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Home My WebLink About08232021 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41,Page 498 CALL TO ORDER The August 23,2021 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(arrived 7:17 p.m) Sue McClure geese John Osenga Liz DeMoss Ristine Casagranda comprising a quorum of the Council; and Janette Bower, City Manager Brenda Ballou, City Clerk Jessica Stallard, Deputy City Clerk Excused—Seese Absent—None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (McClure/Osenga) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Terry added a Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District(KPEDD)presentation by Executive Director Tim Dillon to the agenda. Terry requested a housekeeping change to Resolution 2021-092 to change the year from 2021 to 2022 in the title. Casagranda pulled Resolution 2021-091 off consent. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2021-087, Authorizing The City Manager To Seek Federal Funds Through The America Rescue Plan Act(ARPA)In The Amount Of$577,195 As Administered By The Kenai Peninsula Borough (KPB). City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41, Page 499 Resolution 2021-088, Supporting The City Manager To Seek Additional Funds From The Federal Infrastructure/Stimulus Package, And Another Time Extension From The Alaska Energy Authority For The Heat Loop Project Grant. Resolution 2021-090, Authorizing The City Manager To Approve Change Order 1 To Task Order 7 With R&M Consultants Inc. For Engineering Support Services During The Construction Phase For The Replacement Of G,K And L-Floats At The Seward Boat Harbor, And Appropriating Funds Not To Exceed $65,082. Resolution 2021-092, Approving The 2022 Grant Year Budget For The Seward Community Health Center (SCHC) As Required By The Co-Applicant Agreement Between The City Of Seward And SCHC. Resolution 2021-093, Supporting The Efforts Of The Kenai Peninsula Borough To Secure A Grant From The Alaska U.S. Congressional Delegation For Spruce Bark Beetle Mitigation Within The Kenai Peninsula Borough And The Cities Within The Kenai Peninsula Borough. Resolution 2021-094,Authorizing The City Manager To Sign The Automatic Aid Agreement And Operational Plan Between The City Of Seward Fire Department And Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Approval of the August 9, 2021 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes. CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR sue PUBLIC HEARING Tim McDonald appreciated the city's input on the Lowell Point sewer lagoon.He said there should be a minimum of three tests done on the lagoon and he looked forward to seeing the results. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Honoring Seward High School Athlete Lydia Jacoby for Winning Gold&Silver Medals for Swimming in the 2021 Summer Olympics Recognizing Nursing Supervisor Lynne Lawrence as Spring Creek Correctional Center's Employee of the Year for 2020 National Preparedness Month Proclamation Founder's Day Proclamation Vice Mayor Baclaan entered the meeting at 7:17 p.m. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41,Page 500 City Manager Report.City Manager Janette Bower said her and Assistant City Manager Stephen Sowell met with state and federal lobbyists and Tim Dillon regarding the stimulus package. It was a one to five-year stimulus package that would provide money into the economy for the next five years. The city manager would be bringing legislative priorities to council, so they could look for funding opportunities within the stimulus package.The budget kick-off meeting was scheduled for September 27,2021. Budget assumptions would be provided to council by September 3,2021. An employee mask mandate would go into effect for all city employees on August 24, 2021. In response to Baclaan, Parks & Recreation Director Tyler Florence said attendance numbers for Boys&Girls' Club and Parks&Recreation events could be provided to council. Other Reports and Announcements Chamber of Commerce Report by Jason Bickling.Bickling said this year's Silver Salmon Derby was a great event with the best weather. Ben Cheeseman was the derby winner with a 14.03 lb. salmon. The Chamber was working on the 2022 visitor guide and a marine marketing guide. Bickling thanked council for their consideration of the Seward Small Business Advisor position. In response to Terry,Bickling said the marine marketing guide would be ready in time for the Pacific Marine Expo. Presentations r... Business Advisor presentation by Cliff Cochran from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Presentation of the City's Draft 2020 Financial Report by Altman, Rogers & Co. KPEDD Presentation by Executive Director Tim Dillon. Council recessed at 8:25 p.m. Council resumed at 8:30 p.m. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinances for Public Hearing and Enactment Ordinance 2021-006, Amending Portions Of Seward City Code 15.10.140 Definitions; 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed, To Change, Update, And Accommodate The Wishes Of The Public To Promote Life Safety And Maintain A City Code That Reflects The Community's Needs. This ordinance was introduced on July 26, 2021 and had a public hearing and was postponed on August 9, 2021. Bower requested council fail this ordinance and ask Planning&Zoning to bring it back to council. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41, Page 501 Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared and the public hearing was closed. Terry said the Community Development Department and Planning&Zoning Commission had done a lot of good work on this ordinance but it needed to be fine-tuned. DeMoss concurred. Motion Failed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolutions Resolution 2021-089,Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase A Ventrac Sidewalk Snow Vehicle Plus Accessories From Totem Equipment And Supply In The Amount Of$26,235,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approve Resolution 2021-089 Motion to Amend (Terry/Baclaan) Amend Resolution 2021-089 by removing "and appropriating funds" from the title. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2021-091,Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contractual Agreement With The Alaska Small Business Development Corporation And The Seward Chamber Of Commerce For Three Years To Establish A Seward Small Business Advisor Position,Which Is Intended To Increase Small Businesses Development In The Seward Community, In An Amount Not To Exceed $25,000 Per Year, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Baclaan/McClure) Approve Resolution 2021-091 In response to McClure, Bower said the person hired for this position would be living and working in Seward. Council suspended the rules to speak to Chamber Director Jason Bickling. In response to McClure, Bickling said this would be an employee of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). He said SBDC had high standards and they were very successful. Bickling clarified that this would be a three-year position. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41, Page 502 In response to Casagranda, Bickling said this position was not related to the Blue Pipeline. He was very confident that SBDC would be very good for Seward businesses.Casagranda supported this position 100% and she said it was her dream job. Council resumed the rules. Baclaan had worked with SBDC and the Chamber of Commerce on the Small Business Start- Up Week. He supported the Small Business Advisor position. Terry was very happy to hear so much support for this position. DeMoss loved the city supporting anything that was for small businesses. Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS—None CITIZEN COMMENTS Tim McDonald thanked council for their hard work. He was concerned that the Alaska Railroad extending their dock would bring too many cruise ships to Seward. He was in favor of extending the dock to be a back-up port for Anchorage,but he was not in favor of more cruise ships in Seward. He wanted plastics to be recycled. Lynda Paquette was concerned that J 1 s were not being prioritized by the state department, because this created a summer worker shortage. She requested that everyone reach out to lobbyists and ask them to prioritize summer workers and J 1 visas. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION COMMENTS & RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bower said she would be bringing federal and legislative priorities to council. She encouraged council to think big and think about the city's infrastructure needs. DeMoss thanked Paquette for her citizen comments. She agreed that not having J Is was a major problem for Seward. She congratulated Jacoby and Lawrence. Osenga congratulated Jacoby and Lawrence. He asked everyone to be COVID aware and to take care of each other. McClure said Founder's Day would be celebrated from 1:00-4:00 p.m.on August 28,2021 at the Seward Library Community Museum.There would be an informational speech on Mary Berry, who passed away this year. She asked everyone to do what they can to keep themselves and everyone else safe from COVID. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Meeting Minutes August 23, 2021 Volume 41, Page 503 Baclaan thanked McDonald and Paquette for their citizen comments. He thanked John Osenga, Leighton Radner, Randy Wells, and Mike Calhoon for running for council. He asked everyone to register to vote and participate in our local elections. Terry asked the city manager to include J 1 visas in council's state and federal priorities.She said council needed to focus on supporting both year-round and seasonal businesses.She encouraged council to focus on childcare and housing. She thanked the Chamber of Commerce,the Harbor,and other city departments for a great Silver Salmon Derby and a great summer. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. / Jessica Stallard, CMC 'sty Terry Deputy City Clerk Mayor (City Seal) %***4 pF $E1�,••* "OW 0 AG/ • • ( SEAL • tfbiNlive 1�1 ••, OF M-P5*•`•