HomeMy WebLinkAbout04262021 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41,Page 419
CALL TO ORDER
The April 26, 2021 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor Christy Terry.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Alan Nickell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Christy Terry presiding and
Tony Baclaan Sue McClure
Sharyl Seese John Osenga
Liz DeMoss Ristine Casagranda
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Norm Regis,Acting City Manager
Jessica Stallard, Acting City Clerk
Excused—None
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
The City of Seward is currently experiencing a declared public health emergency due to Coronavirus
Disease 2019(COVID-19), so alternate methods for providing Citizen Comments were created.
Unless otherwise noted, the following Citizen Comments were submitted in advance and read into
the record by the City Clerk:
Carol Griswold said(telephonically)that she was opposed to renaming Dairy Hill Lane to
Chamberlin Road. It did not meet the street naming and numbering system established in Council
Resolution 1985-10. She believed both names were appropriate as they honored history but Dairy
Hill Lane was more appropriate and helpful to emergency responders.
Harold Faust was opposed to renaming Dairy Hill Lane to Chamberlin Road. He said the
confusion caused by Dairy Hill Lane intersecting the highway at the north and turning into
Chamberlin Road above the lagoon could be addressed with signage.
Cheryl Seese was opposed to renaming Dairy Hill Lane to Chamberlin Road.She said Dairy
Hill held an important place in Seward's early history.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41, Page 420
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda i•iJ
Terry added Resolutions 2021-047 and 2021-055 to the consent agenda.
DeMoss pulled Resolution 2021-053 from the consent agenda.
Osenga pulled Resolution 2021-054 from the consent agenda.
Casagranda pulled Resolutions 2021-048, 2021-050, and 2021-051 from the consent agenda.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2021-047,Authorizing The Participation In A Proposed Refinancing By The
Alaska Municipal Bond Bank Of Its General Obligation Bonds That Provided Funds
To Purchase The General Obligation Library/Museum Bonds, 2011 Series A Of The
City of Seward, Under A Loan Agreement Between The City Of Seward And The
Alaska Municipal Bond Bank, And Authorizing The City Manager To Approve A
Revised Schedule Of Principal And Interest Payments On The City Of Seward's
2011A Bonds, In Accordance With The Loan Agreement, If The Bond Bank
Successfully Refinances Its Bonds.
Resolution 2021-049,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A Portable Restroom Skid
Unit For Williams Park From Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC In The Amount Of$89,775
And Appropriating Funds.
Resolution 2021-052, Authorizing The City Manager To Sign The Cooperative Agreement
Between The City Of Seward Fire Department And Kenai Peninsula Borough For Eastern
Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area (EPHESA).
Resolution 2021-055, Amending The Port & Harbor Tariff Regulations To Increase Vessel
Storage Rates In The Seward Marine Industrial Center Yard As Of January 1, 2022.
Approval of the April 12, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes.
Non-objection to the renewal of the liquor license for Tony's Bar—Beverage Dispensary#1153.
Non-objection to the renewal of the liquor license for Tony's Liquor Store— Package Store
#1154.
Non-objection to the renewal of the liquor license for Oaken Keg#2728—Package Store#4334.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41,Page 421
Proclamations & Awards
Recognizing the Retirement of Melody Moline
Municipal Clerks Week
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
Historic Preservation Month
City Manager Report.Acting City Manager Norm Regis reported the following purchase
orders between$5,000 and$30,000 had been approved by the City Manager since the last council
meeting: $7,590 to the Library for an annual building automation/mechanical system schedule
service agreement; $9,622 to Public Works for a grinder pump replacement for Lift Station #4;
$29,500 to Fire for maintenance on Fire Vessel Jon Foster Unit#364;and$8,250 to Public Works to
replace flatbed deck on vehicle#115.
Regis read the following scoring criteria for the Forensic Audit Services Request For Proposals:
Depth of Market Experience 20
Past Performance 10
Timeline for Completion 20
Understanding the Work To Be Performed 10
Proposed Cost 40
Total 100
Regis read the following scoring criteria for the Seward Animal Shelter Design Build Request For
Proposals:
Price 50
Technical 15
Qualifications 15
Schedule 5
Project Management 15
Total 100
In response to Casagranda, Regis said the following changes had been made to the scoring
criteria for the Forensic Audit:Proposed Cost was changed from 30%to 40%and Understanding the
Work To Be Performed was changed from 20%to 10%.
In response to Seese, Regis said the scoring criteria for these bids was not in the council
packet.
In response to Terry,Regis said the forensic audit request for proposals would be opened on
April 28, 2021 and the scoring criteria was not currently listed in the request for proposals.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26,2021 Volume 41,Page 422
In response to Osenga, Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell said the intention of
changing the scoring criteria was to reiterate that the clarity on pricing was of high importance.
In response to Casagranda, Sowell said a work session on the Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) would be scheduled for May 24, 2021. A survey had been created for council to rank the
importance of projects on the Capital Improvement Plan and the responses would be presented to
council on May 24,2021.
In response to Terry, Regis said he would bring forward an agenda statement requesting
further direction from council on the Capital Improvement Plan after the May 24,2021 work session.
In response to Baclaan,Regis said that one person from the Police Department had been hired
as a part-time Department of Motor Vehicles(DMV)employee and she would begin her training as
soon as classes became available. The city was also reaching out to other DMVs in Alaska.
In response to DeMoss, Regis said he would look into refilling the plastic bags in the dog
waste bag stations.
Other Reports and Announcements
Chamber of Commerce Report.Jason Bickling said the Community Awards were given
to: Elle Zernia for Business Site Improvement at Mermaid Grotto,Christy Terry for Business Person
of the Year, Lori Landstrom for Service to the Community, and the Seward Community Health
Center for the Board of Directors Award. On May 11, 2021, the new chamber website was going
live. The Mermaid Festival would be on May 15, 2021. The Combat Fishing Tournament was
scheduled for May 26,2021.The Halibut Touranment would be on June 15—June 30,2021.Fourth
of July weekend festivities were being held on July 2—July 5,2021. Mt. Marathon Race would be
held on July 7, 2021. The Silver Salmon Derby was August 14-22, 2021. Seward Music and Arts
Festival would be September 24-25,2021.Businesses were experiencing a shortage of workers,as
well as housing for workers.
Presentations
Alaska Redistricting Board presentation by Peter Torkelson
•
Watch the winning video from the Japanese Consulate's Contest: submitted by the Japanese
students from the 2019 Student Exchange between Obihiro and Seward
•
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Items Postponed from Previous Agenda
Resolution 2021-043,Amending The 2021 Budget To Reflect Mid-Cycle Budget Adjustments,
And Appropriating Funds. This resolution was postponed from the April 12,2021 council meeting.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41,Page 423
Motion to Amend (Terry/Baclaan) Amend Resolution 2021-043 by adopting
the substitute resolution.
In response to Terry,Deputy Finance Director Sam Hickok said the bed tax was$673,000
in the 2021 budget and the sales tax was$1,345,983,which was a 25%reduction over the 2019 sales
tax rate.With those two changes,the balance was down to$579,856.No other changes were made.
In response to Casagranda,Hickok said the net increase was$53,873.Various expenditures
were adjusted for a net increase of$122,255.
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Motion to Amend (Casagranda/Baclaan) Amend Resolution 2021-043 by striking
"Revenues are adjusted for a net increase
of$53,873"from Section 1 Number 1.
In response to Terry,Hickok and Sowell clarified that when the increases and decreases were
combined,there would be a$53,873 increase in revenues.This was reflected in Section 1 Number 1
of the substitute resolution.
In response to Osenga, Regis said the budget would be brought back before council in
November if additional funding was needed.
The Motion to Amend was withdrawn.
Council suspended the rules to speak to Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jason
Bickling.
Jason Bickling said he expected a large number of travelers this year. Even though there
would be no cruise ships and there was a limited amount of rental cars available,a large amount of
independent travelers were expected.
Council went back on the rules.
In response to Seese,Regis said the city manager was listed under increase for expenditures
because a budget for the assistant city manager position had been added to this year's budget.
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
Resolution 2021-048, Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A Heavy Duty Volvo
EC220EL Crawler Excavator,A Large Tilt-Deck Trailer With The Capacity For Hauling The
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41, Page 424
Excavator, And Various Digging And Trenching Attachments In The Amount Of$288,671
From Construction Machinery, LLC.
Motion (Baclaan/Seese) Approve Resolution 2021-048
Electric Utility Manager Rob Montgomery said the electric department would be more
effective during power outages with a large excavator. The current equipment was too small for the
electric department's jobs. Benefits of a large excavator were that it could be used during the winter
months,loaned to Public Works,and it would help maintain right-of-ways. It cost$1 5,000-$20,000
to rent excavators for three months from Anchorage.
In response to Casagranda, Regis said the excavator would come out of the electric fund
reserves. Montgomery said it would take 8 to 10 months to receive the excavator after it was ordered
because it was a special piece of equipment.The expected life span of the excavator was 15-20 years.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2021-050,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase Portable Restroom Trailers
For The Cruise Ship Terminal From Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC In The Amount Of
$311,805 And Appropriating Funds.
Mayor Terry declared a potential conflict of interest because she worked for the Alaska
Railroad and the intended use of the bathrooms was for the cruise ship and railroad
passengers to use them. She passed the gavel to Vice Mayor Baclaan. She did not believe she ,ai
had a conflict because there was no financial gain to her.Baclaan ruled there was no conflict of
interest and returned the gavel. There were no objections.
Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approve Resolution 2021-050
Regis said grant money had been received in 2020 to mitigate COVID-19 at the cruise ship
terminal. These bathrooms would belong to the City of Seward.
In response to Casagranda,Regis said the City of Seward would not be charged for pumping
the toilets.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2021-051,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A New Volvo L110H Wheel
Loader With Bucket Attachments And A Kodiak LMSC3640 Snowblower From Construction
Machinery Industrial, LLC (CMI) To Replace A 1996 Oshkosh Snowblower For A Total
Amount Not To Exceed$460,735 Utilizing The Sourcewell RFP Contract#032119-VCE,And
Appropriating Funds.
Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approve Resolution 2021-051
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41,Page 425
Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said the snowblower had outlived its life span.The
loader snowblower could be used year-round. The prices of equipment had sky-rocketed since last
year. Regis said the equipment was partially budgeted in the motor pool fund for 2020 but due to
COVID-19, it had not been ordered yet.
In response to Terry,Regis said these funds were coming out of the motor pool reserves and
not the general fund.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2021-053, Approving The Renaming Of Dairy Hifi Lane To Chamberlin Road
Located North And West Of The Seward Lagoon,In The Cliff Addition to Seward Townsite.
Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approve Resolution 2021-053
Community Development Director Jackie Wilde said Steve Leirer requested the name
change from Dairy Hill Lane to Chamberlin Road and he owned most of the land in this area.Wilde
said the name should have been Chamberlin Road where both Chamberlin Road and Dairy Hill Lane
were currently located. If the name was changed, then Chamberlin Road would connect down to
Second Avenue.The Community Development Department called several home owners in the area
to see if the name change would affect their addresses and it would not.The name of the area where
Benny Benson Park was located would be the only address change aside from Mr. Leirer's address.
DeMoss said most Chamberlin Road residents supported this name change but most Dairy
Hill Lane residents were strongly opposed to it.McClure was concerned that the history of Dairy Hill
would go away if the name of Dairy Hill Lane was changed.
In response to Osenga, Wilde said Mr. Leirer requested the name change from Dairy Hill
Lane to Chamberlin Road for historical purposes.
In response to McClure, Wilde said Council Resolution 1985-10 was renaming streets that
didn't have the ability to be added on to.
Motion Failed Yes: Osenga, Baclaan, Terry
No: Casagranda, DeMoss, Seese, McClure
Resolution 2021-054,Recommending City Council Approve The Walkable Mural Application
Guidelines And Administrative Policy.
Motion (Baclaan/DeMoss) Approve Resolution 2021-054
Wilde said Community Development worked with Public Works on the guidelines and what
would be required for the walkable murals.The walkable mural application would give anyone the
ability to buy or lease a crosswalk for three years for$1,500.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
Apri126, 2021 Volume 41,Page 426
In response to Osenga,Wilde said anything within the white lines would be maintained by
Public Works.No wording or advertisement would be allowed in the art for the walkable murals.If
the applicant failed to maintain their walkable mural, then Public Works would paint over it. The
walkable murals would only be allowed in the City of Seward crosswalks.
In response to McClure, Wilde said applicants would pick the location for their walkable
mural.There would be a staff review for the walkable mural applications,but as long as the applicant
met the criteria that was set in the application,then they would be allowed to move forward with the
permitting.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Other New Business Items
Schedule a work session for electric rates on May 10,2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Council scheduled a work session for electric rates on May 10, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
Schedule a work session to discuss Capital Improvement Plan(CIP)prioritization.Requested
on Monday, May 24, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Council scheduled a work session on the Capital Improvement Plan for May 24,2021 at 5:00 p.m.
Discuss funding for the Developer Reimbursement Program.
Sowell said the Developer Reimbursement Program was created in 2019 with the specific
intent of incentivizing residential development, but it was not functionally built to incentivize
developers. The program existed in code,but no funding mechanism had been dedicated to it.The
city had received two applications for the Developer Reimbursement Program. The total amount
needed to refund these two applicants would be$281,000.The development of Harmon's property
had not yet begun. Zimmerman had already built the Gateway Subdivision. Sowell recommended
pulling funds from the General Funds Reserve for these applicants' reimbursements and then,
replacing the money with the funds received from the city's sale of Chugachmiut. He requested
getting feedback from the public,developers, and the Chamber of Commerce on this program.
Casagranda wondered where council would get the money to reimburse the developers.
Sowell said no funding would go to the developer until after the reimbursement was paid.This was a
reimbursement program,not a credit.He said a municipal land sale could be used to fund a program
to incentivize developers.The city manager would bring forward a written memorandum to council
for a fully approved application, but he could not do so until funds were available in the program.
The city had paid$427,971 for Zimmermann's utilities and$214,000 would be paid back to the city.
Wilde said the applications would go from the clerk to the city manager, who would send the
application to Planning & Zoning for review. The city paid to put the electric utilities in the
subdivision through an assessment district.
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41,Page 427
In response to Seese,Wilde said the city had paid a contractor to do the assessments and no
city employees were used during the assessment.
In response to Baclaan, Sowell said once an application for the Developer Reimbursement
Program was complete,then the city had three council meetings to reimburse the developer.
Seese wondered if the developer or the city paid for the development of these lots.Wilde said
the city paid all of the developer's invoices once the developer completed the application and
assessed a value to each lot. Wilde said Zimmermann understood that the city paid the bills from
different funds and he had the ability to request 50%of these funds be reimbursed to him.The funds
used came from the Chugach reimbursement,water and wastewater,and reimbursements from the
state. The title of the lots would not be released to Zimmermann. Sowell said Zimmermann
purchased the lots and the city paid to put the utilities in.Zimmermann owed the city$427,000 and
once the$427,000 was received by the city,council could choose to reimburse him$214,000.Wilde
said when Zimmerman sells the lots,he would pay council back.Wilde said in Resolution 2020-006,
the funding of$281,043.46 came from the Chugachmiut Electric Fund.The funding in the amount of
$56,431.54 was taken out of the General Fund and put into the Development Improvement
Infrastructure account.Council Resolution 2021-003 was the tax roll.The whole job was$427,000.
$45,000 came from water and$45,000 came from wastewater to make up the$90,000 difference.
$241,083 was the refund that had been received from Chugachmiut.The original thought was to use
the refund from Chugachmiut to fund the Developer Reimbursement Program. Wilde said
Zimmermann had stated that the lots were off the market because he didn't know what to charge for
them.
DeMoss wondered what incentive the developers would have to sell the land after being
reimbursed.Sowell said Zimmermann would start paying 12%interest on the$33,000 for each lot on
November 1,2021.
Council directed the city manager to bring back an actionable item for further review, as well as
schedule a work session on the Developer Reimbursement Program and funding at the May 10,2021
council meeting.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
March, 2021 City and Providence Financials.
City Clerk's memo verifying the receipt of the Annual Financial Disclosure Statements in a timely
manner.
Seward Boat Harbor Write-Offs.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
Apri126,2021 Volume 41, Page 428
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN
COMMENTS
Regis congratulated Melody Moline on her retirement. He thanked the public for attending
the meeting. He wished DeMoss a happy birthday. He congratulated JAG on being approved for a
$639,712 grant for a 100-ton grove hydraulic train.
Sowell thanked the Port&Commerce Advisory Board and specifically Lynda Paquette for
their hard work on the high vessel storage rates resolution. He enjoyed the student exchange video
and he had a lot of fond memories of student exchange programs that he had attended during his
youth. He was excited to be involved in the Seward's student exchange program.
Seese was glad to be back. She thanked everybody for their comments.
Casagranda thanked Wilde and Baclaan for their hard work on the walkable mural
applications. She was concerned about the lack of housing in Seward. She looked forward to
working on the Capital Improvement Plan.
DeMoss congratulated Terry for winning Business Person of the Year. She thanked Wilde
and Baclaan for their hard work on the walkable mural application.She thanked the city manager and
assistant city manager for working on the Capital Improvement Plan.
Osenga welcomed back Seese. He congratulated Melody Moline on her retirement. He
wished DeMoss a happy birthday. He was enjoying the summer weather and had enjoyed Seward's
Kite Festival.He enjoyed the student exchange video and he had visited Japan his senior year of high
school.
McClure wished DeMoss a happy birthday. She congratulated Melody Moline. She was
excited that the geese had come back to Seward. She asked everyone to watch out for bicyclists and
to continue to be COVID-conscious.
Baclaan wished DeMoss a happy birthday.He congratulated Terry on her Business Person of
the Year award. He was excited to move forward with the walkable murals. He thanked all boards
and commissions. He said Seese was not going to run again and there would be at least one council
seat open during this year.
Terry thanked Melody Moline for her hard work. She congratulated Elle Zernia and Lori
Landstrom. She said Seward was open for business. Scott Reierson and Elle Zernia had been
interviewed by the Washington Post. She was excited that council was ready to move forward with
projects and have hard discussions.She reminded council that they had the ability to schedule special
meetings.
ADJOURNMENT
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2021 Volume 41, Page 429
The meeting was adjourned at 10:24 p.m.
Jessica Stallard, CMC sty erry
Acting City Clerk A c t,'.i y c ,' '/ c,e Mayor
(City Seal)
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