HomeMy WebLinkAbout09262022 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2022 Volume 42,Page 116
CALL TO ORDER
The September 26, 2022 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
5:30 p.m.by Vice Mayor Sue McClure.
OPENING CEREMONY
Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
presiding and
Sue McClure(presiding) John Osenga
Liz DeMoss Ristine Casagranda
Mike Calhoon Randy Wells
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Janette Bower, City Manager
Kris Peck, Acting City Clerk
Excused—Terry
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Harold Faust, inside city limits, was opposed to the project. He felt the SMIC Bench
housing idea was not practical.The aesthetics of the added roads and lights in the viewshed would be
offensive to people who valued Seward for its natural beauty. Seward needed more housing,but it
was not realistic to develop the side of Mt. Alice. There were protected lakes and wetlands in the
area that were not considered in the study. From his personal hiking experience, there were also
some nasty ravines that would require large bridges. The whole idea sounded implausible and
extremely expensive.
Karen Corrigan,inside city limits,felt an estimated cost of$200,000 per lot was outside the
reach of a regular citizen.A fire station and additional commercial businesses would be required for
a subdivision in this mountain location.She encouraged council to make it a priority to find housing
for locals.
Carol Griswold,inside city limits, said the feasibility study and graphics did not take into
account the extreme winter weather.The price of$200,000 per lot was enormous and would surely
increase. This development idea on a steep mountainside did not equate to a feasible subdivision.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2022 Volume 42,Page 117
Tim McDonald,inside city limits, spoke of the potential sale of the city electric utility. He
felt there were so many types of new energy coming up, and the city should wait before taking any
major action.
Lauri Schneider,inside city limits,said she appreciated the feasibility study.There was a lot
of potential on Mt. Alice for recreational activities, as well as housing. There needed to be more
places to live in Seward and the city didn't always have to break even.
Linda Paquette,outside city limits, said she would like to see a number of how many new
homes Seward actually needed. She would like to see a survey sent to employers in town to get a
figure of what type of housing was needed. She encouraged the city to plan ahead for what Seward
would be like in 30-50 years.
Kirk DesErmia,outside of city limits,said he was opposed to the new development idea.He
felt that a subdivision on Mt.Alice would be a detriment to the wild landscape and the view that was
enjoyed by locals and visitors.As a nearby resident to the site,he was concerned about the increased
traffic of an additional 1,200 cars on Nash Road. The projected costs of this subdivision would
surely have more devil in the details as it unfolded.He wondered if other locations were considered
that would make more sense.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Casagranda/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
There were no consent agenda items.
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business Items
Committee of the Whole: SMIC Bench Feasibility Study.
Motion (Casagranda/Wells) Move into Committee of the Whole for the
SMIC Bench Feasibility Study.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council went into Committee of the Whole at 5:52 p.m.
Council came out of Committee of the Whole at 6:39 p.m.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
September 26, 2022 Volume 42,Page 118
Linda Paquette,outside city limits,wanted to make a general clarification that the road to
Lowell Point was originally created for access to the city's septic system rather than for the Lowell
Point community.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Casagranda thanked everyone who showed up.
DeMoss thanked everyone for showing up,and encouraged citizens to check the city website
for city council agendas and packets to get the most current information.
Osenga thanked everyone for presentation and comments.
McClure thanked everyone for coming out and said in her family,the closest thing to heaven
was sitting on Mt. Alice admiring the view.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
ciL
Kris Peck Sue McClure
Acting City Clerk Vice Mayor
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