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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05082017 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes May 8,2017 Volume 40, Page 218 CALL TO ORDER The May 8,2017 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY • City Manager Jim Hunt led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL • There were present: Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil Dave Squires Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt Erik Slater comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Will Earnhart, City Attorney Absent—Casagranda • CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (KeiUSquires) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Bardarson added a Travel Report to Seattle,Washington and Washington,D.C.by Mayor and Vice Mayor under Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Ordinance 2017-002, Amending Portions Of Seward City Code §15.10.220 Development Requirements Table — Notes; To Extend The Maximum 26 Foot Building Height Area To Include The South Harbor Uplands,Tract H,Waterfront Park Replat.(Introduced and set for public hearing and enactment on May 22, 2017) Approval Of The April 10,2017 And April24,2017 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes May 8, 2017 Volume 40, Page 219 Modify The May 22,2017 Work Session To Discuss Housing By Changing The Start Time To 5:00 P.M.And The Location To The Community Room At The Library. SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS-AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards National Historic Preservation Month. Harbor Opening,Blessing of the Fleet& Mermaid Festival. Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Day. Peace Officers Memorial Day& National Police Week. National Corrections Officers Week. Borough Assembly Report. Assembly Member Kenn Carpenter said the assembly had been working on the budget, with the third budget hearing approaching. Carpenter noted the assembly was not planning to make any cuts from the school budgets this year. He encouraged the public to come to the committee and assembly meetings. City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated there was one purchase order between$10,000 and $50,000 approved by him since the last council meeting:$21,375 to Potelcom for 25KV UG primary wire for the Electric Department. Hunt stated the city intended to solicit Requests For Proposals for engineering services for refurbishing the Lowell Canyon water storage tanks and announced the evaluation criteria: • Project Understanding= 10 Points • Methodology and Approach=20 Points • Project Team=30 Points • Relevant Project Experience='20 Points • Contractor Location= 5 Points • Clarity of Proposal= 15 Points Assistant City Manager Ron Long said he and the City Manager had recently completed their annual trip back to Washington,D.C. to discuss priorities and to meet with legislators. They had two main objectives: positioning of homeporting two fast-response Coast Guard cutters to Seward, and the maintenance and ownership of the Lowell Canyon Tunnel. In response to Squires,Long stated the United States Coast Guard planned to station six fast- response cutters in pairs,with Ketchikan and Kodiak likely each getting a pair.The real decision yet to be made was where the final two would be placed, and that was what Seward was vying for. City Attorney Report.Will Earnhart provided a report to the council for the last month. Things had slowed down in the past few weeks; he continued to assist with general items, such as City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes May 8, 2017 Volume 40, Page 220 contracts and easements.He informed the council that the city had recently been named in a personal injury lawsuit. The Orion litigation briefing was completedand it was now up to the Ninth.Circuit panel,which could take some time;Emhart felt comfortable with the city's position in this case.He added the Bradley Lake electric utility negotiations were ongoing. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations Travel Report to Seattle,Washington and Washington,D.C.by Mayor and Vice Mayor. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2017-028,Adopting And Recommending The Kenai Peninsula Borough Approve Volumes I And II Of The Seward 2030 Comprehensive Plan To Include The Land.Use Plan Map.(Clerk's Note.first of two public hearings, intended to come for an additional public hearing and adoption at the May 22, 2017 meeting) Motion(Keil/Squires). Introduce Resolution 2017-028 Long said preparing the 2030 Seward Comprehensive.Plan had been a long process, beginning with the borough application for a grant back in January 2015.This plan was last updated in 2005.It was a long range policy document which was used as a guide,but did contain some action items.It was also a helpful tool for department heads to show consistency in presenting legislation to the City Council for consideration.Long stated Seward experienced quite a bit of change since this last plan was updated.The Planning and Zoning Commission had thirteen public meetings on this,as well as a lot of online public solicitation for information for this document. Long addressed the difference between the land use map and the zoning map. The zoning map was how land was currently zoned,while the land use map was the vision of what the city could look like in the future. There were approximately proposed changes on the land use map. Hunt added it might be helpful to call it the"Future"Land use map for better clarification. Notice of thepublic hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. John French said this plan was not provided to the Seward Historic Preservation Commission for review yet,though he realized time was of the essence.Earlier,the commission had tried to review the relevant portions of the comprehensive plan, and would have appreciated more input. French emphasized' the importance of heritage tourism and hoped they could work collaboratively with council and the rest of the boards and the commissions. Kelley Lane inquired about one of the land use changes,how the city was counting the lots and blocks, and how they were designated. No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. • City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes May 8, 2017 Volume 40;Page 221 • Squires provided a list of proposed amendments, primarily of a technical nature. Council requested administration review the list of proposed amendments and incorporate them into the plan prior to adoption at the next meeting. Motion to Introduce Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS—None • Other New Business Items Discussion Of Historic Preservation Commission Resolution 2017-001.-(Requesting That The City Council Reinforce The Commission's Pursuit Of Preservation Opportunities Regarding City Owned Fort Raymond Properties And Assets.) ' Long stated administration requested this be a discussion item for tonight. Some elements of the resolution were very clear, but he would like to get a sense from council tonight if there were additional resources to identify to be able to meet some of this request: • Squires thought administration should work on this,as the Historic Preservation Commission was asking for the status of a few different properties. • Keil thought the commission should specifically ask what kinds of resources were needed, and perhaps the council could consider those resources for the next budget preparation. Bardarson wouldn't mind knowing the history of the area being written down, but wasn't sure she was ready to allocate funds. • Alterman agreed with Keil that the budget was coming up and perhaps they could hear more detail as to what was.requested. Slater and McClure agreed. By Unanimous Consent, council suspended the rules to allow John French to speak. French said three seats on the commission were filled until the end of May and there was also currently one vacancy. With respect to the request,he appreciated Long's plans to attend their May 17,2017 meeting.French recognized their nebulous language,and noted the commission was unsure who they should be in direct communication with. French thanked them for their time and looked forward to'Long attending their meeting. • Council went back on the rules. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS On-going City Project and Goal List. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes May 8, 2017 Volume 40, Page 222 COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil thanked the city's Police and Corrections Officers,who did a great job. She encouraged the public to wish all moms a Happy Mother's Day. Squires gave his condolences to the Cripps family in the passing of Donald Cripps. He would be missed in the community. He announced that on May 5,2017, Sean Corrigan had retired from the Seward Volunteer Fire Department after many years of service to the community. McClure expressed her condolences to the Cripps family. She reported a person staying in the campground told her the wireless internet connection was amazing.She reminded the public that Saturday was cleanup day,led by the Parks and Recreation Department. The second graders would be visiting City Hall this Thursday to learn about city government. Slater said it was nice to hear from representatives from the Mermaid Festival and the Harbor Opening weekend and was excited for that weekend.He congratulated Parks and Recreation on the successful Pink Cheeks Triathlon race last weekend. Altermatt gave her condolences to the Cripps family. Cripps was a bag pipe player for the first-ever commemoration of the Mariner's Memorial. She was excited about the new and improved harbor opening weekend with the inclusion of the Mermaid Festival. Bardarson gave her condolences to the Cripps family and she was sorry to miss the services for Don Cripps. She congratulated Daisy Terry and Kyrsten Johnson-Gray for receiving sixth place at the annual Caring for the Kenai contest. She hoped people would get out and clean up the community this weekend. Keil said they had a community garden kick-off last weekend. Callie Stark was the contact person for the new garden at the K.M. Rae Building if anyone was interested in a spot. Long gave his condolences to the Cripps family. CITIZEN COMMENTS—None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. / • . 4 . a A./,- - :_. i �_! - I ' Johanna , CMC °'® eaeeO®o an Bardarson OF �� 'a® lily Clerk :®•��'` ..• o..••y'.� mei Mayor (City Seal) o •.�,o A'•• ® , 01, oma a • SEAs ooE • G O G /A��,r 06• /U fP�.o �1 A .00oR OF 4N ®deQeaea a m:'