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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12122016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 152 CALL TO ORDER The December 12, 2016 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson, presiding and Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda Dave Squires Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt Erik Slater comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Will Earnhart, City Attorney Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Luther Freeman said the AVTEC gym contract needed improvement and wished the public had been able to provide input in the negotiations of the facility use agreement between the city and AVTEC. He didn't think AVTEC should have ever been closed to begin with because it was too important to the community. The current schedule was unsettling and he hoped the city would get this matter would get better resolved. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Bardarson stated Chugach Electric was unable to attend tonight's meeting and removed "Presentation of capital credit check and update on TRANSCO/USO by Chugach Electric"from the agenda. Bardarson took the Introduction of Ordinance 2016-009 off the consent agenda. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 153 Assistant City Manager Ron Long requested to add a discussion item regarding consolidated dispatch be added under Other New Business Items. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the October 24,2016 and the November 21,2016 City Council Meeting Minutes. Cancel the December 27, 2016 City Council Meeting. Non-objection to the renewal of Beverage Dispensary Liquor License#1245 for Yukon Bar. SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Proclamation recognizing Katelyn Correa for designing the Seward City Flag. Retrieving the Colors of Seward City logo flag and the raising of the new Official Seward City Flag in Council Chambers. Recognition of citizen Dano Michaud for volunteer work in repairing the city's Christmas Tree on Bear Mountain. Chamber of Commerce Report. Cindy Clock said the chamber had recently finished a social media course. The chamber's website, Seward.com,was temporarily down Saturday. There were 3,500 Seward destination guides going out for distribution and the 2017 guides would print mid-January.The chamber would be closed between Christmas and New Year's.Clock announced the annual Community Awards Banquet would be February 3,2017 at the Seward Resort.As a voice of business, Clock asked the city be cognizant of competing with businesses when discussing the services provided at AVTEC. City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated no purchase orders between$10,000 and$50,000 were authorized by him since the last meeting. Public Works had been busy with the cold weather. Long thanked Dano Michaud for his efforts with the Christmas tree on Bear Mountain and noted the tree was not lit immediately because it had been vandalized.December 13,2016 would be the last of the public sessions on the Comprehensive Plan. The first draft should be delivered mid-January by the contractors. Administration had received multiple visits from the Army Corps of Engineers regarding Lowell Canyon Tunnel. Long stated he attended the North Pacific Fishery Management Council anniversary banquet along with Council Member Casagranda. Regarding the facility use agreement with AVTEC,Long stated negotiations had gone well and he thought the city was close to doing everything that they agreed upon. He explained the city was operating on a modest schedule and obtaining public feedback on the hours of the public usage. The schedule would change based on public needs and as funds allowed.Hunt added the council may City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 154 remember the dozens of people providing testimony earlier this year as to which services and hours they would like to see. Keil was concerned with some deficiencies at the animal shelter and had heard funds for supplies was not enough for the duration of the year as they were taking donations of materials such as blankets, food, etc. Long added there was a donation drop box at City Hall as well. Casagranda emphasized the importance of the Seward Comprehensive Plan and that this document forecasted the future of the city. She invited the public to come and give input on what they wanted Seward to look like in twenty years. She was concerned there wasn't enough public input on this plan and wished the public session tomorrow night was not the last. Keil disagreed and thought there was a lot of notice of the meetings. City Attorney Report, Will Earnhart said it had been quiet. The Orion litigation was on appeal and Orion had posted a bond so perhaps the city would be getting their money back. Orion had shown no interest in coming to an agreement on a rational settlement amount. Earnhart advised that as a general thought,any time an outside entity approached them business-wise,to use caution, listen and don't take a position. This month the City Attorney worked on ordinances,contracts,and on public records. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations Presentation on the 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) by BDO, LLC. Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District Presentation by Tim Dillon. Presentation on the upcoming Rockwell Kent Centennial by Doug Capra. ' . . • j • . Eleetrie. (pulled from agenda) PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2016-083, Authorizing A 200-Day Extension To The Lease With The U.S. Department Of Army For Lot 9A, Fort Raymond Subdivision Replat No. 1 (US Army Rec Camp). Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-083 Long said they were having difficulty communicating with the United States Army on this lease.The lease which expired needed some additions and negotiations.The proposed extension put this agreement through the middle of 2017. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 155 Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened Kelley Lane was curious about if summer was an ideal time to negotiate a lease. She was curious as to what the challenges were and what the city would like to change. No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Hunt stated they would like address Consumer Price Index (CPI) issues, rental issues, property size issues, and the charter business associated with the camp. A key factor was the performance clause,which was now being written into all new leases of the city.It had been difficult to get in touch with someone at the U.S.Army,and when working with government entities,things took time. Long clarified this lease extension was for the Army Rec Camp,and not the recently vacated Air Force Rec Camp,which the city had not yet decided what to do with. In response to Altermatt, Long said they would be renegotiating the Army's leases in the harbor as well. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Ordinance 2016-009, Amending Seward City Code 15.10.220 Development Requirements— Notes, To Allow The Minimum Lot Size Platting Of 3,000 Square Feet And Clarification Of Lot Size For Duplex Development. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Introduce Ordinance 2016-009 Bardarson was concerned if the city had room for utilities for this lot size.It seemed like the objective was to make space for these utilities.She didn't understand why the line designating 3,000 square foot lots and 6,000 square foot lots was drawn at Van Buren Street.Long said they would find a way to incorporate utilities as needed. Squires stated the original town site had these size lots authorized already. If this was authorized, would some of the same requirements carry over? Long stated he would look up that provision. Motion Passed Unanimous (Clerk's Note: this introduced ordinance would come back to the City Council for public hearing and enactment on January 9, 2017) City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 156 Resolution 2016-084, Authorizing A One-Time, One Percent Bonus For The City Clerk In 2016, As Previously Issued To Non-Union Regular Employees, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-084 Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Schedule Work Sessions to discuss Road Bond Funding and Police Wage Issues. (Suggested date:January 9, 2017) Council scheduled a work session to discuss these topics for December 19, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. Discuss and schedule a work session on new evaluation forms for City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney.Council scheduled a work session on this topic for January 10,2017 at 5:00 p.m. Discussion on the roles and duties of the Mayor and Council. (Casagranda) Discussion ensued relating to how council should receive information,either as a body or as individual members of the body. There was no objection to the continuance of the mayor meeting with the City Manager and the City Clerk on an individual basis. Discussion of the city's use of the AVTEC Facility. (Casagranda) Long explained that staff was working on the schedule based on public input. Casagranda requested better notice to the public when the schedule changed. Discussion on consolidated dispatch services. Long stated earlier this year a public meeting was held regarding consolidating city dispatch services to the Kenai Peninsula Borough, based in Soldotna. He said there were a lot of unknowns and unanswered questions. He wanted to encourage the borough to respond to the city's concerns. Bardarson concurred more information was better to make a decision. Council agreed with administration's request to ask for more information. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil thanked the high school government students for attending tonight. She wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Tonight was an interesting meeting and it showed democracy at work. City of Sewarcl Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 157 Squires stated he would be out of state for the January 9,2017 meeting.He thanked the local government class for attending tonight. It was good to have agreements and disagreements with elected officials in the public light.He wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. McClure thanked the government students for attending and also wished everyone a Merry Christmas. Casagranda clarified that regarding the Seward Comprehensive Plan,she didn't recall seeing an email noticing the November 14, 2016 public session. In the future when the city worked on a comprehensive plan she thought it was important to really notice the planning meetings. Altermatt thanked the high school class for staying around. She reminded the public this Saturday was Breakfast with Santa,hosted by the Teen and Youth Center and Rotary. She gave her condolences to Jackie Wilde's family,whose mother recently passed away. She wished everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Slater thanked the class for coming tonight.He said Happy Holidays and told everyone to be safe. Slater thanked staff for plowing the bike path and hoped they could do the boardwalk too. Hunt thanked Dillon for coming over and trying to keep his presentation to ten minutes. Long said Happy Holidays and safe travels. Bardarson also thanked the students for coming. She encouraged the students to please contact council if they had any questions regarding city government. She wished everyone a happy holiday season. CITIZEN COMMENTS Luther Freeman spoke on the hours and rates for AVTEC gym usage. He noted in the morning hours,very few public used the facility,which seemed like a lot of expenses for little to no attendance. There was more usage from 11:00 a.m. and on. He didn't feel like the new gym area needed to be included in the contract.Perhaps if that was eliminated the rates could be lowered and the city wouldn't be competing with other local gyms.Freeman also noted because there was no set schedule,no one wanted to purchase an annual pass because there was no certainty of what would be provided. He asked council and administration to listen to the input given by the community. The community should tell the city what it wanted, not the other way around. Andy Wilder appreciated the administration noting the new added hours.AVTEC had been open to the public for many years and the city should have that usage data.He didn't know how the situation got to where it was. It seemed like the facility was well attended in the past, and didn't understand why that had to change. Wilder also didn't understand why the contract lapsing had anything to do with the hours that had been in place for the last decade. A lot of the citizens were wanting the schedule back the way it was. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes December 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 158 COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Long said they had a lot of historic data but it was not complete. They weren't ignoring that data, they were using old data combined with the new patterns they were seeing. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m. k ; 4 ; , Joh Kinne C► C an Bardarson Ci Jerk Mayor (City Seal) �.•,y OF Se ••, tl p Qrk; •. f• 1.0 SEAL it w o . . j.v 4.