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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01122026 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Cite Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page 153 CALL TO ORDER The Monday, January 12, 2026, regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Sue McClure. OPENING CEREMONY Chief of Police Louis Tiner led the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL There were present: Sue McClure, presiding, and John Osenga Robert Barnwell Julie Crites Casie Warner Lori Draper Mike Calhoon 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 — None Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, spoke as the chair of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. He recalled the golden age of PACAB and then the gradual decline in the past five years. He noted select items on tonight's agenda could have been reviewed by PACAB. He wondered what else PACAB could offer the city, and noted the board allowed participation outside the city limits. He would not be renewing his application in July with the way things are currently going. Mark Nelson, outside city limits, spoke to his Riptide property and the vessel in the pond. He was hoping for an update on the current litigation. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page 154 Amanda Sweeting, outside city limits, spoke as the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce. She provided updates on the upcoming Polar Bear Jump festivities which also included fundraisers, auctions, and parades. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the December 15, 2025, City Council Meeting Minutes Introduction of Ordinance 2026-001: Amending the Seward City Code to Replace Masculine/Feminine Language with Gender -Neutral Terms and Authorizing the Codifier to Implement Non -Substantive Edits Resolution 2026-007: Adopting an Alternative Allocation Method for the FY26 Shared Fisheries Business Tax Program, and Certifying this Allocation Method Fairly Represents the Distribution of Significant Effects of Fisheries Business Activity in the Cook Inlet Fisheries Management Area and Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for Funds from the Shared Fisheries Business Tax Program IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen summarized some key updates from her written report including Rural Health Transformation Program and other grant and funding opportunities. In local weather news, she noted it had been very cold lately and there had been multiple reports of frozen water lines. She advised residents to keep their faucets running as a preventative measure. Lastly, Sorensen had no update on the vessel litigation but would look into it. McClure asked about the cancelled New Year's Eve fireworks possibly being rescheduled. Sorensen said there would be no winter fireworks and the unused fireworks would go towards the Fourth of July. Bickling updated council on the purchase of the property for the new police station. The city had successfully closed the sale agreement on Near Year's Eve. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck said his 1-page report was a commemorative poster of all the City Council Meetings in 2025. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page 155 Other Reports and Announcements Presentations Shore Power Update by City Manager Kat Sorensen City of Seward Email Notifications by City Clerk Kris Peck PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2026-001: Approving the 2026 City of Seward Port & Harbor Tariff Regulations Motion (Osenga/Draper) Approve Resolution 2026-001 Harbormaster Tony Sieminski said it was pretty straight forward and didn't include any changes that weren't already approved by past resolutions. Sorensen added that the tariff was updated by a formula which included the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in the tariff. The rates were increased accordingly. 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, noted the formula with the CPI seemed to do all the calculations. He recalled when PACAB was involved in the process and missed the old days of adjusting these rates manually. However, as long as the clients aren't squawking, he felt the end product was a winner. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. Barnwell noted his boat was actually decreasing in value. Sorensen recommended better boat maintenance. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2026-002: Adopting the City of Seward 2026 Legislative Priorities and Congressionally Designated Spending List Motion (Osenga/Warner) Approve Resolution 2026-002 City of Seward, Alaska Cir' Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page /56 Sorensen explained how this annual list was utilized on lobbying trips. She summarized and explained the list of priorities in the resolution. The result would be a published pamphlet. Council discussed the legislative priorities and selected which ones should be designated for the Congressionally Designated Spending List: *Continued Full Funding for the Construction and Maintenance of the United States Army Corp of Engineers Lowell Tunnel Outfall Diversion Structure *Seward Marine Industrial Center Infrastructure *Funding for the Construction of a New Fire Station *Funding for the Construction of a New Police Station Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-003: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Software Licensing and Implementation Agreement with Professional Computer Solutions, LLC For Enterprise Utility Software for the Electric Department in the Amount of $305,592 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Draper) Approve Resolution 2026-003 Electric Operations Supervisor Taylor Crocker summarized the benefits of the Electric Department using the software. These benefits included e-connect for the customers, a uniform system of accounts, customer portal, an app for payment, and generally streamline everything. Sorensen also noted the administrative fee would decrease. Draper had some concerns about a new accounting system and the Electric Department lacking their own chief financial officer. It was different than the City of Seward AccuFund account and she was concerned they would not be well integrated. Crocker noted the next resolution on the agenda would address this issue because it included accounting support services. Finance Director Sully Jusino noted other City of Seward enterprise funds that can be uploaded to AccuFund. She felt confident about the new software implementation. Calhoon noted the annual maintenance fees might be less than what the city was currently paying for Northstar and Fishbowl accounting software. Calhoon and Sorensen discussed the unique payroll of the Electric Department and made comparisons to Cordova's electric system. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page 157 Resolution 2026-004: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Utility Accounting and Rate Specialists, LLC, for an Electric Rate Study and Accounting Support Services Related to the Implementation of Professional Computer Systems Software for the Seward Electric Utility, in the Amount of $64,032 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Warner) Approve Resolution 2026-004 Sorensen said this resolution would accomplish two initiatives. Part of the resolution was to have a specialist working with the city to make sure the accounting service was implemented properly. The other half of this resolution involved an electric rate study. Barnwell asked if rate studies were obsolete with these new systems. Crocker responded that the rate study was a great deal because the specialists will already be working with the city on implementing the software. He hoped for a favorable rate adjustment for the customers. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-005: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept the Proposal from GovRates, Inc for the Water and Wastewater Rate Study and Classification Plan Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $50,000 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2026-005 Public Works Director Doug Schoessler explained the history of the rate study and the grant funding process. The $50,000 price tag will cover the rate study plus any additional costs such as travel. This resolution would approve the contract and get the rate study implemented. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-006: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase a Dump Truck and Accessories for the Public Works Department for an Amount Not to Exceed $190,000 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Draper) Approve Resolution 2026-006 Schoessler said Public Works had two dump trucks scheduled to be replaced. There had been one replaced so far. They were able to secure the same rate and with the uncertainties of tariffs and rising costs, Schoessler was hoping to purchase the dump truck now. Sorensen explained the dump truck was approved to be in the 2027 budget, but the city was looking to buy it now before the prices went up. McClure asked for clarification on what dump truck accessories might include. Schoessler explained radios and specialized siding. Motion Passed Unanimous Cir' of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page 158 Council recessed the meeting at 8:08 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Other New Business Discuss Harbormaster Facility and Uplands Development Bickling summarized the project timeline and cost and described current substandard state of the harbormaster building. He referenced page 220 of the packet with the overlay on the Uplands Parking Lot. At the next council meeting there will be two resolutions regarding this project. He discussed lease sites and selecting lessees. Bickling noted the current harbormaster building could still be utilized for restrooms and showers in the area, as well as a transportation hub. Calhoon asked if the lease sites could be moved to accommodate more parking. He liked the idea of a pavilion, green space and parks. Bickling explained the lease sites, and why they were trying to minimize utility movement. Council and City Administration further discussed accessible fishing access, energy costs, the bike path connection, and the importance of gaining public input and ideas. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings Joint Work Session with P&Z on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Topic: Marijuana Regulations City Council Meeting on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Other Items Seward Fire Department Annual Report for 2025 CITIZEN COMMENTS Mark Adams, outside city limits, expressed concern over the rainbow crosswalk located at Fourth Avenue and Railway Avenue. He provided a laydown with reasons why the crosswalk was nonconforming with city ordinance and state statutes. He hoped council would take action to bring the crosswalk into compliance. Doug Schoessler, inside city limits, addressed the freezing pipes and cold weather. He encouraged people to run their faucets with a thin amount of water to prevent freezing. Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, spoke about the new harbormaster building and noted PACAB had reviewed the design at one point. He hoped PACAB could participate more as this project CgyCierkSEAL City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes January 12, 2026 Volume 43, Page /59 moves forward. On another topic, Jaffa read from a statement regarding politics and the current state of affairs in the United States. He did not endorse assassinating protestors. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen encouraged everyone to have a fun at the Polar Bear Jump Weekend. Calhoon noted the great presentations tonight. He thanked the Seward Fire Department for their report in the packet. He hoped that training for all the local emergency services could be combined so all first responders were fully integrated. Lastly, Calhoon wished everyone a good Polar Bear Jump Weekend and noted the weather was going to take a turn for the worse. Warner thanked the public for their comments, thanked Bruce Jaffa for his dedication to PACAB, and thanked the Clerk's Office for the presentation. She was looking forward to the Polar Bear Jump Weekend. Warner was interested to see who would be the winning bidder for Coffee with Kat. Lastly, she gave a shout out to Parks & Recreation for their Kids in the Kitchen program. Barnwell thanked Bruce Jaffa for his work with PACAB. He wished Amanda Sweeting good luck with the Polar Bear Jump Weekend. He thanked Jason Bickling for his work on the new harbormaster building and noted the fast timeline for completion. Draper thanked Bruce Jaffa and was sorry to hear his frustrations. She was looking forward to Joint Work Session with Planning & Zoning. Draper was excited about the new software for Electric Department. She also noted a Seward Cares "Project Homeless" event was coming up and there was a need for volunteers. Crites thanked everyone who spoke tonight. She was excited about the new harbormaster building, She apologized that she had to miss the recent Appeal Hearing for personal reasons. Osenga thanked the City Clerk for making it easier for the public to access information. He thanked the City Manager for the shore power presentation. Lastly, he wished everyone a fun Polar Bear Jump Weekend. McClure echoed previous comments. She thanked Bruce Jaffa and looked forward to more dialog with PACAB. McClure noted that Seward should be proud to replace some of the old buildings and move forward. She noted the weather forecast for the Polar Bear Jump Weekend and encouraged people to drive safely and be careful. Lastly, she advised of a moose in her neighborhood. ADJOURNMENT The ittitv.A.ci 116,t9ed at 8:49 p.i K dos •: Sue McClure Mayor