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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11092020 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes November 9, 2020 Volume 41, Page 309 CALL TO ORDER The November 9, 2020 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Christy Terry. OPENING CEREMONY Lieutenant Alan Nickell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Christy Terry presiding and Sue McClure Tony Baclaan John Osenga Liz DeMoss Sharyl Seese Ristine Casagranda (telephonically) comprising a quorum of the Council; and Norm Regis, Acting City Manager Stephen Sowell, Assistant City Manager Jessica Stallard, Acting City Clerk Excused—None Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Terry postponed Resolution 2020-083 to the November 23, 2020 council meeting. Terry added Resolution 2020-087 to the consent agenda. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2020-087,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase 2020 Chevrolet I-Ton 4x4 Truck From Alaska Sales And Service,And Accessory Equipment,To Replace A 2004 Dodge L. 3/4 Ton Truck, For A Total Amount Of$48,743.63, And Appropriating Funds. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes November 9, 2020 Volume 41, Page 310 Resolution 2020-088,Authorizing The Seward Police Department To Accept Grant Funds As Reimbursement For Personal Protective Equipment(PPE)And Professional Sanitization Of The Seward Community Jail From The Alaska Department Of Public Safety FY 2020 Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Funding Program In The Amount Of$1,607.27,And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2020-089,Accepting Grant Funds From The Alaska State Library For The Public Library Assistance Grant In The Amount Of$7,000, And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2020-090,Authorizing Signatures For All City Bank Accounts And Rescinding All Previous Resolutions In Conflict Herewith. Resolution 2020-091, Appointing Harbormaster Norm Regis As Acting City Manager Beginning October 27,2020 And Ending December 15,2020,With The Option To Extend As Necessary. Approval of the October 26, 2020 Regular Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards—None Kenn Carpenter did not provide a report. City Manager Report.Acting City Manager Norm Regis reported the following purchase orders between $5,000 and $50,000 had been approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting: $6,680 to Electric for Ft. Raymond& Lawing troubleshooting&SMIC planning;$11,550 to Electric for Basler DECS-250 voltage regulators;$7,900 to Electric for large streetlights;$11,560 to Public Works for Loader #116 repair; $10,500 to Administration for city-wide job description update (approx. 70) to coincide with wage study; $13,300 to Public Works for Flood response: Lowell Point Rd. clearing, rockslide, and waterfall; and $5,800 to Library for LED lighting conversion. Regis said the Planning and Zoning Commission would be holding a work session on November 17, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss the Jesse Lee Home. Community Development will be sending out a survey through the clerk's office this week, as well as instructions on how to participate in the work session. The Boys and Girls Club will be hosting a virtual online auction on Saturday, November 14, 2020. Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell recommended that council hold off on contracting with GovHR to recruit a Finance Director for a month. Applications had been received from two qualified applicants since the job description was changed for the Finance Director position. In response to McClure, Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said a notice for winter parking would be in the City Manager Report for the November 23, 2020 meeting. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes November 9,2020 Volume 41,Page 311 In response to Baclaan, Regis said GovHR would be looking for a permanent city manager but not a Finance Director at this time.Terry said GovHR provided council with a job description for the city manager, an ad source list, and a timeline for hiring a permanent city manager. Council created a committee consisting of Mayor Terry, and Council Members DeMoss and Casagranda to review the documents provided by GovHR for recruiting a permanent city manager; Council Member McClure will be an alternate. In response to Terry, Regis said the Police Chief position would be advertised starting November 10, 2020 and applications for this position would be sent to Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell. In response to DeMoss,Terry said Lieutenant Nickell was serving as the Acting Police Chief. In response to Osenga, Regis said it was illegal for council to approve the Police Chief position.Terry strongly disagreed;she said council hiring the Police Chief was legal and allowed in the City Code. Other Reports and Announcements Port & Commerce Advisory Board (PACAB) Annual Report by Chair Laura Schneider. Chair Laura Schneider said the Climate Action Plan committee would be having a reorganization meeting on November 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. This meeting would be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Zoom. The board would be bringing forward an updated resolution to council on the heat pump rebate program.Three board members were registered to attend the virtual Alaska Municipal League(AML)conference. The board will be hosting an energy workshop later this year. In response to Terry, Schneider said the board would be revisiting the high vessel tax next year and keeping this topic on their priorities list. Planning&Zoning Commission(P&Z)Annual Report.Vice Chair Tom Swann said the commission's main focus for the beginning of 2020 was reviewing the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. Three meetings were missed due to COVID and meetings resumed in June, 2020. The commission worked with the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board on waterfront revitalization and sediment management at Japanese Creek. The commission held their first joint work session with the Historic Preservation Commission on November 3, 2020 on the Downtown Historic District.Planning&Zoning approved one variance,three conditional use permits,and land use and zoning amendments this year. The commission brought forward one code change for the Communications Towers and a resolution renaming Rush Loop to Dunham Drive. In response to McClure, Swann said there was one vacancy on the commission. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes November 9, 2020 Volume 41,Page 312 In response to Baclaan,Swann said sediment could be moved down to the beach with proper permitting.Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said there was a cost associated with moving sediment and Public Works partners with other entities to move it. In response to Terry,Swann said the November 17,2020 work session topic was discussing options for the Jesse Lee Home property. Presentations—None PUBLIC HEARINGS—None NEW BUSINESS Other New Business Items Schedule a work session with US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Lowell Canyon Feasibility Study. The work session with the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Lowell Canyon Feasibility Study was scheduled on December 7, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Discuss Port & Commerce Advisory Board recommendation for reporting on Interconnect Policy. 111 Council directed the Acting City Manager to provide periodic updates on the Interconnect Policy Implementation. Schedule a work session to review and discuss the Water & Sewer Rate Study results. Training sessions to discuss the water and sewer rate study results with Public Works Director Doug Schoessler were scheduled on November 12, 2020. The work session to review and discuss the water and sewer rate study results was scheduled on December 9, 2020 at 5:30 p.m. Discuss safety on the Seward Highway—Turnagain Pass Plowing Initiative. Council directed the Acting City Manager to sign the initiative seeking expanded plowing services in Turnagain Arm. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS City Clerk's Report on Public Records Requests through November 3, 2020. CITIZEN COMMENTS—None City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes November 9, 2020 Volume 41,Page 313 111 COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS DeMoss said the Alaska Sealife Center was free on Thursdays for Alaska residents. She attended the joint work session with Planning and Zoning and the Historic Preservation Commission on November 3, 2020. She was excited to serve as the liaison for the Planning & Zoning Commission. She attended this week's Newly Elected Officials(NEO)virtual conference. Osenga thanked the Port&Commerce Advisory Board and Planning&Zoning Commission for their reports. He asked everyone to take care of themselves and others,wear masks, and social distance,because there are active COVID cases in Seward. Seese thanked everyone for their hard work. She was looking forward to the training on the water and sewer rates. Casagranda was approached by the author of the book,"Seward Sauerdough Kid",when she was out of state and asked to review his book. She strongly recommended this book. McClure thanked the boards and commissions for their reports. She was excited to move forward with council's projects. Baclaan thanked Sowell and Regis for their hard work. Small Business Start-Up Week was November 16-20,2020 and Shop Small Weekend was November 27-29,2020.The Climate Action Plan meeting was November 10, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. Terry encouraged everyone to reach out and volunteer this holiday season. She thanked the boards and commissions for their reports. She said in code, there was the ability for council to approve certain positions,such as the Finance Director,the Police Chief,and the Fire Chief.She did not want to see council going against the public's trust. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. 09..e44;r Jessica Stallard, CMC Christy T Acting City Clerk Mayor (City Seal. OF SEGV .,, s< ,q ice• ? t Q•; M r w • • SEAL ry • •1�� • ,t • • Ay ••• 4' �' 4tE OF�1A-r .``�4..