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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03292011 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 548 CALL TO ORDER The March 29, 2011 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Vice Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY Lt. Butch Tiner led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson, presiding, and Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta Ristine Casagranda Comprising a quorum of the Council; and Michelle Weston, Assistant City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk Absent — Willard Dunham, Marianna Keil, Tom Smith CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Jim Herbert spoke in favor of proposed Resolution 2011 -021 and brought attention to the Japanese plaque on the wall in Council Chambers; he then presented a personal check to the City Clerk for the Japanese Relief Fund. Kris Peck expressed his concern about Coastal Villages project and its potential impact on Spring Creek Beach and 4 of July Beach. Tim McDonald cautioned that radiation was detected in the United States and was concerned that Seward was in line for receiving radiation, particularly if we received the right kind of storm. He questioned what the City's monitoring capabilities were. Carol Griswold thanked the City for supporting the Two Lakes Park Ordinance 2011 -001 and also commented on Coastal Villages proposal. She urged caution as Phase 2 called for dredging private property and potentially negatively impacting wetlands, and Phase 3 would excavate 4` of City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 549 July Beach. She questioned the wisdom of the project location and urged the Council to get better ideas before proceeding. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Shafer /Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Resolution 2011 -019 was removed from the Consent Agenda. (Shafer) The City & Providence Financial Reports were removed from the Agenda. (Bardarson) Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The March 14, 2011 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. John French was reappointed to the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council for a two year term. Approved the Restaurant Eating Place Public Convenience Liquor License for Chattermark, LLC. .r Ordinance 2011 -001, Amending The Land Use Plan And Zoning Designation Of Several Small Portions Of City Owned Land Located Within The Two Lakes Park Boundary Of Block 1513, Federal Addition, Two Lakes Park Replat, From Single Family Residential (R1), Resource Management (RM), And Institutional (INS) To Park (P). (Introduced and set for Public Hearing on April 11, 2011) Resolution 2011 -018, Accepting The 2010 Assistance To Firefighters Grant For Training And Hose Testing Equipment In The Amount Of $19,157.00, Authorizing A City Match Of $1,008.00 And Appropriating Funds In The Amount Of $20,165.00. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards 1. Annual Parks and Recreation Sponsor Appreciation Awards. Bardarson recognized and thanked sponsors. Josie Ronne, SPRD Teen & Youth Center Coordinator, recognized 56 business and family sponsors and stated that all would receive awards. 2. A "Choose Respect" Domestic Violence /Sexual Assault Awareness proclamation J was read. Bardarson called for the community's support to attend the walk. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 550 3. A proclamation was read for April as Bear Awareness Month. Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure reported on the highlights of the March 1, 2011 Borough Assembly meeting: the sunset of Ordinance 2009 -09 and its follow -up was extended until the flood insurance rate maps were in and approved by the Assembly; a resolution was unanimously approved for the City of Seward's request for funding for the Coastal Villages Fleet; the Assembly approved Resolutions 2011 -016 and 2011 -017 authorizing the purchase of the first 2 of 6 Old Mill subdivision properties located in high -risk flood areas; the Assembly set the funding for the school district at the same level as last year ($43 million) through Resolution 2011 -013; on April 5, 2011 at the next Assembly meeting the key discussion item would be Ordinance 2011 -03 which would repeal the seasonal non - prepared food sales tax exemption; and, the April 19, 2011 Assembly meeting would be held in the Council Chambers in Seward. Valdatta expressed his concern over current stresses on the Borough's budget; McClure responded that they were working diligently on it. City Manager's Report, Assistant City Manager Michelle Weston stated Jill Simpson withdrew from the Animal Control Contract; Shelli McDowell accepted the terms and a contract would be presented to Council on April 25, 2011. New garbage cans arrived and would be placed /replaced downtown in April. The harbor would advertise an RFP for custodial services, for which the scoring criteria included: • Statement of Qualifications including Performance, Experience, and Quality of Work in Providing Services of a Similar Nature (30 Points) • Clarity of Proposal and Additional Services that may be Provided by the Proposer (5 Points) • References (20 points) • Proposer's Organizational Structure (including financial stability), Equipment, and Personnel Qualifications and Resources Available for Performance of the Agreement (10 Points) • Proposal Amount (35 Points) Weston continued with the report noting there would be a power outage in the Northeast Harbor March 30 through April 1, 2011 while the electric department installed a transformer for the future site of the USCG building. The Z Float project continued on schedule. On March 18 and 19, 2011 there were two minor power outages where approximately 50 customers were out of power, but power was restored quickly. Highpoint Subdivision would be on the Planning and Zoning agenda for May, and they were currently going through plat review process. The shuttle bus would begin on May 20, 2011 with the first cruise ship; this would be a port-of -call for some 4,000 passengers and crew. Weston was looking into purchasing beautification banners for Fourth Avenue and along Port Avenue. Weston reported she responded to Valdatta's information that Espotera Oil would be moving an oil rig up to Cook Inlet by sending an email reminding them that Seward was permitted as an oil rig staging area. Seward supported legislation to expand the geoduck seed availability to more than just southeast Alaska, and for HB 170 to provide partial property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 551 EMS personnel. Seward was in contact with Alaska Film Office, and joined Alaska Film Group to support the continuation of the tax incentive for film production; they were looking for "grittier" pictures of potential locations in Seward. Weston welcomed Candice Coit as the new dispatcher for the Police Department. The 2011 Coastal Classic Train Schedule had been released; the first train would be May 14, 2011. Shafer commented that she had been in touch with an artists' group regarding individual paintings for the poles along Fourth Avenue, but they would not be prepared for the 2011 summer season. Weston said she would be in contact with the Mural Group to discuss having murals displayed in vacant business windows to help beautify the city for visitors. Shafer urged the City to strongly consider conducting a community -wide disaster drill in the fall or early winter this year. Fire Chief Dave Squires agreed. Weston responded to Valdatta's concerns about the status of building permits that she would furnish the Council with a status report at the next meeting. Mayoral Report, Vice Mayor Jean Bardarson stated the Mayor was in Juneau and reminded the community that the Mayor's report was available on the City's website. She apologized to the residents of the Forest Acres subdivision for the loud wood chipper noise. The Mayor was A tracking legislation on House and Senate bills, particularly on Alaska Energy Agency authority comments on Hydro, Net Metering, ARTEC T/A power requests, etc. Geoduck legislation had been passed out of the Resource Committee and into the Finance Committee. Seward needed legislative help on the Railbelt Electrical TA Line, the Educational Scholarship Program, the Alaska Sealife Legislation on Tax Changes, HB -104, HB -195, HB -106, and HB -89. The Mayor met with the Reapportionment Committee and Seward had a 90% chance of being redistricted. The Mayor, Vice Mayor, Councilmember Shafer and City Manager met with Chris Aadnessen, President of Alaska Railroad on March 28, 2011. On April 11, 2011 the American Legion Service Officer DSO for the State would be in Seward to meet with veterans about VA programming and would help with any problems they may be experiencing. Citizens should contact the American Legion for an appointment. On April 17, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Rae Building, the Alaska State Council on the Arts would be available for artists to learn about the agency and grant programs. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A Jesse Lee Home update was given by Tom Swann. Swann stated they were in the midst of Phase 1 — Stabilization, Pre- Development and Project Planning. The Stabilization phase had been completed. An Environmental survey had been completed by White Environmental, but results had not yet been received. An RFP would be released next month for concept designs. Project planning City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 volume 38, Page 552 continued to be done for the education portion. In May 2011, the Friends of the Jesse Lee Home would meet with the Council to review land acquisition. A presentation from Bryan Zak with Alaska Small Business Development Center was given. Zak said the Small Business Administration announced today their 504a loan program was now available for refinancing for existing businesses. Also, Profit Mastery workshops offered a $200 discount, and students who took a class could receive an additional $50 credit for a future student referral. He was working toward getting a Small Business Administration Representative in Seward, but Zak was in Seward at least 1 -2 times per month, working out of AVTEC, to assist small business owners. He suggested small business owners list their business through buyalaska.com and encouraged business owners to take advantage of the classes, assistance and advice provided at no charge. The Small Business Of The Year Award winner would be announced in April. Bardarson presented a proclamation to Zak, acknowledging the 25 Anniversary of the Alaska Small Business Development Center. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2011 -019 Approving The Purchase Of A Backhoe For An Amount Not To Exceed $200,000. Motion (Shafer /Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2011 -019 Weston stated the reasons why they wanted to make this purchase: 1. Current one was unsafe; 2. Buying was more advantageous than leasing; 3. The City was trying to bury lines underground. Shafer wanted to postpone until April 25, 2011 until full council was available, and wanted to ensure it was included in the original 2011 budget. Weston responded that it was included in 2011 budget as "dozer /backhoe ", was concerned with its safety, and to repair the current one would cost $83,000. Electric Utility Manager John Foutz commented that there were other backhoes in town, but they were too small or too big. He also felt that the delay in purchasing a new one could be a problem because the ground was thawing and job orders were coming in. He stated that he could rent one in the interim. Bardarson quoted that renting a 95E backhoe would be $2,500 plus delivery fees for one month's rental. Council requested that Foutz obtain quotes for new versus used machines to bring back to Council for review. He agreed that the quotes would be based on a 45 -day purchase window. Motion (Shafer /Casagranda) Postpone Resolution 2011 -019 to the April City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 553 25, 2011 Council Meeting. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -020, Supporting The Relocation Of The Coastal Villages Region Fund Fishing Fleet From Seattle To A New Home -Port At Seward, Alaska. Motion (Shafer/Valdatta) Approve Resolution 2011 -120 In response to Casagranda's concern over the potential impact on the 4 of July beach, Weston stated that the City would be in the position to drive how the infrastructure would develop. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -021, Authorizing The City Of Seward To Donate $1,000 Toward The Japan Relief Fund Of Alaska Foundation For The March 11, 2011 Earthquake And Subsequent Tsunamis And Encouraging Citizens To Match Or Surpass This Donation. Motion (Shafer /Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2011 -021 Motion Passed Unanimous • j OTHER NEW BUSINESS INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) City Financial Report for January — Removed from Agenda (Bardarson) Providence Financial Report for January — Removed from Agenda (Bardarson) COUNCILS' COMMENTS Shafer commented that the Council would seek a lot of community input for Phases 2 and 3 of Coastal Villages. She was happy that the City set up a donation drive for Japan. She appreciated Tim McDonald's comments regarding radiation and felt the city should look into this. Bardarson encouraged everyone to donate to the relief fund for Japan, and urged people to attend the Choose Respect Rally and March on March 31, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Sue McClure said The Seward Song was on website and urged citizens to listen to it. The sidewalk between the Post Office and 5 Avenue apartments was in bad shape, and was particularly troublesome for senior citizens. She was here during the 1964 earthquake and the community pulled together and got through it, but was concerned that the city was less organized now, particularly because more people lived outside the city limits and either didn't hear the sirens or didn't know City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes March 29, 2011 Volume 38, Page 554 what the sirens meant. She was working with the Borough to have important alerts and messages clarified and made more meaningful. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. C� EC w ti-C624 `''t1 hanna Kinney, CMC can Bardarson ity Clerk Vice Mayor (City Seale, , „ , 0.°,4 r ° n 1 �3A L t �, ',�`�,► d °W fl o " e* \ W d w 1 2 . ".. } A ! m,..,. 4 uy • a " k NN ∎ • CO'a aab' N S..ti Ytv r . Apb .. - 417.7RIIC4SF1 o- k