HomeMy WebLinkAbout01092017 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 159
CALL TO ORDER
The January 9,2017 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
Sue McClure Ristine Casagranda
Deborah Altermatt Erik Slater
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Will Earnhart, City Attorney
Absent—Squires
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING—None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Keil added Resolution 2017-001 to the consent agenda with no objection.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Ordinance 2017-001, Amending Seward City Code 7.10.320 (J) (2), Reserved Moorage,
Duration, Death - Removing "Annual" From The Term "Annual Moorage Fee". (This
ordinance was introduced and will come before council for public hearing and enactment on
January 23, 2017).
Resolution 2017-001, Authorizing An Additional $32,080.91 Toward Harbor Float
Construction Representing The State Of Alaska's Additional Administrative Fee Required
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 160
After Project Start, And Appropriating Funds.
Approval of the December 12, 2016 City Council Meeting Minutes.
Continue the Port and Commerce Advisory Board for 2017.
Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#2790 for Ray's Waterfront Bar & Grill.
Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#4696 for Gene's Place.
Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license #3230 for Apollo Restaurant.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards—None
Borough Assembly Report. Brandii Holmdahl was not present.
City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated the following purchase orders between$10,000 and
$50,000 were approved by him since the last council meeting:
$12,700 to Public Works for GCR Loader Tires
$49,900 to Public Works for a CTE Skid Steer
$49,037 to Motorola for the Police Department
$10,041 to Wesco for the Electric Department
Hunt reported he had received many calls regarding the animal shelter and said it needed
help. There was no objection from council on bringing forward a resolution to appropriate funds to
make improvements to the facility.
In response to McClure, Hunt said some of the needs of the animal shelter were installing
electricity outdoors, temporary heating sources, plumbing repairs, installing a wireless Internet
connection for security cameras, painting, and more. Assistant City Manager Ron Long stated
administration would be requesting $20,000 and would also be exploring grant opportunities.
City Attorney Report. Will Earnhart stated his firm worked with administration on
ordinances,resolutions,contracts,and revenue options to pay the General Obligation bond for road
improvements.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Annual Port and Commerce Advisory Board Report.
Introducing WE LOVE US, a methodology for creating the world that works for
everyone, by Lynda Paquette. (Casagranda)
City of Sewarct Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 161
PUBLIC HEARINGS
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 (Cas a gra n da/McClure) Enact Ordinance 2016-009
Long said a proposed amendment was laid down for council to consider. The ordinance
proposed 3,000 square foot lots be allowed in Seward south of Van Buren Street,but this amendment
suggested more areas of the city. If council decided to approve the amendment, administration
recommended council postpone the enactment to allow for more public comment.
Keil said she owned an empty lot of land in this new proposed area,but noted the lot could
not be subdivided. Bardarson and Casagranda also noted for the record they owned land in these
proposed areas. Bardarson ruled no conflict existed in these cases.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
Casagranda stated if someone built for lodging purposes,they needed to provide parking for
the amount of rooms.This could cause some congestion,but the city had some potential for parking
lots downtown. Long said from time to time they looked at parking strategies for downtown, but
mostly for central business district and not so much in residential areas.
Motion to Amend (Keil/McClure) Amend Ordinance 2016-009, striking the
fourth whereas: "WHEREAS, the lots
south of Van Buren, within the Original
Townsite of Seward and the Federal and
Laubner Additions, are served by existing
utilities located in both the alley and street
rights-of-way,allowing for required utility
separation on small lots; and"
and
amending Section 1,15.10.220,Note 2,B.to
read: "In the R1,R2,R3, US,OR,AC and
CB Districts, from the Seward
Highway/Phoenix Road intersection South,
to include the Bayview Subdivision, 3,000
SF and north,6,000 SF with 30 and 60 foot
minimum frontages respectively,for single-
family residences."
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 162
Altermatt asked if the new proposed area that extended north to the Bayview Subdivision was
reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission; Long said it had not.
Motion to Postpone (Keil/McClure) Postpone Ordinance 2016-009 to the
January 23, 2017 meeting with an
additional public hearing.
Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2017-002,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Cooperative Agreement
With The State Of Alaska Department Of Fish& Game(ADF&G)Division Of Administrative
Services For The Federal Aid In Sport Fish Restoration Recreational Boating Access Program
For The Purpose Of Designing And Permitting A Replacement Seward South Harbor Launch
Ramp.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-002
Harbormaster Norm Regis said the launch ramp was badly in need of repair. This
agreement was for the first phase of the project,which involved the planning,design,and permitting
of the South Harbor Launch Ramp. Regis added this would be 100% funded by the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2017-003,Authorizing The Issuance Of A General Obligation Bond Of The City In
A Principal Amount Not To Exceed$3,000,000 To Finance Costs Of Capital Improvements To
Roads In The City,As Authorized By Resolution 2016-045 And Ratified By The City's Voters
At An Election Held On October 4, 2016; Authorizing Tax Levies To Pay The Principal
Thereof And Interest Thereon; And Authorizing The Sale Of The Bond To The Alaska
Municipal Bond Bank On The Terms And Conditions Provided In This Resolution.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-003
Long said this was the result of the voters' choice to move ahead with a bond to improve the
roads in Seward.This resolution contained the language necessary to make it acceptable to the bond
bank. The city was not required to determine the exact source of funding for repayment of bonds
prior to issuance, but noted the city would be pledging in full faith and credit of the city to repay
these bonds.
Casagranda asked how they determined the three million dollar figure that was proposed to
the voters. Long clarified the amount could be up to three million dollars,but the amount would not
likely be that much.In looking at the engineers estimates,he anticipated it being under a million and
a half. Long added that new paving projects differed from the existing paved roads and would cost
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 163
more. There was flexibility in determining the revenue source for this bond as the total figure could
change depending on what fund source would work best. Long said there was a priority list
established, and depending on how much funding was needed, more areas could be paved. He
confirmed the road to the dump and the long term care facility were on the priority roster that went to
the voters.
In response to Casagranda, Long clarified the difference between general obligation bonds
and revenue bonds. With revenue bonds, a revenue source had to be determined prior to selling
bonds to the bond bank.A general obligation bond was more broad,and the city was not required to
be locked into a specific revenue source.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items—None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Planning and Zoning Commission Quarterly Report
COUNCIL COMMENTS
McClure said she received a lot of compliments on the quality of the plowed streets even
though it was icy out.The roads in Seward were better than Anchorage,she had heard.They had also
been keeping the bike path as clear as possible, and she praised the departments responsible.
Casagranda echoed McClure's comments on the road maintenance.
Altermatt said it was a new year and she congratulated the Police Department for a quiet
evening on New Year's Eve.
Bardarson informed council she would be traveling to Juneau next month for the Alaska
Municipal League winter meeting and to meet with Alaska legislators. She received a nice letter
from the Alaska Railroad saying the city were great partners and appreciated the city's support on
federal grant opportunities. Bardarson noted she received a letter from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture requesting comments on their draft Programmatic Agreement among the USDA Forest
Service, Alaska Region, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the Alaska State
Historic Preservation Officer Regarding Heritage Program Management on National Forests in the
State of Alaska. She noted the clerk had sent this letter to the Historic Preservation Commission for
potential comment and requested council review this letter as well.Bardarson noted there was a work
session tomorrow night for the clerk, attorney and manager evaluation forms and process. She
requested administration have the Human Resources officer review the proposed documents prior to
that.
Altermatt added on Wednesday she would be traveling to Soldotna for the Kenai Peninsula
Economic Development District(KPEDD)Economic Industry Outlook Forum and would provide a
report to council after.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
January 9, 2017 Volume 40, Page 164
Long added the Borough Mayor would be speaking on behalf of the cities this year at the
KPEDD forum.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
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Jo a Kinn , CMC Jan Bardarson
Clerk Mayor
(City Seal)
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