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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06102024 City Council MinutesCity Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 499 City of Seward, Alaska June 10, 2024 CALL TO ORDER I The June 10, 2024 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 Mike Calhoon Kevin Finch Randy Wells Robert Barnwell Julie Crites comprising a quorum of the Council; and I Jason Bickling, Acting City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Sam Severin, City Attorney Excused - Wells Absent - None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, addressed the recent fatalities and accidents in Seward. On another topic, Jaffa brought up the possible Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) Alternative Energy Committee that was discussed at the previous city council meeting. He said that in the past, PACAB had formed small committees under their own rules without requiring council approval. Jaffa noted PACAB would resume their efforts in the fall. n -7 Brad Snowden, inside city limits, said that someone had made an anonymous payment to his utility account. Ristine Casagranda, inside city limits, provided an update on the Brown & Hawkins fire suppression project. She said the first phase was complete and she would be providing receipts to the city for reimbursement per the CLG grant. She thanked council for their support of the project. I City of Seward, Alaska June 10, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 500 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA IMotion (Osenga/Calhoon)Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Barnwell removed Resolution 2024-033 from the consent agenda. Motion As Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2024-031: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase from Anixter, Electric Materials in the Amount of $233,692.38 Plus a 10% Contingency and Appropriating Funds Resolution 2024-032: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase Transformers from General Pacific in the Amount of $128,409.00 Plus a 10% Contingency and Appropriating Funds Resolution 2024-034: Approving a Horizontal Layout for the Printed Version of the Official Seward Zoning Map, Which Will Display All Zoned Lands Within the Seward City Limits Approval of the May 28, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes Re-appoint Mary Ann Benoit to the Historic Preservation Commission with a term set to expire in May 2027 IRe-appoint Dona Walker to the Historic Preservation Commission with a term set to expire in May 2027 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards Proclamation for Flag Day was read by Mike Calhoon and would be shared with the American Legion. Proclamation for Lee Poleske Day was read by Sue McClure and would be shared with Poleske’s family. City Manager Report Acting City Manager Jason Bidding thanked the library and police for their response to the bomb threat on Saturday. The investigation had been turned over to the federal level at this point. City Clerk Report - None I City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 501 City of Seward, Alaska June 10, 2024 City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin provided an update on the Chugach Electric rate case regarding the 12% increase on the wholesale rate. Another trial they were working on was regarding the Mt. Alice Campground. Severin said their office had been keeping busy behind the scenes with Seward issues. I Presentations Historic American Buildings Survey Plaque by Iris Darling for Brown & Hawkins Water and Sewer Rate Study by Bryan Mantz (telephonically) PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment Ordinance 2024-009: Amending Seward City Code 15.10.226 - Land Uses Allowed Table, Prohibiting Cluster Subdivisions in all Zoning Districts Enact Ordinance 2024-009Motion (Caihoon/Osenga) I City Planner Courtney Bringhurst said the land use table allowed cluster subdivisions in certain zones. Bringhurst described examples of how cluster subdivisions might affect various zoning areas of Seward. She explained the square footage requirements and the smaller lots could impact the small town feel of Seward. She said a Planned Unit Development would be an alternative for developers to request smaller lot sizes as needed. 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. Postpone Ordinance 2024-009 to the July 8, 2024 City Council Meeting Motion To Postpone (Finch/Calhoon) Osenga wanted to have more discussion on the ordinance before postponing it. Yes: Finch, Barnwell, Crites, Calhoon, McClure Motion to Postpone Passed No: Osenga NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2024-033: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Two-Year Eacility Use Agreement Between the City of Seward and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center for the Use of the Student Services Building for Public RecreationI City of Seward, Alaska June 10, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 502 Motion (Osenga/Calhoon)Approve Resolution 2024-033 IParks & Recreation Director Melanie Hauze explained that many of the popular recreation events were dependent on the use of the AVTEC Student Services Center. Hauze explained the contract with AVTEC and provided detailed information on: custodial arrangements, attendance, revenue, daily use fees, operational hours, and upcoming closures. Hauze also noted that in the past the contracts had been on a 1-year basis. Barnwell said he was a huge fan of Parks & Recreation and appreciated all the services that were provided. He pulled the resolution from consent agenda because he wanted everyone to hear the explanation from Hauze. Overall, he was very supportive of the 2-year contract and felt the city was getting a great value with the contract. He noted the dollar amount was a small price to pay in comparison to building a new recreation center. McClure thanked Hauze for the clarification and statistics. Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Discuss a letter of support for officially naming Mount Kenny Baker McClure introduced the peak and said the local mountaineers had been calling it Mount Kenny Baker for a long time. There was a long sequence of events to get a mountain officially named. She said a letter of support from the council would help with the process. There was no objection from the council. I INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Boards and Commissions Minutes May 7, 2024, Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings Monday, June 24, 2024, City Council Regular Meeting Cancelled Monday, July 8, 2024, City Council Regular Meeting CITIZEN COMMENTS Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, said that as the Chair of PACAB, he had recently received phone calls from locals who didn’t like the increased tourist activity in Seward. On another topic, Jaffa I City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 503 City of Seward, Alaska June 10. 2024 felt it was appropriate to take more time to think about Ordinance 2024-009. Lastly, Jaffa announced that the 45th Moose Pass Summer Solstice Festival was happening this weekend.I COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bickling thanked Parks & Recreation for all their work. He offered condolences to the family of the person who drowned while fishing. The city was looking into ways to help prevent future tragedies. Crites thanked everyone for the presentations tonight at both the work session and meeting. Barnwell thanked Melanie Hauze for providing more information on the AVTEC contract. He thanked Iris Darling and her group for their presentation on Brown & Hawkins. Lastly, Barnwell said the infrastructure update was the work session was encouraging. Finch thanked the Brown & Hawkins group. Parked & Recreation, and Public Works for all the information tonight. Finch offered condolences to the family of the fisherwoman who drowned. Calhoon thanked everyone for all the good information tonight. He hoped to see more in-depth financial information on the electric infrastructure. He said the water and sewer rate study numbers would be interesting and he was in favor of water metering. Calhoon said that Flag Day was next Friday, and the American Legion was holding ceremony at noon He also noted that Father’s Day was on Sunday and the Legion would be providing a Father’s Day breakfast that morning.I Osenga thanked everyone for all the presentations tonight. He congratulated Brown & Hawkins. McClure echoed previous comments and noted Brown &Hawkins was an amazing place. McClure announced the times and locations for Lee Poleske memorial events which included a potluck and dedication of the new bench and statute. In the wake of Poleske’s passing, McClure would be continuing the Summer Solstice Seward Cemetery Tours. McClure had an exciting and interesting cemetery tour lined up for June 21, 2024. Lastly, McClure noted this was last council meeting until after the Fourth of July and she wanted to wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. • ('seal i \ / : • Sue McClure Mayor Kris Peck City Clerk I (City Seal)