HomeMy WebLinkAbout10222012 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
October 22, 2012 Volume 39, Page 25
CALL TO ORDER
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The October 22, 2012 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor David Seaward.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
SWEARING IN OF NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS
Newly- elected council members Jean Bardarson and Marianna Keil were sworn in by City
Clerk Johanna Kinney.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
David Seaward presiding and
Jean Bardarson Christy Terry
Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta
Marianna Keil
fir.• comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jim Hunt, City Manager
Johanna Kinney, City Clerk
Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk
Absent — Ristine Casagranda
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Sue McClure said she and Mayor Navarre would present a proclamation to Autumn Ludwig
at the Assembly meeting tomorrow night.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (Bardarson /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2012 -079, Accepting Funds Up To $7,280 From The Alaska Owl (Online With
Libraries) For An Internet Technology Aide Grant And Appropriating Funds.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
October 22, 2012 Volume 39, Page 26
The September 10, 2012 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes, the September 24 2012 City
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Council Regular Meeting Minutes, the September 24, 2012 City Council Special Meeting
Minutes and the September 28, 2012 City Council Special Meeting Minutes were approved.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
A Proclamation for Extra Mile America was read.
A Certificate of Congratulations was presented to Autumn Ludwig for her assistance during
the 2012 Mount Marathon Race and for being named Fire Fighter of the Year.
An Alaska Police Standards Council Advanced Certificate was awarded to Officer Kenneth
Brockman.
Chamber of Commerce Report, Cindy Clock stated the Silver Salmon Derby /Fish
Restoration Committee met last week and permitted the chamber to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association (CIAA) to raise 50,000 Coho (Silver)
Salmon. The eggs had been gathered at the Bear Creek Weir and would be released in 2014. The
chamber website had a new page called "Winter Starts Here" to encourage people to explore Seward
in the winter months. Clock outlined the state and federal legislative priorities for the Alaska
Chamber of Commerce. Iceland Airlines would start service next summer between Reykjavik and
Anchorage.
City Manager's Report, Jim Hunt stated the following emergency purchase orders related
to the September Flood Event were approved by the City Manager between $10,000 and $50,000:
$50,000 to Big Mike's for debris removal, $22,000 to CRW Engineering for the design of the
emergency water line repair at the waterfall, and a regular purchase order for $15,000 to Metco, Inc.
for road sand to prepare for the 2012 -2013 winter season.
Change Order No. 5 for the Seward Community Library /Museum included unforeseen non-
discretionary changes to bring the atrium wall up to code in the amount of $5,349.19 and
discretionary changes for a lighting package to complete the build -out of the museum exhibit space
in the amount of $54,092.48 for a total of $59,441.67. Recent negotiations with AVTEC resulted in
signing an agreement that would be brought to council for consideration next month. Gym hours and
program space sharing were included in the agreement. A combination of AVTEC's need for the
space and budget restraints resulted in an upcoming office space shift for the city's Parks and
Recreation Department.
The City Manager and Assistant City Manager attended the launch of the R/V Sikuliaq in
Wisconsin and met with representatives from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) and
National Science Foundation (NSF) officials to build on the themes identified in the city's
Comprehensive Plan to make Seward the arctic research and education center of Alaska. Hunt and
Long also attended several classes each at the International City Managers Association Conference,
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
October 22, 2012 Volume 39, Page 27
and would be focusing on customer service issues throughout the city going forward. They also met
with the governor's administration, AIDEA and city lobbyist, Kent Dawson, to discuss the Coastal
Villages project and the SMIC bond package.
The harbor hired a new office worker, Naneth Ambrosiani, who previously worked for the
city's Finance Department. A second wheel failed on the 50 -ton TraveLift on October 8, 2012, but a
spare wheel was installed on October 17, 2012. The Harbormaster was attending the Alaska
Harbormaster's annual convention in Sitka this week, and next week would attend a tsunami
preparedness workshop in Cordova along with Hunt and Fire Chief Dave Squires. The fourth Coastal
Villages Region Fund vessel, The Gildy Logger, arrived in the harbor on October 17, 2012.
Administration met with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) to review flood damage and scope preliminary costs October 17, 2012. The following areas
were identified as project areas caused by flood damage: landslide and waterfall on Lowell Point
Road, Lowell Canyon upstream from diversion dike, Scheffler Creek in Clearview, Japanese Creek
levee and the 4th of July Creek levee. The electric conduit throughout the Camelot subdivision was
originally laid without the proper conduit, and had deteriorated to the point wherein approximately
half of the residents were without power. The Electric Department was working diligently on repairs
and upgrades.
Bardarson said Resurrection Seafood had been without water since the September 19, 2012
flood and had not been able to buy and/or process fish since then. Hunt said the delay for responding
was because the work required an engineer, but the city was moving forward quickly now. Bardarson
was concerned that the fish season was over on November 15, 2012.
Mayoral Report, David Seaward stated he attended the launch ceremony of the R/V
Sikuliaq in Seward on October 13, 2012. He would be traveling to Obihiro, Japan from October 28,
2012 through November 4, 2012. He would be meeting with Governor Parnell on November 6, 2012.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Ordinance 2012 -010, Amending Title 14 Of The City's Code Of Ordinances To Provide For
Interconnection Of Small Renewable Energy Sources To The City's Electrical Distribution
System. (A motion to introduce Ordinance 2012 -010 was made at the September 10, 2012 meeting
by Council Member Casagranda and seconded by Council Member Terry. The introduction was
postponed to September 24, 2012 and then again to this meeting date.)
Motion (Shafer/Terry) Postpone Introduction of Ordinance 2012-
010 to the November 26, 2012 council
meeting.
Motion Passed Unanimous Consent
NEW BUSINESS
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
October 22, 2012 Volume 39, Page 28
Other New Business
Council nominated, elected and swore in Jean Bardarson as Vice Mayor.
Mayor Seaward appointed Ristine Casagranda as the Kenai Peninsula Borough Economic
Development District (KPBEDD) Representative, and directed individual Boards and
Commissions to present verbal quarterly reports to the City Council.
Council discussed supporting Bonding Proposition A, State General Obligation
Transportation Project Bonds at the November 6, 2012 General Election and decided against
expressing an opinion as a body.
Council finalized travel plans to the Alaska Municipal League (AML) Conference being held
from November 12 -16, 2012 in Anchorage, Alaska. Mayor Seaward would attend the Mayors
Conference, and Council Member Keil would attend the AML Conference.
Council cancelled the November 13, 2012 City Council Regular Meeting due to a scheduling
conflict with the Alaska Municipal League (AML) Conference being that week.
Council discussed Mayor Seaward's upcoming meeting with Governor Parnell. Long agreed to
attend with Seaward.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
August Financial Reports for Providence Seward Medical Center
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Bardarson thanked council for nominating and electing her as Vice Mayor.
Keil congratulated Bardarson on her re- appointment as Vice Mayor.
Shafer was pleased with the turnout of the R/V Sikuliaq community party at the KM Rae
Building on October 15, 2012 and thought it demonstrated a huge amount of community support.
She appreciated the opportunity to attend the launch in person.
Valdatta asked what the status was with the property of the former Jesse Lee Home.
Terry volunteered last week with the Seward Elementary School and helped perform a mock
city council meeting where they passed a resolution. She congratulated Autumn Ludwig and Officer
Brockman on their accomplishments.
City Kinney Clerk Johanna Kinne confirmed the work session scheduled for October 24 2012 to
discuss the interconnect policy had been cancelled. She suggested scheduling the special meeting at
the end of a budget work session for council approval of the city's annual legislative priorities.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
October 22, 2012 Volume 39, Page 29
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Tim McDonald congratulated the re- elected council members. Regarding the city's
interconnect policy, he said it had been over a year since the State of Alaska passed a net metering
law which required the city to also institute a similar law. He thought the most important issue facing
the community was the financial implication of the upcoming bond package and thought it would be
best served by creating a local port authority. He said the "free money" coming to Seward had a cost
related to it, and the community may not be prepared with the infrastructure to support it.
Keith Campbell said the development committee for the new Seward Community Library
Museum had considered alternative heating supply, but had not considered wind energy. He was in
favor of having windmills and thought it was a cost - saving renewable energy source that would
benefit the community.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Keil said there would be work sessions for the budget on November 5 -7, 2012 which were
open to the public and would be televised. She added that there were funds available through the
State of Alaska for an energy program for low- income families.
Valdatta said the city had researched having a port authority and had researched the pros and
cons. He asked Campbell to check and see if there was a tempering tank at the new Seward
Community Library Museum.
Seaward supported looking into the potential to have wind energy at the new Seward
Community Library Museum as an energy- saving and an educational tool.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
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