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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08142023 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14,2023 Volume 42, Page 374 CALL TO ORDER The August 14, 2023 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Sue McClure. OPENING CEREMONY Deputy Police Chief Karl Schaefermeyer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Sue McClure, presiding, and John Osenga Liz DeMoss Mike Calhoon Randy ` ells Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell comprising a quorum of the Council; and Norm Regis, Acting City Manager Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Karl Schaefermeyer, Deputy Police Chief Kris Peck, City Clerk Sam Severin, City Attorney Excused—Wells Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Selena Soto, inside city limits, said she was currently working for the city's Community Development Department. This fall Soto would be leaving the state this fall for personal reasons. Soto listed some of her accomplishments with regard to mapping and GIS work. She would love the opportunity to continue her work remotely with the approval of Resolution 2023-095. Kevin Dunham,outside city limits,was opposed to the sale of the electric utility to Homer Electric Utility. He felt that Action Memorandum 2023-011 would still be completely true if Chugach Electric replaced HEA on every line item. He was opposed to changing the three-fifths super majority requirement in the Charter. Greg Hass, outside city limits, spoke in opposition to the city selling land to Seward City Tours. Hass felt the land would be an ideal site for the future community recreation center. Skip Reierson, inside city limits, said there was too much unacceptable behavior between citizens and council members lately.He urged everyone to be respectful.On other topics,Reierson City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 Volume 42, Page 375 noted an error in the Ad Hoc Committee meeting minutes. Reierson advised the agreement with Providence be reconsidered and it should revert back to the previous language. Lastly, Reierson was curious to know what became of a 2002 council resolution that approved a new fire station to be built on Sealion Avenue & The Seward Highway. Jason Ebberson,outside city limits,spoke against the reintroduction of the ballot measure to sell the electric utility on the fall ballot. He was also opposed to the attempt to lower the goal post by changing the Charter's three-fifths requirement. Pat Messmer, outside city limits, said the Police Department was severely understaffed and he was currently working 20 hours of overtime each week. Messmer said there were four open positions, and three officers were retiring in the next couple years. He suggested a council work session to discuss possible solutions for the Police Department. Messmer had a few ideas such as: Subsidized housing, higher wages, PERS Tier 4, signing bonus, and offering gym facilities. Mica Van Buskirk, inside city limits, was opposed to the sale of land to Seward City Tours. That parcel of land was ideal for the future site of the community recreation center. Kat Sorensen, inside city limits, said the Seward Silver Salmon Derby was underway despite some stormy seas and rough weather. She summarized the current derby leader board, sponsors, volunteers, and prizes. Becky Dunn, inside city limits, said she would be interested if all public correspondence could be made available. Dunn cautioned against selling the land to Seward City Tours due to the land being ideal for the future community recreation center. On another topic, she said rape kits were hard to find and not available locally. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (DeMoss/Osenga) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Calhoon removed Resolution 2023-095 from the consent agenda. Finch removed Resolution 2023-093 from the consent agenda. DeMoss added Action Memorandum 2023-011 and 2023-012 to the consent agenda. There was no objection from the council. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the July 24, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Resolution 2023-090: Accepting The Return of $56,310.58 In Funds From Kenai Peninsula Borough That Was Intended For The Japanese Creek Feasibility Study Project,And Appropriating City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 Volume 42, Page 376 Funds Resolution 2023-091: Approving An Employment Agreement Between The City Of Seward And Kathleen Sorensen For City Manager Services Resolution 2023-092: Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Loan Agreement With The Alaska Department Of Environmental Conservation Action Memorandum 2023-011: Determining It Is In The Best Interest Of The Seward Community To Sell The Electric Utility And Specifying The Primary Reasons Action Memorandum 2023-012: Clarifying the Reasons Homer Electric Association is the Preferred Electric Utility to Purchase Seward Electric SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS,AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards The Founders Day Proclamation was read by Vice Mayor Osenga and accepted by Mayor McClure. City Manager Report Acting City Manager Norm Regis said Senator Murkowski's staff recently toured the city infrastructure. On another topic,the harbormaster's restrooms had been vandalized again with deliberate attempts to sabotage the toilets with concrete filled diapers. Calhoon asked about the status of the city finance director. Regis said Sully Jusino had been recently hired as finance director. Calhoon asked about if the budget would have to be adjusted since that position had not been funded. Regis said the department had been so short staffed that it wouldn't be an issue to find the funding. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck provided an update on the Sister City exchange with Obihiro,Japan. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin said the legal action against the abandoned vessel had been filed and progress was being made without extensive litigation. Severin enjoyed the regular interactions with the clerk's office and HR departments as they worked through complex issues. Other Reports and Announcements Small Business Development Center(SBDC) Quarterly Report City ofSeward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14,2023 Volume 42, Page 377 HYPER Financials Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee Meeting Minutes July 31, 2023 Providence Audited Financials for FY21 and FY22 Presentations Taryn Olsen-Yelle presented R&M Engineering's Public Safety Building Needs Assessment PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment—None Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing—None UNFINISHED BUSINESS -None Council recessed the meeting at 8:10 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:16 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2023-094: Repealing Resolution 2023-058: Personnel Policy 2023-01: Phone Use and Recording Policy Motion (DeMoss/Finch) Approval of Resolution 2023-094 Regis said council had requested a resolution be drafted to repeal Resolution 2023-058. He clarified a yes vote would remove the personnel policy and a no vote would keep the policy intact. Finch said he was the council member who requested the policy to be repealed. He felt a professional supervisor should have nothing to hide in terms of being recorded. He fully supported repealing this policy to revert back to the State of Alaska law. Finch said the city policy required the other party would need to be notified prior to the recording. Severin said the diminishment of moral and trust was the downside if city employees were always suspicious of being recorded. Motion Failed Yes: Finch, Calhoon No: Barnwell, DeMoss, Calhoon, Osenga, McClure Resolution 2023-093: Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Management And Operating Agreement With Providence Health& Services Washington d/b/a Providence Health City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14,2023 Volume 42, Page 378 & Services Alaska Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Approval of Resolution 2023-093 Sowell noted there were a lot of people involved with this operating agreement and it had been amended five times. The agreement reflected the current relationship between Providence and the City of Seward. He felt there was a need for a work session to better understand this very large topic. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2023-095: Authorizing the City Manager To Enter An Independent Contractor Agreement With Selena Soto for GIS Technical Services and Appropriating Funds Motion (DeMoss/Osenga) Approval of Resolution 2023-095 Community Development Director Jason Bickling said the GIS technical services position was unique and they were lucky to have Soto. Her position was reclassified as a GIS Technician and she was a boost to the community development department. Bickling provided examples how an up-to-date GIS system would benefit the city A comprehensive GIS system was part of any modern municipality. This contractor agreement would be the only way to keep Soto employed with the city when she moved out of state this fall. He recalled paying higher dollar amounts for lesser quality GIS work before Sota had joined the department. McClure asked if the former GIS technicians lived in Seward. Bickling said they lived out of state and worked remotely. Calhoon thanked Bickling for the explanation. Motion Passed Unanimous ACTION MEMORANDA—None OTHER NEW BUSINESS Seward City Tours Request to Purchase Property Sowell said this item had been discussed since June 2022. The outcome was an appraisal from MacSwain and Associates.The fair market value was$290,000. He said the Muni Land Plan was vague and it said to either retain for a future city development or to sell to a sound developer. Administration was requesting direction from council to draft a resolution that would come back to council. Council suspended the rules to allow Seward City Tours owner Jonah Swiderski to speak at 8:50 p.m. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 Volume 42, Page 379 Jonah Swiderski said Seward City Tours operations had increased over the years and they were looking for land to expand their business. He said he had no desire to derail the quest for the community recreation center. However, that land had not been designated as the site for the recreation center. Swiderski wanted to add employee housing and areas to perform maintenance on the busses. Finch supported the sale which supported housing and growing a business. McClure said the city was typically not in the business of selling property should be very careful about proceeding with a sale. DeMoss asked for confirmation on the status of the community recreation center. She didn't think the city should hold onto the land for possible future unknown uses. Selling city land with a sound development plan was more reasonable option. Council went back on the rules at 9:04 p.m. Motion (Osenga/DeMoss) Direct administration to come back with a resolution for a purchase and sale agreement with Seward City Tours Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS June 6, 2023 Planning&Zoning Approved Minutes CITIZEN COMMENTS Kevin Dunham, outside city limits, said he had over 40 years of experience in the power system industry. Dunham explained how power systems were all connected and worked together. Dunham recalled an incident with Homer Electric not collaborating with Chugach Electric. Kat Sorensen, inside city limits, thanked council for approving the resolution regarding her contract as the next City Manager. She thanked Regis for his service as Acting City Manager as well as Harbormaster. Skip Reierson, inside city limits, said he had been working behind the scenes to help administration with financial reports. He provided funding solutions to council and was disappointed they did not appreciate his financial reports. Reierson cautioned that water and sewer needed to be replaced or there would be an emergency situation. There should also be plans for a new sewer lagoon. Becky Dunn, inside city limits, wanted to bring awareness to a program called STAR (Sexual Trauma Prevention& Response). Anyone involved with rape victims should know of the STAR program. It had been around since 1978 and all the services were free. On another topic, City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 14, 2023 Volume 42, Page 380 Dunn felt that five minutes citizen comments at the end of the meeting was too long considering all the action had already been taken. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Regis thanked everyone for speaking tonight. He congratulated Sorensen on becoming the next City Manager. He noted it was nice to get funds back from the borough on Resolution 2023- 090. Sowell said he would be reaching out to Providence to schedule a work session.He thanked council for a vibrant discussion. Barnwell said he appreciated the Police being candid with their needs and current situation. He wanted the public to know that council had not given up on the proposed recreation center. He thanked the citizen for providing the background information how the power systems were connected. Finch thanked everyone for coming out tonight and speaking. He learned some new things about the power supply across the country. He was curious about a possible reserve Police Department. Lastly, Finch thought the city would be interested in the STAR program. DeMoss congratulated Sully Jusino on her promotion to Finance Director position. She thanked Peck and Barnwell for helping with the Obihiro exchange program. Calhoon thanked Mr. Reierson for his continued efforts to educate the community on the financial issues of the city. Osenga congratulated Sully Jusino and Sorensen on their promotions. He wished everyone a Happy Salmon Derby. McClure congratulated Sully Jusino and Sorensen on their promotions. She reminded everyone that public school started tomorrow. McClure noted that Founder's Day was coming up on August 28, 2023 and there was an event at museum. She felt this was a good meeting with a wide range of topics. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m. -1�tic-CQ-k r� Kris Peck �•`;�'� —14)### Sue McClure City Clerk Gam;?WM r.... �✓Iayor ._• • (City Seal) _ • SEAL • • tea- • �'.`• • PAP,•,.**/ OF