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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01132025 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 1 CALL TO ORDER The January 13, 2025, 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 Randy Wells Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell Julie Crites Casie Warner 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 — Crites Absent — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda McClure requested Resolution 2025-004 be removed from the consent agenda. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the December 16, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 2 Resolution 2025-005: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with the Alaska Small Business Development Center to Fund the Small Business Advisor Position for Three Years in the Amount of $50,000 Per Year Resolution 2025-006: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a Fleet Truck for the Seward Electric Department Field Engineer in the Amount of $50,893 SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards Proclamation for Seward High School State Champion Football Team was read by Mayor McClure and presented to the coaches and players. [Clerk's note- McClure moved this item ahead of citizen comments] City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen addressed the city-wide power outage that occurred yesterday. A tall tree had fallen on a transmission line near Kenai Lake. Coincidentally, the contractor recently hired to inspect the generators was on hand during this actual moment of need. Seward was currently on generator power and expected to be off within the next few hours. McClure asked the range of the generators. Sorensen clarified that anyone within the Seward service area should be on generator power. Sorensen also gave a shout out to the public works crew for handling all the flooding during the storm. Next, Sorensen addressed the billing split that took effect on January 1 that split the water/sewer apart from the electric bills. This change was recommended by the auditors for better transparency. She explained that autopay customers would need to add the water/sewer to their autopay account. Lastly, Sorensen reported that the public comment period for essential air service in Seward had closed. The Seward airport was run by the State of Alaska and evaluating the request for proposals would be entirely their decision. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck said the report was a compilation of all the council packet covers for the year of 2024. He was looking forward to 2025. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin provided an update on his attorney's office staffing and how they are all sharing the workload. He addressed the abandoned vessel that had been a recurring item on his reports. His goal for 2025 was to get that vessel out of the water and off of his report. 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 3 PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2025-001: Approving the 2025 City of Seward Utility Tariffs for Electric, Water and Sewer Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approve Resolution 2025-001 Sorensen said the new tariffs were updated each year by the consumer price index (CPI). The biggest change was a decrease in the winter electric rates. 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. Finch supported the winter rate decrease, and he would like to see the summer rate go down as well or be removed altogether. Council discussed summer/winter electric rates, hydro power, fixed income households, and other cost adjustments with the city manager. Finch clarified this would not go into effect immediately but rather take effect October of 2025. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2025-002: Approving the 2025 City of Seward Port & Harbor Tariff Regulations Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approve Resolution 2025-002 Sorensen explained this was the harbor version of the utility tariff. There were a few small changes to make sure the document matched actual practices such as the operating hours of the harbor bathrooms. 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. Motion Passed NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Unanimous Resolution 2025-003: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a New Fleet Truck with Snowplow and Accessories for the Public Works Street Department to Replace Unit 121 in an Amount not to Exceed $85,000 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 4 Motion (Wells/Osenga) Approve Resolution 2025-003 Public Works Director Doug Schoessler noted this had been an interesting winter with a distinct lack of snow. The snowplow truck in need of replacement was from 2002 and the transmission was failing. Wells clarified this new truck was approved in the budget. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2025-004: Approving the 2025 City of Seward Fee Schedule Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Approve Resolution 2025-004 Sorensen explained how this annual fee schedule set the costs for permits, licenses, cat adoptions and more. The new layout was revamped to show the taxes calculated in addition to the fees. The laydown presented tonight included a summer membership fees for AVTEC gym. McClure confirmed that no changes were being made to the parking permits and fees. Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Benny Flores explained the credit card fee for the parking kiosks and permits. He noted the commercial vehicle parking permit was back on the menu for $350. Flores also summarized the parking operations from 2024 and free parking in the Center Lot. The new 2025 parking permits would be all digital and accommodate up to two vehicles on a single permit. The digital permits would be synced to the vehicle license plates. Resolution 2025-004 was amended to include the laydown for the AVTEC summer membership. Motion Amended and Passed Unanimous Other New Business Select a Council Member to Join the Mayor and Administration for a Lobbying Trip to Juneau in March 2025 Sorensen explained the purpose of the trip and hoped to bring a third person to Juneau. Wells said he would love to go on the trip to Juneau. There was no objection from council. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Boards and Commissions Minutes 1) December 3, 2024, Planning & Zoning Minutes 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 5 Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings Monday, January 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. City Council Joint Work Session with the Planning & Zoning Commission. Topics: Discuss code change recommendations regarding marijuana establishments, accessory dwelling units, and building height requirements. The commission will also discuss their annual priorities and share feedback from a targeted review of the Municipal Lands Management Plan Monday, January 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. City Council Regular Meeting CITIZEN COMMENTS —None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen said it was a great start to 2025. Later this month, she would be attending a cruise line symposium in Vancouver and would miss the next council meeting. In the near future, there would be a council resolution to accept the $47 million in funding for the clean ports EPA grant. Warner thanked city administration and the clerk's office for a great meeting. She noted the council packet contained some interesting legislative history regarding the tariffs. Warner announced the Polar Bear Jump Off was this Saturday. She thanked: the Harbor Department for their help with the jump and noted this would be her seventh time jumping:. Finch gave a big shout out to Seward Seahawks football team. He thanked the Electric Department, Street Department, and Harbor Department for keeping lights on, the drains clean, and the boats floating. Finch noted there was colder weather coming and advised taking caution. Barnwell echoed previous comments on the Seward football team. For years, the football team had struggled in this town. On another topic, Barnwell noted the Municipal Lands Inventory Plan was really interesting and well thought out. Wells also congratulated the football team. He gave a huge shout out to Electric Department for their work during the storm. Wells witnessed the electric crews working along the highway and it was a testament to their ability to work in such nasty weather. He thanked Public Works as well for their work during the rain and flooding. Wells appreciated the City Manager for seeking out an opportunity to be a board member on the Boys & Girls Club. Lastly, Wells thanked the mayor for selecting him to travel to Juneau. Osenga echoed previous comments on the football team, power outage, and rainstorm event. He reminded everyone to get set up with the new split billing system. Osenga was pleased to start the year off with a good meeting. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 13, 2025 Volume 43, Page 6 McClure said she was a big fan of the backup generators. She noted the Polar Bear Jump was always a fun time and that her son was the polar bear in the parade. The Spring Choir was starting this Thursday and their setlist would include a Bob Dylan song. Lastly, McClure said it was fun to watch the Seward football team do so well. Barnwell also wanted to say the $47 million shore power grant was incredible. He thanked city administration for pulling that one off. McClure continued by saying the Mayor's Conference in Anchorage was a great experience and the other mayors were envious of how many good things she had to report. Lastly, she shared her experience of slipping on a patch of ice and urged everyone to be careful while walking on the ice. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m. Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) SEAL M 1 1