Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout04242019 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes April 2019 Volume 40,Page 701 CALL TO ORDER Ism The April 24,2019 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 12:00 p.m.by Mayor David Squires. OPENING CEREMONY Citizen Kyle Walker led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: David Squires presiding and Sue McClure Suzanne Towsley Jeremy-Hefn Sharyl Seese John Osenga Kelley Lane comprising a quorum of the Council; and • Norm Regis, Acting City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk • Excused—None Absent—Horn CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Phil Zimmerman was encouraged by what he heard at Monday's council meeting, and wanted to move forward with his housing development project of building 33 homes in the Gateway subdivision.He wished to work with council to have the city code changed to allow the city to off-set 50%of the utility infrastructure costs in order to make the development feasible. Zimmerman had cost estimates that demonstrated the city could recoup its costs within the first few years of each phase; he requested to have a meeting with council to discuss. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (McClure/Towsley) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Squires removed Resolutions 2019-044 and 2019-045 from the consent agenda. 111 Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes April 24, 2019 Volume 40, Page 702 Resolution 2019-046,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With GovHR USA For An Amount Not To Exceed$45,000 To Review The City Of Seward Classification And Compensation Plan,And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2019-047,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Professional Services Agreement With ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company To Provide Elevator Maintenance And Repair Services For Three City Elevators. Resolution 2019-048, Supporting The Application Of The Alaska Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) Grant For Improvements To Lowell Point Road. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2019-044,Approving An Employment Agreement Between The City Of Seward And Scott Meszaros For City Manager Services. Motion (McClure/Towsley) Approve Resolution 2019-044 Regis said the city attorney drafted the contract, worked through some questions with the council negotiating committee, and this was the final approved contract. In response to Lane's inquiry about paid leave,McClure said the new city manager would be •NIJ leaving for a few days to attend a graduation in May,and an additional week to attend to the closing of his house in Colorado sometime in the future; both events were paid leave. In response to Lane's inquiry about severance and raises, Squires said there would be no severance pay and no raises during this three year contract,unless council decides to make a change. Squires thanked the negotiating committee for doing a good job.McClure thanked Regis and the City Attorney Jennifer Alexander for assisting with this contract.Towsley thanked administration for pulling the contract together; she thought the contract was thorough. Lane thanked the negotiating committee. Regis said Meszaros was leaving Colorado today with his father to drive to Alaska, and expected to arrive in Seward on Sunday, April 28, 2019; his father would fly home on Tuesday. Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2019-045,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With GMG General For The SMIC Harbor Improvements Paving Project In The Amount Of$669,496 Plus A 10% Contingency, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (McClure/Lane) Approve Resolution 2019-045 Regis said time was critical for this project;the deadline for completing this project was June City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes April 2019 Volume 40,Page 703 30, 2019 in order to use SMIC grant funds. Regis added that these funds could only be used for a project at SMIC. Squires appreciated the explanation. In response to Towsley,Regis said the 10%contingency was standard. In response to Lane,Regis said there may be approximately$100,000 in residual grant funds available after this project; he would bring back a plan to council for using the remaining grant funds. Motion Passed Unanimous COUNCIL COMMENTS McClure was excited to have a new city manager;she was looking forward to having Scott Meszaros in Seward. Towsley thanked everyone for coming today,thanked Norm Regis for serving as acting city manager, and was looking forward to working with Scott Meszaros. Seese thanked everyone for coming, and was looking forward to having the new city manager. She liked Phil Zimmerman's idea of building more housing. Osenga was happy to move forward with the new city manager,and reminded everyone that the Seward Community Band would have a free concert tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at the high school auditorium. Lane was pleased to celebrate successes, and particularly thanked Acting City Manager Norm Regis and Assistant City Manager Brennan Hickok.Lane supported having a housing meeting. Squires was intrigued by Zimmerman's request,and agreed that the city code may need to be changed. He wanted to be cautious about how to handle the utilities so that rates were not increased in order to pay for infrastructure.Squires requested that administration,if possible,prepare to move the May 28, 2019 work session to a sooner date. Council directed the city clerk to plan a public meet&greet welcome party for the new city manager on Friday, May 10,2019. CITIZEN COMMENTS Kyle Walker wondered if the Planning&Zoning Commission should be engaged to prepare for city code changes related to subdivisions. Patrick Messmer thanked council for approving the wage study contract and administration for working with the union. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes April 24, 2019 Volume 40, Page 704 Phil Zimmerman realized it would take time to get things done for housing, and that was why he was interested in getting started as soon as possible. He anticipated having as many as 10 1, homes built by next spring. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Towsley wished to speak with Phil Zimmerman about the process of working on the housing project with the Planning&Zoning Commission. Squires would like to have the Planning&Zoning Commission work together with council. Regis said he would see if there was a possibility of moving up the housing work session. Regis reported that while he was in Washington, D.C. next week, he would be putting Doug Schoessler in as acting city manager. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:27 p.m. Brenda J. Ballo , MC David Squires City Clerk Mayor fir...•R .i, (Citye • • SEAL