HomeMy WebLinkAbout01282019 City Council Special Meeting Minutes - Special Election City of Seward, Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2019 Volume 40, Page 597
CALL TO ORDER
The January 28,2019 special meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 6:00
p.m. by Mayor David Squires.
OPENING CEREMONY
Citizen Patrick Messmer led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
ROLL CALL
There were present:
David Squires presiding and
Sue McClure Suzanne Towsley
Jeremy Horn Sharyl Seese
John Osenga Kelley Lane
comprising a quorum of the Council; and
Jeff Bridges, Interim City Manager
Brenda Ballou, City Clerk
Jack McKenna, City Attorney (Telephonically)
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Carol Griswold referred to an email she had sent to the clerk's office regarding these
ordinances;she thought all the ordinances were confusing as they were written,particularly in the 5th
Whereas,because it wasn't clear that each ordinance was taking a different position.
Brad Snowden said he was still working on the cruise ship dock,looking at Jefferson Street
and at B Street for potential locations.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
Motion Passed Unanimous
There were no consent agenda items.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2019 Volume 40, Page 598
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinances for Introduction
Ordinance 2019-004, Appropriating $500.00 From The General Fund Balance To Advocate
And Provide The Public Information Regarding Referendum No. 1 Which Is To Be Decided
During The Special Election To Be Held March 19,2019.
Motion (McClure/Horn) Introduce Ordinance 2019-004
City Attorney Jack McKenna explained that when council scheduled a work session to
provide information about the upcoming special election,out of an abundance of caution,the safest
thing to do would be to appropriate funds to influence the outcome of an election with the Alaska
Public Offices Commission (APOC). The city was allowed, under state law, to provide neutral
information; but, the council's intent is to have a dialogue with various representatives, and so it
behooves the city to protect itself with APOC.
In response to Bridges,McKenna said that education,in itself,was not necessarily considered
influencing the outcome of an election, but because the work session would involve individuals
presenting information,the content could possibly be delivered in a more subjective fashion and so
the city should protect itself.
Motion to Amend (Towsley/McClure) Amend Ordinance 2019-004 by amending the
title to read, "...appropriating $500.00
from the General Fund balance to provide
the public with accurate and impartial
information for and against the passage of
Referendum No. 1..."
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Motion to Amend (Lane/Towsley) Amend Ordinance 2019-004 by striking the
5th Whereas.
McKenna offered some alternate language to make the statement more neutral,and Squires
concurred that it would be wise to amend the language rather than strike the statement entirely.
The motion to amend was withdrawn with no objection from council.
Motion to Amend (Towsley/McClure) Amend Ordinance 2019-004 in the last
Whereas by changing the wording to read,
"...in the public's interest to educate and
provide information from varying
perspectives with regards to..."
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2019 Volume 40, Page 599
Motion to Amend Approved Unanimous
Motion to Amend (McClure/Lane) Amend Ordinance 2019-004 by striking the
5th Whereas.
Motion to Amend Approved Unanimous
Primary Motion to Amend (Towsley/McClure) Amend Ordinance 2019-004 in Section 1 by
striking the words "advocating and" and
adding the word "educational" to read,
"...for the purpose of providing
educational information..."
Secondary Motion to Amend (Towsley/McClure)Amend Ordinance 2019-004 in Section 1 by
striking the word "passage" and replacing
it the word "question".
Secondary Motion to Amend Approved Unanimous
Primary Motion to Amend Approved Unanimous
Main Motion Approved Unanimous
Ordinance 2019-005,Appropriating$500.00 From The General Fund Balance To Advocate
And Provide The Public Information Regarding Referendum No. 1 Which Is To Be Decided
During The Special Election To Be Held March 19, 2019.
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Introduce Ordinance 2019-005
Motion Failed Yes: Lane,Horn,McClure,Towsley,
Seese, Osenga
No: Squires
Ordinance 2019-006, Appropriating$500.00 From The General Fund Balance To Advocate
And Provide The Public Information Regarding Referendum No. 1 Which Is To Be Decided
During The Special Election To Be Held March 19,2019.
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Introduce Ordinance 2019-006
Motion Failed Yes: Lane,Horn,McClure,Towsley,
Seese, Osenga
No: Squires
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Special Meeting Minutes
January 28, 2019 Volume 40, Page 600
COUNCIL COMMENTS
Towsley stated Ordinance 2019-004 could be further amended when it comes back on
February 11, 2019 for public hearing and enactment.
CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS—None
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 p.m.
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