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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03292022 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29, 2022 Volume 41,Page 628 CALL TO ORDER The March 29,2022 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 DeMess Ristine Casagranda Mike Calhoon Randy Wells comprising a quorum of the Council; and Janette Bower, City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused—DeMoss Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Greg Haas, outside the city, appreciated the progress being made towards having a community center. Brandii Holmdahl, inside the city, highly supported Resolution 2022-041 and 2022-047 tonight; both resolutions addressed making an exception to city code to accommodate seasonal employee housing. These two resolutions, added to a previous resolution for Bornstein Seafoods, now equaled three large employers in Seward that were impacted by city code in its current state; they all had to request exceptions. Holmdahl suggested perhaps adjustments could be made to city code to make it more accommodating to seasonal employee housing, rather than continuing to require each employer to go to council for an exception. Bruce Jaffa,outside the city, supported forming a committee for the heat loop project. He did not want to cast doubt on administration,but wanted to solicit engagement from the community to find sources of funding for the heat loop project. Tim McDonald, inside the city, was born and raised in Seward. He thought there was a people problem;60%of property owners didn't live here,but owned second homes here.Opening up City of Seward, Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29, 2022 Volume 41, Page 629 the SMIC bench for housing may result in more absentee home owners. Perhaps Seward would be better served by annexing to Mile 8 to increase the voter rolls. 1 mei Nate Smith,outside the city,was the head coach for Marathon Wrestling,the head coach for the Seward Middle School wrestling team, and the assistant coach for Seward High School wrestling. He thought many things in town were done for adults,and thought the community center should be created for the children. He had the opportunity to travel and see what other communities had to offer their communities.There were so many iterations of things the community center could offer, but it should be focused on providing activities for the kids. Cindy Ecklund, inside the city, supported Resolution 2022-040 to re-appropriate funds for Japanese Creek. She also supported Resolution 2022-043 requesting more funding for the schools. She was excited about the prospect of a community recreation center and agreed that sports were very important to the growth of children. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (McClure/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Ordinance 2022-007,Amending Seward City Code Chapter 8.15.145 Allowing More Flexible Use Within the Construction Site Camping Provision. This ordinance was introduced tonight and will come for Public Hearing and enactment on April 11, 2022. Resolution 2022-040, Approving The Re-Appropriation Of $75,576.87 In Funding By The Kenai Peninsula Borough Towards The Japanese Creek Flood Mitigation Project. Resolution 2022-041, Allowing OBI Seafoods To Occupy Their Employee Campground Beginning March 29, 2022. Resolution 2022-042, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Resurrection Rental To Provide Portable Toilet Services In The Amount Of$57,900. Resolution 2022-043, Requesting Funding Changes To The Seward Schools To Ensure Equitable Education Opportunities For The Youth Of Seward. Resolution 2022-044, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Two Purchase Agreements: One With Potelcom Supply For Electrical Wire Products,And The Second With WESCO Distribution For A Quantity Of 10 New 25-Kva Transformers In A Not-To-Exceed Amount Of$115,991.50 To Be Used For New Service Installations And System Repairs. Approval of the March 14, 2022 City Council Special Meeting Minutes. ,,� City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29, 2022 Volume 41,Page 630 Approval of the March 14, 2022 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards Seward's Day Proclamation Remembering US Congressman Don Young City Manager Report.City Manager Janette Bower said she wanted to provide an update on some of the electronic implementations in the Parks & Recreation Department that had been going on behind the scenes. Parks & Recreation Director Tyler Florence said he had made about five offers for the campground coordinator position;two declined due to housing concerns,two declined because they took other seasonal jobs,and one offer was made today and was pending.Florence was trying to be flexible with existing staff and was trying to find alternate hiring methods;he was considering labor- saving initiatives,including outsourcing gardening services,self-service camping reservations and cancellations,reducing maintenance by making restroom improvements and shower house upgrades, automatic toilets,doubling trash receptacle capacity,solar powered compacting trash bins,doubling the number of pet waste receptacles, and by introducing autonomous mowers at the ballfields. Terry asked about the utilization of the gym at AVTEC. Florence said there had been great participation; he continued to work on reviving the schedules for all activities. Terry asked if campground bookings for this year were on par,year to date.Florence said the campground reservation system opened April 1st. Wells asked when the pet dispenser would be filled with bags. Florence said they should be filled and were checked regularly. Other Reports and Announcements Chamber of Commerce Report by Executive Director Kat Sorenson. Sorenson said things were ramping up at the chamber. The chamber had hired a new membership director. The chamber held their annual awards recognition ceremony.The Hometown Guide would be published in April. She announced that most local businesses would be open by Memorial Day. There were enough volunteers signed up for the Seward Silver Salmon Derby. There would be an ice cream social at the Alaska SeaLife Center this year,and would be expanded to include a light job fair for seasonal workers to find extra work. This weekend would be the great Alaskan Sportsman Show. Presentations City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29,2022 Volume 41,Page 631 Happy Youth Programs & Educational Resources (HYPER) presentation by Casie Warner. Small Business Development Center (SBDC) presentation by Kelly Ann Cavaretta. Alaska Railroad Corporation update on the Passenger Dock Project by Elizabeth Greer, PE Program Manager Marine Facilities. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions for Public Hearing and Enactment 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. This resolution was postponed on March 14, 2022 and is coming back tonight for a second public hearing and approval. Bower said there had been questions from the last meeting,and those questions were sent to the state;there had not been a response as of yet. Bower recommended postponing this resolution. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Bruce Jaffa,outside the city,had previously been involved in an airport committee through PACAB;the committee had determined that the alternative offered by the state was not the best for the city. The city had two runways, a long and a short; the state planned to eliminate the long runway, and extend the short runway from 2,300 feet to 3,300 feet. A 3,300 foot runway would accommodate most small aircraft. The city and its citizens had strongly requested that the state provide a 4,000 foot runway to allow for larger aircraft. Jaffa said the state's response had been to suggest extending the runway in the future,if they obtained ownership of the tidelands property.He said the state did not need this property in order to accomplish the proposed airport project of providing a 3,300 foot runway.He feared that the wetlands area that was part of this property would be forever lost,or at least made inaccessible to the residents to enjoy.Many people used that area to exercise;once the state fenced it in,the citizens would be cut off from accessing it.He cautioned that once this property was given to the state,it would be gone forever. Tim McDonald,inside the city,thought even tidelands should be valued at$1,000 an acre, and not$77 an acre as proposed in this resolution.He concurred that once this property was given to the state, citizens would never be able to access it again. He was concerned with preserving the estuary that was adjacent to this property. Lynda Paquette,outside the city,had also been a member of the airport committee and she thought that the city would be paving paradise to turn it into a parking lot. She understood that the City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29,2022 Volume 41,Page 632 airport project would move forward regardless of the city's wishes, but did not believe the state needed this property in order to complete their runway project. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Terry stated the state had not yet responded to the questions the city had asked following the last council meeting. McClure wondered if the state could enact eminent domain, in the event that this resolution failed. Bower said she believed the state could do that. In response to Osenga,Bower said the state paid for the appraisal on this property. Terry wished to know if the state was purchasing this parcel in order to set up for the runway extension in the future,or if they needed it to accomplish the current project.Terry said perhaps this property sale was not necessary until or unless the runway extension, beyond 3,300 feet, came forward. Motion to Postpone(Casagranda/McClure) Postpone Resolution 2022-031 to April 25, 2022. Terry wished to have a third public hearing on this resolution when it came back to council on April 25, 2022. Motion to Postpone Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS Items Postponed from Previous Agenda 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. This resolution was postponed on March 14, 2022. Motion to Amend (Terry/McClure) Amend Resolution 2022-038 in Section 1 by striking the words, "and lead an" and replacing with,"a seven member"so that it reads,"The City Council herby directs the Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB)to create a seven member ad hoc committee of knowledgeable interested citizens to identify and recommend available sources of funds to complete the City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29, 2022 Volume 41,Page 633 Ground Source/District Heat System Project." Terry wanted to specify a number of members for the ad hoc committee. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Motion to Amend (Terry/McClure) Amend Resolution 2022-038 by adding a new Section 2, renumbering the subsequent sections accordingly, that reads, "Appointment to the ad hoc committee will be via an application process that includes the clerk advertising for letters of interest, presentations to the Port & Commerce Advisory Board, and appointment by the PACAB Chair." Terry said this procedure would be in keeping with council's procedures. McClure thought the people interested in forming this committee already knew who they wanted to be on the committee,and this might fly in the face of what their intent was.She wondered what this amendment would accomplish. Terry said she wished to ensure the anyone in the public had the opportunity to apply for being on this committee; anyone who had already expressed an interest in being on the committee could submit a letter of interest as well. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Motion to Amend(Terry/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2022-038 by creating a new Section 3,renumbering the subsequent sections accordingly, that reads, "PACAB will bring the recommendations of the ad hoc committee back to council." Terry said the ad hoc committee would report to PACAB,and PACAB would be responsible for bringing the committee's recommendations to council. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Motion to Amend (Terry/Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2022-038 in Section 4 by striking the first sentence which reads, "The committee will advise council on City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29,2022 Volume 41,Page 634 construction methods and long term maintenance." in its entirety. Terry said council previously approved a construction and maintenance plan. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous In response to Bower,Terry confirmed that the ad hoc committee would sunset on December 31,2022,unless extended by council. Main Motion Passed Unanimous NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2022-045, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Victus Advisors To Conduct A Feasibility Study For A Community Recreation Center In An Amount Not To Exceed$90,940. Motion (McClure/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2022-045 Bower said the city had received three proposals, and this vendor had been selected. Florence said after reviewing all the proposals,Victus Advisors had been selected;this company had a lot of experience in this area. Osenga said he thought a feasibility study would help determine whether the city could afford a community center. He thought it would be important to be cautious as this moved ahead; it needed to be considered honestly and with open eyes. McClure agreed that there was one way to find out if this was something the community could do, and thought it would have to be a combined effort between the city and the community. If the end result fell under the city, the cost and maintenance would have to be considered because user fees would have to cover the operating costs.It would be wonderful to have a community center,but caution was advised. Wells had studied the proposal and thought that there was potential for outside investors to support it. If the community center generated revenue, he believed there would be investor support for it. Casagranda thought it was important to look into this project and see if it was viable. McClure was concerned about the money being spent on this study. Wells agreed that this was a lot of money to spend on a study, but to find the answer City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29, 2022 Volume 41,Page 635 about whether this project was feasible or not would be extremely valuable. Calhoon thought that supporting this resolution was the only way to find the answer about moving ahead or not.The feasibility study should provide a report on the operating costs and maintenance concerns,as well as potential funding sources if the project was recommended to move ahead. Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS City Clerk's Travel Report for the Washington Municipal Clerks Association Conference. CITIZEN COMMENTS Lynda Paquette,outside the city,said the community had been against extending the airport into the wetland and habitat areas. She mentioned the slapping event that happened at the Academy Awards the other night;a lot of people were not talking about the humanity aspect of it.The universe was calling upon everyone to be better people.A sense of humor was an integral and important part of any society,and she asked everyone to consider whether making fun of people was an acceptable form of humor. Bruce Jaffa, outside the city,thanked council for approving Resolution 2022-038, and he appreciated the amendments that were made. He knew the chair of PACAB was very capable,and the citizens that he knew that were interested in participating on the committee would be happy to submit letters of interest.Jaffa said the citizens of Ukraine were fighting for their freedom and they needed help;it was critical to stand up to bullies,and he believed Russia was bullying Ukraine. He agreed that humanity should endeavor to rise to its highest level. Cindy Ecklund,inside the city,thanked council for a great meeting tonight.She appreciated the comments about the community recreation center feasibility study; she agreed that it was important to have this study conducted to learn how doable and sustainable this project would be. Jodi Kurtz, outside the city, thanked council for voting to approve the community center feasibility study.She was a coach for volleyball,and was recently out of town with the team;coaches from other communities mentioned to her that it would be great if tournaments could be held in Seward. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Wells thanked the Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center(SBDC) for their work supporting local businesses. He appreciated the comments and insight on the resolution for the airport property. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Regular Meeting Minutes March 29,2022 Volume 41,Page 636 Osenga appreciated the presentations tonight, and thought it was a good meeting. Be safe. McClure appreciated the presentations and all the citizen comments and input tonight.Last Sunday was the anniversary of the 1964 earthquake. She had been receiving reports about seeing a lot of Styrofoam floating out in the bay, and thanked the boaters who made a point of trying to retrieve it from the water. Terry congratulated Scott Bartlett on his retirement from the US Army Rec Camp. She congratulated all the award winners for the annual Chamber of Commerce awards:Business Person of the Year Micheley Kowalski, Community Person of the Year Karl Van Buskirk, Business Site Improvement of the Year Primrose Provisions,and Directors Award Jason Bickling.She thanked the ad hoc committee in advance of their work. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Brenda Ballo MC Christy Terry City Clerk Mayor � (City Seal) s.e►...r.ea °G ,.GOR 41111W'`fir••., � SEALi 4 • ' ,, �y, a ve i••.. ,.19.•Ssts ti., F OF AV''.**