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Home My WebLink About09222025 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025 Volume 43, Page 114 CALL TO ORDER The Monday, September 22, 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. ROLL CALL There were present: Sue McClure, presiding, and John Osenga Kevin Finch Randy��Wells 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 Excused — Finch Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS The Proclamation for Fire Prevention Month was read by Sue McClure and accepted by Fire Chief Clinton Crites and Fire Marshal Tyler Mallory. The Proclamation for Sister City Exchange Students was read by John Osenga and accepted by the four Seward students and Julie Crites. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025 Volume 43, Page 115 CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Randy McFarland, outside city limits, spoke about the sign ordinance. He held up various examples of signs including horizontal signs that were painted directly on the pavement. He also mentioned how private businesses sometimes put up parking signs that affect public property. All of these signs should be installed only by city officials, and not private business owners. Lastly, McFarland wanted more clarification on snipe signs. Tim McDonald, inside city limits, spoke about confusion with electric utility rates and the utility itself. The electric utility was too valuable to be so vague. He spoke in support of a co-op electric utility. Rather than sell the electric utility, he hoped council would give the utility to a co-op. Amanda Sweeting, outside city limits, spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. She announced the lineup of upcoming chamber events. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Wells) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda McClure requested that Resolution 2025-092 be moved to the consent agenda. There was no objection. Motion As Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the September 8, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes Introduction of Ordinance 2025-014: Amending Seward City Code § 15.10.140 Definitions for Animal Shelter and Veterinary Hospital and § 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed Table for Veterinary Hospital Introduction of Ordinance 2025-015: Amending Seward City Code Chapter § 15.20 — Signs Introduction of Ordinance 2025-016: Amending Seward City Code § 15.10.140 Definitions for Dwelling, Apartment, Commercial Building and Mixed -Use Development and Table § 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed for Dwelling, Apartment in a Commercial Building Resolution 2025-092: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept the Proposal with Globelink Telecom for Radio Tower Maintenance and Ladder Installation in the Amount of $34,500 and Appropriating Funds Resolution 2025-093: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase Playground Equipment from Northwest Playgrounds in the Amount of $22,487 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025 Volume 43, Page 116 Resolution 2025-094: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept and Appropriate Community Assistance Program Funds in the Amount of $192,239.30 for the Purpose of Capital Projects Related to Fire, Public Safety, and Road Maintenance Resolution 2025-095: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept Funds from the State of Alaska Division of Libraries, Archives & Museums Grant -in -Aid Program for the Seward Museum Exhibit Reader Rails Project Approval of the Canvass Board for the 2025 Regular Municipal Election IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen thanked city staff for doing an excellent job while she was on vacation. She thanked Jason Bickling for being the best Deputy City Manager. Sorensen explained Resolution 2025-095 in more detail and noted all the hard work that went into the grant application Lastly, Sorensen reminded everyone about the town hall meeting on the electric utility on September 29, 2025. There would also be a recap of the town hall meeting at the City Council Work Session on October 13, 2025. Wells applauded City Administration, Community Development and Planning & Zoning Commission for their work on Ordinance 2025-014 regarding the animal shelter and veterinary services. He also had follow up questions regarding winter utility rates, walkable mural paint, amendments to Ordinance 2025-016, and private business owners putting up signs that affect public parking. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck provided an update on the absentee in -person voting which had started today in City Council Chambers. Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations Community Library & Museum Update by Director Jolanta Ryan Sister City Exchange Visit to Obihiro, Japan PUBLIC HEARINGS - None UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025 Volume 43, Page 117 NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Discuss Paving Priorities [sponsored by Council Member Warner] Warner said she brought this discussion item forward after hearing recent public comments about paving requests. She hoped to make a priority paving list. Council and City Administration discussed what could be done to authorize a list of paving priorities. Wells thanked Warner for bringing it forward and thanked the residents for the public comments. Osenga asked if paving could be added to the list of Legislative Priorities. Council directed City Administration to draft a paving priorities list for a future discussion item. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings Work Session on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Topic: Electric Utility update that highlights a town hall recap and infrastructure project update Regular Meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Randy McFarland, outside city limits, thanked the council for letting him speak. He gave a shout out to the City Clerk for his recent tribute to Ozzy Osbourne. McFarland spoke to various issues with the signage in the harbor that pertained to safety and parking. He hoped to see the parking fund become a cash -cow for the city. He would like to see the city work with the State of Alaska to combine bike paths to connect all the pathways along the Seward Highway. He was very concerned about safety of biking along the highway without a designated path. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bickling wanted to mention the City Manager Report also included a GIS report from Selena Soto. These reports would be regular updates from here on out. Sorensen reminded everyone about the upcoming Town Hall meeting at the Rae Building. 1 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes September 22, 2025 Volume 43, Page 118 Warner thanked the public for speaking at the meeting tonight and sharing concerns with the council. She thanked Jolanta Ryan for the library presentation and was looking forward to the tea party. Crites thanked the Amanda Sweeting and the Jolanta Ryan for all the updates. She thanked the kids for presenting on the trip to Japan. Crites shared her experience as chaperone on the trip and said Japan was very clean, very polite, and very safe. Crites also shared her experience as a host family here in Seward for the visiting Japanese students. After traveling to Japan, she had a lot of new ideas about how to enhance their future visits in Seward. Barnwell recalled his own great experience traveling to Japan and commended the students for their bravery. He thanked City Administration for GIS report, thanked the public for the comments, and Randy McFarland for his ideas on parking and the bike path. Barnwell noted he missed the previous City Council meeting and had to watch it on YouTube. He thanked the City Clerk for the new camera angles and timestamps on the YouTube version. Wells reminded everyone that early voting has started and encouraged people to get out and vote. There were important ballot measures that could affect both how and when people vote. Osenga echoed the previous comment about voting. He thanked Jolanta Ryan for the library presentation. Osenga recalled his visit to Obihiro, Japan in the 1980s and the slideshow tonight brought back a lot of fun memories. McClure echoed previous comments. Both presentations were wonderful. It was a neat meeting despite not having a whole lot to vote on. She recommended people read the council packet for information on the consent agenda items. McClure encouraged people to vote and appreciated the early voting being available. Lastly, McClure noted there were a lot of events happening in town and people should never be bored. Sorensen gave a shout out to the Chamber of Commerce for their Seward.com/events page. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:21 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk (City Seal) uf-Pc- FccLt Sue McClure Mayor