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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04272026 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 209 CALL TO ORDER The April 27, 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 J-uJie Qfites 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 — Crites Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS Recognition of the Seward Seahawks Cheerleading Team was read by Vice Mayor Osenga and accepted by the cheerleading team. Recognition of the Seward National Ocean Science Bowl Team was read by Mayor McClure and accepted by a NOSB team member. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, summarized from the most recent PACAB meeting regarding commercial fishing and distributed a laydown to council. He supported the use of heat pump technology in the harbor development projects. Cit. of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 2/0 Tim McDonald, inside city limits, was concerned about cruise ships polluting the water and ruining the fish habitat in Resurrection Bay. Steve Greene, outside city limits, was the inventor of the police decoys that are seen along the highway in Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, and Girdwood to help with traffic control. Phil Kaluza, inside city limits, spoke in favor of heat pump opportunities on the harbor uplands development. He went over hidden costs and benefits of various heating systems. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Warner requested a discussion item regarding state funding for early educator recruitment and retention. There was no objection from council. Motion as Amended Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the April 13, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes Resolution 2026-042: Authorizing the City Manager to Purchase Transformers from General Pacific, Inc for Electric System Improvements in an Amount Not to Exceed $62,080 Resolution 2026-043: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept a Loan with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation Drinking Water Fund for $850,000 with Loan Forgiveness of $850,000 for the Birch Street Water Main Replacement No grounds for protest to the AMCO Liquor License Renewal and Transfer for Zudy's Cafe IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen recalled some highlights from a busy week in Seward. These included the Tony's Volleyball Tournament, a Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Meeting, and an Industry Outlook Forum. She also reported that two icebreakers were slated to be homeported in Alaska. The City Manager and Vice Mayor will be lobbying in Washington D.C. next month and will make a case for Seward as a top location for an icebreaker. Barnwell and Sorensen discussed the top five reasons why Seward should be the homeport for an icebreaker. City Clerk Report — None City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 211 City Attorney Report — None Other Reports and Announcements — None Presentations — None PUBLIC HEARINGS — None UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2026-038: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for the Construction of the Elm Street Water Main Replacement with Metco Alaska, LLC for an Amount Not to Exceed $263,736 Plus a 10% Contingency Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Approve Resolution 2026-038 Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said there were two bids received for the water main replacement. Metco submitted the lowest bid and was a solid local company to work with. This water main replacement was covered with grant funding and this resolution was specifically to award the contract to Metco. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-039: Repealing Resolution 2026-023 and Replace to Add Sturgeon Electric Company, Inc. as the Project Manager for the Nash Road Electrical Easement Acquisition Project and Reaffirming Authorization for Professional Services Agreements and Appropriation of Funds Motion (Osenga/Draper) Approve Resolution 2026-039 Sorensen explained this resolution was a bit of housekeeping to specifically list the project manager as Sturgeon Electric. The previous Resolution 2026-023 erroneously listed only the sub- contractors for the project. This new resolution did not change any of the $260,000 funding for the project. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 212 Resolution 2026-040: Approving a Revised Financial Disclosure Form for Appointed and Elected Officials [Sponsored by the City Clerk] Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2026-040 City Clerk Kris Peck explained the backstory of the city becoming exempt from the Alaska Public Officials Commission (APOC) requirements in 2012. That same year, the city established local guidelines by adopting a financial disclosure form that was nearly identical to a 2006 APOC form. Now in 2026, this was the first attempt to tailor a financial disclosure form to specifically meet the needs of the city and make a clear step away from the one -size -fits -all approach of the 8-page 2006 APOC form. Per city code, this disclosure form is required for the City Manager, City Council, and the Planning & Zoning Commission. Calhoon was curious why the City Clerk was not required to fill out the financial disclosure form. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-041: Approving an Update to the City of Seward Fee Schedule to Include Additional Campground Fees Motion (Osenga/Draper) Approve Resolution 2026-041 Sorensen explained this was an update to the fee schedule to address campground rules like late checkout and dumping wastewater. She requested an amendment to delete the proposed dump fee service charge per RV reservation of $1.50. The city was moving in a new direction with the dump station being moved to the wastewater fund. The resolution was amended to delete: Dump fee service charge (per RV reservation) $1.50 Council discussed the RV dump stations, illegal dumping, automated systems, community usage, and wastewater enterprise funds. Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Discuss Mountain Haven Bond Payoff [Sponsored by Calhoon] PFM Financial Advisor Matt Schoenfeld joined the meeting on the video conference screen and explained his slides from the council packet regarding the long-term care facility bond payoff. Council discussed investments, payoffs, comfort level, interest earnings, long-term care facility money, and unincumbered funds. Council directed administration to research unencumbered earnings of the long-term care facility bond and bring back a report for council review. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 213 Discuss Internal Loan for the Electric Department [Sponsored by Sorensen] Schoenfeld continued on the conference video screen and went over his slide deck from the packet. Due to technical difficulties with the audio the Mayor called for a recess. Council recessed the meeting at 8:07 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:15 p.m. Council discussed with administration and the financial advisor about how much money was actually needed, potential conflicts with Providence, long-term debt, and uncertainty with the future of the electric utility. Sorensen said there would be more electric utility presentations, town halls meetings, and community surveys coming up in late May. Discuss New Harbormaster Building Heating System [Sponsored by Draper] Draper recalled the R&M presentation on the new harbormaster building and the timing of when the decision should be made on how to heat the building. She hoped to see side -by -side comparisons to evaluate the options like burning waste oil or using heat pumps . She also wanted to see more feedback from the public. This information could become valuable guidance for all future City of Seward buildings. Bickling explained the harbormaster design and the burning of harbor waste oil. This was a unique system that the harbor took advantage of using. The alternative would be to pay to have the waste oil transported out of Seward and be burned somewhere else. Council discussed carbon emissions, heat pumps, environmental impacts, burning waste oil, the pinched timeline of the project, and planning for renewable energy in future buildings. Discuss Short -Term Rentals [Sponsored by Warner] Warner explained her report in the packet and expressed concerns on the rising number of short- term rentals in Seward. Council discussed residential areas, commercial zoning, residential zoning, and a cap similar to the recent ordinance on marijuana establishments. Council directed administration to schedule a joint work session with the Planning & Zoning Commission to discuss short-term rentals within the May and June timeframe. Discuss State Funding for Early Educator for Recruitment and Retention [Added by Warner] Warner noted this was time sensitive and explained the early educator program and the budget. Council approved of a letter of support for state funding for early educator recruitment and retention to be sent to the senate. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 214 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings City Council Meeting on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. City Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Other Items Confirmation of Timely Receipt of Annual Financial Disclosure Forms CITIZEN COMMENTS Tim McDonald, inside city limits, thought the short-term rental discussion was a Planning & Zoning issue and felt council was overstepping their authority. He encouraged everyone to speak professionally and collect their thoughts in silence without using vocal fillers. Steve Greene, inside city limits, spoke about police decoys being set up along the highway. Their official name was now Traffic Calming Devices and he hoped to set one up in Seward. Bruce Jaffa, outside city limits, noted the police decoy has worked well on the highway going thru Moose Pass. He complimented the council for taking on interesting projects, and noted Calhoon had a knack for remembering key historical facts. Jaffa felt the South Harbor Uplands design work was rushed and poorly engineered. He expressed appreciation for all who contributed to PACAB over the years. Lastly, he spoke in favor of the city owning the electric utility and hoped for a separate independent board to make decisions. Phil Kaluza, inside city limits, clarified some points on the harbormaster building using waste oil for heating. He spoke in support of heat pumps and said there was a variety of heat pumps for any occasion or type of building. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Calhoon congratulated the Seward cheerleaders and the NOSB teams. He noted the American Legion was heavily involved in feeding all the NOSB students breakfast. Lastly, he reminded everyone that Mother's Day is coming up. Warner said children are Alaska's most valuable natural resource and wanted to keep children at the forefront of council's work. Barnwell thanked Warner for the discussion on short-term rentals. There were tough decisions to be made on heating the harbormaster building. He thanked Phil Kaluza for his efforts on the topic and noted the community was determined to have efficient buildings. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 Volume 43, Page 215 Draper attended the kite festival and it was a super fun family event. She reported a daffodil in her yard may bloom tomorrow. She noted she met with the city auditors and they were very welcoming. She thanked Bruce Jaffa for bringing up commercial fishing as it was near and dear to her heart. Osenga congratulated the cheerleaders and the NOSB students. He announced that tomorrow is Seward Community Band Spring Concert. As a bonus, there will be an opening band comprising of high school students. McClure said there was a lot going in Seward and there was also a poetry festival this week. She heard lots of sandhill cranes flying over the area. She thanked Bruce Jaffa for all his service on PACAB. There are more events coming up such as the Pink Cheeks Triathlon, Bike Rodeo, and Sam Daniel Cleanup Day. Calhoon was pleased to report that Clare Sullivan was named Member of the Year for the auxiliary in the state of Alaska. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m. Kris Peck City Clerk &AgOtArled.u_r. Sue McClure Mayor