Aug 26 City Manager Newsletter

City Manager Newsletter

City of Seward

August 26, 2024

Senior Adventure Social participants packrafting

From the City Manager

With the Silver Salmon Derby and most of August behind us, the weather is cooling, and it definitely feels like autumn in Seward.

I recently had the chance to visit Kodiak for the Alaska Municipal League conference from Aug 13 to Aug 15. The conference brought together City Managers and Mayors from across the state. We were also joined by Senator Murkowski and her staff. I was able to meet with them to discuss many of the issues going on in Seward, as well as touch base with colleagues from across the state about the similarities and differences in issues facing our cities and municipalities. It was a great week, and wonderful to visit Kodiak!

We’re also prepping the 2025/2026 budget for presentation in late September. We’ve been meeting with each department and planning out the upcoming budget cycle. Our first work session on the budget will be in mid-October.

Jason has been tackling the city’s Emergency Action Plans and finalizing the revised EAPs for each city facility. We will be putting those into place and getting staff trained and refreshed on those policies and practices.

We’ve also been moving forward with the Public Safety Feasibility Studies and working with the police and fire departments to move that information forward toward 15% design.

Back in Seward, the admin team is hard at work after the August 12 council meeting, prepping for the variety of work sessions we have tentatively planned.

If you have any questions or thoughts, feel free to email me.

ksorensen@cityofseward.net

pieces of hope

“Pieces of Hope” is a new master work by local artist, writer and educator, Justine Pechuzal.

This colorful, jumbo mural (even by mural standards!) graces the west side of the SeaView Community Center Services building.

Swirl Stroke, Abstract Line, Swirly Doodle Form

Seward was designated The Mural Capital of Alaska by the state legislature in 2008.

There are more than 30 murals in town, many of which were created under the direction of the Seward Mural Society, an all-volunteer group!

Community Library & Museum

Summer Reading Program Picnic

Library Deputy Director, Captain Karen running the mess hall

BUBBLES!

The Summer Reading Program wrapped up with a picnic at Branson Pavilion. We received positive feedback from participants as well as the businesses and organizations that participated. Thanks to everyone for making this a great success!

americans and the holocaust

This FREE exhibit will be open to the public during regular library hours.

Tuesday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM

Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM

The exhibition begins Tuesday, August 27 with an opening reception

Friday, August 30 at 2 PM

Our first program, “The Alaska Plan” is Thursday, September 5 at 12 PM, presented by Dr. Rebecca Erbelding, historian and education initiatives for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC.

founder’s day celeBRATION

Everyone is invited to the Seward Founder’s Day Celebration!

Join us Wed, Aug 28 from 4-7 pm at the Seward Community Library and Museum (in the museum) to celebrate the men and women who helped make Seward the place it is today.

Line Border Curly Swirls Waves, Chapter Divider

Sponsored by the Resurrection Bay Historical Society

Fire Department

Fire Calls Year-to-Date: 336

Building Permits Issued Year-to-Date: 38 permits with building valuation of $3,900,701

SFD’s historic Engine 42 is running!

SVFD crews swiftly responded to an RV fire at the Essential One propane filling station, narrowly avoiding a potentially disastrous conflagration

Firefighting was an Olympic sport...

Did you know, that during the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, firefighting was part of the competitive games?

Both professional and volunteer firefighters participated in the event, so it wasn’t actually on the list of Olympic games, but the firefighting competition was heavily featured in the official reports of the Olympics that year!

The Senior Adventure Social was a resounding success!

Parks and Recreation

With $1,000 dollars donated by Providence Hospital, SPRD was able to take active seniors (aged 60 and up) packrafting, ziplining, hiking and more!

Dynamic, Curly Decorative Scribble Line Element

With the success of the camp, we hope to make this a yearly program with plans to grow.

SPRD has tons of programs and activities scheduled for September and more to do in the last days of August.

AUGUST CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Check out the Parks and Rec Facebook page to stay up to date on all the programs, activities, and events the department has to offer and how to sign up!

Electric Utility

Installation Projects are ongoing: The line crew has been performing exceptionally well, advancing electric installation projects across the city. There has been a significant increase in the number of new services and line extensions, reflecting the ongoing development and growth in the area.

The development of an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) plan is underway to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of vegetation management around power lines.

The Electric Department expects to receive proposals for the Power Purchase Agreement by Aug 31; this is a critical step in securing reliable and cost-effective power for the city’s future energy needs.

Aerial View of Seward, Alaska in early Summer

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

In the Seward Harbor between Aug 1 - Aug 15 one vessel sank, and one vessel that was taking on water was saved.

The Seward Silver Salmon Derby started on Aug 7 and ended Aug 18; it was a slow derby this year, but the Harbor’s own Rick B. took 5th Place!

The Harbor crew is excited to welcome Chrystal Cowen to the team! She officially joined the crew on Aug 20.

Fall is quickly approaching, and the Harbor will switch to our winter schedule starting Monday, Sep 9

Winter hours: Mon-Sat 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Closed Sunday

Finance

Welcome to Karie Soule, our newest addition to the Finance team! She is an Accounting Tech II, but she has been filling in at the Utility and Finance Counter.

The autopay error that affected customers for the June billing cycle has been resolved, and Finance is watching this closely for the next cycle.

Budget meetings have begun with departments and all the department heads have been excited to dig and explore ways to operate most efficiently.

Public works

The Street Department is upgrading alleyways with gravel throughout town and will continue as time allows.

The Army Corp of Engineers group is working on the intake design for the new tunnel in Lowell Canyon.

Meetings will continue online as they progress to a final design which will include a bypass plan to divert water to the old tunnel when necessary for full inspections and repairs.

Police department

Chief Nickell and Deputy Chief Schaefermeyer, Seward Pride Coalition members, and other community stakeholders had a meeting with representatives from the FBI to follow up on the recent bomb threat to the Seward Community Library in response to Pride Month activities.

We appreciate the FBI sending Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day, Supervisory Special Agent Andy Smith, and Agent Chloe Martin to meet with us and give what details they could regarding their findings and national trends.

seward animal shelter

Taku meaning “fierce winds” is the last puppy at the shelter who needs a home. And who could resist this face?!

Taku is very smart and a fast learner. Said to be a border collie mix, this little guy will need an active home.

Upcoming Spay and Neuter Clinic Sep 9

The clinic will be held at the Seward Animal Shelter. Reserve a spot online at alaskaspca.org. Select “request application” and click “spay/neuter”.

In the last question please answer “Seward outreach.”

The clinic will accept SOS (Save Our Seward Pets) vouchers for $100 off dog surgeries and $75 off cat surgeries. Vouchers available at the shelter.

Shelter Hours:

Tue - Sat; 10 am - 5 pm

601 Sea Lion Ave

(907) 422-7150

Cuteness overload!

IT TECH Byte

Community Development Report

Cycle through open windows: Pressing Alt + Tab allows you to cycle through currently open windows (Alt + Shift + Tab will cycle backwards). This makes switching back and forth between running processes quick and painless. In macOS the shortcut is Cmd + Tab

Close-up macro shot of the black keys of a desktop computer keyboard. Selective focus on the Ctrl key. Toned.

Your Main Idea Goes Here

There is just enough space here for several lines of text. You can add details, share a quick story, or elaborate on an idea, as long as you keep the information engaging and relevant. For maximum impact, make sure you get your message across clearly yet concisely.

Community development

There will be three public hearings at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Sep 3.

Please check out the meeting packet for more specific information and attend the meeting if you’d like to speak on any of these topics. The public hearings will be on the following items:

Conditional Use Permit for a hotel on the downtown property where the former Oriental Garden restaurant is located

Conditional Use Permit for a new Major Marine Tours bunkhouse behind the former Ace Hardware store.

Preliminary plat for The Point Subdivision on the east side of the bay to split up a parcel of land to distinguish which land lies inside city limits and which land lies outside city limits.

Join our team!

Below are a selection of current openings with the city of Seward. You can see all employment opportunities by clicking HERE.

An application for employment can be found HERE, by emailing HR@cityofseward.net or in the lobby of City Hall at 410 Adams Street (5th Ave & Adams Street)

Applications may be sent electronically to Tammy Nickell, HR Manager at HR@cityofseward.net, faxed to 907-224-3577, or delivered to City Hall at 410 Adams Street, Seward, Alaska 99664.