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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09092024 City Council Minutes1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 532 CALL TO ORDER The September 9, 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 Robert Barnwell Julie Crites comprising a quorum of the Council; and Kat Sorensen, City Manager Jason Bickling, Deputy City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Sam Severin, City Attorney Excused — Wells Absent — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING - None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda McClure requested the presentation be moved ahead of the proclamation. Motion As Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the August 26, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 533 Resolution 2024-046: Adopting Joint Resolution No. 2024-002 of the Assembly of the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the Councils of the Cities of Homer, Kachemak, Kenai, Seward, Seldovia, and Soldotna, Supporting the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District's Request that the 2026 and 2027 Cook Inlet Finfish Meetings Be Held in Soldotna, Alaska to Provide Resource Stakeholders the Opportunity to be Present at Public Discussions Affecting the Management of Their Resources Resolution 2024-047: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with the Alaska Small Business Development Center and the Seward Chamber of Commerce, to Continue Funding the Small Business Advisor Position for Three Years, in the Amount of $25,000 Per Year and Appropriating Funds Resolution 2024-048: Adopting a Revised Memorandum of Agreement Between the Kenai Peninsula Borough and the Cities of Homer, Kenai, Seldovia, Soldotna and Seward, for the Purpose of Intergovernmental Administration of Borough and City Elections SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS Presentations Presentation on Sister City Exchange Student Visit to Obihiro, Japan was given by Deputy City Clerk Jodi Kurtz along with the four Seward exchange students: Makena DesErmia, Oliva Jones, Hunter Forshee-Kurtz, and Daniel Herrera. Proclamations and Awards Proclamation for Sister City Exchange Students was ready by Mayor Sue McClure and presented to the four Seward exchange students: Makena DesErmia, Oliva Jones, Hunter Forshee-Kurtz, and Daniel Herrera. City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen thanked the Sister City Exchange Students for a great presentation. Sorensen recalled her amazing trip to Obihiro, Japan last year as part of the adult delegation. On another topic, Sorensen noted there was a Central Treasury Report provided as a laydown to show a change in streets and sidewalk funding. In 2022, council allocated funds into that account, but that transfer was never made. Also included in her report was a detailed explanation on the utility desk change regarding the billing with electric department. This change in billing services was intended to bring administrative costs down and make the billing process smoother and more streamlined. Sorensen explained these changes were recommended by the auditors. Lastly, Sorensen noted she would be travelling and miss the next council meeting. Finch asked about online payment for billing. Sorensen responded that there would be no lapse in auto pay. McClure asked about Lowell Canyon and the staging area for the new tunnel project. Sorensen 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 534 said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been visiting Seward a lot lately. She encouraged council to check out the latest City Manager Newsletter for a report on a similar project on the Mud Mountain Tunnel near Seattle. Calhoon asked if the new billing arrangement would have any effect on the contract with Util- Assist. Sorensen said there would be no major changes at this time. However, the long-term goal would be to have all utility billing back inhouse again. Calhoon asked if the new billing arrangement would create a new position. Sorensen said one employee had already been promoted to Office Manager and one position had moved over to the Electric Department. There were no new positions created. Calhoon asked about City Manager's Report regarding the Fire Department statistics. He was interested to know how many of the 350 callouts involved fires compared to other types of emergencies. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck thanked the presenters for sharing their experience in Japan. Peck provided an update on the upcoming city election and explained the absentee in -person voting options that were available at city hall. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin provided an update on collecting attorney's fees from a recent code enforcement litigation. He explained the process of collecting fees after a judgement had been made. Severin enjoyed explaining little known aspects of the job that occurred behind the scenes. Severin also announced their firm had recently hired a new attorney from Juneau, Alaska. Calhoon asked about House Bill 307. Severin said it was very complicated and fellow city attorney Kody George was currently working on it. Sorensen invited Brian Hickey up to explain House Bill 307. Electric Utility General Manager Brian Hickey explained how House Bill 307 would require the utility to form a Regional Railbelt Transmission Organization and identify what was known as the "backbone transmission." The next step would be to remove wheeling charges from the backbone transmission and allocate those charges to the end use consumer. This would allow for freer movement of electricity between regions. Overall, House Bill 307 would make the system more efficient and would be a big improvement overall. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 535 Ordinance 2024-013: Amending Seward City Code 15.10.226 - Land Uses Allowed to Standardize Language and Clarify Where Marijuana Establishments Are Allowed in Each Zoning District Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Enact Ordinance 2024-013 Sorensen said the current city code jumped around a lot on the topic of marijuana establishments and this ordinance would make the code much simpler to understand. 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. Calhoon read a portion from the agenda statement to make it clear that no new regulations were being added or removed. Motion Passed NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Unanimous Resolution 2024-045: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Service Agreement with Tyler Technologies, Priority Dispatch, U.S. Digital Designs, Dell Technologies, and the Kenai Peninsula Borough to Provide Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Report Management Software (RMS) to the City of Seward for an Initial Cost Of $215,788.89 and an Annual Recurring Cost of $42,048 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2024-045 Sorensen said this resolution would increase the functionally of the Police Dispatch at the City of Seward. She noted the previous resolution regarding CAD failed. This revamped resolution was a partnership with the Kenai Peninsula Borough CAD system which resulted in lower operating costs and increased functionality. This resolution would enhance the Police Department, Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services. Finch asked about local 911 calls would still be redirected to Soldotna or if those calls would be handled locally. Police Chief Alan Nickell clarified that local landlines calling 911 go directly to Seward Police Dispatch. If a local person called 911 from a cellphone, the call would still go to Soldotna first and then get re-routed back to Seward. This resolution would not have any effect on the 911 calls. Motion Passed Unanimous 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 536 Other New Business Discuss Electric Infrastructure Project Funding Sorensen summarized the revenue bonds and reserves that had already been spent on the electric infrastructure projects. Sorensen said that $20 million dollars was the original project estimate and approximately $13 million had been spent. This left around $7 million remaining in funding that needed to be found. One of the main funding options would be to use the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding of just over $1 million dollars. There would be an upcoming resolution to allocate those funds towards the electric infrastructure project. She invited Brian Hickey back to speak to some cost saving options in more detail. Hickey explained ground contours, pole change outs, and the costs of LiDAR survey. If just one or two poles could be found that didn't need to be changed, that alone would cover the cost of the LiDAR. Calhoon asked about a million -dollar loan that could be paid back. Sorensen said a resolution was passed in 2001 that required the Electric Department to pay back a million dollars to the general fund. The resolution set up a structured payment plan and Sorensen was still researching what exactly took place with the payment history. Council discussed the cruise ship dock funding, and the shore power project Council directed administration to proceed with drafting ARPA resolution for the uncommitted $1.072 million in federal funding. Discuss Seward Hospital Sorensen said she wanted to discuss the hospital and remind everyone that the city owned the hospital. She explained how Providence was contracted to manage the facility, but did not own the hospital. The management contract with Providence was provided as a laydown tonight. Calhoon wanted to see a valuation done of all the assets. Crites noted that if Providence owned the hospital and pulled out, Seward would have no hospital. Barnwell clarified that Providence managed the emergency room. He would be interested to see the pros and cons of selling the hospital. Sorensen said the pros of selling the hospital would be money in the bank and the hospital would no longer be a liability. The cons would be losing the hospital altogether if Providence decided to close their doors. Council directed administration to proceed with a valuation of hospital assets. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 537 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Boards and Commissions Minutes PACAB Meeting Minutes from May 1, 2024 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes from August 6, 2024 Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings Work Session Monday, September 23, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Topic: Wells and Septic Tanks Inside City Limits - Continuing discussion from August 26, 2024, Work Session on the same topic Regular Meeting Monday, September 23, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Christy Terry, outside city limits, spoke as the Alaska Railroad's Vice President of Real Estate. Terry wanted to address recent negative public comments regarding freight activities at the Port of Seward. She said the railroad was committed to freight, passengers, and cruise ships. She clarified that a pipe shipment re-routed to Texas was not due to any shortcomings of the railroad operations. She summarized various repairs and projects that were needed in order to meet rising demand. Terry hoped for the council's continued support for the dock projects. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen had obtained a detailed breakdown of the Seward Fire Departments call -outs for the year and she shared the statistics with council. Sorensen also noted she had attended the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District meeting earlier today in Seward. Bickling announced there would be a high school football game on Friday between the Seward Seahawks and the Nikiski Bulldogs. Preceding the game would be a ceremony for the brand-new football field. Crites enjoyed the Obihiro presentation and said that her family had hosted the Obihiro students while they here in Seward. Barnwell also enjoyed the Obihiro presentation and thanked Kurtz and the four students for sharing. He said the presentation made him miss Japan. The student exchange with Obihiro was a fabulous program. On another topic, he thanked Christy Terry for her comments regarding the Alaska Railroad. Lastly, Barnwell was excited about the upcoming hospital discussions. 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 538 Finch echoed previous comments about the Obihiro presentation and Christy Terry's update on the Port of Seward. Finch cautioned everyone to please drive carefully. He also encouraged everyone to please come out and vote. Calhoon echoed previous comments about the Christy Terry's update and the great presentation on the visit to Japan. Calhoon also felt the Student Exchange with Obihiro was a great program. On other topics, Calhoon lamented not having a proclamation for Patriot Day. He also noted September 16, 2024 was American Legion Day, September 18, 2024 was POW/MIA Day, and September 29, 2024 was Gold Star Mother's Day. Calhoon also noted that the Regular Municipal Election Day was Tuesday, October 1, 2024 and he hoped for a good voter turnout. Ideally, Calhoon hoped the elections could be combined into one big voting day in November. Osenga thanked Christy Terry for coming down to speak at the meeting. Osenga also enjoyed the presentation on the Japan trip and he was a firm believer in the exchange program. Osenga recalled visiting Japan with his high school band, and it was an amazing experience that he will always remember. Lastly, Osenga thanked everyone for a good meeting. McClure noted she never had a chance to participate in the exchange program when she was in high school. She wanted to remind everyone that the Americans and the. Holocaust Exhibit was still up at the library. McClure announced the Community Choir was open to new applicants and they were starting Thursday night rehearsals. Lastly, McClure thanked Christy Terry for her comments on the dock. Calhoon also wanted to mention the Suicide Prevention Walk would be starting tomorrow at Branson Pavilion. Coming up on Thursday at the American Legion there was a free estate planning discussion from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EXECUTIVE SESSION Per Seward City Code 2.10.033 E (2): Subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person, provided the person may request a public discussion. City Manager Annual Evaluation Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Go into Executive Session for City Manager Annual Evaluation Sorensen invited the City Clerk Kris Peck to stay. Motion Passed Unanimous Council recessed the meeting at 8:19 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:25 p.m. Council went into Executive Session at 8:25 p.m. Council came out of Executive Session at 9:18 p.m. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 9, 2024 Volume 42, Page 539 Council directed the city manager to bring back a resolution to the next council meeting with a revised city manager contract. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m. Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) 1 1