From the City Manager

It’s been a busy month since the last City Council meeting. First and foremost, I hope everyone in Seward and beyond had a ​safe, happy, and healthy 4th of July! And a big congratulations to all the racers at this year’s Mount Marathon Race. It was an ​awesome day and perfect running conditions. And thank you to all the community groups and organizations that made it such ​a successful holiday weekend. It’s so wonderful to see everyone come together to celebrate!

Last month attended the Governmental Finance Officers Association training in Orlando, FL with Finance Director Sully. This was ​a great opportunity to learn new and exciting methodologies for budgeting as we approach our FY25/26 budget cycle. I also ​was able to participate in a panel discussion for finance officials interested in pursuing careers in city administration. Overall, it ​was a great conference, and I learned a lot.

Back in Seward, we’ve been crafting our FY25/26 budget calendar and getting things lined up for those discussions.

We also have received two affirmative responses from our initial request for parties interested in bidding on our power supply ​contract. I’ll be working with the Electric Department over the next few weeks to finalize that contract.

Below are some other projects the Deputy City Manager, Jason, and I have been working on:

• Library Heating System Update: We have ordered a new electric boiler ​element to be installed. In the not-too-distant future, they will also install a ​hydronic treatment system a first step toward getting that part of the ​system sorted out.
  
• Legal: We are continuing to work with our attorneys on a number of ​different legal fronts including the CEA Rate Case and compliance lawsuits. ​We had a bench trial on June 19 relating to noncompliance and breaking a ​legal agreement. That went well – we will get the final determination for ​fines and fees in the coming weeks.
  
• Heat Loop Project: We are wrapping up our reporting for Phase 1 and ​working with the Adhoc Committee on the application for Phase 2. We ​recently got approval for our AEA grant extension (the original grant for ​this project).
  
• Jesse Lee Home: I had a conference with our engineers (KCI) and the ​Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC). They have ​determined that we need to do further testing for residual contaminants. In ​the next month or so, KCI will dig a few feet down at the contaminated ​sample sites to take another sample and then send those results to ADEC.
  
• Insurance: We are working with AMLJIA on re-evaluation of city property ​and major assets for insurance. The last time this was revised was pre-​COVID and deals with replacement values.
  

This year I ran the race and did the firefighter’s challenge at the ​fire station.... It’s a toss up on which one was more challenging ​but I’m leaning towards the firefighter challenge!

Summer Operating Hours for the Library & Museum (May 1-Sept 29)

Library Hours: Tue-Fri 9AM-6PM, Sat 9AM-5PM.

• Patron Statistics (June 1-25, 2024): The Library is seeing a lot of visitors! We ​facilitated 49 events, 49 Shushbooth reservations, and proctored 1 exam
  
• Passport Processing: We processed 11 passports this month to date
• Summer Reading Program: Ready to dive into a boat load of fun with our ​summer reading program? This year, we're all about coastal communities! We ​are in our 5th week of this year’s program, and we’re excited to have 84 ​registrants
  
• Library on Wheels: This program provides library materials to patrons who ​cannot physically come to the library. Their requests are delivered by the ​Senior Center Meals on Wheels drivers on Fridays
  
• Storytime Hour happens every Thursday from 11:30-12:30. We are currently ​reading books about Life in Alaska, followed by a fun craft. This week we will ​read a book about animal footprints, complete with DIY footprint stamps!
• Res Bay Chapbooks: We’re still getting submissions for Res Bay Chapbooks, ​a program where local writers can submit their chapter-length books for ​publication, binding, and promotion to the public. We have a few local ​authors showcased, so come by to read and support them. Interested? ​Reach out to our Director, Sue Drover, or Sean Ulman, leader of Chapbooks.
  
• Waves Over Seward: The Good Friday Earthquake: If you haven’t seen this ​amazing video documentary of the 1964 earthquake, it’s shown daily at 2PM ​in the Library Community Room. It uses first-person accounts to tell the ​story of how the 1964 earthquake affected Seward
  

Going for Gold: Jacoby’s Olympic Journey

This exhibit showcases the remarkable journey of ​Seward’s own Lydia Jacoby, an exceptional athlete ​whose extraordinary accomplishments have left an ​incredible mark on the swimming world and the ​Seward community.

Fire Department

We NEED volunteers, if you or someone you know is interested in serving your community, call us at (907)224-3445 or stop by at one of our trainings on Wednesday evenings at 6:00 pm.

THANK YOU to our volunteers!

City Manager Kat Sorensen is seeing if she has what it takes to be ​a firefighter in the Firefighter Challenge on July 3. Thanks to ​everyone who came out to support the SVFD!

public works

• Newly painted center lines, fog lines, curbs, and crosswalks brighten up the city ​streets in preparation for the 4th of July celebrations. The majority of the work ​is completed
• The Street Department is also busy with adding gravel to alleys and working on ​dust control activities. Pavement potholes are being patched and sweeping ​activities continue
• The Water and Wastewater Utilities are training two new employees and ​continuing with testing, repairs, and ground maintenance at all those facilities. ​Multiple projects are in the works to keep clean drinking water for the City of ​Seward
• The Maintenance Shop has promoted Rudy Smith as Shop Foreman to step in ​for the retiring, 37-year employee Mike Moore. Congrats to Mike and Rudy as ​they each enter a new chapter of their lives
• The Water and Sewer Rate Study is the focus of a work session at the July 22 ​council meeting. There are two very important parts to implement from the ​study. First, we need to replace the current complicated ERU billing for all ​businesses and any residential apartment buildings that are a 3-plex or larger. ​They will all have to be “metered”. This will simplify the whole system for the ​customer and our billing process. Second, we need to adjust the rates and ​revenues to keep on track for infrastructure, maintenance, and operations. ​More working sessions and/or meetings will be coming to finish this rate study
  

Parks and Recreation

Blake Pullins in the foreground

Photo Credit: Russ White (check out the moose and ​calf in the background!)

Seasonal Harbor Aide ​Part-Time

Public Works Maintenance/Mechanic

Journeyman Lineman

Patrol Officer

Utility

• 2024 Water Quality Reports for the City of Seward and Seward Marine Industrial ​Center (SMIC) are now listed at Public Works | Seward, AK (cityofseward.us)
  

• Our Finance and Util-Assist Team is dedicated to working with delinquent ​account holders by providing deferred payment plans and offering information ​on assistance organizations. Please rest assured that we are here to support ​you. Feel free to contact our Utility Department with any queries or concerns
  

HARBOR HAPPENINGS

Seward Harbor

• The Harbor Office has a new administrator! Travis Enter started on June 25 ​and we are excited to have him within the Harbor Department
• We are continuing to discuss funding and design of Z Float Expansion Project
• Deputy City Manager Jason and Harbormaster Tony met with R&M on July 1 ​to discuss a new Harbormaster building and our needs within the ​Department
• The Harbor participated in the summer reading program on June 26 and ​showcased our facility to 10 children ranging in ages from 3 – 12 years old
• No major incidents were reported within the Harbor between June 13 – 27

SMIC

• North Dock interest is very strong! Daily calls to check availability to utilize ​North Dock in July
  
• No major incidents were reported within the SMIC yard between June 13 – 27
  

Finance

Community Development Report

• Staffing issues: Unfortunately, the Finance team has lost two members, ​leading to a staff shortage and a significant challenge in training new ​employees
• Finance continues to work with the auditors performing our annual audit. ​Currently, we are working with Providence for the asset portion of the ​financials
• Finance Director Jusino attended the 118 annual conference for the GFOA, ​representing Seward with the Alaska division and getting training on ​leadership, budgetary control on public safety, financial reporting, and ​procurement

Do you live inside city limits and have an interest in community and comprehensive ​planning? P&Z advises City Council and promotes public interest and understanding ​of comprehensive planning, platting, zoning, land management and other issues ​relating to community planning and development. The P&Z Commission meetings ​are on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 PM and a work session on the third ​Tuesday at 6 PM.

A recorded informational session about the Commission is on the Community ​Development website for any interested Seward citizens. Commissioners receive ​$100 per month for their participation on the Commission.

Email the application below to clerk@cityofseward.net

IT TECH TIP

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Community Development Report

City of seward

Kat Sorensen, City Manager

ksorensen@cityofseward.net

Jason Bickling, Deputy City Manager

jbickling@cityofseward.net

CITY COUNCIL

Mayor Sue McClure

Vice-Mayor John Osenga

Mike Calhoon

Randy Wells

Kevin Finch

Bob Barnwell

Julie Crites

410 Adams St.

PO Box 167

Seward, AK 99664

Upcoming council meetings

Packets and agendas are posted on the city website prior to each meeting.

Meetings are livestreamed on our YouTube channel and 91.7 FM Seward Public Radio

youtube.com/@cityofseward7729