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Home My WebLink About07222024 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 22, 2024 Volume 42, Page 512 CALL TO ORDER The July 22, 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 Kat Sorensen, City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Excused — None Absent — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Derek Ables, outside city limits, said he had traveled from Kenai. He spoke in support of Resolution 2024-040 to establish direct air service from Kenai to Seattle. Russ White, outside city limits, provided an update on the Sports & Recreation Department including: AVTEC gym schedule, strength training, kids ballet, soccer league, and summer camp activities. Lastly, White announced there would be a Senior Adventure Social which would feature eight senior citizens doing pack rafting and hiking. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 22, 2024 Volume 42, Page 513 The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the July 8, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes Introduction of Ordinance 2024-011: Amending Seward City Code 8.05.045 Hours of Sale for Alcoholic Beverages Introduction of Ordinance 2024-012: Amending Seward City Code Title 3 Personnel Anniversary Date Definition Resolution 2024-040: Signing onto Joint Resolution 2024-001 of the Assembly of the Kenai Peninsula Borough to Support the City of Kenai in their Endeavor to Get Direct Flight Service to Seattle No grounds for protest for the Hotel & Motel Endorsement of the liquor license for the Fifth Avenue Bistro & Bar SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen thanked Parks & Recreation for the fun Camp Stove Cookoff competition. She provided an update on the U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutter which would be coming to Seward. Sorensen addressed the power outages that occurred last Thursday and said they were caused by a technical issue at the Fort Raymond substation. She thanked the electric crew for their response and said the issues had been resolved. McClure said she received phone calls asking about the possibility of generators being used during power outages. Sorensen answered that turning on the generators was very expensive and were only used for certain types of emergency situations. Calhoon hoped to see updated Providence Financials report provided to council. He also hoped to see an update on the Developer Reimbursement Program (DRP) in terms of how much money had been paid out and come back. Calhoon noticed the harbor "G, K, & L Floats" budget item still had money sitting in it and he wondered if that money would be going back to the harbor fund. Calhoon was also interested to see a financial report regarding the electric infrastructure update. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck provided an update on the two council vacancies and the filing period to be a candidate for council. Peck also mentioned the display table in council chambers which featured the exchange of awards between Seward and Obihiro, Japan. 1 City of Seward, Alaska July 22, 2024 Presentations City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 514 Alaska Small Business Development Center Annual Report was given by Cliff Cochran (Microsoft Teams video call) Seward Small Business Advisor KellyAnn Cavaretta was in attendance. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment Ordinance 2024-010: Amending Seward City Code Title 3 Personnel Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Enact Ordinance 2024-010 Sorensen said the ordinance would allow a temporary employee to work more than nine months in a calendar year. This change would allow a short break in service without having to wait three months to resume temporary employment. There was also a caveat to ensure that this ordinance would not replace a full-time permanent position if it was available. Peck noted that a typo had been discovered in the first Whereas of the ordinance and the word "consecutive" should not be there. He read aloud the corrected version: to allow temporary and seasonal employees to work more than nine eertseeutiw months in a calendar year. 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. McClure said this ordinance was a good idea. Motion Passed UNFINISHED BUSINESS Resolutions Unanimous Resolution 2024-010: Approving the City Manager to Enter into a Contract with Tyler Technologies to Provide Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Report Management Software (RMS) to the City of Seward for an Initial Cost of $101,360 and an Annual Recurring Cost of $73,856 and Appropriating Funds (This resolution was postponed on February 12, 2024) Motion (already on the floor) Approve Resolution 2024-010 Sorensen recommended council fail this resolution and give permission to bring back a new resolution for Computer Aided Dispatch at a meeting date as soon as possible. City of Seward, Alaska July 22, 2024 Motion Failed Unanimous City Council Meeting Minutes Volume 42, Page 515 Sorensen said the new resolution would be geared towards working with the Kenai Peninsula Borough. Council directed administration to bring back similar legislation as soon as possible. NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Appoint an applicant to the Planning & Zoning Commission with a term set to expire in February 2026. There are two applicants for the vacancy: John Wisel and Clare Sullivan Calhoon declared a potential conflict of interest because he was the spouse of Clare Sullivan. McClure ruled that a conflict did exist, and Calhoon was excused from the discussion & voting process. The results of the paper vote sheets: John Wisel: 0 votes Clare Sullivan: 6 votes Re -advertise the vacancy: 0 votes Clare Sullivan was appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission with a term set to expire in February 2026. Discuss ADA access for fishing [Sponsored by Council Member Finch] Finch described some of the accessibility issues he had noticed at various fishing locations around Seward and across the bay. He would also like to see the decommissioned railroad coal terminal be converted into a pier for fishing. McClure noted the access issues across the bay had been brought up before and still needed to be addressed. Finch said moving the big rocks at Spring Creek would be a good start. Sorensen said they would look into it further and possibly schedule a work session on the topic. Discuss ADA access at City Hall [Sponsored by Vice Mayor Osenga] Osenga said his main concern was the gravel parking area near the ADA ramp at the top of the parking lot. He was hoping the city could improve the area Sorensen said they had received an initial quote to pave the ADA parking area and it would be about $12,000. Sorensen said the dollar amount was under the spending threshold, but a directive from council was always welcome. 1 1 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 22, 2024 Volume 42, Page 516 Council directed administration to proceed with paving the ADA parking area above the ramp. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings August 12, 2024, City Council Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Mike Little, inside city limits, spoke to the lack of access to fishing for people with disabilities. He recalled his experiences trying to navigate around rocks and other obstacles to access shore fishing opportunities. He appreciated what Council Member Finch was trying to accomplish. Deon Quitberg, inside city limits, wanted to build a cabin on their property in Forest Acres. She asked council what options she had to expediate the building situation. Kevin Quitberg, inside city limits, spoke to his experience of attempting to build a cabin on their lot in Forest Acres. The main issue was the lack of connection to city water and he was not allowed to dig a well. The Kenai Peninsula Borough had recently informed him that his property value had been lowered to near worthless because it had been listed as undevelopable. Quitberg felt strongly that he should be able to drill a well on his property. He was told that the lots were deed restricted and must be connected to city water. Camping for construction purposes was not allowed and he received an eviction notice. There was no legal, moral, or ethical reason why the city would not approve his building permit. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Barnwell congratulated Clare Sullivan on being re -appointed to Planning & Zoning Commission. He encouraged the public to get involved with the Comprehensive Plan. Barnwell was impressed with KellyAnn Cavaretta's efforts in the Small Business Development Center. Crites echoed previous comments about Sullivan and Cavaretta. She was interested in the proposed flight services from Kenai to Seattle. Wells thanked Clare Sullivan for stepping up to join the P&Z. Wells thanked Crites for delving into the Computer Aided Dispatch resolution and possibly saving the city a lot of money. Finch hoped the direct flights from Kenai to Seattle would pan out. Calhoon said there would be upcoming work session and discussion items regarding the septic systems and wells inside city limits. Calhoon said the direct flights from Kenai to Seattle was City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes July 22, 2024 Volume 42, Page 517 promising. He congratulated Clare Sullivan on her appointment to P&Z. Lastly, Calhoon was excited about having more discussion items similar to the ADA fishing discussion. Osenga echoed previous comments about Sullivan and Cavaretta. Osenga shared a story about how his friends' motorhome had a mechanical breakdown near Moose Pass and the residents there were very kind. He thanked the Moose Pass residents for their hospitality. McClure echoed previous comments about Sullivan and Cavaretta. McClure also thanked Russ White from Parks & Recreation for the update on all the events. McClure noted the next council meeting on August 12, 2024 would be midway through the filing period for new candidates. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. y G� Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) 001111111.4, s's Of SE V:G� � (i(SEj:L • A 41, s�'' ONE 1 . \� 0**,13' ,9TF OF P\-P*•.• 1 1