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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06112007 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska June 11,2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa~e 372 CALL TO ORDER - The June 11,2007 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Vanta Shafer. OPENING CEREMONY Lieutenant Louis Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Vanta Shafer presiding and Willard Dunham Bob ValdaHa Jean Bardarson Linda Amberg Steve Schafer Robert Thomas comprising a quorum ofthe Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT - None - CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Margaret Anderson thought annexing areas surrounding the city limits was a good idea and had invited Dan Bockworst from the State of Alaska to speak to the community about the procedures. She emphasized that the City of Seward was not sponsoring or involved. She informed that some community members were advocating bringing more of Seward area under a local government entity and absorb other businesses out the road. Anderson thought annexation would expand the voting population for the area and hoped all would come and listen to the talk. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Thomas! Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: - The May 24, 2007 And June 5, 2007 Special City Council Meeting Minutes And The May 29, 2007 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. City of Seward, Alaska June 11, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page 373 Resolution 2007-056. Authorizing The City Council To Donate Twenty Five Hundred Dollars (2,500.00) To The National Ocean Sciences Bowl. ..... Resolution 2007-057. Authorizing The Discharge Of Fireworks By The Chamber Of Commerce During The 2007 Independence Day Celebration. Resolution 2007-058. Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Purchase Agreement For A 225 KV A Transformer, For A Total Amount Not-To-Exceed $11,761.20. Resolution 2007-059. Authorizing Payment In The Amount Of $21,436.85 To Harris Computers For Utility Billing Software Contract. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A proclamation was read for Watch able Wildlife Month. Borough Assembly Report. Borough Assembly Representative Ron Long stated the Assembly passed their budget with one minute left before the deadline. He said there would be a reduction of the mill rate but an increase in sales tax in an effort to shift the percentage of the tax burden that has not kept up with increased assessments on property. ... Long informed that sales tax would increase 1 %, from 2 to 3%, beginning January 1, 2008, and decrease property tax by 1 mill to 5% for the next tax year. The road service area budget was also decreased by 1/10 mill. Long felt over a full year, these changes would offset increases in their cost of doing business. Long also stated they had received good assistance from the State which helped with the PERS and TRS rate reduction, and the area cost differential for education. He hoped the task force would establish a long-term predictable fix for educational funding. The Borough adopted mutual aid agreements with the Lowell Point and Bear Creek Fire Service area. In response to questions, Long urged the public to continue contacting their legislators in regards to the funding for schools. City Manager's Report. City Manager Phillip Oates stated the new website was up and running, and the Executive Liaison position had been filled. He notified council of the dates for the canopy appeal, that the MT AB meeting would be participated by teleconference, and that A VTEC training facility lease was still pending state approval. Cruise Ship Head Tax. The State of Alaska Dept. of Revenue had not completed the legal review of procedures. As soon as the letter was received it would be forwarded to the council. He informed that John Binkley, President ofthe Alaska Cruise Line Association, could come to Seward and speak on the Alaska cruise ship line and future projects perspective. ... City of Seward. Alaska June 11, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Pa?;e 374 - Long- Term Care Facility (L TCF). Oates would be updating the public on all circumstances surrounding the Long Term Care Facility at noon on Friday, June 22, 2007, and urged the public to attend. Electric Customer Service Charge. Oates notified this name would change to the Operations and Infrastructure Fee because this charge paid for the infrastructure that must be available. He stated there were reasons this fee could not be included in the kilowatt charge, with the most compelling argument being year round consumers would be subsidizing seasonal consumers. Oates felt after careful analysis of all circumstances, it was more appropriate to rename the fee than to disperse it. Oates also reported that the Senior Center was operational, Hoben Park fence bids were due June 26, 2007 and the Library/Museum re-zone would be moving forward on the June 25 city council agenda. Oates laid down a budget report with graphs and explained the revenue comparisons. He thought the spent and encumbered column would be valuable to the council and informed the enclosures would show the specific breakdowns. He planned to show graphical representation of the Enterprise Funds in the future. In response to questions, Oates stated he would explore the design ofthe traffic crosswalks in the boat harbor to see if it met the city's needs. - Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations The 2007 Seward Sister City Exchange Students Erin Moore, Tyler Haddow, Dutch Steward, Charisty Reitmeyer were introduced. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance Requiring a Public Hearing. Ordinance 2007-002. Amending Seward City Code 8.30.025 (A), Which Extends The Deadline For Seasonal Business License Renewals From Aprill, To May 1 Each Calendar Year. Oates stated many seasonal businesses didn't return or get their mail in time for the city's seasonal deadline. This change would assure seasonal business owners would have another month to prepare paperwork and past research showed no reason this could not be implemented. Oates felt the public goodwill more than outweighed the monetary value to the City for charging late fees in this circumstance. - Notice ofthe public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Motion (DunhamlBardarson) Enact Ordinance 2007-002 City afSeward, Alaska June 11, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page 375 Motion Passed Unanimous I IIIIlIl Resolutions Requiring a Public Hearing. Resolution 2007-055. A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Seward, Alaska, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Lease Agreement With Dale & Carol Lindsey To Lease 1706 Square Feet Of Office Space In The Petro Plaza Building For A Period Of Three Years With Two One-Year Options To Extend At A Rate Of $2.05/SF. Oates informed that two responses were received and Resurrection Body works bid was $2.10 a square foot. He mentioned the City had leased space in Petro Plaza since 2003 and would have no additional costs associated with moving. He recommended approval. Notice ofthe public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened. No one appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed, Motion (Dunham/Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2007-055 Motion Passed Unanimous INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) j 1 ..... Providence Seward Medical Center 2006 audited financial reports. COUNCIL COMMENTS - Schafer remembered turning the annexation stone over a few years ago, and it did not balance out for the city to be able to provide services. He thought it should be left alone for a few years. Schafer mentioned that Bill Williamson had been trying to get the Borough to recognize the emergency of the situation on Salmon Creek flooding. He instructed the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) wanted $3.50 a yard for material removal which tripled the cost of the job. Schafer stated another flood at Mile 3 would take out state infrastructure along with businesses. Thomas commended the police department for their response and the citizen who saw and reported the black smoke coming from the Episcopal Church. He also commended the committee who picked the four exchange students who would be our student embassadors in Obihiro, Japan, because he thought they would represent the city well. Valdatta was dissatisfied with the delay in ordering transformers for the Breeze Inn expanSIOn.. Dunham also congratulated the students going to Obihiro Japan. He thanked the Administration for the harbor fix for boat owners. He found a machine for the state highway systems .. that took credit cards and wanted the Administration to look into this again. He congratulated Blazy Construction for doing such a good job on the A VTEC distant learning center, wanted Japanese City of Seward, Alaska June 11, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, PaKe 376 - Creek looked at because of water running straight for the road, wanted the city to invite the Forest Service to speak of planning projects that affected the Seward area, and wanted STIP to push forward their roadwork from Mile 20 through 36. Mayor Shafer was happy to see all the enthusiasm for the student exchange program this year. She suggested the city not pay DNR the $3.50 a yard for material removal, and urged the city to help with installation of the Kawabe Park mural. Mayor Shafer was thrilled to see the sunshine agam. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Carl Norman had come from a meeting at Bear Creek where residents voiced their opposition of "annexing into Seward." He stated this would put the city in the first responder category for EMS, fire, police, etc., and did not think the city could handle that. He wanted to know how armexation was being imposed and stated it worried some ofthe residents. Norman expressed citizens outside city limits lived there for a reason, and that property inside the boundaries was expensive. He mentioned HB 133 which proposed armexation be passed by a majority. His solution would be one of fiscal responsibility instead of sucking in more tax dollars. Sue Lang, lived in Lowell Pt. and was concerned and at the same meeting. She wondered what the possible benefit would be for Seward, since she was sure fire, police, roads, etc could not be offered. She agreed and wanted citizens to let sleeping dogs lie. - Seth Rockwell, did not fully understand the armexation issue and wanted to voice his opinions and find out more about it. Lynn Hohl, read a letter she wrote resigning from the Seward Plarming & Zoning Commission. She felt between being on the Commission and the School Board, she could not properly prepare for the complex issues that the Commission addressed. She gave a School Board report which noted the 2007 budget was approved and 60 positions were retained. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Mayor Shafer stressed to the public that the armexation meeting was generated by private citizens and not the city. She thought a major issue for armexation would be flood control. Thomas stated this issue was generated solely by public citizens and the council had no control over the public. He said he would not be in favor of even looking at the armexation issue until a group from outside the city wanted this to go forward. Dunham reiterated that armexation was not high on council's agenda. He urged the public to address their points and concerns to the persons who generated the meeting, not the city council. Dunham was dissatisfied with the school system and losing all the people. - In response to questions from Dunham, Hohl stated enrollment was declining. City of Seward, Alaska June II, 2007 City Council Minutes Volume 37, Page 377 Mayor Shafer thanked Hohl for all her years of service on the Seward Planning & Zoning Commission. ...I EXECUTIVE SESSION Motion (Thomas/Bardarson) Go into executive session to discuss contract negotiations in regards to the possible purchase of property for inclusion in the Mary Lowell Center Project. Motion Passed Unanimous Went into executive session at 8:39 p.m. Came out of executive session at 9:45 p.m. Mayor Shafer stated the city council gave direction to the City Manager to pursue funding as a viable option for property that might be purchased to enhance the Mary Lowell Center Project. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at.9:47 p.m. 1 1 \ ..... v!~, ~ Mayor (City Seal) ,IUU. ", "'~ \"" '-l OF S~t "" \,..,.~ ......... ~ "'.. $ ..... "'oO"'PO~':"~""" ~ ~...~ ~"'V ~ = .. " --- a', ~ · o' STi! ~.. ..: ,J . tlII -. " '- _ . ..._,~: I!It. .. ~ ~ . """ .. ~ a. ____ .: ~ ~ tP.."Y"A. 'l- ..' .: -:. .:;,. ....y'~ 1 '\~'., ~ .: ~ 1/,~"',,,,,,,,,,C~ ~ '" ... OF A' f>.'v ~.... 'II V' ,~ "ItUIl"" ...