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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07102023 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 354 CALL TO ORDER The July 10, 2023 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 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 dells Kevin Finch Robeft-Baniwell comprising a quorum of the Council; and Norm Regis,Acting City Manager Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz,Deputy City Clerk Excused—Wells, Barnwell Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Kelli Hatfield,outside city limits,introduced herself as one of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Karen Cooper Mclaughlin,inside city limits,thanked the community for their support of the 4th of July Festival. She thanked the city departments and other sponsors for their help with the festivities. Lastly, she also thanked the chamber staff and Mt. Marathon race committee. Randy Stauffer, outside city limits, introduced himself as one of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Ristine Casagranda, inside city limits, introduced herself as one of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Carol Griswold,inside city limits,asked council to remove Resolution 2023-078 from the consent agenda.She was concerned the flat rate salary for the week could be abused if the contractor only worked a few days or a few hours.Griswold was also concerned about the use of a city vehicle City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 355 being abused due to the vague terms in the contract. Next, Griswold asked council to remove Resolution 23-079 from the consent agenda.The1950's landing craft in question was marooned far from the beach and would be too expensive to dispose of this vessel. Next, Griswold encouraged council to accept all 10 applicants to the to the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Lastly, she thanked council for selecting Kat Sorensen as the next city manager. Bruce Jaffa,outside city limits,said he appreciated the selection of Kat Sorensen as the next city manager.He felt confident that Sorensen would win over her naysayers.Jaffa offered a word of support for some of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Jaffa agreed with the previous citizen that Resolution 23-078 should be removed from the consent agenda. Kat Sorensen,inside city limits,spoke as the Chamber of Commerce Director and echoed previous comments from chamber staff.Sorensen recapped some of the Mt.Marathon race statistics and thanked the public works department and police department for towing vehicles out of the race course. Lynda Paquette, outside city limits, introduced herself as one of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. Becky Dunn,outside city limits,encouraged council to select all 10 applicants to the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. She thanked council for the inclusion of people outside city limits. On another topic, Dunn spoke in opposition to Resolution 23-078. She recalled a previous contract that was poorly written and was abused by the contracted employee.Dunn would like to see the job positions advertised for the electric department. Megs Testarmata, inside city limits, introduced herself as one of the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee.On another topic,she spoke in opposition to Resolution 23-078. Jim McCracken, outside city limits, introduced himself as an applicant for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. He asked for more information on a timeline and scope of the project. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (DeMoss/Osenga) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda DeMoss pulled Resolution 23-078 from the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the June 12, 2023 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Approval of the June 28,2023 City Council Special Meeting Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 356 Resolution 2023-075, Authorizing the City Manager To Enter A Contract With METCO Alaska, LLC For The Installation Of Water And Sewer Infrastructure,And Appropriating Funds Resolution 2023-076,Authorizing the City Manager to Execute R&M Engineering Task Order No. 2734.25.03,Completing the 65%Design of A New Public Works Facility,and Appropriating Funds Resolution 2023-077,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Electric Power Systems,Inc.(EPS)To Provide Engineering Design Services For The Refurbishment And Voltage Capacity Upgrade Of The Lawing Substation At Milepost 25 Of The Seward Highway In A Not-To- Exceed Amount Of$175,972 Resolution 2023-079, Approving the Lawful Action to Bring Suit Against the Owner of an Abandoned or Derelict Vessel on City Tidelands and Appropriating Funds in an Amount Not to Exceed$10,000 Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#1153 Tony's Bar, Beverage Dispensary and non- objection to renewal of liquor license#1154 Tony's Liquor Store, Package Store Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#5965—Primrose Provisions,Restaurant/Eating Place Non-objection to the renewal of liquor license#4334—Oaken Keg, Package Store SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards—None City Manager Report Acting City Manager Norm Regis thanked everyone for their help with the 4th of July festival. Calhoon asked for clarification on some legislative priorities and requested a work session on water and sewer infrastructure. Sowell responded that was a big topic and a work session could be scheduled. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck introduced Jodi Kurtz as the new Deputy City Clerk. City Attorney Report I t City Attorney Sam Severin (telephonically) said there has been some code enforcement lawsuits lately included campgrounds and short-term rentals. Finch asked if it would be possible to recover all legal fees rather than only partial fees. Severin responded that recouping 20%of legal fees was standard by court rule. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 357 Other Reports and Announcements Presentations—R&M Engineering Public Works Facility Project 65% Design PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment Ordinance 2023-018,Approving the Land Use Amendment to Rezone a Portion of Proposed Tract 5A,Dairy Hill Subdivision Addition No. 1,from Single-Family Residential(R1)Zoning District to Resource Management(RM)Zoning District Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Enact Ordinance 2023-018 Community Development Director Jason Bickling summarized the rezone from the council packet. He noted that Planning &Zoning Commission approved this rezone in Resolution 2023-012 on May 9,2023. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. Motion Passed Unanimous Ordinance 2023-019, Amending Seward City Code; 15.10.140(b) Definitions, Pertaining to Bunkhouse,Lot,and Long-term Rental; 15.10.222 Development Requirements Table,Updating the Minimum Buildable Lot Size for single-and Two-Family Residential Zoning Districts,and Adding Table Notes for Lot Frontage;and 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed Table,Adding Long-term Rental, and Changing the Outright Use of Dormitories in the Office Residential and Institutional Zoning District to Require Conditional Use Permits Motion(DeMoss/Osenga) Enact Ordinance 2023-019 Bickling said there had been a lot of work done to clean up the definitions pertaining the bunkhouses and long-term rentals. He also noted that Conditional Use Permits would be required more consistently across all types of bunk houses and dormitories. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. Calhoon appreciated the work that P&Z and Community Development had done to bring these ordinances up to date. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 358 Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2023-074, Approving Lease Amendment 1 to the Amended and Restated Lease Agreement between OBI Seafoods,LLC as assignee of Icicle Seafoods,Inc.and the City of Seward Motion(DeMoss/Calhoon) Approve Resolutions 2023-074 Regis said there had been an environmental spill and the city had worked with the attorneys to come to an agreement. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ordinance 2023-015,An Ordinance Of The City Council Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Amending Seward City Code Title 6—Purchasing,Contracts And Professional Services For The City Of Seward Recodification Project. This ordinance had a public hearing on June 12, 2023, and was postponed to July 10, 2023. 111 Regis requested to postpone Ordinance 2023-015 to the July 24, 2023 council meeting. Motion(McClure/DeMoss) Postpone Ordinance 2023-015 until July 24, 2023 Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2023-046,Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Recruitment Services Contract with GovHR, and Appropriating Funds. This resolution was postponed from April 24, 2023, until June 12, 2023. This resolution was postponed from June 12, 2023, until July 10, 2023. Regis requested resolution this to be failed due to Kat Sorensen being hired as the next city manager. Motion Failed Unanimous Finish discussion and select members for the Ad Hoc Committee for reviewing the current status of the Seward Electric Utility. This item was postponed from June 24, 2023,and the application period was extended until July 5, 2023 at noon. Discuss and select four applicants for the inside city limits positions. Discuss and select three applicants for the outside city limits with the service area positions. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10, 2023 Volume 42, Page 359 Motion (McClure/DeMoss) Include all 10 applicants to the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee DeMoss agreed she would like to appoint all 10 applicants. Finch wondered if having an even number of members would be an issue. Motion Passed Yes: Finch, DeMoss, Osenga, McClure No: Calhoon McClure said their first meeting would be held on Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in council chambers. The committee would select their own chair and vice chair at that meeting. Finch felt they should meet every two weeks. Electric Department Manager Rob Montgomery wanted the committee to hear from experts around the state including a rates consultant. Regis suggested the committee could provide a presentation to council at regular meetings. Calhoon wanted to emphasize the mission of the committee was not to debate the pros and cons of selling the electric utility. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2023-078, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter An Independent Contractor Agreement With Rob Montgomery And Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Approve Resolution 2023-078 Regis said the position was currently being advertised in-house before it went out to the public. He noted that Rob Montgomery was available tonight to discuss the contract. DeMoss said she had received a lot of citizen feedback about this Resolution 2023-078. Montgomery confirmed his last day with the city would be August 2, 2023 and it could be difficult to get his position filled. He offered this consulting contract to cover the gap until someone was hired. He based this contract on the amount that he was offered from other employment. Finch asked for clarification on how many hours per week were in the contract.Montgomery said he would work 40 hours a week. He also said there was no problem using his own personal vehicle as opposed to a city vehicle. j City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10,2023 Volume 42,Page 360 Council directed administration and the city attorney to specify in the contract the work week would be 40 hours per week. Council directed administration and the city attorney to remove the use of a city vehicle in the contract. • Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS A. Boards and Commissions Minutes 1. Planning & Zoning Commission - May 9, 2023 Minutes CITIZEN COMMENTS Bruce Jaffa,outside city limits,applauded council's changes to the contract in Resolution 23- 078. One another topic, Jaffa announced that he had renewed his application for the Port and Commerce Advisory Board.However,he also hoped new people would step up and join PACAB. On a side note, Jaffa reminded council that the Seward Airport Ad Hoc Committee also had 10 members. Lynda Paquette,outside city limits,said she was previously on the Seward Airport Ad Hoc Committee which also had 10 members. The advantage to a larger,committee was extra coverage incase other members couldn't make it to the meeting. Paquette asked council for more guidelines and deadlines for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Regis thanked everyone for applying to be on the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. He noted the 4th of July Festival went very smoothly and he thanked everyone for their help and teamwork. • Sowell thanked council for their approval of the 65% public works facility resolution. He would work with the clerk's office to schedule a work session for water and sewer infrastructure. Sowell thanked Calhoon for bringing up the legislative priorities. DeMoss thanked all the applicants for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. She reminded everyone there were two vacant seats on P&Z and two vacant seats on PACAB. Finch thanked P&Z and Community Development for all their hard work on the ordinances. He thanked Mongomery for sticking with the city as a consultant. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 10, 2023 Volume 42, Page 361 Calhoon asked for a project fund to be included in the CMR. He was glad to see everyone had fun during the 4th of July Festival despite the rainy weather. Calhoon announced the US Coast Guard Icebreaker Healy would be in Seward later this month. Osenga thanked everyone for a successful 4th of July Festival.He welcomed Jodi Kurtz to the city clerk's office. He thanked Jaffa for his service on PACAB and all the volunteers who applied for the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee. McClure thanked everyone for the great 4`h of July weekend. She recalled running the Mt. Marathon race in 1978 and it was still snowing on the mountain. One of the perks of being mayor was to fire the starting gun for the Mt. Marathon Women's Race.McClure said the fireworks display was outstanding this year. Calhoon also reminded everyone there were two vacant seats for city council coming up in October. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at :38 p.m. U1 Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) ,o'n f 1S E ry''•., • -74 , I SEAL •�•'�ENE1 \90.++4Q- 'ess4 PE OF,P�P..•.