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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02112013 City Council Minutes City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Volume 39, Page 75 CALL TO ORDER The February 11, 2013 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor David Seaward. OPENING CEREMONY Lieutenant Louis Tiner led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: David Seaward presiding and Christy Terry Vanta Shafer Bob Valdatta Ristine Casagranda Marianna Keil comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Nanci Richey, Administrative Assistant Absent — Jean Bardarson CITIZEN COMMENTS Cindy Clock requested council schedule a work session before the next regular next meeting so Lazio Kozman from Strategy -Nets and Christi Bell from the University of Alaska Center for Economic Development could present the Seward Economic Development Plan, as well as a ten - minute presentation during the regular meeting. Dot Bardarson noted the proposal for the Obihiro mural on the agenda tonight for council to discuss. The mural society was in favor of this project and was available to answer any questions if the council had any. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Terry /Shafer) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Terry requested Resolution 2013 -012 be pulled from the consent agenda. Seaward requested Resolution 2013 -013 be pulled from the consent agenda. Terry requested council add item 7B6 to the consent agenda, "Schedule a work session at 5:30 p.m. on February 25, 2013 and schedule a ten - minute presentation to the February 25, 2013 City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Volume 39, Page 76 regular meeting agenda to review the Seward Economic Growth Plan with Lazlo Kozman of Strategy- Nets." Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2013 -010, Supporting The 40 Anniversary Of The Sister City Student Exchange Program With Obihiro, Japan By Allocating A Travel Expense Stipend Of $1,000 Each For Up To Two Students In 2013, And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2013 -011, Retroactively Amending The 2012 Budget To Record Expenditures Of $625,512 Paid By The State Of Alaska On Behalf Of The City Toward The City's Public Employees Retirement System Liability. The January 14, 2013 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Were Approved. There was no objection to the liquor license renewal for Oriental Garden. Council scheduled a work session at 5:30 p.m. on February 25, 2013 and a ten - minute presentation to the February 25, 2013 regular meeting agenda to review the Seward Economic Growth Plan with Lazlo Kozman of Strategy -Nets. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards A proclamation was read supporting the "One Million Rising" effort to end violence against women. Borough Assembly Report, Sue McClure stated the Assembly was looking at changing the version of Mason's Rules of Order to adopt the newest version. The Assembly also changed the meeting times from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. They passed Ordinance 2012 -19 -42 which authorized approximately $3.3 million for professional design of a new Central Peninsula Hospital Medical Office Building. City Manager's Report, Jim Hunt had been no purchase orders approved by the City Manager for between $10,000 and $50,000 since the last council meeting. The City Clerk's Office was seeking up to four Seward high school students to participate in a student exchange this summer with Sister City of Obihiro, Japan. Administration was partnering with KPEDD to host an after - hours reception in Juneau for legislators and staff on February 27, 2013 to highlight the SMIC /CVRF project. All costs were being paid through local and regional business contributions. The Port and Commerce Advisory Board would join with the Alaska Gasline Development Corporation to host a public work session at the Seward Community Library Museum on February 26, 2013. This forum would begin a local public discussion on what the instate gas pipeline could mean for the region and for Seward. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 volume 39, Page 77 law The Harbormaster, Deputy Harbormaster and PACAB Chair attended the Anchors Aweigh boat show in Anchorage last week. The Coast Guard Building was demolished. The Seward Volunteer Fire Department was celebrating service to the community with its annual banquet at Chinooks on February 23, 2013 and council was cordially invited. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) approved Chugach Electric Association's requests for interim and refundable rate increases to base energy and demand charges effective February 6, 2013. The increase was 32.4% for Seward Electrical Systems. The City of Seward administration estimated that the average impact to Seward's residential customers would be an increase in their utility bill of approximately $1.40 per month. In addition to these interim rate increases, Chugach was also requesting approval of permanent rate increases (which had not been approved) to base energy and demand charges, as follows: 71.4% and 17.2% for Seward Electric System. The RCA did not approve the permanent rates at this time, allowing time for Chugach to make their case in upcoming hearings. In the Parks and Recreation Department, staff continued researching new restroom options, snow removal, organizing the annual Polar Bear Festival Kid's Carnival, After School Program and Day Camps, First Friday Fun, and Teen Time. Sports and Recreation was prepping to move out of AVTEC back office area by March 1, 2013. Adult volleyball and basketball leagues were happening as well as women's hoops, rock wall climbing, archery, roller skating, and Urbach's Youth Basketball League. Hunt noted the positive comments he received about Council Member Casagranda's presentation in Homer at the Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District's Economic Outlook Forum January 31 and February 1, 2013. He added he and Assistant City Manager Long would be in Juneau February 12 -13, 2013 to meet with legislators regarding the SMIC Expansion Project. Mayoral Report, David Seaward thanked council for supporting HB 35. If passed, it would create a low interest home loan program to enable homeowners to replace home heating systems, much like the weatherization plan. He also complimented Casagranda on her presentation in Homer. Seaward encouraged the public to apply for the vacancies on the city's boards and commissions. Mayor Navarre would be in Seward on February 13, 2013 to visit with the public. Shafer clarified Planning and Zoning applicants were required to be city residents. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations A Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District's (KPEDD) 2013 Industry Outlook Forum Travel Report was given by Council Member Ristine Casagranda. Council directed administration to bring forward a resolution to recommend the EPA exempt shippers transiting Alaska and adjacent Federal waters from the Emissions Control Area requirements to burn ultra -low sulfur diesel while in the regulatory zone, which was less than 200 miles from shore. } NEW BUSINESS City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Volume 39, Page 78 Resolution 2013 -012, Prioritizing The City Of Seward's Calendar Year 2013 Federal Legislative Priorities. Motion (Terry /Keil) Approve Resolution 2013 -012 Long stated this was initially in response to Senator Murkowski's request for the top three ranking of the City of Seward's federal priorities, and now Senator Begich was asking for the entire federal priority list to be ranked. Priority #1 would be classed as a new project as far as the Corps of Engineers was concerned. It would require a feasibility study, which would be about $2 million with a 50/50 cost share. The top three were already determined by council earlier this year; the rest was ranked by administration, as directed. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2013 -013, Approving An Amendment To The Employment Agreement With The City Manager. Motion (Keil /Shafer) Approve Resolution 2013 -013 Seaward pointed out in Resolution 2013 -013 the fourth Whereas which increased the City Manager's salary and severance pay. He thought that nine months of severance pay was high and he would like it amended to 6 months. Motion to Amend (Seaward /Casagranda) Amend Resolution 2013 -013, by changing reference to nine months' severance pay to six months' severance pay in the Fourth Whereas, Section One, and the corresponding amendment to the employment contract. Hunt said this was agreed upon by council, and didn't think there was any need for discussion. Keil said there was no objection at this time, and this was discussed in his evaluation. City Clerk Johanna Kinney clarified no action could be taken nor agreements made in an executive session; and any contract discussions that occurred in executive session would need to be formally decided upon in public, which was what the council was doing at this meeting. Motion to Amend Failed Yes: Casagranda, Seaward No: Shafer, Keil, Valdatta, Terry Main Motion Passed Yes: Shafer, Terry, Casagranda, Keil, Valdatta No: Seaward Other New Business City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Volume 39, Page 79 With consent of the council, the mayor appointed the following members to the Seward ir• Recreation Committee, a Special Ad Hoc Citizen Advisory Committee: Mica Van Buskirk, Joe Allen, Peggy Hamner, Amy Komarek, Jena Peterson, Jody Tuck, Mike Little, David Paperman, Mike Insalaco, and Aspen Rose Aponi. The mayor also appointed Council Member Ristine Casagranda as a Council Liaison, and Council Member Vanta Shafer as an alternate Council Liaison. Administration was directed to provide a staff member to provide assistance with the committee. Mayor Seaward also directed the committee to appoint its own chair. Discussion on the Seward Mural Society's proposal for the 2013 Obihiro Mural Project. By Unanimous Consent, council suspended the rules to allow Master Artist Justine Peschuzal and Dot Bardarson to answer questions. Bardarson clarified the $5,000 master artist fee was their standard fee and the only artist payment for any mural projects they do. The master artist also served as the project engineer for the mural. Council directed the clerk to bring forward a resolution to approve funding for this project, with funds coming from the general fund. Council selected Jean Bardarson and Vanta Shafer to travel to Juneau for a legislative reception on February 27, 2013. COUNCIL COMMENTS Keil thanked John French for serving on Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for ten years and Tena Morgan for her service on both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Seward Bear Creek Flood Service Area Board. Keil encouraged the public to volunteer for a board or commission. Shafer congratulated the debate team for advancing to state. She reminded the public they voted to opt out of the Alaska Public Offices Commission's Financial Disclosure Statement Forms, and they were now using less intrusive, city- approved disclosure forms. The city really needed Planning and Zoning Commissioners. The commission has had several meetings cancelled due to lack of a quorum, which delayed a lot of work. Shafer encouraged the Young Entrepreneurs of Seward (YES) group to apply for some Planning and Zoning Commission seats. Valdatta asked about the Alaska Gasline Development Forum event corning up and hoped the library conference room was big enough. Casagranda thanked everyone for signing up for the Seward Recreation Committee. She was looking forward to being a part of that next YES meeting, which was on February 18, 2013. Terry encouraged high school students to apply for the student exchange. The deadline to submit applications was February 20, 2013. She echoed the importance of applying for boards and commissions. Terry thanked the applicants for the Seward Recreation Committee. She congratulated the third grade team in Seward who won the Battle of the Books. it Long hoped everyone feels better soon. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes February 11, 2013 Volume 39, Page 80 Hunt said he was disappointed and felt ambushed by the mayor tonight. He would have appreciated a heads up tonight. Hunt was also disappointed that this discussion about his compensation was the day before administration would leave to Juneau to advocate for funding for SMIC and didn't feel like this showed Seward having a united front. Seaward thanked everyone for corning and for those who watched. He encouraged the public to apply for the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission. CITIZEN COMMENTS Renee Rinnick clarified the YES meeting was actually February 19, 2013. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Keil added her condolences to the Fletcher Family and the family of Ed Glotfelty. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. J • hanna Ki • e MC David Seawa ity Clerk Mayor (City Seal) • 0 �' „' � i_ � • `4 t/� i q e 1 oF