Minutes of the Work Session

Denali Borough Assembly

McKinley Village Community Center

January 13, 2002

 

CALL TO ORDER    Presiding Officer Jerry Mueller called the work session to order at 2:00 pm.

 

ROLL CALL               Assembly members present were: Sid Michaels, Jim Caswell, Jerry Mueller, David Talerico, Teresa Usibelli, Jim Payne, Gerald Pollock, and Mayor Gonzales.  Assembly members absent were Carol Shields and Teresa Hall. USIBELLI arrived at 2:15 p.m.

 

1.)   Ordinance 01-10, version B, an ordinance amending Denali Borough Charter, Article XI, Section 11.01, regarding a sales tax.

 

There was no discussion.

 

2.)   Ordinance 01-13, Version A, an ordinance establishing a 2% general sales tax within the Denali Borough.  (Introduced by Assembly member Teresa Hall)

 

PAYNE asked if this ordinance had been heard in all four communities.  MUELLER said yes. 

 

PAYNE stated that we need to get together and decide which one is most viable. 

 

MICHAELS said he would like to see how much money the Borough will need after the FY 2003 budget is completed.   

 

PAYNE agreed. 

 

MUELLER suggested that the Assembly move to postpone action on these ordinances until a certain date.  MICHAELS and TALERICO agreed.   

 

POLLOCK also agreed.

 

Minimal discussion followed.

 

3.)   Ordinance 01-14, Version A, an ordinance adding Title III, Chapter 22A, Titled Excursion Tax to the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances.  (Introduced by Assembly member Scott Stowell)

 

There was no discussion.

 

4.)   Ordinance 01-07, Version A, an ordinance amending the Denali Borough Code of Ordinances, adding Chapter 22, pertaining to business licenses.

 

TALERICO suggested that the Assembly get rolling on this ordinance as he feels it would be advantageous to know who is doing business in the Borough.

 

MICHAELS said he is under the impression that this ordinance compliments the tax ordinances and should be addressed with them.  He said he would like to see this ordinance postponed as well.   

 

Discussion followed.

 

PAYNE stated that we might need to start putting precedence.

 

Mayor Gonzales spoke in favor of the ordinance, but reiterated that this ordinance originally came from the Revenue Development Task Force with the intent to attach it to the excursion tax ordinance.

 

CASWELL asked how much money it would cost the Borough to administer this ordinance, and asked if it would be more trouble than it’s worth. 

 

Baxter Mercer, Healy resident, said business owners already have a state license.  He suggested having them bring that license in and register a copy of that license with the Borough.  

 

Steve Jones, McKinley Village resident agreed with Mercer.

 

Discussion followed.

 

PAYNE asked if this could be found on the Internet.

 

MICHAELS suggested that the Administration do some research to find out what how other Boroughs handle their licenses. 

 

CASWELL stated that as a business owner he wants something that is easy.  He would rather pay $20 and not do anything.

 

TALERICO said there are businesses that operate in the Borough, but do not have an address in the Borough.   

 

Discussion followed regarding the cost of administering this ordinance.  CASWELL spoke in favor of making the process of obtaining the license as easy as possible.

 

Denali Borough School District Superintendent Chris Hagar asked what happens when people do not comply with the ordinance.  MUELLER said there are penalties outlined in Alaska Statutes. 

 

Mayor Gonzales said the communities police themselves.

 

CASWELL asked if we made the assumption that this ordinance is going to pass, maybe we should ask the staff to come up with an application.  Mayor Gonzales said that would take time to come up with an application.  MUELLER stated that the greatest expense would be in the start up of complying with this ordinance.  He also said a fiscal note could be attached to the ordinance.

 

CASWELL stated that he would like to see the application form before he votes for this.  

 

ADJOURNMENT      MUELLER declared the work session adjourned at 2:43 pm.

 

 

 

Attest:                                                                         Approved:                                         

 

Date Approved: