HomeMy WebLinkAbout01222007 City Council Minutes
City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 309
CALL TO ORDER
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The January 22, 2007 regular meeting ofthe Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30
p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Vanta Shafer presiding and
Willard Dunham
Bob Valdatta
Jean Bardarson
Linda Amberg
Steve Schafer
Robert Thomas
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Marvin Yoder, Interim City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
Johanna Dollerhide, Assistant City Clerk
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ABSENT - None
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING - None
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Thomas/Bardarson)
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed
Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The January 8, 2007 regular city council meeting minutes were approved.
The Port and Commerce Advisory Board was continued through January 31, 2008 by
affirmative vote.
Resolution 2007-008. amending the 2006 budget and appropriating $50,093 in sales tax
revenues to the hospital debt service fund.
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SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 310
Proclamations and Awards
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Caleb Adelmann received the Parks and Recreation Adelmann Award.
A proclamation was given to Deputy Fire Chief Edward Athey and Police Dispatcher Tammy
Athey for their heroic efforts in the January 1, 2007 rescue in Whittier.
Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated the
motion to reconsider the effective date for the per person, per day recreational tax ordinance failed
and would remain at April 1 , 2007. He encouraged anyone with questions on this issue to contact the
borough sales tax department. The Assembly appropriated $9,000 as an initial contract award to
fund an education lawsuit and lobbying effort against the State of Alaska. This took care of a line
item already in the budget and would take the initial steps towards litigation. The Borough Assembly
passed their federal capital projects priorities. Their number two priority was $3 million for flood
mitigation, which Long thought would tie in nicely with city's priority on this. The Assembly had a
productive work session with school board to address the budget process. Long would be attending
the AML Conference in Juneau later this week.
Long responded to questions by the council.
City Manager's Report. Interim City Manager Marvin Yoder noted a letter of thanks by
Dana Paperman for the city working on the re-siding of the Senior Center. Taunnie Boothby with the f
State of Alaska planned to be in Seward February 6, 2007 for a meeting to obtain information about ...J
the floods and the Japanese Creek Area.
IBEW - The contract between the city and IBEW expired this year and the city was planning
to request the opportunity to negotiate a new contract.
Japanese Creek - Three different proposals were received from Shannon and Wilson, Inc.
for damage and cost assessments on the levee, a scoping meeting to review the available information
on the levee, and the requirements for certification, and additional analysis/reports on the
geotechnical and engineering issues. The city had signed the purchase order to begin this process.
Alaska SeaLife Center - The tidelands lease with ASLC had been signed. This would allow
the SeaLife Center to expand their programs.
SAFETEA-LU - There were funding issues that the city was still working on for the new
dock facilities. The number one priority was to design a multipurpose dock that would accommodate
the proposed scientific research vessel. The new vessel was not built yet but the city intended to
have the infrastructure to help insure Seward was in a position to have the vessel home ported here.
So far the SAFETEA-LU funding, which was earmarked for design, had not been released. Yoder
was working with the city's lobbyist to resolve these issues and begin the project.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Funds - The city had received three proposals from Shannon and
Wilson, Inc. to complete work on the harbor and SMIC totaling $5,276,079. The three projects
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City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 311
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were: water quality study and improvement plan, small boat harbor wash down pad, and SMIC wash
down pad and maintenance building. These projects had to be submitted to EVOS for funding.
A VTEC Lease -Yoder met with A VTEC administration and reviewed a draft ofthe lease for
the fire training facility. The lease was taken to Anchorage to review with the city's attorney and he
hoped to have a new draft lease in the near future.
Lon!! Term Care Facilitv - The Kenai Borough Planning Commission on January 8,2007
held a hearing on the reconsideration of the Planning and Zoning decision which granted a
Conditional Preliminary approval for a tract in the LTCF subdivision. Under reconsideration, the
previous ruling was upheld.
City of Seward Wa!!es - Yoder directed council to a lay down before them regarding wages.
He reviewed and determined the City of Seward's hourly rates were comparable or lower than other
similarly sized communities or private companies, but felt there was a problem with the wages
benefit ratio, which was largely due to the issues with PERS. Yoder also noted the amount of
increases in City of Seward wages were much lower compared to the consumer price index and the
cost of living over the years.
In other areas, the Alaska Railroad had put in a formal application to the Planning and Zoning
Commission for the expansion oftheir freight dock. The city received an award for $28,000 for the
Hoben Park Fountain. The public works water wells number 5 and 6 had been repaired. Bids on the
..... Senior Center re-siding were due January 24, 2007. A letter was sent to University of Alaska
regarding SMC dock.
Yoder responded to questions by the council. Electric Utility Manager Tim Barnum
reported on the problems occurring during the recent power outages.
Chamber of Commerce Report. Director Laura Cloward stated the chamber held their
annual board election for officers. Ron Hewitt was named President, Dan McDonald as Vice
President, and Lori Draper as Treasurer. Deborah Altermatt, Dennie Hawks, Linda Rae Olsen, Susan
Swiderski and Micah VanBuskirk were the other members of the board. The Chamber's annual
meeting was held on January 19, 2007, and Cloward reported they gained 50 new members in 2006.
78% of the membership was from small businesses. Membership was up, and equal between
tourism and non-tourism businesses.
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Seward Planning and Zoning Commission Report. Chair Marianna Keil stated the
commission was having a Community Values meeting on February 7 and 8, 2007 at the Seward
Middle School. Community Plans would be available for the public to review to let the commission
know if the values in the comprehensive plan were the same of the community. The idea of the
meetings was to see what the community really wanted. During the February 6,2007 meeting, Louis
Bencardino of the Alaska Railroad would present their request to expand the freight dock.
Commissioner Tom Smith was the new Kenai Peninsula Borough Planning Commissioner for
Seward.
City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 312
School Board Report. Lynn Hohl stated the big issue with the school board this month was ,I
the budget. There was a public meeting at the Seward High School library on January 23,2007 at ....
7:00 p.m. and was Seward's only public meeting in town before budget approval. Numbers were
projected to be down, and the school board was hoping to get a continuation of the ISER allocation, a
cost differential study that showed the Kenai Peninsula was being treated unfairly with school
funding projections. Hohl thought the budget looked bleak; Seward High School had the potential of
cutting back to 8 teachers next year.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
A presentation was given by Siemens about the eity building energy audit. (cancelled
due to weather conditions)
P ACAB's annual report was given by Chair Deborah AItermatt. Altermatt briefed the
council of the Port and Commerce Advisory Board's activity during the past year.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment
Ordinance 2007-001. amending Title 11, Vehicles and Traffic, to change speed limit
designations and authority to change speed limits. Notice ofthe public hearing being posted and
published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to
address the Council and the public hearing was closed.
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Motion (Thomas/Schafer)
Approve Ordinance 2007-001
Dunham had received feedback from the public to lower the speed limit on Third Avenue,
also.
Police Chief Clemons said he could make recommendations when it came to State highways;
which had been well received in the past.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
Resolution 2007-009. authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Sterchi
Construction Co. to construct the South Harbor Restroom Building for an amount not to
exceed $208,513.00
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City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 313
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Yoder explained this contract was a little over budget, as reality was setting in on cost
estimates. Harbormaster Scott Ransom said the engineer's letter in the council's packet was a
good summarization of this. The design was patterned after the design chosen for the pavilions
during a work session last summer. They had received 5 competitive bids for the construction of the
building, and Sterchi Construction was the lowest. Sterchi was aware of the project and were
deemed responsible and responsive.
In response to Valdatta, Ransom stated the bid was only to construct the facility; water and
sewer were not included. Harris Sand and Gravel would install the water and sewer, which was a
part of their contract with the city; and the city's Electric Department, would install the electric.
Motion (Schafer/Dunham)
Approve Resolution 2007-009
In response to Schafer, Ransom said the restroom was originally a part of the initial South
Harbor Project, but was pulled to make it a more personalized building. The costs would still come
out of the same funds. In response to Dunham, Ransom stated the city intended to bring to council at
the next meeting an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to obtain the land the restroom
would be built on. There would be language in the agreement with the COE to obtain just the fill
area and note the city was in no way responsible for the work previously done.
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Amberg wanted to make sure Sterchi was going to submit a work plan, Ransom assured her it
would be in the contract. In response to Bardarson, the estimated time of completion was about 110
days. Sterchi would start once the ground thawed, water and sewer would start in the spring. The
entire project would be completed during the summer.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
Update and discussion on the hiring process for open city manager position. City Clerk Jean
Lewis briefed council on the hiring process. The council had received 16 completed applications.
She estimated the city had spent approximately $3,500 on advertising. Council scheduled a work
session for Wednesday, January 31,2007 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the city manager applications and
candidates.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
Informational report on emergency repair of City of Seward water wells.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Bardarson thanked the Port and Commerce Advisory Board for their hard work.
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Amberg thanked the electrical and street crews for the many hours they had put in during the
heavy snowfalls.
City of Seward, Alaska
January 22, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 314
Dunham thanked the Polar Bear Committee for a great festival. Dunham wanted council to.
do some kind of military appreciation during Armed Forces Day. He also wanted a letter of thanks ..J
sent to Suneel for their time in Seward and an invitation to U sibelli to meet the council. Hit and runs
and DUI's were a growing concern to Dunham. He wanted to have a report on suspended/revoked
licenses and drivers without insurance. Dunham wanted the town to toughen up on these regulations.
Valdatta asked about the water wells and spoke of the water line break near Madison
Avenue.
Mayor Shafer reported on her recent trip to Seattle to meet with the cruise ship lines. Her
meetings with TOTE, Princess, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean were all very positive. She
thanked everyone for their time and effort during the fun Polar Bear Jump.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
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Mayor
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