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
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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
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