City Council Minutes Regular Meeting February 11, 2014 A. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Palmer City Council was held on February 11, 2014, at 7 pm in the council chambers, Palmer, Alaska. Deputy Mayor Carrington called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. B. ROLL CALL Comprising a quorum of the Council, the following were present: Richard Best Arrived at 7:20 Steve Carrington Linda Combs Edna DeVries Brad Hanson Ken Erbey and De Lena Johnson were absent and excused. Also in attendance were the following: Doug Griffin, City Manager Bernadette Packa, Deputy City Clerk Summer Rife, Deputy City Clerk Michael Gatti, City Attorney C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Council Member Combs. D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 1. Approval of Consent Agenda 2. Minutes of Previous Meetings a. January 21, 2014, Special Meeting b. January 28, 2014, Special Meeting c. January 28, 2014, Regular Meeting E. COMMUNICATION AND APPEARANCE REQUESTS Item 1 Larry Hill, 49 th State Street Rodders: Spoke to having a car show the first weekend in May at the MTA Events Center; Pointed out that a conflict of dates prevented it from taking place in 2014; and Expressed hope to have the event next year. Page 1 of 5
John Troutner, President 49 th State Street Rodders: Announced the August 9, 2014 scheduled date for Hot Summer Nights; Highlighted some of the sponsors and discussed the Mayor s Trophy; Provided information regarding a benefit raffle for the Fisher House; and Requested a resolution be passed providing for use of the MTA Events Center for an annual car show. F. REPORTS Item 1 City Manager s Report a. City Manager s Monthly Report Concerning Proposed Construction Projects City Manager Doug Griffin: Highlighted his written report and referred to items placed on the table; Spoke to the upcoming Mat-Su Miners season and the City sponsored game; Spoke to the amendment for AM 14-015; Addressed the Radio Free Palmer proposal regarding the live broadcast of Palmer City Council meetings; Commended the great job done by dispatchers in helping to bring new lives into the world; Mentioned a successful Board of Economic Development meeting on February 3 rd and proposed legislation to allow for monthly meetings; Updated Council on the motor vehicle tax distribution issue; Introduced new Airport Superintendant Jeff Combs; and Fielded questions from Council. Deputy Mayor Carrington requested support to direct that a discussion regarding Radio Free Palmer be placed on the next agenda. Council Member DeVries offered support. Item 2 City Clerk s Report Deputy City Clerk Bernadette Packa: Introduced Deputy City Clerk Summer Rife; Informed the Council her last day would be February 19, 2014; and Thanked the Council for the opportunity to work with the City. Item 3 Mayor s Report Item 4 City Attorney s Report Michael Gatti: Welcomed Airport Superintendant Jeff Combs and offered best wishes to Deputy City Clerk Packa. G. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION Page 2 of 5
H. PUBLIC HEARINGS Deputy Mayor Carrington opened the public hearing. Seeing no one come forward, the public hearing was closed. Item 1 - Resolution No. 13-001 E: Amending the 2013 City of Palmer Budget for Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2013 (Public Hearing 1 of 2) (IM 14-009) Main Motion: To approve Resolution No. 13-001 E Moved by: Hanson Seconded by: DeVries Action: In favor: Opposed: I. ACTION MEMORANDA Item 1 Action Memorandum 14-015: Authorize the City Manager to Enter Into a Sole Source Contract with JWC Environmental to Purchase a Grinder for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Main Motion: To approve Action Memorandum 14-015 Moved by: Best In favor: Best, Carrington, Combs, DeVries, Hanson Primary Amendment #1: To amend AM 14-015 by increasing the funding for purchase of the Grinder for the Wastewater Treatment Plant to $136,370 and increase the funding source line item allocations equally to fund the increase. Moved by: DeVries In favor: Best, Carrington, Combs, DeVries, Hanson Council Member Hanson requested information concerning the grinder. City Manager Griffin established the need for a second grinder and offered justification for the additional expense. J. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Item 1 City Manager Search City Manager Griffin reported receipt of two applications for the City Manager position. Page 3 of 5
K. NEW BUSINESS Main Motion: To enter into a Committee of the Whole to discuss the Alaska Air Fuel Location, City Manager Goals and Objectives, and Parking Issues Moved by: Best In favor: Best, Carrington, Combs, Devries, Hanson The council moved into a committee of the whole at 7:40 pm and exited at 8:48 pm. Upon exiting the committee of the whole the Council gave direction requesting the following: Information concerning the hours spent by staff to organize the Alaska State Fair; and A plan to prevent parking in no parking areas. Council Member Devries requested support to direct that City staff meet with Howard Bess to clarify the parking issues he wanted addressed. Council Member Hanson offered support. Council Member Hanson requested support to direct Community Development to informally gather information from downtown merchants regarding potential parking needs or issues. Council Member Best offered support. Council Member DeVries requested to direct that the Manager s Benchmarks & Goals information be a permanent part of the Manager s Report. Council Member Best offered support. L. RECORD OF ITEMS PLACED ON THE TABLE Mat-Su Miners Schedule Memo from Finance Director Esther Greene Radio Free Palmer Streaming Proposal Memo from Public Works Director Tom Healy Amendment to AM 14-015 Friday Fling Report M. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION N. COUNCIL MEMBER COMMENTS Council Member Best: Thanked Deputy City Clerk Packa for her service; Encouraged everyone to purchase a Mat-Su Miners calendar; and Reminded those council members not attending the Alaska Municipal League Conference in Juneau to bring to his attention issues they would like addressed. Page 4 of 5
Council Member Hanson: Expressed best wishes to Deputy City Clerk Packa. Council Member DeVries: Expressed appreciation to Deputy City Clerk Packa; Expressed appreciation to Director Owen for his work with the airport; and Requested support for a resolution reserving the MTA Events Center for the first weekend of May 2015 for a 49 th State Street Rodders car show. Council Member Best offered support. Council Member Combs: Thanked Public Works for the streetlight repairs; Expressed appreciation to City Manager Griffin for his involvement with the Board of Economic Development; Expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Hot Summer Nights event; Commended the great job done by the emergency responders in the community; and Expressed concern regarding emergency responder issues. City Attorney Gatti: Welcomed Deputy City Clerk Rife. Deputy Mayor Carrington: Thanked Deputy City Clerk Packa for her service. O. ADJOURNMENT With no further business before the Council, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. Approved this twenty-fifth day of February, 2014. Janette M. Bower, MMC, City Clerk Steve Carrington, Deputy Mayor Page 5 of 5