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Home My WebLink About02282022 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28,2022 Volume 41,Page 606 CALL TO ORDER `.. The February 28, 2022 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Christy Terry. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Alan Nickell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Christy Terry presiding and Sue McClure John Osenga Liz DeMoss Ristin Mike Calhoon comprising a quorum of the Council; and Janette Bower, City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused—Wells, Casagranda Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Troy Staggs,inside city limits,moved to Seward recently and he applied for the Planning& Zoning Commission. He had worked in construction in the Lower 48 for 20 years,and had worked cooperatively with building and zoning departments. He wished to use his experience to help make Seward a better place for himself and his family. Micheley Kowalski,inside city limits,said there had been a concern lately regarding parking and snow plowing on Third Avenue.She owned Rez Art Coffee House;snow banks along the streets made parking for her customers difficult.She worked hard to keep her business open year round,and she wanted to allow for safe parking for her customers and wanted to find a solution.There had been a recent uptick in parking tickets;rather than ticketing employees and customers,perhaps there could be an alternate solution addressing the snow removal instead. Brenan Hornseth,inside city limits,had applied to the Planning&Zoning Commission.He had lived in Seward for five years and worked from home;he intended to stay in Seward for a long time.He appreciated how important planning and zoning work was,and wanted to get involved and help. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28,2022 Volume 41,Page 607 Walter Christolear, inside city limits, wished to have the funding for the Historic Preservation Commission cleared up.He had returned to living in Seward in 2019.He was thinking about ordering a costume and walking around town speaking to tourists,and he was also interested in installing an old gas pump replica downtown for tourists to see. Bob Reisner,outside city limits, listed all the projects the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board had done for the City of Seward over the past 14 years. Tim McDonald, inside city limits, wanted to keep the Ukrainians in mind. He grew up in Seward, and was concerned about the city's brand. He was worried about cruise ships and thought making Seward more exclusive might be desirable;cruise ships were a danger to Resurrection Bay, just like an oil tanker would be.The cruise ship companies corralled their passengers and Seward did not benefit. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (McClure/DeMoss) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Terry removed Resolution 2022-029 from the agenda. Terry added a Mayor's Travel Report to Other Reports and Announcement. Terry added an item to Other New Business Items to determine the Tabulation Team for the city attorney's evaluation on March 14. McClure moved Resolutions 2022-025, 2022-027, and 2022-028 to the consent agenda with no objection from council. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Ordinance 2022-006, Amending Seward City Code Title 3 To Integrate Adopted Seward Public Employee Association Union Language And To Provide For Certain Clarifying Amendments. This ordinance was introduced tonight and will come for public hearing and enactment on March 14, 2022. Resolution 2022-025, Accepting $1,806,416.27 In ARPA Local Government Lost Revenue Relief Program("LGLRRP")Funds From The Alaska Department Of Commerce,Community And Economic Development To Offset Significant Revenue Loss Due To The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2022-027,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Parking Pay Stations In An Amount Not To Exceed$113,859 And Appropriating Funds. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2022 Volume 41,Page 608 Resolution 2022-028, Authorizing The City Manager To Execute Task Order 2734.21 With R&M Engineering For The Development Of A Utility Master Plan In The Amount Not To Exceed$153,184 And Appropriating Funds. Approval of the February 14,2022 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations& Awards Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month Proclamation City Manager Report.City Manager Janette Bower was pleased to report that AVTEC would be reopening their gym to the public at the end of the week. She stated she had met with Andy Baker on the heat loop project and he was able to point poited the city toward potential grant opportunities; the Alaska Energy Authority(AEA) approved a 90-day extension for the project's grant.Bower said she would testify tomorrow on Senate Bill 261 and House Bill 266,both related to the Alaska Railroad's authority to issue their own bond for their Seward operations renovation.The state had increased the overall jail budget by four million dollars, and although that would not be enough to cover all the jails, it was a step in the right direction. Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said regarding snow removal on Third Avenue,it was the state's responsibility. The city worked cooperatively with the state to remove snow on that road one or two times each winter season;the city's agreement with the state was for the city to help remove the snow when the state pulled it in from the sides of the road, in exchange for the state painting the road stripes all around town. Schoessler expected the state to clear Third Avenue on Wednesday this week. Bower hoped that when the city contacted the state with a request to address Third Avenue,they would respond.Terry said,if council needed to engage with the state,then that is what should happen; rather than issuing tickets, proactive steps could be taken to reach out to the state. Bower stated the city's accounting firm,Carmen Jackson,would be working closely with the city's audit firm,Altman Rogers,on the city's annual audit. The accounting firm would be sending staff to Seward to be on site for the audit. Bower anticipated having the audit results ready by early June. DeMoss wondered if there had been any responses received for the Recreation Center Feasibility Study Request for Proposals(RFP). Parks& Recreation Department Director Tyler Florence said three proposals had been received and he was in the process of reviewing and scoring them. DeMoss asked about the status of issuing an RFP for the gardener position. Bower said the city would be hiring a firm to outsource the work. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2022 Volume 41,Page 609 DeMoss asked about the other summer seasonal positions.Bower said she was reviewing the pay rates for those jobs, and would likely have to make adjustments in order to fill those jobs. Terry said she was aware of all the projects that the SBCFSAB was involved with,but she wanted to clarify that people inside the city, as well as outside the city, contributed tax money towards those projects, and she wanted the spending in both areas to be commensurate with those contributions. Terry suggested inviting Stephanie Presley from the SBCFSAB to speak to council. Mayor's Travel Report. Terry was in Juneau from February 16-18, 2022 to attend the Alaska Municipal League (AML)Winter Conference,and had also been able to attend some legislative meetings to support the harbormaster. Other Reports and Announcements Chamber of Commerce Report. Executive Director Kat Sorenson stated the 2022 Visitor Guide launch party had been successfully held at the Stoney Creek Brew House. The Seward Hometown Guide was coming along;there was still time to buy an ad. Mount Marathon Race registration would open tomorrow. Fourth of July Festival vendor applications were underway being accepted; approximately 20 applications received already. Community Awards nominations were open. The Great Alaska Sportsman's Show would be held in April in Anchorage, and the chamber welcomed volunteers to help man the booth. The February Winter Weekend and speed dating were successful events. Presentations Garden By The Bay presentation by Sarah Walters,Brenan Hornseth,and Peter Frank PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment Ordinance 2022-005, Amending Seward City Code 5.22 Developer Incentive and Reimbursement Program to Further Clarify and Define Program Processes,Amending Section 14.10.030 Water Main Extensions to Exclude the Language in Chapter 5.22, and Enacting Section 14.15.505.—Scope of Article to Exclude the Language in Chapter 5.22 Motion (McClure/Osenga) Enact Ordinance 2022-005 Bower said less than one year ago the city received an application for the developer reimbursement and program, but the process wasn't really flushed out at that time. She had been working on clarifying and defining a process to outline a workflow;this ordinance would clarify and help streamline the process. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2022 Volume 41,Page 610 Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. DeMoss appreciated the work that went into this ordinance. Terry concurred. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2022-026,Repealing Resolution 2021-100 And Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Electric Transmission Materials (Power Poles, Lines, Pole-Top And Support Assemblies, Insulators And Other Related Hardware) In The Amount Of $1,800,000 To Complete Rebuild And Upgrade Projects Along Nash Road And A Half Mile Section From Dieckgraeff Road Into The Fort Raymond Substation. Motion (McClure/DeMoss) Approve Resolution 2022-026 Bower said Resolution 2021-100 would be repealed because the dollar amount for the electric bond resolution had changed. Electric Utility Director Rob Montgomery said this resolution would enable him to place the orders for the materials,and purchasing the materials now was important because the lead times to receive the items was anticipated to be very long. Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Vote and appoint three individuals to the Planning&Zoning Commission with terms to expire February,2025.Applicants are:Tom Swann,Brenan Hornseth,Gary Seese,and Troy Staggs. The city clerk passed out Ballot#1 and instructed council to vote for no more than three names. The results of the first vote were: Tom Swann 2 votes Brenan Hornseth 4 votes Gary Seese 3 votes Troy Staggs 5 votes ar. Motion (Terry/McClure) Appoint Brenan Hornseth and Troy Staggs to City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28,2022 Volume 41,Page 611 the Planning & Zoning Commission with terms to expire February, 2025. Motion Passed Unanimous Council directed the city clerk to advertise the one remaining vacancy on P&Z. Determine the Tabulation Team for the City Attorney evaluation on March 14, 2022. Vice Mayor McClure and Council Member DeMoss were appointed as the Tabulation Team. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Fourth Quarter 2021 Providence Financials. Bower stated the interim CEO at providence Helena Jagielski. Providence intended to stay in Seward, and had plans to grow. CITIZEN COMMENTS—None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bower would be bringing council an update on the Jesse Lee Home project in March. Calhoon welcomed Brenan Hornseth and Troy Staggs for coming to the meeting and serving on the Planning & Zoning Commission. Kudos to the Public Works Department for keeping the streets cleared. Have a safe St. Patrick's Day. Calhoon thanked everyone for their work, and the community for their involvement. He appreciated hearing from citizens ahead of time because it enabled him to research and ask questions. Osenga welcomed Brenan Hornseth and Troy Staggs,and thanked Micheley Kowalski and Doug Schoessler for bringing the Third Avenue snow situation to light. He thanked AVTEC for working with the city to get reopened to the public. Be safe. DeMoss thanked everyone for participating in the council meeting and for reaching out. She appreciated public works working so hard; they had a lot going on. She congratulated Hannah LaFleur for winning the Little Su 50K Race. McClure welcomed Brenan Hornseth and Troy Staggs.Regarding the SBCFSAB,McClure recalled when the seats on that board were combined to represent both inside and outside city limits; she thought perhaps some people didn't realize they worked on projects inside the city,too.McClure was on the reapportionment committee for the borough; every ten years the districts within the borough had to be redrawn based on the census results. She anticipated the ballot in October would City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 28, 2022 Volume 41,Page 612 include the question of maintaining a nine member board for the SBCFSAB, or moving to an 11 member board. She was very excited that AVTEC would be reopening. Terry said the flood board recommended the mill rate be raised; she didn't know if the assembly would be bringing that to the voters or not.She expected that Ordinance 2022-005,which was enacted tonight, would help developers to consider building in Seward. EXECUTIVE SESSION Go into executive session to discuss subjects that Tend to Prejudice the Reputation and Character of Any Person—City Manager Evaluation. Motion (Terry/) Go into executive session to discuss subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person — City Manager Evaluation following a six minute recess. The city manager was invited to stay. Motion Passed Unanimous Council recessed the meeting at 8:24 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Council went into executive session at 8:30 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 8:59 p.m. Council directed the city manager to bring back a resolution to amend the employment agreement. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Brenda Ballou, C sty erry City Clerk Mayor (City Se40,N+sa 9is,7a,d • ;.. F • • = SEAL . 4 t. • • ,......"4 ,t, ''' E ...„. ..... ,, _ .,,„..„ �' gjF OF A°Y ''. ti