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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10232006 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page261 CALL TO ORDER ..... The October 23,2006, regular meeting ofthe Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Newly elected members Linda Amberg, Willard Dunham, and Jean Bardarson were sworn in by City Clerk Jean Lewis. ROLLCALL There were present: Vanta Shafer presiding and Willard Dunham Bob Valdatta Jean Bardarson Linda Amberg Steve Schafer Robert Thomas comprising a quorum of the Council; and -... Clark Corbridge, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Johanna Dollerhide, Assistant City Clerk ABSENT - None SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Proclamation was read for Teen Council Day. The TYC council introduced themselves to the city council. Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated the Assembly met on October 1, 2006 and enacted an emergency lay down ordinance to appropriate $250,000 for flood response. The Borough hoped to get this back from FEMA, but didn't know at this point. Long thanked everyone who was part of the response effort. The Assembly passed a support resolution celebrating and recognizing 100 years of service from the Seward Fire Department. The per person, per day recreation sales tax effective date was set for January 1, 2007 unless otherwise amended/repealed before that day. A resolution was approved supporting the Jesse ..... Lee Home, and the Assembly would meet again October 24, 2006. Long responded to questions from council. City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page262 City Manager's Report. City Manager Clark Corbridge stated this was a very busy two weeks for the City of Seward. Mayor Shafer and Corbridge met with Senator Stevens last week and received many good suggestions regarding flood mitigation. Corbridge stated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the recent flood opened October 9,2006 and two days later moved to the Recovery/Response Center in the SeaView Plaza until October 15, 2006. A town meeting was held on Thursday, October 19, 2006 regarding disaster response. He thanked all who responded so well to the flooding. ! J WIIIIII Corbridge stated he planned to make the executive session tonight concerning his evaluation open to the public. APUIT - A board meeting occurred October 13,2006 and it was learned that the trust had been running short on reserves. Changes were being proposed, and it looked like health insurance costs would have a cost increase of 15% over the next two years. Other options were being evaluated, also. Public Works - Shop, street and water personnel had devoted most of their time to flood response. Water had yet to be restored to the Shellfish Hatchery and Resurrection Bay Seafoods due to the failed water main at the waterfall. Due to the flooding emergency, Corbridge reported the siding for the Senior Center building would have to be postponed until spring. Corbridge planned to focus the Public Works department on flood response which included Second Avenue drainage, the Lowell Point waterfall area, the Dairy Hill area, the Phoenix/BarwelllChiswell area, and the Japanese Creek levee. j I ...... A VTEC Fire Trainin!!: Facility - Staff had been working with A VTEC to determine what kind of appraisal needed to be made to suit A VTEC's purposes. There was disagreement about whether A VTEC or the City should pay for the appraisal and Corbridge planned to follow the City's lease procedures while the issue was resolved. Discussions would continue with A VTEC. Salvation Armv - The land purchase closed on Tuesday, October 17,2006. The deeds had been signed and recorded and the City's check was delivered. Lon!!: Term Care Facility - Replatting was scheduled to take place before the Kenai Peninsula Borough's platting commission this evening in Kenai. The public hearing on the Certificate of Need was likely to be scheduled during the first week in November. There were concerns about the levee near the current site and an engineer's report on the specifics would be presented to the council as one part of the flood management strategy recommendation. Electric Deoartment - The Elhard Special Improvement District was before the council tonight and the easement issue with nearby landowner Ronald Lind was being addressed. Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management had limited funds for mitigation proj ects like burying power lines in avalanche areas, and design and cost estimates needed to be completed prior to application. Estimated electrical system repair costs from the October 2006 flood .", was $130,000 for emergency response and $75,000 for pre-flood conditions. City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page263 ..... PERS - The latest AML proposal was that the state would pay 85% ofthe unfunded liability for PERS, with the municipalities paying the remaining 15%. This would be a major topic of discussion during the upcoming AML conference in Juneau. Harbor - The department did emergency erosion control in the northwest comer in the harbor during the flood. The travelift was moved to the lift dock in case of major potential flood damage. The Harbor Department was working to remove storm debris from inside the harbor and saved two vessels from sinking during the flooding. The components for the new floats (M, N, 0, P, and Q) had arrived safely. Construction ofthe new float system in the south harbor would begin the first week of December. Fire Deoartment - The Department celebrated its 100th Anniversary on Saturday, October 21, 2006 and the centennial celebration was well attended. . Parks and Recreation - The department provided emergency shelter management for two shelters during the flood. Several leagues and programs were suspended during the flood and everything was back on its regular schedule now. Jesse Lee Home - The Friends ofthe Jesse Lee Home met in Seward on October 20,2006. The group included representatives from COO, Rider Consulting, and the Alaska Community Foundation. The committee would like to give a presentation during the next council meeting to address being placed on the City's legislative priority list. ..... Corbridge responded to questions by the council. School Board Report. Sandra Wassilie spoke to the council for the last time as a school board member. Lynn Hohl would be taking her place soon. Wassilie highlighted some key points regarding the school district during her involvement with the school board. There were changes in enrollment numbers and the school board structure. The school board helped create a voice for smaller schools, averting closures by advanced planning with the communities. The School Board continuously lobbied each year for funding/regulatory changes at state and national levels. PERS and TRS continued to be an ongoing issue and the No Child Left Behind Act placed the school district at a Level 2, primarily due to lack of special needs education. Wassilie thanked the council for the opportunity to serve on the school board. Wassilie responded to questions by the council. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Port and Commerce Advisory Board Applicant Theresa Butts introduced herself to council. CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED ..... FOR PUBLIC HEARING. City of Seward, Alaska October 23,2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page264 Tim McDonald, asked ifthe coffee pot in the council chambers was $1,500. He felt the city ~ manager was correct in saying the city needed to focus on flood mitigation. Partial privatization ....... should be phased in to the city. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The September 11, 2006 regular city council minutes were approved. Theresa Butts was appointed to the Port and Commerce Advisory Board for a term to expire July 2009. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment Ordinance 2006-012. determining it to be in the public interest and necessary to proceed with ~ the proposed electric improvement district for and benefiting Lots 5, 6 and 7 of Bear Lake ...J Subdivision, Lots 13 and 14 of Woodrow Alaska Subdivision, Lots 8a and 8b of Elhard Replat Bear Lake Subdivision, and the East portion of an unsubdivided area on 0.35 acres described as a portion of SW TOln, ROlw, section 12, that portion ofthe N~, SW Y.tlying southeast of the Alaska Railroad right of way for an amount not to exceed $48,673.87 and appropriating funds. Notice ofthe public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Corbridge said this ordinance was introduced to council at the last meeting. Administration was working to get this project finalized and recommended approval. Councilmember Bardarson excused herself from the dais as a financial conflict of interest had been ruled by Mayor Shafer. Motion (Dunham/Thomas) Approve Ordinance 2006-012 Schafer asked what the implications ofthe lay down council had were. Corbridge responded it was regarding another party's complaint (Ronald Lind) on their easement. Corbridge didn't think it was insurmountable, but staff was well on their way and the easement issue would be cleared up before this project would go underway. }:; ~ ..... Electric Utility Manager Tim Barnum said the city's intent was to make this their priority project as soon as it was approved. The Electric Department planned to start on Wednesday. The City of Seward, Alaska October 23,2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page265 .... reason they chose not to go through the railroad property because the cost was twice as much. The best option was to work through the easement issues and come off of Bear Lake Road. Dunham asked about Lind's comments on the easement or lack of easement on Lot 15 in that subdivision. It made Dunham think there was a difference of opinion and wanted to make sure it was straightened out and the people hoping to have power would be taken care of. Barnum directed council to the lay down that noted a signed easement by Lind. The easement had been in use since 1992. With legal review, it was agreed the city still had a valid easement along a portion of that property. Valdatta asked why they didn't go through the back way. Barnum said it would be more expensive and they weren't going up the mountain like Valdatta thought. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolutions requiring a Public Hearing Resolution 2006-108 throu2:h 2006-117. approving fiscal year 2007 city budget, consisting of general funds, enterprise funds, the motor pool fund, and the capital budget. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. I!.... Corbridge asked for any comments or changes from the council. Tonight, the resolutions would be introduced for public comment and would be set for approval at the next council meeting. Direction could be given at any point during this process. Mayor Shafer expressed interest to schedule another work session to have more public comment. Tim McDonald, said the reason most people didn't speak on the budget was because most of the public didn't understand it. It was too complicated and was not worthy of a town of 2,800 people. This was a budget for a larger city. He hoped council would take that into consideration. Motion (Valdatta/Dunham) Introduce Resolutions 2006-108 through 2006-117 Valdatta asked about the previous comments of moving staffto a 36 hour work week or some other form of reduced hours. It was discussed, but nothing was finalized. He thought the budget was easy to read. Mayor Shafer said this was a public hearing for the introduction of the budget, so changes had not been made yet. Schafer asked for clarification on what the motion on the table was for. City Clerk Jean Lewis stated this was to give the public another chance to comment on the budget before adoption. __ The council could make amendments to the budget, but tonight the resolutions would not be approved, only introduced. City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page266 Motion (ThomasNaldatta) Amend page 18 of the preliminary budget to do add an income line under "Intergovernmental Revenues," State PERS contribution in the amount of $400,000. ~ 1 ..... Amberg wanted a work session on this. Dunham did, as well. He wanted to see an energy usage program and cut down on operating costs. Mayor Shafer wanted to discuss increasing the city's projection of the sales tax. Amberg stated some of the issues she had heard from the public. No one she spoke to favored the seasonal sales tax. Most favored a cruise ship tax, and many supported a cargo fee. Amberg would support the cargo fee if it excluded the fishermen, as they already paid a fish tax. Other ideas were contracting out services, no overtime, freezing purchase of vehicles or equipment, cut programs not heavily attended and increased fees to programs. Overall, Amberg thought to cut spending would be the best approach. Thomas said he would like to see the information he requested from Finance Director Kris Erchinger on the sales tax forecast from 2005. Most people he spoke to did not oppose the sales tax and he did not like the idea of the cruise ship tax, but did like the idea of the cargo tax. Mayor Shafer said she liked the idea ofthe public deciding the seasonal sales tax issue, as it was such a controversial issue. i ~ ....... Dunham agreed with Amberg, he had not heard of anyone in favor of the seasonal sales tax. He would like to have more discussion on it. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion to Introduce Budget Passed Unanimous Council recessed at 9:00 p.m. Council resumed at 9:14 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None Items Postponed From a Previous Agenda Resolution 2006-095. opposing the Alaska Railroad's permit request to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to spray an herbicide mixture along the railroad right-of-way inside Seward city limits. Motion to Postpone (Dunham/Amberg) Postpone Resolution 2006-095 to the next scheduled council meeting. ..... City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page267 Motion Passed Unanimous Consent .... NEW BUSINESS - None OTHER NEW BUSINESS ITEMS Appoint and Swear in Vice-Mayor Motion (SchaferNaldatta) Appoint Willard Dunham as Vice-Mayor. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Councilmember Dunham was sworn in as Vice-Mayor of the Seward City Council by City Clerk Jean Lewis. The mayor directed the individual boards & commissions to file periodic reports with council. Discussion on possible change in the Order of Business on the City Council Agendas. Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Change the order of business items number 4, 5, and 6 to the following order: CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING, THEN APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA, AND SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS. ..... Motion Passed Unanimously The November 13, 2006 regular city council meeting was rescheduled to November 6, 2006. Council scheduled a work session to discuss the Alaska Railroad's application to DEC to spray herbicide and the Library/Museum project for October 30, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Council scheduled a work session to discuss the 2007 budget for November 2, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. Council scheduled a work session to discuss the Seward Marine Center dock for November 9, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) The August 2006 and September 2006 financials for Seward Providence Medical Center. ..... COUNCIL COMMENTS City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page268 Amberg, thanked the community for their vote and support. She attended the 100-year anniversary dinner for the Seward Fire Department and it was a wonderful turnout. Fire Chief Squires and staff did a great job with the evening. It was enjoyable to see special recognition given to former Fire Chief Oscar Watsjold for his many years of service. Amberg wished the new editor at the Phoenix Log luck. She looked forward to working with the council for the next two years. ~ l j ..... Thomas announced St. Peter's Episcopal Church had a celebration this weekend as well. He thanked everyone at the Teen and Youth Center for the dinner they hosted tonight for the council. Schafer, said it was refreshing to see the young kids at the TYC. The center was truly a worthwhile endeavor. Dunham, was also pleased with the 100-year celebration for St. Peter's and the Fire Department. He hoped to find out how old the Police Department was. Dunham thanked Sandy Wassilie for her time served on the school board. He hoped the track and football fields could be upgraded. Dunham would like to see the city begin an energy study or audit of their facilities. He was pleased to see the City Manager was including a flood control program. Valdatta, welcomed back the three council members. He stated there was animosity between DOT and the road coverage between Seward and Soldotna. He felt Seward was getting treated like a step-child by the Borough. Valdatta thought it maybe worthwhile to write a letter to the borough mayor. .1 .J Mayor Shafer, asked for the executive session to discuss Paul Snowden's land swap proposal be put on the next agenda. She thanked all the departments for their hard work during the flood. The city was lucky to have people so highly trained to respond so quickly and efficiently. She met with Senator Stevens' to discuss Seward projects and looked at the flood damage. He met with many different groups and Shafer was happy for the time he and his staff took during this trip. Dependent on the election, things could be more difficult and Shafer would continue to pull for Senator Stevens. She thanked the TYC for their dinner tonight, also. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Tim McDonald, applauded the ray of common sense brought forth by Amberg with her cost saving suggestions and Bardarson's comments in bringing city health care premiums to a realistic level. Some of council's corporate associations were questionable and could be conflictive. The city shouldn't own the harbor leases, they should sell them. He hoped the city would look at changing the system. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Valdatta, said if the city sold the land in the harbor, the borough would kill the city on taxes. Council recessed at 9:46 p.m. Council resumed at 9:50 p.m. .... City of Seward, Alaska October 23, 2006 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page269 EXECUTIVE SESSIONS ... The City Manager requested his evaluation be held in the public forum, so council did not go into an executive session and the evaluation was made a public discussion. Dunham, who was tasked with distributing and collecting the evaluations, reported council members had returned their evaluations. Changes had been made to the forms, but he felt they needed more change. The evaluation process was adequate, but had concerns with the scoring. Each individual council member read their own evaluation of the city manager. Most members expressed that Corbridge was strong in some areas, but weak in other areas. Council rated their overall confidence level ofthe city manager on a scale of 1-5 (one being the lowest). Schafer ranked Corbridge at 1, Valdatta ranked him at 4, and the rest of the members ranked him at 2. Mayor Shafer stated council wished to terminate the city manager's contract without cause. Corbridge requested a public hearing on this matter before the termination was final, which would be at the next scheduled meeting. Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Go into executive session to discuss the City Clerk evaluation. Motion Passed Unanimous .... Council went into executive session at 10:36 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 10:55 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 p.m. ~tcti1q Jean Lewis ~ City Clerk f~~~ Vanta Shafer Mayor (City Seal) ",u II I"", ..,......' Or SE'b'v'.."'~J> ..... ~~ .......... ''1/0\) '.. $ c} ....b~po~';......~ ~ ... .,~v ~~'... : /~ -+- ~\ ~ - . . - .. . SEAL . IIlJ ...... :0: .~ :0: - : : - ~ ~ -.- :: ., 8 . .. {'", .t\ 8. ~, tt" .. ... ':. '.n,.....{.I'A.~ ..9........L~,:: ~ '.,;", tt.ifY~ 1 '...~ ~ ot#",' 7)'.r-.......1o.. ..c:.) ......... '~/, ~ OF A"'\,,~.... ""UIU'"