HomeMy WebLinkAbout09252023 City Council Laydown - Written Letters of Protest W
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September 13, 2023 RECEP( 7
Seward City Council SEP 14 2023
PO BOX 167
Seward, AK 99664 OFFICE OF
CITY CLE�;:
Dear Seward City Council,
Thank you very much for your continued hard work and efforts to bring utilities to our
neighborhood in Forest Acres. I very much appreciate the work you have done to build a
pathway through city code for the city to support our project. I understand that while this
pathway for funding now exists, there are no current funds available to support the project.
For this reason, I urge you to vote no on Resolution 2023-100. 1 will also ask that you direct the
city administration to alert property owners should such funds become available. Then, we
can initiate a special improvement district when such an effort would be fruitful.
Thank you again for your continued help and support. I am a proud Seward resident and I
hope that one day soon I can build a home here.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Grischuk
PO BOX 1055
Seward, AK 99664
Property owner of CQ1 in Resolution 2023-100
Kris Peck
RECEIVED
From: Jaz Odhner <odhnerjaz@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2023 11:40 AM SEP 18 2023
To: Kris Peck
Subject: Improvement district written protest OFFICE OF THE
CITY CLERK
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize
the sender and know the content is safe.
Hey Kris,
I just wanted to say that my partner Eliza Woodworth and I are protesting Resolution 2023-100.I was also hoping you could forward
council members my explanation for why I'm protesting my own petition again.
To City Council,
I was the individual who collected all the signatures for the petition again.It hasn't been very clear to me the steps in which we need to
take in order to get utilities. The last council meeting I was at I understood that the Development Reimbursement Program(DRP)
would benefit applicants on a first come first serve basis. About a month or so afterwards I heard from my boss Norm that council had
amended Seward City Code 5.20 Improvement districts to read,"It is the intent of this chapter to permit the city,when funds are
available,to pay for a portion of the costs of extending public utilities to the undeveloped property in order to incentivize installation
of public utilities and property development within city boundaries" With this good news I figured I should get the property owner
signatures again and re submit the improvement district petition so that our neighborhood would become an improvement district
since we aren't currently.After I went through this process again and re-submitted the petition Stephen called me and informed me
that if council passes Resolution 2023-100 our improvement district,that we would be on the hook for 100%cost of utilities because
there currently is no money available in the DRP fund.With this new information I realize I was one step ahead of myself and ask that
you,city council vote down Resolution 2023-100.Perhaps,we could have a city official notify all of us property owners when DRP
funding becomes available that way we don't miss our chance on funding again.Thanks!
-Jaz Odhner
i
i
i
RECEIVED
SEP 18 2023
September 14, 2023 OFFICE OF THE
CITY CLERK
City of Seward
Attn: City Clerk
RE: Forest Acres Special Improvement District
This letter is in response to your certified letter, dated Sept 8, 2023, received Sept12. 2023.
1 would like to bring to your attention several errors in the packet you mailed me.
A. The legal description for lot 21 is incorrect, KPB 14531036 is attached for your review.
B. Your Notice of Public Hearing for Resolution 2023-100 has two dates listed on it.
it is attached for your review.
As per City Manager-Forest Acres Assessment Cost document you supplied (attached), this
completely ridiculous assessment of$275,650., for improvement on a $48,OOO.lot. KPB 14531036
is attached for your review. I oppose as the owner.
If this ridiculous special improvement district includes Lot 21, it will result in a land take by the city
of Seward of my property.
I completely object to this asinine Special Improvement District, remove Lot 21 from this plan.
i
I
jSincerely
I
Willian Schafer
Kenai Peninsula Borough
PARCEL REPORT 9/7/2023 9:33
PARCEL ID: 14531036 Total Acreage: 1.41
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� COTTONWOOD 5T ` COTTONWOOD ST
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LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
T 1N R 1W SEC 33 SEWARD MERIDIAN SW 2006011 FOREST ACRES SUB AFOGNAK ADDN LOT 21
ALL PHYSICAL ADDRESSES ON THIS PARCEL:
2607 AFOGNAK AVE
LAND VALUE: $48,000 ASSESSED VALUE: $48,000
IMPROVEMENT VALUE: $0 TAXABLE VALUE: $48,000
BUILDINGS ON THIS PARCEL: OWNERS:
Building Type Square Footage Year Built Name:
AFOGNAK CONSTRUCTION & EXCAVATING INC
Address:
PO BOX 610
SEWARD, AK 99664
ALBERT SCHAFER
The data displayed herein is neither a legally recorded map nor survey and should only be used for general reference purposes. Kenai
Peninsula Borough assumes no liability as to the accuracy of any data displayed herein. Original source documents should be consulted for
accuracy verification.
i
SEWARD CITY COUNCIL
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Monday, September 25, 2023
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Seward City Council will conduct a public hearing on
the following items of business at its regular meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023:
Resolution 2023-100: Determining It To Be In The Public
Interest And Necessary To Proceed With The
Improvement District For And Benefiting Lots 17, 18 Proposed
19 20
21, CR, CQ1, CQ2, CD, CF1, CF2, CG2, CP2, CG1, CP1, COS
CH, AX, AY, AZ, BA, BC 1, BC2, BD 1, BD2, BE 1 , And BE2
Of The Forest Acres Subdivision For An Amount Not To
Exceed Three Million, Five Hundred Sixty Three Thousand,
Nine Hundred Seventy Eight Dollars($3,563,978)
Essential terns and conditions of leases and all other pertinent copies of public hearing documents are
available for review at the City Clerk's office. The public hearing will commence at 7:00 p.m., or as soon
thereafter as business pert-nits, in the Seward City Hall, Council Chambers,410 Adams Street, Seward. All
interested persons are invited to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion; or, written comments
may be sent to the City of Seward, c/o City Clerk, P.O. Box 167
clerk@cityofseward.net Seward, AK 99664, or e-mailed to:
PURLISHM! Will be published in the Seward Journal on Wednesday,August 23,2023
POSTED: Monday,August
gust 21,2023
City Hall bulletin board
U.S. Post Office
Harbormaster's Building
Seward Community Library Museum
„ ''�'% 1
Kenai Peninsula Borough
Assessing Department
144 N. Binkley Street
General Information
k ,
AFOGNAK CONSTRUCTION&EXCAVATING IN Property ID 14531036
PO BOX 610 Address 2607 AFOGNAK AVE
SEWARD,AK 99664-0610 Document/ Book Page
Acreage 1.4100
Owners
Property ID Display Name
14531036 Address
AFOGNAK CONSTRUCTION&EXCAVATING INC PO BOX 610
DescriptionLegal
Description
T 1N R 1W SEC 33 Seward Meridian SW 2006011 FOREST ACRES SUB AFOGNAK ADDN LOT 21
HistoryValue
ear Reason Assessed
Y d
2023 Imain Roll Certification Land Structures Total
F-2022 Main Roll Certification $43,600 $0 $43,600
2021 Main Roll Certification $43�$84,000
600 $0 $43,600
2020
Main Roll Certifcation $0 ;84,000
2 119 Main Roll Certification $0 $84,000
2018 Main Roll Certification $67 200 $0 $77,300
2017 Main Roll Certification $67,200 $0 $67,200
$67,200 $0 $67,200
2016 lmain Roll Certification $67,200 $0
2 _Main Roll Certification $67,200 $67,200
$0 $67,200
2014 Main Roll Certification $67,200
2013 $0 ;67,200
Main Roll Certification $67,200 $p
2� 012 Main Roll Certification $67,200 $67,200
2011 Main Roll Certification $0 $67,200
�— $67,200 $0
2010 $67,200
Main Roll Certification $67,200 $0 ;67,200
2009 Main Roll Certification —$74,600 $0 $74,600
2 008 Main Roll Certification $59,700 $0
2007 Main Roll Certification $59,700
$59,700 $0 ;59,700
Land Details
Primary Use Land Type Acres Eff Frontage Eff Depth Asa Value
Res City B/Residential U 1.4100 0.00 0.00 $48,000
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Dale&Shelia Skinner
DaleSkinner7@gmaii.com
(808)343-0327
18 Sep 2023
City of Seward
P.O Box 167
Seward,AK 999664
City Clerk: Kris Peck
RE: Written Objection to proposed Special Improvement District(Afognak neighborhood of Forest Acres)
2505 Afognak Ave Lot 17
1 am officially notifying the City of Seward of my objection to the subject proposed Special Improvement
District notice dated 8 Sep 2023.
This project proposal would increase the cost of my lot from $36K to$160K(444%) overnight. Paying
this fee while saving to actually build a home is unfeasible and impracticable.
I challenge the City of Seward to show desire and initiative to increase growth of residential properties
uy expioi ng III ore reasonable liable methods to fund costs of roadways and utilities. City funding of at least
the roadways would allow access to the properties and no doubt promote quick growth.
Dale Skinner
RECEIVED
5 E P 19 2023
OFFICE OF 1'HE
CITY CLERK
Dale&Shelia Skinner
DaleSk nrer7 h mail com
(808)343-0327
18 Sep 2023
City of Seward
RO Box 167
Seward,AK 999664
City Clerk: Kris Peck
RE: Written Objection to proposed Special Improvement District(Afognak neighborhood of Forest Acres)
2507 Afognak Ave Lot 18
1 am officially notifying the City of Seward of my objection to the subject proposed Special Improvement
District notice dated 8 Sep 2023.
This project proposal would increase the cost of my lot from $36K to$160K(444%) overnight. Paying
this fee while saving to actually build a home is unfeasible and impracticable.
I challenge the City of Seward to show desire and initiative to increase growth of residential properties
by exploFing more reasonable n lethods to fund costs of roadways and utilities. City funding of at least
the roadways would allow access to the properties and no doubt promote quick growth.
Dale Skinner
RECEIVED
SEp 19 2423
OFFICE OT T"r-
CITY CL.Er;K�
Dale&Shelia Skinner
DaleSkinner7@gmail.com
(808)343-0327
18 Sep 2023
City of Seward
RO Box 167
Seward,AK 999664
City Clerk: Kris Peck
RE:Written Objection to proposed Special Improvement District(Afognak neighborhood of Forest Acres)
2509 Afognak Ave Lot 19
1 am officially notifying the City of Seward of my objection to the subject proposed Special Improvement
District notice dated 8 Sep 2023.
This project proposal would increase the cost of my lot from $36K to$160K(4449b)overnight. Paying
this fee while saving to actually build a home is unfeasible and impracticable.
I challenge the City of Seward to show desire and initiative to increase growth of residential properties
by exploring more reasonable methods to fund cost>of roadways and utilities. City funding of at least
the roadways would allow access to the properties and no doubt promote quick growth.
Dale Skinner
RECEIVED
S E P 19 2023
OFFICE OF THE
CITY CLERK
Regarding 9/25 city council meeting (forest acres)
James carlberg <james.pt.carlberg@gmail.com>
Wed 9/20/2023 4:00 PM
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net>
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Seward City Council,
Thank you very much for your continued hard work and efforts to bring utilities to
our neighborhood in Forest Acres. I very much appreciate the work you have done to
build a pathway through city code for the city to support our project. I understand
that while this pathway for funding now exists, there are no current funds available to
support the project. For this reason, I urge you to vote no on Resolution 2023-700. 1
will also ask that you direct the city administration to alert property owners should
such funds become available. Then, we can initiate a special improvement district
when such an effort would be fruitful.
Thank you again for your continued help and support. I am a proud Seward resident
and I hope that one day soon I can build a home here.
Sincerely,
James Carlberg
RECEIVEE
SEP 2 0 2023
OFFICE & ;�-,-
CITY CLER1
September 20, 2023
**This email is for Seward city council regarding the Forest Acres undeveloped neighborhood.
Dear Seward City Council,
Upon purchasing this land in 2021, 1 was thrilled to be making a positive step for my future.
Seward is a place I fell in love with, and with the purchase of an affordable piece of land I
thought that maybe,just maybe, I might actually be able to afford to build a home and a life
here.
In March the collective landowners gave their input and along with the city council voted no to
the proposed approximately 4 million dollar price tag for utilities, which was simply beyond the
budget of those living there. We were hopeful that as a result of the support and feedback from
that March meeting we might be on track to come up with a realistic and affordable option for
the landowners. However, the new proposed utilities are barely discounted from the incredibly
high price tag we were starting with. Yes, 3.5$ million dollars is cheaper, but it is still beyond the
reach of those that not only had to pay for the land, are still looking at an egregiously high
utilities cost, and are THEN supposed to still have money left to build. It simply isn't possible
and paying nearly 100,000$ on less than a half acre of land is going to price out the people you
want living in Seward. We aren't outside investors looking to swing a property. We aren't
developers looking to mass produce condos for maximum profit. We are regular, hard working
people trying to find a way to live in a place that is now telling us we cannot afford to. I
encourage the council to help us come up with a more cost effective solution.
We as collective landowners thought the city was investigating various ways, contracts, grants,
subsidies, etc. that might make building here possible for us. Instead this bid makes us feel just
as helpless as the last bid made us feel. We would like to be notified when funds are available,
instead of having to regularly vote "no" to city council and proposals. My input to the city council
is to please reject this proposal for utilities in Forest Acres on September 25th.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
RECEIV°EL
Rose McAdoo
crmcadoo gmail.com SEP 2 0 2023
�a
347-985-5225 OFFICE Of- T
P.O. Box 2095 CITY CLERK
Seward, AK 99664
September 20, 2023
Seward City Council
PO BOX 167
Seward, AK 99664
Dear Seward City Council,
Thank you very much for your continued hard work and efforts to bring utilities to our
neighborhood in Forest Acres. I very much appreciate the work you have done to build a
pathway through city code for the city to support our project. I understand that while this
pathway for funding now exists, there are no current funds available to support the project.
For this reason, I urge you to vote no on Resolution 2023-100. 1 will also ask that you direct the
city administration to alert property owners should such funds become available. Then, we
can initiate a special improvement district when such an effort would be fruitful.
Thank you again for your continued help and support. I consider Seward to be my Alaska
home and hope to build a home there to allow for my continued involvement with the
community. As a medical student in the Alaska WWAMI program, I am unable to currently live
in Seward; my hope, however, is that investing in this infrastructure now would allow me to
return one day to practice in Seward if the opportunity arose.
Sincerely,
S E P 2 0 2023
OFFICE U1 1 H_
Julia Savage CITY CLERK
PO BOX 3193
Seward, AK 99664
Property owner of CG2 (206 Cottonwood St) in Resolution 2023-100
September 20, 2023
Seward City Council
PO BOX 167
Seward, AK 99664
Dear Seward City Council,
Thank you very much for your continued hard work and efforts to bring utilities to our
neighborhood in Forest Acres. We very much appreciate the work you have done to build a
pathway through city code for the city to support our project. We understand that while this
pathway for funding now exists, there are no current funds available to support the project.
For this reason, we urge you to vote no on Resolution 2023-100. We also ask that you direct the
city administration to alert property owners should such funds become available. Then, we
can initiate a special improvement district when such an effort would be fruitful.
Thank you again for your continued help and support. We love Seward and hope that one
day soon we can build a home here.
Sincerely,
RECEIVED
Aleah Greene and Isaac Sleadd SEP 2 0 2023
PO BOX 1341
Seward, AK 99664 OFFICE OF THE
Property owners of Lot AX in Resolution 2023-100 CITY CLERK
RECEIVED
improvement district
rotoscale@wyoming.com SEP 2 2 2023
Fri 9/22/2023 8:11 AM OFFICE OF THE
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net> CITY CLERK
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
am in receipt of a certified letter with a proposal for the special improvement district affecting
the Afognak/Forest Acres neighborhood. It appears to be identical to the improvement district
proposal made earlier by the city.
have retained counsel with regards to my lot in the above subdivision. I have explained the
50/50 cost sharing of the utility mains with 2 area contractors and the city with said counsel.
am assured that it is against the law to disadvantage one group and advantage another with the
use of citizen tax dollars.
I understand that the city has written this to promote development with contractors. The city
wishes to exclude individuals because they do not fall under the definition of contractors. This
isn't legal or ethical. To wit: the city wishes individuals to bear the full cost of infrastructure
improvements, then collect the increased property taxes on increased property values after no
investment of their own. That is a win/win situation...for the city. Because the city has written
and adopted a code does not make it legal.
Were the city to assume the financial responsibility of 1/2 of the cost, as they have done for the
two contractors developing nearby, I would be willing to assume responsibility for my share of
the utility improvements. As the proposal stands now I am against it. Just as I was when this Taj
Mahal of a proposal was initially proffered.
I have also had power run to the Southeast corner of my property. I should be eligible for
recapture reimbursements on that $22,500 expenditure on my part.
My property was originally platted and submitted in May of 1950. In the intervening 73 years
Seward city has done nothing but have a simple single lane road adjoining it. There has been
money in the Seward budget in the past for water, sewer and power distribution on Maple St.,
including street lights on the corners of Maple and Dimond. That money was spent in other
places. Legally this is called "non-performance of duty." There is city water on much of Maple
St. already, including within 200' of my lot.
Seward has received acclaim from some other municipalities for the 50/50 split on utility mains
with contractors picking up 1/2 of the cost. Other municipalities were impressed with the deal
Seward struck. This is because other municipalities understand that they are responsible for the
cost of the mains. Land owners/contractors are responsible for connection fees to the mains
and all development connected to the mains. The city recoups the costs of this utility extension
via property taxes and connection fees.
These calculations need to be made when a city decides to annex property within city limits. It
appears, unfortunately, that previous decisions made by city leaders did not take these issues
into account when annexation decisions were made. Current property owners are being put in a
position of having to cover the financial shortfall of previous decisions they had no part in
making.
At this point I am a solid NO on this citizen petition in its current form. The city needs to step up
and assume at least a 50% financial liability on this issue.
Regards, Kevin Quitberg
RECEIVED
FA Improvements
S E P 2 2 2023
Isaac Sleadd <imsleadd@gmail.com>
OFFICE OF THE
Fri 9/22/2023 8:54 AM
CITY CLERK
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net>
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
To the City Council of Seward, AK
First of all, thank you for your continued support and efforts in extending utilities and improving roads
in the Forest Acres subdivision. My partner Aleah Greene and I are excited about the possibility of
building our primary residence in the neighborhood, at 2610 Oak Street.
Unfortunately the current costs associated with the improvements are unaffordable without the City's
help, and I urge you to vote NO on the current proposal as it stands. Please let us know when you
have sufficient funds to pay for half (50%) of the total cost of improvements. Then Aleah and I can
finally move forward with our plans to build a forever home. What an exciting day that will be!
We are not wealthy. We are not developers. We just want to build a modest single-family residence
here in our favorite town. Please help us out.
Thank you,
Isaac Sleadd
Isaac M. Sleadd, PhD
PO Box 1341
Seward, AK 99664
Cell: 573-424-8540
September 24, 2023
Seward City Council
PO BOX 167
Seward, AK 99664
Dear Seward City Council,
Thank you for your continued support and efforts to bring utilities to our undeveloped Forest Acres
neighborhood. I very much appreciate the work you have done to build a pathway through city code for
the city to support our neighborhood.
I understand that while this pathway forfunding now exists, there are no current funds available to
support the project. I also understand that the Seward City administration is actively looking for state
and/or federal funds to defray the cost of utility expansion to this new neighborhood, and until funding
is committed, the property owners will be responsible forthe entire cost of the utility installation. For
this reason, I urge you to vote no on Resolution 2023-100. 1 also ask that you direct the city
administration to notify property owners should such funds become available. Then, we can initiate a
special improvement district when such an effort would be productive.
Thank you again for your continued help and support. I am a proud Seward landowner and I hope that
one day soon I can build a home here and become an active member of the community.
Sincerely,
Katherine Repko
8017 Springshire Dr
Park City, LIT 84098
Property owner of 307 Cottonwood Street, Lot BE2, Forest Acres Sub Afognak Addn, included in
Resolution 2023-100
IRECEINI ED
SEp 5 2423
Ci�Y CL
Forest Acres Special Improvement District
Trevor Kreznar <tkreznar@gmail.com>
Mon 9/25/2023 3:10 AM
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net>
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
H i,
I, Trevor Kreznar, as the owner of one of the Afognak lots (2511 Pine Street) in Forest Acres, am writing
you to oppose the Special Improvement District as at this point there is no city funding to help
support that district. Unfortunately I cannot make it to the council meeting due to an out of state
family obligation but I want to make sure that my opposition is counted.
Thank you,
Trevor Kreznar
RECEIVE`
SEP 2 5 2023
OFFICE OF Tld
CITY CLERK
Re: improvement district
RECEIVE
Molly Ledford <mollyledford4@gmail.com>
Sat 9/23/2023 6:36 AM SEP 2 5 2023
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net>
External Email:This email originated from outside of the organization. D&WP VnOsM open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe. CITY CLERK
Hello,
My neighbor Kevin wrote a compelling letter and I agree with all of his points below. Nease take this
email as my vote against passing the current petition that will go up an city council on September
25th.
Best,
Margaret Ledford
On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 10:11 <rotescaleCcbwyoming.com> wrote:
am in receipt of a certified letter with a proposal for the special improvement district affecting
the Afognak/Forest Acres neighborhood. It appears to be identical to the improvement district
proposal made earlier by the city.
I have retained counsel with regards to my lot in the above subdivision. I have explained the
50150 cost sharing of the utility mains with 2 area contractors and the city with said counsel. I
am assured that it is against the law to disadvantage one group and advantage another with
the use of citizen tax dollars.
I understand that the city has written this to promote development with contractors. The city
wishes to exclude individuals because they do not fall under the definition of contractors. This
isn't legal or ethical. To wit: the city wishes individuals to bear the full cost of infrastructure
improvements, then collect the increased property taxes on increased property values after
no investment of their own. That is a win/win situation...for the city. Because the city has
written and adopted a code does not make it legal.
Were the city to assume the financial responsibility of 112 of the cost, as they have done for
the two contractors developing nearby, I would be willing to assume responsibility for my
share of the utility improvements. As the proposal stands now I am against it. Just as I was
when this Taj Mahal of a proposal was initially proffered.
I have also had power run to the Southeast corner of my property. I should be eligible for
recapture reimbursements on that $22,500 expenditure on my part.
My property was originally platted and submitted in May of 1950. In the intervening 73 years
Seward city has done nothing but have a simple single lane road adjoining it. There has been
money in the Seward budget in the past for water, sewer and power distribution on Maple St.,
including street lights on the corners of Maple and Dimond. That money was spent in other
places. Legally this is called "non-performance of duty." There is city water on much of Maple
St. already, including within 200' of my lot.
Seward has received acclaim from some other municipalities for the 50150 split on utility
mains with contractors picking up 112 of the cost. Other municipalities were impressed with
the deal Seward struck. This is because other municipalities understand that they are
responsible for the cost of the mains. Land owners/contractors are responsible for connection
fees to the mains and all development connected to the mains. The city recoups the costs of
this utility extension via property taxes and connection fees.
These calculations need to be made when a city decides to annex property within city limits. It
appears, unfortunately, that previous decisions made by city leaders did not take these issues
into account when annexation decisions were made. Current property owners are being put in
a position of having to cover the financial shortfall of previous decisions they had no part in
making.
At this point I am a solid NO on this citizen petition in its current form. The city needs to step
up and assume at least a 50% financial liability on this issue.
Regards, Kevin Quitberg
Resolution 2023-,00
Brendan Ryan <bepryan01@gmail.com>
Sun 9/24/2023 9:55 PM
To:Clerks Office <clerk@cityofseward.net>
External Email: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Seward City Council,
I just wanted to say a big thanks for all the hard work you've put into helping us in our attempts at
bringing utilities to Forest Acres. It means a lot that you've gone through the city's red tape with us to
support Our project.
Unfortunately, without a current source of funding to offset the extraordinary costs of bringing utilities
to this neighborhood I am compelled to respectfully ask you to vote against Resolution 2023-100 for
now. Under the proposed resolution, we would all be forced to spend exorbitant amounts of money to
bring utilities in --so much money that when completed, we would all have spent well over what
comparable city properties with utilities are valued at, meaning we would all be significantly underwater
on these properties before we even start to build.
It's frustrating that the city allowed the property to be subdivided and sold off without utilities in the first
place, which to my understanding is against city law. Because of this oversight, all of us have been left
with properties that are now a significant burden on us, rather than the investment in expanding the
community that we thought they would be. None of us could have reasonably anticipated that bringing
in utilities would cost well over 100k dollars per property.
Until we can find a reasonable solution to this issue, I urge you to vote down the resolution. Many of
those who have purchased these properties cannot easily afford the improvements outlined in the
resolution, and I fear that selling these properties again is not a realistic option anymore because of
these onerous costs that are hanging over the neighborhood before it can even start being developed.
Thanks again for being there for us in this issue. I've been a resident here for a long time, and I look
forward to helping the community expand the housing opportunities for those of us that wish to live
here permanently.
Sincerely, Brendan Ryan RECEIVED
PO Box 1007
Seward, Ak 99664 SEP 2 5 2023
Co-Owner of 3 lots in the Forest Acres Project
OFFICE OF n-it.
CITY CLFRK
Dear City Council Members,
I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed Special Improvement District at
this time. The proposed costs are unaffordable and unjustifiable for many residents of Seward,
and I urge you to reconsider this initiative.
While I understand the need for infrastructure improvements in our community, I believe that the
proposed costs would place an undue burden on many of our fellow residents. The financial
strain that this would place on individuals and families is simply too great, particularly during
these difficult economic times.
That said, I want to emphasize that I am not opposed to the idea of a Special Improvement
District in principle. I believe that such an initiative could be valuable for our community, and I
would be willing to support it in the future.
However, I believe that this initiative should be put on the city's list of capital improvements to be
completed at a later date, when the city has enough money to subsidize the cost for its
residents. Specifically, I would support a plan that would see the city subsidize at least 50%o of
the cost for residents, if not more.
I hope that you will take my concerns into consideration as you move forward with this initiative.
Seward is a wonderful community, and I believe that we can find a way to fund important
infrastructure improvements in a way that is fair and equitable for all residents.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely, REGEIVI-F ;
SEP 2 5 2023
Andrew Scrivo OFFICE O HF
CITY CLEr�K