HomeMy WebLinkAbout08222016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 100
CALL TO ORDER
The August 22,2016 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
Marianna Keil Dave Squires
Dale Butts Sue McClure
comprising a quorum of the Council; and •
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Brenda Ballou, Acting City Clerk
Absent—Altermatt, Casagranda
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Dana Paperman said she was here for the children,and commended council for their public
service. She thought physical fitness and exercise was critical for one's ability to fight the common
cold or recover from surgery. She thought the city had historically supported wellness,but Paperman
felt small when she saw the closed signs on the doors at Alaska Vocational Technical Educational
Center(AVTEC). She had coached Urbach's youth basketball for the past 18 years,supervised open
gym and challenged kids on climbing wall, and encouraged seniors to use this facility for safe
walking practices;the AVTEC gym had provided low income families with an improved quality of
life. Paperman urged council to direct the City Manager to support the community's access to
recreation.
Willard Dunham thanked council for the opportunity to speak.Tonight he wanted to speak
about Seward's history and its future.AVTEC was under attack more now than in all its history.He
sat on the statewide board for AVTEC.In the best interest of the city,he urged the city to find a way
to work with AVTEC.Dunham said every program relying on state funds was under attack,and the
council needed to think about our town and find some common ground to do what was best for all of
us.
Grace Williams wanted to speak about AVTEC. Williams coached basketball for the past
six years and there were no other gyms available in town for young children.There was no substitute
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 101
for the AVTEC Gym. The rates for using the AVTEC gym had been very reasonable, and if the
public had been given the opportunity,they may have been willing to pay more.
Kirk DesErmia had lived in Seward for the past 15 years and he supported what everyone
else had said about the issue being about the children. DesErmia said no other facility had
racquetball, rock climbing, skating, or playtime for tots available to the public. He wondered why
there had not been a larger conversation with the public about this issue since the impact was so great
around the community.
Luke Davis was born and raised in Seward and was concerned that his toddler son would not
know AVTEC like he did when he grew up.He thought the community's future was in its youth;it
was important for our youth to have healthy activities available for them,especially with the weather
conditions in Seward. AVTEC was a perfect place for people to expend a lot of energy, and was a
safe place;they could learn a sport as well as life skills.He suggested that people would be willing to
pay an additional cost to keep the AVTEC gym open.
Hillary Bean said AVTEC was very important for kids and adults.She started taking stats 17
years ago when she arrived in town,and it had enabled her to meet people and get involved with the
community. Being able to go to AVTEC provided healthier alternatives. She urged the council to
please come to terms with AVTEC.
Mary Beth Koster reiterated everything that had been said about the closing of the AVTEC
gym to the public.If there was any way to keep this as a resource she hoped it would be done.Koster
brought two youth with her to speak this evening. Trey Ingalls said he spent a lot of time in the
AVTEC gym and hoped it wouldn't go away. Sam Koster said spending time in the AVTEC gym
helped him reinforce his skills.Marybeth Koster also wished there was an opportunity to discuss this
further before more decisions were made.
Max Ingalls thought of AVTEC as a catalyst for the community.Ingalls had come to know
the people who worked at AVTEC who helped manage the schedules.He thought it would be very
difficult to replace AVTEC. As a pastor at the Seward Community Church, he had several people
from his church who expressed disappointment to the closing of the gym to the public.
Terry Carter reiterated everyone's sentiments, and wanted to add that as a teacher, the
AVTEC gym allowed the playing fields to be leveled. Not all kids had the opportunity to access
everything through the school, and AVTEC was more affordable. Last year the high school
basketball team on which her son played had not had access to the high school gym for all of their
practices, and the team had been bussed to AVTEC for practices.
Ryan Pease said there were many different types of activities that took place at the AVTEC
gym, including funerals, weddings, and charities. It was difficult to get into the high school gym.
AVTEC had so many facilities to use; it would really hurt the community to lose it.
Andy Wilder had two young kids,aged 8 and 10.His family used AVTEC often,including
the racquetball court for which there was no substitute. He found it hard to believe that the city
could not fund this,and he was disappointed that the public had not been involved in discussions on
not continuing the use of the gym.He thought it would be very sad to lose the facility,and he thought
the people should have a say.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 102
Suzi Towsley had three sons and when she moved to town her oldest was three years old.At
that time she relied on the AVTEC open gym to allow them to play inside. She said her children
grew up there.
Stephanie Wright had worked for the Parks and Recreation Department. She thought the
kids and adults needed the AVTEC facility,and reiterated all the previous comments stated.Wright
thought the outrage from the public came from a lack of communication. An employee from Parks
and Recreation learned about the closure from a sign posted on the door last November. The Parks
and Recreation employees had been told over the winter that there would be budget cuts in the
department, but then they were disheartened to hear about monies being spent in other areas.
Dan Linkhart used AVTEC a lot during the wintertime. He thought moving the activities
out of the center of town and trying to squeeze activities into the high school facilities would not
work. The interaction with other members of the community was invaluable and could not be -
replaced. -
Myla Liljemark was a teacher and thought that often the people who suffered the most were
those who could not vote, the ones who were too young. Some quality products were simply not
money makers;recreation may not make money but it created a good product in the way of healthy
life styles and healthy citizens. Liljemark challenged the Seward City Council by asking what they
would do to ensure a quality product coming from Seward. Our citizens, our children, were the
future for our community.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/McClure) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Long added a discussion for relocating the City Council meetings for September, October, and
November.
McClure removed the Borough Ballot Proposition presentation from the agenda.
Bardarson added a discussion to schedule a work session with Governor Walker on the state's fiscal
plan.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2016-053, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services
Agreement In An Amount Not Exceed$58,903.00 With Harmon Construction,Inc.To Provide
Abatement,Demolition,And Removal Services For Derelict City-Owned Structures Located
At 408 Madison And 516—522 First Avenue,And Appropriating Funds.
Approval of the June 27,July 11,July 25,and August 8,2016 Regular City Council Meeting
Minutes.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 103
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Chamber of Commerce Report.Cindy Clock met with Steven and Arlene Fischer who
was the great-great grand-nephew of William H. Seward. All the winners of the Silver Salmon
Derby were posted on the chamber's website; Otto Hansen won the two Alaska Airlines tickets.
There had only been about one-third of the historical numbers of fish turned in,but the average per
fish weight was up by two pounds.The Kenai Fjords Tour Volunteer Appreciation Cruise to Fox
Island would be Friday, September 2,2016.The Chamber of Commerce was once again planning
to host Meet the Candidates Night for the upcoming Municipal Election.
Butts thanked the Seward Chamber of Commerce for a great season. McClure added her
appreciation that the chamber made volunteering for events really fun.
Borough Assembly Report. Brandii Holmdahl was traveling for work and was not
available to provide a report.
City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated there had been no purchase orders between$10,000
and$50,000 approved by the City Manager since the last meeting.
Hunt met with Amy McElroy from Senator Murkowski's office today and had provided a
tour of the Lowell Canyon Tunnel, as well as Seward Marine Industrial Center. The Public Works
Department had been planning to work on the Lowell Point Road tomorrow morning, so the road
may have intermittent closures; emergency vehicles would have priority to pass.
Assistant City Manager Ron Long said the Port and Commerce Advisory Board(PACAB)
would start meeting again in September.Long provided an update on the Snow River project:there
had been a very fast response from the federal government on this project; it would potentially be
funded up to 75%. Long credited effective lobbying for the effective response. Regarding the
AVTEC gym,Long said the talks with the schools had been happening and administration believed
the schools would be a viable alternative.During the last two budget cycles,administration had been
directed to cut the Parks and Recreation Department,and now citizens were saying they would pay
more money. Long said the schools had assured administration that they could make it work.
Administration was developing a Memorandum of Agreement and would bring that forward to
council.
Keil requested that administration re-evaluate the AVTEC situation;if citizens were willing
to spend more then perhaps there could be limited services available at AVTEC. She thought the
public was very passionate about this issue.
Long stated the top five programs used at AVTEC were the weight room, roller skating,
family gym,indoor park,and racquetball.Another important component was the showers,but those
were available at the harbor.
Keil was concerned with the email regarding AVTEC from DesErmia that no one on council
had received. Long said he had received it. Squires said the email listed was not his correct email
address.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22,2016 Volume 40, Page 104
In response to Squires, Long said administration was looking at potentially using all three
schools.
McClure requested a potential timeline for a gym solution.Long said they would have some
information at the next meeting.
In response to McClure,Long said the Snow River project was not being negatively affected
by the heavy rains yet.
In response to Butts,Long said the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home still had several years left
on their contract, and until or unless administration saw an indication that they were defaulting on
their commitment, administration would not take action.
Squires requested an update on the Air Force Recreation Camp. Hunt said Joint Base
Elmendorf-Fort Richardson (JBER) was issuing a Request For Proposal (RFP) for clearing the
property. Hunt said he would contact JBER for an update.
Bardarson said the Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) selected the participants in
Transco; Long stated there was no update.
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2016-052,Authorizing The City Of Seward To Issue Harbor Improvement Revenue
Refunding Bond, 2016 In The Principal Amount Of Not To Exceed $1,300,000 To Refund
Certain Outstanding Harbor Improvement Revenue Bonds Of The City, Fixing Certain
Details Of Such Bond, Authorizing The Sale Of Such Bond, And Providing For Related
Matters.
Motion (Keil/Squires) Approve Resolution 2016-052
Finance Director Kris Erchinger said these bonds had been issued in 2000 for float
reconstruction. Currently there would be a Net Present Value savings of 3%, and Erchinger would
not want to refinance for anything less than 3%.The bond bank's board would meet on September 6,
2016. On October 17-18, 2016 Erchinger would go out to price the bonds at market.
McClure asked why the City Attorney had not been used for this matter. Erchinger said
Woolforth and Cartledge had been used for years; Erchinger preferred using Woolforth and
Cartledge because they had experience. In response to McClure, Erchinger said this was coming
forward tonight to allow sufficient time for the required waiting period of 30 days before going into
effective.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 105
Squires said some items were not completed in the back up documentation. Erchinger said
the dates were not known until they went to market. The pre-closing would happen in November,
2016 and they would go out to market two weeks prior to the pre-closing. In the event the interest
rates were unfavorable at market time,Erchinger would not proceed and would wait until the next
time the bond bank met.In response to Squires,Erchinger confirmed she would not proceed for less
than 3%.
Earnhart suggested this resolution be postponed to the September 12,2016 meeting.He felt
there were some validity issues with this resolution.He was concerned that there was no contract in
place with Woolforth and Cartledge.The bond bank schedule should be on September 28,2016 and
he seriously disagreed with administration that they could hire any other counsel. Earnhart
discovered two weeks ago that this firm had been hired; Cartledge previously represented the bond
bank,not a municipality.
Motion To Postpone (McClure/Butts) Postpone Resolution 2016-052 To The
September 12,2016 Meeting.
Earnhart said this was not in the spirit of the City Attorney's contract.
In response to Keil, Erchinger said the last bond refinancing was done through Woolforth
Cartledge&Brooking prior to their dissolution on December 31, 2015.
Erchinger said administration had the right to hire any other legal counsel,particularly when
a different attorney had specific experience in a certain area. Further she said fees for bond counsel
were negotiated specific to a bond refunding occasion. Erchinger had been asked, but was
uncomfortable sharing with Earnhart the contract for Woolforth and Cartledge.
Long was not in favor of postponing this resolution and thought it would result in spending
more money. He did not believe there was any sort of procurement issue with this contract.
McClure withdrew her motion to postpone with no objection from council.
Earnhart said this resolution was marked that the City Attorney had reviewed the resolution
and he had not. Further,he said the contract with Woolforth and Cartledge was a public document
and he did not understand why it was being secreted.
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items
Discussion for relocating the City Council meetings for September,October,and November.
Council approved relocating the City Council,and Boards and Commissions meetings from the City
Council Chambers to the library for the months of September,October and November 2016 to allow
for the City Hall carpet replacement project.
Schedule a work session with Governor Walker on the state fiscal plan. Council scheduled a
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22,2016 Volume 40, Page 106
work session on Friday, August 26, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. in Seward City Council Chambers for the
purpose of hearing a state fiscal plan update from Governor Walker.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
June 2016 Financials for the City of Seward and Providence Seward Medical Center.
Memo thanking Seward businesses and home stay families for their support of the 44`h Annual Sister
City Student Exchange Program.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Butts thanked everyone who came tonight and voiced their opinions. School had started so
please be watchful for children on bikes and walking.
McClure said tomorrow night was the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting.They
would be considering the reduction of the Planning Commission.McClure reiterated the invitation to
Founders Day on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 2:00-4:00 p.m. at the library, and mentioned the
new city flag would be unveiled.Cindy Capra was sewing a prototype which would be donated to the
museum, and all entries would be on display.
Squires thanked everyone who spoke about the AVTEC gym.Regarding contracts,council's
input came directly from the public.He thanked the six candidates for putting their names in the hat
for council,and said if the public was not happy with the job he was doing then they should vote him
out. Squires also echoed the safety message about school. He wanted to see more enforcement for
pedestrians at the cross walks.
Bardarson thanked everyone for their support of the Japanese student exchange program.
She felt she had gotten a clear message about what the public wanted to see regarding the AVTEC
Um.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Suzi Towsley stated her request very clearly:please direct administration to get the AVTEC
gym open. She added that she was also concerned about crosswalk safety.
Devon Putney wanted council to look directly at the negotiations with AVTEC so that the
gym could come back. He thought there was still an opportunity to fix the situation before winter.
Andy Wilder didn't think it made sense to have three different locations for families with
young children to go to.This wasn't just a dollar conversation,it was practical as well.He wanted to
see the gym stay at AVTEC.
Michael Mahmood said for the first 10 years he lived in Seward, he lived in a dry cabin
without running water,and the showers at AVTEC were important.He felt the harbor showers were
not the safest at night. He wanted to see AVTEC gym remain open.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
August 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 107
Luke Davis said council should reflect on why they joined council, if not to better their
• community.He was born and raised in Seward and had a lot of history in town.He said AVTEC was
an integral part of the lives of many Sewardites. This was the very first council meeting he had ever
attended, and this was a big deal to him so he showed up to speak out.
Willard Dunham reiterated his comments about the need for the city to work cooperatively
with AVTEC. He was concerned with what was happening on a statewide level. There had never
been a more important time for the city to lend its support to AVTEC.In the last two years AVTEC
had suffered terribly from budget cuts,and he feared there was more to come.The city and AVTEC
should be joined at the hip right now in order to face the future together.In 1969, Seward fought 10
other Alaska communities to get AVTEC here;now AVTEC needed solid backing and support from
the city.He was delighted to see all of these young people who had been born and raised here came
out tonight and support AVTEC.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Keil commented about the state budget,and encouraged people to come to the work session
on Friday when the governor would be there.
Squires thanked everyone for speaking out again tonight and expressing their wishes so
clearly. He also encouraged people to come out on Friday to speak with Governor Walker. He
wanted to see administration work simultaneous negotiations with AVTEC, as well as the three
schools.
Long said he didn't want to throw AVTEC under the bus,just because they hadn't responded
to administration's email from 10 days ago yet.AVTEC was facing serious budget cuts,just as every
organization and government entity was. He cautioned about picking holes in the potential school
programs before they came about.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
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