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05/17/1988 Joint Work SessionJOINT COUNCIL /ASSEMBLY WORKSESSION NOTES Tuesday, May 17, 1988 Mayor Brodie and Councilmembers Blackburn and Iani were pres- ent. Councilmembers Cratty, Perrozzi, Ramaglia, and Thompson were absent. City staff present: Deebel and Dalke Mayor Selby and Assemblymembers Austerman, Barker, Gregg, McFar- land, Merriman, and Stevens were present. Assemblymember White was absent. The worksession began at 7:47 p.m. Borough Acquisition of Lot 4, East Addition, USS 2538 The Borough had applied for patent to Lot 4, East Addition, USS 2538. The application had been approved and the Borough ex- pected title following completion of the required survey. Lot 4 contained the older vocational section of the High School, a portion of Coon Field, part of the (upper) Mill Bay Road right - of -way, and the wooded area between the school and the National Guard Armory. The Borough indicated it would transfer title to the City for the "wing" containing the westerly portion of Coon Field and the Mill Bay Road right -of -way following receipt of the patent. Shelter for the Homeless Word had not been received from the brother francis shelter Board on an interim site for the home- less shelter. A letter proposing a new permanent site on Lot 2, Block 17, New Kodiak Subdivision, had been received from Board Chairperson Donna Whitman. The Board suggested the change due to adverse testimony on the proposed shelter at Cedar Street and Thorsheim Avenue at the April 20 Planning and Zoning public hearing. Correspondence was received indicating the Archdiocese of Anchorage planned to carry insurance on the shelter through Catholic Social Services. Borough Non - Areawide Airport Powers The possibility of the Borough acquiring limited airport powers in order to manage the State Airport terminals was discussed. The Borough Assembly put the item on the agenda to keep the City apprised of Borough thinking. Alaska Airlines and MarkAir owned the available terminal space. Sitka, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Kenai managed the State airports in their communities. The Borough would place the issue on the October ballot proposing it assume non - areawide powers solely to assume State Airport management. There was no intent to assume control of any municipal airport or any seaport within the Borough. If the measure passed, the Borough would issue revenue bonds ($3 million) to purchase the two terminals, remodel them into one passenger terminal facility and re -lease KIBS82778 Worksession Notes May 17, 1988 Page 2 of 5 Borough Non- Areawide Airport Powers (Continued) to MarkAir and Alaska Airlines. The lease revenues would repay the bond issue. The idea was to make Kodiak more attractive to businesses. The airport acquisition could open the way to enticing other airlines into Kodiak and include feeder airlines into the combined facility. Kodiak was one of the few terminals in the country where an airline had to own a building to handle its passenger service. The Assemblymembers stressed the Borough had no intention of acquiring any municipal facilities. The Council had no immediate objections, appreciated the informa- tion, and would check into ramifications of such an action. The Borough planned to contact MarkAir and Alaska Airlines to deter- mine interest and then form a feasibility study committee. AML Procedure for Selection of Boardmembers Fairbanks North Star Borough had adopted a resolution requesting the Alaska Municipal League (AML) change the procedure for selecting members of its Board of Directors and establish a committee to look into voting procedures. Power shifts from the larger member municipalities to the bush communities were causing concern under the one member, one vote system. The present dues structure resulted in the largest municipalities, Anchorage and Fairbanks, contributing the major portion of AML's revenues. Fairbanks was not even represented on the present AML Board of Directors. Should the two municipalities withdraw their membership, AML would cease to exist, at least in its present form. Kodiak was on the fringe between urban and bush. Chang- ing to Senate District representation, as proposed by Fairbanks, would redistribute the power to Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau. It was acknowledged that the bush communities now controlling AML would not support a move to change their status. The situation was something the Council and Assembly might pursue. Navy Homeportinq in Kodiak Walt Ebell reported on his trip to Washington, D.C., the previous week. He met with the Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Navy in charge of ports and statistics. The possible Navy homeporting in Kodiak was the sort of deci- sion- making process calling for direct, intense effort by the City and Borough. Progress must be monitored, constantly assess- ing needs and addressing questions of strengths and weaknesses as they arose. The differences between civilian and military personnel were noted. Several other Alaskan communities were already taking an active lobbying role. Discussion continued on the impact of two frigates homeporting in Kodiak. Two frigates would carry approximately 200 personnel each and require 150 support personnel. The estimated payroll KIBS82779 Worksession Notes May 17, 1988 Page 3 of 5 Navy Homeportinq in Kodiak Continued was $10 million a year. Senator Stevens' ultimate objective was to homeport an entire fleet in Alaska. The Navy would not fight its way into a community (e.g., San Francisco) as community support was a necessary consideration. Kodiak had ideal natural features (ice free port) and its centralized location was in its favor. The Council and Assembly wondered whether the relatively low number of people involved would seriously impact the commun- ity. Data on civilian facilities needed to be prepared for the survey team scheduled to arrive in Kodiak June 21 through June 23. Walt Ebell did not consider a lobbyist a costly measure ($1,000 - $5,000 /month based on time involved) when considering the ultimate benefits. Seward was very aggressive in marketing its community. Kodiak would have to follow suit or lose a Coast Guard cutter to Unalaska and the Navy to Seward (just like the prison). The current feeling in Washington, D.C., was the decision was between Seward and Kodiak. The State was willing to financially assist whatever community was chosen. An EIS to assess impacts would be compiled by the Navy and the whole process would take time - it wouldn't happen "overnight." The public was not privy to any real impact on the community; the Navy was still in the beginning stages, too. Most of the cur- rent public discussion was pure speculation. Decisions should be held off until "real" information was available. The two public hearings held by the City illustrated the divergent attitudes and opinions toward homeporting. In the meantime, it would not hurt to have Birch Horton, a law firm with offices in Washington, D.C., Anchorage, and Juneau submit an RFP for Washington lobbying on the issue. City Bonding for Capital Port Improvement Projects The Mayor reported on the City's decision to issue up to $7 million in revenue bonds for port and harbor improvements. The Finance Director and Mayor would present the proposal to Moodys and Standard & Poor in New York the week of May 31. This was an effort to establish the City's bond rating. Special Olympics The State Summer Special Olympics would be held in Kodiak June 17 - 18. Pier III Shoal Removal It was uncertain if the $200,000 budgeted for removing the dangerous shoal in St. Paul Harbor would be retained in the budget signed by the Governor. The City had applied for the necessary Corps of Engineers permit. The question of where the dredgings would be deposited had not been settled. Some consideration was being given to moving the material into nearby sea trenches. KIBS82780 Worksession Notes May 17, 1988 Page 4 of 5 Transient Workers. Campground The City had been asked to amend the ADEC permit application for the transient workers campground septic system. This delayed completion of the project by several weeks. It was anticipated the tent pads would be in by the end of May and the campground could be opened within days after the permit was received. This concluded the Council /Assembly session. Ordinance Number 834 The Council moved to the City Conference Room and met with the Personnel Board on Ordinance Number 834 amending the Personnel Rules and Regulations. The discussion centered on the proposed Chapter 17 dealing with employee organizations. Final action on Ordinance Number 834 had been tabled several times because of employee input and the concerns of the Personnel Board. The Board submitted recommended amend- ments to Section 1703, 1704, and 1705. These changes were reviewed in depth. The Personnel Board was to submit final recommended amendments to the ordinance for Council considera- tion at the May 26 regular meeting. KICVB Funding Request The Council reviewed a Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau (KICVB) request for additional funds to help match an industry cooperative advertising program. The transient room rental tax collections were approxi- mately $10,000 over the projected revenues for the current fiscal year. This resulted in an additional $7,000 (70 %) available for the KICVB. The Council asked that the additional revenues be included in the final FY88 supplemental budget and the - funds released to the KICVB. Use of the additional funds was at the discretion of KICVB. The Council requested the KICVB Director try to clarify his requests in the future. FY89 Budget The first reading of Ordinance Number 640, FY89 Budget, was to be on the May 26 agenda. The second reading might be delayed to the June 23 regular meeting. The possible $25,000 contribution to the shelter for the homeless was to be included in the Non - Departmental contribution line item. Budget meetings with Department Heads would begin at 7:00 p.m. on May 23. Harbor Department Vacancy The Council had no filling an Accounting Clerk I vacancy in the Harbor Vacancy Review The Council policy of reviewing prior to hiring would be reviewed during the budget KIBS82781 objection to Department. every vacancy process. • Worksession Notes May 17, 1988 Page 5 of 5 City Manager Agreement The Council reviewed the draft City Manager Agreement. The worksession ended at 10:53 p.m. KIBS82782