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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02142011 City Council Minutes City ofSeward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 530 Lew CALL TO ORDER The February 14, 2011 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 Vanta Shafer Tom Smith Bob Valdatta Comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk ABSENT — Jean Bardarson, Marianna Keil, Ristine Casagranda CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Jim Herbert noted some recent community events such as the Seward High Basketball winning teams, the Seward Senior Center's free tax services, and the selection of the City of Seward exchange students, Jamie Jacobsen and Natassja Strickland. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Shafer /Smith) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The January 24, 2011 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved And The January 27, 2011 Special City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Resolution 2011 -008, Authorizing The City Manager To Submit A Proposal To The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council For A Vessel Wash Down Pad For The Seward Marine Industrial Center In The Amount Of $739,100. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 531 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards February Is Library Lovers Month. City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated in 4 -6 weeks the structural design of the library museum project would be complete and the city could order steel at that point. The cost of steel was arguably the lowest at this time. An order was denied on stay proceedings with the levee land taking. Now there would be a master appointed, and he hoped they were on the final path. The good news was the city had been able to continue the road building project during this litigation. The following purchases between $10,000- 50,000 have been approved since the last Council Meeting: The electric department issued a purchase order to Arctic Sales for $22,720 for the purchase of five replacement bulbs in the decorative /street lights in the harbor. Another purchase order had been issued for $16,822.40 to PotelCom for materials that would be used during this summer's busy work season and to purchase wood polesfor the electric department. These poles were kept in stock to help cut the cost of ordering them individually. The electric department needed to purchase two four - wheelers with snow tracks. The total purchase price for these items was $26,956.00. Equipment included the two ATVs, snow tracks, winch, rear rack and receiver hitches. These items were included with the revised budget at the end of last year at an estimated cost of $40,000. The RFP for the Seward Animal Shelter Contract had been advertised and proposals must be submitted to the City Clerk by 2/16/11. Seward's legislative priorities for the State Capital Budget had been inputted into the CAPSIS Legislative Database. In the Finance Department, Nancy Perea accepted the position of Payroll Technician and Tammy Nickell accepted the position of Accounts Payable Technician. In the Fire Department, January was a busy month for the Fire Department with 29 calls. On Saturday January 29, 2011 the Fire Department responded for a report of a boat fire in the harbor. At the onset of the incident, Fire Chief Squires sustained a fall that resulted in injuries to his head, arm and hip. Crews from Bear Creek VFD, Moose Pass VFD and the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps were on scene for many hours controlling the blaze. Oates stated a friendly reminder from the Building Department that it's not too early to start the planning process for your spring /summer projects. Please feel free to stop by the Fire Station and discuss your thoughts and ideas with Building Inspector Nilsson on any upcoming construction or renovation projects you might be considering. In the Harbor /SMIC Department, City Administration continued to work with a company negotiating a deal to sell all the metal abandoned vessels at SMIC. In the Electric Department, GCI currently had three projects, attaching additional wire from mile six into town, attaching an additional twelve fiber cable to the cellular tower next to TelAlaska and to three poles, and attaching City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 532 an additional forty -eight fiber cable to poles in the downtown area. Electric Department staff was working with GCI's engineers to verify load calculations and were waiting for additional information about wire size and weight. To keep from overloading our poles, GCI would probably need to replace their current wire with more fiber. Seward City Code also requires the telecommunications organization making a request to use our poles to pay the cost of replacing poles or obtaining additional equipment. An estimated price range to replace a single pole was between $70,000 and $100,000. At this time the project timeline is uncertain. Mayoral Report, Mayor Willard E. Dunham stated during his trip to Juneau earlier this month, he and the Vice Mayor and the City Manager spoke with many cabinet members and legislators regarding the possibility of the Coastal Villages Region Fund coming to Seward and gave a brief history of this project thus far. Dunham showed a promotional video to council that he gave to many leaders in Juneau and explained the different phases of the project. It would be exciting to develop the SMIC area, and he was very excited at the possibility of this project. Oates said he would be in touch with the governor's chief of staff tomorrow for another briefing, which Oates thought would be significant. Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated it seemed the Assembly was working on similar projects as Seward. Seward was well represented in Juneau, she noted. On the Coastal Villages project, she said it was suggested to her that she sponsor a Borough Assembly resolution of support. At the last meeting, they set their federal transportation priorities; one of interest was the Lowell Point road improvements. The number one state funding priority was funding for the Homer Transfer Station. This had been mandated and the current landfill was in jeopardy. Regarding the Hope Land Sale, there were no announcements yet. It was a timely process, and the final results would probably be in March or April, McClure thought. While in Juneau, groups from the Assembly visited all nine representatives and senators that represent the borough. Tomorrow night was a meeting about FEMA mapping process and probably supporting the flood insurance program. Also on the agenda was a support resolution for HB 89 and a support resolution for the paving of Lowell Point Road. The idea was Seward and the borough would work together to provide a commitment of the ten percent match of the project cost. McClure had sponsored an ordinance to extend an ordinance that created the Seward Flood Data Area. The hearing date was March 1, 2011. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A presentation on "Smoke Free Seward" was given by Jill Simpson of Seaview Community Center. After brief discussion, council felt this decision was best suited for the people to make an initiative petition to put this on the ballot. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ordinance 2010 -009, Amending Seward City Code Section 5.35.055 To Create A Revenue Source For Repayment Of The $3.73m General Obligation Bond For Construction Of The Lbw Seward Museum By Establishing A Variable Seasonal Sales Tax That Increases The City Of City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 533 Seward Rate To 5% During April Through September Of Each Year And Reduces The Rate To 3% In October Through March Of Each Year. Motion (Keil /Shafer) Enact Ordinance 2010 -009 (made from the January 24, 2011 meeting) MOTION (Shafer /Smith) Postpone Ordinance 2010 -009 to the March 14, 2011 meeting Valdatta did know how much further they could postpone this decision. Oates agreed with delaying until March for staff to research options as previously directed. Smith was ambivalent. He agreed it had been postponed forever, and the library committee deserved an answer. There was no popular decision either way, but with four council members present this evening, he thought it was controversial enough to postpone the decision. Dunham was perplexed over this. They had passed the authorization of the bonds. As he saw it, they had an obligation. He was sorry they were down to four members tonight. He agreed they could not delay this much further, an answer was deserved. Oates said as he understood it, the council direction was to proceed ahead with the project. By unanimous consent, council suspended the rules to allow Project Architect Kent p � ct ent Crandall to speak on the timeline of the project. Crandall stated he did not have the forecast in detail, but he recalled they would need full funding of the bond in September. He agreed with the City Manager that much of it depended on when the bond bank was to meet, which was not determined as of yet. He clarified that if council made a decision in March, they would not delay the project. The risk of going beyond March went up and Oates confirmed this pushed it into the winter construction cycle. Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2011 -009, Amending The Surveillance Camera Policy. Motion (Shafer/Valdatta) Approve Resolution 2011 -009 Oates stated the history behind the camera surveillance policy. A recent work session gave the public and council a chance to provide input for revisions, and per the council's direction, the amended version was before the council tonight. Police Chief Tom Clemons stated all changes directed by council were incorporated. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 534 Smith wanted to know who would do the random audits. Oates said the Chief of Police and staff would conduct audits, but it could be open for the council to have other members participate. Shafer said Casagranda was concerned about a certain camera that did not have signage yet. Oates confirmed no signage and Clemons noted the system was still being put together. Valdatta wanted to know if the dispatch had an ergonomic view of the screens displaying the footage. Clemons said it was the best they could do with the space of the dispatch area. The camera was more of a record, than of a constant viewing. Dunham wanted to know if the city had a policy of signage, did that mean private use cameras had to do the same thing? Oates and Clemons said no, private cameras do not have to abide by the city policy, but they were certainly subject to any other laws pertaining to camera use. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -010, Approving A Temporary Contract For Animal Control Services With Jennifer Roy, Dba Carpe Canis In The Amount Of $6,023.34 Per Month. Motion (Shafer /Smith) Approve Resolution 2011 -010 Oates noted the existing contract expired in 2010. Jennifer Roy (Carrick) was leaving Seward, and it was recommended to go to a month to month contract until a new contractor was found for Seward's Animal Control Services. Oates stated the city was currently establishing request for proposals for this service. In response to Valdatta, Oates stated Roy could operate out of town, via satellite. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -011, Supporting The Lowell Point Road As A Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan Project And Working With The Kenai Peninsula Borough To Seek Funding For The Required 10% Local Match. Motion (Shafer /Smith) Approve Resolution 2011 -011 Oates explained this road connected Seward with residents, the treatment facility, parks, etc. The road was never built to a standard. The potential for road interference has caused the road to close several times a year. Erosion problems and coastal damages had occurred over the year. The city and Kenai Peninsula Borough decided to take this to the state funding level for assistance. The ten percent local match was on a reimbursement basis, and would not begin until 2014 or 2015. There would be time to obtain the city's portion of the local match and would allow the project to remain on the Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan List (STIP). City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 535 Valdatta wanted to know where the road started and ended. Oates stated in this case, the city and borough would equally share the road, city and borough portions. Y g p Dunham noted they passed a resolution requesting the Department of Transportation to move mile 0 of the Seward Highway to the state park in Lowell Point, but it was not supported. Oates said they were looking at another source with Seward's state lobbyist. Because of the parks out there, they were looking for Park Service funding. Dunham said the Department ofNatural Resources had the authority to put secondary roads in. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS Council did not schedule a work session to discuss home health operations and home health aides. Council scheduled a joint work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission to go over their 2011 year priorities for Tuesday. March 29, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) Letter written to State of Alaska Commissioners and Cabinet Members from the Mayor and Vice Mayor. amid COUNCILS' COMMENTS Smith noted the Alaska ScaLife Center wanted to do a memorial for Stevens, and noted Governor Hickel should be honored as well. He was viable in the facility as well. Shafer said she was excited about the Coastal Villages, this was a lot of potential industry. As a community, she felt we needed to support this wholeheartedly. It was going to affect so much of the community. If any way they can be supportive, please do it. Smith agreed with Shafer, and noted this venture was sustainable in Seward. If they could build it here, it would sustain itself and profit other businesses. Valdatta felt the first quarter fish tax was going to look pretty good. People were moving, so he was optimistic and complimented the fish processing groups in town. Regarding the Coastal Villages, they should consider utilizing the prison. Shafer wanted to know when they were going to have the 4 quarter sales tax returns, Oates thought March but would confirm. Dunham said the Governor's office requested we participate in the March 31 Domestic Violence Awareness Day. The clerk would do a resolution of support. Communities throughout City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 14, 2011 Volume 38, Page 536 Alaska were doing a march throughout the state. Dunham asked the clerk to get a retirement card to Steve Denton. Brent Whitmore, who was in Seattle and battling cancer, was in his thoughts. CITIZENS' COMMENTS COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:08 p.m. / i <\ J hanna Kinney, CMC l ard E. Dunham f ity Clerk Mayor t ,,,ak' O Of c? 4,V (Cit ' w''d .a. ,: A b Silt' X3 4 S ,� y T 07+ r? 1 *. 0 91 • a1 , as 0 a .I ! . e g *, Q``aaasaaaaasa .b' `i. - "Goalams 0-6 i