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Home My WebLink About02152023 PACAB Minutes City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Fehruafy 15, 2023 Volume 4, Page 106 CALL TO ORDER The February 15, 2023 special meeting of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board was called to order at 12:07 p.m. by Vice Chair Lynda Paquette. OPENING CEREMONY Harbormaster Norm Regis led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Chair(Vacant), presiding; and Lynda Paquette Bruce Jaffa Carl Hughes Benjamin Smith (arrived at 12:06) comprising a quorum of the Board; and Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Norm Regis, Harbormaster Kris Peck, Deputy City Clerk Excused—Woelkers, Atwood Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING -None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Hughes/Jaffa) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: There were no items on the consent agenda SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards None Administration Report. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 15,2023 Fohime 4, Page 107 Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell said the PACAB meeting schedule was included in all the PACAB packets,but the actual discussion of the schedule was slated for the next regular meeting agenda. Harbormaster Norm Regis said the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grant listed Seward's status as non-responsive because the stipulation of"goods crossing the dock" did not apply to Seward's scenario. However, there were a lot of other grants available, and it was just a matter of finding the right ones. Paquette announced she would miss the March 1, 2023 meeting and, due to potential quorum issues, she wondered if the meeting could be rescheduled to to March 8, 2023. There was no objection from the board. Regis noted he would not have been able to make the original March 1, 2023 meeting, however he would be able to attend a rescheduled March 8, 2023 meeting. Motion (Hughes/Paquette) Approval of Rescheduling the PACAB March 1, 2023 Regular Meeting to March 8, 2023 Motion Passed Unanimous Other Reports and Announcements Presentations—None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Discuss Ordinance 2023-XXX Amending Seward City Code Chapter 2.30 Boards and Commissions Jaffa questioned the significance of an excused absence compared to an unexcused absence. He wanted a distinction made between the two and clarified in the city code. Jaffa also felt that the sanctions of missing three consecutive regular meetings was odd because the total number of missed meetings was more critical. To update this language, Jaffa felt that a member who missed 25% of all yearly scheduled meetings should be noted. Smith also wanted a tighter definition of excused absence and how much notice was required to be considered excused. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Febritary 15, 2023 Volume 4, Page 10� I� Paquette advocated for every meeting to be a regular meeting and these would occur twice l a month. However, Jaffa preferred the old format of one meeting a month alternated with a work session. Jaffa felt the work sessions provided a valuable format to discuss matters in a more casual way. Hughes also liked the traditional format of regular meetings and work sessions. Paquette asked if absences from work sessions would be counted towards the 25% of the meetings absences. Sowell asked the clerk if the attendance for work sessions was recorded. Deputy City Clerk Kris Peck clarified that the clerk's work session notes recorded which board members were present. However, the notes did not specifically spell out who had an excused or unexcused absence like in the regular meeting minutes. Paquette elaborated that her idea of having two regular meetings per month was in response to administration's request that every PACAB meeting have an actionable item. That was the reason she had pushed to replace work sessions with meetings. However, based on feedback Paquette was hearing from the board, she said the traditional format with work sessions between meetings was preferred. City Clerk Brenda Ballou encouraged PACAB to define the excused and unexcused absences requirements for themselves. Smith felt it wouldn't really make a difference if the absence was excused or unexcused. Sowell asked if the board wanted to be specific about PACAB's summer hiatus or leave it ambiguous. Jaffa responded the summer hiatus may not always be the make-up of the board and he felt leaving it ambiguous would better suit the future of board. Regis encouraged the board to codify the hiatus because both harbor staff and PACAB members were very busy during the summer. He noted there could always be a special meeting called for during the summer if needed. Sowell agreed they should codify the hiatus and use the wording in the Griswold laydown about listing the summer months of June, July, and August. Sowell wanted to streamline the process with boards & commissions in regard to working with city council. Somehow, regardless of the mechanism, the 2424 PACAB priorities needed to be approved by council in November. If the priorities go to council in February, it would be too late. Hughes wanted to change the verbiage to reflect the PACAB report to council would take place in the fall as Sowell had mentioned. Ballou said city council prescribed an annual March joint work session with Planning & Zoning, PACAB and Historic Preservation Commission all in the same night. This was a separate event from the Roles & Responsibilities special city council meeting that recently took place in January. City of Seward, Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Februanv 15, 2023 Volume 4, Pale 109 Paquette said she remained confused on what city council wanted PACAB to be working on. Sowell responded it would be worthwhile to discuss the workflow. For example, would it be better for PACAB send their list to council for approval or should council make a list of projects and send it to PACAB. Paquette asked if there was a city council liaison who would attend PACAB meetings. Ballou clarified that council opted not to assign a PACAB liaison. PACAB wanted to add the word "infrastructure" to the list of topics to promote and develop. The list would then read: transportation, trade, energy, commerce, and infrastructure throughout Seward. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS —None CITIZEN COMMENTS BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Hughes felt today's meeting was productive and thanked everybody for their input and changes. Smith was satisfied with the work they accomplished today. He encouraged everyone to check out the Homer Electric Association (HEA) website because the electric sale was a major decision for Seward. Jaffa appreciated the administration being here for this meeting to help with guidance as they discussed the ordinance. At the previous PACAB meeting, they had to punt this discussion item due to administration not able to attend. Jaffa encouraged everyone to be involved with the various HEA engagements with the public this month. Jaffa hoped HEA could present to PACAB in March to explain the heat pump rebate program and their concept for bi-directional and zero net meters. Jaffa emphasized he wanted to provide a neutral ground for HEA to provide information and PACAB would not be taking sides or advocating for one thing or another. Sowell thanked the board for a good meeting, and he liked the proposed changes that were made to the ordinance. Regis also wanted to draw attention to the upcoming HEA meet& greet events this month. He thanked Carol Griswold for her suggestions and proposed changes to the ordinance. Paquette thanked everyone who attended the meeting and reminded everyone the previous PACAB chair had resigned and there was now a vacancy. She reiterated the next regular PACAB meeting was rescheduled to March 8, 2023. City of Seward,Alaska Port and Commerce Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 15, 2023 Volume 4,Page 110 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 1:59 p.m. Kris Peck Paquette Deputy City Clerk Vice Chair (City Seal) ++y 4®LAA�N■)I , v� 410 r • � r r �r j r }� �o ticl�,{ �Nry/fir. ti Ole., /' }•�'o•..a...w+ J 1� vvvq'C�FA�4 +ti+