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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03142022 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14,2022 Volume 41,Page 615 CALL TO ORDER The March 14,2022 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 Ristine Casagranda Mike Calhoon Randy Wells comprising a quorum of the Council; and Janette Bower, City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Brooks Chandler,City Attorney Excused—Osenga Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Bruce Jaffa,outside the city,supported Resolution 2022-038 to create a committee for the heat loop project; he commended administration for seeking grant funding for this project. Tara Riemer,inside the city,wanted to speak about employee housing as mentioned in the city manager report;the Alaska SeaLife Center(ASLC)historically used six spaces in the Waterfront Campground for volunteer housing. She said the ASLC would likely only need three spots this summer, and encouraged council to allow other employers to use camping spots. Riemer had previously considered requesting to rezone one of the parking lots at the ASLC to allow for employee camping. Tom Tougas,inside the city,encouraged council to approve Resolution 2022-038.For many years,he recalled,Seward hosted an alternative energy conference which included tours of AVTEC's windmill and the heat pumps at the ASLC;he thought the heat loop project was worthy and that it would make Seward a leader in the state. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41, Page 616 Tony Baclaan,inside the city,was brainstorming housing solutions,and was thinking about employees living outside of town and their transportation needs to get into town to work. He wondered if the shuttle bus service route could be extended to include out of town locations so that some of the housing pressure could come off the city. He said Girdwood used grant funding to run their public transportation services. Jackson Hole, Wyoming was now in the position of dictating housing and employee pay requirements to developers; he didn't want to see Seward get to that point. Lynda Paquette, outside city limits, said in the 1999 Strategic Plan, there was an item for beautifying all the way to Mile 8,so in the past there has been consideration given to things outside of city limits. She thought the idea of providing the shuttle service to outside of town was really smart. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Calhoon removed Resolution 2022-035 from the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2022-032, Requesting Seward Be Reestablished As An Embarkation Port Of The Alaska Marine Highway System. Resolution 2022-033,Allowing Bornstein Seafoods To Occupy Their Employee Campground Located At 3201 Sorrel Road Beginning March 17, 2022. Resolution 2022-034, Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Electric Distribution Materials (Fuses, Wire, Conduit And Other Miscellaneous Materials) From Anixter Power Solutions To Ensure Adequate Inventory For The Upcoming Spring/Summer/Fall Construction Season In A Not-To-Exceed Amount Of$87,050, Including 10% Contingency. Resolution 2022-036, Approving Amendment#3 To The Employment Agreement With The City Clerk. Resolution 2022-037, Approving Amendment #1 To The Employment Agreement With The City Manager. Approval of the February 28, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#177 Beverage Dispensary—Tourism for Breeze Inn. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14,2022 Volume 41,Page 617 SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Recognizing the 103rd Birthday of the American Legion City Manager Report. City Manager Janette Bower thanked the American Legion for their support for people suffering from Parkinson's Disease, as well as exposure to Agent Orange. Regarding employee housing, Bower stated there were two police officers at the police academy right now who had no housing secured in Seward when they returned; there was also a public safety dispatcher who had been hired,but who would not relocate to Seward without having housing secured.The city was also beginning to hire seasonal workers, and didn't have housing to provide; the housing crisis was real. Bower was trying to find solutions, including considering allowing employee camping at the campgrounds. Regarding the heat loop project,Bower said she had met with National Renewable Energy Laboratory(NREL) about grant opportunities, and while the current opportunity would not work, NREL would be working with the city going forward to find funding options. She added that a funding discussion with the Denali Commission last week had not panned out, but she would continue searching. At the council retreat, Bower said there had been discussion about the city's organization chart; she had included a current chart in tonight's packet. Bower would be attending the grant symposium in Anchorage on April 11,2022,followed by an Alaska Municipal League (AML) event the following day. She would call in for the council meeting. DeMoss said she would support the city providing employee camping for city employees at the campgrounds. Casagranda would support having some spots at Forest Acres Campground reserved for city employees,as well as possibly allowing other employers to use campsites for their employees.Terry asked the city manager to consider this topic and bring something back to council. City Attorney Report.City Attorney Brooks Chandler reported that his firm had looked at the possibility of having city employees, other than police officers, collect parking fees. He had started working on a Mutual Aid Agreement for the Electric Department to have with Chugach Electric. He had started working on a new collective bargaining agreement with the IBEW. Borough Assembly Report.Borough Assembly Representative Cindy Ecklund thanked council for their service. The assembly adopted an ordinance to re-define a quorum for the KPB Planning Commission. There was yet to be an applicant for the KPB planning commission to represent Seward; this was an important position and she encouraged people to apply. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41,Page 618 At the Sustainable Seward meeting in February,Ecklund said there had been discussion about the Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling(ALPAR)program. She asked the city to resume this program. Ecklund reported that the borough's number one infrastructure project was to replace 12 bridges, seven of which were in the Seward area. Ecklund would meet with Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell and Community Development Director Jason Bickling tomorrow to consider borough property near Seward that could be potentially used for housing. Terry wondered if there could be different property tax rate tiers for vacant properties or second home properties as opposed to primary homes; she asked who would be an appropriate person in the borough to talk to. Ecklund said she had discussed this topic, as well as service area taxation,with the borough's finance department and the first response she received was that it would not be possible;she added that Seward could adopt an exemption to property tax for primary homes. Ecklund said she was aware of four states in the Lower 48 that charged higher property tax rates for non-primary residences. McClure reiterated that the city really needed someone to be the city's representative on the KPB Planning Commission. Other Reports and Announcements —None Presentations Seward Community Health Center(SCHC)year end 2021 report by Executive Director Craig Ambrosiani. Kenai Mountains Public Media, Inc. presentation by Wolfgang Kurtz. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment 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 on February 28, 2022 and is coming tonight for public hearing and enactment. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Enact Ordinance 2022-006 Bower said this ordinance included over 660 individual amendments.She brought council's attention to several key items,including:requiring council approval of a pay plan during the budget process,clarifying compensation during a temporary assignment,updating bereavement leave,and City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41,Page 619 allowing college classes related to job improvement, but not for the sole purpose of obtaining a degree. 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. Terry appreciated the thorough agenda statement included with this ordinance.She liked the distinction related to the city paying for training that may be delivered through a college course versus a city employee working toward obtaining a degree. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2022-030,Approving The Termination Of The Sublease Agreement Between The University Of Alaska And The City Of Seward,Approving Lease Amendment 1 With CRRC, Approving Lease Amendment 4 With The University Of Alaska And To Approving The MOA Between The University And CRRC. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2022-030 Harbormaster Norm Regis said he had been working on this lease for a long time;there had been an assortment of leases and subleases for this property since 1970. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Adrienne Stolpe,outside the city,said the university believed this lease would be beneficial for the local economy.In addition to furthering research,she appreciated the cooperation between the city and the university. Willow Hetrick-Price, outside the city, was the executive director of Chugach Regional Resources Commission(CRRC),which was a federally recognized tribal consortium. The Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute(APMI)was a maricultural technical center had operated for over 25 years in Seward,and they had substantially outgrown the capacity at the current facility;they were currently seeking funding to assist with expansion.The lease structure had been complicated for many years; the new lease structure proposed in tonight's resolution was more streamlined, and the term of the lease would be extended, which would help smooth out operations and improve fundraising opportunities. Jeff Hetrick,outside the city,was the director at APMI. He asked council for their support with this lease.This new lease structure would be paramount for the facility's future.Hetrick invited council members to visit the hatchery and see the operations. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14,2022 Volume 41,Page 620 Tara Riemer,inside the city,said there was currently an agreement between the university and the Alaska SeaLife Center(ASLC)which allowed for a shared use of a small sliver of land for emergency access;the ASLC's gate was actually on the university's leased property.She wondered if this situation could be kept in mind if the property was going to be replatted. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Terry supported this resolution,and asked for consideration of the emergency access during the replat process. Chandler said the property could be replatted to include an access easement between the two tenants. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2022-031,Authorizing the Sale of Parcel#14502419 Containing 25.395 Acres to the State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities for the Improvement Project NO.Z548570000 in Improving the Seward Airport for the Fair Market Value(FMV) that has been Determined to be$2,000.00. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2022-031 Bower stated an appraisal had been conducted and the fair market value of the parcel was $2,000. The Alaska Department of Transportation(ADOT)had requested to purchase the parcel. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Carol Griswold,inside the city,had several concerns about this resolution.She believed the documentation provided in the packet was largely inaccurate and misleading;she pointed out several discrepancies between the resolution and agenda statement.Griswold asked council to postpone this resolution so that critical corrections could be made. Bruce Jaffa, outside the city, concurred with the previous comments. He didn't want to appear as an obstructionist,although he had previously worked to get the ADOT to accept alternate airport improvement plans. He encouraged council to take more time to review this item before approving it. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Motion to Postpone (Casagranda/McClure) Postpone Resolution 2022-031 to March 29, 2022. Terry asked what impact this postponement would potentially have on the sale.Bower said a postponement would not interfere or cause complications.McClure asked if administration would be able to address the concerns expressed by the next meeting. Bower said she would bring back answers, and would reach out to the state for clarification. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41,Page 621 Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous Council recessed the meeting at 8:24 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:30 p.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2022-035, Authorizing The City Manager To Waive Provisions In Seward City Code 7.15.010,For The Seward School Properties, In Order To Accommodate The Need For Overflow Camping On The 4th Of July Holiday Weekend. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2022-035 Community Development Director Jason Bickling said, in years past, the city allowed overflow camping at the schools during the holiday,and it was very helpful in providing a safe and contained area for visitors.Historically,the schools had taken ownership of managing the process on site. Bickling said the high school principal had reached out and requested permission to allow camping this year. Calhoon appreciated the explanation;he wanted the public to understand that the school had asked this of the city.He was curious if there were alcohol restrictions on school property and stated the city would not be responsible for overseeing or cleaning up. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2022-038, Directing PACAB To Create And Lead An Ad Hoc Committee Of Interested Community Members To Identify Available Funding Sources To Continue The Ground Source/Seward District Heat System Project To Completion. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2022-038 Bower stated that if this committee was created,the committee would be required to adhere to the Open Meetings Act(OMA),all meetings would have to be open to the public and would have to be publicly noticed. Bower said the city's grant writers were actively seeking funding opportunities. McClure wondered if there was a different way that a committee could form,separate from the city. Bower said members of the public could form a committee, and would not be required to follow OMA. McClure followed up by saying that, if an independent committee was created,they could then come back to council and present their results. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41, Page 622 Casagranda recalled being on an ad hoc committee in the past, and said it had sometimes stifled the meeting process. She would be interested in asking community members what their thoughts were on creating a committee. Terry thought the intention of this resolution was to create a city committee,but understood from previous citizen comments that the committee wished to operate without the city's restrictions for meetings. Terry wondered how many people might be involved in this committee; she was disappointed that no one was still in the audience to answer questions. Motion to Postpone (Casagranda/Terry) Postpone Resolution 2022-038 to March 29, 2022. Casagranda thought it would be good if someone from PACAB could be available at the next meeting to answer questions. Terry thought PACAB would benefit from having more time to consider what they wanted to accomplish with this committee. Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license #324 Beverage Dispensary for The Seward Alehouse. Council Member DeMoss declared a potential conflict of interest because she was the owner of the Seward Alehouse.Mayor Terry ruled that a conflict existed,and DeMoss removed herself from the dais. Motion (McClure/Calhoon) Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license #324 Beverage Dispensary for The Seward Alehouse. Motion Passed Unanimous DeMoss returned to the dais. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS — None CITIZEN COMMENTS Tony Baclaan, inside the city, wished to follow up on the transportation discussion; he thought there may be grant funding available to support running the shuttle to outside the city. Another idea he had was to make Fourth Avenue a walking street,just during the summer and just in City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41,Page 623 the downtown area;research had proven that walkable streets were good for business.He thought it would be cool to have seating and tables outside,and he knew that this would then create a parking concern. He suggested using the big gravel lot near the AVTEC welding shop for parking, and having the shuttle run through that lot. Baclaan had just joined the board of the Seward Community Foundation,and said their award banquet would be coming up soon. He was pleased to see council having such productive meetings. Tara Riemer said tonight's meeting had been a joy; she appreciated everyone working together. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bower said the city was actively searching for grant funding for the heat loop project. Wells appreciated the detailed report on the Title 3 ordinance, and he appreciated the work being done on the heat loop project. Calhoon thanked everyone for coming to the meeting tonight.Regarding the committee,he wasn't sure that having a city committee was the best approach,and he encouraged citizens to form their own independent committee so they were free to meet. II Casagranda thanked Ecklund for a good,detailed report from the borough;she was pleased to hear that Ecklund was trying to help Seward solve the housing crisis. Casagranda thought the housing crisis was twofold: year round housing, and seasonal worker housing. She believed it was the employer's responsibility to secure housing for their seasonal employees. She expressed her condolences on the passing of Sandie Roach. DeMoss thanked Ecklund for her report, and for being such an active assembly representative. She appreciated the discussion and ideas about transportation. She thanked administration for being so great to work with. McClure said she had citizens ask her about the ALPAR program.There would be a history talk on March 17,2022 at 7:00 p.m.by Lee Poleske at the library about the time Seward had five US Navy ships in town. McClure's last reapportionment committee meeting for the borough would be tomorrow;the committee had been working on the assembly districts and the school districts,and the result of their work would be on the borough ballot in October. Terry recalled that the Kawabe Park gazebo had been built with transportation grants; perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could help find resources to support transportation. Regarding the heat loop project, Terry wondered if the grant opportunities being sought were public/government or private or both.Terry said city offices would be closed on March 28,2022 in observance of Seward's Day. Happy Birthday to the American Legion. EXECUTIVE SESSION City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 14, 2022 Volume 41,Page 624 Go into executive session to evaluate the city attorney. Motion (Terry/Caihoon) Go into executive session to evaluate the city attorney. The city attorney was invited to stay. • Motion Passed Unanimous Council went into executive session 9:00 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 9:21 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:21 p.m. --� ren a Ballow, C *sty Terry City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) ��,1.••ts•"•ess,. t.� Of BE'kc.� ''> • • �°% • • SEAL • • • :• � � l • *ti.,, �OF�NV" ***