[2:20] Good evening, Dan. Do you want to do a mic check?

[2:25] » Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes, we can.

[2:30] » Excellent.

[5:21] Well, that's a positive spin on it. I know.

[5:24] » So that's appreciated.

[5:32] » I would like to call the uh September 9th, 2026 city council regular meeting

[5:36] to order. Would everyone please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance?

[5:40] » I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[5:45] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[5:51] justice for all.

[5:56] Will the clerk please call the role? >> Carrie

[6:00] » present. >> Chilson

[6:02] » present. >> Hutchings.

[6:05] » Nelson >> present.

[6:08] » Parker >> Wackler

[6:11] » present. You have a quorum, sir. >> Uh, next item on the agenda is the

[6:14] approval of the agenda and consent agenda. May I have a motion to approve

[6:17] the agenda and consent agenda? Miss Hutchings,

[6:20] » I'll make a motion to approve the agenda and consent agenda.

[6:23] » A second, please. >> Second.

[6:24] » Thank you, Mr. Carrie. >> Thank you.

[6:25] » Are there any changes to the agenda or consent agenda?

[6:30] » Seeing none, would the clerk please read the consent agenda?

[6:35] » August 12th, 2026, city council meeting minutes. Resolution 2026 027 recognizing

[6:42] access to early childhood education as an essential economic need. sponsored by

[6:47] Wackler. Action memorandum 2026020, approval of the planning and zoning

[6:53] commission student representative program. Sponsored by the city manager.

[6:57] Action memorandum 202621 confirming the mini grant review

[7:01] committee's recommendations for FY27 cycle 1 miniigrant awards sponsored by

[7:07] the city clerk. >> That is your consent agenda.

[7:11] » Thank you. Are the are there any public comments on any of the items just read?

[7:15] Anyone in the audience wishing to comment on any of the items just read

[7:19] and we have no one signed up. Next having no one wishing to speak, the

[7:24] approval of the agenda and consent agenda is back before the council. Are

[7:28] there any objections to approving the agenda and consent agenda? Seeing

[7:32] hearing none, the agenda and consent agenda are approved by unanimous

[7:36] consent. Uh, next item on the agenda is I'm going to read a proclamation

[7:41] and would Miss Henshaw from the Elks please forward.

[8:00] Whereas

[8:05] where up the ideation

[8:10] and freedom to the great sacrifices

[8:15] the foundation and

[8:19] whereas we recognize that each generation

[8:25] understand the right children

[8:31] there both honor this nation

[8:36] Now therefore

[8:41] September 14th, 2021

[8:54] American citizenship

[9:04] that

[9:13] There's somebody over there want

[9:50] Moving along to the next agenda item and that is uh public comments and

[9:54] presentations. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on

[9:58] any item not appearing on the agenda? Anyone here in the audience wishing to

[10:02] speak on anything not appearing on the agenda? And we have no one signed up to

[10:06] speak remotely. Next item, assembly and legislative report. Are there any

[10:11] representatives from the bureau and or state legislature that would like to

[10:14] address the and we have no one here in the audience and I don't think we have

[10:19] anybody online either. Next one, public hearings and we have none for this

[10:24] evening. Next item on the agenda. Moving right along. We're down to mayor and

[10:29] council reports. I might set a record on this one here. Uh mayor's reports and

[10:33] proclamations. Uh I have another one here I'll read. Um

[10:38] and that is whereas the United States National PM MIA recognition day is

[10:44] observed across the nation on the 3rd Friday of September each year. This year

[10:49] that date is September 18th, 2026. Whereas according to the Department of

[10:54] Defense, more than 80,000 American service members are missing from

[10:57] previous conflicts and 38,000 are estimated to be recoverable. And whereas

[11:03] we acknowledge with deep respect those Americans who were held in captivity and

[11:08] those whose fate have never been resolved, remembering the indignities

[11:12] and brutalities they suffered. And whereas we recognize that the families

[11:17] of these courageous individuals have endured the pain of separation and the

[11:22] anguish of uncertainty, bearing a heavy burden as they await the return of their

[11:26] loved ones or seek closure and solace through the knowledge that their

[11:31] sacrifices are not forgotten. And whereas the National PM MIA Recognition

[11:36] Day serves as a solemn reminder of our duty to honor and remember all those who

[11:42] have served in uniform and to ensure that no one is left behind or forgotten,

[11:48] reaffirming our commitment to the values of loyalty, duty, and respect for those

[11:53] who have borne the cost of our liberty. Now therefore, I, Paul Whitney, mayor of

[11:58] the city of Satana, do hereby proclaim September 18th, 2026, National PM MIA

[12:05] recognition day in the city in honor of those who became prisoners of war and

[12:10] those who remain missing in action, encouraging our citizens to fly the P

[12:15] MIA flag as a tribute uh dated this 9th day of September, 2026.

[12:22] Next, I have

[12:27] At industry appreciation day, the city received uh the industry appreciation

[12:33] day perseverance award. Persever pre perseverance award the city of Selatna

[12:40] parks and recreation. Your unwavering commitment brought to the Satana

[12:45] Fieldhouse to life creating a new opportunity for recreation connection

[12:50] and community for generations to come. and

[12:55] we will put that up somewhere here temporarily and then out to the parks

[13:00] and recck department out at the fieldhouse.

[13:03] I will pass that along to the city clerk.

[13:05] » Thank you, sir. Uh next uh quick thing is we I attended

[13:12] along with Vice Mayor Parker and and the city manager the AML conference in

[13:17] summer conference in uh Fairbanks and uh it was a a very good meeting. A lot of

[13:23] things were discussed policy procedures uh uh strategic planning resolutions and

[13:30] all kinds of different things. uh this was in the disc discussion mode and

[13:35] these items will be brought up at the uh annual meeting held in December where

[13:40] there'll be more information on them and the actual resolutions. Um and also I

[13:46] might mention that I had the opportunity uh to run into a gentleman that I worked

[13:52] with in the police department 51 years ago. That's the first time I've seen him

[13:57] in 51 years. He happened to be coming to Alaska to visit and we sat down and had

[14:03] coffee and met him and his wife and it's like I said it's the first time seen him

[14:07] in 51 years. We do look a little bit different

[14:12] just a wee bit. Next item on the agenda is mayor's report and com uh council

[14:22] report on boards and commissions August 26 sold out in a chamber of commerce

[14:26] board of directors meeting. Mrs. Backler.

[14:30] » Yes, I attended the chamber board meeting. Um, of note, I wanted to remind

[14:35] everybody that the 32nd annual pie auction will be going on and it is

[14:42] Stars, Stripes, and Satna >> September 26th.

[14:49] » Okay. Stars, Stripes, and Satna Nights. Um,

[14:54] yes, it is September 26th and the doors will open at 4:30. Tickets are on sale

[14:59] now. Um, it is a wonderful fundraiser. They're planning on doing it a little

[15:04] bit different this year. They've brought in a um character to be the MC or

[15:11] auctioneer um which they're really excited about and uh plan to run things

[15:16] a little bit a little bit different little fun different games this year.

[15:19] So, I encourage everybody um their fundraiser does go to support their

[15:25] scholarships. So, um they do hand out a number of scholarships for our community

[15:31] and it's great organization to support. So, that is my report for today.

[15:36] » Any questions for Macklin? Seeing none, the next one is planning and zoning

[15:40] commission meeting. Mr. Kerry. >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The planning and

[15:44] zoning commission met today. It was a very short meeting and um everyone was

[15:50] doing just fine.

[15:54] » Okay. Any questions for Mr. Kerry? Seeing none, next item on the agenda is

[15:58] public comments. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on

[16:02] any item? Anyone here in the audience? Seeing none, uh we have no one on

[16:08] remote. Next item on the agenda, >> mayor.

[16:12] » Oh, okay. Miss Inshaw, please state your name and address for the record and

[16:17] you'll have three minutes.

[16:20] » Microphones

[16:26] road. Um I have a question for planning. Um I've seen an influx of apartment

[16:34] buildings coming um in um particularly on readout area readout road across from

[16:41] elementary school. My concern is number one when these people put their plans

[16:46] in, they are not, as I was explained to by an individual who put as many

[16:52] buildings as you can put on. >> Is your microphone on?

[16:56] » No. >> N wrong one. Nope. Wrong.

[17:01] » Wrong microphone. >> Face in front of you.

[17:04] » Yeah. And make sure it's point here. >> You need

[17:10] funny.

[17:20] We got Johnny under the table. >> Our clerk does whatever needs to be

[17:26] done. >> Other duties has assigned.

[17:28] » Please try again. Ma'am, >> it's

[17:33] » yellow. I mean, it's green. Okay, >> there. Uh, my name is Elizabeth Hinshaw.

[17:36] I live at 112 Rose Garland Road, Satana in the area of Reedout Elementary. My

[17:43] concern is for planning. Um, individuals have bought up property and have been

[17:50] building um I don't I'm not really sure if they're

[17:56] permanent housing or what. We've got um duplexes on uh lots and lots of duplexes

[18:04] on a lot. Um, and I understand when this individual put in his plan, there was no

[18:11] indication that he would have planned for an area to push his snow, a removal

[18:17] of his snow. Uh, consequently, he was contacted by the city um roads, I

[18:26] believe, um, regarding him pushing his snow out into the middle of the road in

[18:31] front of Reedout Elementary. Um, he wasn't contacted once. He wasn't

[18:35] contacted twice. He was contacted four times. Um he just likes to push snow in

[18:40] the street. Uh anyway, I'm wondering if possibly when they come to you for

[18:48] approval on the uh they bought the property, but what they're going to do

[18:52] with that property that that might be something that you might want to inquire

[18:58] about. This man actually has built so much on that lot that he has no place to

[19:03] push snow. So, it wasn't really anything that he

[19:07] thought of. He's from California. They have sunshine and it melts. Uh, but he

[19:13] did not have any indication that he was going to have to push that snow anywhere

[19:17] but in the street. Now, we have another building that just is in it completion

[19:22] stage farther down readout. And, uh, this individual has a huge lot, so he'll

[19:28] have plenty of places to push his snow. But again, we're in an elementary area

[19:35] with lots of people that come and go. My concern is the kids and the traffic. So,

[19:41] I'm just wondering if maybe planning might do a little bit more due diligence

[19:46] when it comes to putting these things together for those

[19:51] individuals. >> Can you respond to that?

[19:56] Um, thank you for your comments and I will pass that on to um our planning

[20:00] director and um and I know she will work with the planning con um commission. We

[20:06] do require snow storage on property. So I'll we will be checking into that

[20:10] property. >> Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak?

[20:17] » Seeing none. Next item, city manager report.

[20:22] » Thank you, mayor. Um you referenced the AML meeting that um I I agree with you

[20:27] that it was a very good meeting and um one particular area I in the meeting

[20:32] that I included in the packet is regarding um a listening session that

[20:36] was for all state candidates. Um we don't know I'm not sure but bet AML does

[20:43] who is all listening but they were on via Zoom and AML produced an um it's

[20:50] called Alaska Municipal League member issues and challenges for incoming

[20:54] legislators document and I particularly like that document. I like the format

[20:59] that was used this time. Um there was a lot of input from members which I

[21:03] particularly appreciated. Um, there were 12 policy areas included in the

[21:08] document. I'm going to briefly go through six of them that really have an

[21:13] impact for the city of Seldatna. Um, the first one protecting local taxing

[21:19] authorities, specifically local control of sales tax and exemptions. This really

[21:24] came up through um a possible title title 29 change. As you know, we're home

[21:30] rule. Not all of title 29 applies to us. It was undetermined if this one would

[21:37] have had a home rule connection or not, but I do like that we protect our home

[21:42] rule, all municipalities, but especially those home roll statuses.

[21:46] The second one, creating a predictable state local fiscal partnership rather

[21:50] than shifting state responsibilities and cost to municipalities as we know that

[21:54] continues to happen. There are um state mandates that um are being pushed onto

[22:00] municipalities. addressing PERS and workforce recruitment and retention,

[22:04] particularly in specialized municipal positions.

[22:08] Investing in existing infrastructure and major maintenance before deferred

[22:12] maintenance results in substantially greater costs, which we strive to do at

[22:16] the city um to keep up on our maintenance. Improving public safety

[22:20] capacity, including police recruitment, um prosecution resources, public records

[22:26] requirements, and regulatory processes. And part of what was talked about was

[22:29] the APSC process and streaming streamlining that improving

[22:35] infrastructure funding and project delivery particularly for water

[22:38] wastewater transportation and federally funded projects where delays and

[22:43] inflation can significantly reduce the value of an award. And as you know we

[22:47] see that as our awards get delayed. Um, and speaking of that, I received an

[22:52] email from our lobbyists, um, both Genevieve and, um, Sebastian regarding

[22:58] our FY27 CDS appropriation for the M Maryale Utilities Project. And, um,

[23:06] there is a continuing resolution through um, federal um, that has

[23:13] appropriated funds to keep the federal government open until December 11th.

[23:18] However, it does not include any CDS funding. This happened, as you remember,

[23:23] a couple of years ago, so we'll continue to watch this after December, excuse me,

[23:28] December 11th. Um, a couple of other items. The

[23:34] auditors will be on site in October and the finance department is working hard

[23:38] to be ready for them, and I have no doubt that they will be, and things are

[23:41] going very smoothly. Um the streets condition assessment is

[23:47] happening this week and I understand from Vice Mayor Parker they were on her

[23:51] street um evaluating the conditions and the report will contain all conditions

[23:58] excuse me conditions of all pavement and gravel streets and the life left in the

[24:02] pavement and this is really a val a very crucial report for us. we'll be able to,

[24:10] you know, create priorities off of it and if there's any type of funding,

[24:13] grants or otherwise that we can obtain, we really need this document to do so.

[24:18] The bioolids project is continuing along and um sub substantial completion will

[24:24] be at the end of June. It really is a very big project. Um basically it's an

[24:30] addition to the wastewater treatment plant, a large one, and installing

[24:34] equipment. It's two-phase. Um right now they're building the addition

[24:38] and it will replace the sludge um equipment and which is 40 year old belt

[24:43] press will also be replaced. This will create a lot more efficiencies. And this

[24:48] was funded through CDS, the state revolving loan fund, loan forgiveness

[24:52] for part of the um loan and city matching funds. And the next project

[24:57] that is on the way um in the works is sand storage structure project. And due

[25:03] to shipping issues um the project completion should be in November. We

[25:08] were hoping for next month, but we'll get there in November. and the funding

[25:12] sources also appropriation through state budget uh several years ago um

[25:17] representative Ruffage put that in the bill and city matching funds. Lots of

[25:22] projects going on very busy with projects. There are a lot of contacts to

[25:27] the building department with people who are trying to still put in foundations

[25:32] and get their projects going so they can continue to work through the winter. So,

[25:35] it's been very busy. >> That's everything unless there's any

[25:39] questions. Any questions from the council for the city manager?

[25:44] » You can tell that roads group they can come walking with me and I'll show them

[25:48] a few road needed improvements. I see a few of them when I'm walking. Okay. Next

[25:54] item on the agenda is council comments and we'll start with Mr. Nelson.

[26:01] » Thank you, Mayor Whitney. No comments tonight.

[26:05] » Ms. Wackler. >> No comment. Miss Hutchings.

[26:11] » Well, the only thing I wanted to mention is we also have the harvest festival the

[26:16] same day as the pie auction the 26. So everybody can have a full day

[26:23] and no further comments.

[26:28] » Mr. Kerry, >> no comment. Thank you.

[26:30] » Vice Mayor Parker, >> no comment.

[26:34] » Mr. Chelse, keep up the record. >> No comment.

[26:40] All right. Next item on the agenda, executive session. There is no need for

[26:43] one. Uh pending leg uh legislation ordinance 26 2026-021

[26:50] uh is postponed until October 28th. Uh meeting announcements. September 17th,

[26:55] 2026, airport commission meeting at 5:30 and September 23rd, 2026, city council

[27:02] meeting at 6 pm. Having nothing further on our agenda, we are adjourned.

9-9-2026 City Council Meetings

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