intent to vacate and not formal letters to terminate. In response to Darling,Hunt stated crews were draining the sewage lagoons down and while they did not have a specific finish date projected, they expected to be done ahead of schedule. In response to Butts, Hunt said the carpet replacement for city hall was put on hold due to asbestos in the tile and adhesive under the existing carpet. The DMV was moving upstairs, abatement and improvements had been made to move the DMV, which was the first step in the process. After that office moved, staff would probably need a conversation with council on how to proceed. It was going to cost more than anticipated to replace the carpet due to asbestos. Terry said she understood why the Vice Mayor didn't travel as planned to Washington,D.C. and Seattle,Washington with the mayor to attend this busy meeting tonight,but she wished someone could have attended in her place. City Attorney Report. Will Earnhart stated his office had been busy with historical research like the Air Force Recreation Camp lease. The office continued to work on administrative matters,employment,and personnel questions and disputes.They provided contract review as well as lease extensions, new leases, lease assignments and contract issues. The attorney worked with administration on the potential land transfer on the agenda tonight regarding referendums,taxes,and other concerns. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations Presentation on recycling by Kenai Peninsula Borough Solid Waste Director Jack Maryott. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring A Public Hearing Resolution 2015-020,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With The Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative (KPHI) Donating Approximately A 0.7 Acre Portion Of KPB Parcel 14734005,Known As Pat Williams Park For The Sole Purpose Of Developing An Independent Senior Housing Facility Upon Condition Of KPHI Being Awarded All Other Necessary Funding For The Project Development And Completion. (Clerk's Note:for public hearing and approval. Introduction and first public hearing held March 23, 2015) City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 510 Hunt noted a revised agenda statement reflected the changes made at the March 23, 2015 meeting, including the size of the parcel and an updated fiscal note. There was new information brought forward since the last meeting. The Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative (KPHI) and the citizen task force recognized the public concerns noted for the proposed location at Pat Williams Park.Administration no longer wished to develop at this location.Instead,Council Member Squires had identified and recommended a portion of Lot 11 A in the Fort Raymond Subdivision near the Seward Army Recreation Camp. Hunt recommended council postpone this resolution indefinitely after a public hearing and consider giving direction to pursue this new location for donation to the KPHI. Motion (Terry/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2015-020 Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Margaret Anderson still wished this senior housing project to be located in Pat Williams Park.This was the closest the group had ever been in securing funds.The recommendation approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission was not set in stone.As a lifetime resident of Seward,she had no more voice or influence than short term residents. The new residents and young people represented the future of Seward.The seniors of this community dealt with change in the community. There was an element in this community that took pride in killing projects and council should not kill this project. Mike Brittain stated he liked the idea of the new location proposed by Council Member Squires. Mark Kansteiner thanked Squires for his wonderful amendment for the housing project to be considered in the Fort Raymond subdivision. He thought it was a win-win scenario for the community. Harold Faust added he was in favor of making a change in the plan to donate land for a senior housing project and thought senior housing in Forest Acres was a fine plan. Linda Lasota said on May 3,2015, she will have been in Seward for 25 years. A few years ago she moved out of the limits because she could not afford rent in this community.This proposal of making city land free to people got her to thinking of when she would be a senior citizen, and it made her wonder how she would be able to afford housing. Lasota noted citizens were not opposed to senior housing,but many appeared to be opposed to the proposed location at Pat Williams Park. The care her community members expressed on senior housing was something she really listened to. This was the city's opportunity to support and discuss this possibility. As a commissioner of the Historic Preservation Commission, she worked for the city council.Lasota asked council to respect the things their commissions did for them. The commission voted on the Municipal Lands Management Plan and council supported this plan that the Planning and Zoning Commission worked hard on preparing. She thanked all of them and all of the community for what they were doing to bring this to resolution.Not all of them would ever be happy,but they should remember they cared for each other. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 511 John French thanked the administration and Squires for this proposal and amendment,but didn't know too much of the property being offered. He stated the property should be evaluated for historical importance and hoped the council could send this proposal to the Historic Preservation before it went to council.He was a senior and supported affordable senior housing in the community. However,French was concerned about the lack of transparency of the seismic documents the group had for the Pat Williams Park parcel and was concerned about fair value housing. He thought the proposed new location was one he was happy to give full consideration to. It took a few minutes 50 years ago to inundate the waterfront and make that land available only to park because of the extreme damage it wreaked. The city needed seawalls for protection of the Waterfront Park. Keith Campbell was glad to see the idea proposed tonight and was adamantly opposed to using the Pat Williams Park for senior housing. He was not opposed to the idea of senior housing, however.Campbell was concerned for the residents and hoped the council wouldn't give away all its land when projects like this occurred. Kelly Hartz stated she appreciated the process and was happy to see it worked. She was happy people listened to what came out from the Planning and Zoning meeting. She noted again no one was against senior housing and was glad KPHI found another area that was viable to them. Carol Griswold said it would be nice to have a map to show where this area was located. It sounded like Forest Acres Park. She thought this process seemed flawed and the city seemed to be desperate to do something quickly for securing funding. She wished they had started months ago with a transparent process involving the entire community.Now it felt like the city was casting a net in an attempt to find a place that would work for this project. Griswold was astounded they were forging ahead without a really good plan; it seemed the city was stamping out one crisis after another. The people don't want Pat Williams Park gobbled up and she didn't want this donation of park land to become any kind of precedent. She hoped council would find giving away Pat Williams Park not in the best interest of the city and in the future would like to see deed restrictions on city parks. Griswold asked council to have a formal predevelopment process to make an informed decision and emphasized this project shouldn't be rushed. She hoped council would vote no tonight. Sharyl Seese was in favor of senior housing, and if it wouldn't be located at Pat Williams Park,she wondered why it has taken the city so long to move the Public Works building.It would be the best location for Seward's seniors. Seese stated the city should be supporting their seniors. Tim McDonald gave praise to Squires for coming up with an alternative location.He agreed with that solution.He stated this was a small town and they were challenged for green spaces.Things like parks,trails,and green spaces were what supported property values.This new area proposed was not surrounded by housing and other green spaces were all around them where property values likely wouldn't be affected. On the spiritual side of it,Pat Williams Park was a legacy to the late Williams. She had said to not touch a tree. The Alaska legislature deemed her Citizen of the Century, he thought it was crazy to even think about donating this land named in her honor. Phil Kaluza agreed with many comments stated tonight. The last he heard, the aforementioned housing grants were unfunded and whether or not the state legislature was going to City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 512 be issuing them any money this year was yet to be seen. Council should do the process right and take their time on this project. Steven Rouse,Executive Director of the Kenai Peninsula Housing Initiative,addressed some of the proposed lack of transparency and disagreed with that characterization.He gladly was willing to provide any information requested. He was dismayed by the litany of venomous phone calls he received from the community and felt it was unnecessary and unconducive to this project. KPHI proposed this parcel because it was the best option at the time. They were not here to rob a park or tarnish a legacy;they were here to talk about the idea of senior housing.KPHI was willing to look at any and all properties possible.He wanted to ensure this new proposed area was geographically and seismically sound. There was a possibility the funds for senior housing may not be issued this year, but their advice was to move forward and it was important to show the city's support and investment for this project. The commitment to provide the land sets in motion the process of obtaining funds and the sooner the city provided a commitment the better. No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Squires stated he had proposed a new area to consider and showed that area on a map. He stated neighboring areas would be maintained as park land and this area wouldn't impact any residential areas. The land use plan said if a better use for this area was proposed and developed, it can be recommended to be disposed. All utilities were installed and available and Squires didn't anticipate any fill would be needed. Motion (Butts/Darling) Postpone Resolution 2015-020 Indefinitely Terry was against postponing indefinitely because it left it hanging out there with no ending. She felt council should either vote this resolution up or down,or amend it by incorporating Squires' proposed changes. Keil thought it would be cleaner to postpone indefinitely and bring forward something new. Darling agreed. Hunt said administration would be willing to take direction on bringing a new resolution forward with a new parcel for consideration for council's meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. The motion to postpone indefinitely was withdrawn with no objection by council. By unanimous consent,council suspended the rules to allow KPHI Executive Director to speak. Rouse said the preliminary grant application deadline had yet to be published;he believed it likely to be the end of May,2015.He believed if council approved a resolution committing to donate land by May 26, 2015 it would likely work for their timelines and planning efforts. Squires asked if council amended this resolution tonight,would it be ready to be reviewed by Planning and Zoning as a public hearing item at their May 5,2015 meeting and then to council for public hearing and approval at their May 11, 2015 meeting? Council recessed at 8:33 p.m. City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13,2015 Volume 39, Page 513 Council resumed at 8:39 p.m. City Clerk Johanna Kinney stated council could amend Resolution 2015-020 and request it come back for an additional public hearing with the new,substantial changes at their May 11,2015 meeting. If council voted this resolution down or postponed it indefinitely, and council directed a new resolution for public hearing and approval to come forward, Kinney believed the earliest that could happen was the May 26, 2015 meeting. Darling thought council should amend the existing resolution. Squires said perhaps they shouldn't rush this. He brought this proposal forward as an idea to get people thinking about alternatives.He couldn't support the resolution as it was written currently.He was worried about the evacuation of the facility if it was located in Pat Williams Park.He agreed with French that it was a non-buildable site. Butts did not agree with the current proposal.He felt they needed clarity and a new proposal should come back to council for consideration. Council should direct Planning and Zoning to review this new location. Keil thought a motion to postpone indefinitely would be ideal because she didn't think council would want to be on the record as opposing senior housing.Postponing indefinitely sent this resolution away and allowed a new resolution to come back in its place. Motion (Darling/Butts) Postpone Resolution 2015-020 Indefinitely Casagranda was hesitant to vote for this indefinitely. Terry said she felt they owed the community a final vote. She wanted to be on the record, standing up for the preservation of Seward's parks. Motion to Postpone Failed Yes: Darling,Keil No: Butts, Squires, Terry, Casagranda Main Motion Failed Unanimous Motion (Squires/Terry) Direct administration to put a new resolution together,considering Lot 11A in Forest Acrs, Fort Raymond subdivision, making sure it is in compliance with Seward's land use plan, requesting this resolution go to the Planning and Zoning Commission for recommendation as a public hearing item at their May 5, 2015 meeting also to the Historic Preservation Commission for review with the new council resolution coming back to council for a public hearing and approval at the May 26,2015 meeting. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 514 Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-027,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Lease Agreement With Alaska Wireless Network LLC,For A Portion Of U.S.S.4828,Within Section 12,T1S,R1W, Seward Meridian, Seward Recording District,Third Judicial District, State Of Alaska,And Combine The Easement Agreement From Resolution 2010-048 Located Within A Portion Of Lot 1 Fourth Of July Creek Subdivision, Number 2, And Plat No. 98-09, Seward Recording District, Seward Meridian, Alaska Township 1 South, Range 1 West, Section 12, Sew ard, Alaska. Terry stated a potential conflict of interest because her husband worked for GCI.Regardless of the outcome of this resolution,her husband would retain his job and his salary would not be affected either way. Keil ruled no conflict existed and there was no objection from council. Motion (Terry/Darling) Approve Resolution 2015-027 Hunt said this was a lease in place for many years;this was asking for an extension. 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. Deputy Harbormaster Norman Regis said this was a cell tower site across the bay, combining an older lease with a newer one. It was a ten year lease with additional options. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-028, Revising The Port And Harbor Tariff Regulations To Increase The Charge For Dishonored Checks, To Revise The Charges For Re-Blocking Vessels And For Boat Lift Work That Extends Beyond One Hour, And To Revise The Wharfage Rates For Boat Fuel To Conform To The Charges In The Annual Contract With The Fuel Dock Operator. Motion (Terry/Squires) Approve Resolution 2015-028 Funk stated there were three proposed changes to the tariff in this resolution. One was to bring into conformance the raise in fees for dishonored checks. The second change raising the rates for the larger lift equipment at the Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), and the third change was to adjust the wharfage rates in the tariff so it conformed to the contractual rate with the fuel dock operator. 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. Terry asked what was stricken from the tariff for the additional lift fee rate for large vessels. In response to Terry, Funk said the paragraph regarding second and additional hours of lift was City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 515 deleted to allow for an increase in the rate because the additional hours were currently charged at a lesser rate. In response to Squires,Funk said the harbor intended to bill in quarterly hour rates. Darling was concerned with the lack of insurance of the fuel dock operators.Funk understood her point and they intended to take a closer look for future agreements. In response to Terry,Funk stated the city did not charge extra while waiting to use the wash down pad. Funk said the blocks themselves were provided by the vessel owner or they could rent them. They were not provided by the city. Regis added the city was providing just the service of lifting the vessel up and placing it on the blocks.Terry said it was confusing the way it was written. Butts asked if the city required every vessel to be washed down.Funk said generally they did. Butts was concerned that all the fees were adding up to be too much: the city lifted a vessel, transported it to the wash down pad, increasing the time the vessel was in the lift, and now the city wanted to charge more money for the initial lift and every fifteen minutes after that. Funk said this was correct and noted there was already an extra charge during the wash down process. Butts was. concerned with too many increases for various charges.Regis clarified the city did not double up on time charges. Hunt added the uplands area at SMIC was full and this equipment was in use. Squires said some of the comments he'd heard from the last work session that fishermen were feeling the strain on costs. He wanted to know why he should support these increases. Hunt said because the city needed to pay for the new 330-ton travel lift purchase and added Seward was still competitive across the market with other harbors. Squires said perception was important. Funk added that the capacity of the new equipment was greater and they increased the rates by about that percentage of capacity, approximately 20%. Butts said some of the increase in cost was the wash pad requirements they were putting on the consumer. He had no problem with this if they were going to be competitive. Motion Failed Yes: Darling,Terry No: Casagranda, Butts, Squires, Keil UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2015-029, Authorizing The Seward Community Health Center To Apply For A 2015 US Department Of Health And Human Services Health Resources And Services Administration Health Infrastructure Improvement Program Grant Requiring City Commitment Of Any Funds Necessary To Complete The Project. Motion (Terry/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2015-029 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 516 Hunt said they were looking for approval and direction to allow the Seward Community Health Center (SCHC), through the city, to apply for up to a$1 million grant for expansion of the facility. The Providence Administrator and SCHC Executive Director were here tonight if the council had questions for them. Terry had some reservations on this.The SCHC board intended to do an intense cost analysis. She thought there was reference of this application coming back to council one more time in case council wanted to opt out of submitting this application. Hunt said the intent was not to build that opt out statement into this resolution,but allow for any rescinding. Terry wanted assurance this was going to come back to council for potential rescinding. Hunt agreed it was worth putting on the agenda for council to take action on; he could have that ready at the next meeting.Hunt added accepting the funds would still need to come back to council, so that was another opportunity to opt out if they wanted to. Terry was concerned that aside from this being on the record, and the promise that a resolution would come back to confirm,the city had the ability to bow out of this grant by the end of the summer. Casagranda was not inclined to support this as it did not seem fiscally responsible.Keil said the total cost was a$4,019,014 for Phase I of the project,and that was what she understood council was agreeing to tonight by allowing this grant application to be completed. Darling had similar concerns with Terry. She received a letter that raised apprehension with her that perhaps this wasn't a good time to expand the hospital. Council recessed at 9:23 p.m. Council resumed at 9:27 p.m. Squires asked about the remaining funds the city would need to come up with for the project. Finance Director Kristin Erchinger clarified one of the things the SCHC board was asking for was approval to proceed with the grant application process and to also buy the city and the SCHC board time to do their due diligence to determine if this was a feasible project. The SCHC was asking for permission to prepare the application for submission. She'd rather not ask how the city was intending to pay the difference, because that wasn't even the question at this point. In response to Casagranda, Erchinger stated the Phase I of this project was just for the expansion of the SCHC and not Providence.Addressing Providence's needs was another option but the main question tonight was should the SCHC be submitting a grant for a million dollars. In response to Darling,Erchinger said the$4 million figure was the amount they planned to use with the intent to apply,and later they would formally determine with the public and the council what amount and what project they would be pursuing. Erchinger reiterated this resolution was asking for approval to prepare a grant application only.The council would also be blessing the grant application on the council level if and when the time came. The city and SCHC had to submit their intent to apply by April 21, 2015. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 517 Butts appreciated all the work that had gone into this so far but felt they were rushing into it, and the city should be looking at the future of the hospital building more long term. Casagranda wanted the SCHC to gain momentum first and they needed to be careful with their startup costs.She would be false to say she may be supporting an expansion project later down the road. Darling appreciated the Finance Director's explanation tonight.Erchinger said the intent was to pass another resolution that if no further action was taken by the council, the grant application would not be submitted.Keil said a primary function of the council was to provide for the health and safety of the community;the city should take advantage of this opportunity. She thought it would be fiscally irresponsible to not let them go forward and apply for the grant. Terry agreed that the SCHC could expand,but not necessarily at the city's expense. But she was more assured that the SCHC would be doing due diligence and administration would be coming back to council for additional confirmation. This would at least move them forward to make a good decision but she was nervous this would not come back to them for further approval. As long as it came back to the council, she was in favor of voting for this. Squires said he was originally not going to support this.But looking at the information from the SCHC, he was willing to go ahead and look at this grant. Since it would come back if the city accepted the grant or not, at that time he expected a lot of information and was willing to give them the chance to work on it. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2015-030,Adopting The Planning And Zoning Commission Priorities From April 2015 To April 2016. Motion (Terry/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2015-030 Keil requested this come off the consent agenda because she wanted to include the examination of 30 foot lots in Seward,as discussed in council's joint work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission. She would like to add this to the resolution. Motion to Amend (Terry/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2015-030,adding a new number five under "Short and Medium Term Priorities" in section one: "Examine development of 30 by 100 foot lots within Seward City limits." Squires thought this provision was already allowed. Hunt said it was allowed within the original town site and he thought the intent would be to broaden that provision. Squires thought that was a can of worms,but thought it was fine to have the commission review this again and bring it back for consideration. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 518 Main Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Direct Administration and the Port and Commerce Advisory Board to work together to develop potential tidal grid site recommendations to provide to Council. Recommendations should include pro and con listings/discussions for each proposed site. These pro and cons should include for Council deliberation,but are not limited to,future planning,cost,location, accessibility, community desires, environmental, permitting, and other factors that evolve during the review and recommendation process.Locations can be examined in the Small Boat Harbor and also the Seward Marine Industrial Center, or other City Tidelands. Final recommendations provided to Council can include a PACAB ranking of recommended sites. (Terry) Terry said she really wanted to give specific direction from their joint work session with the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. Keil said there was no mention of proposing fees to offset costs;she would like them to look at fees in addition.If they could add looking at the fees as well,that would be helpful and Keil asked that be noted in the record. Hunt said from administration's perspective,this was a matter of asking at what cost and at what level of expertise.He would prefer council direct administration for a$30,000 appropriation to approach this idea. Terry preferred PACAB and administration narrow down potential locations first, and then bring that to council with recommendations and perhaps at that time an appropriation.Keil thought it- didn't hurt to have PACAB and administration work together and come back with recommendations and then eventually hire a contractor to do a study. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None COUNCIL COMMENTS Butts thanked everyone for their comments and thanked the city's dispatchers. They had a high stress job. Casagranda wanted to talk about the amazing conference she attended for citizens for climate change. She had a wonderful experience and appreciated representing the City of Seward at this event. The event touched on mitigation and litigation,but the end note was Mother Nature was really in charge. Darling said it was great having everyone come to the meeting tonight.Council made tough decisions every other week, and she wanted to hear from people more. It helped them make intelligent decisions, and she asked the public to stay involved. City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 519 Keil thanked council for indulging her tonight as she presided the meeting. She encouraged the public to attend the goodbye party for Monty and Florita Richardson. Keil was sad they were leaving Seward. She gave her respects for the friends and family of Frank DeMarco,former Planning and Zoning Commissioner. She noted he appreciated the SCHC and he would be missed. CITIZEN COMMENTS Tim McDonald observed the public hearings and the public didn't have all the access to the information the council and administration had.He thought the public comment period should be put after council and administration comments. He thought considering 30 foot lots was a bad idea. Council might want to consider keeping larger lots, but allowing two houses on one lot. He didn't like the situation happening at Lowell Point and stated the city was affecting property values in a different community.McDonald was perplexed that the city was dredging the sludge at the bottom of the lagoon for the smell at the top. He didn't think the sludge had direct relation, if it was it should have been a routine maintenance duty. Bob Linville liked the way council worked through the issues tonight and appreciated their intelligent efforts.He cared about the harbor discussions tonight and thanked them for attending the joint work session last week.He felt there was a lack of communication with administration.Linville would like to see a crane but felt the idea of a larger crane on I dock was being resisted from the administration. He really hoped the city could get a crane. He stated a grid would be expensive and competitive to lift a boat in Seward. But it was an important piece of infrastructure. PACAB would be happy to figure it out. He thanked them for steering them clear of controversy on the park donation. Linda Lasota noted the Historic Preservation Commission resolution in council's packet had an incorrect statement. The next day after approval she filed a motion to reconsider it to get it corrected. She clarified for the public that there was an incorrect sentence in section 3,Pat Williams Park was on the Seward Historic Preservation List and it should state it qualifies,as it was currently not on this list. She thanked Squires for his recommendation to include the Historic Preservation Commission on the land donation for senior housing. They were interested in this issue and they would be happy to be involved. Lasota was pleased the R/V Sikuliaq was being worked on in Seward. John French spoke primarily as a non-fishing representative of the fishing industry. He worked with a fishing industrial technology center, and felt he had an awareness of what helped make the fishing industry happy. It was more of an industry the community gave it credit for. It brought in a lot of tax.French agreed with Butts that the industry felt like it was getting nickeled and dimed. He was unable to attend last week's work session but noted tidal grids were standard in harbors.He was worried about the fee structure the city was confronting boat users with.They didn't have access to a good commercial stock, which hurt them already. They did the right thing voting against the fee increase and for looking at the grid. Sandie Roach' loved the public process and thanked the council for listening to both sides of the community. She thanked Keil for amending the priorities for the Planning and Zoning Commission because they did need smaller lots as Seward didn't have a lot of land. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 13, 2015 Volume 39, Page 520 COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Squires said with the Lowell Point dredge project went through the correct procurement procedures.This council had done a good job with city spending and commended his fellow council members. Casagranda shared more on the conference she attended. They were a forward thinking community emphasizing lightening the carbon footprint. She appreciated the recycling presentation tonight. She stood on the mayor's panel with other communities and felt Seward had a good hold on mitigation of climate change. She would like to give a better travel report on this climate change conference at the next agenda. Keil noted if Seward didn't have a sewage lagoon their property values would be very low. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m. Jo hanna K .ne , C C .rianna Keil city Clerk Vice Mayor (City Se; ,O,f�e®B ••:t OF Sehe *04. A ®° 0�g��® • 47 e s SEAL L o 6o d °m°•aaaa,e4°D: 6' P4,11s.78110 S‘'