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Home My WebLink About02242025 City Council Minutes1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 20 CALL TO ORDER The February 24, 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 Excused — None Absent — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, spoke in support of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) and felt that council rarely acknowledged PACAB's contributions. Potential PACAB applicants wonder what the point of being on PACAB might be. The city's need for PACAB had diminished over the years. Jaffa felt the Open Meetings Act was also hampering small committees by being too restrictive. Lastly, he wished the electric utilities could have been a PACAB topic. Brenan Hornseth, inside city limits, said he hoped to be re -appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission. June Pemberton, inside city limits, introduced herself to City Council. She hoped to serve on the Planning & Zoning Commission. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 21 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Wells requested all three applicants to the Planning & Zoning Commission be removed from the consent agenda. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the February 10, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes Resolution 2025-021: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept the 2025 Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant in the Amount of $8,624.78 Resolution 2025-022: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a One -Time Payment of $12,078 from the 2018 and 2020 Copper River and Prince William Sound Salmon Disaster Relief Fund Through the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Resolution 2025-023: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with CRW Engineering Group, Inc in the Amount of $175,120 Plus 10% Contingency and Appropriating Funds for Design and Engineering Services for the Lowell Canyon Water Storage Tank Replacement SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS, AND REPORTS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen provided an update on the shore power grant funds being unfrozen and the project was moving along as expected. On the city website there was a new online system for applying for the City of Seward job opportunities. She gave a big shoutout to Human Resources for implementing this new application process. Lastly, Sorensen said city staff had checked out the existing cruise ship terminal for the possibility of being re -purposed for the new public works facility. City Attorney Report — None City Clerk Report - None Presentations Arthur Miller, CEO of Chugach Electric 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 22 PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance 2025-001: Amending Seward City Code Title 2 Agenda and Council Packet Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Enact Ordinance 2025-001 City Clerk Kris Peck read through the ordinance and explained the proposed changes to the agenda and the council packet. 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 Unanimous Ordinance 2025-002: Amending Seward City Code Title 2 Chapter 2.30, Article 3 Port and Commerce Advisory Board Motion (Osenga/Warner) Enact Ordinance 2025-002 Peck read through the ordinance and explained the proposed changes to the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, felt the clerk had addressed some things that needed clarification. He would like council to consider that no member shall serve more than three consecutive terms or nine years total. Jaffa spoke in favor of four city residents on PACAB. He did not feel that any gold pans or wooden plaques were necessary for recognition. He wanted a mechanism for board members to call for a special meeting. Lastly, Jaffa spoke to the diminished role of PACAB in the last few years. [Clerk's Note — Jaffa is the current Chair of PACAB] Doug Schoessler, inside city limits, had a few minor changes for council to consider. He would also like to see four of the seven PACAB members reside inside city limits. Under the Powers and Duties section, he felt "infrastructure" was too vague. He wanted to see it worded as "related infrastructure." Schoessler made other suggestions for improving the wording regarding the Powers and Duties section. Lastly, he spoke in support of PACAB dealing specifically with harbor related issues. Becky Dunn, inside city limits, thanked Jaffa for all his work with PACAB. June Pemberton, inside city limits, agreed with previous comments about PACAB having four members who resided inside city limits. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 23 No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Finch spoke to the importance of historical knowledge of members and spoke against adding a term limit. Barnwell appreciated the wide range and didn't see the need for a majority of the board to reside inside the city. Council amended Ordinance 2025-002 Section 2.30.310 with the following changes: At least four seats shall be filled by residents inside Seward city limits. If there are no city residents applying, council may consider filling the seats with non-residents. Council amended Ordinance 2025-002 Section 2.30.325 with the following changes: Make recommendations to the city council concerning the design and coordination of projects to promote and develop transportation, trade, energy, commerce, and related infrastructure throughout Seward. Provide input to the city council on policy and procedural matters involving the establishment and continuance of commercial activityimpreving to improve the quality of life and protecting to protect the public's best interest. Council amended Ordinance 2025-002 Section 2.30.320 by making the following changes: Special meetings or additional Work Sessions may be called by the city clerk upon written request of the city manager or three board members. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous Ordinance 2025-003: Amending Seward City Code Title 2 Chapter 2.30 Article 4 Historic Preservation Commission Motion (Osenga/Wells) Enact Ordinance 2025-003 Peck read through the ordinance and explained the proposed changes to the Historic Preservation Commission. He noted it was very similar to the PACAB ordinance. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, recommended the same composition of inside and outside city limits requirements for PACAB and Historic Preservation Commission. He agreed conformity between all these groups would be helpful. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 24 Council amended Ordinance 2025-003 Section 2.30.410 with the following changes: A t i * shall r side : side Seward t y limit At least four seats shall be filled by residents inside Seward city limits. If there are no city residents applying, council may consider filling the seats with non-residents. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None NEW BUSINESS Re -appoint Brenan Hornseth to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a 3-year term set to expire in February 2028 Motion (Wells/Osenga) Re -appoint Brenan Hornseth to P&Z Motion Passed Unanimous Re -appoint Rhonda Hubbard to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a 3-year term set to expire in February 2028 Motion (Osenga/Finch) Re -appoint Rhonda Hubbard to P&Z Wells said it was uncommon in other cities for someone to be appointed to P&Z on the consent agenda. It was more common for the applicant be interviewed by council. He wanted to postpone this item to allow an in -person discussion with Hubbard. Osenga said the process should be in place first before applicants are affected. Finch felt the current P&Z lineup cared about the community. He didn't want to change the procedures at this time. A motion to postpone the appointment to March 10, 2025 failed. Motion Passed 6-1 Yes: Crites, Warner, Finch, Osenga, Barnwell, McClure No: Wells City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 25 Appoint June Pemberton to the Planning & Zoning Commission for a 3-year term set to expire in February 2028 Motion (Osenga/Crites) Appoint June Pemberton to P&Z Motion Passed 6-1 Yes: Crites, Warner, Finch, Osenga, Barnwell, McClure No: Wells INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Boards and Commissions Minutes — None Other Items Upcoming City Council Meetings Monday, March 10, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting Report submitted by Mike Brittain — City Representative for Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council CITIZEN COMMENTS Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, said it was an interesting meeting. He announced Senator Jesse Bjorkman would be attending a town hall meeting in Moose Pass. Jaffa spoke in support of the Moose Pass School which served a small, isolated community and produced excellent results. On another topic, he addressed the cruise ship dock project and traffic bottleneck issues with the Seward Highway. Jaffa also spoke to traffic issues in Moose Pass and encouraged drivers to slow down. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen thanked everyone for a great work session and meeting. She will be heading to Juneau with the Mayor and Council Member Wells over the weekend for the lobbying trip. Crites thanked Brian Hickey for the informative work session. City management and electric management were set up for success. She thanked Arthur Miller fat •the informative Chugach Electric presentation. She thanked Bruce Jaffa for his comments and input,on the issues tonight. Lastly, she spoke in support of Moose Pass and Seward schools. Finch congratulated Urbach's on an impressive 110 years in business. He was thankful for the electrical update and congratulated the P&Z appointees. Lastly, Finch wanted to personally thank City Clerk Peck for his continued efforts for streamlining and efficiency. 1 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes February 24, 2025 Volume 43, Page 26 Peck thanked Finch for the kind words. Wells spoke to the importance of a Council liaison to PACAB and P&Z. He thanked Jaffa for his comments. Barnwell thanked Brian Hickey for his help with Electric Department and thanked Chugach Electric for coming to the meeting. He valued Bruce Jaffa for his all his sage advice and input. Barnwell agreed the Moose Pass school was fantastic. He encouraged people to slow down as they drove through Moose Pass. Warner echoed the thanks that everyone else had already expressed. She thanked Bruce Jaffa for comments regarding the PACAB ordinance. She appreciated all the information on the electric utility. Osenga was thankful for the electric utility update and thanked Bruce Jaffa for all his input. He also thanked city administration, Clerk Peck and the people who signed up for P&Z. McClure said she appreciated Bruce Jaffa and recalled her first time meeting him. She noted this was an interesting and good meeting. She congratulated Urbach's for 110 years in business. McClure addressed how Seward doesn't get natural gas here other than our electricity being generated by it. McClure diligently watched all of the boards & commissions meetings on YouTube and was aware of the happenings. Lastly, McClure will be going on the Juneau lobbying trip and it will be nice to talk to the representatives. Finch noted Jaffa's historical knowledge was a valuable asset. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk (City Seal) caw Cti�� Sue McClure Mayor