HomeMy WebLinkAbout11102014 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
November 10, 2014 Volume 39, Page 438
CALL TO ORDER
The November 10, 2014 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Vice Mayor Marianna Keil.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Marianna Keil presiding and
Ristine Casagranda Christy Terry
David Squires Dale Butts
Iris Darling
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Will Earnhart, City Attorney
Absent—Bardarson
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Lynda Paquette said there had not been any hydrogen sulfide fumes at the Lowell Point
Sewage Lagoon for some time,but there were still other odors coming from the lagoon. She wanted
to be sure that just because the city contracted someone to do the work to dredge the sewage lagoon,
that work to remediate odors in the meantime continued. Paquette stated the Alaska Department of
Environmental Conservation(DEC)informed her that sludge being removed would be taken to the
Central Peninsula Landfill.No permits had been applied for to move the material anywhere for use
such as for fertilizing, she was told.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion (Terry/Darling) Approval of Agenda
The following items were added to the agenda under New Business:
Schedule a Work Session to discuss recommendations from the Electric Rate Study.
Schedule an evaluation for the City Manager.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
November 10, 2014 Volume 39, Page 439
Motion Passed Unanimous
SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Memoriam Proclamation for former Police Chief Tom Walker.
Borough Assembly Report. Sue McClure stated the assembly had their last meeting on
October 28,2014,which was their post-election organizational meeting.Dale Bagley was selected as
Assembly President and McClure was selected as the Vice President. McClure stated she would
continue to be the Policies and Procedures Chair. The assembly would have training on November
25,2014 on how to vote using their individual tablets.They would soon be streaming their meetings
online.The assembly was doing a lot of end of the year business,such as accepting state monies and
community revenue sharing funds.Most of the assembly would be attending the Alaska Municipal
League and Newly Elected Officials training November 17-21,2014.McClure reminded the public
and council there was still one seat vacant on the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Advisory Board.
City Manager's Report. City Manager Jim Hunt stated the following purchase order
between$10,000 and $50,000 was approved since the last council meeting: $28,560 to CMI for a
hydraulic snowplow wing for the grader.
In the Harbor Department, one of the Raibow short term leases at the Seward Marine
Industrial Center (SMIC) expired. The business owner was notified that until the terms of the
contract were met, no extended agreement would be offered. There were two issues currently:
boundary encroachments and a required storm water permit. The Port and Commerce Advisory
Board was finishing up revisions to the Small Boat Harbor Plan and it would come before council
soon.
The Electric Department announced Chugach Electric Association would be conducting a
black start generation test on their service portion of the Kenai Peninsula on November 19, 2014.
City of Seward customers should not be affected. In Public Works, a fence was installed at the
Lowell Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in preparation for dredging this spring and the
permitting application process was proceeding. Street Foreman Rex Davis would be retiring at the
end of November after 31 years of employment at the city. A retirement luncheon at Peking was
planned for him.
The Seward Community Library Museum would hold it's first annual end-of-the-season
Open House/Celebrate the Season on November 15, 2014. This event was sponsored by Library
Museum,the Seward Community Library Association,the Resurrection Bay Historical Society,and
the City of Seward.Library Museum Director Kingsland joined both the Alaska Library Association
and Museums Alaska Advocacy Committees and attended a statewide library director training in
Girdwood for the larger public libraries in Alaska.
Parks and Recreation Director Karin Sturdy stated the department evacuated the Teen and
Youth Center/Senior Citizens building due to suspicious odors,which was determined to be propane
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City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
November 10, 2014 Volume 39, Page 440
in a stove in the Senior Citizen area. Staff took care of teens and the Senior Center was contacted.
Sturdy noted the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Seward Fire Department were
remarkable volunteers.
In response to Terry,Assistant City Manager Ron Long stated he recently attended Alaska
Industry Development and Export Authority(AIDEA)meetings in regards to the price to prepare the
master development plan for SMIC. The price was concerning, but Long thought AIDEA would
likely help with this cost.
In response to Darling, Long stated he thought the contractor to dredge the Lowell Point
Sewage Lagoon had applied for the land use permit. He would get that confirmed, and if it had not
yet happened, administration would request they apply for it.
City Attorney's Report. Will Earnhart stated the bond refinancing went well in Seattle.
Personnel matters seemed to be quieting down, they intended to look at the grievance procedure
process to make it in line with other communities. They were making progress on a long-term land
issue with the state and the railroad. Emhart was working with the Police Chief to get title 11 in
conformity with the state.
Keil announced she,Darling,Squires,Casagranda,and Butts would be attending the Alaska
Municipal League(AML)Conference next week.The mayor requested the group spread out over the
different seminars to obtain as much information as possible.
Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations
Quarterly Report of the Seward Recreation Committee by Staff Member Karin Sturdy.
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Other New Business Items
Schedule a Work Session to discuss recommendations from the Electric Rate Study. Council
scheduled this work session for Monday, December 8, 2014 at 5:30 p.m.
Schedule an evaluation for the City Manager.A special meeting was scheduled for December 4,
2014 at 6:00 p.m. Council Member Terry was selected to collect and tally up the evaluations. She
requested they be turned into her no later than December 1, 2014.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS -None
COUNCIL COMMENTS
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
November 10, 2014 Volume 39, Page 441
Terry stated there was the open house at the Library Museum on November 15,2014,as well
as the Energy Fair. She wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
Butts sent his condolences to the Walker family and the family of Clif Simons.He thanked
everyone who voted in the General Election on November 4, 2014. He wished everyone a happy
Veterans Day tomorrow. Butts announced the Alaska SeaLife Center had started their free winter
Wednesdays for residents. He planned to attend the Alaska Arctic Policy Commission meeting
November 17-18, 2014 which was prior to the AML conference.
Casagranda wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. She would also be attending AML
next week. She thanked Paquette for the Lowell Point updates. Casagranda hoped the council took
actions on items and issues that were for the better of the majority of the citizens.
Squires expressed sympathies to the Walker and Simons families. The Seward Fire
Department was participating in the "Movember" fundraising movement to raise funds and
awareness for men's health.The Police and Fire Departments were participating in this event.They
had raised$300 so far. Squires announced he would be willing to shave his moustache if they could
raise$1,000 in addition to what they had already raised,and the Police Chief would do the same if an
additional $1,000 was raised.
Darling thanked Lynda Paquette in keeping council apprised of the issues at Lowell Point.
She reminded the public that a lot of businesses were open downtown throughout the winter.
Keil congratulated Davis on his retirement and thanked Parks and Recreation on their
successful Halloween Carnival. She announced she would donate $50 to Squires' moustache, and
$50 to Clemons' moustache.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Lynda Paquette said she had spoken to the council many times about various issues in
Seward. At the council's October 13, 2014 meeting,they took on a contentious subject and didn't
invite both sides of the issue. The state and the city voted in favor of Ballot Measure 2, which
council voted to oppose. Messages that were sent to the public from the city were confusing
sometimes. She felt there were underriding feelings to just be quiet. The city website and charter
don't convey any heart to her. There was a lot listed,but there was no love or caring behind it. She
hoped there would be some positive change coming forward.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Squires stated he opposed Ballot Measure 2 because the problems he saw the city would face
for enforcement and personnel issues.The vote of the people wanted Ballot Measure 2,and it would
become law.He hoped the council would have conversations with the borough and other cities in the
borough to make sure they were all on the same page on how to proceed ahead. Squires said the lack
of maintenance on infrastructure were budgetary items done throughout the years. He thought the
city needed to stop getting new things and start taking care of old things.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
November 10, 2014 Volume 39,Page 442
Darling thanked Paquette for her comments and input.She encouraged people to come to the
council meetings.
Keil said Legislator Wes Keller was proposing legislation that would ban marijuana sales
within a distance of schools, churches, and parks. She thanked Paquette for her comments.
Long said the ballot measure proposed law that would make it possible to not allow the sale
of marijuana in a community, but not the other rights such as recreational use. He stated the first
meeting of the Airport Work Group would be November 19, 2014.
Hunt said Seward's Charter and City Code was a framework for municipal incorporation.It
was not intended to be caring and was very cut and dry. Regarding Ballot Measure 2,Hunt stated it
was not the council's responsibility to invite pro or con speakers on issues. The opposition to the
measure had every right to show up and they did. There were also other events in town on this issue
as well, arguing both sides. Hunt gave his condolences to the families of those that passed in the
community recently. He thanked council for their service.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 7:58 p.m.
Jo anna Ki 117 MC , M ianna Keil
i i Clerk Vice Mayor
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