HomeMy WebLinkAbout05292018 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29,2018 Volume 39,Page 437
CALL TO ORDER
The May 29, 2018 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor David Squires.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
David Squires presiding and
Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda
Sue McClure Erik Slater
Suzanne Towsley Jeremy Horn
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Brenda Ballow, City Clerk
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Carol Griswold wanted to speak out regarding Resolution 2018-047. A stable city
administration was necessary for the success of the city; Griswold believed that the current city
manager was unable to stabilize the employee base. She was concerned with the city manager's
unprofessional behavior and thought there was too much stress and drama.
Thomas Blaine Sears wished to address two resolutions. On Resolution 2018-047, he
echoed Griswold's comments and thought the city employees voting to unionize spoke volumes
about the city's leadership. On Resolution 2018-049, he wondered where the funds were coming
from to support the animal shelter, and thought they appeared to be electric funds.
Sharyl Seese agreed with Griswold,but was more concerned with the electric funds being
used for the animal shelter;she supported having a new animal shelter,and believed there should be
fundraisers and grants for the animal shelter instead.
Melody Jordan echoed the former citizens' sentiments and opposed Resolution 2018-047.
She said the Mermaid Festival was amazing and commended the organizers. Jordan opposed
Resolution 2018-049, as well,relative to electric funds being used for that purpose.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39,Page 438
Kim Kowalski-Rogers supported Resolution 2018-047 because she worked directly with the
city manager and thought he was extremely easy to work with,fair,and outgoing;he had made many
improvements for the city. She thought the divisiveness within the city wasn't the city manager's
doing.
Jane Belovarhe supported Resolution 2018-049.The animal shelter was a municipal service,
and it was great that the city was demonstrating support; this would enable them to pursue more
grant funds.
Jeremy Rogers supported Resolution 2018-047 and thought there had been big
improvements made across the city. Rogers thought the city manager had brought in an
unprecedented amount of money to the city.In today's world of social media,the online community
could easily rally and appear to be a larger group. In any city, there were always human resource
issues.
Kelley Wiley Lane said she had suffered psychological damage related to her former
employment with the city. Lane didn't have a problem with administration; she had attempted to
meet with the city manager several times,but had always been turned away.This much discord was
not good for the city's future. Lane agreed with Kowalski-Rogers that the hate mongering had to
stop.
Iris Darling appreciated Seward and its residents. She thought Hunt had been a real asset to
Seward,and was a good Public Relations man.But,Darling said,he was not a leader;the city needed
an administrator. She didn't believe the city needed a union,but instead needed to lead itself; she
agreed with Griswold. Darling thanked Hunt for all the things he had done for Seward.
Michael Mahmood wished to echo Griswold's comments.
Reed Lane thought the citizens wished to see a change in what administration was in control
of, and not what council was in control of; he thought it was evident in the repetitive visits of
unhappy citizens that they wished to see a change in administration.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion(Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Casagranda removed Resolution 2018-049 from the consent agenda.
Casagranda added Resolution 2018-051 to the consent agenda.
Keil pulled Resolution 2018-047 from the agenda.
Towsley added an item to Other New Business to schedule an executive session to give direction to
the city manager to negotiate the union contract with the Alaska Public Employees Association
(APEA).
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39, Page 439
Squires added an item to Other New Business to accept the letter of resignation from Council
Member Erik Slater.
Casagranda added an item to Other New Business to discuss the 50`1'Anniversary Celebration with
Sister City Obihiro.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2018-048, Authorizing The City Manager To Accept Grant Funds From The
Alaska Division Of Homeland Security And Emergency Management In The Amount Of
$10,725.00 For Purchase Of Communications Equipment For Emergency Operations And
Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2018-051, Establishing A Process And Setting Fees To Reserve A Cemetery Plot
In City Cemeteries.
Resolution 2018-052, Accepting A Grant In The Amount Of $5,000 From The Seward
Community Foundation, And Appropriating Funds.
Approval of the May 14, 2018 Regular Meeting Minutes.
Appointing Fred Woelkers to the Historic Preservation Commission with a term to expire
May, 2021.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Historic Preservation Awards for Laura Erickson,John French,Wadeen Hepworth,
and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Recognizing Staff Sergeant Carey Quiring as Spring Creek Correctional Center
Employee of the Year.
Recognizing Jeff Estes for his Retirement from the City of Seward.
Chamber of Commerce Report. Cindy Clock congratulated Emmalee Moore as the
winner of the Silver Salmon Derby scholarship for study in marine biology. This year's July 4th
parade theme would be"Save Our Seas". The chamber would be having an open house on June 8,
2018 directly following the membership luncheon. The Halibut Tournament would be in June,
2018;check the website at halibut.seward.com.The Alaska Division of Insurance was looking for
survey participants from small businesses. Clock would attend June 5,2018 assembly meeting to
advocate for KPTMC funding; she wished to see Seward's assembly representative Kenn
Carpenter vote in favor of providing funding. Mount Marathon Race volunteers were needed and
sign up was on the chamber's website.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39,Page 440
City Manager Report.Jim Hunt stated the following purchase orders between$10,000 and
$50,000 had been approved by the city manager since the last meeting: $60,400 to AVTEC for the
2018 rental of the Student Services Center; and, $92,478.40 to National Metering for meter
installation and support.
Hunt thanked the city employees for their hard work and responsiveness in dealing with the
recent burst of tourist activities. Regarding an update on the Teen Rec Room, Hunt provided a
laydown.At the Seward Marine Industrial Center(SMIC),Hunt reported that they were lifting boats
with the 330 Ton Syncrolift that they had never before been able to lift.
In response to Hunt, Keil said she submitted a letter written by Finance Director Kris
Erchinger with the request that it be included as a laydown.
Casagranda noted that she was told that Melody Jordan had sent an email to council today,
but Casagranda had not received it;she requested that the city manager have MIS look into why that
did not go through.Casagranda added that Maya Moriarty had also mentioned that she sent an email
that Casagranda had not received. Keil stated she received Moriarty's,but not Jordan's.
Casagranda wished to ensure that the easements for water, electric and sewer for the 408
Madison property had been properly disclosed to the bidder.In response to Squires,Hunt explained
that the Silver Jackets mentioned in his report were a group of trained emergency responders,
specializing in various disaster areas. In response to Squires,Hunt said a status report on US Army
Corps of Engineers work on the Lowell Canyon Tunnel was currently in Washington DC being
reviewed.In response to Towsley regarding signs on Lowell Point Road asking drivers to yield to the
water side traffic,Hunt said Public Works Director Doug Schoessler was currently reviewing signage
regulations.In response to Casagranda,Hunt said the state had not yet provided a date for when they
would finalize the budget, and the city's final audit report would be delayed until that happened.
Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations
Sustainable Seward Presentation by Micheley Kowalski and Lori Landstrom
Providence Seward Medical& Care Center Mid-Year Report by Joe Fong
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None
NEW BUSINESS
Rcsol..tion 2018 AA^l A.........ing A ...1.. ent No G To The G'mplo.,.. ent Contract ith The
f ,
Resolution 2018-047 was pulled from the agenda.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39,Page 441
Resolution 2018-049, Authorizing Creation Of The Animal Shelter Relocation Fund And
Appropriating Start-Up Funds.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2018-049
Hunt said,in past years,the Chugach Electric Association(CEA)credits had been applied in
the best and broadest way to the city's infrastructure; rather than applying these funds thinly,
administration considered how the funds could be used with a great impact.Additional funds would
be required for the animal shelter, and the city would have to keep working on this,but this was a
start.
In response to McClure,Keil confirmed that CEA credits had been used for a variety of uses
in the past,such as the Jon Perry softball field,by a vote of council. Hunt added that the utilities at
SMIC had been installed using CEA funds.
Council suspended the rules to allow Mark Lutrell to speak.
Mark Lutrell was the President of SOS Pets, and as a 501 (c) 3 group, SOS Pets was
interested in working with the city on this project.
Council went back on the rules.
Motion to Postpone (Casagranda/Towsley) Postpone Resolution 2018-049 to the June 11,
2018 meeting.
Motion to Postpone Failed Yes: Towsley,Casagranda
No: Slater, Keil,McClure,Horn, Squires
Motion to Amend (Casagranda/Towsley) Amend Resolution 2018-049 by striking the
5th Whereas.
Motion to Amend Withdrawn
Motion to Amend (Casagranda/Towsley) Amend Resolution 2018-049 by adding a
sentence to the last Whereas that reads,
"The Seward Electric Utility will contribute
2017 credits towards the animal shelter."
Council recessed at 8:54 p.m.
Council resumed at 8:55 p.m.
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Casagranda stated that she had observed the work that SOS Pets had done for many years,
and would support this resolution, but did not wish to see a consultant be put in charge of this
project.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29,2018 Volume 39,Page 442
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2018-050, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With
Dryden And LaRue Engineering Services For Engineering Support While The Electric
Department Transitions To New Employees And Appropriating Funds.
Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2018-050
Electric Utility Manager John Foutz said it had taken nearly a year to find a suitable
operations manager. On May 1, 2018, a new employee was hired, but that only provided the new
employee one month to train with the retiring employee.This resolution would allow the department
to have the support it needed until the new employee was properly trained.
In response to Keil,Foutz said the regulations for the Public Employees Retirement System
(PERS) would not allow any contact with the retiring employee for six months after retirement,
making the possibility of contracting Jeff Estes an impossibility.
Motion Passed Yes: McClure,Towsley,Keil,Slater,Horn,
Squires
No: Casagranda
Other New Business
Direct the city manager to coordinate with the Division of Community and Regional Affairs
(DCRA) to schedule a review of administration and personnel by a Local Government
Specialist. (Towsley)
Towsley brought this forward as a follow-up to the May 14,2018 work session discussions.
Direct the city clerk to coordinate with the Division of Community and Regional Affairs
(DCRA)to schedule a review of city council by a Local Government Specialist. (Towsley)
Council directed the city manager to contact the DCRA to schedule a visit,combining both requests
into one review.
Schedule executive session to provide direction to the city manager about negotiating a
contract with APEA.
Council scheduled the executive session on June 11, 2018.
Accept the letter of resignation from Council Member Erik Slater.
Motion to Accept Resignation (Casagranda/Towsley)Accept the letter of resignation from
Council Member Erik Slater.
Motion Passed Yes: Towsley,Horn,McClure, Slater,
Casagranda
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39,Page 443
No: Keil,Squires
Council directed the city clerk to advertise for the council vacancy and bring forward the candidates
at the June 25, 2018 meeting.
Discuss the 50th Anniversary of the Sister City relationship with Obihiro,Japan.
Casagranda reported that the planning committee met and was proposing a community pot
luck event at the Seward Community Library,as well as on the lawn at the Sea Treasures Inn.Slater
added that he would ask the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute(ASMI)for a donation of seafood,
and that he would remain as part of the planning committee for this event even though he was
resigning from council.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
On-Going City Projects and Goals.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Keil reported that she would be gone from June 1-11,2018,and would not be available for
June 11, 2018 work session that she had requested.
By unanimous consent council cancelled June 11 work session and would reschedule it.
Keil continued by saying she would miss Slater. She was excited by the progress of the
animal shelter.
Casagranda joked that she was happy to see Slater go. She looked forward to receiving
information about the 408 Madison property,and was still waiting for a response about whether the
campgrounds were ERU. She thanked the electric rate payers for supporting the animal shelter.
McClure congratulated Jeff Estes on his retirement.On June 3,2018 at 1:30 p.m.at Branson
Pavilion, there would be a celebration of Iditarod Trail 50th Anniversary and 40th Anniversary of
National Trails Day. She had visited the American Legion Memorial Day service at the cemetery
and was thought the condition of the Legion cemetery was great. Regarding Resolution 2018-047,
McClure had spoken with many people on both sides of the issue, and she hoped that pulling the
resolution would be a sign of the community coming together.
Slater said Mermaid Festival was awesome. He said that being on council had taught him a
lot,allowed him to meet a lot of new people,and had given him a new perspective about the city.He
had come to appreciate the town even more. Slater said there were a lot of people who were very
passionate about this town, and reminded everyone that we lived in a town where people held the
post office door open for each other.
Towsley volunteered at the Combat Fishing Tournament last week through the American
Legion;about 200 veteran fishermen had attended.She was happy that the animal shelter project was
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
Tuesday,May 29, 2018 Volume 39,Page 444
moving forward.Towsley thanked the public for speaking tonight. She congratulated Jeff Estes on
his retirement, and thanked Slater for his service.
Horn thanked Slater for his service. He enjoyed the Sustainable Seward presentation, and
hoped the city became greener. He gave a huge shout out to the city for helping make the Mermaid
Festival so successful.
Squires congratulated Jeff Estes on his retirement.He also congratulated SSgt Carey Quiring,
and recalled when she started at Spring Creek.Squires thanked Fred Woelkers for stepping up on the
Historic Preservation Commission again. He was pleased with the animal shelter action tonight.
Squires thanked Slater for his insight and desire to serve the community. Squires hoped that the
community understood that there were a number of high dollar projects in the city which impacted
residents, and that it was necessary to remain focused. At his next meeting with the city manager,
Squires wished to invite Casagranda to attend with him.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Electric Utility Manager John Foutz thanked Jeff Estes for his mentorship and his years of
service.
Lynda Paquette spoke on behalf of the Lowell Point community.Regarding the three studies
that had been conducted by ML Foster on the sewage lagoon, she wondered about the status on
council receiving those reports.Also,regarding Lowell Point Road,there was a meeting on April 12,
2018 that had been hosted by the park service to try to resolve the ownership of the road. Paquette
believed that if the ownership of the road could be determined,then grant monies could be pursued.
According to the traffic report,Lowell Point Road was the second most heavily traveled road,behind
the Seward Highway.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Squires requested that Paquette share the documents she had from ML Foster,because he had
not received them.
Hunt said Lowell Point Road belonged to the Department of Natural Resources(DNR)and
there was a right of way granted to the city which allowed for an easement for utilities.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:48 p.m.
A.,„, ,
Brenda J. Ballo +�41 40'4.,, Davi uires
•'��City Clerk �. ® "*Iji'Ab, Mayor
•
(City Seal, 0 --= t
: • SEAL mr
Fjt' !
_ f
• 04