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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11012022 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 1, 2022 Volume 42,Page 153 CALL TO ORDER The November 1, 2022 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Mayor McClure. OPENING CEREMONY Patrol Officer Josh Ballard led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Sue McClure presiding and John Osenga Liz DeMoss Mike-C—alheen Randy-Wells Kevin Finch comprising a quorum of the Council; and Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Excused—Calhoon, Wells Absent—None Vacant—One CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Jonah Swiderski, outside the city, asked council to have Leirer Road at the harbor paved. This road was the only access to the Alaska Railroad Depot, and he transported 100,000 people through there throughout the summer. He understood it was a difficult road to maintain because of the potholes. Swiderski suggested the city might use Commercial Passenger Vessel (CPV) funds toward this endeavor. He would appreciate if the city at least started looking at the project to start drawing up plans. Mica Van Buskirk, inside the city, was the president of the Seward schools site based council. She missed having the School Resource Officer at the high school; the position was not staffed during COVID-19 and she wished it would be restored. She said the teachers and staff felt safer having an officer on site, and the students were better behaved. Skip Reierson,inside the city,appreciated having these budget sessions.He passed out some written comments he drafted as recommendations in relation to the hospital, electric, and harbor budgets. He requested that council revert back to using an unrestricted fund balance for enterprise funds because it would allow continuity in resolutions. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 1, 2022 Volume 42, Page 154 Laura Schneider, inside the city, supported having an additional harbor employee in the budget because the harbor needed ore staff to be trained in using the Shiplift at SMIC. The current harbor staffing restricted the efficient use of the Shiplift and wash-down pad;there could only be two 350-ton lifts each day,or six 50-ton lifts each day,or a combination of one 350-ton in the morning or afternoon and three 50-ton lifts in the opposite time. Schneider said, in order to serve the harbor customers, the lifts should be operated simultaneously and that required additional staff. She also supported paving Leirer Road. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (DeMoss/Osenga) 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 Committee of the Whole: 2023/2024 City of Seward Budget. Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Go into Committee of the Whole to discuss the 2023/2024 City of Seward budget. Motion Passed Unanimous Council moved into Committee of the Whole at 5:54 p.m. Council came out of Committee of the Whole at 6:55 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mica Van Buskirk,inside the city,observed large increases in the budget across the board, and she believed the increases were significant. She hoped that the city would also be budgeting for things to benefit year-round residents,like a Recreation Center,and suggested perhaps the city could initiate a Recreational Service Area. She requested that preliminary planning and/or engineering be started and some budget considerations be put in place to support it. Norm Regis, outside the city, noted that the harbor budget was missing passenger fee revenues, and said that would be corrected. Skip Reierson,inside the city,said the city needed to decide what kinds of services it should City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes November 1, 2022 Volume 42,Page 155 be providing. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSES TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sowell thanked everyone for their time. DeMoss thanked staff for making their presentations,and said she would support having the SRO back in the schools. Finch also supported having the SRO in the schools. Osenga thanked everyone for their presentations,and the citizens for their comments.It was all good information. McClure supported having the SRO in the schools, and said the Halloween Carnival had been great. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. SwVC renda Bal , C Sue McClure City Clerk Vice Mayor (City Seal) ,,,,`�f SEl(s�� e# '44 V =Go �o • SEAL = . • ••°,qt OF ASP s` set.,•esisss