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Home My WebLink About08242026 City Council MinutesCity of Seward, Alaska Cite Council Meeting Minutes Aufust 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 263 CALL TO ORDER The August 24, 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 Excused — None Absent — None PROCLAMATIONS AND AWARDS A proclamation for Founders' Day was read by Mayor McClure and accepted on behalf of the Resurrection Bay Historical Society. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Rhonda Hubbard, inside city limits, shared poem by Tammy Dieckgraeff about Founders' Day. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 264 The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the August 10, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes Resolution 2026-069: Authorizing the City Manager to Accept the Proposal from Mt. McKinley Fence Company to Remove and Replace the Electric Department Laydown Yard Fence for an Amount Not to Exceed $86,961 IN -PERSON REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS City Manager Report City Manager Kat Sorensen noted the City of Seward quarterly financial reports were included in the packet under information items. She also reported the Kenai Peninsula Borough had just approved the Middle School lease agreement. There will be detailed fee schedules and other sub- lease agreements coming out this fall. Warner asked for a harbor update on cranes and a drive down dock, as well as paving priority updates in the community. Deputy City Manager Jason Bickling responded with a summary of the current plans, studies, and grants that would be taking shape. McClure asked what the Middle School would be called while being leased by the City. Sorensen said she has been calling it "The Middle" but nothing official yet. Perhaps there could be a naming contest. Crites noted the foot traffic going across the Seward Highway to the tour boat parking areas was a dangerous situation. Sorensen said the City could draft a letter to the Department of Transportation about the issue and lack of crosswalks. City Clerk Report City Clerk Kris Peck summarized from his report in the packet which included updates on the ballot for the Regular Municipal Election, the voter turnout for the State of Alaska Primary Election, and lastly that the Seward exchange students had returned safely from a wonderful trip to Japan. Presentations JAG Seward Shipyard Presentation by Tim Jagielski Sewtard-Eommtm4ty-14ealth-Center Presentation -by Jilian-Chapnian [SCHC presentation cancelled upon request] City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes Au ust 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 265 PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolutions Requiring Public Hearing Resolution 2026-070: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Assignment of Lease with Kenai Fjords Tours for 1317 Fourth Avenue, Currently Leased to Forests, Tides & Treasures with a Lease Expiration Date of February 24, 2052 Motion (Osenga/Barnwell) Approve Resolution 2026-070 Harbormaster Tony Sieminski summarized the lease transfer and the timeframe and asked if there were any questions. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. Motion Passed UNFINISHED BUSINESS — None NEW BUSINESS Unanimous Resolution 2026-071: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract with Corvus Design, Inc. for Wayfinding Signage Design Services for an Amount Not to Exceed $79,910 Motion (Osenga/Warner) Approve Resolution 2026-071 Community Development Director Daniel Meuninck explained the idea behind the wayfinding project. This idea grew out of a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce about how visitors move around the community. Large groups of people are deposited in Seward and then they have to figure out to navigate the community on their own. The goal would be a coordinated system of clear directions, walking times, and pedestrian routes. Meuninck noted a strong response to the request for proposals with 14 submissions received. After the grading process was completed, Corvus Design was the highest rated proposal. Calhoon asked about coordinating with the free shuttle. Meuninck said it would be taken into consideration. Barnwell asked about tourists crossing the Seward Highway to the tour boat parking lots. He wondered if wayfinding could help with this. Meuninck noted this issue would be separate from the wayfinding project. Sorensen noted the wayfinding signs would increase awareness about other options like the pedestrian underpass. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 266 Resolution 2026-072: Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into an Agreement with Electric Power Systems, Inc. for Preliminary Engineering and Design Services for Generating Units 3 and 6 at the Fort Raymond Power Plant for an Amount Not to Exceed $47,750 and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2026-072 Electric Operations Supervisor Taylor Crocker explained how this resolution would help offset the natural gas shortage. He explained that generator Unit 3 was due for a complete overhaul as well as a DC backup system and a battery that needed replacement. This agreement with EPS was a necessary step to get Seward thru the next couple years. Council and administration discussed rates, fluctuating costs of power, natural gas, and selling electricity back to the Railbelt. Draper asked about negotiating a better price for diesel fuel to run the generators. Crocker said the City was looking into that. Sorensen added that the City will do a request for proposals for purchasing emergency fuel as a separate agreement than purchasing regular fuel. Draper asked about wear and tear of running generators for extended periods of time. Crocker said the overall hours were low since the generators were used so infrequently. The units were well - maintained and ready to go in the event of an emergency. Crocker would run the units into ground if he had to in order to provide electricity. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2026-073: Approving Amendment #3 to the Employment Agreement with the City Manager and Appropriating Funds [This resolution to be discussed and voted on after the annual evaluation has taken place] Other New Business INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Upcoming City Council Meetings Regular City Council Meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Other Items City of Seward Q2 Financial Reports Providence Financial Reports City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 267 CITIZEN COMMENTS — None COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bickling thanked Tim Jagielski for the JAG presentation. Seward had big things coming in the future. Calhoon said the JAG presentation was great. He knew that City Administration and JAG would work together making progress. He thanked Taylor Crocker for the information on the back-up generators. Calhoon thought a mini -nuclear power plant would be the way of the future. Lastly, Calhoon noted that Patriot Day was coming up on September 1 1th and the United States is the greatest country in the world. Warner appreciated the JAG presentation. She also noted that school was now in full swing. Barnwell also appreciated the JAG presentation and was impressed by the scope of the project. He also noted how energy is vital for towns and it was good to be thinking ahead. Draper thanked JAG for the exciting and informative presentation. The expansion was on such a level that it was a little scary. She attended the recent Electric Department Deep Dive Session and found it very informative. She thanked Sully Jusino for the financial reports in the packet and liked the new narratives. Lastly, she shared that the Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhternoc would be visiting Seward later this month. Crites echoed previous comments. She thanked Daniel Meuninck for getting the wayfinding signage project going. Osenga echoed previous comments. He felt Seward had a bright future. He hoped something could be done about pedestrians crossing the highway near Port Avenue. It was unnerving seeing families with children trying to dash across the highway. McClure echoed previous comments. She added more information on the Mexican Navy training ship and read some information about the visiting ship. McClure described the Founders' Day events coming up at the library. Lastly, she announced the Community Choir would be starting up in September. EXECUTIVE SESSION City Manager Annual Evaluation Part II Motion (McClure/Osenga) Go into Executive Session for the Annual Evaluation of the City Manager The executive session will include the City Manager and City Council following a 5-minute recess. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 24, 2026 Volume 43, Page 268 Council recessed the meeting at 8:14 p.m. Council resumed the meeting at 8:19 p.m. Council went into executive session at 8:19 p.m. Council came out of executive session at 8:56 p.m. Resolution 2026-073: Approving Amendment #3 to the Employment Agreement with the City Manager and Appropriating Funds Motion (Osenga/Calhoon) Approve Resolution 2026-073 Council amended Resolution 2026-073 with the following changes to the contract: City Manager shall receive an annualized salary of $175,000 beginning September 1, 2026 Personal vehicle reimbursement: City shall reimburse the City Manager for personal use of vehicle at a rate of $400 per month. Delete the new Section--l-Annual Bonus. Council shall consder-whether to away -anal -buses base4en-t-he-etitee of the- - an-nttal-eval+ation . Motion as Amended Passed ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:01 p.m. ,ram Unanimous etteikvwe ce.4, Kris Peck Sue McClure City Clerk Mayor