Minutes of the Regular Meeting
Denali Borough
Assembly
Tri-Valley
Community Center
April 9, 2003
CALL TO ORDER Presiding officer Jim Caswell called the public hearing to order at 7:10 pm.
ROLL CALL Assembly
members present were: Jim Caswell, Gerald Pollock, Sid Michaels, Baxter Mercer,
Bob Shelton, David Evans, and Neal Laugman, Assembly members absent were Teresa
Hall and Carol Shields.
Also
present: Mayor David M. Talerico,
Borough Clerk-Treasurer-Assistant Administrator Shelly Acteson, Land Technician-Landfill
Supervisor Gail Pieknik, Administrative Clerk-Accounts Payable Clerk Amanda
Nyberg, and Denali Borough School District Superintendent Bob Whicker.
MICHAELS MOVED to excuse HALL, and POLLOCK seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
PUBLIC Mark Ames, Fairbanks resident, explained his letter requesting Assembly
COMMENTS supports for his idea to rename “Pioneer Park” in Fairbanks to “Centennial Pioneer Park”.
Joan Marie Bouchet, Fairbanks resident, spoke in support of retaining “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, the Bill of Rights, and she was also in support of Ames’ request.
Charlie Loeb, Healy resident and Vice-Chair of the Land Use Planning Committee, spoke in favor of the Borough discussing overall use for MLE’s before they respond to any lease requests. He questioned whether a management plan was in place for all Borough lands.
AGENDA MERCER MOVED to add a short Executive Session to the agenda to discuss the pending lawsuit. Minimal discussion ensued, and LAUGMAN seconded. MICHAELS spoke against the motion, as it was not posted.
Discussion followed regarding the necessity and wisdom of holding this executive session today.
The ROLL CALL VOTE was 6-1, with MERCER in favor.
MERCER MOVED to add an executive session to the next regular Assembly meeting agenda. MICHAELS seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
CASWELL requested to add HALL’S request to travel to Juneau as item J.) 4.), and LAUGMAN seconded. The VOTE on the amendment was unanimous.
The agenda was approved as amended by unanimous consent.
MINUTES 1.) Assembly Meeting: Work Session, Public Hearing, Regular Meeting held on March 12, 2003.
LAUGMAN MOVED to remove the repeat of the verbiage “will be reminded” from page 1, line 25 of the work session minutes. MERCER seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
LAUGMAN MOVED to approve the March 12, 2003 Work Session, Public Hearing, and Regular Meeting minutes. EVANS seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
FINANCIAL 1.) Financial report for February 2003.
REPORT
MICHAELS MOVED to receive the February 2003 financial report, MERCER seconded. LAUGMAN asked about the Dues, subscriptions and Advertisements line item, and the Clerk said she would get him the breakdown. The VOTE was unanimous.
MAYORS Mayor Talerico gave a report on his activities for the last
REPOT month and the Nenana Canyon Safety Project scheduled for this summer.
DBSD SUPT. Superintendent Bob Wicker gave a brief synopsis of his
REPORT written report.
ASSEMBLY EVANS brought up the idea of having an interactive session with the
COMMENTS public during the public comments section of the agenda, the same as the North Star Borough does.
LAUGMAN spoke in favor of holding an executive session during the next meeting.
MERCER and Rock Creek resident Lolita Valcq updated the Assembly regarding the Electrification Project near her area. Lolita said GVEA told her the Project is a go!
MICHAELS spoke in favor of allowing interaction between the Assembly and the public during the public comment section at the end of the regular meeting.
COMMUNICATION 1.) Mr. David Braun in attendance to present a districting
AND history of the Borough, and his lawsuit against the Borough.
APPEARANCES (case #4FA-02-02156 CI)
CASWELL
reminded everyone that the Borough is in a lawsuit with Mr.
Braun, and the Assembly will not respond to
his comments.
Mr. Braun presented a brief history of districting in the Denali
Borough, and how it relates to the lawsuit and the settlement offer.
Braun offered that if anyone would like to discuss the lawsuit or the
settlement offer to give him a call.
ORDINANCES 1.) Ordinance 02-12, Version C,
an ordinance amending the procedure for filling a vacancy on the Borough
Assembly.
MICHAELS MOVED to amend by substituting subsection F with his new version of this section, and by adding subsections G to the ordinance. LAUGMAN seconded.
Discussion followed, and the VOTE to amend was unanimous.
MICHAELS MOVED to adopt, MERCER seconded.
POLLOCK spoke against this ordinance, as he felt a vote of the people should be required on this issue first.
Mayor Talerico spoke in favor of the ordinance.
The ROLL CALL VOTE was 6 to 1, with POLLOCK opposed.
2.) Ordinance 03-02, version A, an ordinance appropriating one half of the interest earned by the permanent investment fund during the fiscal year 2002 to the general fund in accordance with Section 9.17 of the Denali Borough Charter.
Mayor Talerico spoke in favor of the Assembly adopting this ordinance, in light of the projected budget shortfall for next year.
MICHAELS spoke in favor of postponing this ordinance until the next meeting, and discussing it during the work session.
MICHAELS MOVED to postpone this ordinance until the May meeting, and MERCER seconded. The VOTE was 3-4 with SHELTON, LAUGMAN, EVANS, and POLLOCK opposed, and MICHEALS, MERCER, and CASWELL in favor.
LAUGMAN MOVED to adopt the ordinance, and POLLOCK seconded. The ROLL CALL VOTE was 6-1, with MICHAELS opposed.
3.) Ordinance
03-03, Version A, an ordinance amending the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances,
Chapter 27, pertaining to severance tax.
EVANS addressed some of the concerns that came up during the work session.
CASWELL spoke against the idea of an annual permit for the severer as stated in the ordinance.
Discussion followed regarding the tax rate and LAUGMAN MOVED to amend the ordinance by increasing the amount from $0.05 per ton/yard to $0.20 per ton/yard. MERCER seconded.
Discussion followed regarding the proposed increase and concerns were voiced regarding the severers not in attendance to address this increase.
LAUGMAN withdrew his motion, and MERCER withdrew his second.
MICHAELS MOVED to postpone this ordinance until the next meeting, and LAUGMAN seconded. The VOTE was 6-1, with EVANS opposed.
4.) An ordinance amending the Denali Borough FY ’03 Budget.
MICHAELS MOVED to introduce, and LAUGMAN seconded.
Mayor Talerico spoke in favor of his proposed amendment and will discuss this is greater detail during the budget work session.
Minimal discussion followed, and the ROLL CALL VOTE was unanimous. This will be Ordinance 03-04, Version A.
5.) An ordinance establishing Denali Borough FY ’04 budget.
MICHAELS MOVED to introduce, and MERCER seconded.
Mayor Talerico briefly explained the proposed budget and reiterated his comments made above.
The ROLL CALL VOTE was unanimous. This will be Ordinance 03-05, Version A.
6.) An ordinance establishing Denali Borough 6 year CIP (Capital Improvement Program) plan.
MICHAELS MOVED to introduce, and EVANS seconded.
Mayor Talerico explained the ordinance, and discussion followed.
The ROLL CALL VOTE was unanimous. This will be Ordinance 03-06, Version A.
7.) An ordinance amending the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances, Chapter 20, Section 3, to increase the amount of the Overnight Accommodations Tax.
MICHAELS MOVED to introduce, and MERCER seconded.
MICHAELS spoke in favor of the ordinance.
Discussion followed.
POLLOCK MOVED to suspend the rules and change the end of the meeting to no later than 9:30 p.m. MICHAELS seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
POLLOCK spoke in favor of the Borough having a strategic plan in place to better address the needs of the Borough.
The ROLL CALL VOTE was unanimous. This will be Ordinance 03-07,
Version A.
RESOLUTIONS 1.) A resolution determining the total amount of funding to be made available for school purposes in accordance with the Code, Chapter 30, Section 9.
MICHAELS MOVED to adopt, and MERCER seconded. The ROLL CALL VOTE was unanimous. This will be Resolution 03-05.
2.) A resolution is support of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities extending the Healy River Runway.
MICHAELS MOVED to adopt, and LAUGMAN seconded. The roll call VOTE was unanimous. This will be Resolution 03-06.
OTHER 1.) New liquor license application from Mountaineer Grill,
BUSINESS Denali Bluffs Hotel, Milepost 238.4 Parks Highway. The designation for this application is Beverage Dispensary Tourism Seasonal.
MICHAELS MOVED to take no action, and EVANS seconded. The Clerk stated that she had not received any comments on this license from the public. The VOTE was unanimous.
2.) Accept resignation of Carol Shields, Assembly member Seat I, expiration date November 2005.
MICHAELS MOVED to accept her resignation, and LAUGMAN seconded. The VOTE was unanimous.
3.) Public Comments.
Mark Ames, Fairbanks resident, spoke again in favor of his request regarding the Pioneer Park in Fairbanks.
Jeff Yanuchi, Healy resident, said he feels a 10% overnight accommodations tax is not too shocking. He also spoke in favor of the Borough looking at other revenue sources. Yanuchi thanked the community for their support with helping his challenged child.
Healy resident Gina Soltis, suggested a “disembarking fee” for tourists that ride the railroad as a method of increasing Borough revenues. She questioned whether the Mayor’s job description and hours he works had been reviewed since the increase in pay had come into effect.
Frank Rose, Denali Bluffs Hotel Manager, said the amount the tourists pay in taxes has an impact on where they travel. He spoke in favor of the Borough returning some of the revenue to the tourist based businesses for promotion purposes.
Steve Jones, Denali resident, encouraged the Assembly to think long term and work on management plans for Borough lands.
Healy resident Shawn Peterson, said the residents of the Borough benefit from Usibelli Coal Mine being here, so the Assembly should be careful before it tries to increase the severance tax. He spoke in favor of a utility tax to increase Borough revenues.
4.) Assembly member Teresa Hall’s request to attend the Legislative fly-in Conference in Juneau, as the Borough’s representative on the AML Board of Director’s.
Minimal discussion followed and HALL’s request was approved by unanimous consent.
ASSEMBLY MERCER spoke in favor of writing a letter of support for Mr. Ames.
COMMENTS MERCER relinquished part of his three minutes and asked Lolita Valcq her comments on the proposed overnight accommodations tax. Valcq spoke against the ordinance.
SHELTON thanked the people for coming from near and far to attend this meeting.
LAUGMAN thanked the Mayor for all of his hard work and all the long hours he has been putting in.
MERCER MOVED to direct the Mayor to write a letter of support addressing Mr. Ames’s request. EVANS seconded. Discussion ensued and MICHAELS spoke against the motion, as he did not think it was a good idea to tell the FNSB Assembly and their residents what to name their park.
Fairbanks resident Joan Bouchet spoke in favor of the motion.
The roll call VOTE was 4-3 with CASWELL, MICHAELS, and LAUGMAN opposed. The motion passed.
NEXT MEETING The next meeting will be held on May 14, 2003 at McKinley Village Community Center.
There will also be a work session, with the Assembly and the Mayor discussing the proposed budget and tax ordinances on April 26, 2003 in Cantwell.
ADJOURN. Presiding officer Jim Caswell declared the regular meeting adjourned at 9:36 p.m.
Date Approved: May 14, 2003