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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12162020 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes December 16,2020 CALL TO ORDER Volume 3,Page 445 The December 16, 2020 special meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:00 p.m.by Chair Schneider. OPENING CEREMONY Board Member Benjamin Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Laura Schneider presiding (via Zoom) and Bruce Jaffa (via Zoom) Car-I-Hughes Colby Lawrence(via Zoom) Lynda Paquette (via Zoom) Benjamin Smith comprising a quorum of the Board; and Norm Regis, Harbormaster and Acting City Manager(via Zoom) Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager(via Zoom) Karen Corrigan,Acting Deputy City Clerk Excused—Hughes, Lemas Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Paquette/Lawrence) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Smith wanted to table the "Review, discuss, and approve potential membership into ICLEI USA for the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's Climate Action Plan Committee" indefinitely. Motion to Amend (Smith/Lawrence) Table indefinitely the item to "Review, discuss, and approve potential membership into ICLEI USA for the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's Climate Action Plan Committee." Smith believed that the city should be the entity that joins and did not believe the board had the authority by code to join an organization and or pay membership dues. Smith clarified the board would be joining an organization that had bylaws, and would not be just purchasing City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2020 Volume 3, Page 446 software. Lawrence agreed with Smith. Paquette wanted the discussion item on the ICLEI membership be discussed so that an opportunity to re-word it for better congruence with code could occur. Paquette recommended that the city join on behalf of the board. Schneider was interested in joining since there would be budget remaining and the board would buy packet of tools that would help the board accomplish their set of priorities for the climate action plan. Regis stated that the Harbormaster's Office could pick up the membership for the year. Schneider was afraid the board was avoiding the discussion by allowing city departments to get the membership. Motion to Amend Failed Yes: Smith, Lawrence No: Jaffa, Paquette, Schneider Main Motion Passed Yes: Lawrence, Paquette, Jaffa, Schneider Abstain: Smith There were no consent agenda items. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS—None UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Review, discuss, and approve potential membership into ICLEI USA for the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's Climate Action Plan Committee Schneider wanted to rephrase by removing "Climate Action Plan Committee" when it becomes a motion. She agreed with Paquette's suggestion to bring this membership forward to council and to pass a resolution for council to join ICLEI USA (ICLEI) using the board's budget. Smith did not feel using the board's budget was inappropriate, however, he believed that city code did not give the Port and Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) the powers to join an international organization that required the board to follow ICLEI's membership mandates and their regulations. PACAB does not have the authority within code to agree to memberships, or in the interest of the public, to agree to membership terms. Smith believed this type of membership should be approved by council. Schneider did admit that ICLEI had program tools that would be orsi City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2020 Volume 3,Page 447 useful, and thanked Smith for bringing up his concerns. Regis suggested to review, discuss, and make a recommendation to the City of Seward to become a member of ICLEI USA. Lawrence agreed with Smith that there could be more ramifications for citizens with the bylaws of ICLEI and that those ramifications may not be worth the $600 membership to save $6900 of purchasing the software because of the mandates that the city would have to follow. Lawrence agreed to bring a membership in ICLEI in front of council so that the public has more awareness. Motion (Schneider/Paquette) Recommending to City Council to join ICLEI USA using funds from the Port and Commerce Advisory Board budget. Jaffa stated that he agreed with Smith that the council should be the entity joining ICLEI, not the board, and asked for Smith to expand on his points. Jaffa did not believe a $600 fee would be significant and the tools provided would be helpful. Smith discussed that ICLEI required members had to agree to support the ICLEI agenda and directives. The clear path software ICLEI provided could be purchased separately from the membership into ICLEI. The were no explanations for what ICLEI used the membership fees for, and the information was not clear as to who had access to the data the board would provide from research. The EPA had free software that would calculate the same carbon footprint information. Smith found it difficult to locate how all of the directives from ICLEI would fit into Seward's community goals. The ICLEI membership encompassed more than a$600 purchase of software. Schneider noted that ICLEI's milestones matched the priorities of the board had set forth in a climate action plan. Schneider believed Smith was correct that the bylaws should be reviewed and wanted him to express if there was a possibility of legal risk. The idea to join ICLEI came to Schneider, when she noticed Homer and Anchorage as ICLEI members who had used ICLEI's leverage to move their individual city plans forward. Schneider stated that our city could use that help to move our climate action plan forward. Paquette did not believe there was a liability for the city to be concerned with. She brought forward that the organization was over 30 years old and stands for the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. Paquette believed that Anchorage would have reviewed any liability aspects. She was in support of the motion. Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS —None CITIZEN COMMENTS—None BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Special Meeting Minutes December 16, 2020 Volume 3, Page 448 Regis believed that a membership in ICLEI would help with the climate action plan. Smith believed the discussion was interesting, and recommended that a close look at any organization's bylaws and membership should be completed before joining. Seward was a special case, being a rural community with special situations, and required diesel fuel to keep the streets cleaned and to keep rivers from flooding. He appreciated the information and recommended for all to review ICLEI. Paquette thanked Smith for his work and a good catch on the board not having authority per city code. Lawrence agreed with Smith and was glad a solution could be found in sending the membership idea in front of council and the public, and for people to form their own opinions. Jaffa enjoyed the contested discussion and thanked Smith for having brought that information forward. Jaffa noted he had technical difficulties, which made it hard to hear. A climate action plan was an important topic and citizens should do their part. There was a question of how to adapt to a change in climate, and what do we do when we cannot adapt any longer. Schneider thanked Smith and Lawrence for coming prepared and appreciated that the board had the capability to have a discussion when there are disagreements. She would be happy to see the city become a member and to make a commitment. Greenhouse gas emission reduction did not mean we had to stop using loaders, but the city could consider purchasing more efficient, low emission vehicles in the future. She recommended everyone to be involved in climate action planning discussions. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 12:54 p.m. ar Corrigan L ra S neider Acting Deputy City Clerk hair (City Seal) e spo S S,,,,/fit •••:4t OF SE �4%. .•• G �AF••.o '� SEAL • 4.! op •