The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About04112016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 11, 2016 Volume 40, Page 43 CALL TO ORDER The April 11,2016 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by City Council Member Ristine Casagranda. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief and Acting City Manager Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Ristine Casagranda presiding and Dave Squires Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt comprising a quorum of the Council; and Tom Clemons, Acting City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Absent—Butts, Keil, and Bardarson CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Jon Sewall was inspired to come down and say how pleased he was with the department heads within the city. He specifically praised Public Works Director W.C. Casey, noting Casey would always take care of issues and concerns of the city. Sewall attributed a lot of these great qualities from promoting from within and encouraged the city to consider that when hiring in the future. He wished Casey the best in his upcoming retirement. Bob Linville spoke on the issue of bringing a crane to the harbor and wanted to make sure it was still a priority.He asked what became of the last Port and Commerce Advisory Board resolution in October of 2015,which recommended council commit to purchasing a five ton crane on I Dock. Linville said the board worked hard on these resolutions and there had been much public testimony on this issue.He emphasized having a crane would provide a service needed in Seward and filled a public safety need. Robert Gardner addressed the issue of the citizens of Seward subsidizing utility costs for businesses.He did not agree with this concept as many residents had a hard enough time paying their own utility bills. He had seen his own utility bill escalate over the years and didn't see how subsidizing businesses made any sense. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 11, 2016 Volume 40, Page 44 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Squires/Altermatt) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Squires requested the recognition of the Seward Volunteer Fire Department Awards be moved to the next meeting. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2016-030,Adopting The Port And Commerce Advisory Board(PACAB)Priorities From March 2016 to April 2017. Approval of the March 14, 2016 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Non-objection to the renewal application of a Restaurant/Eating Place - Seasonal Liquor License#3021 for Alaska Seafood Grill. SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Seward Volunteer Fire Department Awards. (moved to the April 25, 2016 meeting) National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Recognition of Seavey Family. City Manager's Report.Acting City Manager Tom Clemons gave a brief report on behalf of the City Manager. There was one purchase order between $10,000 and $50,000 since the last council meeting: $35,692.56 from the Roads and Streets Department to Metco for sand and delivery to sand shed. Clemons reported that the City of Seward was requesting proposals from qualified proposers to provide transportation services to cruise ship passengers and other visitors for the 2016 and 2017 summer seasons. He listed the scoring criteria to be used for this request for proposal: Age, condition, quality and appearance of coaches: 20% Customer Service: 20% Safety Record: 20% Seating capacity and ADA accessibility: 10% Cost: 30% Total: 100% City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 11, 2016 Volume 40, Page 45 Clemons added that the Seward Police Department recently made an arrest after a successful police investigation that took about$20,000 of drugs off the streets. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Seward Planning and Zoning Commission Quarterly Report. Commissioner Martha Fleming stated there were two vacancies on the commission. The commission was busy with working on replatting city lots. Currently there were more than 25 building permits filed with the city, which was more than usual for this time of year. The commission met twice a month and Fleming complimented Planner Donna Glenz and the Community Development Department for their efforts to help people to develop their properties as soon as possible. PUBLIC HEARINGS—None UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS—None Other New Business Items INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None COUNCIL COMMENTS Squires asked to suspend the rules to speak with Mr. Gardner and Electric Utility Director John Foutz regarding Mr. Gardner's citizen comments about subsidizing electric utilities. There was no objection from council and they went off the rules. Squires asked Foutz to explain the handout Mr. Gardner brought this evening.Electric Utility Director John Foutz explained the letter was mailed to all utility customers this winter to inform them of the seasonal electric rate change that was approved by council.He reminded council and the public that electric rates would be reduced in the winter time and increased in the summer time.The net effect was zero to everyone,so it was not subsidization but an attempt to give assistance to year round utility customers. Foutz did clarify that there were currently two businesses being subsidized—Icicle Seafoods and the Alaska SeaLife Center, which was also approved by council. Council and administration had an eventual goal to take away those subsidies,but over several years to allow the businesses time to financially prepare for this larger cost. Squires thought the purchase of a crane was still a council priority,but at this point they were still determining how to pay for it. McClure congratulated the Seaveys on their accomplishments. She was proud of the whole family and it was neat to watch them. She was happy to say flooding on Second Avenue was ceasing due to joint efforts of the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board and the Public Works Department. She thanked the citizens who brought this issue up and was happy the culverts were flowing well now. The annual permitting day was coming up this week and the Borough Assembly would be in town next week for their annual meeting in Seward. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes April 11, 2016 Volume 40, Page 46 Altermatt congratulated the Seaveys; she had some background in mushing so it was pleasing to her that Seward placed an importance on mushing. She noted Bardarson,Keil,Hunt,and Long were all traveling on city business, so the dais was thin tonight. One thing that was occurring _ on this city trip was Bardarson and Keil would be looking at fishermen's terminals in Seattle and specifically at cranes. She agreed with Squires it was not off council's radar to address this issue and reminded Linville funding still needed to be determined,but it was still very much a council priority. Casagranda said there was a community production of Peter Pan happening this week put on by Seward's Port City Players with a full orchestra.It was a wonderful production and encouraged the public to attend as it was a great way to support the community and the local arts. She stated she was still in support of a crane in the harbor and not at SMIC,but added the city was in a deficit and looking for money for many things. It was still a priority,as she understood it. Casagranda thanked the Seaveys for supporting Seward. She was sony she was not at the meeting where they discussed the council travel to Washington, D.C. and Seattle, but thought it was overkill to have the Mayor, Vice Mayor,City Manager and Assistant City Manager traveling.In the future she hoped they could be more mindful of this. CITIZEN COMMENTS Bob Linville appreciated the support given by council tonight. He was hoping they could separate the project out to design at this point and perhaps draw funds from the fish tax. Linville feared this project would be forgotten. He worked very hard to garner interest from the fishing community and wanted to keep the momentum going. Jackie Wilde announced the date and times of permit day and also announced an upcoming open house for the Seward Airport Improvement Project. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. li ,ei'( y �r,�� ._�I� 1. _. L�,/� Jo anna Kis , CMC ' i.ti Ca•agr nda I Ci Clerk Couni.1 M•mber &oto.a:a eaarr4 (City Seal) a ce°e'rG.,v.P0" �,.\. , . 6 e° V m,...,,,,,...... �. m * o v 4, TH 0 e n AO. � ti n +i' ''0, ':17"' Idr,^b3 , sa pda�f4'' _ c ` ,