[0:25] Yes, this mayor, everyone is present this evening. We have seven members of council, no one is absent.

[0:32] Yes. And then,

[0:43] okay, so we are good to go.

[0:49] Public appearances, we have Kim O'Dell from other with mobile home park that will come up the next week for us.

[0:59] You go ahead and hit that little red button, there are button right there, turn right there you go.

[1:04] Here we go. Hi, guys. I am Kim with Alderwood Mobile Home Park and Nate has asked me to come speak a little bit.

[1:11] I have been actively working on mobile home replacement program that Nate gave us a thumbs up for towards the end of the beginning of the year.

[1:20] I've just had time to actively focus on it recently.

[1:24] And so I started making phone calls, since we took over the park about six years ago, a little over six years ago, and wanting to upgrade the park, getting mobile homes has been a hurdle.

[1:41] And with this mobile home replacement program, we can build stick built homes and move it forward.

[1:46] However, our little parcel of land, if you don't know, the DNR holds the title, the DOT,

[1:54] maintains the land, and FAA land, like pools, are in the mix of it.

[2:00] And so as I was making calls to all of these different entities, I decided that I was going

[2:04] to put a cover letter together and go straight to the governor's office with packet.

[2:10] And so I started, I had a meeting with Nate and Kate and Mike about a week and a half ago.

[2:16] I've talked to the superintendent, Jason Weaver, and just trying to get letters of support from the community to put into this packet to show a real face of what's going on.

[2:26] Not just in Yoselme the land, but I want this is what's needed. We have 48 spaces available in Alderwood right now.

[2:35] And I think it's become a much bigger, there's a lot bigger need of just older wood, but that's where I started with it.

[2:43] And so Nate asked me to come in when I called him to say, can you like write me a letter of support?

[2:49] If I could come in and introduce myself and say, hey, can you guys have, you know, can I get a resolution of support from you all as well?

[2:57] To add to the packet, the send, I don't even know what they can do.

[3:01] and my cover letter I said, and you sell it to me if not, do you know where I can go and hope

[3:07] that I can get something moving so that we can build these homes and get some affordable housing

[3:13] and town. So anyway, anything you guys can do would be greatly appreciated.

[3:21] Thank you.

[3:27] Okay, we're going to public business from the floor, is there anybody from the

[3:31] I would like to speak on a non-agenda item.

[3:34] Please step up.

[3:38] But evening, I'm going to add all of our executive director

[3:41] for the Valdez Adventure Alliance.

[3:43] I want to make the council members aware

[3:45] of the reason for some delay of some of the work

[3:48] on the few big trail sections.

[3:50] And I'll be back on September 15th to give a real presentation

[3:53] about four-thington and more detail on the shoe big trail.

[3:57] And right now I'm talking only specifically

[4:00] about the build-out for the boardwalk.

[4:02] So on June 23rd, we were notified, and this is quote,

[4:06] our application to the RDP has been selected for funding,

[4:10] and that the program staff will begin preparing a memorandum

[4:13] of agreement, because of the federal review and authorization

[4:16] process, it may take several months before the grant agreement

[4:20] is ready for execution.

[4:22] Project work should not begin and project

[4:25] cause incurred prior to execution of the MOA

[4:27] and receipt of all required approvals may not be eligible

[4:31] for reimbursement. So as I put in my March report, it went to Barb that this delay is

[4:40] do mostly to the transition from the program being under DNR to it being moved under DOT.

[4:48] But it's imperative that we don't start this work because we have to get the reimbursements

[4:55] because those are the funds that they end.

[5:00] Front, the next part of the pieces that they help match what the city council approves and fund the next pieces.

[5:12] So it hasn't stopped us from doing other work. Only just that one little part. So we've been doing maintenance and prep work and if you've been walking it, you've seen it.

[5:21] more out towards a gold creep, but there'll be, we're working our way in this way, kind of.

[5:28] And also any of the prep that has to be done physically and also all the permits and all of that stuff and everything.

[5:35] So that the incident that we have to contract, we can move.

[5:38] I've been in contact with Cell Central Hardware and thanks for materials.

[5:43] And I'll be back on September 15th from more information on the trail and also on Worthington.

[5:49] and hopefully we'll have the contract in hand by then.

[5:53] So notice there's several months

[5:55] and that that was on June 23rd.

[5:58] So hopefully we'll have it by then.

[6:01] Thank you, Nick.

[6:06] Okay, moving on to consent agenda.

[6:09] We have two items on the consent agenda,

[6:11] a proclamation, two side prevention awareness month,

[6:15] and approval of beverage dispensary tourism license renewal.

[6:18] for total men. Motion to consent to all items.

[6:27] Move by councilmember Davis. Second.

[6:29] My councilmember, we'd like to approve

[6:31] our item suddenly consent to send it.

[6:34] Call for the vote.

[6:35] All those in favor please say aye.

[6:38] Aye.

[6:39] All those opposed?

[6:44] Well, maybe I just let you stand on.

[6:46] Thank you, sir.

[6:46] Sorry, I said aye.

[6:48] I'm sorry, Olivia.

[6:49] Semi-A's motion carries.

[6:51] It is time I'm going to read the Proclamation.

[6:56] Whereas September is recognized as the National Suicide Prevention Month and September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day.

[7:04] This is a time when millions of people around the world join their voices to raise awareness for suicide prevention treatment and recovery.

[7:13] And whereas this is a time that is dedicated to bringing visibility to the world,

[7:17] everyone in the community can play and preventing suicide and to encourage all community members

[7:23] to know the science, find the words, and reach out to someone they are concerned about.

[7:28] And whereas the stigma associated with mental illness and suicide continues to work against

[7:34] suicide prevention efforts by discouraging our friends, family, and neighbors at risk,

[7:39] for suicide from seeking life-saving assistance and further traumatized survivors of suicide.

[7:47] And whereas education about the warning signs of suicide, the value of preventative measures,

[7:55] and the death methods to support those in need is essential to our community.

[7:59] Whereas suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions,

[8:03] In effect, anyone regarding the age, gender, race, orientation, income, level, religion or background.

[8:12] And whereas, according to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals.

[8:22] Between ages 10 and 34, with more than 48,000 people dying by suicide annually in United States.

[8:30] And whereas every member of our community should understand that throughout life struggles,

[8:37] we all need the occasional reminder that we are all silently fighting our own battles.

[8:42] And whereas the 988 to a site in the life crisis life line provides free confidential 247 support

[8:50] to anyone experience mental health related distress or a suicidal crisis reminding us that no one

[8:58] as to face the life's challenges alone.

[9:01] We can all help prevent suicide.

[9:03] If you or someone you know needs support now,

[9:06] call or text the suicide crisis pipeline at 98.

[9:10] Across chat at 988lifeline.org,

[9:14] or dial 911.

[9:16] Now, therefore, I did a slumming mayor of the city of Valdez,

[9:19] do here by proclaim the month of September

[9:21] as suicide prevention awareness month.

[9:24] Encourage all citizens to take the time.

[9:26] It requires as to the well-being of our family, friends and neighbors, and to generally convey their appreciation for their existence and by the gestures they deem appropriate.

[10:09] I just

[10:25] wanted

[10:33] to add how important it is for our community and people that we love to know that the 90 day is confidential.

[10:45] if there, even if you just have a question, you just want to know what you can do. You can

[10:51] call them and they answer it 24-7. It's available. Please use it. We've all think, let's start in

[10:58] our lives.

[11:00] And sometimes the best we can do is keep someone safe for now. I need a life that's

[11:05] And I just wanted to thank this free at a rate.

[11:11] Thank you.

[11:14] Okay, we'll go to the new business then.

[11:17] We've got three items on new business.

[11:19] Approval of a contact from Frontier Electric Services

[11:22] for Old Town Museum lighting upgrade in the amount of

[11:25] the 80,475 dollars.

[11:29] I'm going to approve.

[11:32] Move my council member.

[11:34] The only second by council member Green.

[11:36] to approve a contract with Frontier Electric Services

[11:39] for Old Town Museum lighting upgrade in the amount of 82,475 dollars.

[11:46] Can you council the discussion on this?

[11:49] Good.

[11:50] I just wanted to say I'm in full support.

[11:53] I think this is a great thing.

[11:54] I know I've been in there and it's pretty dark in there.

[11:56] It's so discouraged when I read about how people are using

[11:59] the light on their phones to be able to read on the side there.

[12:02] So it has to be done, I think.

[12:05] Any other council members?

[12:10] Okay, seeing none any public discussion.

[12:14] Seeing none. Let's call for vote.

[12:17] All those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

[12:20] Those opposed?

[12:23] Seven years, motion carries.

[12:25] A second item on new businesses approval of the FY 2027 community jail contact for contract with the state of Alaska.

[12:35] Move your birth.

[12:50] I guess I was just looking for some clarification. It's just a really big start from 236 to 237 from almost doubled and so it's just looking for a little more information.

[13:06] I need to all see the manager.

[13:08] I don't have an exact answer, but the last go around, there was some frustration amongst

[13:13] other community jails about not receiving adequate funding and so their response was to

[13:18] close their jail, so my only best guess is that some other jail closed and their money was

[13:26] available and on a percentage basis ours was the lowest percent funded jail of the community

[13:32] Jails. We weren't necessarily the lowest recipient of dollars, but I think that's the case

[13:39] in following the state budget last year. Corrections budget was very much a topic of conversation,

[13:47] and really they ask us for an estimate of what it cost to operate our community Jail and it's

[13:51] it's in the main dollar range every year. And so this brings us much closer to what it actually costs to

[13:56] Thank you.

[14:00] Can you hear the other council discussion?

[14:07] Olivia.

[14:09] Thank you.

[14:11] I just wanted to say that I'm really excited to hear that we're getting this increase in money.

[14:19] So, I don't know if it was going to Juneau.

[14:21] I know that there's been a lot of work done in the past with the corrections department of the

[14:30] to our community. Thank you, State of Alaska.

[14:37] Any public discussion?

[14:40] Okay, let's go ahead and

[14:42] call for the vote. All those in favor of the State of America. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. You have

[14:48] seven years motion carries. Hey, the third item from new business on the floor is approval of

[14:55] of various city fees and boarding to collection agencies.

[15:00] Move to approve. Second, move by council member, green, second by council member, that's from the rejoin.

[15:17] Second by council member, we need to approve right off the various city fees and forwarding right off to collections agency.

[15:25] Any council discussion?

[15:29] Seeing none, any public discussion?

[15:32] All right, seeing men call for the vote.

[15:34] All those in favor, please say aye.

[15:38] All those opposed?

[15:39] It was seven years, motion carries.

[15:42] Here we have a resolution number 2639,

[15:45] remaining the 2026 city budget by accepting 392,926 dollars.

[15:51] In an unbudget of revenue from the state of Alaska,

[15:53] Department of Education, the complete water piping,

[15:56] replacement projects and appropriating the same

[16:00] to project planning reserve account for future projects. Motion to approve. Second.

[16:08] Move by the council member, Devon. Second by the council member. Allow me to approve resolution.

[16:13] Number 2639. Any council questions on this?

[16:20] Any public comments?

[16:23] Okay, seeing the corporate vote.

[16:26] All those in favor, please say aye.

[16:28] Aye.

[16:29] Aye.

[16:30] All those opposed?

[16:33] You have seven years, motion carries.

[16:34] Let's hear that.

[16:35] I'm trying to do that.

[16:36] Okay,

[16:40] we have a report.

[16:42] We have a final report for a scrap large,

[16:45] 2026.

[16:47] And if we could have a

[16:51] part come up.

[16:52] Three thousand one hundred and five.

[16:55] a little early.

[16:59] Okay, I've talked with you a couple of times, leaving up to this, and so I just want to say thank you, and again, this is a video that Sarah put together, I think it tells a good story about

[17:13] Just don't

[17:17] in this program. I want to have some very

[17:25] operations here as opposed to a project. So I'm reporting on the scrap arch project right now

[17:31] as a part of the overall vehicle pavement and scrap program. And so again, thank you to you

[17:38] and previous councils that have identified the need and made it a priority. There's thanks to

[17:44] making the partners involved with this. And there's also thanks to plenty of entities and there's

[17:51] So I'll stand for questions at the end, but again, I think she did very well.

[18:03] Three thousand one hundred and five tons. That's how much scrap metal left fell

[18:07] these on this year's scrap metal barge. It's a pretty impressive number, but the real

[18:12] story started long before the barge ever arrived. For years, old vehicle appliances and

[18:19] scrap metal accumulated around town with few practical disposal options. The city's

[18:24] a cool abatement program started in 2019 and subsequent scrap metal drop-off program in 2025 changed

[18:31] that.

[18:32] Giving residents and businesses a free responsible way to clear out unwanted metal while keeping

[18:39] I think it's also important to note that one of the goals of this program was to, again,

[18:44] the sustainable, and it's doing so, I involves training city staff and to process vehicles.

[18:52] It provides a framework for how to store vehicles and prepare for future artists.

[18:57] Getting all that metal from the staging area onto the barge was a massive effort.

[19:02] Not only did it take years to plan, it took over 47 continuous hours of cruise working day and night with five to six trucks,

[19:11] hauling material non-stop, moving in average of 69 tons every hour. 19 Alaska scrap employees,

[19:18] including four local drivers, worked alongside city staff from public works, code enforcement,

[19:24] and parts of Harvard to make it happen safe to be an efficient way.

[19:27] Think one of the things I'm most proud of is that it was a multi-department effort and it involved the community involved multiple councils being committed to the process.

[19:38] But this program is about more than just recycling.

[19:41] It reduces abandoned vehicles, protects valuable landfill space,

[19:45] and improves neighborhoods while preserving one of Felvis's greatest assets, a natural beauty.

[19:51] Felvis is an important place where we have the funding and the commitment

[19:56] and book a government to allow.

[20:00] This program took place. And the best part is that isn't the finish line. There is still enough material and values for future shipments.

[20:09] And each clean-up helps build a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming community.

[20:43] It's just a quick comment there.

[20:46] But, no, no, just quick comment there.

[20:49] I really like your idea about, you know,

[20:52] it's time for this to move for a project

[20:53] to a program, you know, and sustain it

[20:57] and finish this work.

[20:59] I mean, this is, you know, it's like Unite Talk.

[21:03] There's a lot of benefits to this, you know,

[21:06] theification for our town, our community,

[21:10] taking proper care of things that are no longer needed or used.

[21:16] And I'd like, you know, things seem to be working really well here.

[21:21] It seems like, you know, community support and support for this effort and activity is growing.

[21:27] I would like to see and encourage that growth and continue as a program.

[21:32] And then, is it the next charge scheduled for 2028, does that what I caught on your video?

[21:40] So, so, and I'll let the city manager come in on that a little bit, so there's not one scheduled yet.

[21:44] But that does, that is a reasonable objective.

[21:48] Actually, that's very doable, to be honest.

[21:51] 27 is possible and aggressive, and that a little dependent upon some other intangibles out there that the city manager,

[21:58] I've talked about, but 28 for sure, possibly 27, there's no shortage of material to be had.

[22:08] Very good.

[22:09] Thank you very much, Robert.

[22:10] What's the final resting place of the material? Where does it go?

[22:14] Yeah, so thank you.

[22:15] It went to Como Washington.

[22:19] Do we know will these shipments of scrap metal out of all these significantly extend the use of our landfill?

[22:25] Yeah, and that was actually something I was going to comment on at a later date, but yes,

[22:32] is the answer. And by years. And so you can, and those are, those are not today's dollars,

[22:40] but those are dollars and future years that we're saving. So it's, it's, I'll try and capture

[22:45] some of that when we have the exact yardage and stuff or everything that we've moved and

[22:50] trying to put in some sort of formula to portray that, but that was one of the many benefits that

[22:54] Council members, we're referring to both.

[22:57] And I did have one follow up to that.

[22:59] And this is a little more out there, esoteric.

[23:02] So if you don't have an answer, don't worry about it.

[23:04] But I know some communities are actually digging back

[23:08] into old landfills for materials that

[23:11] used to not be recyclable, but now maybe,

[23:13] because improvements in technology.

[23:15] Is there any possibility that we have scrap metal

[23:17] in our landfills currently that

[23:19] could be recycled in future years?

[23:23] Other stray answers, yes, there's certainly some scrap metal in the landfill. The longer answer is,

[23:30] there's not a quantity sufficient to justify getting in there. Our crews are going to really

[23:35] good job of diverting metals and whatnot from the landfill. As part of where we had a pre-good

[23:42] starting point of the pile. So again, the short version is there's likely some, but we don't have

[23:49] here, the quantity and I said the crews have done a good job of making sure it's segregated

[23:54] so we don't have to do that into the future.

[23:58] All right.

[23:58] Thank you.

[23:59] I will add one thing to that and I don't want to believe about the point, but a city manager

[24:03] to ball mentioned the career as a good job in separating the metals and how they do two

[24:07] good of a job.

[24:07] So if you go out to the bailer and it says metals only, I mean they're very strict about

[24:11] it just being metal.

[24:14] Well essentially the program is built in so it has a 20% ratio of built in.

[24:18] others. So there's a lot of things that up to now we haven't captured that we can. They can go into that. So that'll be an operational change. So we will limit some in that regard. This might.

[24:33] As we talked about what a what a scrap metal program recycling program looks like. It is one of the

[24:50] equipment and machinery being replaced in the same building, we're kind of reimagining that project

[24:56] as something different to make some significant operational changes.

[25:00] As it relates to just in and out of the Baylor and traffic flow, but also as it looks that what does it mean to segregate and process these waste streams differently and kind of a more sustainable from both the financial side, also from the kind of recycling and material side of things so it.

[25:20] You may see some design and or construction costs that you say, well, that's way way more than I thought, but I think I'm a long-term investment in some of that's going to make huge savings in the long run itself.

[25:34] At some point if you have any questions, you're welcome to this step by Director Walker's office and kind of chat with him about any of that stuff.

[25:41] We'll bring it forward for you all to contemplate.

[25:45] All right. Thanks, Park.

[25:48] Yeah.

[25:48] Here we have two more reports. Council would wish to hear you.

[25:52] Just please let me know at the end.

[25:53] Quarterly financial summary report, January 30th, 2026,

[25:57] and monthly Treasury Court July 2026.

[26:03] Seeing them will move on to city manager city clerk city attorney

[26:07] and mayor's report.

[26:09] We'll start with city manager.

[26:12] All right. Thank you, Mayor.

[26:13] I used this real quick.

[26:14] We have a couple members of our citizens Academy here in the

[26:17] in the audience, I think we're seeing a Tony Jessica Chandler who's wanted to kind of guess

[26:24] that nothing better do on Tuesday and I still want to come check it out, but we'll certainly

[26:28] formally bring the whole group, the graduating class, if you will, the inaugural graduating

[26:34] class to be recognized at a future council meeting, but I certainly want to recognize them and

[26:38] thank them for taking the time to come to all of our presentations and to learn more about the

[26:43] to certainly, I hope I think there are great advocates for the community, but also for what

[26:51] we do as an organization, they've been great to work with last night or so weeks, so I want

[26:55] to recognize them.

[26:59] Thank you.

[27:01] Thank you.

[27:02] Changing gears a little bit.

[27:03] I did want to point out one thing on the financial report, I know health insurance is certainly

[27:08] in the top of the conversation we get to have,

[27:09] but I just see this coming up.

[27:11] If you look at that page, page 14 to 21,

[27:15] there's some pre, I don't know if we want to call them savings,

[27:19] but the budget to actual is on the right side of the ledger

[27:22] for sure in a lot of ways.

[27:25] School District is not having as great of a year

[27:27] when it comes to some of that sort.

[27:30] Our stop-loss coverage is likely to go up

[27:33] because that's the piece of the insurance that's combined.

[27:37] However, on the whole, that's just a small percentage of what the total insurance burden is.

[27:43] And on the whole, our current trajectory with insurance is looking very good.

[27:47] Below projections, potentially a reduction or a nominal increase, as it looks for the renewal for next year, including that stop glass, which incorporates the school.

[27:58] So I just want to point that out a little bit.

[28:03] A couple of things Ms. Kim was here, I guess, is there any objection from council to having a resolution of support for the purchase of that land from DOT from on behalf of the council.

[28:19] I was curious if we could get some information from the legal department when Ms. Sodell was here talking about the purchase.

[28:29] she said she wasn't sure what the process is.

[28:32] I seem to remember this exact topic coming up

[28:34] maybe a little over a decade ago,

[28:37] and they found that it was more complicated than they anticipated.

[28:40] So if it would be possible for us to get an opinion from the attorney

[28:44] before we submitted an opinion to the governor's office

[28:48] as to whether that's even possible.

[28:50] Because I know sometimes with the dispersal of state properties

[28:54] has to go through all kinds of like you know like like clearing of land or a returning to natural

[29:01] condition or or public auction or any kind of thing like that. I would like to know for a

[29:07] fact whether that's a requirement before we you know put our foot on our mouth and write a letter that

[29:13] doesn't mean anything. Basically I just want to be real clear that the resolution is not for the city

[29:18] it's for all the wood to purchase the land and go through all of that process and go through those

[29:23] It'll not the cities of all of us just opening them in that effort.

[29:26] Yeah, we're doing support for their purchase, but I just want to know that they can purchase it before we, you know, put our names behind it.

[29:36] I for one don't have a problem with giving a letter support.

[29:45] I'm in support of the letter instead of going for the attorney.

[29:48] I think we're just saying that we are supportive.

[29:52] And so spending money on having the attorney look into it and take time, just try to eat a letter of support.

[30:00] I think costs very little compared. So I'd just be okay with the letter of support. I can't remember, pastor, has our hand raised on line.

[30:08] Olivia?

[30:10] Thank you. City Manager Duval, can you clarify for me is this land that she would like a support around is it currently being leased by Alderwood from the state?

[30:25] Yes.

[30:26] Okay. All right. Thank you. And I would be in support of writing a letter as well.

[30:35] We'll get something like the will not be the next council meeting but the one after.

[30:42] I

[30:45] think do you all want to resolution the fruit by all of you or do you want to letter

[30:48] some by the mayor? I guess that's the other question. Which has more weight, I guess, or the

[30:56] The reason I'd asked her to come to request the entire body of Council is that if the whole

[31:01] Council is in support and let's do a resolution that in my opinion it might carry a little

[31:06] more weight.

[31:08] However, if it's a civil or faster process and you'll just say, had no idea, Mayor, go ahead

[31:13] and sign a letter.

[31:14] That's a year of discretion.

[31:18] I would be okay with a resolution if that is going to actually give more weight.

[31:23] Yeah, me too.

[31:24] Okay.

[31:26] Another one, there was a request for a work session on child care.

[31:31] I've had some conversations with a two-gash meeting, a couple of others.

[31:36] I'll extend the invitation since we nailed down a date.

[31:39] But I would like to offer up October 6 before the council meeting.

[31:46] Maybe a little bit earlier, start at 530 or October 7th as alternatives.

[31:52] It's the first budget meeting is on the 8th and we kind of start the budget process thereafter.

[31:58] And so I want to be mindful of y'all's time and why not.

[32:02] But those dates seem to work with the two gets me and again, I've brought up some of the desires of council for as far as what child care, before school after school care, all that stuff what it looks like and they've got

[32:15] kind of put together called a proposal, a few little or some answers to some of those questions.

[32:19] And then we could certainly invite some of the other, get the school, or the hospital, some of these other entities to participate in that conversation as well.

[32:29] My initial thoughts was that I don't know that an hour and a half before the meeting is going to be enough time to have the conversation you want, but I also,

[32:38] is there any preference before the meeting on the 6th or an off night on the 7th.

[32:45] Six words for me.

[32:47] I like the sex for already going to be here.

[32:51] Anybody else? Six, six, get it.

[32:54] I'm going to be on the 6th and 7th. Okay, Olivia.

[33:01] Yeah, the 6th will work for me at 5.30. Thank you.

[33:04] And then if we do run into any continuation like you're saying, then we can use the 7th or potential.

[33:11] I'm afraid that we have to extend it for anything else.

[33:17] I will let them know that.

[33:19] I guess a couple other points, the website, every couple years, the website host, there's a refresh on the various technology and widgets that on the website, that's all been updated.

[33:32] So if you go into the website, things are in different locations and they used to be, keep cruising around you'll find those eventually.

[33:40] The hope is that it's a little bit more intuitive, I guess, could be the way to say it.

[33:48] So you used to have stuff about departments, that's not a tab anymore.

[33:52] It's more based on what you're looking for.

[33:55] If you look for city service, you'll click on that tab and find city service, business and development.

[33:59] If you find that stuff, it's just slightly different.

[34:03] It's almost rather the same content.

[34:04] I

[34:09] could pretend to be able to speak IT Lingo, but it had to be done, and so this was

[34:15] the process that Sarah kind of guided the group through to to get up to speed and go warm

[34:22] Contemporary with current programming and what have you

[34:26] So believe it or not, but I did get a question about the website and there was a little bit

[34:32] Yeah, there was somebody didn't like it because the agendas for not present where they can just click on

[34:39] the council of agendas and seem.

[34:42] Okay.

[34:42] The good thing is the agendas are on the left and that will show up on every single page you click on.

[34:48] Okay.

[34:48] Good.

[34:49] Good.

[35:00] We're in a session based on the type of screen you're on, but it should show up on every single screen you go to, so you can always get to the agenda's minutes.

[35:08] I think this person just did like change.

[35:10] That change is very possible.

[35:13] Another thing to note for council is municipal code now has a nice, pretty little link. Great, they're right, right in center. So it's easier to get to the municipal code.

[35:26] So go ahead and check it out, CruiseRound. I hope this advocate be investors for

[35:32] change that has occurred. Again,

[35:39] I'm going to go back to child care. I've had some

[35:41] conversations with Head Start. I put Head Start in communication with the college. If you're

[35:45] locally to talk about some programs, opportunities they have. If you want to work for you,

[35:50] catch me, they have scholarship money. They will pay for any training you have. The college

[35:54] step is offer classes that can receive that money and give you that training.

[36:01] It's kind of a good partnership.

[36:02] Anybody interested in looking into child care or workforce development in that regard?

[36:08] Feel free to reach out to those individuals.

[36:12] They're planning on while they're in town.

[36:15] You're having a post session at the college.

[36:18] Perhaps the night before after they're meeting with you all to give a here's how you get

[36:24] to the world of childcare, here are the options and opportunities available for you from scholarships

[36:28] to employment and to apprenticeships.

[36:31] So I'm going to help with those pieces together to help coordinate some of that to get the

[36:36] workforce pipeline flowing a little bit better than perhaps is right now.

[36:41] I'd signed a contract for the Reconstruction Services for the Child Care Facility at the

[36:47] Old District Office, so that project is underway.

[36:49] You'll be working on finalizing design, value engineering, and getting that guarantee maximum price cost.

[36:55] You always see a contract for that contract at some point here later this fall.

[37:02] Unfortunately, we're going to miss this season's window and then drag into the next spring, certainly for some of the outdoor stuff.

[37:12] But I think that would be a good project overall.

[37:13] We do have the final funding clearance and all those pieces are in play to start rocking

[37:18] well on the daycare center.

[37:23] We're still working out the final exemption application process so that's why you don't see a new

[37:31] ordinance on the agenda tonight.

[37:33] It would be after every gets back from various vacations, on teams and whatnot to get you all to

[37:39] proof the new ordinance for taxes and tax exemptions. Everybody I spoke with is

[37:44] just pre-stopped about it and they do request a simple and efficient process. And so

[37:51] we're hoping to work on some of that administrative behind the scenes for working through

[37:55] some things.

[38:01] We've had some pretty interesting interactions with the Coast Guard here recently,

[38:07] productive. I have another meeting with them later next week. I went up to AML and Fairbank's

[38:16] to the two candidates who are at the presentation for Governor, Jonathan Grace, Tom Kinzen,

[38:23] her Bronson. So I was able to listen to them and get some gauges to how their policies

[38:31] and decision making might affect things in Valdez.

[38:36] I suspect as the election season ramps up,

[38:39] we'll likely see one or two of the candidates coming to town and if they have any meetings,

[38:44] will certainly take them to kind of give what's going on in the city and what we're

[38:49] concerned about what our legislative parties are so they have an awareness as to what

[38:52] what that may be you know that certainly stands for any candidate that wants to come and

[38:58] ask questions as for representing all these there's a couple of things coming up

[39:03] in the some immediate future we've got the esteemed festival at the same time is that there'll

[39:09] be an open house for the high school renovation project so I'd encourage anyone within the community

[39:14] who's got a vested interest in the high school to go attend that on September 9th and 10th

[39:21] for 10th and 11th. September 10th and 11th at the high school.

[39:29] I have done a whole lot of talking.

[39:34] If you have any questions about what else is on the report,

[39:37] feel free to let me know about those with the highlights that I want to touch on so that you all

[39:42] have this village.

[39:45] Any questions for the city?

[39:47] What?

[39:48] Wait, question I had was how are we doing on our road projects?

[39:54] The concrete crew is going to be in town, the second week of September to get...

[40:01] And then that should take a week to 10 days. And then asphalt should be shortly thereafter.

[40:11] So as of current projection, everything's on track for the first part of October to be.

[40:16] You paved out like fixtures are apparently being handcrafted and simply special.

[40:22] And so they won't be here till January.

[40:24] We do have enough fixtures from the goals that we took down that we'll make sure there's

[40:32] enough temporary lighting on the roadway for safe transit of the final. Final official lighting

[40:40] will be done sometime in this winter. In time four, a potential reimbursement bond in the

[40:48] early spring. We did sit down and talk about bonding. They will come forward to all of the

[40:54] plan for what that looks like. I think it's probably most practical to have a special

[40:59] election,

[41:01] but we'll see you see how mad the clerks get. Thank you very much.

[41:11] Okay, and we'll go ahead and

[41:12] want to city clerk. Speaking of which, right? So what I have this evening is, you know,

[41:21] again, recognize our family that has attended our citizen's academy and we wrapped that up

[41:29] as Nate said our last session was last Thursday and we did a facility tour with our group.

[41:37] And so, the people who are able to attend that on a whole day's session, we visited all of

[41:45] we visited the Baylor and water and sewer out the road and we tour a police department

[41:53] and fire department. We had a good day and I think it was interesting for those that attended

[42:01] And I have a lot of good questions.

[42:04] I even learned things when we were out of water and sewer and the bailer was really interesting

[42:10] to me as well.

[42:11] I've been here for 37 years.

[42:14] So next meeting, our next meeting, we will be graduating all of our students from Citizen Academy

[42:21] and giving out our certificates.

[42:25] So hopefully everybody can attend and that will be fun to do that.

[42:29] So,

[42:32] that's Citizens Academy, we're looking at Nate and I are talking about going to do a survey

[42:37] of everybody that attended. We've got some questions about a few things

[42:43] and then we've been talking about starting our next academy, baby in February, early February

[42:49] and going a little bit into March and so people are not quite as busy I think during those months.

[42:55] So whatever we learned from our group, this time, we'll just use to make our next one better.

[43:07] We do have a vacancy on the museum board, still it's a partial term.

[43:13] So if anybody's interested in serving on the museum board, we do have a vacancy there.

[43:18] We encourage you to apply and our destination phaldees group met last week and they appointed their by-lock committee.

[43:33] So they have a by-lock committee now and they'll be working through people are going to be gone in September.

[43:42] So we're starting first week in October starting to meet and we hope to have the bylaws in place for the board devoted them by the end of October.

[43:53] So that's our goal with them.

[43:56] So I'm moving forward with the destination about these board.

[44:01] And that's all I have.

[44:03] Any questions for sure?

[44:06] Okay, going to city attorney report, Jake.

[44:12] Okay, thank you Mayor Fleming and good evening, everybody.

[44:17] First I apologize for not being able to beat down there in person today.

[44:23] Are you guys able to hear me okay?

[44:25] Yes, okay.

[44:26] Okay, great.

[44:28] Sorry, it couldn't be down there today.

[44:30] And fortunately I have some deadlines that are unavoidable to make it worse.

[44:34] My in-laws are down there and they've been catching silver all week in the sunshine.

[44:39] So it's especially painful.

[44:41] Just a few items for update this evening.

[44:45] We'll start with the tax related matters.

[44:49] And biggest close to the boat,

[44:52] 26 tax assessment.

[44:55] We had very productive meetings with our expert witnesses to execute.

[45:00] Go in Houston. And we think we have our expert team pretty much solidified at this point. We've identified

[45:06] rules for everybody. And they're beginning their work on their expert reports for the, uh,

[45:13] superior court trial. It's a big undertaking. They're preparing a full replacement cost

[45:19] new study. And we have, of course, experts on the appreciation side as well. So, um, a lot of work

[45:26] going in to that case. We had a scheduling conference. It was initially scheduled to the 11th.

[45:37] The cases have been consolidated before Judge Jack McKenna.

[45:42] So we'll have our first opportunity to speak with him on the 11th.

[45:47] And after that, we'll have a better idea of when trial is going to be scheduled for and we'll work through some of the procedural issues.

[45:55] Moving on to escape property, I'll start with the Z-Minute field, that's tax years 2019 through 2023, we're working on completing the record on appeal and the briefing schedule has been stayed until we get it complete.

[46:11] So, actively working with the Department of Revenue and Taxpayers to finalize the record,

[46:19] then we'll file our briefs, and then eventually we're large and then we'll be scheduled.

[46:24] And after that, case will be right for appeal.

[46:29] On a related note, there's, there's a training series issues with all of these cases for the most part,

[46:34] and the part standing policies to try to stay those issues until there's a substantive decision.

[46:41] on a field so we don't spend work arguing about something that doesn't come to fruition in the end

[46:49] as far as it goes with prevailing parties and the like.

[46:54] So we've stayed the attorneys fees issues and the ZEmen appeal.

[47:00] Tax years, 97 through 2016, that's the judge rank in order where she granted summary judgment

[47:08] in favor of taxpayers,

[47:14] we filed our opening brief, we have the taxpayers' brief, and we will

[47:18] file our reply brief on September 24th. So after that, again, or largely mentally scheduled,

[47:25] it'll be right for appeal. A lot of moving parts with the pasture-related issues, I'll just

[47:32] stop there and be happy to take any questions if Council has any about pasture-related matters.

[47:44] Okay.

[47:47] So news on redistricting, we're nearing the finish line with redistricting finally, which is good news.

[47:55] We have a date for a large amount for the Supreme Court on the attorney's disease issue.

[48:00] It's October 8th.

[48:02] So after that, that case will finally be finished.

[48:06] The issue there is really mortality in a very narrow reading of what it means to be a prevailing

[48:14] constitutional claimant that spirit court judge Matthews issued and it's a critical decision

[48:23] going forward whether the city, when it advances a constitutional claim, can collect fees for

[48:30] things that are required to advance all claims. So for example, reviewing discovery,

[48:35] attending a procedural conference and our view of those things should be recoverable if you

[48:41] prevail on a claim. You had to do that work to advance any claim. The spirit court took a much

[48:47] more narrow view and basically said if you don't call out the specific constitutional claim

[48:54] in a billing entry and it's not recoverable. So it has big implications. We'll look forward to

[49:01] decision on that one after we argue about

[49:06] it, but moving on, B.P. Hillcorp access to information,

[49:11] another long-standing issue that's been up and down. It's one that we have been carrying for

[49:17] most of the time without billing the city.

[49:23] One of the spring court was remanded back to the

[49:25] superior court stating that at least some of that financial information should be available,

[49:30] the information related to Hill Corp. The whole underlying issue was, should the public have

[49:36] access to financial information to show that the past owner is able to carry their burden

[49:45] in the case of a big accident or a spill. And so it's, we have an order from the spirit court,

[49:52] It now goes back down to the regulatory submission of Alaska for action on that.

[50:00] And finally, the C plan, we're still waiting on an order from the commissioner on the issues that went for a Duke Tory hearing.

[50:11] That should be issued in a really October, I believe.

[50:13] In the meantime, Aliasca has performed one of the hydrotests in the containment cell

[50:20] for it, and I understand that the agency ADC is received a presentation on that data,

[50:28] and that RCAC is a waiting receipt of that data and a presentation from Aliasca on it.

[50:35] We haven't seen the results yet.

[50:38] We'll share what we learn as soon as we do.

[50:41] receive it. They're also working on tests for cells 6 and 7 this fall. It should happen in the next

[50:47] couple weeks as their plan. The valves are closed in the cells and they're pumping water

[50:54] to supplement the rain catchment that they've gotten so far. So those tests are anticipated to happen soon

[51:01] and will look forward to those results.

[51:07] That's all I had for you this evening. I'd be happy to

[51:10] answer any questions you may have. Any questions for

[51:16] you? Thank you. All right, sorry for being

[51:19] long-winded with you. Thank you. No problem. Okay, we'll go to, I'll move my into the last,

[51:25] and we'll go to Council Business from the floor, and we'll start with Ken.

[51:34] I don't really have anything

[51:35] right now. Okay. I just wanted to take the opportunity again to thank our citizens, Academy of

[51:45] not just the ones currently in attendance but all the people who participated in a very successful program so far and I look forward to seeing their graduation and hearing their questions at the end.

[51:59] I just want to give a shout-out to the Fire Department. They went out to Valdez Lichlake and had

[52:05] a climate and rescue of Kayakers and everyone was safe and sound. Amazing work. So great job to our

[52:12] Fire Department. I'm great to see lots of business traffic. Can't tell this weekend for

[52:16] efficiency of them, so that's awesome. And everyone with the Citizens Academy, thank you so much

[52:22] for participating. You guys got an opportunity. I did not. I've never had a tour of the Fire Department

[52:29] or the pleased department, so that's awesome.

[52:34] I want to just thank Calum and T.A. Real Estate, we're the PFT Annual PFT presentations that they provided.

[52:43] Keep up the great work there.

[52:45] Thanks to Bart and all everyone involved in the scrap barge program.

[52:50] Great job there and keep that program going and thanks to for the Citizens Academy people here tonight.

[53:01] and hung with us all night, and we'll see what

[53:03] graduation in a couple of weeks.

[53:07] That was kind of dead over there.

[53:09] I definitely appreciate the update on our permit

[53:13] on there, and the continuity and success that we've

[53:18] seen for, you know, OK, it's here.

[53:23] Also, good work on the scrap arts program,

[53:28] pass present the end future and congratulations to you folks of Citizens Academy of

[53:35] all. Thank you. Olivia.

[53:41] Thank you. Dido on all of that. I just want to extend it.

[53:44] My gratitude to Assistant City Manager Nelson and Casey Deshack for coordinating the efforts

[53:54] as well as City Manager Duval. It was a good meeting that we had for the committee today and I

[54:00] appreciated the clarity that they provided additionally tonight. And I hope that that fund continues

[54:08] to exceed our expectations and serve the future generations of Valdeze. Congratulations to everyone

[54:16] else. Thank you and City Manager Duval. Thank you so much for coordinating that meeting and getting

[54:23] work force or work session together to address our child care issues. Appreciate it.

[54:30] All right, and again, did it with everybody also appreciate the systems meeting that we had to

[54:36] hear as a group and really appreciate that. And then just one big shout out, you know, I know the

[54:44] scrap metal barge takes a lot of people and a lot of things get things done right, but the true

[54:48] in the whole process has been barred through the whole thing. I mean, he's literally dedicated

[54:54] time, pushed against council at times, wanted to make things clear, so I just want to big-

[55:10] So, if we

[55:18] did a work session at 5, would that be a problem for anybody for that child care thing? Is that true?

City Council on 2026-09-01 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Agenda

Transcript