HomeMy WebLinkAbout04242017 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
April24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 211
CALL TO ORDER
The April 24, 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
Deborah Altermatt Erik Slater
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Karin Sturdy said over 500 people attended the Easter Egg Hunt held last weekend at the
Alaska SeaLife Center. The Parks and Recreation Department was still seeking volunteers for the
Pink Cheeks Triathlon on May 6, 2017.
Tim McDonald said there were about 350 Sandhill Cranes at the head of the bay.He counted
them today. He said there were also some Trumpeter Swans out there as well.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Squires added an item to Other New Business to discuss scheduling a work session on May 22,
2016 with the Chamber of Commerce, local contractors, local realtors, and the public to
discuss housing.
Motion Passed Unanimous
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 212
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2017-025, Adopting The Port And Commerce Advisory Board Priorities From
January 2017 To December 2017.
Resolution 2017-026,Adopting The Planning And Zoning Commission Priorities From April
2017 To April 2018.
Non-objection to the renewal of Package Store Liquor License#4334 for the Oaken Keg#2728.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Retirement of Patrick Linton,Executive Director of Seward Community Health Center.
Retirement of Flip Foldager, City of Seward Harbor Employee.
Chamber of Commerce Report.Cindy Clock thanked Council Member Squires for adding
the work session to the agenda. There was a chamber booth at the Seward Job Fair,and the Financial
Reality Fair. Kris Harris and Margee Starr staffed the chamber's booth at the Fairbanks Sports &
Recreation Show. Clock introduced Melissa Schutter, a board member and one of the people who
comprised the chamber's Finance Committee along with Von Terry.The chamber hired Share HR as
a human resources consultant firm.Chamber staff member Kris Harris focused on member services,
and she was earning the moniker "Member Magnet" for achieving high membership numbers.
Harris' goal was to reach 400 members by end of summer. Denny Murphy was hired as the part-time
bookkeeper, and GeNeil Flaherty was the Events Coordinator. Charity Cinereski would be
transitioning from student intern to Visitor Center Representative next month,and Jen Leahy would
be working at the Derby Booth during the Halibut Tournament in June.The Seward Harbor Opening
Weekend and the Mermaid Festival would be May 19-21, 2017. There would be a Military
Appreciation BBQ on May 20,2017 at the Harbormaster's Office. On Friday,May 5, 2017 at 4:00
p.m.,Advanced Physical Therapy would be having a public open house to celebrate the opening of
their new location downtown in the Petro Plaza.The first cruise ship would arrive on May 18,2017.
The Chamber would be hosting the second annual 60-Second Business Preview&Ice Cream Social
on Thursday, May 18, 2017 in the Community Room at the library; this was a business social for
networking and would start at 6:00 p.m.The annual open house at the Chamber of Commerce would
be on Friday, May 19, 2017. The next chamber luncheon would be on Friday, May 12, 2017 and
would feature William Lapinskas from Spring Creek Correctional Center.
City Manager Report. Jim Hunt reported there had been no purchase orders between
$10,000 and $50,000 approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting.
Electric Utilities Manager John Foutz said the meter exchange program was postponed
until May, 2018. In response to McClure,Foutz said the costs should be about the same. Assistant
City Manager Ron Long added that administration was trying to eliminate a duplication of efforts,
and expected the net result to actually be less cost.
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April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 213
Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said the elevator repair in City Hall had been
considered by three different companies;all three had provided pricing.Arctic Elevator seemed to be
the best choice.Regarding the road paving project, Schoessler said the winning bidder with the state
was Knik Construction. Schoessler anticipated the Order to Proceed to be issued by the state within
two weeks. Knik Construction appeared to be willing and able to wrap in the city's paving project,
and there would be a pre-planning meeting held to coordinate timing. In response to Long,
Schoessler said he'd love to see the entire project competed within one season, and he expected to
see road crew presence in town within the next week. However, Schoessler said there could be
advantages to having the road project extend to two years so that additional roads could be included.
Council requested an updated, comprehensive list of all the roads being considered for this project.
In response to Casagranda, Long said administration had been reaching out to the local
Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC) businesses to ensure they were not being negatively
impacted by the breakwater project.Long said they continued to have a weekly project meeting with
all the players.
Hunt said he was working with the mayor of Wasilla,and the governor's office,to plan for a
public presentation on opioid addiction in the near future.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
Seward Community Health Center Report.
Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District(KPEDD) Quarterly Report by Tim
Dillon.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolution 2017-023,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Consent Assignment To
Harbour Holdings,LLC To The Lease Agreement 97-105 With Tom Tougas,For Lot 8,Block
6, Seward Small Boat Harbor Subdivision, City Of Seward, Kenai Peninsula Borough Plat
2000-19, Seward Recording District, Third Judicial District, State Of Alaska, And Harbour
Holdings, LLC Request For A New 33 Year Lease.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-023
Harbormaster Norm Regis said Tom Tougas requested that his lease be assigned to his son,
Joe Tougas,of Harbour Holdings,LLC.Administration provided a laydown version of the resolution
for consideration which would extend the existing lease for ten years, and also add two 33-year
extension options. Regis added the utilities and lease payments were current for this leaseholder.
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.
In response to Casagranda,Long said this location was previously the Once In A Blue Moose
store location.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 214
Motion To Amend (Keil/Squires) Amend Resolution 2017-023 by adopting the
laydown version.
Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2017-024,Increasing The Mill Rate From 3.12 Mills To 3.84 Mills To Account For
Costs Associated With The Issuance Of$3 Million In General Obligation Bonds For Road
Improvements In Accordance With Resolution 2017-003.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-024
Long said this resolution formalized the repayment process for the road bond the voters
approved last fall.
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.
In response to McClure,Long said the mill rate increase was based on the assessment in place
when the bond package was put together.Long confirmed that with the borough's new assessments,
the income from this mill rate increase would be higher in the first year than previously predicted.
Motion To Amend (Casagranda/Keil) Amend Resolution 2017-024 by adding a new
Section 4 that reads, "Unless subsequently
amended by the City Council,the 0.72 mill
rate increase in this resolution shall end the
first year following retirement of the Road
Improvement Bond that meets the Kenai
Peninsula Borough levy notice deadline.",
and moving the previous Section 4 down to
Section 5.
Squires said he would not support this amendment because the city had not historically done
well with sunsetting taxes, and he wanted the council at the time to make the decision.
Keil supported this amendment and said the council in place at that time could decide
whether they wanted to leave the sunset in place, or extend it.
In response to McClure, Long confirmed that this bond would last for 20 years.
Motion To Amend Passed Yes: Slater, Altermatt, Casagranda, Keil,
McClure, Bardarson
No: Squires
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April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 215
Casagranda expressed concern over the borough's assessments currently underway,and that
the result would be an overage of funds generated by this mill rate increase; her concern was this
excess of income was not designated to anything, and so would just be pit into the general fund.
Altermatt was concerned about non-profits not contributing to the road bond repayment;
Long said, although non-profits could not be taxed, they could be assessed, but that would require
some methodology and justification that didn't currently exist.
Keil was going to support this resolution based on the voter approval rate of 73%. McClure
would also support this; she felt this was the best option.
Motion To Amend (Casagranda/Squires) Amend Resolution 2017-024 by striking the
words "To Account" and replacing them
with "Solely Dedicated".
In response to Squires,Casagranda explained that her reason for requesting this amendment
was to ensure any overage collected would go toward paying off this bond, and would not be used
for other purposes.
In response to Squires, Hunt and Long confirmed that any revenue generated from this mill
rate increase would only be used to satisfy the costs associated with the road bonds. Hunt said there
would be a dedicated account number for this line item. Finance Director Kris Erchinger said they
didn't know the exact revenues that would be generated,but this revenue would show up in the debt
service fund in the general fund; the property tax revenue for the road bond could be broken out
specifically.
Motion To Amend Failed Yes: Casagranda
No: Slater, Squires, Altermatt, McClure,
Keil, Bardarson
Main Motion Passed Yes: Slater, Squires, Altermatt, McClure,
Keil, Bardarson
No: Casagranda
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolution 2017-027, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Purchase Agreement
With Arctic Elevator Company LLC, For Modernization Of The City Hall Elevator In The
Amount Of$86,300.00 And Appropriating Funds.
111 Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2017-027
Long said he brought a few laydowns that provided an overview of the quotes received.
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April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 216
Schoessler said this project would bring the elevator up to date. In response to Slater,
Schoessler said the project would take approximately 10 weeks to complete.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items
Discuss ideas for Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Seward-Obihiro Sister City
Relationship. Council directed the city clerk to draft an invitation to the City of Obihiro. The
invitation should invite up to six (6)delegates from Obihiro to come in August, 2018; home stays
would be sought. If the City of Seward received an in-kind invitation from Obihiro,council would
like to consider a brief visit to Kushiro as well.
Discuss scheduling a work session on May 22, 2016 with the Chamber of Commerce, local
contractors, local realtors, and the public to discuss housing. Council scheduled the work
session on May 22, 2017 at 5:30 p.m.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
On-going City Project and Goal List.
Annual Financial Disclosure Statement Submission Report.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Casagranda congratulated Flip Foldager on his retirement. She congratulated to Patrick
Linton as well, and welcomed Craig Ambrosiani. She thanked Cindy Clock for providing a
transparent and informative report. She expressed appreciation for the Port City Players'production
of You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown; the adults put in a lot of hours to prepare the children for
this event.
Altermatt wished Patrick Linton and Flip Foldager good retirements,and thanked them both
for their service. She appreciated Tim Dillon for providing a KPEDD report. She attended the
KPEDD board meeting last week via teleconference, but decided she would strive to be there in
person from now on so that her voice was heard.There would be a Rotary fundraiser on May 6,2017
at the Seward Brewing Company.
Slater was pleased to see the Little League backstop repaired so quickly,and he was happy to
see the street sweeper out already.
Keil reminded everyone to remember their mothers on Mother's Day.
Squires congratulated Patrick Linton and Flip Foldager on their retirements.
McClure congratulated the retirees.She thanked Kenn Carpenter,the city's representative on
the borough assembly,for attending the council meeting tonight.On Thursday this week at 7:00 p.m.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
April 24, 2017 Volume 40, Page 217
there would be a Resurrection Bay Historical Society (RBHS) presentation by Doug Capra about
Rockwell Kent at the library, and at the same time there would be a free concert at the K.M. Rae
Building. She thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for the fun Diaper Derby.
Bardarson thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for the Diaper Derby. She thanked
the Alaska SeaLife Center, Dr. Moriarty, and all the participants for the Easter Egg Hunt. She,too,
was glad to see the street sweeper out.
Hunt said Tim Dillon had been staying in touch with administration very well and
administration was working with Mr. Dillon on several projects for Seward.
Long thanked Flip Foldager for his service at the harbor,and Patrick Linton for his work at
the Seward Community Health Center.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Karin Sturdy appreciated the accolades on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Department.
She announced the Pink Cheeks Triathlon would be on May 6, 2017, that the Terry's Tires Bike
Rodeo would be on May 13, 2017, and the Super Saturday Clean-Up was also on May 13, 2017.
Doug Schoessler wanted to clarify that the elevator project would take seven weeks plus 10
111 days to complete. He announced the Ducks Unlimited fundraiser would be held on May 20,2017 at
the Seward Brewing Company.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
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