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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09132010 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 442 Lir CALL TO ORDER The September 13, 2010 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Bob Valdatta Willard E. Dunham presiding and Vanta Shafer Linda Amberg Tom Smith comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Jean Lewis, City Clerk ABSENT — Marianna Keil, Jean Bardarson arm CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Blair Rodebaugh foresaw the Civil Air Patrol eventually working with emergency responders and serving as emergency back -up command centers. They could use a donation to finish the new hangar building. He stated costs of aviation fuel and airplanes were going up and noted Seward was the only hard runway with general aviation fuel between here and Valdez. Rodebaugh stated the Civil Air Patrol would appreciate any city support. Tim McDonald supported the revenue sharing going to the electric fund that was on the agenda tonight. He thought the money pulled out of the utility over the years was considered taxation and he wanted to co -op the utility. He thought this utility should not fund other enterprise funds. He stated, go co -op and live within our means. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Motion Passed Unanimous ,,.• The following was pulled from the consent the agenda: City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 443 Resolution 2010 -080, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Service Electric, Inc. For A Total Project Not To Exceed $345,300 To Design And Implement A Security System. The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The August 23, 2010 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Ordinance 2010 -002, Repealing And Re- Enacting Seward City Code Chapter 7.10, Harbor & Port Facilities. (Was introduced and set for public hearing September 27, 2010) Resolution 2010 -079, Electing To Participate In The AML /JIA Loss Control Incentive Program For The City Of Seward. Resolution 2010 -081, Transferring Library Property Rental Income To The Library Museum Project In The Amount Of $26,079.79. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards A Welcome Firefighters Proclamation was read for the 2010 Fire Conference for the Alaska State Firefighters Association and the Alaska Fire Chiefs Association to be held ..r� September 27 through October 2, 2010. The Parks & Recreation Conference Was Welcomed for September 22 through 25, 2010. A proclamation was read for Sea Otter Awareness Week. National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week was recognized with a proclamation. A proclamation was read for National Recovery Month. A proclamation was read for Active Aging Week. Borough Assembly Report. Assembly Person Sue McClure stated the Assembly meetings had been dominated by the partial sale of Peninsula Hospital and the decision to possibly change the make -up of borough government. The 5 -4 vote did not advanced the hospital issue for another public hearing. She expected this issue to go dormant for awhile. Peninsula Hospital would be purchasing more land for growth. McClure told of her community meetings on revenue sharing for the communities of Cooper Landing, Hope and Moose Pass. She said the next borough meeting would be in Homer. McClure stated the CEO of Pebble Partnership gave a vast presentation that was interesting and very different from what you saw on TV commercials. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 444 City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates stated there had been no purchases hug approved between $10,000- 50,000 since the last Council Meeting. Police Chief Tom Clemons spoke to the Colonel of the Alaska State Troopers on the alleged assault in Bear Creek area. An extensive investigation was ensued and the troopers did not believe the allegations to be factual, but they could not prove this to a sufficient degree without a recantation from the victim. The Alaska State Troopers were closing the case and did not believe the public was in any danger from this incident. On the bear situation, the police try not to kill a bear unless an emergency situation. He explained their criteria and procedures, and the incidents they had been challenged with this year. • Harbor. Impounded /abandoned vessels not sold in the recent bid sale would be evaluated and the intention was to scrap all parts in 2011. Deputy Harbormaster Jim Lewis retired after 23 years of dedicated service and Norm Regis was promoted to that position. Breakwater rock placement for the East Breakwater extension had begun. Installation of the security (Z) floats was currently being advertised with the bid opening to occur on September 23, 2010. The floats should be installed and available for moorage July 2011. Staff accompanied a certified NACE coatings inspector on September 8th to report on the splash -zone coating applied to the sheet piling by Seward Ship's Dry Dock. A copy of this report would be forwarded to City Council as soon as it was available. • Community Development. Seward Shuttle Ridership numbers were provided in writing r•• through the end of August, and the City would schedule a "debrief' meeting with interested parties to discuss ideas to improve the service in 2011. Seward Mountain Haven Flag pole installation would begin and the low bidder was awarded the flagpole purchase and installation for $4,775. 00. The pole would accommodate two flags and include an internal steel halyard and internal winch. • Public Works. Lowell Creek fence repair and emergency sidewalk repair had been completed. EECBG Grant bid documents for window and door replacement were finalized and released to the public for bidding, and the Public Works boiler was installed. The Coast Guard relocation bid documents for the foundation, water (Phase 1), and storm drain relocation were finalized and released to the public for bidding, and Z -float water design project contract would be awarded with work to be completed before the end of October 2010. The SMC Dolphin project was proceeding and all required permits had been given to ADOT for 3 Avenue sewer line repair. Utilities Manager John Foutz received bids from transmission line repairs and levee re- route. Both bids came in under what was originally projected by the engineer. Mayoral Report. Mayor Willard E. Dunham stated the recruiting process for the National Guard was going to be changed. They would work with the city and schools to bring another unit back to Seward if ten members could be recruited. The General might be able to bring in another armory and staff it. He had attended the World Trade Annual Awards dinner, and visited the Denali Commission with a possible energy grant idea of heating Seward's downtown streets and sidewalks similar to the Alaska Sealife Center's heat pump project, which the Denali Commission funded a City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 445 portion of. Dunham spoke of Fire Island and utility legislation for the future. He predicted power um" would be a major discussion topic soon. Dunham would speak before the Resource Development Council for Alaska (RDC) on the city's 9th circuit appeal. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations An ALPAR and Automated Parking Pay Stations Report was given by Karin Sturdy. A Senior Citizen Center Program and Renovation update was given by Dana Paperman. PUBLIC HEARING Resolution 2010 -078, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into An Amendment To The Lease Agreement 75 -055 With The United States Of America For Lot 2, Block 6, Marina Subdivision, Seward Small Boat Harbor, For The Purpose Of Extending The Term Of The Lease To September 30, 2011. Oates stated the U.S. Coast Guard leased the shore support building and infrastructure. They requested a one -year extension to move the relocation of the building to the security float. This lease crossed a lot line on the Alaska Railroad property. This extended the city owned land to 2011. Motion h f r (S a e /Smith) Approve Resolution 2010 -078 Notice of the 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 Passed Unanimous NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2010 -080, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Service Electric, Inc. For A Total Project Not To Exceed $345,300 To Design And Implement A Security System. Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2010 -080 Oates stated this would be for critical infrastructure only and would abide by the policy. It was the infrastructure established in the document passed, and by FEMA. He said it would be brought back to the council for approval. Shafer wanted government to notify people they were being video taped unless it was sought erj for commission of crimes. Motion Passed Unanimous City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 446 Resolution 2010 -083, Establishing A Repayment Schedule For The Electric Enterprise Fund $1,889,765 In Contributions Made Since 1996 For Hospital And SMIC Shortfalls, And Appropriating 2011 Revenue Sharing Funds In The Amount Of $226,846 Toward Repayment. Motion (Shafer /Amberg) Approve Resolution 2010 -083 Oates wanted to put money back into the fund over time. Payments were made to the Seward General Hospital and SMIC when there were insufficient funds in the general fund. This was done so taxes didn't have to be increased. Electric fund reserves covered the costs during better times, but since, the utility had absorbed rate hikes by Chugach and higher heating costs. Failure to increase rates and cover these added costs, resulted in depletion of the fund over time. The city had borrowed $1,889,765 over the years. This resolution would enable the fund to re -coop funds using 2011 revenue sharing funds of $226,846 this year. Amendment (Shafer /Smith) Delete words from the heading "the general fund to repay" and remove in Section 1, "from the general fund ". Amendment Passed Unanimous In response to Smith, Oates stated the utility was not keeping up with replacing capital items, but were keeping up with deferred maintenance which was being addressed every day. Main Motion Passed as Amended Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS A town meeting on the Economic Development Study would be scheduled for either Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 7 pm or Tuesday, November 9, 2010 with the place to be announced later. On fish enhancement, Cook Inlet Aquaculture, the Regional Planning Board and Jeff Milton would be invited to speak in Seward. The Alaska Sustainable Salmon Grant program would be supported. A work session would be scheduled later in the spring. Rules were suspended to allow Howard Ferren to speak to the Alaska Sustainable Salmon fund grant program, who stated this would give an opportunity to create a report for future activities to get money for. This grant would bring more resources and should be scheduled for May 2011. Rules were suspended to allow Tim McDonald to speak, who stated species not enhanced were doing well, but better management of the fisheries was needed. He thought local knowledge should be sought. A work session was scheduled on the memorandum of understanding for the Library /Museum for Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 447 The city would consider adding the Seward Senior Citizens Center and the Civil Air Patrol to the legislative priority list for 2011. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) Thank you letter from the Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel. Thank you letter from the AML /JIA. COUNCILS' COMMENTS Shafer thought the armory National Guard idea was a good one and wanted to have a community discussion on alternative energy. Infrastructure would cost the City of Seward and raise utility rates and it was time for a conversation in the near future. Shafer got a lot of compliments on how neat and clean the town was and how friendly the community was this summer. She thanked the community for their patience. Valdatta said there were pre- engineered buildings to put up in the Public Works yard. He thought the pole yard and sand shed could be constructed with pre -fab buildings. Dunham noted the passing of Jerry Dixon. Jerry had written thousands of dollars of grants for schools and for the Alaska Sealife Center establishment. He said the "Wada" celebration and three nation hook -up was a success. Dunham noted Sapporo, Japan had heated sidewalks by saltwater, and that the Arts Council would be at the Railroad terminal September 24 -26, 2010. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Tim McDonald spoke on the electric utility, alternative energy and fish enhancement. He thought council was on the wrong track. He did not think limiting users for their windmill was correct. He thought other options for alternative energy should be pursued. He thought people should be able to supplement power for their own homes. The citizens wanted cheaper power and no more increases. This resulted in taxation without representation once money was taken out of the electric fund. McDonald thought the utility should be a co -op. On fish enhancement, better management by the state was needed. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Valdatta commented that solar panels were kept going by gamma rays, not necessarily direct sunlight, which was hidden energy. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 13, 2010 Volume 38, Page 448 L ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 p.m. ., 24,1 Jan Lewis, CMC % Willard E. 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