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Home My WebLink About06272016 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27,2016 Volume 40, Page 74 CALL TO ORDER The June 27, 2016 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Mayor Jean Bardarson. OPENING CEREMONY Lieutenant Doreen Valadez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. ROLL CALL There were present: Jean Bardarson presiding and Marianna Keil Ristine Casagranda *arrived at 8:00 p.m. Dave Squires Dale Butts Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Brenda Ballou, Deputy City Clerk Absent—None CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING til George Goem first came to Seward in 2014.As a boat owner,his impression of the bathroom at the harbor was that they were nice, and the new dock ramps were really nice. He was dismayed that the picnic tables that were previously located at the camp grounds were no longer there,although the log benches were great.He wondered where visitors could go to charge cell phones if they were camping, and asked council to consider turning on the outlets at the pavilion. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/McClure) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Keil added Resolution 2016-040 and Resolution 2016-041 to the consent agenda. Long added an item to Other New Business for a discussion on obtaining a General Obligation Bond for road paving projects. Bardarson removed the approval of the May 23,2016 minutes the consent agenda. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27, 2016 Volume 40, Page 75 Bardarson added an item to Other New Business for a discussion about setting a training session for the City Council, Boards and Commissions addressing the Open Meetings Act (OMA),Parliamentary Procedures, and Quasi-Judicial Procedures. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Approval of the June 13, 2016 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Resolution 2016-040, Accepting The 2016 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant (VFA) In The Amount Of $7,987.50 And Authorizing The 10% Matching Fund Of $887.50 And Appropriating Funds. Resolution 2016-041, Accepting Funds From The Alaska State Library For A Continuing Education Grant In The Amount Of$1,000.00 And Appropriating Funds. SPECIAL ORDERS,PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations &Awards Chamber of Commerce Report. Cindy Clock reported the chamber had been very busy. The chamber had worked with city administration to launch "Bear Paws on Port Avenue" which were bear paws painted on the sidewalks along Port Avenue to indicate where pedestrians should walk safely. Kris Harris was busy renewing chamber memberships. The current men's leader in the Halibut Tournament had a 191.2 pound halibut.Phil Mink caught a tagged fish,and although the tag was from 2015, he would still receive $100. In response to Hunt, Clock said the current women's tournament leader had a 171 pound halibut. Clock thanked the Electric Department for the preparations they began making today for the Fourth of July Festival. The chamber held a Racer Clinic where experienced runners helped familiarize new runners with the Mount Marathon course. There would also be a Ski Patrol Safety and First Aid Response Team on standby on race day;both measures helped make the Mount Marathon Race safer for participants. The Silver Salmon Derby would be in August and the chamber was pleased with a new sponsorship this year from Chevron. There would be two art walks this month,on July 1,2016 and July 8,2016. The chamber was fully staffed and happy with the city's activity. Borough Assembly Report. Brandii Holmdahl said the assembly had been addressing several finance issues. The Borough Mayor's budget had been passed earlier in June, after the assembly made some changes to it, including modifying the Seward landfill station's schedule to close one day each week during the six month off season. The Central Area Rural Transit System (CARTS) program, which provided low income transportation, was another hot topic and would affect Seward. Holmdahl expressed her disappointment that Seward was not being supported as much as other communities, even though taxes went to help pay for services; however, the Independent Living Center had found alternate funding able to assist with transportation in Seward, so should not be impacted too badly. Another issue was proposing the sales tax cap be increased from $500 to $1,000; this was approved by the assembly and would be on the October ballot for City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27,2016 Volume 40, Page 76 voter approval.At the next assembly meeting,they would be addressing senior residential property tax exemptions.Currently seniors received$50,000 from the borough automatically,plus$150,000 exemption required by the State of Alaska on top of that, plus an additional $150,000 exemption from the Kenai Peninsula Borough on top of that.The proposal coming before the assembly would phase out the borough's additional $150,000 exemption over a period of time until the exemption capped at$200,000.At the last assembly meeting,there were licensed approved for seven marijuana cultivation facilities, the nearest one in Seward being in Stoney Creek. The borough was also considering restructuring the planning commission,but that proposal would not affect Seward.There would be one assembly meeting in July during the third week. City Manager's Report. Jim Hunt reported there had been no purchase orders between $10,000 and$50,000 approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting. Assistant City Manager Ron Long spoke about working with the state to identify hot spots along Lowell Point Road that could be addressed in smaller, more fundable increments. The U.S. Coast Guard Change of Command ceremony would be Wednesday this week. In response to McClure regarding the Breakwater Project at the Seward Industrial Marine Center(SMIC),Long said the first load of 3,000 tons was arriving from Kodiak and would be laid as the core rock. Altermatt inquired where any arriving Sentinal Class ships from the U.S. Coast Guard wouldbe docked,and Long said there was potential for them to dock in the harbor or at SMIC;they would have to examine the pros and cons of each location and decide where they wanted to dock. Other Reports,Announcements and Presentations PUBLIC HEARINGS Ordinance 2016-003, Amending The Zoning Map Designation Of Lots 11 And 12, Block 7, Federal Addition, From Single Family Residential (R1) To Two-Family Residential (R2) In Compliance With The Land Use Plan,Located At 700 Second Avenue. Motion (Keil/McClure) Enact Ordinance 2016-003 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 Long said this ordinance was in line with the city's Land Use Plan. Keil said she would support this because there was no objection from staff and this rezone had been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Butts said that had been a concern expressed by an adjacent property owner. Bardarson clarified that there could not be a bunkhouse put on that property. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27, 2016 Volume 40, Page 77 Motion Passed Unanimous Ordinance 2016-004,Amending Portions Of Seward City Code§2.05.035,Denial Of Request; Appeal, To Establish A Customary Timeline To Appeal The Denial Of A Request For Information. Motion (Keil/McClure) Enact Ordinance 2016-004 City Clerk Johanna Kinney explained that the City Attorney had discovered a gap in the city code for addressing a denial of public records request. Although the appeal process itself was outlined, there was no corresponding time limit defined, so this ordinance would define the timeframe in which a person could appeal a denial of records request. In addition, this ordinance would allow for the appeal hearing to be conducting during a special meeting and not confined to a regular meeting. 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,Kinney explained that if a denial for records happened,the requestor was provided with a documented reason for the denial. Motion Passed Unanimous Ordinance 2016-005,Amending Portions Of Seward City Code Titles 8,9,And 15,Regarding Requirements And Standards For Commercial Marijuana Establishments In The City Of Seward. Motion (Keil/McClure) Enact Ordinance 2016-005 Long said this ordinance addressed the commercial use of marijuana,not personal use.Local communities were allowed to restrict time, place, and manner of commercial activities; administration had worked with the borough to fashion this ordinance. The allowable hours of operation being put forth tonight varied from the state rather than staying with the state's 5:00 a.m. closure rule,administration was proposing adopting the more restrictive 2:00 a.m.closure.As well, administration was proposing a more restrictive 1,000 foot buffer zone around schools rather than the state's 500 foot buffer zone. Notice of the public hearing being posted and published as required by law was noted and the public hearing was opened Darryl Schaefermeyer was disappointed by the city's support of this ordinance. The land use allowed provision of this ordinance caught his attention; he objected to the limited cultivation facility allowance. He asked council to strike this particular section of the ordinance. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27,2016 Volume 40, Page 78 No one else appeared to address the Council and the public hearing was closed. Squires was concerned with the application review process.Squires recalled that for a new or renewal liquor license application,there was an internal review process established that included a sign off from the fire and police departments. Squires believed there should be a similar review process required in this marijuana ordinance. In response to Squires, Kinney said although the liquor license review process was not specified in city code,there was an additional internal requirement for fire and police sign off. The same could be true for a marijuana establishment. Motion To Amend (Squires/Casagranda) Amend Ordinance 2016-005 in Section 8.25.025 (b) by adding#3 "The Applicant shall be in compliance with all City safety requirements." Motion To Amend Passed Unanimous Long said the city would rely upon the detailed application required by the state and would not duplicate the application process. Motion To Amend (Butts/Squires) Amend Ordinance 2016-005 in Section 8.25.030 by striking 8:00 a.m.and replacing it with 10:00 a.m. Butts felt this would bring this in line with retail liquor establishments inside city limits. Motion To Amend Passed Yes: Butts, Squires,McClure,Altermatt No: Casagranda, Keil,Bardarson Main Motion Passed Unanimous UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Approval of the May 23,2016 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. Motion (Keil/Squires) Approve the May 23,2016 Regular City Council Minutes. Bardarson wished to clarify the minutes regarding the boardwalk discussion: The project would not move forward using the old dock sections that were removed from the harbor during the recent renovation,but the project would move forward by putting some kind of a connection between Second and Third Avenues in the right of way at the south end of the boardwalk to create a pedestrian path. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27, 2016 Volume 40, Page 79 Motion To Amend (Bardarson) Clarify the May 23, 2016 Regular City Council Minutes on the agenda item Discussion on the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Museum by striking the words "and develop an amendment to" so the sentence reads "Council directed administration to meet with the Resurrection Bay Historical Society (RBHS) to discuss the current MOU." Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Discussion of Kenai Peninsula Borough Ordinance 2016-25, Amending KPB 2.40.010 to Reduce Planning Commission Membership.City Council directed administration to draft a letter stating the City's lack of support for the ordinance for Mayor Bardarson to sign and send to the borough before the next council meeting. Council recessed at 8:50 p.m. Council resumed at 8:52 p.m. Discussion on bond for road paving. City Council directed administration to provide an updated color map and priority list of paving areas. Motion (Keil/McClure) Direct administration to bring forward a resolution providing two options for road paving for council's consideration at the next council meeting. Motion Passed Unanimous Consent Discussion on parliamentary procedure, etc. City Council directed administration to obtain a quote for Linda Murphy to provide training in September. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS Providence Seward Medical and Care Center Financial Reports through April, 2016. COUNCIL COMMENTS Squires asked if crosswalks could be painted on Harbor Avenue and Long agreed. He suggested that Department Heads should be made aware of grants in a more timely manner to City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes June 27, 2016 Volume 40, Page 80 facilitate acceptance of the funding. Squires thought the new fire simulator training facility was great and he wished that council could be given a tour. McClure provided an update on the MOU with RBHS and said RBHS wished to have a planning meeting prior to meeting with administration,and that meeting had not yet been set.Mount Marathon Race bags were stuffed and ready,and there would be a no dogs allowed in the race areas policy in effect this year.The state had approved a portion of Third Avenue to be blocked off for the race.Race headquarters will be at the K.M.Rae Building this year;racers and volunteers could check in there. She wished everyone a safe Fourth of July. Bardarson thanked Providence for a$300,000 grant called Providence Seward Community Benefit Grant;the funds would be distributed to a variety of endeavors around Seward.Thanked city clerk for the tablets. She wished everyone have a happy and safe Fourth of July. Casagranda hoped administration would address the potholes around the bridge at the waterfall. The Seward Flag Committee met last Thursday and a flag design had been selected; a resolution would be coming forward on July 25, 2016. Butts had the first ever class with the state at the new fire simulator training facility. He congratulated the Fire Department on the new fire truck and hoped everyone would have a safe Fourth of July. Hunt said the Waterfront Park WiFi testing would go live tomorrow. In response to Bardarson, Long said the potholes at the waterfall would continue to be monitored and addressed on a regular basis. CITIZEN COMMENTS George Goem would help with the potholes. The Sugar Mountain movie came out really great; he had sat in on the sound mix for the film, and it showed Seward in a great light. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:23 p.m. ' Jo anna Kinn;- CMC Cj ean Bardarson City l• ® o Y Clerl� �4 ,-momma"� Ma or • e4:4 .. mm ° o (Ci •e t)` SEAL a n O<10.41i.�+°mOwmsm�p Yet 0