Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12082008 City Council MinutesCity of Seward .91a.cka December 08, 2008 CALL, 7'O ORDER Crry Caurtcil Mirzutes Voltenee 37, Pape 669 The December 08, 2008 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice-Mayor Willard Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Vice-Mayor Willard Dunham presiding and Betsy Kellar Tom Smith comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney ABSENT -Clark Corbridge Bob Valdatla Jean Bardarson Marianna Keil CITIZF,NS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Carol Griswold, urged the council to pull Resolution 2008- l 31 from the consent agenda and not support it because it spent taxpayer money and would not alleviate flooding. Shc thought there were far better projects that served the public needs better. She stated this project would only redirect water and not alleviate flooding. Griswold stated this area would always be a problem because it was at the bottom of the mountain with underground streams. She directed council's attention to the 2006 photos that she had sent previously by email and asked that consideration be given to other projects that she mentioned. Theresa Butts, had the utmost respect for city personnel and did not want to sound curt but was losing patience with trying to interconnect her windmill to the city grid. She did not understand why they could not connect to the grid since they were a qualified facility, and thought she would be exempt from the requirements of the contract with Chugach Electric Association. 1n light of the economy and their determination to be more cost effective, she j ust wanted to be able to consume the electricity they could generate. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA City o~Setinard, ~llaskn December 08, 2008 Motion (Bardarson/Smith) City Council Minutes Volume 37, PnKe 670 Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda The following resolutions wcre removed from the consent agenda: Resolution 2008-126, Adopting The Capital Improvement Plan Budget For Calendar Year 2009 And Two Subsequent Calendar Years. Resolution 2008-131, Accepting Grant Funds In The Amount Of $30,000 From The Kenai Peninsula Borough For The Mill Street And Second Avenue And Mill Street And Vista Avenue Drainage Project. Rcsolution 2008-134, Authorizing The City Manager To Select And Purchase Outright, Vehicles And Equipment In An Aggregate Amount Not To Exceed $308,574 And To Purchase Heave' Equipment With Accessories, Subject To Obtaining Financing, In An Aggregatc Amount Not'I'o Exceed $1,937,597, From The Motor Pool Internal Service Fund. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Ordinance 2008-020, Amending Various Sections Of The Seward City Codc To Require The City Of Seward Provide A Biennial Budget Beginning Fiscal Year 2010 (This wns iratrocluced curd set for public hecrrittg January 12, 2009) Resolution 2008-110, Adopting The Rater Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-1 l 1, Adopting The Wastewater Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-112, Adopting The Seward Marine Industrial Center Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-113, Adopting The Parking Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-1 l4, Adopting The Hospital Debt Service Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-115, Adopting The Motor Pool Internal Service Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-116, Adopting The Small Boat Harbor Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Resolution 2008-117, Adopting The Electric Enterprise Fund Budget For Calendar Year 2009. City of Sewm~d, Alaska December 08, 2008 Cite Council Minutes Volume 37, Pale 671 Resolution 2008-129 Approving An Amendment To The Employment Agreement With The ~... City Manager. Resolution 2008-130 Amending The 2008 Budget To Record Expenditures Of $175,509.90 Paid By The State Of Alaska On Behalf Of The City Toward The City's Public Employees Retirement System Liability, Per SB53. Resolution 2008-132 Accepting Grant Funds In The Amount Of $3,500 From Alaska Humanities Forum To Bc Utilized To Fund Production Of A 1964 Earthquake Documentary And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2008-133. Officially Naming The Seward Long Term Care Facility As Seward Mountain Haven, The Main Facility Building As Wesley Commons And The Residences As Lupine Lodge, Eagle Lodge, Raven Lodge And Fireweed Lodge. The November 24, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Proclamation Was Read For AARP'S 50`h Anniversary And Presented To Tom And Nancy Osborne Who Recently Were Selected To Receive Alaska's 2007 AARP Andrus Award For Community Service, The Association's Most Prestigious And Visible Volunteer Award Fur Community Service. Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated an ordinance which would have introduced a moratorium on all development within the greater Seward/Bear Creek flood service area, was pulled for more review. Money had been appropriated to fund a hydrological engineer to do flood projects for the city. Long reported that on December 2, 2008, the 2009 state capital legislative priorities were finished. Some of the items supported were: gas line projects, along-time energy plan, removal of Chuitna coal mine, flood map upgrade work was supported, money was appropriated from cruise ship head tax for port and boat harbor security dock improvements, and money was also appropriated to 2G unincorporated cities for revenue sharing. Long answered questions and spoke on reasons why the floodplain moratorium failed at introduction. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates wrote a letter to the Marine Transportation Advisory Board and asked for ferry service be restored to Seward because of tourism, recreation opportunities, economic growth and emergency response, all which mirrored the marine transportation charter for why they exist. h~ response to questions about LED streetlights, Oates stated these lights along 3"~ Avenue came from federal highway fiords, and were designed to meet ,,,_ federal guidelines and standards. He stated other similar lights being replaced as a powersaving idea in Anchorage other than federal highway standard roads. Oates stated the city was captive under the City of Seward. Alaska City Cuuncil Minutes Decenifier 08, ?008 Volume 37, Page 672 guidance of the formula and standards for replacement based on the federal guidelines. The City would be utilizing opportunities to replace city lights at a lower cost. ""'"' Oates reported on expenditures up to $50,000 he was authorized to spend: • Seward Mural Society. "I'he Seward Mural Society sent an RFP to local artists and three designs were received. Justine Pechuzal's design was selected for the purpose of celebrating Alaska's 50 Years of Statehood. He stated discussions were underway to secure permission for the mural to be installed at the Post Office, and the mural would be on display during the Statehood Symposium on May 2, 2009 at Legend's. • SMIC Uplands Economic Feasibilit S~ tudy. Five proposals were solicited with Northern Economics winning the bid, for an economic feasibility study concerning the SMIC uplands boat storage yard and maintenance facility. The goal would be making an infornled decision on how to manage this facility in the future and to closely examine the options of closing, privatizing, or making the necessary improvements to the facility. The overall price was approximately $25,000 and he hoped for council's blessing to proceed. • Oates also stated the lease agreement for the Electric Department Building had to be renewed in the amount of $9,950.00. Fire and Electric Department. The Angel tree program was underway with a community wrapping party on December 13, 2008 to wrap all the donated gifts. EMT-1 certification training was going on with shidcnts taking final tests. Jeff Estes had accepted position of Operations Supervisor for the Elech~ic Department. ~' • Community Development. Oates slated when the Borough authorized the Mill Street grant they incorrectly referenced Second Avenue instead of Chamberlain Street in the project title. This should not impact the project or grant funds. The Borough Assembly failed to introduce an ordinance placing a moratorium on Iloodplain development with the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area because of concerns from the Arca Board. The city's concerns were addressed under a proposed substitute ordinance. • North Forest Acres Levee/Road Project. A Floodplain Development Permit was issued for this project on November 21, 2008. Oates reminded the public to keep vehicles and personal items out of the right of way for extended periods of time for snow removal and also cautioned people conducting snow removal to not pile loads onto the boardwalks that were not meant to support the heavy loads. The City was still waiting on snowblower parts and he advised of the various holiday leagues and events occurring under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Department Oates wished everyone a safe and happy Christmas holiday. In response to questions of Theresa Butt's windmill generation, Electric Dtility Manager Tim Barnum stated the city was moving ahead very earefidly because this was a very complicated issue enrivined with power purchase agreements and planning and zoning issues like towers, zoning and noise. He stated the RCA recently chose to reject the federal net metering standard but agreed to open addressing net metering specific to Alaska utilities. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 which -" Crry of ~Sex~m•d, Alaska December 08, 2008 City Couiu•il Mincrtes Vol~rme 37, Pape 673 mandated nct metering, gave the opportunity to the regulatorycommissions ofvarious states to adopt their own policies or opt out. Alaska's RCA chose to opt out of that standard and look at it later. City Attorney's Report. City Attorney Cheryl Brooking stated they continued assisting with municipal issues such as; the open meetings act, sales tax, contracts, resolutions and ordinances, employment issues, land issues, North Forest Acres road project, SAAMS research, flood management, harbor and SMIC environmental issues, contracts, and litigation and legal issues. Port & Commerce Advisory Board Report. Ron Long stated the Board would he meeting soon to discuss the north harbor development plan. Resolutions Requiring a Public Hearing Resolutions 2008-127, Amending The Port And Harbor Tariff Regulations Subsection 225. Motion (Bardarson/Smith) Approve Resolution 2005-127 Oates stated this tariff change would amend how the city charged for electric utilities at the Small Boat Harbor and SMIC dock area. The current electric system in place was cumbersome for transient customers, resulting in a delay in the billing process. Now, a Ilal daily rate would be prepaid along with moorage. Oates stated this also proposed a change to electric use at the SMIC facility which could lessen the shortfall on SMIC revenue. Harbormaster Kari Anderson asked council to consider the changes since they had much discussion between staff and had also researched other harbors. She was confident the city would recover the costs of what was used. Anderson reported the last time the SMIC power use rate change was examined was January 1994. Notice of the public hearirxg beingposted and published as required hl~ law was noted and the public hearing was opefaed. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing wets closed. Anderson stated there was no set pattern across the board, so determined the rate structure with other harbors. She reiterated this change was only for transient vessels staying l 5 days or less. Motion Passed Unanimous NEW BUSINF,SS Resolution 2008-118, Adopting The City General Fund Operating Budget For Calendar Year 2009. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Approve Resolution 2008-118 Oates was proposing a balanced budget for ?009 with no increase in fees or revenues. He thought the council and public had successful work sessions and the results of that hard work were presented tonight for passage. Ciry nrSeward, Alaska City Cawzcil Mimi~es December 0$ 2008 Volurne 37, Page 674 Finance Director Kristin Erchinger also announced the council had four successful budget work sessions and final changes were incorporated in the packet tonight. The primary changes incorporated at the end were: ^ Put $30,000 ofnon-profit funding for the Boys & Girls Club back into the general fund thus changing the amount to the Seward Community Foundation to $10,000, with $5,000 of that establishing the endowment. ^ Increased revenues for DMV because of a new position. ^ Senior Center funding was increased from $17,000 to $50,000, Museum funding remained at $4,800, Boys and Girls Club funding of $30,000 and $10,000 to the Seward Community Foundation. An error was found and changed which reduced library personnel costs. Erchinger also stated $80,000 to the Library/Museum project was added from the preliminary budget numbers, and noted the Chamber of Couunerce would continue receiving 50% of the bed tax monies, with $35,000 added for economic development. 1~1otion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2008-126, Adopting The Capital Improvement Plan Budget For Calendar Year 2009 And Two Subsequent Calendar Years. (Arr updated sheet on the motor pool fund was submitted for inclusion in the packet.) lVlotion (Kell/Kellar) Approve Resolution 2008-126 Keil did not feel the topic of the Capital Improvement Plan had been discussed amongst the city council for two years. She wanted to have a work session in June to discuss the next two subsequent years. Motion to Amend (Keil/Smith) Remove the words "and two subsequent years" from the Title and Section 1 of the resolution. Kci1 wanted to have a more in-depth discussion in a work session at a later date on the 2010 and 2011 capital improvement projects. Amendment Passed Unanimous Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous Resolution 2008-131, Accepting Grant Funds In The Amount Of $30,000 From The Kenai Peninsula Borough For The Mill Street And Second Avenue And Mill Street And Vista Avenue Drainage Project. Motion (Bardarson/Smith) Approve Resolution 2008-131 City of Seward, Alaska Dccenaber 08, 2008 Ci1v Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa =c 675 Oates stated this grant money was earmarked for this project and could not be used for any other purpose, Public Works Director W.C. Casey stated this was a small project that could be completed for $30,000, and would clean up easement issues. He acknowledged there would be challenges with sizing of culverts and conflicts with utilities. Final analysis had not been made on how to mitigate or channel the flow higher up on the mountain, or where the intake would be located. Casey ascertained that Griswold had good points in her argument and there were no guarantees. He was hopeful this grant would lend aid to constant rebuilding of the Dairy Hill road every time it rained hard. The Seward/Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board supported this project. Casey stated the goal was to mitigate hood damage on Dairy Hill road. Dunham stated this would be a work in progress and was grant money from the borough. Motion to Amend (Kellar/Keil) llelete the " 2"`' Whereas" Amendment Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous Resolution 2008-134, Authorizing The City Manager To Select And Purchase Outright, Vehicles And Equipment In An Aggregate Amount Not To Exceed $308,574 And To Purchase Heavy Equipment With Accessories, Subject To Obtaining Financing, In An Aggregate Amount Not 1'o Exceed $1,937,597, From The Motor Pool Internal Service Fund. Motion (Keil/Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2008-134 Public Works Director W.C. Casey would find the best deal they could on all the purchases. He preferred to purchase two vehicles at the same time and possibly get a better deal He noted another possibility would be to stagger the need in different years. Keil thought purchasing all at once was a more efficient way of purchasing vehicles. She reminded council all these purchases were vetted in the budget work sessions and were found to be needed items. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2008-135. Adopting The Decisional Document For The North Forest Acres Levee/Road Part 1. Motion (Bardarson/Smith) Approve Resolution 2008-135 Oates thought the pernits to begin the project would be in hand before Christmas and reminded that this process had been in the works for over ten years. This resolution identified the properties needed, allowed for negotiation for the purchase of those properties, and paved the way for any subsequent action council needed to acquire the properties. City of Seward, .9laska Cil}~ Coatruil Minute.~~ December O8, 2008 Vol~~me 37, Page 676 City Attorney Cheryl Brooking stated the levee road could not be constructed unless all the --- property was acquired. This authorized the City Manager to negotiate acquisition of the land. It also set the framework if negotiations Failed that the City Manager could come back to council to take the land. The levee was intended to save the city, businesses and infrastructure from future flooding. Brooking pointed out all nine parcels were undeveloped properties. Oates stated the city would pay the appraised price for the properties. If unable to receive a reasonable negotiation, the council could take the property and pay the appraised value. This established the legal basis that these properties would have to be acquired to go any further in the levee road project and to be able to use the funds allocated for it. He reminded council that every step would have to go back before the council for approval. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS The December 22, 2008 Regular City Council Meeting W'as Cancelled. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Cite October Financials Were Discussed COUNCIL COMMENTS Smith wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Valdatta wanted a crane for the harbor and wanted the city to look for grants to install it as soon as possible. Kellar wished everyone a Merry Christmas also and thanked the businesses for the extra effort and ideas they put into the holidays. Bardarson sent condolences to Kim Kowalski and her family for the passing of their father Marty Kowalski and wished all a great holiday. Dunham wished all a safe and happy holiday season and thanked Tim Barnum for his service to the community. Dunham stated that $26 million dollars was needed to upgrade the electrical system and noted Chugach Electric wanted to increase the rates. He stated the CEO of Homer > lectric shook his head, was envious of Seward's electrical rates because Homer would be paying 19 cents a kilowatt soon. He thanked Carol Griswold for her bird report, and thanked employees for the fine jobs they did. CITIZENS' COMMENTS City nfSeward, Alaska December OAS, 2008 City Council Mi~uites Volume 37, Pct =e G77 Lynn Hohl, thanked the council for their continued support of the youth of Seward. She hoped with combined efforts &•om Seward Parks and Recreation and other youth programs, Seward ... could sustain them all. She wished council a Merry Christmas. Carol Griswold stated on Resolution 2008- 131 that Dairy Hill road was really Chamberlain Road. She appreciated Kellar's support for flood issues. She did not think $30,000 was enough to contain the flood waters in the culverts. Borough and city residents paid into the flood fund that this money was coming from. She thought the money would be better spent to punch through the emergency access above Dairy Hi Il and come out on Phoenix Drive. She thought this idea would be more effective for the community. Griswold thought that section of the road should he sacrificed because any flood would wipe out any irnprovements made on that section. She asked for a reconsideration to re-direct this funding. She appreciated the council's hard work and the time spent. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZF,NS' COMMENTS -None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m. ~.ti. ~ ~' /. )' Jean~Lewis, CMC City~lerk (City Seal) ti, a:~ x ~ ~ srs, >"~ f ,'~ ± ~'rr ~M a :,,~^ ~ Fes„ ~~ ~"o aA ~ M~~Aa °' 7"~ ~% ~ ~"a 9A 'e!A 4 ~A yy.. ~el 1l e rl .,... . .. ... F ~ w .. V iq a `~ ~ J !~ q rA4f rz~v4.rmrc -aav,+' ~i(~u.: %ti.4:i 4•~Y~N S'Nq~~lBbg~ . ' ~ r' ` ` l '!,~_~ --~ ~ ~,z_r- Willard Dunham Vice Mayor