General Meeting Minutes 7-14-2005

Minutes for City Council General Meeting July 14, 2005

Call to Order at 7:01 PM

Roll Call    

Becky King

Ken Klawunder

Kim Heacox

Sandi Marchbanks

Martha Romero

Wayne Howe

Tim Gibson                                       

Approval of Minutes

Approval of Minutes 6/09/05 Passed 7/0

Approval of Minutes 6/17/05 Passed 7/0                                               

Public Comment on non-Agenda Items

Kate Boesser requested funds for Arts Council fundraisers this fall and in the spring of 2006.

Kate stated that the performers performing this spring from Japan needed a formal invitation from the council.

Kate requested funding for these events through the city.  Kate requested the usual $200 for paying the performer and flights r/t from Juneau to Gustavus for the group from Japan.

Mark Berry requested that the city purchase a new computer for the fire hall with funds from the GVFD budget.  He stated that Tom Berner made the proposal and that the funds would come from the Emergency Medical Budget.

Chad Soiseth spoke in support of the DRC and expounded on the benefits and the success of the composting program.  He stated that the new composting program should be adopted by the city.

Marilyn Jackson also spoke on the benefits of the DRC’s composting plan and how it benefited her garden.  She also thanked Paul Berry for all of his hard work with the composting program.

Ordinances to Publish

      Ordinance No. 2005-02 A Ordinance Amending Section 1.03.010 (B) (5) and (7)

Sandi introduced and read the ordinance.  She explained that it is an ordinance amending the way resolutions are written and that it will be available public review.

Resolutions for Public Hearing

Resolution 2005-12 Certification of the Annual Certified Financial Statement of Revenues and Authorized Expenditures for the Year Ending June 30, 2005

Sandi Introduced and read the resolution and

Resolution 2005-15 Certification of the Annual Certified Financial Statement of Revenues and Authorized Expenditures for the Year Ending June 30, 2004 

Public Comment

No Public Comment followed on either resolution.

          Assembly Action

          Sandi asked for a motion that both resolutions be passed and Tim made the motion.

          Both Resolutions Passed 7/0

Bruce Tedson asked if we could publish the budget for FY 05 along with the financial statement.  Sandi thanked him for this suggestion.

          Resolution 2005-13 A Resolution confirming the intent of the City Council of Gustavus to select and acquire, through Alaska Statute (AS) 38.05.810 and 38.05.825, all the land presently described as Parcel #3 which includes the Salmon River Boat Harbor, the road to the harbor facility, and the launch ramp including adjacent tide and submerged lands

Sandi introduced and read the resolution.

          Public Comment: Clarification on the resolution was requested and given by Sandi and Ken.  It was asked how and why the city was required to take possession of the land.  Ken explained this to the public.

          Assembly Action: Sandi asked for a motion to pass this resolution.  Becky made the motion.

 Resolution Passed 7/0  

          Resolution 2005-14 Request that Gustavus Electric Company Apply for Grants Available for the Construction of the Falls Creek Hydroelectric Project

Sandi introduced the resolution and read the resolution.  Wayne asked that “management of the” be deleted and that in the first “whereas rates as the” be changed to “rates as a”.  The council agreed.

            Public Comment: No Public Comment was received.

          Assembly Action: Sandi asked for a motion to pass this resolution.  Ken made the motion.

Resolution Passed as Amended 7/0

Unfinished Business

a.) Report by Dick Levitt – Dick stated that the cost of power for the Hydro project would be used for the recovery of the cost of construction.  If, and when, the funding is recovered, then the power costs to Gustavus residents would go down immediately.  On June 16, 2005 a bill came down allocating 2 million for the planning and construction of the Falls Creek Hydroelectric project.  He noted that the money was not in his possession yet, but that funding looked promising.  He said that he was looking for funding through the Rural Energy Service along with several other agencies.  He has also been working with the Alaska Energy Authority to pursue funding sources. 

     He thanked the council for their work and their resolution supporting his efforts to procure funding for the Falls Creek Hydroelectric Project.

     Discussion on this topic followed.

b.) Council Adoption of the DRC Food Waste Compost Plan

     Sandi stated that we in Gustavus were very fortunate to have people working so hard to make Gustavus a better place.  She then asked the council for a motion to accept the plan.

Motion to Accept: Passed 7/0

New Business

            No New Business

Committee Reports

Marine Facilities Committee Proposal for the Salmon River Boat Launch

Sandi Introduced the Proposal.  Sandi stated that it was just a proposal to alert the council to the intent of the committee.  She then asked Diane Klawunder if she had any thing to add.  Diane restated that it is just a proposal and once funding is found it will be up for public review.  She also stated that John Scott is donating all his services in planning to the project.

Wayne said that the council should accept the proposal.  He also stated that the repairs in the proposal would not affect private use. 

Sandi asked for a motion and Wayne made a motion to accept the proposal.

Motion to Accept Proposal: Passed 7/0

Council Comments

Sandi let the public know that the request for funds through the USDA was not accepted.  She said that the funding through senate bill #46 has been allocated to the City of Gustavus and the Gustavus School.

There is also a schedule for proposed projects in the Tongass National Forest for 2006 on the table if anyone would like to review it.

Ken Stated that he had contacted one of the contacts the had made in Washington and that that contact stated that we should wait to hire a consultant on the project until after a few bills pass the house and we see where funding is allocated.  He also said that it is difficult to get funding for the amount of 7 million dollars.  He also told the council and public that the amount of 5 million or less is much more realistic and it would be better to procure funding from several different sources.

Ken also stated that the war in Iraq has hampered funding for projects. 

Wayne Howe mentioned that one work session a month was not sufficient to get all the council needs to get done.  The council agreed that a work session should be scheduled and posted for Tuesday at 6:30 PM.

Adjournment 8:14 PM