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Home My WebLink About05122025 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2025 Volume 42, Page 57 CALL TO ORDER The May 12, 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 Louis Tiner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Sue McClure, presiding, and John Osenga Kevin Finch Robert Barnwell Julie Crites Casie Warner comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jason Bickling, Acting City Manager Kris Peck, City Clerk Jodi Kurtz, Deputy City Clerk Excused — Wells Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS National Public Works Week was read by Mayor McClure and accepted by Acting Public Works Director Jason Cournoyer. Building Safety Month was read by Vice Mayor Osenga and accepted by Building Inspector Jeremy Rogers. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING — None City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2025 Volume 42, Page 58 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Warner) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda McClure requested two items be deleted from the agenda: Resolution 2025-046: Request to Name the Airport at Seward, Alaska the Lenny Gilliland Seward Airport Public Works Presentation by the Public Works Director Doug Schoessler Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the April 28, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes Introduction of Ordinance 2025-009: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, Amending Seward City Code, Title 8, Chapter 8.30.015 Business License Required And 8.30.025 Application for a Business License Resolution 2025-047: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a Switch Cabinet for the Electric Department in the Amount of $46,320 No grounds for protest to the renewal of the liquor license for Taco Dans No grounds for protest to the Transfer of Controlling Interest for the liquor License from Taco Dans to ZPA, LLC No grounds for protest to the renewal of the liquor license for the Chattermark No grounds for protest to the Transfer of Controlling Interest for the liquor License from the Chattermark to ZPA, LLC IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report Acting City Manager Jason Bickling said it was great weather over the weekend and the Bike Rodeo and Super Saturday Cleanup were both very successful. New permanent restrooms were currently being built in the Williams Campground. The dilapidated Parks & Recreation warehouse will be given a fresh coat of paint. In the City Manager Report in the packet, the new HR Manager will provide a new type of report in a narrative format rather than a spreadsheet. Lastly, Bickling thanked Finance Department for a successful and smooth audit. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2025 Volume 42, Page 59 Barnwell asked for an update on the city's partnership with the financial firm Carmen Jackson. Bickling said the city's plan was to gradually shift away from utilizing outside contractors. Electric Operations Supervisor Taylor Crocker explained that Util-Assist would continue to work with water and sewer billing. Util-Assist was currently helping the Electric Department until the new billing specialist position was filled. City Clerk Report Deputy City Clerk Jodi Kurtz provided an update on the four Seward High School who were selected to go on the exchange to Obihiro, Japan. The chaperone this year would be Julie Crites. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin was unable to attend the meeting. The written report was in the packet. Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations Alaska SeaLife Center's Johnny Fraser on Measuring Happiness in Seward [deleted from agenda] PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2025-045: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a Toyota Forklift for the Electric Department Warehouse in the Amount of $43,965 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Approve Resolution 2025-045 Crocker explained that their current forklift was from 2014 and was the type of forklift where the operator goes up in the air along with the forks. This forklift had some very expensive batteries that were dying. This battery issue resulted in safety concerns about the forks getting stuck in mid- air along with the operator. Plus there was a maneuverability issue in the warehouse that led to an Austin Powers situation with the forklift getting wedged in a narrow hallway. Crocker compared forklift rental fees to purchasing one outright. If council approved this resolution, he would try to auction off the current forklift. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2025 Volume 42, Page 60 McClure clarified this resolution was not in the budget. Barnwell thought the price sticker seemed high, but he did some research and concluded it was actually quite reasonable. Crocker added that he also checked the measurements of the fire door and other areas throughout the warehouse to make sure this new forklift would fit. Motion Passed Unanimous [deleted from agenda] INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings City Council Work Session on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. - Topic: Discuss the future of the Jesse Lee Home property City Council Meeting Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. - [Monday is Memorial Day Holiday] CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bickling thanked the city staff for de -winterizing and getting the city ready for summer. Last weekend was busy, and this weekend was going to be even busier. Crites appreciated the presentation from John Fraser. Warner thanked Fraser for the presentation. She echoed that it was getting busy out there with the summer season approaching. Finch appreciated the presentation by Fraser. He thanked the Public Works Department for all their hard work. He encouraged everyone to be safe and to remember that the bears are awake. Barnwell thanked Fraser for the presentation. He wanted to recognize those in the community who had passed away last week: Dan Seavey, Dorthy Urbach, and Craig Turnbull. Osenga thanked Fraser for the happiness report, and agreed that Seward was a very special place. He thanked those who participated in the Super Saturday Cleanup and all those who work for the city. 0 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2025 Volume 42, Page 61 McClure extended her thoughts to the Seavey, Urbach, and Turnbull families. She said Dan Seavey was supposed to be here tonight to explain the airport naming resolution, which is why she removed it from the agenda. She would bring that airport resolution back at a later date. On a historical note, there will be an event featuring historic cabins on Thursday. Lastly, she said 37 second graders will be touring City Hall tomorrow morning. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk (City Seal) �� OF SEry'• G� GG r � � w r i SEALFj a OF 2 U-C*M-a C&fla- Sue McClure Mayor I I