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Home My WebLink About02272017 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 27, 2017 Volume 40, Page 184 CALL TO ORDER The February 27, 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 Ristine Casagranda Dave Squires Sue McClure Erik Slater comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Absent—Altermatt CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING David Cleveland introduced himself and stated he was applying to fill Brandii Holmdahl's seat on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. He lived in Sterling, worked for the state, used to work at Spring Creek Correctional Center, and knew a lot of people in Seward. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the January 23, 2017 and February 13, 2017 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes and January 23,2017 City Council Special Meeting Minutes. Appoint Cindy Ecklund and Martha Fleming to the Planning and Zoning Commission with terms expiring February, 2020. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 27, 2017 Volume 40, Page 185 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards—None Chamber of Commerce Report. Cindy Clock noted Chamber Board Member Brenda Ballou was in attendance tonight with her. She explained the Board of Directors was defining the Chamber's strategic goals: working in partnership with the City, and improving/increasing organizational effectiveness.Clock listed the many spring sports shows coming up that the Chamber would be attending, as well as various Chamber luncheons and Seward Economic Growth Plan meetings.Clock announced the recipients of the annual Community Awards Dinner held earlier this month: David Paperman: Person of the Year, Kerry Romig: Business Person of the Year, Samson Tug and Barge: Business of the Year, Retreat Day Spa: Business Site Improvement, American Legion Auxiliary, Seward Unit 5: Outstanding Community Service. City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated there were no purchase orders between$10,000 and $50,000 were approved by him since the last council meeting. He reported on his trip to Juneau for the Alaska Municipal League winter session which he attended along with Assistant City Manager Ron Long and Mayor Jean Bardarson. They attended Alaska Municipal League events, as well as walked the halls of the Capital Building, addressing issues to Seward's representatives. Hunt addressed a very recent rumor which proposed to close Spring Creek Correctional Center,but did not feel that would happen. Assistant City Manager Ron Long added that during the Juneau trip, Senator Murkowski spoke about identifying several arctic ports throughout the state, and Long wanted Seward to be included on that list. Hunt noted the recycle bin at the South Harbor Uplands had been reopened thanks to city crews. He asked all residents to please be patient with the continued snow removal. In response to Keil,Hunt stated the Army Corps of Engineers had been conducting repairs to the Lowell Canyon Tunnel for the last month and a half. With weather conditions, it was taking longer than expected. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Providence Seward Annual Report by Administrator Joe Fong. Juneau Travel Report by Mayor Bardarson. State of the City Report by Assistant City Manager Ron Long. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2017-012, Recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval Of The Cliff Addition,Faust Replat; This Replat Vacates Interior Lot Lines, Undevelopable Alley Right- Of-Way (ROW) And Dedicates New Public Road And Alley Row And Utility Easements; Located Within The Single Family Zoning District. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 27, 2017 Volume 40, Page 186 Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-012 Long referred to the map of the area in the council agenda packet and explained the changes proposed. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Harold Faust said he'd lived in Seward his whole life. He had the opportunity to build in this area. There were some topography issues currently so he was hoping to vacate an alley and remove lot lines to create one big piece of property. He was happy to answer any questions. Council suspended the rules to allow questions from the council. Squires asked Faust about the septic system. Faust said he had soil and percolation tests performed which concluded he could implement a septic on this property and had good drainage. Council went back on the rules. No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed Squires stated,in preparing for this meeting tonight,he had had a lot of questions about this and thanked all the departments who answered his questions.He appreciated Faust coming tonight to answer questions as well. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Discussion on the Hazard Mitigation Plan. Fire Chief Eddie Athey said he had been in the process of updating Seward's local Hazard Mitigation Plan.He introduced State of Alaska Emergency Management Specialist KeHy Isham, who was here to answer any questions regarding the requirements of this plan.Isham stated currently the plans from the borough and city were out of sync.The chief was currently working to update the city plan and thought it was about 90% complete. The whole point of a plan was to prepare a community to be more resilient.The state had a vested interest in making sure all communities had a hazard mitigation plan.The city's hazard mitigation plan was currently expired,and when it became current,Seward would have more grant opportunities available.Isham stated Seward hoped to have a draft coming forward for public review in about a month's time.After public review,the plan would be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval, and then it would go back to the city for final approval.Since the City of Seward was located inside the Seward City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 27, 2017 Volume 40, Page 187 Bear Creek Flood Service Area (SBCFSA), it may be possible for SBCFSA's Hazard Mitigation Plan to encompass Seward instead of having two plans containing the same information. The possibility for this to occur would continue to be explored. Athey said the public input process was an important part of the adoption process. Discussion of Sister City 50th Anniversary. Council stated they would like to participate in some kind of celebration with Seward's Sister City of Obihiro, Japan, and directed the City Clerk to continue to work with contacts in Obihiro on defining such an event. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil said there would be public testimony on the State of Alaska's operating and mental health budgets on March 2, 2017 at the Seward Legislative Information Office. Squires received an invitation from Alaska Gasline Development Corporation for the Alaska Liquid Natural Gas Summit in Kenai and he planned to attend this event on March 4, 2017. He would report back to the council. McClure stated she watched the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting as they replaced one of their vacant seats.For filling the seat that included the Seward area,applicants would be interviewed by the Assembly during the day on March 7, 2017 and the assembly would vote by secret ballot that evening. Casagranda thanked Fleming and Ecklund for serving again on the Planning and Zoning Commission and for their long dedicated service. She thanked the mayor for her detailed travel report tonight. Slater reminded the public to drive safe as the snow berms were so high and the moose were out around town. Long thanked Squires for recognizing department heads tonight. Bardarson thanked Fleming and Ecklund for serving again on the Planning and Zoning Commission and noted there was one vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission. CITIZEN COMMENTS—None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None EXECUTIVE SESSION City ofSewarcd Alaska City Council Minutes February 27, 2017 Volume 40, Page 188 Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Go into Executive Session to discuss the City Manager's annual evaluation. The City Manager was invited to attend. Motion Passed Unanimous Council went into Executive Session at 8:39 p.m. Council came out of Executive Session at 9:54 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:54 p.m. ( /604 ,itke(j i :49/1,da/)/C1/0Y•1 Joh a Kinney, -7 can Bardarson ity Clerk Mayor (City Seal) • ..Si .� g • : : P • 1 ® EA i y •• -n S. N„eee