HomeMy WebLinkAbout08262024 City Council Work Session NotesWORK SESSION NOTES CITY COUNCIL
Called by: Sorensen Time: 1800 Date: 8/26/2024
Purpose: Wells and Septic Tanks Inside City Limits
Notes by Kris Peck City Clerk Council Members Present:
McClure, Osenga, Calhoon, Finch, Wells, Barnwell,
Crites
8/26 Council Work Session Notes:
Kat thanked Jason and Ashleigh for putting together the WS packet.
Bickling provided an overview of the 115-page WS packet. The main area of
concern was the Forest Acres.
Wells asked about the improvement district petition. Bickling provided a
summary for the costs of the improvement.
Wells confirmed that the property owners requested council fail the resolution
due to the high cost. Bickling said there were two different timelines. The
norm was 10-20 years as a property tax assessment.
Barnwell asked about the value of a lot like Jesse Lee home that had utilities
versus the cost of installing new utilities. Bickling said the cost of utility
installation has increased over the years and currently was $150-$180
thousand.
Bickling said the code allowed for septic systems if there was a minimum
acreage. Bickling said in-home sprinkler systems were a requirement which
meant a certain level of infrastructure.
McClure asked to hear from the Fire Chief.
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Fire Chief Clinton Crites said the biggest concern was lack of the fire
hydrants. He discussed the flow of water needed. Even one water tanker truck
would be $400,000 and he had no place to park it. The weight of the hose was
extremely heavy. Soldotna was allowed to have a well, but they also were
required to have hydrants.
Wells asked about a 3 rating and if it went up to a 4 or 5. How would it affect
our insurance? Clinton said it was too complicated of an insurance system to
judge how the insurance would go up. Wells asked if the insurance company
could be given a quote for a higher rating.
Barnwell asked about Bear Creek operating with tanker trucks. He asked if it
was comparable. Crites said Bear Creek was a 4, and outside Mile 7 like
Moose Pass might be 8 or 9 rating.
Barnwell asked about pump trucks using local rivers as a water source.
Crites said the city was designed to not be dependent on tankers or pump
trucks.
Bickling noted the winter would affect water levels.
Crites mentioned the response time regarding water supply.
Barnwell mentioned the Hillside properties in Anchorage.
McClure asked how many properties would be interested in a septic system
and well. If only two people wanted to do this, for example, would it affect
everyone. Clinton said addresses were pulled at random and the fire dept had
to prove they could flow water to it.
Finch mentioned the possibility of an earthquake. He wanted a tanker truck
either way as a backup.
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Crites confirmed a tanker truck would help with Seward’s rating. The more
equipment they have, the better the rating.
Kevin Quitberg spoke and provided an information on his lot. $72,600 was
what he paid for his lot. He cannot sell his property now with a lean on it.
Jesse Groom asked about existing lots that were already connected to city
water.
James Carlberg, inside the city, said he was directly affected by this. He said
the last he heard the city was still looking for potential funding. Sorensen said
getting grant or federal funding was going to be difficult. Finding the federal
funds was tough because the lots were privately owned.
Carlberg continued that this plot of land represented their opportunity to live
in Seward and it didn’t make financial sense to pay that high dollar amount for
facilities.
Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, said building a shop in Fairbanks in 2004 had
no city utilities. After the utilities, the value of the property went up
significantly. He hoped the people could be helped to get the services they
needed.
Rhonda Hubbard, inside city limits, said she was on P&Z and housing was
one of her concerns. The developer got away with some things which have
resulted in these issues. She wanted the city to give this area some attention.
Maybe the residents didn’t know what they were signing up for. She asked
council to not get bogged down by the fire ratings. She hoped the owners
could assume the risk without burdening the city.
Ristine Casagranda, inside city limits, asked about the assessment district.
Would the cost go to everyone in the assessment district, which included
everyone in the assessment district even for individuals who didn’t want to be
part of it. Bickling said the majority of the area was required to make it
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happen and that everyone would be affected. Services such as a road would
not have to be paid for if the property owner already had a road in place.
Calhoon asked about sales tax overage of 1.7 million dollars. He wondered if
water being the main issue, if council could concentrate on water and roads.
It’s not just forest acres, but other properties would be affected as well. As a
city, he wanted to be more proactive on the financial end. He wanted the city
to be a good partner to make this happen. Otherwise, those lots would never
get developed.
Calhoon asked for another work session on this topic and there was lot more
information to come forward.
Finch echoed Calhoon’s comments. He wanted to focus on the Anchorage
portion of this WS packet.
Barnwell said the grant or federal funding idea was promising. Sorensen said
she would continue to look for grants.
Barnwell asked about the Hilltop money coming back to the DRP fund.
Bickling provided an update on the DRP funds.
McClure adjourned the Work Session at 18:51
WORK SESSION NOTES CITY COUNCIL