HomeMy WebLinkAbout06012009 City Council MinutesCite of Seu~ar~l, Alaska City Council r~frnutes
Jerre 1, ?009 Voheure ?~, page 91
CALL TO ORDER
The June ] , 2009 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
by Mayor Clark Corbridge.
OPENING CEREMONY
City Manager Phillip Oates led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROI,I, CALL
There were present:
Clark Corbridge presiding and
.lean Bardarson
Marianna Keil
Tom Smith
Willard Dunham
Bob Valdatta
Betsy Kellar
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jcan Lewis, City Clcrk
Cheryl Brooking, Cily Attorney
Clyde Hutchins, City Attorney
Kari Anderson, Harbormaster
Jim Lewis, Deputy Harbormaster
ABSENT -None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
By unanimous consent, the rules were suspended to allow D.J. Whitman to speak for 15
minutes.
DJ Whitman, stated there were misconceptions about the shape of the shiplift. He read a
1994 document that stated areas were corroded. Seward Ships assumed maintenance of the facility
in the spring of 1995. At that time they first attacked the corroded pilings. Corroding damaged steel
was reported. In 1996, Seward Ships continued to repair corroding pile and engaged in a paint repair
program for the lift itself. He stated there was over 34,000 square fcct of steel on that lift. Whitman
stated some maintcnance did get deferred. He encouraged council to read the reports he had which
showed maintenance of the shiplift continued to improve. Whitman stressed the system was not
working when Seward Ships received it. Whitman read from reports dated from 1991 to 1994 which
spoke of rectifiers, functional items turned off, anode cable destruction and catholic protection
systems. He also read excerpts from some of the Lloyds reports.
Whitman reiterated the pilings were already corroded, and the shiplift was not in perfect
Ciry of Seward, Alaska City Courrci! Manutes
June !, 200J Volume 38, Pnee 92
shape when they took it over, and papers showed corrosion reported as far back as 1991. He statcd
he copied all the reports he was reading from to the city.
Whitman stated the lift was designed by a British company and taken over by Rolls Royce.
The load monitoring system was a series of high stress cells that were calibrated and needed parts.
The company Douglas Pearlson was back in business and could now provide parts within the last 24
months. Whitman mentioned the shiplift had never lost certification and was never at risk. He
stated the next inspection was scheduled for .luly.
In response to questions, Whitman stated he had hired his own engineer, and found the
catholic protection system had lost 3 mils a year over the last 27 years, and had reached their
lifespan. The corrosion engineers would be here next Monday and Stormchasers would start the
installation. He expected the system to he up and running at the end of.lune.
Whitman also answered that transformers were turned off in May, and was not on when
PN&D was there. In 2006, it was time to change the system outbecause the anodes were fimctioning
but rnarginal. The system was turned back on January of 2009, and it had been 40-50% functioning.
He read a portion of the 2003 report in general which statcd no defects were noted, platforn~s and
rails were fair, and the checklist rated in the good to fair range.
[n the 2004 and 2005 reports, it stated the controls were satisfactory, and the checklist was
fair to poor. Lloyds of London and Synchrolift did not agree on the condition of the cables and the
catholic protection was mentioned as comments throughout the reports.
APPROVAL OF AGF,NDA
Motion (Bardarson/Dunham)
Motion Passed
Approval of Agenda
Unanimous
NF,W BUSINESS
EXECUTIVE SF,SSION
Motion (Dunham/Bardarson)
Go lnto Executive Session To Discuss
Possible Litigation With Seward Ships
Drydock In Regards To Their 1laintenance
And Operating Agreement.
Amendment (KeillKellar)
Amendment Passed
Strike the word "possible" and replace with
"threatened or pending"
Unanimous
Main IVlotion Passed as Amended Unanimous
City of Sewm~d, Alnska City Council Minutes
Jnne 1. ?009 Volume 38, Ptt,~e 93
Council went into executive session at 7:45 p.m.
Council came out of executive session at 9:00 p.m.
Council am~ounced that they gave direction to the City Manager on how to proceed with
Seward Ships Drydock in regards to their maintenance and operating agreement.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Oates wanted guidance and a response on the economic forum email he had sent council.
CITIZENS' COMMF.N"1'S
DJ Whitman wanted to know what the direction was. He was informed the City Manager
would confer with him.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS-None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.
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Jeari Lewis, CMC
City Clerk
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Clark Corbridge
Mayor
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