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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09252017 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 272 CALL TO ORDER The September 25, 2017 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 Dave Squires Sue McClure Deborah Altermatt comprising a quorum of the Council; and Jim Hunt, City Manager Johanna Kinney, City Clerk Absent—Casagranda, Slater CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR PUBLIC HEARING Willard Dunham thanked the council for shiny new streets in town and congratulated them on getting the project completed. Dunham invited the council to meet with a small Japanese delegation visiting Seward on Friday to commemorate Jujiro Wada,a historical Seward pioneer and Japanese icon. Tim McDonald said they were talking about the electric utility rate schedule during the work session earlier tonight and he was concerned by the figures being reported, specifically the gross revenue,the Payment in Lieu of Taxes(PILT),depreciation and other administrative expenses.Staff reported they have $1.5 million in administrative expenses, and he would like more explanation of how that figure was calculated. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA Motion (Keil/McClure) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda Keil requested Resolution 2017-052 be placed on the consent agenda. Bardarson added the following to the agenda:the Attorney report,a discussion item on implementing a traveling flag program, and a discussion item to direct administration to explore with the City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 273 Department of Transportation the possibility of constructing a roundabout at the Seward Highway and Port Avenue. Motion Passed Unanimous The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items: Non-Code Ordinance 2017-003,Rescinding Section 4 Of Non-Code Ordinance 2013-012 Which Authorized Sole Source Negotiation For Disposal Of The Property Described As The West% Of Lots 19 And 20, Block 30, Original Townsite Of Seward; With Tax Parcel Id Number 14813010, Located At 408 Madison, And Instead Authorize Disposal By Sealed Bid At A Minimum Bid Of$36,700. (Introduced and set for public hearing and enactment on October 9, 2017) Resolution 2017-052,Accepting Funds From The Alaska State Library For The Public Library Assistance Grant In The Amount Of$7,000.00 And Appropriating Funds. Approval of the September 11,2017 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes. SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS Proclamations & Awards Proclamation for Seward Drag Racer Shelby Roy. Chamber of Commerce Report.Clock was not present for the meeting and provided a written report in the agenda packet. City Manager Report. Jim Hunt stated the following purchase orders between $10,000 and $50,000 approved by him since the last council meeting: • $19,012.50 to T2 Systems from the Parking Department for updated controllers for Luke pay stations. • $33,575.25 to Univar from the Public Works Department for salt and calcium chloride. Hunt noted staff was hearing some complaints of ripples in the new roads since the paving, but he was informed it would likely smooth out over time and traffic.He noted there was a warranty in place, as well. In response to McClure, Long stated the clearing of the vacated U.S. Air Force Rec Camp land was in progress and should be cleared off before the snow started coming down. In response to McClure,Hunt thanked Assembly Member Kenn Carpenter for his support in appropriating funds for the Eastern Kenai Peninsula Highway Emergency Service Area Board and noted the assembly dedicated$232,000.Hunt added that he was concerned with the lack of presence City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 274 planned for Alaska State Troopers in the service area. In response to McClure, Electric Utility Manager John Foutz said the equipment put in place last year at Snow River to prevent damage to electrical equipment held up very well with the recent glacial dam and flooding created from high rains.The Electric Department would continue to monitor the area. City Attorney Report.Will Earnhart referred to his written report provided to council.He stated his report was similar to last month. He was waiting to hear new news on the Bradley Lake mediations as well as a decision on the Orion litigation. Earnhart worked with staff on general matters such as refining joint use agreements, leases and land dispositions, and varying types of records subpoenas. Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations Update on Electric Utility Rate Study by Mike Hubbard of Financial Engineering. PUBLIC HEARINGS—None UNFINISHED BUSINESS—None NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2017-053,Amending The Fire Department 2017 Budget For Additional Hydrant Water Charges, And Authorizing $278,050 In Payment Of Under-Billed Fees From The General Fund To The Water Fund Since 2005,And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/McClure) Approve Resolution 2017-053 Long said it was discovered there were some errors in the water tariff beginning in 2005 that resulted in a deficit of funds owed to water enterprise fund that should have been paid by the general fund. Staff recommended council approve this corrective measure. Motion Passed Unanimous Resolution 2017-054, Transferring $254,544 To The Capital Acquisition Fund Representing 50% Of The General Fund Annual Surplus For 2015 And 2016, And Appropriating Funds. Motion (Keil/McClure) Approve Resolution 2017-054 Long said budget policy recommended the city have 3-6 months of reserve funds set aside. Over the last two years,the city accrued $509,089 in surplus funds from 2015 and 2016. Staff was recommending council authorize setting aside half of this surplus from the general fund reserves to the capital acquisition fund. Long added this would reduce the reserves to 4.33 months which was within the established goal. This was consistent with their budget policies approved by council. City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 275 Motion Passed Unanimous Other New Business Items Discussion on process for request for information. (Bardarson) Bardarson requested the clerk provide some information on the process to request public documents. Hunt noted he was currently copied on each request form,excluding requests for police records. Hunt indicated he would like to receive his copy of the request form electronically. Discussion to direct administration to explore with the Department of Transportation the possibility of constructing a roundabout at the Seward Highway and Port Avenue.(Bardarson) Bardarson noted the Department of Transportation was planning to improve mile 1-8 of the Seward Highway next year,and wondered if administration could at least contact the state to see the feasibility of incorporating a roundabout or even other ways to relieve congestion at Port Avenue and the Seward Highway. Council agreed to direct administration to look into this. Discussion item on implementing a traveling flag program. (Bardarson) Bardarson thought it would be nice to give a City of Seward flag to people to travel all over the world,and document its travels over time.Altermatt talked of an exchange of flags.McClure had an idea of print outs of the diary that could be kept in a binder for public review. Council supported the idea and directed staff to begin implementing a program. INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS On-going City Project and Goal List. Financial Reports for Providence Seward Medical and Care Center and the City ofSeward through July, 2017. COUNCIL COMMENTS Altermatt congratulated Shelby Roy on her racing accomplishments and wished her the best on her upcoming championship in Memphis. She thanked staff for the great roads. Bardarson thanked the volunteers for Seward Music and Arts Festival (SMAF) and the Alaska Railroad for providing the event space. She encouraged the community to please vote on October 3, 2017. Keil announced there would be budget work sessions on September 27, 2017, October 2, 2017,and October 3,2017. She hoped all candidates would come to these work sessions as it would be their budget to approve if they were elected. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 276 Squires congratulated Shelby Roy on her accomplishments this summer and wished her luck at the international race championship in October. He thanked the community for coming out for tonight's work sessions. There was an open house for the Alaska Railroad tomorrow night. McClure congratulated Shelby Roy. She noted the SMAF event had a great turnout. She thanked all those that volunteered. McClure stated tonight's work sessions had great public input and she was pleased to see the attendance tonight. She encouraged candidates and the public to attend the budget work sessions, noting the sessions would also be televised. Bardarson wished a Happy Birthday to the City Clerk. Altermatt congratulated Brenda Ballou as the next City Clerk,pending negotiations.Council selected Ballou last week after interviewing her. She noted outgoing City Clerk Johanna Kinney's last meeting was October 9, 2017. Bardarson said they would have a special open house at 6:30 p.m. on October 9, 2017 to celebrate Kinney. Kinney added Bardarson should be part of the celebrations as well. Hunt stated the city would be closing the roads once a week in the winter time to clear roads and drainage. It seemed like they were still receiving a lot of visitors in town and it was nice to see tourists in the shoulder season. Long congratulated Shelby Roy. CITIZEN COMMENTS Tim McDonald wanted to know if the public bathroom downtown was still open.He agreed there was a traffic issue at Port Avenue but he didn't think the city would want to install a light or roundabout because of some of the load limits of some of the large vehicles that traveled that area. COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS Bardarson thought it was still prudent to have a conversation with Department of Transportation to determine the challenges with such a project. Keil wondered how trucks traveled through Anchorage with roundabouts. Squires asked about the downtown bathroom closure. Hunt didn't know if it was currently opened or closed. City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes September 25, 2017 Volume 40, Page 277 ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m. 11 c)eatj 1r)/( - Jo = a Kinne , M 1 / ean Bardarson City Clerk , //it/ Mayor (City SealA OF S..• 4 ''•, 41"Vr • Cs • ��' • • F. . ( SEAL i