It’s finally happened. Gas is now officially too expensive to use.

July 24, 2008 at Legends of the Mountain 6 - 8 p.m.

The City of Seward, the Seward Ranger District of Chugach National Forest and Kenai Fjords National Park are resuming the planning process for the Mary Lowell Center, a multi-agency administrative, visitor and conference facility for downtown Seward. This Center will provide one stop shopping for permitting and information for public lands in the area of Seward and Resurrection Bay.

The Portico Group, the architecture and engineering firm for the project will be in Seward for an open house on Thursday, July 24 from 6 – 8 p.m. at Legends of the Mountain. They will be seeking public feedback on revised schematic design alternatives. This design phase is being repeated due to the following changes affecting the project:

• The USFS revised its plans for participating in the Mary Lowell Center due to downsizing operations in Seward. While still a partner in the project, the amount of office space for USFS personnel in the Center was dramatically reduced.
• On February 11, 2008 the Seward City Council passed a resolution expressing a preference for a design that does not require building across Washington Street reversing direction given in the City’s 2003 resolution.
• In addition, the Mary Lowell Center partners wanted to consider a design that could be built in phases since it is uncertain whether the entire amount required to complete the project will be funded in a single appropriation.

The revised schematic design will be based on the two alternatives selected through the mini-Value Analysis in May 2008. One is a single three-story building on the current site of the Legends Building and the other is a two story Visitor Center/Conference Facility on the Legends site and a two story administrative building on the Harbor Dinner Club/Mai property site on the east side of 5th Avenue.

For more information on this project contact Kirsten Vesel, City of Seward Assistant City Manager (907-224-4074), or Jeff Mow, Kenai Fjords National Park Superintendent (907-224-2118).

HB4001 Corresponding Senate bill SB 4001TITLE: “An Act making supplemental appropriations, capital appropriations, reappropriations, and other appropriations; making appropriations to capitalize a fund; and providing for an effective date.” http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/HB4001A.PDF HB 4002 Corresponding Senate bill SB 4002TITLE: “An Act establishing the Alaska resource rebate program and relating to the program; and providing for an effective date.” http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/HB4002A.PDF HB 4003 Corresponding Senate bill SB 4003TITLE: “An Act making supplemental appropriations to the Alaska Energy Authority for power cost equalization; making special appropriations to the Department of Revenue and to the Department of Health and Social Services for the Alaska resource rebate program; making a special appropriation to the Department of Revenue for the payment of certain shared taxes relating to aviation fuel; and providing for an effective date.” http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/HB4003A.PDF HB 4004 Corresponding Senate bill SB 4004TITLE: “An Act suspending the motor fuel tax; and providing for an effective date.” http://www.legis.state.ak.us/PDF/25/Bills/HB4004A.PDF

 The Seward Legislative Information Office is open for the Special Session. There will be teleconferences and chances for the public to voice their opinions on these subjects. Call the Seward LIO for information for updates at 224-5066 or email requests to Seward_LIO@legis.state.ak.us

The Seward Community Library Museum raffle quilt has moved around the corner to the new book store Cover to Cover. Located at 300 Washington St, Cover to Cover is open 7 days a week 9am to 10pm. Stop in to see the beautiful quilt, browse the books and don’t forget to buy your raffle ticket! Tickets are only one dollar and are going fast.

All proceeds are going to the building project for a new Library and Museum location. Tickets are available at: Seward Library, Seward Museum, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz, Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy and Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover.

Thank you Cover to Cover for displaying our quilt! Drawing will be August 20th, noon, at the Library. We’ve had questions about shipping the quilt if someone from out of town wins it. The answer is Yes! of course we will ship it!

www.somethingforus.org

This beautiful quilt is on the move this week to Sew-n-Bee Cozy. Seward’s own quilt shop located at 211 4^th Ave. Sew-n-Bee Cozy is displaying the quilt through the holiday weekend. Stop by and see the quilt and get your raffle tickets during their business hours of 10am-7pm M-Sat and Sundays 12-5pm. www.sewnbeecozy.com

The raffle proceeds go to the Seward Community Library Museum building project. Tickets are only $1 each and tickets sales are going fast. Drawing will be at the Library August 20^th at noon. A 3-D model of the project is on display at the Library, stop by to see the model and look at the plans. More information is on our website, www.somethingforus.org.

Thank you Sew-n-Bee Cozy for displaying the quilt! Donated by Pam Ventgen, a quilter from Anchorage. Pam will be in Seward doing quilting classes for Seward’s local quilters in October and January.

Tickets available at the Library, Museum, Teresa Roy at First National Bank, Mary Tougas at Hertz, Karla Oates at Sew-n-Bee Cozy, Vanta Shafer at Cover to Cover.

A busy week at the market…Thursday, July 3rd:  Fresh Produce:  hot house tomatoes and cucumbers, potatoes, onions—all Alaska grown.  Annette will also have fresh baked goods and flower baskets and don’t forget the grilled reindeer, bratwurst, and beef sausages!Come check out Abby Wentworth’s illustrated new book: “A Pea Book”  and Catherine Richardson’s hand crafted wood items.”Real” Nachos Thursday-Sunday and we might even have a few special nacho selections for the 4th—all are vegetarian and we use as much organic ingredients as we can get our hands on.  Mermaid art by local artists in the little house. Friday, July 4th Dyan Ferrin’s artwork and sculpture; Regina McAbee’s Birch bark vessels and jewelry and her wonderful sourdough starter kits; Kathie’s unique gifts; Catherine Richardson’s wood crafts; and Abby’s earth flags, art, and cards.Saturday, July 5th:  Abby and Kathie (see above) and we’re hoping for the Belly Dancing Troupe to drop by to entertain us!Sunday, July 6th:  Nachos, art and gifts in the little house.

http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/July9th2008_SpecSessionProc.pdf

June 20, 2008, Juneau, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today released a draft bill proposing a special one-time payment in the amount of $1,200 to Alaskans and suspending the state fuel tax for one year. The legislation is intended to be a starting point for a discussion with the legislature about how to provide relief from high energy costs to working Alaskans and their families. “As the fiscal year winds down, Alaskans are assured of surpluses beyond the billions of dollars put into savings and funding for priorities such as forward funding education and municipal revenue sharing,” Governor Palin said. “With savings and funding priorities covered, I am confident that Alaskans, who are the owners of our resources, can spend their resource revenue better than government can.” She added, “We can afford to share resource wealth with Alaskans and to temporarily suspend the state fuel tax. It is my hope these items would be implemented by September. We look forward to working with legislators in the coming weeks to find the best possible solution to provide short-term energy relief.” While the unique fiscal circumstances the state finds itself in at the end of this fiscal year warrant a special one-time payment to share some of the state’s wealth, the payment comes at a time when Alaskans are facing rising energy prices. High prices for oil are a double-edged sword for Alaskans. While public coffers fill, prices for heating fuel and gasoline have skyrocketed over the last six months and are now running into the $5- to $9-a-gallon range for heating fuel and gasoline across several areas of the state. (Examples: Kokhanok - $9.10 for heating fuel; Hughes - $8.50 for gasoline.) The payment to Alaskans is estimated to distribute roughly $729 million of the state’s resource wealth. Suspending the state fuel tax for one year would save Alaskans about another $40 million in state fuel taxes. Governor Palin and the administration will continue reviewing a proposal to make grants to utilities and introduce bills for the legislature to consider next month. In addition to this short-term relief, efforts are ongoing toward a long-term energy plan for the state. That initiative is being directed by Steve Haagenson, who was appointed the State’s Energy Coordinator in March. Haagenson, who also serves as Executive Director of the Alaska Energy Authority, is developing a statewide plan to reduce energy costs, promote conservation and secure long-term supply solutions for each region of the state. Results of his work are expected by the end of this year. “These energy prices are draining family finances and causing hardships all over the state,” said Haagenson. In addition, it was announced that the Division of Investments will be amending its regulations to allow for low-interest loans to commercial fishermen to purchase more fuel-efficient engines. This proposal has no financial impact on the state’s budget. A proposal to use debit cards to deliver the special one-time payments to Alaskans was dropped due to significant costs and the inability to use the debit cards in many rural Alaska communities. A copy of the draft bill can be found at:http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/FuelTaxBill_06-20-2008.PDF

Seward Senior Center

336 3rd Ave

224-5604

 Lunch Everyday At Noon

We have WiFi! 

Monday 6/16

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Tuesday 6/17

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

Movie @ 12:45 ~ In the Underground Theatre

 Wednesday 6/18

9:30-10:30 - Strength Training Fitness Class

Beginners Wii Bowling 1-3   Sign-Up to learn!

Thursday 6/19

10:30-11:30 – Exercise Class

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

1pm - Senior Center Board of Directors Meeting

Friday 6/20

9:30-11:00       BRUNCH

10:30-11:30 – Core Balance Class

11:30 – Go Fish Summer Card Fun

The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program is having their semi-annual garage sale on Saturday, May 31. It starts at 9AM and goes until 1PM. We have tons of stuff for sale. We will also be getting a generous donation of furniture from the Hotel Seward….Thanks, Mary and Mark! Lots of clothes, collectibles and other interesting items. You never know what you will find! Drop off of donations is welcome. All of the proceeds are for the benefit of local victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. This is a great community and we have always felt supported!

Seward Senior Center 

336 3rd Ave

224-5604 

Lunch Everyday At Noon 

Monday 5/19

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Tuesday 5/20

Library/Museum Presentation @ 12:30

Movie @ 12:45 ~ In the Underground Theatre

 Wednesday 5-21

Alaska Hearing Aid - call 1-888-554-4242 for an appointment

Beginners Wii Bowling 1-3   Sign-Up to learn!

 Thursday 5/22

1-3 – Summer League Wii Bowling

 Friday 5/23

Bingo @ 12:45

 Monday 5-26

Closed in observance of Memorial Day

Reopen @ 9am Tuesday, May 27th         

May 15, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today unveiled a short-term energy plan to address the skyrocketing costs of energy in Alaska.  The package includes two parts – returning surplus funds through a grant to all electric utilities to reduce ratepayer bills and an Energy Debit Card for the next 12 months.

“Alaskans are feeling the pinch of high energy costs,” Governor Palin said.  “The state treasury is swelling, while family checkbooks are evaporating.  The right thing to do is to return surplus monies to the resource owners through energy relief.  Instead of going to Washington, D.C. for relief, Alaskans should be independent enough to take care of this energy problem ourselves.”Since coming into office, the Palin Administration has been focused on long-term solutions to Alaska’s energy crunch.  In some of Alaska’s communities, consumers are faced with the nation’s highest energy costs.  In 2007, a comprehensive energy supply inventory was initiated to identify alternatives to high-cost energy supplies. Earlier this spring, Steve Haagenson was appointed as the State’s Energy Coordinator.  In his capacity as the Executive Director of the Alaska Energy Authority, he is developing a statewide plan to reduce costs, promote conservation and secure long-term supply solutions for each part of the state.  Results of that work are expected by year-end 2008.“For instance, in Bush Alaska, the best solutions to high diesel prices are to use less and find alternatives,” Governor Palin said.  “We cannot lose sight of the need for these long-term fixes, but as crude oil prices continue to set daily records, Alaska’s families, communities and businesses cannot afford to wait.”Returning surplus funds through grants to electric utilities will result in a 60 percent reduction for all ratepayers.  The benefit will flow to homeowners, renters, schools, governments and businesses.  A review by the Department of Law has indicated that there should be no federal income tax consequence since the grants act to offset the revenue collected by the utilities themselves.  In addition, there will be conservation incentives for the utilities.  For every 1 percent reduction in 2008 kilowatt hour sales from 2007 sales, the state will make a year-end contribution for capital energy projects to the utility. The Energy Debit Card will go out to every qualifying Permanent Fund Dividend applicant.  The benefit will be $100 per month per PFD recipient.  The amount allocated for children’s benefits will accrue to the card of the sponsor on their PFD application.  Money not used on the card one month will carry over to the next month.  It is expected that the amount available to individuals through the card will be considered income by the IRS.The temporary Energy Debit Card can be used for purchases from Alaska energy vendors, such as heating oil distributors, natural gas utilities, electric utilities, gas stations and other retail fueling stations.  The value of this plan is approximately $1.2 billion.  The grant to electric utilities is expected to be $475 million, while the Energy Debit Card totals are forecast to be $729 million.  The Governor has proposed this energy relief plan for one year.

In our lifetime, one of our hopes and dreams is to own our own home. It’s the piece of the American Dream along with life, liberty and the pursuit to happiness. Are you one of the 31% Americans who cannot afford to live the American Dream of owning a home? Don’t lose heart.

In 2003, President Bush signed into the Law the American Dream Downpayment Act. The objective according to the President, “… was to help many low-income buyers to overcome that hurdle, and to achieve an important part of the American Dream.”

Coming up with 20% downpayment on a $140,000.00 home is difficult for some of you. The banks, local agencies and govt. will not voluntarily give you the information for the best deals in buying a home. . If you have the time and the patience to fill out all the paperwork, you will within a year or two own your own home through this downpayment loan assistance program. If you are skeptical about this program, I suggest you not apply. Currently, the HOP Program is accepting applications. I wish I had shared this information earlier. Here’s the website: http://www.alaskacdc.org/home_opportunity_program.htm

This past budget cycle was a very high-profile one for our community, and some of the issues remain unresolved.  May 8th, at 7 PM, the City Council is holding a worksession on the sales tax cap (along with the 1st quarter financials).  It is your opportunity to be heard and explore in depth what sales (and which businesses) would truly be impacted by an increase in the sales tax cap.

Sales to government entities and non-profits are excluded.  These charges already account for a large amount of Seward’s gross sales.  The tourists will not be paying more as our hotels are taxed on an individual room rate per night, and our sightseeing boats and charter trips are taxed per seat, per day.  None of these charges exceed $500.

What about our commerical fishing vessels, ships repair services, construction projects, home heating fuel?  Please attend, and be sure that we all know who is impacted when we implement a sales-based program.

Laura Cloward

Executive Director

Seward Chamber of Commerce

L E G A C Y Imagine a powerful tool local residents will create and use to strengthen our community today and forever. Imagine an endowment available to support our emerging needs as a growing community in Southcentral Alaska. With your participation, these visions will become reality. Read More>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080502/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/transportation_ids_2

I would request the City of Seward repeal the sales tax on heating fuel. The cost to heat our homes is quickly becoming unbearable. The business sector, in order to survive, will surely pass along the high cost to the consumer in the form of higher prices. Increased fuel costs and the increased cost of needed commodities will surely have a negative impact on the economic growth of our community. If working people can’t afford to live here, school populations decline, business ventures fail and land values decline.
Repealing the tax will understandably effect the City’s bank account, but it will be a great help in the economic survival to continued growth in our community and a welcomed relief to our cost of fuel shocked townspeople. It will be received as a message that our City truly cares about us.

Seward is Their Kind of Town 

Kicking off with an Armed Services Day picnic on May 17th, Seward has the potential to be the military R&R hot spot.  The Seward Military Resort and the Air Force Camp are the only military recreation sites in the State, and the Military Combat Fishing Tournament on May 22nd is one-of-a-kind! 

We’d like to promote Seward on Alaska’s military installations as the place to be in May - especially the “week” from Armed Services Day through Memorial Day.  These 10 days include Seward Harbor Opening Weekend (SHOW), the Exit Glacier Race and Torch Run, Kid’s Fishing Day, the new Mural dedication, and many other community events.

If you have an event going on during these 10 days, or would like to publish a special military discount - let us know so we can put it on a special “military week” web page. 

For more information, contact the chamber by email or call 224-8051.

This morning the city council voted to give the electrical department a new truck a vehicle that was not authorized in the 2008 budget.

The Seward City Council did authorize $205,000 in expenditures from the motor pool in the 2008 budget. The 2008 Capital Improvement Plan for the Motor Pool identified the following vehicles for replacement or purchase, so expect to see these additional unauthorized expenditures to come to Council in the near future:

Police: replace 2 vehicles – total for two $72,210 (one authorized)

TYC replace 1984 van $30,000

Public works – dump truck $80,000

Public works – replace flat bed $30,000

Water – Replace Truck $35,000

Electric – Excavator $60,000

Electric – truck for new field engineer position

(during the budget session the City Council was told, when asked, that there was one new position in the budget, a ½ time position in the library)

Electric – Utility Box vehicle $50,000 – Just authorized April 29, 2008 $56,500) unauthorized and over budget by $6,500

Shop- replacement pickup - $40,000

Public works – Sander / Plow Truck - $185,000 (authorized)

Electric mechanic repair truck - $70,000

Total expenditures: $685,210

The administration can take issue with the council but ultimately the council is held accountable by the public. I applaud the council for not simply rubber stamping administration’s requests.

At issue:

Administration stated they did not maintain the truck because they were going to get a new one.

The truck was not an authorized expenditure in the 2008 budget. Yes, it was on the capital improvement plan for 2008 but the council only authorized $205,000 in actual expenditures for the Motor Pool.

The administration did not get any local estimates for repair work on the existing truck. It was NEVER even taken to a mechanic for an actual estimate. Councilmember Amberg brought this point up at the meeting, she did the homework the Administration did not do, but her questions were not satisfactorily answered or even debated. The City Council had every right to question all aspects of the purchase of the truck.

“Penny wise and pound foolish” was the descriptor of those who opposed the purchase of the truck. Council should not be demeaned, humiliated or badgered into making important decisions. I find it interesting that administration feels that it can give unsatisfactory justification, not follow policy about getting bids nor seek local vendors. I find it interesting that the entity “the City” must win at all costs and that it resents the council questioning policies and expenditures. I find it interesting that Mayor Corbridge can cut off and rule out of order anyone who doesn’t agree with him, but let other council members and administration, who agree with his position, ramble with impunity. Abject loyalty to the entity “the City” comes at the expense of the public.

It has nothing to do with winning or losing but everything to do with accountability.

Arts and Crafts Fair

Sunday, May 18, 2008

11:00am – 7:00pm

QNT Culture Center

Seward, Alaska

Native Arts and Crafts Vendors

You are Invited

Qutekcak Native Tribe will host its first Alaska Native Arts and Crafts Fair on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at its culture center at 221 Third Avenue in Seward, Alaska. Native artists and craft persons are invited to exhibit and offer for sale their original handmade Native arts and crafts products. The fair hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (setup begins at 8:30am).

Vendors must submit an application form including applicable fees so that they are received by Wednesday, May 7, 2008 (early bird applications by Thursday, May 1, 2008.) For information, vendor applications with fair guidelines and fee schedule, please contact Chellie at QNT by telephone at (907) 224-3118 or by email at bookkeeper@qutekcak.net.

Swim-a-Thon was a great success this year for Seward Tsunami Swim Club. 36 swimmers took to the pool last Thursday afternoon for a two hour swim time fund raiser for the club.

How many lengths can a STSC swimmer do in two hours? The maximum amount of lengths allowed to be swum by the USA Swimming rules for Swim-a-Thon is 200. This year STSC had 18 swimmers do the full 200 lengths. 200 lengths equal 5,000 meters which equal 3.10 miles per swimmer.

A total of lengths swum by STSC swimmers were 5,613 lengths or 140,325 meters or 87.19 miles! How far is that?! Running to mile 87 of the Seward Highway (around Girdwood) or swimming to Fox Island round trip three times!

Sponsors pledged over $10,000 to our swimmers this year.

Seward Tsunami Swim Club would like to thank our wonderful community members and family members for your support of our program! Without you, we would not be able to have our swimmers in the pool learning the swim strokes or competing statewide.

Thank you.

STSC Board:

Head Coach-Matt Hershock

Athlete Assist.-Grace Hawkins

President-Pat O’Leary

Vice Pres.-Eileen Eavis

Secretary-Sue Pfeiffenberger

Treasurer-Mary Tougas

Safety/Meet Coordinator-Terri McKnight

Member-at-Large-Maya Moriarty

Member-at-Large-Ina Hawkins

Here are some great tips to use when you are trying to conserve energy and other “green” tips.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/athome/358510_green12.html?source=mypi

Senator Gary StevensSenate Rules Chairwww.aksenate.org

GaVEL FALLS ON 25^TH ALASKA LEGISLATURE:

Juneau—The gavel fell on the second session of the 25th Alaska Legislature early this (Sunday afternoon) after lawmakers gave their approval to the final major piece of legislation, the Fiscal Year ’2009 Capital Budget. Working with Representatives Paul Seaton (R-Homer) and Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Kodiak), Senator Gary Stevens (R-Kodiak) was able to secure support for numerous infrastructure projects for the communities he serves in the Kenai Peninsula, the Lake and Peninsula Borough and Kodiak Island. “The District R projects in the capital budget are of great importance to my constituents and the communities I represent in the Senate, so I’m pleased we’ve been able to get legislative support for them,” Senator Stevens commented. “I would like to thank the civic and community leaders around my district for working with us on the projects, as well as Representatives LeDoux and Seaton for their efforts to gain support for these projects in the House.”

Read More>

Our City Government now does monthly financial reports, here is YTD o8.

february-financials.pdf [387 Kb]

january-financials.pdf [360 Kb]

march-financials.pdf [398 Kb]

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Members of the Public, the City Council, the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Port and Commerce Advisory Board are invited to an Informational Community Meeting in the Rae Building to:

EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL FOR NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION IN SEWARD

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 AT 6:30 P.M.

IMS Rae Building, 125 3rd  Avenue.