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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970-02-18 Council MinutesA.GAIDA REGULAR liEETING KERAI CITY COU11CIL 8:00 P.2;, FEBRUARY 18, 1970 "A - ROLL CALL B- PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE UBARD Z• 1. Mr. Bud Hagberg - gain Consolidated Airlines /...2. Ur. Robert Beardsly, Charles Matlock - Department of Hightrays �jC 3. lit. Guy Stringhan - Youth Action Council C- 24I2:9TES *el. Regular Meeting February 4, 1970 D- C-ORUSP017DLNCZ E- REPORTS v. City Manager City Attorney ttayor 4. City Clerk Pivance Dituctcr �6. Advisory Planning i Zoning Commission ✓l. Borough Assembly F- OLD BUSINESS ��.,? 1. Operation of Recreation Center AJ. Ordinance 176 - separating Clerk - Treasure duties. = )/ 3. Ordinance 177 - Adopting 3rd. codification IV Ordinance 178 - Fire Prevention Bureau 1 L 6. G- BUSINESS YV Designation of cab stands to Golden Key Cab Company 2. Resolution 1`0-4, Resident Community Col��lloge facility � /3i CO.. �Arr..w /� A+it�f,.,.�,�t., d&- 4. ff�� U- PERSOW8 PRESENT NOT SCUBDULID TO BE ULARD : 1. 2. fr � t ) KENAI CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 18 FEBRUARY, 1970 Roll call: Members present - Dr. Charles A. i3ailie, Robert Bielefeld, Judi Browning, John Hulien, billy McCann, Pat.McFarland, Hugh Malone and Mayor Eugene H. Morin; Members absent - Mrs. Florine McCollum. d-2: District Engr., Dept. of Hwys.,Charles Matlock,introduced Commissioner Robert Beardsley who said he and Matlock were present to establish better com- munications between his Department and the public. They would discuss the Bridge crossing and the Urban Section. Matlock said the first hearing on the bridge Site was held in May; then they had to prove to the Fed. Govn't. that the site selected was the best; the Fed. Govn't. gave a line approval on 2/4/70; they are not supposed to do any- thing on the project until this line approval is obtained, but t;ley did do some aerial photographing; now there will be preliminary designing, survey, investigation and another hearing on Bridge design scheduled for April, 1971. They hope to have approval from the Bureau of Public Roads by that time. R.O.W. waits for design and Fed. approval. If there's no problem with rights -of -way they hope to have final advertising on the project in June of 1972; construc- tion would take two seasons, making completion date in summer of 1973. This schedule met with expressions of frustration and disapproval from the audience, but Comm. Beardsley pointed out all this work and checking in- volved 7 to 8 thousand man hours. He and Matlock will be in town tomorrow at the Harbor View,and available for conferences at 8:30 a.m. They are also meeting with people who live on Kalifonsky Beach Road tomorrow. The meeting was opened for public hearing: Speakers from the floor were Walt Steige, Mrs. Lauretta Knackstedt, Mrs. Lottie Edleman, James Horna- day, Waldo Coyle, Mrs. Ruby Coyle, James Bookey,,.Rogar_14eeks:4nd George L. Jaynes. Public discussion brought out some of the following facts: It would take 15 years to completely rebuild major roads in Alaska, but by using 15% of new revenues it is hoped the present raod mileage will be doubled by 1990. Alaska is not on the inter -state road system and is not eligible for Federal funds. A big program for road construction at this timeg coinciding with the large TAPS project could cause inflation problems for Alaska. One of their biggest problems is letting public understand the "lead" time they need for these projects. The idea thatkertain area is not getting its fair share of the revenue from that area is prevalent all over Alaska, but theiKenai Penin- sula has received twice what the Anchorage area has received in the past 8 years. The Governor has introduced a bill which would set up a revolving fund for acquiring rights -of -way. They hope to get the Kalifonsky Beach Road oiled so as to relieve the users until such time as the bridge is built and paving can be accomplished. It would take 25 million dollars to construct the local service roads that are needed. They are working on a program to get this done on a 90-10 share basis. Construction would be based on area and population; the first project would be 100% State financed - the 2nd 905, etc. Barabaras will be preserved if at all possible, and no unsightly gravel pits will be left in the wake of the construction. They will send 10 more copies of the Bridge Crossing Study for Planning Commission and Council perusal. The road to the Harding Ice Fields would provide access to the finest ski re- sort in the country and would benefit all of the Peninsula. The height of the Gvwina Island Bridge at Ketchikan poses a big problem, and this project is not in the five year plan. Consultants are being hired for the Kenai projects. If there are no right-of-way problems on the Urban Section Project, it is hoped advertising can be scheduled in July - otherwise it might be October. Construc- tion should start in 1971. The Project extends from the High School to the Wildwood Army Road - the four lane portion extends between Beaver Loop Junction and Forest Drive. They will install underground wiring, but the City will have to bear the cost between the major intersections. They will let us know what this cost will be. Kenai Council Minutes 2/18/70 Page two Urban section cont'd. The meeting was opened to public discussion. Speakers from the floor were approximately the same as those speaking on the Bridge Crossing Project. Discussion revealed: The Dept. of Hiways will send someone to Kenai to dicsuss ingress and egress routes on the Urban Section. Sidewalks through most of the Urban Section will be provided - Matlock was not sure about sidewalks across the two gullies. By declaring excess road right-of-way as surplus property, it may be possible to return the land to those who dedicated it as r.o.w, in the first place. Paving the shoulders, or road turn-offs on the Kenai-Soldotna road is not feasible as the road is too narrow; repairing the bad breaks in- volves a major re -building job; this road is scheduled for re -construction in 1973. Mayor Morin thanked Beardsley and Matlock for coming, saying this should help public relations for their Department. B-1: Mr. Bud Hegberg, Pres. of Mien Consolidated Airlines said they would be serving this area with F27's and Boeing 7371s. Routes will provide daily ser- vice from Kenai to Anchorage, Fairbanks and the North Slope. More frequent flights may be had between Kenai and Anchorage; routes will also provide service to Homer, Kodiak, Bristol Bay, King Salmon and the Iliamna area. They are not sure what the fares will be, but they are studying a revision of pre- sent fares. Rates will not increase. The Cit*'s' approval of the application for service to this area by Alaska Airlines and IWelm Consolidated carried with it the hope that rates will be diligently studied and will be lowered. They plan to take over service the day Western Airlines pulls out; they will also hire present Western Airlines personnel, who will retain their seniorority and pensions. Western and Vein will assist in urging a control tower be con- structed for Kenai Airport. Mayor Morin expressed Council's appreciation for Hegberg's appearance and wished them well at the CAB hearing. F-1 & B-3: Guy Stringham; Advisor to the Youth Action Council, outlined a plan to utilize Fed. funds to hire a Recreation Director, paying him $7.00 an hour for a 40 hour week, until next September, when he hopes the City can budget for a Director for the City. Hours will be scheduled for grade school and Jr. Hi participation as well as the Hi school; the Director will be under the supervision of the City Manager and payroll will ue handled thru the Cit . Stringham will meet with Mr. Keith and the City Manager Thurs. night to �'je114 the program. Council concurred with this proposal and suggested the adult members of YAC meet with the City Planning Commission. The Mayor commended Stringham for his efforts and expressed the hope he would continue the work. 0: (Combined with E-1.) E-1: City Manager Robbins reported: 1. He was glad to see so many people out for Council meeting, noting there wasn't even standing room left. He had planned to deliver a lecture on dogs, garbage and tourism, but it was so late he would confine his remarks to urging the public to assist City forces in controlling dog packs, clean-up activities, etc. Beer bottles thrown indiscriminately, papers strewn over the highway rights-of-w4y, etc. are not conducive to tourism. Clean up should be a contin- uing process and involves the efforts of all of us. 2. A call from Ralph Robertson, Post Office Dept. Real Estate Officer, revealed there has been a freeze on new construction; two sites have been considered for the Kenai Post Office which will definitely be new construction, and the Kenai Post Office will definitely be built. They hope to advertise for bids this week. He will be here to discuss site selection. Kenai Council Minutes 2/18/70 Page three City Mgr.'s report, Cont'd.: 3. A letter was received from Senator Stevens who has introduced Senate Bill 3331, which will establish a procedure for presenting medals to firemen and policemen cited for public acknowledgment of their services for integrity, honesty and courage. This would apply to Police Chief Heffner who received the Chamber of Commerce Government Award in Kenai. 4. Councilman McCann, Judi Browning and Pat McFarland will go to Anchorage for the Mayort! meeting this weekend. 5. Word has been received there are funds for the Kenai Armory in the '71 budget; it is in the design stage now and should be done by 1 July; There will be $200,000 matching funds from the State. 6. The cemetery lands are under the Native Land Claim freeze, but the City will try to get this parcel released; $2500 was budgeted to improve the grounds; George Jaynes says there- should be a plat s;jowing location of graves as its impossible to tell from faded and missing headstones. The Catholic Youth Group has done some work there; the American Legion has wanted to take responsibility for maintenance for years, but the City hasn't had the authority to permit this. The City has only a right -of -entry permit. Robbins thinks F� we can go ahead and do whatever we want to do as authority will be forth- coming someday. 7. Ralph Cowles, EDA representative, wi l l be here 23 Feb. to talk on the Beaver Creek Water Project. EDA may be phased out by the Govn't., but there would be other agencies to take over their activities. 8. Letters have been received from various towns on the Peninsula saying they had no objection to Wien's application for air service. 9. The Alaska Transportaion Commission expressed the hope Western Airlines would not pull out until another airline is ready to take over without a void in services. 10. The Cities of Soldotna, Seward and Homer are matching funds with their Chambers of Commerce to pay for exhibits at the Trade Fair in California. Robbins said the Kenai Chamber is asking the City for $300 to help defray costs. There was considerable discussion; Malone said the Kenai Boro had decided not to participate, and was withdrawing their tentative pledge of $1200. Cities on the Peninsula,and Chambers, are going to try to make up the deficit. This question has been before Council twice before, but Robbins thought Council might want to reconsider their decision. McCann moved, Hulien seconded, to appropriate $300 for the Trade Fair in California. Roll call vote: Affirmative - Hulien, McCann; Negative - Bailie, Bielefeld, Malone. With consent of the Mayor,Student Councilmen Browning and McFarland left after ttdm W of.the City Mgr's. report. E-2: After a brief-i recess, Atty. Fisher reported: 1. He is still working on the City's application for funds to alleviate the strain resulting from explosive growth factors. He went over the report, item iii by item with Council, explaining what we hope to dog and asking for aid if anyone knew of things we might have omitted. _1 1 Councilman McCann left at this time. 'f 2. Fisher has not been able to schedule the City's jury trials at the same time as the State holds their sessions. Cost of jury trials is an unbudgeted item, and should be considered in the nest budget. Costs are $10 per juror Icalled whether or not he is used. j 3. He has not had time to get with Wisecarver on the Fire Prevention Bureau Ordinance. This will be delbted from the Agenda. (Item F-4) He hasn't worked out Ord. Adopting the new Codification. (Delete Item F-3). Kenai Council Minutes 2/18/7U Page four Atty's report Contd.: 4. Fisher distributed amendments to Ord. #176, separating Clerk -Treasurer's duties, and explained their function. Malone moved, Bielefeld seconded, to adopt the amendments to Ord. 176. Sec. 1-22(a) (b) and (c) be adopted. Roll call vote: Affirmative - Bailie, Bielefeld, Hulien, McCann, Malone and Mayor Morin; Negative - none. Malone moved, Bailie seconded, to adopt Ord. #176, Separating Clerk - Treasurer duties, as amended. Motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. E-3: Mayor Morin reported: 1. Letters have been received from various Mayors saying their Councils agree with Kenai's resolution to seek shortfall of revenue from Juneau. 2. In conversation with Representative Tillion, Morin had stated the City has had only promises thus far, and that to at least $651,000 to help bear the impact of unusual growth; we need water and sewer extensions - the re may be money for water system construction. Tillion will be making an announcement soon that will please everyone. 3. Traffic signs are needed at the airport to direct the driver amongst the maze of roads and entrances. 3` WaAA X6, -ce h&vc E-4: The City Clerk reported: 3- 4-'7o 1. Don Meyer will be here all day 25 Feb. and will stay over -night. Council will meet with him at 7:30 at City offices in the Terminal Bldg. E-5: City Treasurer Racy Burt reported: 1. Hp hopes to be finished with adjustments in Ledgers by 23 February; posting will be done by 27 Feb. The CPA's report as of 11/30/69 makes it easier. 2. The CMty doesn't have people who . can operate the Burroughs machine for all accounting purposes, but will have what we can on the machine in April. 3. Starting the first week in March, the budget will be kept on a monthly basis. Also the 69-70 budget will be revised. 4. The 1970-71 budget work will start with Dept. Head consultations. The first meetings will be the week ending 27 March. Will have consolidation of data by 3 April; the second meetings will be the week ending 24 April; work sessions ' with Council will be in May, with final revision the fourth week in May; In June, the levy will be determined and Budget adopted. 5. The audit recommendations of Sherwood to diversify clerical duties will re- quire a re -organization of the staff and will be accomplished in the middle of March. 6. Centralized purchasing will be set up in March with adequate control and adequate ease for Department Heads. 7. These dates will be set up on a schedule so everyone will know what's to be done. Malone said he was more interested in the budget program than the line items; The City Mgr., as .budget officer, will work with the Treasurer to set up a program and then find the money for it. New services. such as Court and Police Department, Fire Department, must be considered, along with job descrip- tions for personnel, which are to be re -written according to what the employee is actually doing. E-6: George L. Jaynes reported for Planning Commission: 1. The Boro had submitted a large map showing Government owned lands within the City. Jaynes had added some homesteaders names when known, and amplified some of the data shown. r 2. The Planning Commission had approved the preliminary plat of Gusty S/D at the South end of the old run -way. I Kenai Council Minutes 2118170 Page five Planning Comm. report, Cont'd. 3. The power problems were discussed; various people will be asked if they can supply power to the City. 4. They are requesting a development plan from the State for Sec. 36, TW , R11W, S.M., taking into consideration the City's planning and zoning. 5. The Planning Commission will institute a re -zoning for a Park in lands near Candlelight Or. and south of the Kenai Spur. 6. The City will ask for the State's contour maps resulting from the study of the Bridge crossing. 7. The Plann. Comm. asks guidance from Council as to long range plans for development. E-7: Malone reported on the Boro assembly meeting: 1. Action taken on the Trade Fair already reported. 2. There was discussion on the Ordinance for prevention of air pollution in the Cook Inlet Basin. 3. The Boro has not received the oil and gas report yet. 4. The Homer Hospital will try to establish a blood bank; they are also hav- ing trouble collecting on outstanding accounts receivable. 5. The School Administration will go ahead and order the school supplies, 'tho the levy and',budget is Yet to be determined for next fiscal year. 6. The .489t for kindergarden at Soldotna elementary school is $26,000, 1,: The Boro is going to hire an engineer to make a feasibility study of what type of building is best for the vocational school; there will be 4 units, prob- ably metal, for 40 to 50 thousand each. 8. They will likely be on 30 acres north of the High school. 9. Final plans on the Jr. hi will be considered at the next meeting. 10. The school food program was tabled. 11. The Boro will work with the Fire Marshall on new construction. 12. The planning for the site of the Seldovia school was approved. 13. A new furnace will be installed in the Soldotna school which will save on costs. 14. Enforcement of law against passing a stopped school bus is a problem. 15. A great deal of the problems at the Seward school were the fault of the plumbing system - it was running backwards; since this was fixed the condensa- tion has stopped. The Boro signed a contract with Minneapolis Honeywell Co for mtce. of schools.. 16. Odin Strandberg is Soldotna representative on the Kenai Boro P1ann. Comm. 17. Four people were appointed to the Boro Construction Committee. 18. There's no new word on the Hospital - it's under the control of the Boro. G-1: The Clerk read letter of request from Golden Key Cab Co. for two taxi -cab stands at the Airport, on each in front of the Rig Bar, the Casino Bar and the Surplus Store, plus any other place Council thinks would be advantageous to the public. Jaynes said the Airport Parking Co. would have to assign a taxi stand at the Airport and would set the fees. Bielefeld spoke the opinion of Council,saying,taxis can use the same park- ing as the public at the Airport, Main St. is too narrow, and Carr's shopping center is not in our jurisdiction. Ackerson said he did not understand all he should know about the rules when he wrote the letter, and therefore he withdrew his request. He might want to arrange taxi stands with private businessmen. G-2: James Hornaday explained the purpose of Res. 70-4 which is being submitted by the Kenai Peninsula Community College Advisory Committee, and which asks for a Community College facility for vocational, academic and cultural development on the Peninsula. Kenai Council Minutes 2/18/70 Page six G-2, Cont' d. : Bailie moved, Malone seconded, to adopt Res. 70-4, supporting the re- quest for a Community College facility in the Kenai-Soldotna area. Motion carried unanimously. G-3: The Garden Club made application for approval of a permit for Games of Chance and Skill. Bailie moved, Hulien seconded, to approve the application for a permit for Games of Chance and Skill for the Garden Club. Motion carried unanimously. H-1: Leo Oberts said the City should re -zone the islands in the Kenai River to Conservation. This would allow them to be used for Parks and recreation purposes. He also thinks Council should see that pull -off areas are designed in the urban section of the Highway for parking. Malone said the Qoro had turned down the re -zoning for Block 2, Valhalla Heights from Rural Residential to Commercial. Meeting adjourned 12:05 a.m. Respectfully submitped, �i/1C a1,+s.raJ Frances Torkilsen City Clerk �••-• •..� � - �. �Iw1.w,NAl�e�����:aa /Y,7L[mt£Y .2-18-7a f ii I:'41t 1� �',bid Gl ✓•tin ��I�ry "V lk \%r�� l'o, 00A41)" AOO On 'A.-, (,.,3 It - --Ol e XMUNA4a PV44,6L F y