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Home My WebLink About04252011 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 565 ihow CALL TO ORDER The April 25, 2011 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Willard E. Dunham. OPENING CEREMONY Chief Tom Clemons led the pledge of allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Willard E. Dunham, presiding, and Marianna Keil Jean Bardarson Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta Ristine Casagranda Tom Smith comprising a quorum of the Council; and Phillip Oates, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk him Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk Cheryl Brooking, City Attorney ABSENT — None CITIZENS' COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Chellie Skoog stated that $312,511 had been donated to date towards the funding toward of Library Museum Project. Jim Herbert referenced the oil spill response drill last week that resulted in the fleet earning more than $250,000 for the community. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Resolution 2011 -027, Resolution 2011 -030, Resolution 2011 -032 and Resolution 2011 -033 were removed from the Consent Agenda. Item #4 was added to Other New Business to schedule a work session for a Redistricting discussion. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 566 Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: The April 11, 2011 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes Were Approved. Resolution 2011 -028, Endorsing The Alaska Clean Harbor Pledge And Expressing Support For Actions That Result In A Clean Harbor Certification. Resolution 2011 -029, Accepting A National Endowment For The Humanities (NEH) Challenge Grant Ch- 50802, A 3:1 Matching Grant In The Amount Of $500,000 For The Construction Of The Library Museum And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2011 -031, Setting The Mill Rate For Tax Year 2011, Unchanged At 3:12 Mills. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations and Awards grj Super Saturday Clean -Up Day was Saturday, April 30, 2011. April was National Library Month. The CROP Hunger Walk Day was May 1, 2011. City Manager's Report, City Manager Phillip Oates invited Chief Clemons to address the surveillance camera issue. Chief Clemons stated that the camera of Fourth Avenue would be pointed north, in the opposite direction of the downtown businesses, and its position would be locked down. Business owners were not notified because the camera was pointed in the opposite direction, and there are currently no notices posted because the system was not currently operating. Council was not notified where the cameras were located because the Department of Homeland Security deemed the list of critical infrastructure was confidential and specified the only people who can have access to the list were the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the City Manager and the Mayor. Clemons further stated that the police department could not actually see the fire department from their offices. Two council members had not reviewed the camera systems because they were not yet functional. Keil asked if the Homeland Security had access to the cameras. Clemons said they would have to actually be present in Seward to see the cameras. Valdatta said he thought the original positioning was important to maintain for safety at the bank and businesses. Mayor Dunham asked what the police patrols were doing giving tickets outside city limits. INJ Chief Clemons said by Alaska state law any police officer can stop and write a ticket anywhere they are in the state. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 567 Oates responded to the Coastal Villages Region Fund inquiries from the citizens stating they had not been involved in the process. He stated there had been multiple public vetting opportunities and that Phase 1 was the only focus for the city at the moment. Phases 2 & 3 were artist concepts only and they may be located elsewhere when it actually happened. The harbor staff teleconferenced into two meetings this past month with the Public Advisory Committee and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council to support the City's grant request for establishing a vessel wash -down pad at the Seward Marine Industrial Center. Both groups unanimously voted to fully fund the project in an amount of $739,100. City administration met with officials from BP regarding an oil spill response drill to be held in Prince William Sound in late September. An overview of the Regional Stakeholder's Committee was discussed, and the new community liaison was introduced. GCI submitted calculations for adding their fiber optic line to city poles. A meeting between GCI and the City took place to verify the accuracy of the data and discuss the parameters of an agreement. Also, Chugach requested a 1.9% demand increase from the City of Seward for the month of May. Councilmember Valdatta asked who was paying for the building permit for the US Coast Guard building. Harbormaster Anderson responded that the City was not charging them. how Councilmember Smith suggested that Council hold a public awareness meeting regarding the Coastal Villages Region Fund to clarify misinformation and the Council agreed. Mayor Dunham added that Phases 2 & 3 were 15 to 20 years out. City Attorney's Report, Cheryl Brooking stated her office had been working on employment matters, contracts, funding proposals for the Sea Life Center and the Library Museum Project. Regarding litigation, there were currently two cases she was involved with: Tract B takings litigation for constructing the levee road for which a special master had been appointed to estimate the value of the property; and, the Resurrection Bay Conservation Alliance and Alaska Community Action Against Toxics for which arguments were scheduled for May 3, 2011, the issue was if city was obligated to pay their legal costs which was approximately $130,000. Mayoral Report, Mayor Willard E. Dunham stated the City made the front page of Fisherman's News for the Coastal Villages Regional Fund. He expanded on the current state of the fishing fleet, as reported in the Fisherman's News newspaper, and the federal response that may be imminent to respond. Vice Mayor Bardarson stated that she and the City Manager would be travelling on May 17 through May 20, 2011 to visit the Coastal Villages Regional Fund people in Seattle, see their facilities and determine their needs. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 568 Mayor Dunham added that it was imperative that the city continue to push for an extension on the railroad dock. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Council discussed funding options for the Library Museum Project. City Manager Oates gave an overview of the work session and the various alternatives available, including: an alcohol inventory property or sales tax, an alcohol /tobacco sales tax, a seasonal sales tax, a flat sales tax increase, an increase in the sales tax cap, an increase in real property tax rate, and an increase in the bed tax. Councilmember Shafer requested they pursue a 10% alcohol /tobacco tax with a sunset clause. Smith would like to see resolutions for each option with a reduced amount for the bond. Keil reminded council that the property tax resolution had been defeated. Valdatta suggested they approach the non - profits and non - property tax paying customers. By unanimous consent, the rules were suspended for an update on the project. Kent Crandall, project manager, stated they were two weeks away from having a completed design. PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance 2011 -002, Increasing The City Sales Tax From Four Percent To Four- And -One- Half Percent, Beginning January 1, 2012. 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 (Bardarson /Shafer) Enact Ordinance 2011 -002 Motion (Shafer/Keil) Postpone Ordinance 2011 -002 to the May 23, 2011 meeting. Motion to Postpone Passed Yes: Bardarson, Valdatta, Keil, Smith, Shafer, Casagranda No: Dunham UNFINISHED BUSINESS Ordinance 2010 -009, Amending Seward City Code Section 5.35.055 To Create A Revenue Source For Repayment Of Up To A 25 Year /$3.73m General Obligation Bond For Construction Of The Seward Museum By Establishing A Variable Seasonal Sales Tax That Increases The City Of Seward Rate To 5% During April Through September Of Each Year And Reduces The Rate To 3% In October Through March Of Each Year. Motion (Shafer /Smith) Postpone Ordinance 2010 -009 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 569 him After further discussion, Councilmember Shafer withdrew her motion to postpone so Council could amend the Ordinance. Councilmember Smith agreed to the withdrawal. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Amend Ordinance 2010 -009 by changing the amount to read "up to" 25 year /$3.73m throughout the Ordinance. Motion to Amend Passed Yes: Dunham, Bardarson, Valdatta, Smith, Keil, Shafer No: Casagranda Motion (Shafer /Smith) Postpone Ordinance 2010 -009 to the May 23, 2011 meeting. Motion to Postpone Passed Yes: Bardarson, Valdatta, Keil, Smith, Shafer, Casagranda No: Dunham Resolution 2011 -019, Approving The Purchase Of A Backhoe For An Amount Not To Exceed $90,000. Motion (Shafer/Keil) Approve Resolution 2011 -019 Electric Manager, John Foutz, provided Council with several quotes on new and used equipment from John Deere, Case and Caterpillar. Motion (Shafer/Keil) Amend Resolution 2011 -019 by changing the amount from $200,000 to $90,000. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Councilmember Smith left the meeting at 8:40 p.m. NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2011 -027, Authorizing Additional Funds In The Amount Of $20,000 For City Council Travel Related To The New Arctic Research Vessel, Coastal Villages Research Fund, And Other Similar Economic Initiatives, And Appropriating Funds. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 570 Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2011 -027 Motion (Keil/Valdatta) Amend Resolution 2011 -027 by changing the amount from $20,000 to $10,000. Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous Main Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -030, Approving A Contract For Animal Control Services With Shelli McDowell In The Amount Of $57,201.96. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Approve Resolution 2011 -030 Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -032, Authorizing Signatures For All City Bank Accounts And Rescinding All Previous Resolutions In Conflict Herewith. Motion (Bardarson/Keil) Approve Resolution 2011 -032 .rr Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2011 -033, Authorizing Expenditures In An Amount Not To Exceed $65,000 As Start -Up Costs For The Seward Community Health Center, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/Bardarson) Approve Resolution 2011 -033 Keil & Bardarson asked for a ruling on a potential conflict of interest, as they both served on the Community Health Center's Board of Directors, but Mayor Dunham ruled that a conflict did not exist. Motion Passed Unanimous OTHER NEW BUSINESS Council scheduled a work session to discuss amending building codes on July 11, 2011 at 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers. Council scheduled work sessions for Enterprise Fund Rate Reviews in Council Chambers as follows: Parking & Electric — August 1, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Harbor — June 6, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 571 Water & Sewer — July 18, 2011 at 7:00 Council scheduled a work session to review audit results with John Bost or Michelle Drew on June 27, 2011 at 5:00 in Council Chambers. The work session with the Alaska SeaLife Center for April 26, 2011 was cancelled and would be rescheduled. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS (No action required) February Providence Report. February City Financial Report. Letter to Kenai Mayor Pat Porter RE: All America City Nomination Letters to House Finance Committee RE: CSSB 84 (FIN) COUNCILS' COMMENTS Councilmember Shafer expressed her condolences to the AVTEC student's family who was killed yesterday in Anchorage. Councilmember Casagranda thanked Shelli McDowell for doing a good job at reducing expenses at the dog pound, and she was looking forward to being more informed about council travel. She also thanked the Library Museum Project Committee. Councilmember Keil offered tidings to City Manager Oates' mother for turning 89, and said great job to the harbor for obtaining the wash down pad. Councilmember Valdatta encouraged everyone to vote for Seward for the fishing city of the United States. Vice Mayor Bardarson asked people to please vote for Seward as well, and also expressed her condolences to the Brent Whitmore family. Mayor Dunham offered his condolences to the families of Gene Bradley, Brent Whitmore, and Bob Miller. He also announced that the Little League baseball season would kick off on Sunday, and reported that he had attended the Arts Council meeting and there was $600,000 available in grants for artists. CITIZENS' COMMENTS Carol Griswold felt the public had been excluded from the Coastal Villages Regional Fund discussions. She urged Council to schedule a public hearing and to encourage PACAB to vet this project. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes April 25, 2011 Volume 38, Page 572 Jim Herbert urged council to communicate with eac h other in order to be in a p osition to act siii on the Library Museum Project. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZENS' COMMENTS Councilmember Keil responded that the Coastal Villages Regional Fund discussion earlier this evening stressed that the focus and discussion to date had only been on Phase 1. Mayor Dunham stated that the Council began the endeavor to raise public awareness in October 2010, that the Coastal Villages Regional Fund board visited Seward in late 2010, and that the drawings that had been circulated were merely projections and concepts only. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 / , 4 1I 4 I . . . .L.!9s`. . 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