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Home My WebLink About04152024 City Council MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 479 City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 CALL TO ORDER I The April 15, 2024, regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Sue McClure. (Rescheduled from April 8, 2024) 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 Mike Calhoon Randy Wells Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell Julie Crites comprising a quorum of the Council; and I Kat Sorensen, City Manager Jason Bickling, Deputy City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Sam Severin, City Attorney Excused - Robert Barnwell Absent - None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Chris Fletcher, inside city limits, spoke as a city employee and provided an update on Parks & Recreation Department upcoming events and sports tournaments. Fletcher said they were still looking for volunteers for upcoming races. Tim McDonald, inside city limits, said this past winter was the worst in terms of downtown businesses being open. He recalled Seward being a vibrant winter community when he was a kid. McDonald remained optimistic that the Lowell Creek Diversion Tunnel could be used for hydropower to help reduce costs for residents. Bringing the utility prices down would rejuvenate the whole town. He wanted the city to retain ownership of the tunnel and use it for hydropower. I City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 480 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA IMotion (Osenga/Caihoon)Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Calhoon requested Resolution 2024-026 be removed from the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items; Approval of the March 26, 2024, City Council Minutes Introduction of Ordinance 2024-005: Approving The Land Use Amendment To Rezone Fort Raymond Subdivision, Replat Number 7, Lot lOA-2, Located At 905 Sea Lion Ave, From An Institutional (Ins) Zoning District To An Auto Commercial (AC) Zoning District Introduction of Ordinance 2024-006: Approving The Land Use Amendment to Rezone Seward Townsite Marathon Addition, Lot 29, Located At 537 First Ave, From A Single-Family Residential (Rl) Zoning District To a Park (P) Zoning District, As Recommended In The Municipal Lands Inventory And Management Plan Introduction of Ordinance 2024-007: Approving The Land Use Amendment To Rezone Gateway Subdivision Addition No. 2 Tracts C4, C5, C6 & C7, Tract C-6, Located At 2301 Crabapple Street, From A Single-Family Residential (Rl) Zoning District To An Institutional (Ins) Zoning District, As Recommended In The Municipal Lands Inventory And Management Plan I Resolution 2024-025: Approving Amendment #1 to the Employment Agreement with the City Clerk Resolution 2024-027: Authorizing The City Manager To Accepting The 2024 Volunteer Fire Capacity (VFC) Grant In The Amount Of $6,303.67 Appoint Becky Dunn to PACAB with a term set to expire July 2024 Appoint John Howard to PACAB with a term set to expire July 2024 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards - None City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen said Brian Hickey from Matanuska Electric Association had started work managing the Seward Electric Department. Sorensen reported that several city staff had attended a tsunami workshop two weeks ago. Last week, Sorensen traveled to Washington D.C. along with Harbormaster Norm Regis and Council Member Bob Barnwell. The Seward group I City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 481 City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 met with the U.S Coast Guard, Army Corps of Engineers, and other senators and representatives. Overall, Sorensen said it was an exciting trip and as a bonus they were able to view the solar eclipse while in D.C.I Deputy City Manager Jason Bickling said he was thankful for the opportunity to attend the Government Finance Officer training in Minnesota. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck summarized from his written report in the packet. Peck explained the new city e-notification system that would be replacing the bulk email lists. Peck also mentioned the commemorative magazine that the clerk’s office received from Obihiro, Japan. Lastly, Peck said there were new signs installed on the second floor of city hall to point people in the right direction for the city clerk office and the court clerk office. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin provided an update on an upcoming marijuana ordinance and noted it was largely a procedural matter to get into sync with current AMCO [Alcohol & Marijuana Control Office) regulations. Severin also noted he would be taking part in an executive session tonight with the council. I Other Reports and Announcements Borough Assembly Report Borough Assembly Representative Cindy Ecklund provided an update on heat pumps on the Kenai Peninsula. Ecklund announced that tomorrow night the assembly meeting would be held right here in Seward and public comment was welcome. She provided a summary of various issues that the borough was working on, including the Seward High School Track. Ecklund said the assembly had halted their trips to Homer and Seward due to low attendance. She encouraged people to attend the assembly meeting tomorrow to show support. Presentations - None PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2024-026: Authorizing The City Manager To Modify The Contract With Seward City Tours For The Operation Of The Seasonal Shuttle Transportation Services For The 2024 Season In A Total Amount Not To Exceed $18,275.00 And Appropriating Funds I Approve Resolution 2024-026Motion (Wells/Osenga) City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 482 Sorensen said this resolution was an adjustment to the free shuttle schedule due to cruise ships arriving earlier than expected. There would be additional funding needed for approximately 183 hours of shuttle service.I Calhoon said he removed the resolution from the consent agenda due to an error in the booking invoice. Calhoon said the the contract stated $80 an hour for additional hours rather than the $85 shown in the invoice. Finance Director Sully Jusino said the CPV (Commercial Passenger Vessel) state funds were $2.1 million after appropriation. Jusino said the funds were restricted and the city had to ask for council approval. Calhoon felt the total amount for 2024 would cover all expenses and they could allocate more money in 2025 or 2026 as needed. Calhoon noted the corrected hourly amount on the booking invoice would be $14,640 instead of $15,555. Calhoon did not see the need for the additional $2,720 booking invoice tonight when it could be looked at again in 2025. Bickling explained details of the contract that allowed for adjustments to the rates. Wells confirmed that Seward City Tours was aware of the error with the hourly rate of $85 on the booking invoice. The resolution was amended to change the dollar amount from $18,275 to $14,640 throughout the resolution.I Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Boards and Commissions Minutes Approved February 6, 2024, Planning & Zoning Minutes Approved March 6, 2024, PACAB Minutes Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings Monday, April 29, 2024, Work Session at 5:30 p.m. Topic: Providence Update Monday, April 29, 2024, Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m. (Rescheduled from April 22, 2024) CITIZEN COMMENTS ICindy Ecklund, inside city limits, said she had received feedback from local residents about a pier or dock being built at Lowell Point to offset road closures and tunnel construction. City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 483 City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 Ecklund felt a water taxi service between Lowell Point and Seward was vital. Another comment she had received from the public pertained to the lost revenue for taxi companies in the wake of Seward City Tours free shuttle.I COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen said the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and City of Seward had met with Lowell Point Advisory Council regarding the traffic pattern during tunnel construction. On another topic, Sorensen said the Alice in Wonderland play at the high school was awesome. Crites encouraged everyone to attend the borough assembly meeting at the library tomorrow night. Finch echoed Crites’ comments and thanked Ecklund for her comments tonight. Caihoon appreciated the borough assembly report from Ecklund. He thanked everyone for their help in getting through a particularly snowy winter. Wells thanked Ecklund for her borough assembly report and encouraged people to attend the assembly meeting tomorrow. He said Army Corps of Engineers gave a detailed presentation of the Lowell Point Road diversion plan in the prospective drawings. Wells spoke to the tunnel hydropower idea and encouraged Mr. McDonald to bring forward data to review.I Osenga thanked Sorensen, Barnwell, and Regis for traveling to D.C. to represent Seward. He said the Seward Community Band also had a concert on the same night as the borough assembly meeting. Mayor McClure thanked Ecklund for her borough report. McClure noted that she greeted the tsunami workshop, and also got to speak about her 1964 earthquake experience. McClure congratulated the two newest PACAB members Dunn and Howard. McClure noted that Seward hosted the National Ocean Science Bowl in March and the Seward NOSB team came in third place. McClure said Alice and Wonderland play at the high school was spectacular. McClure said she had been meeting with Anchorage Mayor Bronsan’s Energy Coalition to receive presentations about the natural gas issues. She would be providing a report in the near future on what she had learned from the energy group. EXECUTIVE SESSION Provide direction to attorney and receive advice on potential litigation regarding a land use matter and Case No. 3SW-23-00046CI. These are matters, the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect upon the finances of the public entity and which by law, municipal Charter, or ordinances are required to be confidential. [Per Seward City Code 2.10.033E (1)(3)]I City of Seward, Alaska April 15, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 484 Motion (McClure/Osenga)Go Into Executive Session IThose invited to stay were: City Manager Kat Sorensen, Deputy City Manager Jason Bidding, City Attorney Sam Severin, and City Clerk Kris Peck Those joining telephonically were: City Attorney Alex Foote and City Attorney Kody George Motion Passed Unanimous Council went into executive session at 7:47 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 8:35 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Sue McClure Mayor Kris Peck City Clerk (City Seal) ('seal 1 \ , .* /• : I I