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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07122010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 308 CALL TO ORDER The July 12, 2010 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Willard E. Dunham presiding and Jean Bardarson Linda Amberg Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk Johanna Dollerhide, Deputy City Clerk ABSENT — Tom Smith, Marianna Keil CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING - None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The following was added to the agenda: Presentation of Pat Ray Williams Park Sign by Mayor Dunham (Under Special Orders, Presentations, and Reports). The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The June 28, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Resolution 2010 -060, Accepting A Grant From The Alaska Energy Authority In The Amount Of $115,800 And Authorizing The City Manager To Proceed With The Procurement Of Supplies And Equipment And Appropriate Funds. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 309 Resolution 2010 -061, Authorizing The City Manager To Sign An Extension Of A Special Services Contract Between The City Of Seward And The Department Of Public Safety tY P Y Providing Dispatch And Clerical Services To Public Safety Employees In The Seward Area For $48,500.00. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Memoriam was read for former Councilmember and Vice Mayor Michael Meehan. A Proclamation was read welcoming AML /JIA. A Certificate of Appreciation was given to the Seward Rotary Club. A plaque was presented to Jolund Luther for his service on the Historic Preservation Commission. His wife, Monica Luther, accepted on his behalf. A Presentation and unveiling of the Pat Ray Williams Park Sign was given by Mayor Dunham. Borough Assembly Report. Assembly Member Sue McClure stated the Assembly had met twice since the last time she reported to council. At the June 22, 2010 meeting, they spent much time discussing the Grant Lake Hydro Project in response to the outcry of Moose Pass and Cooper Landing residents who were against the project. McClure stated she was interested in hearing from Seward residents on the project as well. Disposal of property in Hope was currently a big topic. At the August 3, 2010 meeting was an ordinance that would provide for a vote on the October 5, 2010 ballot for a managerial form of government and again McClure sought input from Seward constituents. Also was a decision whether to put on ballot a bond issue that would re -allow reroofing of ten schools — with Seward Elementary as one of them. It would be little to no cost to the tax payer. McClure stated another ongoing topic was the potential restructuring of Central Peninsula Hospital. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated there had been no purchases approved between $10,000- 50,000 since the last council meeting. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council were seeking public comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental impact Statement (DSEIS) outlining environmental impacts of the Council's proposal to narrow the scope of their work to five clearly - defined restoration categories. Improvements to the North East Fish Cleaning station had been completed. Both North and South launch ramps had received temporary repairs. Over 1,400 gallons of used anti -freeze had been collected so far in 2010 from the harbor's recycling stations. City Administration was moving forward with several large projects that were funded as a result of obtaining funds through the cruise ship head tax including: the Security (Z) float, relocating the USCG building, and installing mooring dolphins at the Seward Marine Center. The USACE had contracted with West construction for the breakwater extension project. West had City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 310 been blasting quarry rock for the project, and rock placement was scheduled to begin in early September. Community Development provided logistical support to the Rasmuson Foundation while they were in Seward last week for their 55 Anniversary. Foundation members also toured the Museum and the Jesse Lee Home to learn about these local projects. The Foundation held a reception for the community and made a sizable contribution to the Seward Community Foundation. The leaders of the Foundation also encouraged the City to apply for a Library/Museum grant. The Planning and Zoning Commission continued their work revising Title 15. In Public Works, the North Seward Water Storage Tank Project Phase 1 was nearly completed, and staff was working with the engineer to secure the site for phase II and seeking engineering recommendations for the failing pressure station. The department was finalizing project worksheets for the December Tidal Surge disaster, and expediting the Alaska SeaLife Centers' waterfront repair due to 4 of July risk management concerns. Staff was also finalizing payment for Metco's services for bike path repair. Oates noted additional mitigation work would not be reimbursed by the Department of Homeland Security. The Corps of Engineers agreed to fund the Lowell Creek fence repair and expand the scope to include brush removal and additional reinforcement of the fence. A letter was drafted to seek additional funding and FEMA authorization for the Lowell Point bridge repair. There may be a need to find additional funding for optimal bridge repair. The grant for the Coast Guard relocation was awarded July 1, 2010. Survey and geotechnical work was complete; the Electric department work order was issued, and water, sewer and storm water design would be contracted. Staff would request council endorsement of priorities for road imp and sidewalk earmarks. The water /wastewater department was working with Prosser -Dagg on the Storm Water Project on 2 °a Ave and re -built the chlorination system at the SMIC well house. The Library's Children's Department was pleased to report that the children's summer reading program "Make a Splash @Your Library" had 103 members at present. The library also had a reading raffle going on for teenage readers. The Police Department had compiled their Fourth of July statistics and was pleased to report that crime activity inside Seward City limits was considerably lower this year. Mayoral Report. Mayor Willard E. Dunham gave a brief report for the past month. He attended the Rasmuson Foundation Board dinner. He traveled to Nome to meet with the Rotary, the Travel Bureau and the City Council there. Dunham commented they were very interested in the Wada Program as it progressed. There had been several Wada meetings and briefings. He also traveled to Kenai to meet with Senator Begich. Dunham said the Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy would be in town and wanted to welcome them. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A presentation was given by Alaska Railroad on their "Portwatch" neighborhood watch program for the harbor and port area by Dan Ferg. NEW BUSINESS City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 311 Resolution 2010 -058, Endorsing The South Harbor Uplands Tryck Nyman Hayes Conceptual Development Plan Option Two As Attached. .w Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -058 Oates explained the background of the plan before the council. This was the land that established the southern land mass of the harbor. The Planning and Zoning Commission and the Port and Commerce Advisory Board disagreed on the zoning recommendation for this parcel. The resolution before the council tonight would only endorse the Tryck Nyman Hayes Conceptual Development Plan, Option Two. The Planning and Zoning Commission supported the current zoning of Harbor Commercial and Park. Port and Commerce Advisory Board wished to change the zoning to all Harbor Commercial. Shafer agreed with the pier, the memorial and the view shed, but not all the parking proposed. She didn't want to dedicate more land to parking and felt it wasn't the best use of the property. Oates stated it was a conceptual plan and an official plan would later be approved by council for specific structure types. Bardarson didn't want to see as much parking — she understood the concept of moving the harbormaster building out there, but it was prime commercial property might be more useful in generating revenue. Oates said until they got navigational servitude, they wouldn't be putting the building out there anyway. Any specific structure approval would have to go before council prior. What they envisioned would be buildings that could be moved. ,,,,,, Bardarson liked the picnic area. Motion to Amend (Shafer /Bardarson) Add section 3, "all parking and proposed uses of this property shall be brought before the council," and the original section 3 will become section 4. Valdatta thought council wasn't giving much consideration to the slip holders by decreasing the parking. Dunham thought the navigational servitude of this was a major issue. This plan needed to be set, he felt. The last thing they needed to do was lay out 130 parking spaces on what could be the last developable property in the harbor. He just didn't want to approve this and the "concept design" became the official design. Amendment Passed Unanimous Motion to Amend (Bardarson /Amberg) Amend by adding "and all parking" under the exclusions of section 2. orj Amendment Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 312 Discussion ensued regarding navigational servitude. Many stated they liked the zoning how it was currently zoned, Harbor Commercial and Park. Main Motion Passed As Amended Unanimous Resolution 2010 -059, Authorizing The City Manager To Direct Staff To Develop A Plan To Transfer The Seward Museum Operation And Maintenance To The City Of Seward From The Resurrection Bay Historical Society And Present The Plan To Council For Consideration And Approval In October 2010. Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2010 -059 Oates stated this was to direct him to create a plan to transfer the maintenance and operation from the Resurrection Bay Historical Society to the City of Seward. He recommended approval. In response to Amberg, the museum was open 7 days a week in the summer, and in the winter on weekends and special occasions and by appointment. Amberg thought it was a great operation; her concern was adding another city employee to the budget at the salary proposed. Could it be a different level of pay? Oates stated it depended on what they wanted the position to do and what they could afford. Patty Linville stated this was a request to develop a plan only and had put these positions in there. This would ask them to direct staff to develop this plan. The costs before them were just an estimate. Bardarson asked if the $48,000 was included in the figures given to them at the recent work session in June. Linville said this was included in the plan so far. Dunham wanted to know if council had gone up to the museum and observed what was in the facility and to talk with Lee Poleske and encouraged them to do so as they went through this process. He thought a museum curator was a crucial position. Linville noted there was an admission charge for the museum. In 2009, the revenues were approximately $21,000. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS Council scheduled another work session on Title 7 questions for August 9, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Council scheduled a work session to discuss proposed refuse tariff increase for July 22, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. By unanimous consent, council approved and authorized the signing of a draft letter to Mayor Carey addressing the outcomes to achieve from the October 8, 2010 Summit meeting in Seward re: navigability and flood control issues. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes July 12, 2010 Volume 38, Page 313 Oates stated these goals were drafted by himself and Christy Terry. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None COUNCILS' COMMENTS Shafer asked the land use policies works session be on the next agenda to schedule and that it was a good Fourth of July. Amberg was glad the 4 of July went well. Bardarson thanked the chamber, the citizens and the volunteers for making the 4 so successful. Dunham complimented on Amberg's presence in the parade as the color guard (as a member of the American Legion Riders). He thanked the Legion and the dozens and dozens of volunteers who helped with the weekend. He thanked the clerk and the Sutherlands for their donation of a room for the Obihiro representative. Dunham noted a passing of Luke Reid, a long time Seward resident and WWII veteran and outstanding citizen. Lastly, he brought up the idea of a town meeting for Seward and an overall assessment. Shafer thought it was a good idea to get a general weigh -in on the community and the recent economic development assessment. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Oates also said staff was working with the results and comments of the economic development assessment. He concurred a fall meeting would be a good idea. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m. J n Lewis, C illard E. 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