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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03092026 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page /87 CALL TO ORDER The Monday, March 9, 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 Julic Crites Casie Warner hefi-Dfaper 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 Sam Severin, City Attorney Excused — Crites and Draper Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS — None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Karen Cooper McLoughlin, inside city limits, spoke as Deputy Library Director. She updated council on current library events, workshops, film series, and activities. Amanda Sweeting, outside city limits, spoke on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce. She updated council on upcoming chamber events, contests, and awards. Taylor Crocker, outside city limits, announced an upcoming fundraiser event for Ducks Unlimited. There would be plenty of guns for adults, kids and everyone. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page 188 APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Osenga requested a Letter of Support for the U.S. Coast Guard be added to the agenda under New Business. Warner removed the Introduction of Ordinance 2026-004 from the Consent Agenda. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the February 23, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes Approval of the March 2, 2026, City Council Special Meeting Minutes Resolution 2026-024: Acknowledging the Closeout of the Pink Salmon Fishery Disaster Relief Grant No grounds for protest to the AMCO renewal for the Package Store liquor license for the Seward Marketplace IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen summarized from her report in the packet. She highlighted the 35% design for the new Harbormaster's Office and Uplands Development. The Alaska Municipal Bond Bank had approved the city's application for the municipal bond. Overall, the harbor project was moving forward very well. Sorensen also shared her experience attending the recent Parks & Recreation town hall meeting. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck noted his 1-page report in the packet was an updated roster of the city's boards and commissions. He summarized the recent personnel changes to the Planning & Zoning Commission and the Port and Commerce Advisory Board. City Attorney Report City Attorney Sam Severin said the bulk of work lately pertained to the electric utility and the Regulatory Commission of Alaska hearing. For a smaller community, Seward was taking a substantial position in the case. On another topic, he noted a minor victory of obtaining $200 judgment for a land use enforcement case from 2023. It was worth reporting on to show that the city was following up with collections. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page 189 Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations — None PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Enactment Ordinance 2026-003: Amending Seward City Code § 15.10.140 Definitions and § 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed to Incorporate Regulations for a Mobile Health Unit [Sponsored by P&Z] Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Enact Ordinance 2026-003 City Planner Courtney Bringhurst explained the new land use for a motorized van for non - emergency routine care. This ordinance would provide a slight difference between a mobile health unit and a mobile medical unit. Also covered in the ordinance is the land uses allowed table with various zoning districts and regulations to ensure the unit remained mobile. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. Jilian Chapman, inside city limits, introduced herself as the was CEO of the Seward Community Health Center (SCHC). It was important to approach the use of this mobile health unit with public involvement and be good neighbors about parking the mobile unit. Chapman thanked city staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission for their work on this ordinance. She noted how this mobile health unit was different than what was currently written in city code. No one else appeared and the public hearing was closed. McClure thought it was a wonderful idea. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None NEW BUSINESS *Introduction of Ordinance 2026-004: Amending the Seward City Code Chapter 8.25 And Section 15.10.226 by Providing Additional Marijuana Establishment Regulations Governing On - Site Outdoor Marijuana Consumption, Walk-Up/Drive-Thru Retail Marijuana Sales, and Limiting the Total Number of Marijuana Establishments within City Limits [Sponsored by Calhoonl Motion (Osenga/Warner) Introduce Ordinance 2026-004 Warner said she removed this item from the consent agenda because she wanted clarification on the grandfather clause and the purpose of the March 1, 2026 date throughout the ordinance. City of Seward, Alaska Citt• Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page 190 Severin explained the appeal hearing that took place in January pertaining to the P&Z Resolution 2025-035. Seward's code was unique in that it specifies a Conditional Use Permit is not granted until the appeal process is over. The March 1, 2026 date was designed to let all appeal periods expire with a slight margin of safety. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolutions Resolution 2026-023: Authorizing the City Manager to Approve the Proposals with CRW Engineering Group, Inc and Alaska Construction Surveys, LLC for Nash Road Electrical Easement Acquisition Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $260,000 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2026-023 Electric Operations Supervisor Taylor Crocker explained the easements situation along Nash Road. There was a lot of legwork in acquiring easements which involved property value, contracts, proposals, and eminent domain. He wanted the city to be good neighbors with everyone along Nash Road and trying to straighten this out was a lot more work than he had expected. Barnwell asked for clarification on the non -budgeted funds from the Electric Department Enterprise Fund. Sorensen explained it would reconcile with an internal loan and was being added to the price tag. Barnwell expressed concern about the timeline and easement issues around the Moose Pass area. Sorensen clarified the difference between Nash Road and the issues in Moose Pass. The liability aspect of this project was very important. Crocker explained the city was asking for the easements to be able to cut the trees back from the powerlines. Any houses or structures in the easements were not going to be impacted. Motion Passed Other New Business Discuss Jesse Lee Cemetery Unanimous Community Development Director Daniel Meuninck explained how the Qutekcak Native Tribe was actively working on this section of the cemetery. This section of the cemetery was currently owned by the city, but the city does not actively maintain it. Meuninck wanted to have this initial discussion with council to see if there was interest in conveying the portion of the cemetery to Qutekcak. The map in the packet showed the area to be conveyed. McClure noted her own personal interest in cemeteries. It seemed logical and the precedent had been set for other sections of the cemetery such as the American Legion, Pioneers, and Masons. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page III Calhoon spoke as a semi -representative of one of the cemetery sections on the border. He noted tight boundaries needed to be set, but overall thought it was a great idea. Council directed administration to bring back a resolution authorizing Qutekcak Tribe to own and manage a portion of the Jesse Lee Cemetery. Approving a letter of support for the U.S. Coast Guard in Seward McClure noted a draft of this letter was added as a laydown item and she was asking for council approval. Sorensen explained her hope with this letter was to have it on hand to show that the City of Seward was supportive of Coast Guard expansion in Seward. Council approved of a letter of support for the U.S. Coast Guard in Seward. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings City Council Work Session with Providence on March 23, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. CITIZEN COMMENTS Jilian Chapman, inside city limits, announced that SCHC offered a free public health literacy series each month. The topic this month was all about understanding health insurance, benefits, and deductibles. Bob Coleman, inside city limits, spoke as a member on the Board of Directors at SCHC and announced there is a new part-time doctor who specialized in pediatric care. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Sorensen thanked everyone for all the updates about events around town. She noted that both Parks & Recreation and the Community Library released monthly calendars of their events. Calhoon thanked everyone for making comments and providing good information. He noted it was almost St. Patrick's Day which happened to be on the same day as a P&Z meeting and his wedding anniversary. Warner provided information on the KPEDD registration overview forum. The superintendent would be visiting the Seward Highschool to discuss the proposed school consolidation. She noted it was Spring Break and be mindful that all the kids were out and about this week. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes March 9, 2026 Volume 43, Page /92 Barnwell had no comment in the interest of preserving a short meeting. Osenga wished everyone a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day. He congratulated the Seward Seahawks High School Girls Basketball Team for winning regionals and heading to the state tournament. McClure noted it was a short but important meeting. She provided updates on 1964 Earthquake anniversary events coming up in March. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:47 p.m. SUAJMIltC JAI Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor