HomeMy WebLinkAbout09122016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 111
CALL TO ORDER
The September 12, 2016 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at
7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson.
OPENING CEREMONY
Lt. Doreen Valadez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Jean Bardarson presiding and
Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda
Dave Squires Dale Butts
Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Ron Long, Assistant City Manager '
Brenda Ballou, Acting City Clerk
Will Earnhart, City Attorney
Carol Kvasnikoff, Temporary Deputy City Clerk
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Luther Freeman wanted to know what the status of the AVTEC gym was and how much
longer it would be before a result was seen.He wanted to know when the public would be asked for
input, and if the gym would be re-opened to the public or not.
Tom Reimer also asked about the status of the AVTEC gym. He raised his kids in Seward
and they used the gym as a family as the children grew up.There had been programs held there that
his family had attended.He wanted to know if there would be a plan to re-open it for sure,and who
was responsible for making it happen.He wanted to know when the answers would be made public.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Butts removed the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District (KPEDD) Report from the
agenda.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 112
Bardarson added an item under Other New Business to schedule a Special Meeting.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Approval of the August 22,2016 Special Meeting and August 22,2016 Regular City Council
Meeting Minutes.
Appoint Mark Kansteiner, Patty Linville, Sue Faust, Gary Seese, and Jodi Nelson to the
Election Board for the October 4,2016 Municipal Election.
Appoint Dorothy Osenga, Susie Urbach, Jennifer Carr, and Kristi Larson to the Canvass
Board for the October 4,2016 Municipal Election.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards—None
City Manager Report. Assistant City Manager Ron Long reported there had been no
purchase orders between$10,000 and$50,000 since the last council meeting. Seward had received
over 4 inches of rain,and the airport runway had been closed this morning for a few hours.Long said
he had had further discussions with AVTEC about the gym and there would be room to find an111
agreement between Dan Repaskey at AVTEC and the city.Long said it was important to get as many
programs as possible reinstated under one roof and within the current budget. Long extended an
invitation for the public to attend the open house for the Comprehensive Plan on September 14,
2016. In response to McClure,Long confirmed that the Open House was set up to allow people to
come and go, and they did not have to stay for the entire three hours to provide their input.
Casagranda asked for clarification about the recent$12,000 contract with the bond attorney
for the harbor bond refunding that had come before council at the last meeting;she didn't recall that
it had been reported.Bardarson said administration had realized the oversight and had apologized to
her for not including it in the August 22,2016 City Manager Report.Regarding the Seward Marine
Industrial Center (SMIC) report, Long said weekly reporting may seem excessive, but it was a
helpful tool for the group to keep the project on track. Casagranda asked that current 2016-2017
budget information to be added to the city website.
McClure said Peninsula Paving would be in town to work on Old Exit Glacier Road, and
suggested that potholes inside the city could be addressed by consulting with them.Long confirmed
that potholes would be getting repaired with hot asphalt. Keil noticed that Lowell Point Road had
been fixed up and Long said they had staged materials nearby to keep it fixed up. Altermatt
appreciated the Parking Department for their report included in tonight's City Manager Report.
Butts asked for an update on the City Hall asbestos abatement and carpet replacement project.
Long said public and employee entrances to the building would shift according to the contractor's
needs.Utilities would be handled temporarily from council chambers;the project was proceeding on
City of Sewar4 Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 113
schedule.
Casagranda recalled that November, 2015 had been the last update from the Friends of the
Jesse Lee Home,and requested to have a new update. Long said council would have a report at the
next meeting. Squires requested to have an update on the Air Force Recreation Camp by the October
council meeting.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations —None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment
Ordinance 2016-006, Amending Seward City Code 15.25. Floodplain Management By
Adopting The October 20,2016 Revised Flood Insurance Rate Maps(FIRM)And The Flood
Insurance Study(FIS)As Established By Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA).
Motion (KeiUCasagranda) Enact Ordinance 2016-006
Long said this was necessary in order to remain compliant with federal regulations.
Notice of the 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
Motion Passed Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinances For Introduction
Ordinance 2016-007,Approving The Removal Of The Word Small From The Phrases Seward
Small Boat Harbor Or Small Boat Harbor Within The Seward City Code Title 7 Chapter 7.10.
Harbor And Port Facilities.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Introduce Ordinance 2016-007
Harbormaster Norm Regis said the harbor has expanded and can now easily accommodate
larger vessels,so using the term"small"could be potentially misleading to boat owners.At a recent
boat show out of state, Regis had heard from some people that they believed the harbor could not
accommodate larger vessels.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2016-055,Approving The Removal Of The Word Small From The Phrases Seward
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 114
Small Boat Harbor Or Small Boat Harbor Within The Seward Small Boat Harbor Plan.
Motion (KeiVCasagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-055
Regis said this change would be consistent with the ordinance that was just introduced. The
harbor wanted to entice larger vessels to come to Seward.
Motion to Postpone (McClure/Casagranda) Postpone Resolution 2016-055 to the
September 26, 2016 meeting.
McClure said she had other questions related to this resolution that she wanted to research.
Motion to Amend (McClure/Casagranda) Amend the postponement date for Resolution
2016-055 to the October 10, 2016 meeting.
Motion to Postpone Approved Unanimous
Resolution 2016-056, To Accept $1,479,060 From United States Department Of Agriculture,
Natural Resources Conservation Service Through The Environmental Watershed Protection
Program Grant And Allocate The Grant Funds And $690,228 From The Major Repair And
Replacement Fund To Hamilton Construction In A Sole Source Contract To Construct The
Engineered Revetment Plan To Deter The Imminent Deterioration Of The Bank Of Snow
River That Is Jeopardizing The Transmission Line, And Appropriating Funds.
Motion (KeiVCasagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-056
Long said this opportunity to obtain federal funds for this was very fortunate for the city,and
he credited lobbying efforts for positioning Seward to receive these funds.
Electric Utility Manager John Foutz said this was a critical project because if the
transmission line was not repaired in a timely manner it would be lost to the shifting riverbed and the
city would lose power for an extended period of time and would potentially not be able to recover
from a cost standpoint.Foutz said he approached Hamilton for this project because they were already
staged in the area working on the breakwater project, had experience in this type of work, and
because the city needed an estimate to include in the grant application. Because the riverbed had
already shifted since the initial estimate was performed, there was a 10% contingency included to
cover any additional rock necessary. Long added that Hamilton was also currently working in the
city's gravel pit and would be able to produce more rock as necessary.
Foutz said as of last Friday there was not a signed grant yet, but the resolution was written
such that the city was not financially committed to spend the money until the grant was received.In
response to Bardarson, Foutz said the grant funds would not cover any costs that had already been
spent.Foutz said the funds that had been spent to date had previously been appropriated through city
council in other recent resolutions.
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September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 115
Squires asked for a clarification in Hamilton's contract as to what Alaska DOT Size 3 rip rap
referred to. Long said that it was a standard reference to a rock size classification and did not mean
that the Alaska Department of Transportation was supplying any rock for this project.2,169,288 is
the total amount—the contingency is not included in the resolution.In the title of the Resolution...
Primary Motion to Amend (Squires/Casagranda)Amend Resolution 2016-056 by adding the
words, "and to assign a contract to
[Hamilton Construction]" in the title.
Earnhart concurred with the proposed amendment.
Secondary Motion to Amend (Casagranda/Keil) Amend Resolution 2016-056 by adding the
words, "Electric" before "Major Repair
And Replacement Fund" in the title.
Secondary Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Primary Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
In response to Casagranda, Foutz confirmed the project would be completed by the end of
this year so as not to allow the grant funds to expire.
In response to Butts, Foutz said the construction would take approximately 2-4 weeks,and
this would be considered Phase 1.This first phase was intended to hold up the ice dam for two years.
There was an Alaska Department of Transportation(ADOT)road project scheduled in this area for
2018. In response to Butts, Foutz said future funding for potential Phase 2 work was currently
undetermined at this time, and this particular grant was a one-time fund; other grants may be
available in the future.
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2016-057, Authorizing Advertising Expenditures In An Amount Not To Exceed
$750 To Provide Public Education Which Could Influence The Outcome Of An Election
Concerning A Ballot Measure Addressing The Issuance Of$3 Million General Obligation
Bonds To Plan,Design And Construct Road Improvements.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-057
Long said the city code, as well as state statute, said this passing this resolution was a
requirement in order to provide education about this ballot proposition. In response to Bardarson,
Long said these funds would come out of the general fund.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 116
Schedule a Special Meeting. Council scheduled a Special Meeting for the purpose of going into
Executive Session to discuss matters pertaining to threatened or pending litigation,and to discuss the
propriety of the public production of certain documents, and give direction to the city attorney in
regards to the confidentiality of evaluations of officers and other documents on Friday, September
16, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
Invitation to Public Open House to provide input on Seward's Comprehensive Plan.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Altermatt attended the Port And Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) meeting last week,
and noted it was interesting to attend as a citizen and not a board member. There was a large crowd
in attendance to address a letter written by a recreational boater towards the charter fishing
businesses that operated from the harbor. She thought it brought out the need for the harbor to
prepare better for multi-uses,with no preferential treatment given to one type of boater over another.
There was a need to have better co-habitation in the harbor, and better signage about noise and no
wake zones. She said October 5, 2016 would be the next PACAB meeting.
Butts said since June there had been a loss of six hours of daylight. He thanked the election
board and canvass board members for their service on the election and canvass boards.
Casagranda thanked everyone for speaking out about the AVTEC gym. She was excited and
hopeful that the gym would be reopened. She said when something came before council for
consideration,that was the time for the public to speak out.In response to Casagranda,Long said the
negotiations with the schools about using their gyms had been put on hold.Casagranda had concerns
about public records requests,saying she felt more and more pushback on record requests.Bardarson
concurred with Casagranda's request to have the city attorney provide a public records request
overview for council and the public. She encouraged everyone to come to Meet the Candidates
Night.
McClure was pleased with the AVTEC gym negotiations progress. The outpouring of the
public had had a real impact on the situation. The Iditarod Trailblazers would be having a Jujiro
Wada statue unveiling and dedication ceremony on Friday, September 23,2016 at 1:00 p.m. There
would be representatives from Japan in attendance, first and second graders would be making a
presentation, and the event would conclude with a reception at Zudy's Café.
Squires encouraged everyone to attend Meet the Candidates Night.He noted last week there
had been a walk to recognize Suicide Prevention Week;he didn't want to lose any more friends to
suicide. Squires said there had also been an appreciation picnic for First Responders which had been
well attended. He stated he would be out of state for the September 26, 2016 council meeting.
Keil thanked administration for working with AVTEC. She commended the great job that
had been done in response to the transmission line issue. Keil and Bardarson had visited the senior
center today; the seniors received them well and said they would come to the budget work sessions
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
September 12, 2016 Volume 40, Page 117
when council had them. Keil noted the Seward Music&Arts Festival was coming up at the end of
the month.
Bardarson thanked the city attorney for making himself available to attend the special
meeting/on September 16, 2016. Bardarson and Long had attended a meeting with USDA Rural
Development representatives. She encouraged people to attend the Comprehensive Plan Open
House, and she supported AVTEC recreational use.
Long said regarding the USDA visit,there were lots of programs available for businesses and
housing opportunities that had been discussed. He reminded everyone that winter was coming so
please clear the right of ways.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Luther Freeman was glad to hear the AVTEC contract was being renegotiated.The winter
was especially critical time,especially for special needs people and senior citizens.Also for young
families to have a place to go for their children to blow off steam.Freeman wanted to emphasize the
importance of having the services available for the community.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
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Brenda Ballou, CM Jan Bardarson
Acting City Clerk _ Mayor
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