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Home My WebLink About09252023 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25, 2023 Volume 42,Page 400 CALL TO ORDER The September 25, 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 Lip DeMess Mike Calhoon Randy Wells Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell comprising a quorum of the Council; and Kat Sorensen,City Manager Jason Bickling,Assistant City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Sam Severin, City Attorney (telephonically) Excused—DeMoss Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Marie Gage, inside city limits, thanked Helen Stewart for her excellent work on a headstone at the Woodlawn Cemetery. She also commented on a Seward Seahawks football game that involved an exciting lateral play and touchdown. Aaron Nelson, inside city limits, bought a derelict sailboat and was concerned with the decaying blocks underneath. He disputed the requirement to have proof of insurance to use the City of Seward travelift to raise his boat. Phil Kaluza, inside city limits, spoke against selling the city electric utility. However, if the city must sell the utility,he was opposed to selling to Homer Electric. He felt Chugach Electric would have been the better choice. Dana Paperman,inside city limits, spoke to the importance of the Seward Senior Center. Senior centers were the cornerstone of services for older Americans. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25,2023 Volume 42,Page 401 Rob Montgomery, outside city limits, expressed his disappointment with the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee (SEUAHC) for releasing inaccurate rate information to the public. He also noted this was outside the scope of their mission statement. Ristine Casagranda, inside city limits, read two letters on behalf of the SEUAHC committee in regard to the canceled presentation from Curtis Thayer. She said an apology letter had been sent to Mr. Thayer for cancelling his presentation on such short notice. She hoped for a work session with city council to go over the work of the SEUAHC. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Calhoon removed Resolution 2023-108 from the consent agenda. McClure added Resolution 2023-110 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 September 11, 2023 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. Resolution 2023-110: Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A New John Deere 6110M Utility Tractor And Flex Wing Rotary Cutter From Craig Taylor Equipment Co., Plus 10% Contingency For A Total Amount Not To Exceed$183,223.13 Utilizing The Sourcewell Contract Ag Tractors 110719-JDC (PG 1P CG 70)And Appropriating Funds Appoint Canvass Board for 2023 Regular Municipal Elections SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATION,AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards Osenga read a Proclamation for Senior Center Month and it was accepted by Dana Paperman City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen said she was becoming familiar with the different city departments and had passed several Incident Command System training courses. She provided highlights from her written report in the packet. Sorensen addressed citizen questions about the Ballaine Blvd construction, and the new sound of the noon whistle. Presentations City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25, 2023 Volume 42,Page 402 Grant Todd presented a City 2022 Financial Audit Report by Altman, Rogers&Co. Brad Janorschke presented for the Homer Electric Association Council recessed the meeting at 8:03 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:08 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2023-100: Determining It To Be In The Public Interest And Necessary To Proceed With The Proposed Improvement District For And Benefiting Lots 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, CR, CQ1, CQ2, CD, CF1, CF2, CG2, CP2, CG1, CPI, CO, CH, AX, AY, AZ, BA, BC1, BC2, BD1, BD2, BE1, 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) Motion (Calhoon/Wells) Approve Resolution 2023-100 Assistant City Manager Jason Bickling said the petition was from the same group that went through this petition process earlier in Spring of 2023. Since then, progress had been made to put a mechanism in place, but there was not any funding currently available. A majority of property owners had submitted letters of protest and administration recommended failing the resolution. However, Bickling wanted to recommend that the group's spot be saved for when funding did become available. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Jaz Odhner, inside city limits, said it wasn't clear what steps needed to be taken to get utilities in his neighborhood. He understood the Developer Reimbursement Program would help applicants on a first come, first served basis. He thought Seward City Code had been updated and it would be worthwhile to resubmit the petition. However, administration advised that if council passed the resolution tonight, the property owners would be responsible for 100% of the costs. Odhner hoped council would reject Resolution 2023-100.Odhner wanted to be notified when DRP funding was available. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Finch asked if additional funding would be added to the DRP. Sorensen said the city was still looking for funding. Motion Failed Unanimous Resolution 2023-107: Recommending the Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval of the Preliminary Replat of Waterfront Tracts Mariculture Addition, Tracts 1 A & 1 B and Waterfront Tracts, Tract City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25, 2023 Volume 42,Page 403 2A; Located at 201, 101, and 301 Railway Ave; Creating Waterfront Tracts Resubdivision,Tracts lA-1, 1B-1, and 2A-1. Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2023-107 Bickling said Planning & Zoning Commission had approved this preliminary replat. The replat did a lot of cleanup and provided legal access for the Alaska Sealife Center to their property. The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and Alutiiq Pride did a land swap in the middle. This replat also added utility and access easements. 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 NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2023-109: Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With McKinley Fence Company To Construct A New Security Fence Around The Spring Creek Substation As Part Of The Electric Utility's Larger Transmission Infrastructure Project, In The Amount Of $87,943 And Appropriating Funds Motion (Calhoon/Osenga) Approve Resolution 2023-109 Sorensen summarized from the agenda statement in the packet. Wells verified that Homer Electric would repay the cost of this improvement if the sale of the electric utility were to go though. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2023-111: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase(1) 2024 Ram 2500 Single Cab Long bed truck from Lithia Dodge Anchorage under the City of Seward procurement process,with associated upfitting from TrailerCraft Alaska in the amount not to Exceed $55,785 Plus 10% contingency and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approve Resolution 2023-111 Parks & Recreation Deputy Director Tyler Mallory said most of their fleet was over 10 years old. They lacked vehicles that were capable of winter plowing and maintenance work. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25,2023 Volume 42,Page 404 Resolution 2023-112: Scheduling a Special Election to Repeal Resolution 2023-88 and Resolution 2023-89 to be held on Tuesday,November 28, 2023 Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approve Resolution 2023-112 Sorensen said this resolution was the response to the two referendums petitions that were filed with the city clerk. Due to the timeline of missing the window for the regular election, a special referendum election would be in order to meet the requirement. Motion Failed Yes: Osenga,McClure No: Calhoon, Barnwell, Finch, Wells Resolution 2023-108: Authorizing The City Manager to enter into a Contract for Janitor Services for the Seward Community Library&Museum with Sasha's Spic&Span in the amount of$83,800 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2023-108 Library Museum Director Bailey Sayler said the library was the main building that the public visits.The library staff wanted the building to be spotless as the flagship facility for the city. Calhoon hoped to provide the public with an explanation as to why the work needed to be contracted out. Sayler clarified the city had tried to hire an employee to do the job, but it had not worked out for a variety of reasons. Calhoon noted the salary offered would be lower than the overall cost of a city employee with health and retirement benefits. McClure felt this company would be very good at the work. Motion Passed Unanimous Other Items Discuss the Agenda Format for Citizen Comments and Public Hearing Comments City Clerk Kris Peck provided background information for the discussion and examples of possible changes to the agenda format. Wells was in favor of making a change if it would be helpful to the citizens. Osenga was in favor of the public hearing comments coming right after citizen comments. Calhoon wondered if a new format would still allow for normal public hearing comment session. McClure clarified the citizen would have the option of speaking to the public hearing at either opportunity,but not both. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25, 2023 Volume 42,Page 405 Osenga noted that if the public hearing comments were moved up in the agenda, the presenters would be waiting longer to give their presentations. Calhoon agreed that one group would be accommodated while another group would be made to wait. Finch suggested five-minute citizen comments overall that could serve a dual purpose. Osenga noted the 36-minute total time would have to be extended. Council decided to stay with the current agenda format. Discuss the future of the Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee McClure made a motion to disband the committee. Motion(McClure/Wells) Disband the Seward Electric Utility Ad Hoc Committee Osenga noted the committee had submitted their deliverables at the September 11, 2023 council meeting. He thanked the committee for their work. Motion Passed Unanimous CITIZEN COMMENTS Aaron Nelson, inside city limits,continued where he left off during his citizen comments. He wanted to use the city travelift for one hour to lift the boat up to re-block it. His attorney did not think that proof of insurance would be required and he questioned the ordinance that was in place. Becky Dunn, inside city limits, spoke to issues with cars blocking driveways during the busy construction hours. Dunn felt the SEUAHC deserved a work session with council to make their final presentation. Dunn said the city spent over their $25,000 budget for influencing the election to sell the electric utility. Dunn announced a townhall meeting on September 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at the Rae Building regarding the sale of Seward's Electric Utility. Clerk's Note-During Becky Dunn's comments on the road construction, she became upset at a perceived smile from Osenga. Lynda Paquette, outside city limits, wanted to clarify that there actually was a work session scheduled with city council and the SEUAHC Monday,September 18,2023. She provided a backstory of miscommunication that led to the council work session being cancelled. Paquette couldn't figure out why the SEUAHC chose to utilize the citizen comments at the September 11, 2023 council meeting rather than wait until the scheduled work session. Paquette apologized for whatever chaos had come out of the situation. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 25,2023 Volume 42,Page 406 COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen thanked council for approving several contracts and equipment purchases tonight. Finch thanked Marie Gage for bringing positive interactions to council. He thanked HEA for their presentation. Barnwell said he went through a similar rigmarole with proof of insurance for his boat.He encouraged people to get out and vote on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. He thanked HEA for their communication and transparency. Barnwell fully supported selling the electric utility to HEA. Calhoon thanked council member DeMoss for her service on city council. This month was the 100th anniversary of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit no. 5. Wells said all council members had received an email about the issue with the proof of insurance required for the travelift. Wells had spoken with the harbormaster's office about the issue. In order to be able to use the city travelift, a person had to be able to prove they owned the boat. Wells noted that city harbor staff had endured a lot of verbal harassment on this issue. On another topic, Wells felt the SEUAHC had a private agenda and they also tried to discredit Rob Montgomery at every opportunity.Overall,Wells was extremely disappointed with the committee. Clerk's Note - Police Chief Alan Nickell escorted Aaron Nelson out of the council chambers due to disruptive behavior. Osenga said the Seward Seahawks football team was doing very well.He enjoyed his time working with council member DeMoss. He clarified his smile during Dunn's was at the humanity of people being considerate during road construction.Her story quickly shifted tones and he didn't react fast enough. McClure noted it was difficult to show no emotion during a meeting. McClure said the endless traffic and construction issue was wearing thin on residents. She looked forward to the improved roads and reminded everyone to be kind. On another topic,the Realtors Convention and Pioneers Convention were wonderful events. The Seward Seahawks football team was having an amazing season. McClure thanked council for a good meeting and reminded people to get out and vote. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourn at 9:12 p.m. 0,0111111,4, of `-17 i,:.t'� a o--..,E-9,Q �CQ u pe Kris Peck V��o 4 4%ue McClure City Clerk •• _ o•i Mayor (City Seal) F. • SEAL ' • = • ,e� FOFIA