Anderson City Council Chambers

March 10, 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, Jim Payne, Gerald Pollock, Carol Shields, Teresa Hall and Mayor Gonzales. Assembly members absent were Teresa Usibelli and David Talerico.

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

MICHAELS stated that it would be nice to have this in our formal ordinance format.

CASWELL stated that he does not like the idea of a license. He stated that it should be changed to a registration. He stated that he does not think that a social security number or tax ID number is needed.

Mayor Gonzales stated that we do have a registration for certain businesses. Mayor Gonzales stated that he understands that not everybody wants to give out their Social Security Numbers or Tax ID Number. He stated that a license has a law behind it and a registration does not necessarily have to have a law behind it.

PAYNE asked if we would send out a license to the businesses after they have completed the application.

Discussion followed.

PAYNE asked if the Overnight Accommodations and Severance tax operators register with the Borough. Mayor Gonzales said yes.

CASWELL stated that he would fill this out but he would not give the Denali Borough his State Business License number or Social Security Number.

MICHAELS asked if there were any businesses that would not be required to have a State Business License but would be required to have a Borough one.

Mayor Gonzales stated that perhaps this should wait until after a tax is voted in.

CASWELL stated that he would propose the following changes during the regular meeting: adding (Optional) next to Social Security Number, delete that “Other License” section, and adding “License fees may be prepaid for up to 5 years in advance and is nonrefundable.”

MUELLER stated that these licenses could show us conflicting land uses. He stated that we might not know of a conflicting land use until it is too late.

CASWELL stated that there is not really any zoning in this Borough and this could be used to protect businesses.

Mayor Gonzales stated that we do not have a right to tell anybody that they cannot operate a business.

PAYNE asked if someone came to us and they were going to run a porno shop next to the school, does the Assembly have the right to stop that sort of thing? Mayor Gonzales stated that the Assembly does have that right.

Discussion followed.

2.) Ordinance 02-01, Version A, an ordinance amending the Denali Borough Enabling Code, Title I, Chapter 4, Public Records.

CASWELL asked when this ordinance was introduced. MUELLER said that it was introduced in January.

3.) Discussion regarding the formation of an ethics committee.

MUELLER said the person who requested that this be on the agenda was not in attendance today.

HALL reminded the Assembly that we are bound by Alaska Statutes.

4.) Discussion regarding the Denali Borough independent population census.

MUELLER stated that he got on the census web site to look up census numbers, and they refer you to the Alaska Department of Labor. He said the numbers on the sites are different. He asked the other members if they think it’s worth the effort and cost to do an independent census count?

HALL asked what the process is to change the census numbers. MUELLER stated that there is an appeal process.

Mayor Gonzales said that deadline has passed. He said the Borough is bound by the Federal census.

MICHAELS stated that he does not think an independent population count would put this issue to rest. He believes that the Federal census numbers are as close as you can get, and he feels the Assembly should move on!

ADJOURNMENT MUELLER declared the work session adjourned at 2:36 pm.

Attest: Approved:

Date Approved: