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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-12-28 Council Minutes - Work Session• u KENAI CITY 00UNCIL WORK SESBION IDECOMER 280 1993 KWAX CITY COUNCIL cum 7#00 P.N. COUNCIL PRESENTS Bookey, Measles, Williams, Warner.,, Bannock and,Smnlley. COUNCIL ASSENTS Monfor. STAFF PRESENTS Freas, McGillivray, Manninen, DeForest,, Burnett OTHERS PRESENTS C. Pierce (P&Z Commission member) ; P. Hanson, E..1Ieyer (both Library Commission members)f D. Vinlowe (Peninsula Clarion) LEGISLATORS PRESENTS Representative Mike Navarre and Senator Judy Salo (Salo arrived approximately 7:30 p.m.). Navarre gave a short statement of his -perceptions of the upcoming legislative session. -Navarre stated."Oil is under $10 per barrel, production is down, purchase power has gone down significantly. Navarre stated it is hard to tell what will happen in Juneau. There has been a lot of rhetoric. Navarre stated he is not optimistic and does not believe there will be.aatuch*responsible actions taken. It's an election year.and;that,will prohibit some ideas to be put on the table. Navarre added the pass through grants will have large reductions, but isn9t aware of what level. The fiscal outlook,is bleak, but there are reserves to tap. Navarre stated he believes there will be enough reserves to get through this year if they are all spent, however that would be very irresponsible. The Governor has suggested taxing and that will be debated. There will be discussion regarding a new state financing program (Cremo plan or other like it). The Finance Committee has,met and discussed the Cremo plan (or similar plan). Navhrra'stated he . feels these ideas will be discussed, but doesn"t know if -,any will pass. KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 281 1993 PAGE 2 The operating budget is the largest budget will not come up until later stated he will keep Kenai up-to-date T since 1985. The capital in the session. Navarre with what goes on. Williams stated the ACOM meeting will be held on January 18. They will be discussing the Cremo Plan. Williams asked Navarre and Salo to attend. ACOM hopes to have the discussion video taped for later playback on RATNET. Williams added he and City Manager Manninen and Councilwoman Swarner will be in Juneau from January 17 until early 21 to attend AML Legislative meetings. Those present reviewed the CIP list. Williams stated the animal control shelter is the first priority. It was carried forward from the number two position on last year's list. Bid -ready i drawings are being prepared for Spring. The growth of the city and the expanded service of Kenai's shelter (extending to Nikiski, Kasilof, etc.) makes the facility an absolute necessity. Any extra monies would be put toward water system quality improvement, which will be next year's first priority. Williams asked Council for none; Bookey stated Mike is will do the best he can for the water quality critical; Swarner. Senator Salo arrived. any additional comments. Measles had aware of the situation and knows he Kenai; Swarner stated she believed Smalley and Bannock agreed with Back-up information regarding the use of the animal control shelter (included in materials distributed at the beginning of the meeting) was reviewed. Manninen informed those present the artesian well situated on Angler Drive (off Beaver Loop) had been uncapped. The well is pumping well and the water is very clear. Manninen showed a sample of the water to those present. The water has not yet been tested. Manninen stated he would like to investigate that well's possibilities. Manninen added if better water is found, there may be desire to add to the water system. There could be another project like Thompson Park in three to five years. Investigation L� • KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 281 1993 PAGE 3 of this well or others will still be filtration plant. Manninen reviewed done by Wm. J. Nelson & Associates. cheaper than a joint the hydrologic study being Williams questioned the cost of a wellhouse on Beaver Loop. Manninen stated he could not make an estimate at this time. Discussion followed regarding city departments needing state funding for various purchases, etc. Memoranda from department heads was included in the packet of information distributed giving an explanation of the need. Swarner stated her concerns regarding the major expenses to bring city buildings up to ADA standards. City departments aware of unfunded mandates required in their departments gave brief explanations in memoranda included in the packet of information distributed. The unfunded mandates were briefly discussed (ADA requirements, OSHA Bloodborne pathogens, cannery worker camping, 911 service, etc.) Discussion regarding a new fire department tanker and cannery worker camping followed. Swarner stated she would prefer purchasing a new tanker than developing a camping area for cannery workers. The tanker effects everyone. Navarre stated he has discussed the Senior Center's need for new vans with Pat Porter. Porter doesn't want their request for discretionary funds to purchase vans to affect the City's CIP list requests. Navarre stated when money is allocated, it is limited. If money is put into vans, it will take money from the city. Navarre suggested to Porter to approach the City for a Capital Matching Grant Program. Navarre added he does not think the matching grant program will be very large this year. Salo stated she believed the need for the vans is a potential safety issue. Williams suggested a Governor's matching grant program for the vans. Williams asked Navarre about the possibility of a matching grant through DEC for water quality improvements and follow up with a grant to the city for the matching portion. Navarre stated he is a . KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 28, 1993 PAGE 4 familiar with that concept. However, the amount of money that will be available this year from the capital budget will be less. If more money goes to matching grants, less money will be available for legislative grants. Salo asked if there are any projects from the City's CIP list that will show up on the Borough list. Williams stated the animal control shelter is on the Borough's overall list. However, it is not a joint request. There are no joint requests between the city and the boroagh. Bannock asked if it would help to be more specific in regard to the water quality improvements. Also, whether asking for $2,000,000 is obscene. Salo stated she would like more back-up information. Salo added the $2,000,000 is beyond what discretionary funds can give. Salo stated it seems to be able to get funding for a large project, several years' funding needs to isgathered. Williams stated more detailed information will be made available to the legislators. Navarre suggested the city try to get the water quality improvements on the DEC list as there will probably be water and sewer monies spent this year. Navarre added the DEC and Governor's office need to be convinced of need. Williams stated the City will check on any requests made to DEC which may have already taken place. Back-up information will be forwarded to legislators prior to the capital budget discussions. Smalley stated he would prefer purchasing a tanker before building tent camping. Concerns regarding water quality improvements. Swarner stated her concern regarding the cuts to municipal assistance and revenue sharing. Swarner also added her concerns regarding ADA requirements and unfunded mandates. Swarner added the ADA requirements effects lots of city buildings. Bookey wished Navarre and Salo lots of luck. Do the best they can and don't give us any unfunded mandates. Salo stated help will be needed to fight for Wildwood Correctional Facility again. • xENax cxTr cotnaciL woRx s8ssiop DECBMBSR 28, 1993 PAGE S Williams asked if there has been discussion regarding municipalities taking on prosecution of traffic cases. Navarre stated if it happens, it wont be this year. There is nothing in place now.as a longterm plan to do that. Manninen summarized information included in the packet regarding CIP list, department head priorities and unfunded mandates. Manninen suggested the water quality improvements be moved to the number one priority on the CIP list. Williams stated the city should concentrate on correspondence with DEC first. Both may be able to be done if there is any money. Williams added if the water quality improvements is placed on the DEC list, it may not get discretionary funding and that will mean no animal control upgrade. 01 Navarre suggested water quality improvements be moved to number one. It may help convince DEC and the Governor's office of the importance. Navarre added it is hard to make a case if it is the number two priority, behind the animal control shelter. Navarre added that he and Salo will be in constant communication with the City Manager during the budgeting process. Navarre added they will know if there is money and how much and whether the City will want to change the priorities. Navarre stated they generally communicate with the city manager. Salo stated the discretionary money will be less this year. Discretionary funding may be easier to get for smaller projects. Williams stated this be tracked for the time being until it is determined what discretionary and DEC monies are available. Priorities can be switched at that time. Swarner stated she thinks they can be switched at the first meeting in January. Measles stated he did not think this a good time to switch priorities. Measles added the water looks good, but they have no idea if $2,000,000 will take care of the problem. We may find out after testing, $15,000,000 will be needed for a filtration system. Manninen stated the test results of the water will not be back for a few weeks. • • i • KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DECEMBER 28, 1993 PAGE 6 Salo stated the discretionary funds won0t gel until April. Navarre stated they will need backup materials for justification of need. Navarre stated the water quality improvement information will be needed as soon as possible. DeForest mentioned her largest mandate is to offer services to everyone that comes in the door and one-half of them are not city residents. Also, the Library serves the Wildwood Correctional Facility through a $7,000 grant. DeForest added she does not want library discretionary funds to interfere with city requests. Williams suggested he, Manninen and Swarner meet with Navarre and Salo the evening of January 18 in Juneau. Freas it to contact the legislators offices on January 5 to confirm. The work session ended at approximately 8:32 p.m.