HomeMy WebLinkAbout05292007 City Council Minutes
City of Seward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page364
CALL TO ORDER
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The May 29,2007 regular meeting ofthe Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30
p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer.
OPENING CEREMONY
Council member Steve Schafer led the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
Vanta Shafer presiding and
Willard Dunham
Bob Valdatta
Jean Bardarson
Linda Amberg
Steve Schafer
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Phillip Oates, City Manager
Jean Lewis, City Clerk
...
ABSENT - Robert Thomas, excused
CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED
FOR PUBLIC HEARING
Brad Snowden thanked the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission and staff employee
Donna Glenz for their hard work in putting his request to purchase land across the bay forward to the
next step.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Schafer/Amberg)
Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed
Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
The May 14,2007 regular city council meeting minutes were approved.
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Ordinance 2007-002. amending Seward City Code 8.30.025 (a), which extends the deadline for
seasonal business license renewals from April 1 to May 1 each calendar year, was introduced
and set for public hearing on June 11, 2007.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
City afSeward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page365
Proclamations and Awards
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Recipient Kerry Kline received the annual 2007 Historic Preservation Award.
City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates was sorry to report that library
employee Doris Welch had passed away today and noted she would be sorely missed. Temporary
Planner John Bird, was hired beginning today and would be addressing some of the city's more
complicated projects such as SMIC. Oates stated the interview process for the Executive Liaison
was completed and he hoped to have the position filled soon. He also announced the city website
was scheduled to go live June 1,2007.
;. A VTEC fire training lease. Still pending state approval.
;. Cruise ship head tax initiative. Staffhad contacted the State Department of Revenue
and was told legislation allocating funds to ports of call required appropriation by the
state legislature. There was no application process in place, nor any bill determining
how funds would be allocated. There were three "funds" into which these taxes
would be placed, of which Seward may be eligible to apply for two of. Oates would
continue to monitor, and a formal reply letter should be coming soon.
;. Long Term Care Facility. The result ofthe May 24,2007 special meeting held for an
executive session, directed the city manager to pursue negotiation of site selection for ....
the Long Term Care Facility. He handed out a sheet that outlined the past project
timelines. He highlighted the process, and submitted that city staff had little control
over the timeline as stated below:
.
Council authorized funding to proceed with an application for a Certificate of
Need (CON) in November, 2005, noting no healthcare facilities in Alaska
could be constructed with out the State's approval.
The hospital consultant gathered information, submitted it to the State, which
took 10 months.
It took the State 5 months to review.
The application was submitted to the State on September 21, 2006.
The City received approval of the CON on February 22,2007.
The following day, staff submitted a request to the Alaska Municipal Bond
Bank for revenue bonds.
The Bond Bank met on April 9, 2007 and approved the City's application for
bond financing.
.
.
.
.
.
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Oates stated the City's 2006 annual finance report by auditing firm Mikunda, Cotttrell
& Co. was presented this evening with high marks. He also informed the city council of a
new database he was developing to capture and track customer service comments and
suggestions. ....
City a/Seward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page366
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>> FEMA flood status. FEMA was in town conducting project reviews for damaged
city infrastructure resulting from the 2006 flood. They reviewed the damaged
Japanese Creek levee to reconsider providing funding. There were ten project
worksheets or areas affected such as roads, bridges, electrical, debris removal,
waterlines, campground and fence repairs and lift stations, including the levee. The
project total for reimbursement for nine of those areas would be at least $500,000.
Chamber of Commerce Report. Ron Hewitt personally thanked Harbormaster Scott
Ransom for helping keep the blessing ofthe fleet, and Mayor Shafer and Councilmember Bardarson
for serving food on Military Appreciation Day. Hewitt stated the combat fishing tournament was a
huge success, and noted that visits and information requests were increasing. He also thanked and
appreciated the City Manager for taking the time to appear and give direction at the P ACAB
meetings.
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Seward Planning and Zoning Report. Kevin Clark reported that instead of a work
session, P&Z held a special meeting for the 2nd meeting of the month with the topic being the re-zone
of the new library/museum property location. The Commission had concerns changing the
designation from Auto Commercial (AC) to Central Business District (CBD) would encourage
others in the area to do the same. This would make for zero lot lines and they were not sure how to
address infrastructure issues with these zoning changes. He suggested the city may wish to set
conditions with development. Clark stated although the Planning & Zoning Commission approved
Snowden's request to purchase land across the bay, he urged council to seek funding to conduct a
study, since activity was increasing in that area.
A Brief2006 audit presentation was provided by John Bost ofMikunda, Cottrell & Co.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
Resolutions
Resolution 2007-053. Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Agreement With
Timberline Excavation, Incorporated For An Amount Not-To-Exceed $77,850.00 To Remove
Approximately 15,000 Cubic Yards Of Debris At The Lowell Creek Waterfall.
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City Manager Phillip Oates stated the need for this debris removal was a result of the
October, 2006 flooding event to protect critical infrastructure before another event occurred. Four
bids were received and local preference was not used in evaluation because FEMA funding
prohibited it. Timberline Excavation Inc. was the lowest bidder. He suggested other approaches
presented by council members had merit, but without further engineering advice from the Corps of
Engineers, Oates recommended proceeding with gravel removal at this time.
Motion (Schafer/Bardarson)
Approve Resolution 2007-053
City of Seward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page367
Valdatta disagreed 100% on removing the gravel. He wanted the gravel spread out and kept ...-
in the area or used by the cannery.
Oates stated this debris would be removed to the ARR dock area.
Amberg wanted this gravel to be used to build up other city properties. She wanted to see a
graph showing other bidders for the future.
Public Works Director W.e. Casey stated disposal of debris presented problems resulting
from floods. There was a permitting process and it was hard finding disposal sites that were not in a
floodplain. He agreed options were available, but unfortunately with public process and permitting,
time was of the essence before fall. Casey cautioned that another issue with spreading it anywhere
was all fine material washed into the ocean. This fine material would not compact because of the
consistency, therefore limiting the uses. In addressing stockpiling, Casey stressed the more times fill
was handled, the more money it would cost the city. In checking with the Corps of Engineers (COE)
the permitting process would involve coastal management. He reminded council the Alaska
Railroad would be crediting the city for the lease payment on the boat harbor expansion.
Schafer agreed with the Administration that the material wasn't really the consistency
advantageous to stockpiling.
Casey stated a geologist would have to test the stability of material and depth of any area .....
material deposited.
Dunham was not pleased having to remove it. He didn't understand why the city couldn't
make extra land for cannery expansion. Dunham wanted it to fill the low spots on city land. He
didn't agree with the engineers on the Forest Acres land designation as floodplain. Dunham thought
there was potential usage of the fill for the city.
Casey had recently discussed the issues of the area with Planner John Bird, and was
optimistic Bird would take a good look at the area for uses in the future if council wished.
Oates expressed it was a complex problem and two project worksheets were devoted to the
area and presented to FEMA. The City needed to get the Corps of Engineers to evaluate the area and
seek funding. Oates felt this removal was a high priority, and with no definitive solutions tonight,
stressed the City may have a bigger problem if it were not removed by fall.
Schafer stated the COE were being contacted through the flood board.
Motion Passed
Yes: Bardarson, Schafer, Amberg, Mayor
Schafer
No: Valdatta, Dunham
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Resolution 2007-054. Approving Change Order #2 With Harmon Construction And
Appropriating Additional Funding In The Amount Of $393,000 To Make The Proper
City of Seward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page368
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Modifications To The Seward Senior Center. (A laydown version presented, cited a different
account code)
Oates stated this funding would complete the project, including the elevator by August, 2007.
This funding would come out of an insurance category instead of directly out of the general fund.
Motion (Dunham! Amberg)
Approve Resolution 2007-054
Motion Passed
Unanimous
OTHER NEW BUSINESS
A work session was requested on the generator replacement and the location of both public
works and electric shops, and was scheduled for Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
Much discussion ensued on the cruise ship head tax initiative.
Although some of the council wanted to implement and put in place a City head tax, and
Mayor Shafer wanted more information from the state before Seward decided, Oates agreed to delay
implementation and continue to push the State for answers. He would give updates at each meeting.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required)
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Congratulations letter from Governor Palin and recognition certificate listing Hoben Park on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Providence Seward Medical Center Financial Statement for April 2007.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Amberg offered condolences to the families within the community who had suffered
tremendous losses within the last couple ofweeks.
Bardarson and Schafer had the same sentiments and explained how it affected everyone.
Dunham noted community member Gilbert Nelson had just completed his training at
A VTEC. He also thanked the agencies involved with paving the streets and thought they had done a
great job. Dunham attended the World Trade Center Awards today and was pleased that Usibelli
was awarded "Exporter of the Year." He also congratulated the Fairbanks Business Bureau for their
tourism award. He thanked the Shellfish Hatchery for tours last week and hoped the City could
partner with the King Crab Program. Dunham informed that if tidelands were involved with the
Snowden land request across the bay, he was under the impression only the city could own any and
all tidelands.
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City of Seward, Alaska
May 29, 2007
City Council Minutes
Volume 37, Page369
Mayor Shafer thanked the Parks & Recreation Department for purchasing and hanging the
fishing tournament signs. She gave her condolences to the We1ch, Nelson and Buffington families .....
and noted, with great sadness, they would all be missed.
CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS - None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
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Vanta Shafer
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