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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02222016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 23 CALL TO ORDER The February 22, 2016 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY Police Chief Tom Clemons led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda Dave Squires Dale Butts Sue McClure comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Absent—Deborah Altermatt CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Lee Poleske spoke in support of the proposed city flag project.He liked that it would involve students of all grades to come up with designs. It would be a real challenge to come up with something with a few colors and symbols to capture Seward, he felt. Poleske thanked the city for getting Scheffler Creek Bridge fixed and for fixing a hole on the bike path.He also thanked the City Clerk and her staff for their help. Christy Terry spoke as a representative of the Alaska Railroad Corporation and hoped council would schedule a work session with the Railport Development Group for an update on the Railport Seward Project. They were asking specifically for the date of May 19, 2016 so the group could travel to Seward to share the feedback and also witness cruise ship operations the next day as well as participate in a chamber lunch. Thanked the council in advance for their support. Dan Linkhart was one of the initiators of the flag committee and member of the Seward Music and Arts Festival Committee. He thanked council in advance for supporting the flag project resolution on the agenda tonight.What better way to inspire pride in the community than to advocate for this project. A well designed flag would be beneficial and people would take pride in it. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 24 Justine Pechuzal was a local art educator,citizen,and artist. She expressed support for the city flag resolution and thought it was a great opportunity.The city logo was great and very detailed, but a simpler flag would be recognizable from far away.Pechuzal was here tonight to show support and was excited to see what would come out of it. Tim McDonald said the flag project sounded like a fun contest.He gave a short report as the city representative on the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association,which met February 20, 1016.The big topic of discussion was State Proposition 203;six aquaculture associations were putting this measure before the state legislature and Resurrection Bay would be affected by it. McDonald said he had recommended to the association a Seward area salmon rehabilitation plan, as Seward's flood plain often affected the salmon spawns. Carol Griswold recalled at the February 10,2016 Special City Council Meeting for the City Manager's evaluation,she spoke of his violation of his contract with the council by his participation in a business,possible work place bullying,and possibly asking for a raise during a freeze. She said an internal, confidential investigation by the city's insurance company, Alaska Municipal League Joint Insurance Association (AML/JIA) should be considered by the City Council. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Keil requested Resolutions 2016-016, 2016-017, 2016-018, and 2016-019 be placed on the consent agenda with no objection from council. Bardarson requested to give an AML report on her recent trip to Juneau be added to the agenda. Keil requested a discussion item soliciting applications for the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association City of Seward seat. Long requested council add an item to schedule a work session to discuss potential marijuana regulations. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Resolution 2016-016, Accepting Funds From The Alaska State Library For A Continuing Education Grant In The Amount Of$1,500.00,And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2016-017,Accepting Funds From The Alaska State Museums For A FY2016 Grant- In-Aid Internship Grant In The Amount Of$6,000.00 And Appropriating Funds. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 25 Resolution 2016-018, Accepting 2015 Travel And Training Grant Funds From The State Historic Preservation Office(SHPO)In The Amount Of$561.44,And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2016-019, Placing The Eide-Stotko House Located At 420 Third Avenue On The Seward Register Of Historic Places. Approval of the January 25, 2016 and the February 8, 2016 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes and the February 10,2016 Special Meeting Minutes. Appoint Margaret Anderson and Gary Seese to the Planning and Zoning Commission with terms expiring in February 2018 (Anderson) and 2019 (Seese). SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations &Awards 2015 Historic Preservation Awards to Jennifer Headtke and Tanguy Libbrecht. Chamber of Commerce Report. Cindy Clock reported she heard the birding trip last weekend was a huge success. "Rise and Shine" was the name of the new Seward business marketing group, who were meeting on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Dennis McMillian from the Foraker Group did some training for the chamber last week and it was a very inspiring visit. The National Ocean Sciences Bowl was this weekend in Seward, and chamber luncheons continued on with various speakers.The annual spring sports shows were coming up in the Matanuska Susitna Valley, Fairbanks and Anchorage. Clock was pleased to announce local resident and guide, Pyper Dixon, was featured in a National Geographic article. Borough Assembly Report. Brandii Holmdahl said at the last meeting the Assembly discussed a resolution that created a borough-wide Senior Citizens Task Force made of seven members. They also discussed an ordinance that was going to change the alcohol set back from schools and churches and also how to measure that setback. Through debate, it was decided to leave the alcohol setback distance at 500 feet,but the Assembly changed the way it was measured, which was similar to how the state measured: front-door to front-door. At their last meeting,the Assembly passed state capital projects. They would be having a work session with the Borough Planning Commission on February 23, 2016 prior to the Assembly meeting that evening. On the Assembly agenda was voting on proposed changes to the borough's local option zones and the borough's Marijuana Task Force recommendations. City Manager's Report.Jim Hunt reported the following purchase orders between$10,000 and$50,000 were approved since the last council meeting, all for the Electric Department: • $20,118.00 to Anixter for the purchase of halophane lights • $25,123.00 to G&W Electric for dielectric reclosure for Spring Creek • $13,974.00 to WESCO LED for street lights • $75,000.00 to Dryden&Lame for design and installation for the Spring Creek Substation • $15,260.00 to Schweitzer Engineering for the Spring Creek Transformer City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 26 Long stated they had a lot of conversations in Juneau regarding the repair of the Seward Airport, which had needed repairs since 2012. $17 million of federal funds were secured with the help of the federal government,and the city was trying to find a way to work with state departments. Currently the proposed construction was set for 2018,but Long feared it would be longer than that. The city would continue to encourage the state to come up with an interim plan for larger aircrafts, which Seward could not currently accommodate. City Attorney's Report. Will Earnhart said they've worked on a lot of public records issues and ongoing matters related to litigation. Earnhart stated for executive sessions,the motion to go into executive session must be made on record and in a public meeting. Once the motion was approved,the session became private and the body should only discuss the issues set forth in the motion.This could include tangential issues, but no public motions on tangential issues should be made after the body came out of executive session. Anything decided on in executive session must be put on the public record. It was questionable if the confidential matters discussed should be disclosed afterwards. Keil asked if someone had a position with the city that required confidentiality and then left the city, were they still bound to maintain confidentiality? Earnhart said they were still bound,but the city didn't have employees sign confidentiality agreements. Anyone working for the city had a public duty to protect confidentiality. Earnhart said it depended on the case as to if there were any repercussions in not maintaining confidentiality. He noted it would be a difficult civil action, but possible to engage in. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations AML Travel Report by Mayor Bardarson. The Mayor gave a brief report of her trip to Juneau on February 15-18,2016 for the Alaska Municipal League Winter Conference and legislative trip. Keil stated she and Altermatt met with representatives from Brest, France, who visited the Alaska SeaLife Center to discuss future marine collaboration. They presented the city with a glass whale tail, which she showed to everyone and gave to the clerk for display. Keil also requested everyone sing"Happy Birthday"to Council Member McClure. PUBLIC HEARINGS Resolution 2016-014, Recommending Kenai Peninsula Borough Approval Of The Spring Creek Correctional Facility Site Replat,Number 1;This Plat Vacates The Boundary Between Two Existing Parcels And Creates Two Different Parcels; Includes The Vacation Of Blanket Utility And Access Easements And Dedicates Platted Easements For Known Utilities And Accesses; Located Within The Institutional Zoning District. Motion (Keil/McClure) Approve Resolution 2016-014 City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22,2016 Volume 40, Page 27 Long stated this concept was years in the making, and involved agencies on the city, state, and borough level. This resolution recommended a replat to facilitate transfer of title of the Spring Creek Correctional Center lands from the City of Seward to the State of Alaska Department of Corrections. 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. In response to Squires,Long stated the area where the city's water tank was located did not have enough space for a second tank, but it had enough space to upgrade to a larger tank. Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2016-015,Authorizing The Purchase Of A Ford F-350 XL From Worthington Ford For A Net Price Of$23,352.00 Including Trade-In Of Vehicle #507 And The Purchase Of Installed After-Market Operating Equipment From Quality Equipment Sales And Service For $12,850 For A Total Project Cost Of$36,202,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/Casagranda) Approve Resolution 2016-015 Long reminded the council that the FY 2016-2017 budget did not include any Motor Pool Fund contributions from the General Fund, but the Electric Department was still contributing and this vehicle and a few others were allowed for purchase. Foutz stated this vehicle was discussed at the recent motor pool work session on January 11, 2016. Squires thanked Foutz for his diligence in preparing this legislation and getting value on the trade-in. This information was well prepared. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2016-020,Supporting The Seward City Flag Committee To Oversee The Process Of Design, Selection,And Unveiling Of A City Of Seward Flag. (Casagranda) Motion (Casagranda/McClure) Approve Resolution 2016-020 Casagranda said at the last meeting of the Seward City Flag Committee, they nailed down some more specifics of the project and judging process. She gave a brief history of how this project came to this point. A committee was formed to bring forward an idea of creating a city flag. They decided it would be best to stage a contest similar to how the state flag was chosen,by submissions of school children.The committee would like to unveil the new flag on Seward's Founder's Day,on August 28, 2016. Casagranda felt it was great to create a project that Seward's children could tell their children about in addition to the great civic pride this would instill in the community. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 28 McClure added the committee was prepared to give out statements to announce the contest and rules. Two local art teachers were on board and were prepared to incorporate this project into their curriculums this year. The proposed submission date would be April 29, 2016. The process would involve similarities to the Alaska state flag selection,as the committee wanted to follow those historical footsteps. Long asked if there would be any costs to the city.Casagranda said there were none planned, unless the city wanted to order flags in the future. Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Schedule a work session with the Railport Development Group for May 19,2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library/Museum Community Room. (Bardarson) The council agreed to schedule this work session. Discuss scheduling an Executive Session to discuss Employee Overtime. (Casagranda) After much discussion,council did not direct staff to schedule an upcoming executive session on employee overtime, but directed individual council members ask their questions of administration. Discuss soliciting applications for the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association City of Seward seat. (Keil) Council directed this discussion item come forward on the March 14,2016 agenda and directed the clerk to prepare a memorandum showing length of terms for city-related boards and commissions. Schedule a work session on potential marijuana regulations. Council scheduled this work session for Monday,March 14,2016 at 5:30 p.m. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Letter from Mayor Bardarson to Borough Mayor Navarre, recommending the appointment of Kathy Kloster to the Health Care Task Force. COUNCIL COMMENTS Butts thanked everyone for showing up tonight. He gave his condolences to the Corrigan family and the Seward Volunteer Fire Department.Butts announced on February 25,2016 he would be telephonically attending a Kenai Peninsula Economic Development District meeting. Keil thanked Anderson and Seese for re-applying to the Planning and Zoning Commission. There was a joint council work session with all boards and commissions on February 24, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. She concluded her comments by stating sometimes suppositions turned into fact at the city, and they all needed to be careful of consequences of saying things that were not factual. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 29 Squires expressed his condolences to the Corrigan family,the Fire Department,the hospital, and to the volunteer ambulance corps. He also thanked Anderson and Seese for re-joining the Planning and Zoning Commission. McClure thanked everyone for the birthday wishes. She was touched by items on the agenda • tonight such as the historic register of places addition and the historic awards given tonight. She expressed her deep condolences to the Corrigan family.McClure thanked council for the support of the flag project. Long said they worked with a lot of people and disagreements were not uncommon but no one was a bad person. There was a presentation earlier today by the state on budget analysis for proposed permanent fund dividend plans which was available online and worth a look. Hunt thanked everyone for their kind comments and support.It was not easy working for the city as one was targeted often. Council had a tough job in dealing with matters of the city and comments of the community. Bardarson said to be careful to be sure what was said was the truth and people knew the facts. She gave her condolences to the Corrigan family. City Clerk Johanna Kinney announced the joint work session with the Boards and Commissions would take place in the Library/Museum Community Room. CITIZEN COMMENTS Tim McDonald said he'd been watching the six community swans in the Nash Road area and reported a new one showed up recently.Regarding the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association,there were a lot of things going on right now and it was a large board. There were some vacancies, one being a sport fishing seat. Seward needed more representation on this board. The local Fish and Game Advisory Board was against Proposition 203 and that dealt with the association's involvement in Seward. McDonald had some suggestions for the future enhancement of salmon. John French said he was the city representative for many years on the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association. Like any nonprofit private organization, it was governed by its bylaws. CIAA had a number of elected voting seats.He added Seward was part of the CIAA because this to be part of the district managed by the Cook Inlet fishery.The seat filled by the Seward representative was a governmental seat designated from the City of Seward. Unlike the elected seats which had term lengths, the municipal seats were left undefined because they wanted the member entity to define them. So he felt the council's idea to put parameters on the term of the city seat was appropriate and up to the city. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes February 22, 2016 Volume 40, Page 30 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:53 p.m. igAtri/4 11101 Johanna Ki y, CMC can Bardarson City Clerk , Mayor (City Sear;°' i-p°`^v'may ••'�y a 3 a <ta is ° VA A + K6cti ta C_4"f ;"^s92i'D •5`Y �Dp ee9PD^;7sc''`.