HomeMy WebLinkAbout03112019 City Council Minutes City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 637
CALL TO ORDER
The March 11,2019 regular meeting of the Seward City Council was called to order at 7:00
p.m. by Mayor David Squires.
OPENING CEREMONY
Police Chief Tom Clemons 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
Will Earnhart, City Attorney
Excused—None
Absent—None
CITIZEN COMMENTS ON ANY SUBJECT EXCEPT THOSE ITEMS SCHEDULED FOR
PUBLIC HEARING
Carol Griswold said she supported council having a joint work session with PACAB and the
Chamber of Commerce. She also supported the discussion about the Teen Rec Room. Encouraged
council to give more clear direction to administration to provide more public information related to
what endeavors the city subsidized.Griswold thanked Jeff Bridges and said he set the bar very high.
Tim McDonald expressed his condolences to the Dunham family.Regarding extending the
airport runway,he was concerned that a longer runway would create noise pollution throughout the
city.
John Wisel II introduced himself as a new resident of Seward.His family had moved here to
invest in Seward;he had obtained a property on Old Exit Glacier Road,and also the old video store
on Fifth Avenue. He was partnering with local contractor Phil Zimmerman, and would like to
develop the gateway subdivision up Dora Way; the location was near the schools, which was
convenient.
Lynda Paquette updated everyone on Seward Civic Engagement. On March 21,2019 she
was trying to get the borough to speak about mill rates,property assessments,appeals,etc.Paquette
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 638
had attended the Seward Community Health Center's anniversary party last Friday and it was
wonderful; the SCHC could be a future educational topic, as well.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND CONSENT AGENDA
Motion (McClure/Seese) Approval of Agenda and Consent Agenda
McClure removed the February 25, 2019 regular meeting minutes from the consent agenda.
Lane moved Resolution 2019-024 to the consent agenda.
Motion Passed Unanimous
The clerk read the following approved consent agenda items:
Resolution 2019-024, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Three-Year Contract
With R&M Consultants Inc. For On-Call Engineering Services.
Non-objection for the renewal of the Restaurant/Eating Place—Public Convenience Seasonal
liquor license#4915 for the Gulf of Alaska Food Court.
Approval to lift the protest of the renewal of Beverage Dispensary liquor license #822 for
Seasalt Alaskan Bar& Grill.
SPECIAL ORDERS, PRESENTATIONS AND REPORTS
Proclamations & Awards
Honoring the Life of Willard Dunham
American Legion Centennial Day In Seward
Seward's Day
Borough Assembly Report. Kenn Carpenter could not attend the meeting due to illness.
City Manager Report.Jeff Bridges reported the following purchase orders over$5,000 had
been approved by the City Manager since the last council meeting: $29,806 to Alaska Sales &
Service for a Chevrolet truck for Public Works per Resolution 2019-020; $31,771 to Kendall Ford
for a Ford truck for Public Works per Resolution 2019-019; $9,800 to YourCleanEnergy, LLC for
Lowell Canyon Hydro Project engineering services; and, $72,009 to Connie Alsup for general
monthly janitorial services at the Library.
Following up from the last meeting,Bridges said there was a question on the solid waste bills
and how they impacted the utility bills;the contract with Alaska Waste allowed the city the choice to
include them on delinquent notices as a utility bill. There was no written policy on how that was
done, nor about who decided to turn off a customer for non-payment of bills. Bridges suggested it
City of Seward,Alaska City Council Minutes
March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 639
would be in the city's best interest to draft a policy addressing this issue.
Bridges said Andy Baker would be in town again on March 21,2019,and based on the joint
work session last week with PACAB,there seemed to be the desire to have more community input
and information about the project; Andy Baker was offering to have another public meeting to
answer questions.
On March 19,2019,the acting city manager and assistant city manager would be traveling to
Juneau to provide a presentation to the Transportation Committee to discuss Seward's port and
harbor.
Public Works Director Doug Schoessler said there had been an issue at the Lowell Point
Sewage Lagoon last week wherein the calcium nitrate tube had calcified where there was an
unnoticed kink;the tube was replaced,and the department's best practices manual had been updated
to replace the tubes every two years from now on.In response to Towsley,Schoessler said portions
of the lagoon froze from time to time, but did not impact the mechanics; everything was working
well.
In response to Towsley,Schoessler said the job description for the Street Foreman position
was under review,had not yet been advertised,and would be filled as a non-union position.
In response to Lane,Electric Utility Supervisor Patrick Gillis said the city was undergoing
a scheduled sequence of small outages on the transmission line;Chugach had agreed to pick up any
cost overages so the city was not impacted.
Council directed the city clerk and administration to add a fourth location for posting public notices:
Post Office, Bulletin Board in City Hall, Harbormaster's Office,and Library Bulletin Board.
City Attorney Report. Will Earnhart reported a written report would come for the next
meeting. Earnhart was attending tonight for the APEA union contract on the agenda.Negotiations
were close to being finalized with IBEW. In response to Towsley, Earnhart said he would be
presenting a letter of agreement for two positions related to IBEW. The Field Engineer position
would be folded into the IBEW contract which council would see come forward on March 26,2019.
In response to Towsley,Earnhart said the Reincke lawsuit was in discovery,and was being
handled by insurance counsel.
In response to Squires,Earnhart said the last portion of the city attorney evaluation,setting
the goals for the city attorney, could be finalized on March 26, 2019 when Holly Wells was in
Seward.
Council scheduled an executive session on March 26,2019 to complete the city attorney evaluation.
Other Reports, Announcements and Presentations—None
PUBLIC HEARINGS—None
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40,Page 640
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Items Postponed from Previous Agenda
Discuss sending a delegate to the 53r`► Veosu Turtle Ship Festival in Yeosu, South Korea.
Primary Motion (McClure/Towsley) Send no more than two council members to
Veosu, South Korea.
Secondary Motion (Lane/) Send no more than four community
members to Yeosu, South Korea.
Secondary motion died for lack of second.
Primary Motion Passed Unanimous Consent
Osenga stated he was not interested in traveling to South Korea.Seese stated she was also not
interested in traveling to South Korea. Lane stated she would prefer to travel to Washington, D.C.,
but if that was not an option,she would like to travel to South Korea.Towsley did not have a current
passport, so she could not travel to South Korea. Horn expressed interest in travelling. McClure
stated she was not interested, nor was Squires.
Council appointed Horn and Lane as the delegates to travel to Yeosu, South Korea for the festival,
and directed the city clerk to advertise for up to three citizens to accompany the delegates;citizens
would travel at their own expense.
Schedule a work session on chamber funding,allocation of monies,chamber priorities.(Lane)
Lane said the budget process would start in September, and through that process a lot of
things got reevaluated.Lane was concerned about how chamber funding happened,that there would
be 20 more cruise ships coming to Seward this summer which citizens did not have a voice in
deciding,and that the city needed to clarify its vision for the future and decide what role the chamber
would play in that. Lane thought that waiting to have a work session in the fall may leave the
chamber at a disadvantage if the funding provided through the budget process were to change.
McClure suggested waiting until after the Silver Salmon Derby was over so that the chamber
could focus on their busy season before having a work session;if PACAB was invited as well,there
could be more dialogue. Osenga and Towsley concurred with McClure's suggestion.
Council directed the city clerk to include an item on the agenda for the July 22,2019 council meeting
to schedule a joint work session with the chamber and PACAB for late August.
Discussion and direction to city administration regarding housing development within the
original Seward townsite, including selling city lots within the Rl zoning district. (Lane)
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March 11,2019 Volume 40, Page 641
In response to Lane,Bridges said administration would bring back specific information at the
March 26,2019 meeting about the lots on First Avenue so council could decide to sell or develop
them;there were two lots that could be split into four 30' x 100' lots.
In response to Seese wondering why the city would not wish to sell off its vacant land,
Towsley said she would like to explore the idea of the city developing a city-owned residence that
could be used to assist incoming employees get settled in Seward.
McClure said there had been many discussions about these properties over the last few years,
since the property had reverted back to the city, and there had been discussions about selling the
properties.
Reallocation of resources based on attendance at the Teen Rec Room with brainstorming
opportunity for how this facility and program could better serve the community. (Lane)
Lane said she examined attendance at the Teen Rec Room (TRR)and was concerned with
lower attendance numbers. She wondered if the teenagers weren't going to the TRR, where they
were going.
Osenga thought it would be important to evaluate why the attendance levels were dropping,
and did not want to consider reallocating funds until council knew what was impacting attendance.
Seese concurred with Osenga,and wanted to involve the Teen Council.Towsley also wished
to engage the Teen Council in the discussion.
Council directed the city manager to consult with the Teen Council and bring back a proposed date
for a work session with council at the March 26,2019 meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
Ordinances for Introduction
Ordinance 2019-007,Amending Portions Of Seward City Code§15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed
Table, To Allow Animal Shelter In The Institutional Zoning District By Conditional Use
Permit.This ordinance is being introduced tonight and will come for public hearing and enactment
on March 26, 2019.
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Introduce Ordinance 2019-007
Bridges said this ordinance would allow animal shelters to be located inside the Industrial
Use district.
McClure said this was exciting and would be the next step in the process for moving forward
with the new animal shelter.
Motion Passed Unanimous
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 642
Resolutions
Resolution 2019-023, Authorizing Payoff Of An Interfund Loan Owed To The Motor Pool
Internal Service Fund From The SMIC Enterprise Fund In The Remaining Amount Of
$490,042.57 Related To The Purchase Of A 330-Ton Travelift,And Appropriating Funds.
Motion (McClure/Lane) Approve Resolution 2019-023
Bridges said the Seward Marine Industrial Center(SMIC)Enterprise Fund owed the Motor
Pool Fund, and this resolution would pay back the General Fund and settle that debt.
In response to Lane, Regis said there had been other loans between departments that had
charged interest, but this particular one had been approved by council for zero interest.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2019-025, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Kendall
Ford For The Purchase Of One Ford A W D Police Patrol Vehicle,For An Amount Not To Exceed
S42,766.56.
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Approve Resolution 2019-025
Motion to Amend (McClure/Towsley) Amend Resolution 2019-025 by accepting the
substitute resolution. ••r
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2019-026, Authorizing The City Manager To Purchase From Alaska
Environmental&Safety Supply, Inc.Emergency Equipment On One Model Year 2019 Ford
Explorer,Including The Cost To Install Equipment For An Amount Not To Exceed$6,100.00,
And Appropriating Funds In The Amount Of$3,866.56.
Motion(McClure/Towsley) Approve Resolution 2019-026
Motion to Amend (McClure/Towsley) Amend Resolution 2019-026 by accepting the
substitute resolution.
Motion to Amend Passed Unanimous
Main Motion Passed Unanimous
Resolution 2019-027, Authorizing The City Manager To Enter Into A Contract With The
Alaska Public Employees Association (APER) Retroactively Effective January 1, 2019 And —•+
Ending December 31,2021.
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 643
Motion(McClure/Towsley) Approve Resolution 2019-027
Lane thanked everyone for their efforts in bringing this contract together.Towsley was very
happy.
Bridges thanked the SPEA representatives for their cooperation and positive negotiating
attitude.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council recessed at 8:30 p.m.
Council resumed at 8:40 p.m.
Other New Business
Prince William Sound Regional Citizens Advisory Council(PWSRCAC)Vacancy.
Council directed the city clerk to advertise the upcoming vacancy for PWSRCAC.
Schedule a joint work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Port and
Commerce Advisory Board, and the Historic Preservation Commission to review annual
priorities.
Council scheduled a joint work session on March 26, 2019.
Electrical billing& cost composition training for 1-3 members of Council as a way to gather
strategic knowledge in order to create informed management policies for our public utility.
(Lane)
Hickok requested clear and specific guidance on what council was requesting in order to
prepare a response. Hickok added that there was a presentation scheduled on April 8, 2019 by the
Utility Billing Department to review the process for utility bill development, Cost of Power
Adjustment(COPA), and seasonal base rates.
Lane was looking forward to that presentation, but was looking for training. In response,
Hickok said he was familiar with training that was offered in the past by a regulatory board; that
training would soon be available online. Hickok said he would be happy to bring back the online
training information at the April 22,2091 council meeting.
Approve travel for Council Member Lane to attend the KPEDD meeting in Kenai on April 17,
2019. (Lane)
Lane requested to go to Soldotna the day before the KPEDD meeting so she could meet one-
on-one with board members prior to the board meeting.
Motion (Seese/Towsley) Send Council Member Lane to Soldotna for
City ofSeward,Alaska City Council Minutes
March 11,2019 Volume 40, Page 644
one night for the Kenai Peninsula
Economic Development District(KPEDD)
Board Meeting.
Motion Approved Unanimous
Discuss the city's legal representation.(Lane)
Lane did not wish to discuss this topic further because there was an executive session
scheduled for the March 26,2019 meeting to complete the city attorney evaluation.
Selection of Council members to travel to Washington D.C. from April 29 — May 2, 2019.
(Squires)
McClure said she did not wish to travel to Washington, D.C. this time due to family
obligations.
Motion (McClure/Seese) Send Mayor Squires and Council Member
Osenga to Washington,D.C.
Osenga said he had been to D.C.twice in the past,and had met with representatives on behalf
of the Qutekcak Native Tribe. He would gladly go again on behalf of the city.
Squires would like to speak specifically about the U.S.Coast Guard and the Seward airport
while in D.C.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Update from the Ad Hoc Committee For City Personnel Matters. (Towsley)
Towsley wanted to resolve the topic of what this committee was tasked to do, and also
wished to extend the sunset date for the committee to December 31, 2019.
Primary Motion (Towsley/McClure) Extend the sunset date of the Ad Hoc
Committee for City Personnel Matters to
December 31,2019.
Secondary Motion (Lane/Seese) Require the committee to provide bi-monthly
reports to council.
Secondary Motion Passed Yes: Seese, Towsley,Lane,Osenga,Horn,
McClure
No: Squires
Primary Motion Passed Unanimous
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 645
Request council empanel an ad hoc committee to gather and ask questions of the auditing firm,
BDO, and bring a report back to council in preparation for the work session scheduled on
April 1,2019 at 6:00 p.m. (Towsley)
Towsley wished to create an ad hoc committee to gather and add questions of the auditing
firm BDO in preparation for the April 1, 2019 work session. This information could be used as a
foundational tool should council decide to move forward with a forensic audit.
Motion (Towsley/Seese) Create an ad hoc committee of three council
members to formulate a list of questions to
present to the auditing firm BDO, obtain
answers, and provide a report back to
council in advance of the work session on
April 1,2019.
In response to Osenga, Towsley said she anticipated the questions would mostly be
procedural in nature.In response to Squires,Towsley said she wished to gather questions and obtain
responses from BDO in advance of the April 1,2019 work session;it would streamline the process.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Council appointed Council Members Towsley and Seese,and Vice Mayor McClure,to serve on the
committee.
Approval of February 25, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes.
By unanimous consent,the city clerk was directed to make a housekeeper amendment to the minutes
to reflect that City Attorney Will Earnhart was in attendance.
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS AND REPORTS
On-going City Project and Goal List.
Clerk's Report on Public Records Requests through March 4, 2019.
COUNCIL COMMENTS
McClure remembered Willard Dunham fondly;his memorial at the Alaska SeaLife Center
on Saturday was lovely. McClure expressed condolences to the Dunham family, as well as to the
Erchinger family for the passing of Deb. She complimented council for having full attendance
tonight, and welcomed Harbormaster Norm Regis as acting city manager starting next week.
Towsley wanted council to host a farewell pot luck for Jeff Bridges this week,and thanked
him for his service.Towsley expressed condolences to the Dunham family.She thanked Norm Regis
and all the speakers tonight. Towsley was thrilled about council unanimously passing the APEA
contract.
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March 11, 2019 Volume 40, Page 646
Council scheduled a Farewell Pot Luck for Jeff Bridges on Saturday,March 16,2019 at 3:00 p.m.in
council chambers.
Seese voiced condolences to the Dunham and Erchinger families. She congratulated Norm
Regis on his appointment.In response to a letter received about Brad Snowden's property,Bridges
said a notice was served to allow Snowden 30 days to clean up his property on Fourth Avenue.
Horn thanked everyone for speaking tonight, and he thanked Bridges for being the
consummate professional.Horn expressed congratulations to Norm Regis,and reminded everyone
about the special election on March 19,2019.
Osenga expressed condolences to the Dunham and Erchinger families. He thanked all of
tonight's speakers,and said he was looking forward to Washington,D.C.
Lane said there was power in a union.
Squires expressed condolences to Dunham and Erchinger families.He thanked Bridges very
much for being such a professional; Seward's loss was Sturbridge's gain.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Anthony Baclaan expressed condolences to all the families who suffered losses recently.He
thanked Bridges for his advice and counsel. Baclaan had submitted a record request for the city
attorney evaluation;he was confused about whether the city was continuing with the firm,and said
there was a lot of community distrust of the city attorney.Baclaan noted a lot of confusion about who
on council could contact attorney and for what reasons. Regarding selling versus leasing land,
Baclaan wondered why the city would wish to sell rather than make money on rentals. He had
spoken with Kris Erchinger,Pat Gillis,and Vernon Willet about the electric meters;he learned a lot
about the meters and encouraged everyone to reach out to them with their questions.Baclaan stated
the hospitality industry in Seward had to scrape to get by in the winter, and then struggled to find
housing for themselves in the busy summer season.He thought the ad hoc committee formed today
was important,and that Jen Leahy made a good suggestion about using an organizational consultant.
He missed Ryan Lewis.
Patrick Messmer offered condolences to all the families who suffered losses,and thanked
Jeff Bridges for leaving the community in a better place than he found it.
John Wisel II looked forward to working with the city on housing needs.He had purchased
the old video store form Brad Snowden;he wondered what the city could do to help Snowden clean
up all the stuff that was removed from the store and stored in his driveway.
COUNCIL AND ADMINISTRATION RESPONSE TO CITIZEN COMMENTS
Bridges expressed condolences to the Dunham and Erchinger families. He thanked council
and the Seward community,and said his six months in Seward had been the best job he'd ever had.
City of Seward, Alaska City Council Minutes
March ll, 2019 Volume 40, Page 647
LSeese thought Bridges did a wonderful job for Seward.She felt for Brad Snowden,and things
were being handled.
Squires expressed condolences to the Lewis family.He said the city has looked into having a
code enforcement officer several times, and it was a continuing discussion.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Motion (McClure/Towsley) Go into executive session to evaluate the
interim city manager.
Motion Passed Unanimous
Interim City Manager Jeff Bridges was invited to remain.
Council went into executive session at 9:37 p.m.
Council came out of executive session at 10:10 p.m.
Squires stated that Bridges performance had been excellent,and said he would be drafting a letter of
reference for Bridges.
LADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
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