HomeMy WebLinkAbout02132023 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 volume 42,Page 222
CALL TO ORDER
The February13 2023 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
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7:00 p.m. by Mayor Sue McClure.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Alan Nickell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Sue McClure, presiding, and
John Osenga Liz DeMoss
Mike Calhoon Randy Wells
Kevin Finch Rehbeft-Barnwell
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Stephen Sowell, Acting City Manager
Brenda Ballou, City Clerk
Sam Severin, City Attorney
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Excused—Barnwell
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Bailey Sayler, outside the city, was the city's library director. She shared that the library
would be hosting a number of events for the public this week,including a family movie,story time,
gentle yoga, and an adult paint night. Later in the month, Seward Family Dentistry would be
teaching a class about dental health.
Patrick Messmer,outside the city,worked for the city and thanked the council for bringing
up the pay issue for employees at the last meeting;increasing pay would help attract new employees
and retain current employees.He wished the patrol officers could be increased by 10%to make them
closer to Horner. Another idea would be to take the next two years' worth of COLAs in the current
union contract and start them now and give zero COLAs next year_ On another topic, the city paid
approximately$64,000 to train a new officer;that included the recruit's pay while they were at the
academy and with the Field Training Officer(FTO)which is a period of time during which the city
received no service from the recruits, academy fees, and the extra cost for the FTO. Messmer said
one thing he thought might help for new police and fire recruits would be for the council to pass a
resolution of support for HB22 which was a defined benefit pension plan. Since 2006, the state has
been losing employees at an increasingly faster rate; Tier III employees were starting retirement
phase more and more. This, in turn,meant less experienced police officers and firefighters were in
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13,2023 Volume 42, Page 223
the workforce which meant concerns over safety were increasing. Alaska led the country for
violence against police officers;64.6%of Alaska police officers were assaulted in 2022 in the line of
duty. He asked council to pass a resolution of support for HB22.
Darryl Schaefermeyer,inside the city,thanked council for remembering Louis Bencardino
tonight;"Louie"had done a lot for this community and had played a role in many big things like the
Seward Marine Industrial Center, Alaska SeaLife Center, and Spring Creek Correctional Center.
Louie had a unique association with many rural legislators across the state. Schaefermeyer recalled
Seward receiving the highest amount of funding per capita from Prudhoe Bay than any community
across the state. Schaefermeyer hoped that there would be some sort of permanent recognition
installed in the city to remember Louie's contributions.
Tim McDonald,inside the city,thought Seward had a lot of unsung heroes who contributed
to the community over the years. Regarding the Lowell Creek Diversion Tunnel, he thought there
was still time to make arrangements for hydroelectric power to be included in the project. He
believed Seward could be generating 100%of its own electricity within ten years.There were new
developments in energy happening all the time; there were seaweed-type tentacles that laid on the
ocean floor that generated electricity through the movement of ocean currents and hydraulic
sidewalks where the pressure of people walking on them generated electricity.He believed Seward
could be a leader in this regard.
Wolf Kurtz,outside the city,said the radio station was an all-volunteer,non-profit entity and
they welcomed volunteers. He said the Seward Homeless Connection was also looking for
volunteers to fill their board.
Bruce Jaffa, outside the city, recalled council talking at the last meeting about keeping
sidewalks cleared of snow.The winds downtown did a lot to shift the snow around;snow drifts were
common,regardless of how often the sidewalks were cleared.He said some cities took on the task of
cleaning snow from sidewalks because snow removal was a constant challenge. He hoped council
would consider addressing sidewalk clearing downtown,and suggested the heat loop project might
include heated sidewalks.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of the January 23, 2023 City Council Special Meeting Minutes.
Approval of the January 23, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
Introduction of Ordinance 2023-003, Amending Seward City Code Chapter 3.50--Holidays.
This ordinance was introduced tonight and will came for public hearing and enactment on February
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
Februa2 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 224
27, 2023.
Resolution 2023-014, Authorizing The City Manager To Execute R&M Engineering Task
Order No. 2734.29, Completing Required Survey Work And Producing A Professionally
Sealed As-Built Drawing Of The Lawing Substation, In The Amount Of $15,765 And
Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2023-015, Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Six 115kV Voltage
Transformers From Instrument Transformer Equipment Corporation(ITEC)In The Amount
Of$67,122,Plus A 10%Contingency For Installation In The Fort Raymond Substation,And
Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2023-016, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into Amendment#1 To The
Contract Between The City Of Seward And Yukon Fire Protection To Include The New
Animal Shelter In The Service Contract.
Resolution 2023-017,Accepting And Appropriating Animal Shelter Donations In The Amount
Of$20,61157, Collected Until December 31, 2022, To Fund Expenses Related To The New
Animal Shelter, And Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2023-018, Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase From Royal Switchgear
Nine 115kv Vertical Break Switches For Installation In The Fort Raymond Substation In A
Not-To-Exceed Amount Of$167,455, And Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2023-019,Supporting And Requesting The City Of Seward Be Re-Established As
An Active Port For The Alaska Marine Highway System.
Resolution 2023-020,Updating The Mobile Vendor And Roving Vendor Policy For Permitting
Vendors On City-Owned Property.
Action Memorandum 2023-0019 Accepting The Resignation Of Brandii O'Reagan From The
Port And Commerce Advisory Board And Directing The City Clerk To Advertise The Vacant
PACAB Seat.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
Remembering Louis Bencardino In Memoriam
City Manager Report
Acting City Manager Stephen Sowell said the public works shop project continued to be
worked on; there would be a special meeting on March 13, 2023 to discuss the project. He
announced that the Community Conversation for housing that was scheduled on March 2, 2023
would have to be rescheduled to the fall; administration was making arrangements for Tim Dillon
City of.Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 225
from the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District(KPEDD)to facilitate the session,and he
would not be available until then. Sowell said the fund balance information contained on the agenda
statements would be updated in an attempt to make the information clearer to understand.
Harbormaster Norm Regis said last week 75 divers from Dive Alaska came down from
Anchorage to conduct a training exercise which consisted of diving in the harbor to clean the bottom.
The divers found things like batteries and fish knives,but reported that the harbor was pretty clean.
Calhoon thanked Sowell for making the finance information on the agenda statements more
clear.
City Clerk Report
City Clerk Brenda Ballou reminded everyone that tomorrow would be the special election
for the borough mayor. The Deputy City Clerk was coordinating a food challenge between the
Seward High School culinary class and Obihiro,Japan; as well, preparations were being made for
the student exchange program. And,she thanked council for approving the resolution to update the
Mobile & Roving Vendor program; renewals would be open on Wednesday this week.
City Attorney Report
City Attorney Sam Severin stated the potential sale of the electric utility was capturing a lot
of the firm's tune and attention. In addition, the firm was assisting with a variety of personnel
concerns, as well as potential enforcement action relating to short term rental businesses. Severin
said he had been involved with code enforcement over the years with other municipalities and he
understood the challenges that came along with code eiifbiceiiient.
Other Reports and Announcements—None
Presentations
Homer Electric Association presentation by Brad Janorschke.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Ordinances for Enactment
Ordinance 2023-002,Amending Seward City Code Title 2—Administration.This ordinance was
introduced on January 23, 2023 and is coming tonight for a public hearing and enactment.
Motion (DeMosslOsenga) Enact Ordinance 2023-002
Ballou stated this ordinance would complete the recodification for Title 2.
Sowell said administration would continue to bring forward standalone ordinances going
forward, as needed.
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City of Seward Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 226
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,said the Port&Commerce Advisory Board(PACAB)had been
provided with a draft ordinance at last week's PACAB meeting that related specifically to PACAB's
section in code,however, the bout did not liuve a chance to discuss it. It would be coining back to
PACAB on Wednesday this week for them to discuss. Jaffa wanted to ensure that the mission of
PACAB would not be diminished with this ordinance. He believed that an advisory board should
have a broad mandate. In addition, Jaffa said he was bringing a resolution to PACAB that would
request council reinstate the original priorities that PACAB set for 2023, which were amended by
council. Jaffa said the suggestion of changing the name of the board from"Port and Commerce"to
"Port Commerce" would have a significant impact. He wanted to preserve the original intent and
mission of the board as it had been established in 1994.
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed
Motion to Postpone (Wells/Finch) Postpone Ordinance 2023-002 for thirty(30)
days to allow PACAB to review and
provide input.
Wells said he wished to postpone the ordinance to allow the boards and commissions to
review, and also because he wanted more time to review the ordinance.
- Ballou stated that tonight's ordinance was part of the recodification process which had been
worked on since last year and had been vetted by the attorneys,city manager,and department heads.
She explained that the assistant city manager wished to provide PACAB with the opportunity to
review their section of code separately, and the timing of those two events was causing confusion.
Wells withdrew his motion with no objection from council.
Ballou said tonight's ordinance would not impact the scope or mission of PACAB.
Sowell said this ordinance would also add a new section 3.30.317 to make it consistent with
changes made last year for the Planning&Zoning Commission which clarified staff assistance. He
said the goal of this ordinance was to bring code in line with how meetings were being conducted
currently.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing
Resolution 2023-013,Approving An Agreement With Kenai Mountain Public Media,Inc.For
Joint Use Of The City's Satellite Receiving Dish,Equipment Shelter And Tower Located On
Lots 91 10, And 11 Block 16, Original Townsite Of Seward For FM Radio Receiving And
L Transmitting Purposes.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
Februafy 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 227
Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Approve Resolution 2023-013
Sowell said this lease had been worked on since last summer and involved input from the city
attorney and Kenai Mountain Public Media(KMPM).
Information Technology (IT) Technician George O'Dell was employed by the city and
was also a KMPM board member. He said KMPM wished to continue broadcasting the FM radio
programs, as well as the Alaska Rural Communications Service(ARCS) television service.
Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public
hearing was opened.
Wolf Kurtz, outside the city, was a member of the KMPM board. KMPM operated as
Seward Public Radio as the local radio station. if this resolution was approved, the downtown
location of equipment would improve the radio service to downtown Seward. In addition,KMPM
provided high definition television on Channel 7 for Seward and Bear Creek. Operating under this
lease would enhance the Emergency Alert System services, as well.
Becky Dunn, inside the city,was a KMPM board member. She said the radio station aired
the council meetings,but there were still places in town where the radio could not currently reach,
including areas in downtown and at the hospital.
No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed.
Motion to Amend (McClure/Wells) Amend Resolution 20232-013 by adding a
new Whereas in the second position,
moving all others down, that reads,
"WHEREAS, in addition to the usage for
radio, the equipment will be used for the
purpose of transmitting a television signal;
and".
O'Dell had requested this amendment to ensure there was a mention of the television service
in the resolution.
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS—None
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS —None
City of Sewa;d,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 228
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Tom Tougas, inside the city, thanked council for the radio station resolution; the radio
station provided a valuable service to the community.Tougas recalled in Seward in 2000 there was a
vote to sell the electric utility to the Homer Electric Association(HEA).He said 52%of voters had
approved the sale,but that didn't meet the threshold to pass the sale;it required 60%to pass.Tougas
said there were many compliance regulations,which were continually being updated;he supported
the sale to HEA. He appreciated HEA's approach to renewable energy and was excited that HEA
was setting up community meetings and providing information to the residents.
Tim McDonald,inside the city,wondered if HEA would allow net metering.McDonald said
he was born and raised in Seward. He had a large RV park on Nash Road and all the money he
collected was outside city limits. Seven years ago, the administration had questioned him about
running his campground inside city limits; recently, the topic came up again. He now had his
property up for sale and offered to sell it to the city.He had an appraisal done about five months ago
and would provide it to council.
Bruce Jaffa,outside the city,thought council did good work tonight.He appreciated hearing
about the sale to HEA. He thanked everyone who attended the Moose Pass Winter Festival last
weekend; it was well attended. On the topic of wages, Jaffa supported making wages competitive;
emergency services employees deserved consideration for wages.His heart went out to the residents
of Turkey and Syria; it made him appreciate the strict and stringent code requirements for building
that Seward had.
Wolf Kurtz, outside the city, thanked administration for helping get the resolution pulled
together for the radio station. The next project for KMPM was to install a television transmitter in
Bear Creek.
Becky Dunn,inside the city,said if someone had a television antenna and cable access,they
could get four channels of local television.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Sowell thanked council and the public; there were many things the administration was
working on and he appreciated the community support for those projects.He was looking forward to
a productive year ahead.
Wells appreciated all the citizens who spoke.He thanked HEA for their presentation tonight
and for setting up all the community information meetings.
DeMoss thanked HEA for corning tonight;she appreciated the mention about the 60%voting
minimum required to pass the sale. She appreciated the idea about having a special assessment
district for snow removal on sidewalks downtown.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 229
Finch thanked HEA for their presentation and the radio station for their service.He reminded
everyone that tomorrow was Valentine's Day.
Calhoon appreciated all the activities and events at the library.The radio station was eat;it
was local and very informative. The animal shelter funds resolution was very appreciated. He
recalled the election in 2000 being an advisory vote rather than an actual vote to sell the electric
utility; he agreed that there had not been enough community education done at that time. Happy
Valentine's Day.
Osenga said don't forget Valentine's Day and to vote in the special election for borough
mayor tomorrow.He encouraged everyone to get involved and get educated about the electric sale.
He was pleased the resolution for the radio station was approved; it would result in better service.
McClure appreciate the HEA presentation; she encouraged everyone to attend one of the
session. On February 4 there was a council retreat; she was very proud of the council. She loved
local radio. Happy Valentine's Day. Don't forget to vote. McClure read a card from a citizen who
appreciated all the holiday lights. Great work Dive Alaska on cleaning up the harbor.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Go into executive session to discuss subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and
character of any person, provided the person may request a public discussion — City Clerk
Evaluation,per Seward City Code 2.10.033(E)(2).
Motion (McClure/DeMoss) Go into executive session to discuss subjects
that tend to prejudice the reputation and
character of any person, provided the
person may request a public discussion —
City Clerk Evaluation, per Seward City
Code 2.10.033(E)(2).
The city clerk was invited to stay.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council recessed at 8:37 p.m.
Council resumed at 8:45 p.m.
Council went into executive session at 8:45 p.m.
Council came out of executive session at 9:51 p.m.
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City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
February 13, 2023 Volume 42,Page 230
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:51 p.m.
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