HomeMy WebLinkAbout05142007 City Council Minutes
City of Seward, Alaska
May 14, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 356
CALL TO ORDER
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The May 14, 2007 regular meeting of the 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
Robert Thomas
Linda Amberg
Steve Schafer
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney
...
ABSENT - Jean Bardarson
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Paul Carter reported that Princess Tours was returning to Seward next year as a port of call.
A group led by the Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce had been working on this project for
about four to five years. Since the City of Seward had done so well with other cruise lines, they
could pat themselves on the back for their efforts. Carter hoped other companies would make
Seward a port of call also.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (ThomaslDunham)
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
City Clerk Jean Lewis informed council that Resolutions 2007-47 and 48 were pulled from
the agenda by Administration, and an explanation would be forthcoming in the city manager's report.
Motion Passed
Unanimous
....
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The April 23, 2007 regular city council meeting minutes were approved.
City of Seward, Alaska
May 14, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page 357
Tom Swann and Shannon Kovac were reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission ....
with terms expiring in May 2010.
Non-objection to the Beverage Dispensary Tourism liquor license transfer of ownership,
location, name change for the New Seward Hotel/New Saloon to Gene's Place.
Resolution 2007-045. entering into a contract with the Kenai Peninsula Borough to provide
Emergency Management Communications Services.
Resolution 2007-046. authorizing signatures for all city bank accounts and rescinding all
previous resolutions in conflict herewith.
Resolution 2007-051. authorizing the city manager to enter into the Alaska Public Utilities
Insurance Trust Participation Agreement.
Resolution 2007-052. authorizing payment to the Alaska Railroad in the amount of $11,633.00
as lease for a portion of the transmission line form ARRC mile post 23 to 23.75.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations and Awards
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A proclamation was awarded for Military Appreciation Month.
A Certificate of Appreciation was given to Sergeant Doreen Valadez for her re-
organization of city police records.
A proclamation welcoming Seward Sea Kayak Symposium was read.
A proclamation was read for the Seward Ocean Festival.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates thanked the council for their vote of
confidence in hiring him for this position, and he promised to bring the appropriate information
forward for council to make the best decisions as possible, and pledged his loyalty and energy in
supporting the policy direction of the council. Other areas of interest mentioned were:
).> Prison Expansion. The Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Corrections
visited Seward and indicated there might be money in this year's state budget to
expand Spring Creek Correctional Center, and Oates would continue to monitor the
opportunity.
).> Northern Edge Exercise. The City participated in these exercises by opening the ....
Emergency Operations Center (EOe) and establishing a command center at the
City of Seward, Alaska
May 14. 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Pa~e 358
...
Alaska Railroad dock area. Many players were in Seward to participate such as the
military, the FBI, and Homeland Security personnel.
)0> A VTEC Lease. The final draft lease for the fire training center would be sent to the
Department of Administration tomorrow, May 15, 2007.
)0> Long Term Care Facility. Oates reiterated the bonds had been approved and they
were not site specific. Since the prior land purchase had expired in January, and
because of a myriad of other issues that had surfaced, he asked the council to
consider holding a work session to discuss these issues in the near future.
Oates stated the cruise ship head tax bill was still in Senate Judiciary awaiting further action.
He noted the Senior Citizen Center elevator and shaft should be operational in approximately four
weeks, with a change order coming to the next agenda. Oates also informed the water and sewer
lines in the harbor were being installed and bathroom construction should begin within a week, the
land use amendment for a rezone of the property for the Library/Museum was going before the
Planning & Zoning Commission, the city website was being constructed and should go public in
June, and Quality Asphalt Paving (QAP) was still on schedule for completing the paving project by
Saturday, May 19, 2007.
Oates also looked into the $15 customer service charge on utility bills and reported it was the
cost of providing electrical service such as repairs, meter reading, and accounting costs. He was
considering changing the name to better reflect its purpose.
...
Oates also explained the reasons he pulled the two public hearings on property purchase for
the levee project was because he found out the appraisals were not completed and had just been
ordered by his predecessor. He felt these agreements and all the right-of-way issues needed to be
resolved together and brought back at a later time.
City Attorney's Report. Cheryl Brooking stated her report ran from May 20, 2007 through
last week. They worked on the usual general matters of assisting with the drafting of documents.
She reported the preliminary approval of the Washington Street replat by the Kenai Peninsula
Borough Platting Commission was appealed and heard by the Board of Adjustment on April 12,
2007. The plat approval was upheld. She explained briefs were being exchanged in the Supreme
court case for the Washington Street vacation and the Egger Clearview case was resolved on April
23,2007. Judgment was entered in favorofthe city and the city maintained the right to access from
the South and East of the Clearview lot. Brooking stated the Clean Water Act litigation had seen
little activity with summary judgment motions being filed in early June.
In response to questions, Brooking reported the Supreme Court gave Ace Hardware ten days
to appeal the original administrative decision to the Planning & Zoning Commission. A variance
was sought and denied years ago, but the court believed he should have the right to appeal the
attachment of the canopy to the structure. She also stated the State Department of Transportation
policies had changed in recent years, and that was probably why they would not allow the school sign
in the state right-of-way (ROW).
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Seward Port and Commerce Advisory Board Report. Chairperson Deborah Altermatt
stated P ACAB met May 2, 2007 for a regular meeting, and was pleased to have the new city manager
City of Seward, Alaska
May 14, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Pa~e 359
attend and introduce himself. It was the first meeting without their executive liaison Christy Terry,
and they missed her and thanked her for her service. P ACAB passed a resolution to continue looking
at the Andy Baker hydro tunnel project and notified it should be coming to the council agenda soon.
Altermatt stated changing how harbor fees were paid was discussed. The Board would also be
working on economic development with the Chamber Board.
,
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PUBLIC HEARINGS
Resolution Requiring a Public Hearing
Resolution 2007-047. authoriziog the eity manager to proeeell with the ael:}uisition of8.93 aeres
of lanll, Forest ,\eres Sublliyisioo lots D8, DC, DE, DF, DC, QQ aoll traet 4, aoll
apIJroIJriaHng fllnlls for the future Forest .AAeres Le";eelRoall at the aIJIJraisell value. (This
resolution was pulled from the agenda by the administration)
Resolution 2007-048. authorizing the eity maoager to IJroeeell with the ael:}uisitioo of 1.69 aeres
of laD II, Forest .AAeres Sublli',ision lots SS aoll RR, aoll apIJroIJriating funlls for the future
Forest Aeres Le'leelRoallat the aIJpraisell value. (This resolution was pulled from the agenda by
the administration)
Resolution 2007-049. setting the mill rate unchanged at 3.12. Notice of the public hearing being
posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one I
appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed ....;
Oates stated the city council had historically set the mill rate during the budget process in the
fall, but potential generation of revenues through service fees to potentially offer property tax relief
did not get pursued because of the change in city managers. Oates felt it appropriate to re-establish
the same mill rate as last year and recommended approval.
Motion (Thomas/Dunham)
Approve Resolution 2007-049
Motion Passed
Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
Resolution 2007-050. amending resolution 2006-028 regarding authorization to issue Long
Term Care Facility revenue bonds of the city in the principal amount of not to exceed
$27,000,000.
Oates stated there were two primary reasons for this amendment. The bond bank wanted to
confirm the city council's intent to use the existing I % hospital sales tax, and to also confirm that
any future parity bonds would not be issued without prior consent from the Alaska Municipal Bond
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City of Seward. Alaska
May 14, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Paf?,e 360
bank. Both Oates and the Municipal Bond Bank understood you could not commit future council's
to this budget decision, but requested the good faith intent.
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Motion (Thomas/Amberg)
Approve Resolution 2007-050
Motion Passed
Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
City Clerk Jean Lewis asked council to discuss whether to extend the annual business license
renewal deadline for seasonal businesses from April! to May 1.
Unanimous consent was received to bring forth an ordinance change.
By unanimous consent, council decided to send a draft letter ofsupport to the Alaska Scientific
Crime Detection Laboratory for continued DNA funding.
A field trip to visit SMIC area was scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at 4:30 p.m.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
January through April 2007 legal budget reports.
....
Letter of congratulations from Governor Palin and recognition certificate listing Hoben Park
on the National Register of Historic Places.
January through March 2007 city financial reports were produced as a laydown at this
meeting.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Amberg said it was nice to come back to town and see the roads paved. She thanked Paul
Carter and the Chamber for their efforts to bring Princess Tours back to town.
Schafer stated he called in the fire at the dump and commended the fire department for their
effort and dedication when vandals started the fire. He too thought the streets looked nice and stated
his car couldn't find any potholes!
Thomas liked the hard copy of Oates' reports. He also thought the Fire Department did a
great job. Thomas stated we lived in a fantastic community that outreaches to people that need help.
He had received numerous reports of pleasure for City Manager Oates' attendance at Board and
Commission meetings.
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Valdatta wanted to mention Magistrate George Peck was the first individual that originally
started kayaking in Resurrection Bay, and wanted him recognized for that.
City of Seward, Alaska
May 14, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Pa1{e 361
Dunham agreed Magistrate Peck was the original kayaker. He congratulated QAP for their
quick paving this year, the Super Saturday clean-up crews, the military and Northern Edge, and
welcomed the Kayak Symposium back after ten years. He mentioned that high school graduation
was May 23, 2007 and voiced opposition to doing away with the awards ceremony for it. He
wondered why Exit Glacier Road was still closed and wanted striping completed quickly and
crosswalks on Third Avenue.
....I
Mayor Shafer testified on Senate bill 168 which was the cruise ship head tax bill. She
mentioned the argument was that the initiative writers wanted the head tax in addition to the $50 tax.
Some communities wanted it to be a deduction so they would not have to apply individually every
year from the state for those funds, thus making it difficult to bond. Shafer wanted to put up a
welcome banner for the military and the combat fishing tournament participants. She thanked QAP
for their quick job paving the streets this month, and welcomed City Manager Oates and thanked him
for hitting the ground running.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS
Kevin Clark stated the Planning & Zoning Commission would be looking at SMIC and
requested any comments from the council after their field trip be submitted to the Commission. He
questioned the $15 service charge fee for utilities, and thought residential and commercial customers
should be charged the same flat fee.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS
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ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Jean
City
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Vanta Shafer I
Mayor
(City Seal)
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