City Council - Regular Meeting

Before returning to Alaska to serve his community, Chad served with distinction as a firefighter and paramedic with Capital Fire and Rescue in Juno, rising through the ranks to captain and assistant chief and proudly completing the National Fire Academyy's executive fire officer program. In late 2020, Chad moved to Palmer, Alaska to serve as fire chief of Palmer Fire and Rescue, where he led with compassion, integrity, and vision, earning the respect, and admiration of his department, fellow public servants in the Palmer community. Chad was known for his ability to see the best in others and to help them grow into their full potential while also being a devoted husband, and father.

[laughter] That's okay. So, I'm going to restart.

Chad Cameron faithfully dedicated his life to public service, beginning his career in the fire service shortly after graduating from Pulk High School in Idaho, serving with the Idaho Department of Lands, the US Forest Service Fire, and as a volunteer firefighter with the Pinehurst and Kellogg fire departments. Chad continued his commitment to service while pursuing higher education, volunteering in the fire service during his studies at the University of Alaska Southeast, attending the Swedish Paramedic School in Denver, Colorado, and earning a bachelor's degree in marine biology before returning to Alaska to serve his community. Chad served with distinction as a firefighter and paramedic with Capital Fire and Rescue in Juno, rising through the ranks to captain and assistant chief and proudly completing the National Fire Academyy's executive fire officer program. In late 2020, Chad moved to Palmer, Alaska to serve as fire chief as fire chief of Palmer Fire and Rescue, where he led with compassion, integrity, and vision, earning the respect and admiration of his department, fellow public servants, and the Palmer community. Chad was known for his ability to see the best in others and to help them grow into their full potential while also being a devoted husband and father who cherished his family and gave generously of his time, heart, and energy. Chad Cameron passed away on December 9th after a courageous battle with brain cancer, leaving a lasting legacy of leadership, service, and kindness. Now therefore, be it proclaimed by the mayor and Palmer City Council. that the city of Palmer hereby honors remembers Chad Cameron and expresses its deepest gratitude for his dedicated service and its sincere condolences to his family, colleagues, and all who are impacted by his life. Thank you. [applause] I'd like to take a five minute break, PLEASE. [applause]

We're going to take a [snorts] break. [laughter] [snorts] How do you construction? All

[snorts] [clears throat]

right. Awesome. voice. [laughter] All right, we're back. Deputy Mayor.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I know the room's kind of cleared out, but just uh wanted to kind of put it on the record that um you know, we've seen a lot of changes in Palmer in the last year with a new uh fire chief and a new police chief. And uh it's kind of funny, my first couple years on the council, we always used to uh refer to police chief uh Shelton as the good chief and uh fire chief Cameron is the great chief. So, um, I want to say that in my time in JobCore, uh, working with him to teach young Alaskans how to operate fire extinguishers and other things that he was just always friendly and always super approachable. Uh, definitely my loss that I did not get to chance to know him better and uh definitely feel for the family. I can uh semi-relate as I lost my father to cancer when I was two years old. So, a little less memories than these young people will have. But, uh, when a when a young person is taken away way too soon, I I'm really glad, Mr. Mayor, that you took the time to, uh, recognize him and, um, I, uh, you know, wish his family well as, uh, they, they try to recover. So, thank you, sir. Thank you. Moving on to we have a a report from the Met [snorts] Matsu Valley Planning for Transportation the MO and um Metropolitan Planning Organization is Kim Solian. Please

that you might need to turn on. Just there's a button at the end. Yeah. The bottom three seconds or so and then a light a green light comes on.

Is it on now? Okay. Um well, thank you very much um for allowing me to come speak tonight. My name is Kim Solonian and I'm the executive director of Matsu Valley Planning for Transportation. Um there are a lot of new faces in this room. I've presented here a few times about the development of our MO. Um and so um I'm really happy to come again and reintroduce us um to you all. And um I'm going to go over uh a little history about what an a metropolitan planning organization is, who we are as an organization um but really going to focus on um our call for projects uh uh which is launching tomorrow and I wanted to make sure that you all are aware of that process um and have the opportunity to participate in that. So let's see. Go ahead and advance.

Okay. Uh to the third slide. One more. But back the other way.

There we go. Um so Matu Valley Planning for Transportation is a metropolitan planning organization. Essentially we are federally required um to do comprehensive planning uh related to transportation and policym within the greater core area. So when the Matsu Bureau was designated um as having an urban area um after the 2020 census was certified, we received notification um I think it was in December of 2022 that the greater core area had received this designation. And once an area reaches a population threshold of over 50,000 people, there is a requirement that the region form a metropolitan planning organizations with the regional governments. Um, and why that is required is that back in the 1950s when the interstate uh system, the Eisenhower interstate was being built across the country and connecting all the major cities in the country, um there were some missteps that happened um and communities weren't um uh invited to weigh in on where they wanted sections of the highway to go through their community. And some communities were devastated and neighborhoods were lost. And so, um, once President Kennedy came, uh, uh, was elected, he passed a new transportation bill requiring that there be a, um, different coordination process with local municipalities when federal funds are being spent in a region. And that was kind of the birthplace of MPOs. And so, since our population has reached that threshold, we're now required to plan as regional governments where we want the infrastructure to go. Prior to having an MO, the state DOT would receive its annual allocation of federal funding and DOT would prioritize where they wanted the projects to be. But now that we're here, we get to have a say. So, it's really putting a local local voice, local control on those federal funds that come into our region

annually. We're one of three NPOs in Alaska. There's an MO in Fairbanks that's very similar to us and a large MO in Anchorage. So MVP uh became a nonprofit organization. Um I we opened our bank account on February 14th and so that's why I say that's our birthday. Um it's easy to remember. Um but the regional governments, the Matsubo, the city of Palmer, the city of Wasilla, the DOT, Kick tribe, and Chikoloon Native Village had been working together since 2020, thinking about uh we we knew that the population threshold was probably going to reach the 50,000 mark and we were going to be required to form an MO. And so we started planning in advance on what are how are we going to do this? How are we going to work together as regional governments? um how are we gonna what kind of structure are we going to form and they decided together the pre-policy board that we would form a nonprofit organization because none of the regional governments wanted to host the MO like make the MO a department like AATS in Anchorage is um housed within the municipality of Anchorage but the regional governments decided it would be better if we could have a nonprofit organization house the no and it' be an independent entity working together um we're governed by a seven member policy board. Um, Mayor Cooper serves as our chair right now. Um, which is great. He just came on board and is doing an excellent job. So, thank you for letting us have him serve in that role. Kobe um, Manager Zurkel has sat in um, prior um, to u, Mayor Cooper signing on when Mayor Carrington um, was the chair of the board. Um, we also have the mayor and manager from the Matsu Burough, the mayor of the city of Wasilla, the central region director for DOT and representatives from both Chick Choloon and Kick tribal transportation departments. And there are a governance board. We also have a 16 member technical committee made up of planning

and public works directors um for the regional governments plus uh transportation advocates. Jude Jude Bilifer, your public works director, serves on our technical committee. And so they're kind of the workh horses behind the scenes with staff um that work on all the plans and projects and then bring the information to the policy board for approval. So as I mentioned oh sorry can you two more slides I'm changing my slides but forgot to tell you to change yours. Can you go back to the map? Um there we go. So when we were designated uh as an urban area, that shaded tan area is the area where our population is over 50,000 people. Um we were required as an MPO to define a planning area boundary for our MO so that when we do our planning products um we have a distinct geographic area that we're planning within. And what's required is that our planning area include the whole urbanized area boundary plus what we think will become urbanized over the next 20 years. And so um we did some you know looking at uh development and uh population projections um and made that our geographic boundary. we will have an opportunity every time a census um occurs to revisit our boundary to make sure we got it right because as we know um not our population doesn't always grow in the way um we predict it might and so if if if it doesn't grow in this way and it doesn't become urbal urbanized in that area we have an opportunity to change it. Next slide. So, like I said, really what I'm here tonight to talk about is our metropolitan transportation plan and our formal call for projects, which I wanted to make sure you as the Palmer City Council have the opportunity to know that what point we are in this process and know that we are be will be looking for you to submit projects um to be

incorporated in our plan. So, next slide. So, a metropolitan transportation plan, it's a a plan that looks at a 20 plus year horizon and considers all the transportation investments our region will need based on where and how we think our population is going to grow, what we think the uh our economy is going to need for access. Um, we're also looking at transit services, bike and pedestrian facilities, and freight, how goods and services are moving throughout our community. So we're looking at all modes of transportation. Um the other focus of the metropolitan transportation plan is to make sure that the goals and objectives of the plan are also um uh in line with the goals and objectives of what the cities want, what the bureau wants um and of course DOT and the tribes. This plan is fed federally required and we will update the plan every five years. Like I said before, it's a 20 year horizon plan. 20 plus years, 25 years. It's hard to know that far into the future exactly what we're going to need, but we're thinking about it. And so we'll be required to program 20 years worth of projects and have them listed in that plan. But again, we might not get it right. So every five years we'll have an opportunity to to modify and adjust the plan. Um, next slide. So, in terms of developing an MTP, uh, one of the first things that we need to do was develop our goal, our vision for the plan, what we want our transportation to network to look like. Um, identify goals and objectives. We put those out to the community. Um, our policy board ended up approving them. We got some feedback from the community based on are these good goals or not goals and what should they be? And then those goals will be used to drive the projects that we select um from the projects that are applied for. We also have spent the past six months or so um

analyzing the transportation network looking at looking for deficiencies, where are there major safety issues, where are there connectivity issues, where is there congestion? Um where are we seeing gaps for say in the um bike and pedestrian network where we could um add a section of bike and ped um uh separated pathway or where do we need a new crosswalk or a signalized crossing? Where might there be lighting issues? And so we've done this kind of behind the-scenes research to know where um issues are. We've also been um had a uh call for project um uh we have an interactive comment map on our website where we'll be inviting the community to let us know where they think the problems are. Um and we've also had an online survey that's been active since December 3rd. And I think we've got about uh close to 200 um folks who've taken the survey and given us feedback um and another you know 150 or so people who have commented on the interactive comment map. So both the system deficiency report and the information that the public has given us about where the problems are in the network um have been combined and we're working with our your public works director and the Matsubo and the city of Wasilla to let them know that information so that they can use it to identify projects that maybe the city would like to apply for. So we'll have a nomination period open for um at least 30 days. is it might be longer since this is our first time. It may take it may take more time um for everyone to apply for the number of projects that we need. Um and I'll talk a little bit about the funding next. Once we get all the projects um nominated, we have a evaluation process and then we'll bring those projects that are valid um back to the policy board for review to make sure these are the projects that they want to move forward

and then the plan will get finalized. And then we'll build our tip, our transportation improvement plan, which is our four-year funding plan, which if we're going to have 20 years of projects programmed or or identified, we know that we have to, you know, we have to prioritize year 1, two, three, and four, and that's what will be in our tip. What happens if we don't complete an MTP and don't have a tip? It means no federal funding can be spent in our uh metropolitan planning area boundary. So it it is required that we complete this plan and that we have all the projects identified both for the cities and the bureau and DOT in our plan to allow that federal funding to flow into our region. Next slide. So um I spoke earlier about one of the first things we did um was to identify our vision and goals for our metropolitan transportation plan. So our vision really is to help create a safe, efficient, multimodal transportation system that fosters reliable and accessible options for all modes of travel, supports the economy, the environment, and promotes healthy communities. And to that end, we developed um these seven goals um hopefully that will help point the types of projects we would like to see so we can achieve that vision. So mainly we want to make sure that we're uh supporting a transportation network that is connecting where people live to where people work and making the opportunity for people to get to businesses to get to the store to get to medical facilities easier. And so that's number one priority. We also want to enhance safety for all modes. So, we're making sure that we have the right infrastructure in place so if you choose to walk to work or walk to school, you can safely get there or you're not having to traverse a dangerous intersection every time you're getting in your car to commute to work. We also want to leverage um all available funding sources. So, we will receive an annual allocation of funding. Um there

will be a match requirement non-federal share, but then we're also eligible for a lot of discretionary grants as a nonprofit. um we can receive the grants but we can also help the cities and the bureau apply for other grants to leverage those funds. Um one of the big focuses for us was to maintain the system that we have. So not only is it a priority for us to support building new infrastructure. Um we want to make sure that we're being good stewards of the infrastructure that's already there. Um again we want diverse transportation options. We want shortened commute time. Um, and we want the network to be resilient. So, we don't want to negatively impact the environment by additional infrastructure that we're building, but we also want that infrastructure to be able to survive snow apocalypse and storms and anything else that may come our way so the investments um last. Next slide. Oh, one more. Um so as I mentioned before we've uh started we're in phase two of the or starts tomorrow actually the formal nomination process but we have been doing public engagement um since early December. Um we held an open house. We've had our interactive comment map up and our transportation survey. We will be producing the results of the public comment map and the survey. They'll be on our website for review um if anyone wants to look at it. still open now if you want to leave your own comments um both either on the survey and or on the math will be open till the end of January. So with the formal nomination process based on the goals and objectives I talked or the goals that I talked about um we have a nomination application that will be live uh you'll apply via our website. The Matsubo is hosting a GIS databased um survey 123 application process. Um and so all of the nominations will go into a system

for us to evaluate. Um and then in the spring of um depending on how long it takes to get applications in the door, um we'll evaluate the projects and then bring them back out to the community for review um and to make sure is anything missing. Uh next slide. So, oh one. Yep. So, how much what are we talking about in terms of funding and what does this really mean? So, we have um based on the formula um our MO's share of federal funds is about $10 million a year um annually and that's what we'll be programming in our tip um uh for those you know first short-term projects that are in our MTP. But when you think about the MTP, we're planning on a 25-y year horizon. So $10 million might not seem a lot like for for on an annual basis to build a transportation project because they're very expensive. But if you think about the life of our MTP, that's $250 million. So now we're actually that's some real money on the table. We can do some probably pretty amazing projects. And so we will be looking for projects to be nominated for that full 25 year period. And so that's why I wanted to come before you all to talk with you about it to make sure that you know that it's a pretty big opportunity and we want to see the city of Palmer have the opportunity to apply for projects that you think are a priority. So as I mentioned before, all the projects um that uh if we want to receive federal funding for for projects, they have to be in our MTP and then they will eventually get programmed into our TIP. So prioritizing the projects that are applied for will be a second step in the process and I'll definitely be asking um if I could come back and speak to you once we get to that phase. Um again the types of projects that we'll be looking for um intersection improvements, new road construction, new road surfacing or

rehab, lighting projects, signage projects, safety projects for pedestrian uh infrastructure or you know improving intersections. We'll also be looking for transit infrastructure. So, we want to hit all modes of transportation um and get a diverse suite of small projects and large projects so that um [clears throat] uh because of the $10 million a year kind of cap, we'll need both um to be moving forward in the tip. And with that, I can pause. I hope I didn't take too long. I'm happy to ask answer any questions um if folks have them be

before I go to you, Deputy Mayor. Uh, I want to let folks know that Palmer already has uh four projects uh online in there. Um, [clears throat] they're small projects, but I'm looking forward that to work with um public works and come up with more projects that that are needed in Palmer. And I I I want to say the city's uh aortionment is approximately is it like 10% 9.3% or something like that? 9.03% is the non-federal share. So if you're nominating an infrastructure projects that that's what the portion that you would need to come up. Yeah. Which is far better than 100%. Yes. Deputy Mayor.

Yeah. Um Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um thank you, Kim, for being here and presenting. Appreciate it. Uh I'm going to dig into finance pieces a little bit. So u almost happy birthday here on Valentine's Day of two years that it's been uh since you opened a bank account. So, uh, so within, you know, within the ballpark that you can discuss what's [snorts] in the account now, has there been any $10 million infusions now on October 1st, 2025 or October 1st, 2024 that puts the money into the account to move forward or what are we looking at now after after 23 months of having an account open?

That is an excellent question through the mayor to council member Alcantra. So, um, MVP was eligible for funding starting on October 1st, 2024, but we didn't fully have our organization formed. We hadn't created an MTP. So, we can we couldn't program our own funding. So, Federal Highway suggested that we develop something called a program of projects where we looked at projects that are currently in the STIP um and made recommendations to the policy board, the technical committee did to the policy board to fund certain projects so we wouldn't lose that funding since we didn't have our MTP. So, um I don't have the program of project [laughter] program of projects in front of me. Um, but what I can say is starting October 1st of this year, we'll have a little around $16 million to program for that first year, but we have allocated funds to like I'm trying to think if there's any projects in Palmer. I'm looking at my [snorts] my my colleague Adam Bradway with DOT. Um, one of the projects that that's coming to mind is a the bike path along Palmer Fish Hook. Um there I think is a separated pathway along outer Springer

right related the city of Palmer and the paving projects. Oh the the there's a number of streets in downtown Palmer that have funds have been allocated to to pave that are like on the other side of the highway. So um there are Christmas [clears throat] presents under the tree currently for the city of Palmer. But yes, we'll have about 16 million um starting October 1st based on carryover funds that we haven't programmed since we had that first allocation of October 1st of 26. October 9 months ago. Okay. Uh follow up, Mr. Mayor. Yes, please.

Um so speaking of funding and money and money to operate, uh I don't have those old documents in front of me obviously, so I'll go off my uh old memory. Um Palmer's contribution annually is somewhat based on our population. if I recall. So, I'm just going to throw wags out there and say if we have a population of 6,000, we pay about $5 per person and Palmer pays about 30 grand a year where Wasilla with a population around 9,000 pays 45,000 a year, the Burough pays more, Chickaloon Tribe pays less, etc. Is that how the is that how the some of the operational money gets funneled and are those payments made every July 1st or when do we make the payments to you for that? through the mayor to council member Elcandra. That's a great question. So um our operation funding um comes through um federal highways. So we receive about $450,000 a year to operate the organization and then there is a requirement um of that nonfederal share from our regional partners. So, um I think for the city of Palmer, I don't have the numbers, it was about $3,000 for that annual share based on the city of Palmer's population. The initial we needed initial seed money once we formed the organization. So, we came up with a formula that um it was about I think you were right, it's either five or $6 per person um in our metropolitan planning area boundary. And so then each of our policy board members were required to pay based on the population that they serve

[snorts]

um an initial membership fee. Um and then so that was our seed money because all of the grants that we receive for operation are reimbursible and so we needed to have cash in the bank to to be able to make payroll while we were waiting for reimbursement from the DOT. But annually before or right around October 1st, there is that requirement of an annual membership dues which is I think 36 it's calculated on population but like 36 cents a person or something. Um and then that money we is given to do as part of the MA non-federal share. So that goes in back to DOT and then that's what they um combine with the federal funds to reimburse us um based on our monthly billing.

Okay. Thank you. One last one last one and I'll get away from the financial part and I've already had this uh conversation with the mayor and the chair of your organization now. So I feel comfortable. Uh maybe it won't happen again, but um this is one of these like individual piccadillos that stick in my craw as a person who commuted Anchorage for 20 years is that when we have public process things like open houses or a chance to uh articulate, the citizens get a chance to articulate on any topic whatsoever and it's not just you guys. It's multiple people that do this. Nothing burns me more than when we do things from four to six or 3 to 5 or some other things. I get it if it's public policy meetings or the 16 member committee and those people are working during their workday and they want to meet two to four or whatever. But my recollection is the thing on December 3rd was a four to six or even a three to five type of thing and you know immediately I probably said something in the past November counseling like I won't make it because I can't can't get there. And you know, speaking for the uh 30,000 other folks on the road tonight and probably halfway between here and Anchorage right now, if they left their office at 5:00, um I hope in the future, not just not just you guys, but any events, maybe a 5:00 start time would be the would be the, you know, earliest and then it would go to seven or something like that to at least allow a a puncher chance of people to uh actually get there and and you know, and you know how it is. Sometimes 12 people show up, sometimes a hundred. You just got to but you have to be accessible enough to uh allow them to do that. So that's my soap box on that one.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Councilwoman Collins. Uh thank you. I [clears throat] had two questions. Um one, I did see the interactive comment map online. Um, and I was curious, is that being used just to identify potential uh projects or is there like say if a hundred people mention a certain situation, does that provide some weight as far as when a decision is being made by the board?

Excellent question through the mayor to um council member Collins. So, the interactive comment map and the survey is they're being the comments are being analyzed right now. um at our technical committee meeting on February 10th, we will be presenting that information back to our technical committee. But our hope is that we'll get the the data analyzed in a format that we can give um to all of our applicants who may be applying for projects so that let's say if if the city of Palmer and or via Jude is applying for projects, he'll be able to see what was suggested from the uh for the city of Palmer. um and that might inform the projects that you all apply for. In terms of how that will impact scoring criteria in our um scoring criteria matrix, we are identifying that projects get extra points if the public has also identified that a project is a need. So both to help so the the interactive comment map information and the project ideas that we collect will inform hopefully applications for projects but then they'll also inform the scoring of those projects um and giving them an additional bump up.

Okay. Well that gives us some motivation then to get on there and [laughter] answer some questions. So appreciate that. My second question, and maybe this is too broad for today tonight's meeting, so just let me know if that's the case, but um one of the things identified was public transportation. And I know some years ago I used to see a bus occasionally come through Palmer. Now I just see it more in the Mosilla area. I didn't know what the current status of the public transportation is and if it's something that's being looked at um extending or if it's just not worked out in the past and not going to try again yet or yeah, what status is. My question through the mayor to council member Collins. So with the urbanized area designation um there was a change in how the federal transit administration funding comes into our region. So prior to our urban area, the state DOT community transit program funded uh transit providers primarily valley transit um to operate transit services in the Matsu bureau. Now that we have an urban area, um there was a requirement for a local government to become a direct recipient and engage with FTA directly. So the Matsubo agreed to be the direct recipient of the funds that are allocated to our region every year. um they went through a process of um applying for the funds and issuing a um request for proposals or contract service uh to operate transit uh in the Matsu bureau or at least the greater core area for these specific funds. Rural funds are a different animal, but Valley Transit did apply to continue to operate service. Um, so the assembly agreed to the the one of the glitches or or issues with the transit funds once you become an urban area is the match requirement changes.

And so there is a 50% match requirement. So we are allocated about $1.8 million a year to support um urbanized the the transit service in the urban area. When I say we, I mean the region. And so there is a requirement that those funds are matched with non-federal funds at a 50% rate. Prior to our urban area, um the Matsu Health Foundation has been paying the match for the Valley Transit services that um were in operation prior to this switch. Um they made the decision that once we became urbanized, it was really the local government's responsibility to provide for that match. So the assembly did um allocate I think about 7 I can't speak to the exact budget because I haven't actually seen it. So transit services there there was not a break in service. Valley transit is still in operation. Um they are running because of our geography a demand response service in the greater core area and they are running I think 11 commuter service buses to Anchorage. um Monday through Friday and then also a few on the weekend. We are going to because public transit is a mode that we are responsible for planning for. We are going to host a special work session um talking to transit providers also health and human service organization also taxi cab companies and the public who are trying to use the service to get a better understanding of what are the issues what are the e needs is it infrastructure that's causing the challenge is it just the schedule of rides that's causing the challenge we know and we have heard from the community that there is a greater need than the service is actually able to provide At this point, what we don't know is it is it a funding issue, is it a scheduling issue, is it an infrastructure issue? And so, we need to

collect some more uh information. Um, I certainly think there is opportunity to expand at least for the commuter service bus stops in possibly in Palmer and in Wasilla and maybe Fish Hook and down KGB so that commuters who need to get to Anchorage but can't get to a parking ride where there's a regularly scheduled stop. I think there is an opportunity to maybe support expansion of that, but we're not quite there yet. Thank you, Elton Moer.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I have a question for you. Actually, a couple. Um, we talked about the technicians and the technical support. Is that going to be extended to the planners and zoning um members as well in the different communities? because they they look at the walkability in each of these areas for pedestrians and they might be able to provide you some better guidance for what the the commissions are are doing and looking at through the mayor to to council member Moer for clarification. Are you asking if we're offering presentations to planning and zoning commissions in the cities and the burough?

I I don't think that's quite the question, but yes, that can be one of them. U no, but I'm asking for your technical staff. Are you going to include the planners in each of the communities? So we [clears throat] have so Oh, so your planning staff. So yes, we have um and I'm spacing on his name, but your new um Nathaniel

Yes, he has come started coming to some of our meetings. Our meetings are open. So our technical committee meetings are he's not officially on the technical committee. Jude serves as Palmer's representative, but our meetings are open. the second uh Tuesday of every month. Um they are hosted hybrid uh uh virtually and in person. I think we're gonna we have been meeting at the DOT office on Seward Meridian, but I think we're going to switch to the Matsubo in one of their conference rooms, so they're larger. Um so with our open meetings, the public is welcome to join us. Um as also members, professional staff of the cities and the bureau. Um, and on every single action item and agenda item, we have space for additional comment. So, if you're you're if if Nathaniel isn't actually on the the committee, invitation for folks to weigh in is there. So, yes.

Okay. And then my second question and and I went out to your website and I did look at it. Um, are there projects already listed so we're not doubletapping and and so that we can see or maybe weigh in on some of these?

That is a great question through the mayor to council member Moer. Um, it's a little tricky to find it. Um, but our program of projects is listed um on our website and I'm trying to think exactly the path to go through, but I can send a follow-up email um that um maybe the clerk can send out on uh so you can see the list of projects that are already currently being funded that are in the STIP and through our improvement program. Um the mayor mentioned that some of city of Palmer already has some projects in our improvement program which is a little bit different than um the projects we're asking to nominate in the MTP. Um and uh I will make sure to get that linked to you.

Thank you. That's all I had. Elwoman Carrington. So for the for the public transit at this point they're still doing the ondemand that they had set up before. So, what's the time frame on looking at that for for something that might change it to make it a little more uh accessible to more people?

Excellent question through the mayor to council member Carrington. So, I think we've settled on a date um we were we're thinking about the end of February, but probably March 12th is when we'll host a special transit listening session, stakeholder meeting. I haven't decided exactly what we're going to call it. Um there has been a lot of planning in the past looking at public transit in the region. So we have reviewed a lot of those plans. The Matsubo has done two or three surveys, excuse me, of the public asking for writership information about what the needs are and what the challenges are. So we have collected all of that information. Um we're going to host this I think it's going to be on March 12th meeting. We'll make sure that it extends later in the evening so those commuters who are coming from Anchorage have the opportunity to attend. That is a excellent point. So we'll see what happens at that meeting to see what the opportunities are. We're going to hear from People Mover in Anchorage because I know that they are running a new shuttle service coming out to the region. I want to learn more about that. um the providers that are currently here providing services. Again, not just Valley Transit, but some of the health and human service organizations that are providing it. They'll be invited, plus members of the public. So, that's kind of step one. Let's hear more about what the need and opportunity is. We're going to co-host this meeting with the Matsubo because they're really in charge now of managing transit since they received the funding and they hold the contract. if any changes were to happen with service, it would have to come through the Matsu bureau to their contractor. So, my hope is that we're gathering information um that the bureau can use to maybe expand or change services. The other thing that I will share is that we do have funding set aside to do a specific transit development plan. Further digging into what are the needs, what are the opportunities, what are the other

federal funding opportunities that possibly could be married with the transit funds. some of the funds for say for instance um senior um and and persons with disabilities some of those funding streams don't require a match and so or they don't require a non-federal match and so they can be married with the federal transit fund so I think there is an opportunity maybe to expand service and maybe be creative but we're kind of at the at least in terms of our facilitation role and bringing all the entities together kind of at step one so we'll be here once we um have this first meeting under our belt, we'll have more information. Hopefully, it'll give a report out about what we heard and learned and what those next steps are.

Thank you. Any other questions of Kim? Thank you so much. [clears throat] Thank you.

Moving on to reports and I have to apologize for my voice. Uh I'm obviously fighting a cold and I decided I would come here and you know spread the joy to everybody. So um I don't think I'm contagious but uh moving on. City manager report please. Thank you. Tomorrow the city will deliver its annual state of the city presentation at the Chamber of Commerce lunchon. All department directors will be in attendance, and we look forward to sharing our accomplishments and outlining our 2026 priorities with the community and business leaders. Topics will include the city's comprehensive study, our current financial position, future needs, economic impacts of the various departments, and again, updates from every single department director. And as a reminder, the parking and pedestrian access strategic plan draft has been posted online for public review. The public comment period has been extended to January 31st, 2026. And we encourage residents, business, business owners, and stakeholders to review the draft and provide feedback as um everyone works toward improving downtown mobility and access. In Palmer, spring construction season is right around the corner, believe it or not, and we are preparing for a very active year. Some of the most visible projects that people will see will include the construction of the library as well as improvements along Evergreen Avenue and Cedar Avenue. We're also investing in infrastructure work that is not apparent from the road, but it is equally important to the long-term health of our facilities. These projects include asbestous remediation, carpet replacement, and other internal upgrades to ensure our buildings remain safe, functional, and reliable for our city and staff day in and day out. Overall, my focus is on being proactive and fixing these things before they become a bigger issue and balancing visible progress with some of these behindthe-scene works that keep us all

running smoothly. And my role and commitment is to protect the city, mitigate risk, and follow the law. And if that commitment is viewed as a solution in search of a problem, then so be it. Because ensuring the city operates legally is essentially essential to all good governance. Ultimately, I will not ignore the law for the sake of convenience or keeping the status quo. And in this next statement, I wasn't entirely sure where to begin because it involves a deeply personal claim directed towards both myself and one of my minor [snorts] children. But I'm going to address it. A claim was made suggesting that an individual with the last name Miller, Jeff Miller, who works at Cruz Construction, is somehow related to me and my daughter, and that somehow creates a conflict of interest. Many of you know, and many of you don't know, that I lost my husband in an avalanche in 2015. He was killed when she was 7 and 1/2 months old. His obituary is still publicly available online and clearly identifies his surviving family. He did not have a brother. Jeff Miller is not my daughter's uncle. There is no family relationship with this in individual and they simply happen to share one of the most common surnames in the entire United States with my late husband Miller. Number seven out of 10. It is quite unfortunate that such an assumption was made without verifying something so personal and so easily discredited. Google it. It was in the newspaper. There was an article written on his death. And I've always taken conflicts of interest seriously and I welcome fair fact-based review. However, when concerns involve my late husband and or

my minor children, all of them should be approached with care, accuracy, and the respect these matters deserve. Invoking a dead man and a minor child crosses the line. And I don't need to remind everyone here, but once again, Palmer is getting hit with another round of snow. So, we ask everyone to please move vehicles that are parked on the street. Crews will continue snow removal at 3:00 a.m. tonight, and our current plan is to begin pulling snow from the downtown areas at 3:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday. We know this can be very disruptive, so we appreciate your patience as our crews work to keep the community accessible. If everyone does their part, which includes the city, businesses, and residents, we can get these roads and sidewalks cleared safely. Lastly, I'd like to invite John Dementi up here as for a department update on the airport. Thank you. [snorts] [clears throat]

Good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of council. heard some uh misconceptions about the airport over the last few months and want to start um maybe coming in and give you giving you a bit of a report kind of an update on on what your airport actually does and and what it is. Tonight I'd like to like to focus on the uh on the business of the airport. Um the airport consists of about 20 hangers on different pieces of property. Uh we include three three of the largest employers in Palmer. New Verizon's Telecom Cruise Construction, uh the Division of Forestry, and Evers Air Cargo. Uh notice that's I said three of the largest air three of the largest employers in the city. Ever cargo, the fourth one listed, is one of the largest aviation employers in the state and has a real small footprint here in Palmer. So they are they are a major a major airline just um not so much here in Palmer right now. [snorts] The rest of the airport is small businesses. We've got a bunch of small businesses out at the airport. Um the the types of businesses that we have everybody's in the aircraft storage business. If there's a if there's a corner of the hanger to store an aircraft and charge a few bucks, [clears throat] make a few dollars to offset the cost of the hanger, everybody's going to do it. Going to take the take that opportunity. We've got four MROs. An MRO is a maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. We have a We have a facility that specializes in King Airs. We have a um we have an avionic shop. We have an engine overhaul shop, one of the, you know, and we have a uh a general maintenance facility. None of these folks need to advertise. The business comes to them and they turn it away just about every day. We have three flight schools. I'll get to them here in just a moment. [snorts] We have an aerial application business.

Um, aerial application means dropping liquid from the sky or carrying liquid from here to there. Um, it's performed with a with a dramadare. Um, what's a dramadare, you might ask? It's like a uh like an air tractor. What's an air tractor, you might ask? It's um just think of uh from Disney's movie Planes and Planes Fire Rescue. Uh this is dusty crop hopper. Um after that I I you got to Google [clears throat] it from there. I I can't really explain anymore. Um this and this is the only the only business of the kind in the state. This is it. If if anybody needs any sort of uh like smallcale fuel holage, you know, to a to a small remote runway, this is where they come. They see fish in remote lakes. We have the only type one helicopter in the state. It's based here in Palmer. A type one helicopter is a helicopter 12,500 pounds or greater. It's crew has to have a crew, too. The only one in the state. It's based here. It's a uh it's an old uh H it's a it's an H60 pro. I would imagine it's a military surplus. 8,000 pounds on the hook. It's a very uh very adept u firefighting machine. We have a skydiving business here. They're they're they struggle with the weather sometimes in the summer, but they they do you do see them on a nice uh Saturday afternoon. You you see them just going like crazy. We have two fuel businesses, two fuel providers, uh one on the north end, one on the south end of the airport. Uh the one on the north end of the airport also provides aviation fuel to the uh to the community of McGrath. [snorts] We have an aircraft part store on the on the south apron. Moving [snorts] on to the flight schools. Um, that's the vast majority of our traffic. You know, that's the that's what everybody [snorts] hears going overhead doing the

touch and goes over and over again. Um, so when you see these aircraft, um, what this aircraft [clears throat] is is there's a there's a student on board that plane, obviously, [snorts] probably with an instructor. that student likely came from out of state or out out of the area anyway. That that could be a Palmer City resident flying around learning how to fly. That could be somebody from um from the burrow, from Anchorage. Um there's flight instructors now from North Carolina, from Florida learning what snow is. There's there's folks here from Germany, from Switzerland. They come from all over the world to learn how to fly to how to how to fly in Alaska, how to teach in Alaska. So this is a uh a student paying a small business for the privilege of learning how to fly. The business of flying is expensive. A student will pay $20,000 a private to to get their private pilots's license. On average 15 to 25 depends on the knowledge, skills, and ability of the particular student. $55 to $100,000 is what it costs to get your commercial license depending on what labors if you're instrument whatever whatever flavor of commercial license that you get. And if you get the full meal deal, the big chicken dinner, you're going to pay $120,000. And what that gets you is a commercial flight instructor. You can now turn around and teach. You have an instrument rating, so you can teach instruments. and you'll likely have an MEI, which is a multi-engine instrument rating, a multi-engine instructor rating. So, you can turn around and teach folks how to fly twin engine. What does this do? This uh we've got So, we've got um two different flavors of flight school here at Palmer. We have a part 141 flight school. That's kind of a big deal. A part 141 flight school is an FA approved syllabus and it allows students to go

through at a little bit quicker pace than your average flight school. they can get their licenses just a little bit earlier because of this um because of this structure. And what this is is a uh it's a pipeline for a future professional pilot coming through. We're already feeding a bunch of the airlines down in Anchorage. And it's likely that in the future that um when you fly from Anchorage to Seattle, one of these pilots is going to be up front. [snorts] Because of the 141 structure, it's considered an actual school. You can get federal stu students can get federal assistance to to go to school. The um you can get a student loan. The VA recognizes 141 flight schools and will will provide veterans with the opportunity to learn how to fly. [snorts] The Part 61 Flight School, not to uh not to disparrage them at all, but at Part 61 Flight School is a um it's a it's a more flexible program. This is geared towards the pilot. This is geared towards you're you're now not bound to this uh this uh this structure. You can go you can focus on your specific knowledge, skills, and abilities. you can um this is for the for the student who doesn't have $120,000 to get the to get the full meal deal. It's a pay as you go like you know and it's a it's very flexible but you know the these folks can also go graduate and go to the airlines. It's more likely that that they go and get their private pilots's license, go buy an airplane and go fly [snorts] with these flight school aircraft. They're they're revenue producing machines. You'll notice how often they fly over town. Every time they fly over that, that's a that's a small business making money. We've also have another school, another another flight school, Part 61 school,

that teaches uh primarily college age kids to fly and maintain aircraft in the bush in the in the backwoods. And the purpose of that is so that they can they can um they can fly and maintain those aircraft while performing a missionary work around the world. [snorts] Recreational does flying does occur. It's um it's there there's very little of it here at the not I wouldn't say very little but it's um compared to all these other folks I've talked about they make a very small percentage of the of the flights in and out of the Palmer airport. and their [snorts] flying here. Their presence here of the recreational flying is made possible by the uh by the businesses that are here. Those businesses pay twothirds of the bill out at the airport. The airport is not a business. The airport is not here to make a profit. The airport is infrastructure. It it's aviation infrastructure the same as a as a bridge or a road is for a vehicle. The goal is a it's a usermaintained it's a user paid paid um structure where the goal is to break even. The goal is is self- sustainability. We want to the the go we want to not cost the city any money. That that's what we that's the ultimate goal of the airport. We're getting there and and the purpose the reason you have an airport is to create the conditions for the private enterprise to be successful. That's why we're there. Thank you very much.

Yes, deputy mayor. Uh yeah, thank you. Absolutely.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you, John. Uh good report and it's exciting to hear uh about the functionality and about uh the fantastic things happening at the airport. Um definitely appreciate your finishing thoughts. It's not about making money just [snorts] like the MTA event center is not about making money. It's about providing infrastructure, providing services. Um, but I also point out it's nice to hear that flight schools and, you know, small businesses and then larger businesses like Everett and Cruz and others are at the Palmer airport making money. Um, but the closer we get to breaking even, the better it looks for us. We don't want to be the, you know, how much do we have to spend on the airport this year? So, I mean, you know that cuz you've been there for a few years now and uh I know none of us get out there u often enough to uh you know, see what's really going on. But, uh so it's good to have these reports to hear, you know, what what is truly uh happening. We had a young man stay with us uh from Juno that is with us for about four weeks because he was doing a you know, $15,000 uh um you know, getting his getting his license. So, uh so it is it is exciting. And good to know that people uh um that it's good to know businesses are making money and it hopefully we'll get to a point where we're charging a reasonable amount for whatever services we provide that enable the companies of course to still have the infrastructure and to still have their smaller, mediumsiz or larger businesses, but also make sure we're not subsidizing that in total either. So, how you said we're getting closer. How within reason, how close are we to u the break even point? If you ever look at that on a daily, monthly, quarterly basis, we're a ways. We're we're a little bit away. We are um if you look at the

budget this year, it's about $40,000 that the uh that the city injects into the operational budget. And then there's the matching to the uh to whatever grants that we're that we do capital improvements with. That's the six and a quarter percent or 5%. Yes, sir. It's up for this uh this year and last year and this year it's 5%. It'll go back to six and a quarter next year. Okay. Thank you. And u Mr. Mayor. Yes.

U comments on the city manager report and questions. Um, I'm very sorry to hear that uh people are out there uh spreading rumors and gossip and I think any city that should know just how to do a Google search and not get themselves into further trouble, it should be Palmer. So sad to hear that. I know uh when my mom was passing away and I spent many many much time at Providence Hospital uh I happened to be walking by a big screen TV and was like Kobe Eric what you know and so I actually literally called her was I think her first or second week on the job and said wow what was this all about and she said what she fortunately had to say today that she had lost her husband at I think 29 years old or some age when he passed away in an avalanche. So, it was uh it was nice to see that uh you know, she made that heart-wrenching decision to save other humans by uh you know uh allowing his organs to be harvested. And it was uh it was one of those gobsmack kind of moments that uh that leaves you a little uh speechless. So, it's hard. I'm sorry what you're going through. Uh question I have totally off topic on that is um I I believe we have an attorney online, correct? tonight.

But, um, the golf course contract that the city council approved back in December, um, is the other attorney that was with us for a while, uh, I don't know. I can't remember Charles's last name. I know his first name is Charles Ciola. Casiola, is

is he uh, working a contract with the golf course on your behalf or are you working a contract with the golf course or what's the update on that? So before I went on vacation, uh he and I coordinated I sent some of the changes I would like to see to help uh protect the city from liability concerns, tighten up some of the language around that. He took that and he also had additional revisions this week and I agreed with them and he's reworking them and we'll get that to the to the contractor when the lawyer, Mr. Ciola's work is finished with it. Mr. Mayor,

yes. I don't know if there's a way to find this out with Charles or through AMCO, but um did the did the because I know we we had a spreadsheet last meeting about uh beer and wine sales outside of an April 15th to October 15th time frame, but did the city request a six-month time frame on their on their beer and wine license? because uh people were saying that what they had seen in the past from I think 23 and 24 and I don't know if you can just look them up on AMCO's website but there was no dates or anything like that on any kind of uh license that we had. So I'm I'm just asking the question did the city uh maybe even before your time and I'm glad John's here. Did the city say, "Hey, we only need a license from April 15th to October 15th." Or is that been the case of that license for decades? I guess

my understanding it's been the case for decades. And in our application process, it actually says seasonal and it gives exact dates. It wasn't anything that um when it was renewed in 2024 that the city requested. It's just a renewal of our license at that point. We didn't change it. And would that be on the license itself that has to be displayed at the golf course or any place of business the actual dates of of time or is that only in it would be so on any on anything it would be on there. Okay.

And it's in the application packet that goes through council approval and everything. It's all part of it. Same like you can look at your packet now. You'll see what the dates what the how the applicant responds to the different questions.

Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions of either the airport manager or the city manager? Thank you. [clears throat and cough] Again, I apologize uh for my voice. So my report uh last Thursday uh met with the chamber uh in the morning. We have a a a business meeting that uh folks come out and ask questions and typically it's burrow and I and um and and my my goal is to get businesses to come out and ask questions of the city and see where we're going. I see what we can do for the the businesses, what they how they can help, how we can help each other. We had uh president of the friends of the Palmer Public Library there this last time and we chatted a little bit about you know their fundraising that's going to be going on here shortly. Um that was it was a good meeting. Unfortunately it's at like uh 8:30 in the morning but it is at dead horse donuts so that's not a bad thing. uh that afternoon met mayor's managers meeting was here in the and the meet with uh you know was mayor manager uh burrow and uh and I um that was a good good discussion just you know kind of just general stuff what was going on Friday I met with the uh counelor general uh from Japan he came out uh from Anchorage to v visit here in the city and just to you know you know welcome welcomed me and I welcomed him at the first our first meet and uh he brought his staff out and we had a a good conversation about about sister city relationships and and where we're where we're going to where we're going to go and uh in the future where there's other meetings that we've got scheduled um next month um Monday I the MLK uh celebration was held

at the Glenn Massie I went there uh there were oh I don't know 40 or 50 people there or so. Um that and it was it was a good g good gathering uh to learn a little bit more about MLK and you know what what he provided for society. That evening at Moose Lodge was a history night. Um and it was Alex Hills came out and talked about how how they got started out with radio and how they got communication to the villages. Um and uh of course way back when it used to be you know ham radio and then uh it progressed into things different and we talked about you know the old white Alice sites and other sites that they had that they could provide transfer I mean information via radio. Um, I'm sure there's probably some people here that probably maybe remember that in Kodiak, we used to have that uh uh it was uh every day that I can't remember what exactly what it was called, but folks would call in and uh ask if a message could be transferred to somebody else and which was really kind of kind of interesting. And this was, you know, in 1972, so it wasn't that long ago. Um uh tomorrow um like the the manager mentioned that we are going to uh meet at the chamber and provide the state of the city. Um I'm not sure with my current health whether I'll be there but I'll be there in spirit for sure. Um, and final uh item is uh my intent with ordinance 25004 when we get to that point in uh unfinished business is to prop is to postpone that indefinitely. Um just to let let folks know um we've had this discussion before and um you know and that and that's where I'm that's where I'm headed. Uh do anybody have any questions of me?

Seeing none, madame clerk, your report, please. Um, my report's pretty short. Um, we have AML [snorts] coming up February 17th through the 19th. Um, all of your flights and hotel have been made. I will start sending out information this week. I have um all but one current council member going, so it'll be a full house. Um, and then last but not least is we do have an open council seat. applications are available. It closes on February 9th. You can get those either in person or online. And um let me know if you have any questions.

There's also uh openings on planning and zoning. And uh I guess the other two probably parks and wreck and the bed as well, but I think have available openings as well. So, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. Thank you. Uh M. Johnson, did you say what was the closing date on the applications for city [clears throat] council? February 9th. February 9th. Y. Thank you. And online, Leslie, do you have any uh any city attorney's report?

I'll just give a brief report. Um start out by saying I apologize for not being there in person. My batting average for in-person attendance is pretty poor at this point, but it is our intent to to be at meetings with you in the room. um every day it's possible to do so. Um we have begun meeting with department heads and receiving requests for work from a number of folks, coordinating u responses, making sure the city manager is aware of the work that we're performing. That's fun and exciting as we're learning new things. Um we're eager to begin ticking those items off the list. Uh and then in response to council questions about um golf course AMCO um contracts, [snorts] we are sort of general counseling those in the sense of remaining involved and informed. Um but it's absolutely correct that Mr. Ciola is taking the lead on um those projects because he had already been involved with those and I think it's efficient for the city to maintain that course. Um we I don't have any uh pending litigation matters that are on our desk to update the city on. Um, but that's it for now and if anybody has any questions, please let me know.

Yes, sir. Uh, yeah, thank you. This might be a question more for city manager Zurkel than for the attorney, but with Mr. Ciola, uh, do we have a per hour rate we're paying and a cap on that or is it just like a open-ended until that contract hopefully gets settled in short order? It's a contract. So, we pay him per hour on this. And once this contract is done, then his we won't be using his services. It's just since he started the process, it felt like for continuity [clears throat] to help him continue. I appreciate that. And the hourly rate is what roughly? I can't remember right now.

Miss, do you know the answer? I'm drawing a blank. I don't. We did not. We were not involved in negotiating the agreement. I'm I'm certain we can get you that information though um before the next meeting. Thank you. Any other questions or any questions of the attorney? Leslie, thank you. Yep. My pleasure. Moving on. Uh item G, audience participation.

I'm going to read our statement that the mayor usually reads because his poor voice. Um, council meeting rules protect your right to testify and be heard even if others in the room disagree with you. Council meeting rules also ensure that those attending can express their views if they do not interfere with the rights of others to see and hear the proceedings at all times. Order and decorum will be maintained in keeping with the civility and dignity of the legislative process. Please be respectful during audience participation. No disruptions to city business or threats of any kind will be allowed. Individuals who cannot follow these guidelines will be removed. Any threats against others could result in criminal prosecution. Please sign in, state your name, and three minutes per person. And I will need that signup sheet so I can say who's first.

Herb. Thank you.

Thank you. I have Herb Fish off. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, council members and staff. First of all, I'd like to thank the uh the mayor and the council for hosting the map planning for transportation uh presentation, especially the excellent job that Kim did in in presenting it in a concise and and clear manner. Uh I'm here on a tangentially related issue. It's very simple. It's to encourage the city to reapply for a small uhformational sign at the highway that identifies a historic downtown Palmer area. It's my understanding that this application has been rejected a couple of times. However, I got no indication of that in my conversation with representative of DOT today. The reason I'm here today and now is because representative was very optimistic, positive, and encouraging uh that we go ahead and apply. The reason I'm asking or informing the city council is that uh while anyone can apply for that sign and many of the folks in the Palmer area who have shown interest in this are willing to foot the bill uh the department of transportation does tend to in u facilitate a possible waiver on annual fees for that sign. The annual fee is five $400 for five years, $300 the subsequent re application. Consequently, I encouraging the city to go ahead and and resubmit that application. A possible reason the application was denied in the past has to do with the type of application that's filed. There are two specific designation. One for tourist oriented design destination sites. The other is more for uh signage

that reflects recreation and cultural interest to people passing through. The sign you might be familiar with it is those small round signs with a white border that say, you know, historic downtown Palmer go this way. That would be in addition to the welcoming sign on the Glenn Highway. Typically DOT receives one application for a possibility of two signs. In this case, they're willing to consider three signs that was indicated to me not to be a problem, which would allow us to place a sign Palmer Wasil Highway and two signs on the Grand Highway. Uh just forformational purposes, Palmer does have 14 national um register historical facilities here in Palmer. I have the listing. I put together the notes from my discussion today with the DOT representative and if it pleases the mayor I would like to present that to the clerk and put it in your capable hands. Um again there are other people in the community happy to do the application for this purpose. However, I do believe it may be more appropriate to city for the city to reapply. Thank you. That saved me a lot of effort. I um came to talk a little bit about uh we've had a lot of discussion about parking and one of the things that they that the city manager mentioned that she gained a lot of parking places and among that was a little bit about eliminating

some of the handicap. I'm here to tell you how absolutely important a handicap spot is. if you can't walk and you literally cannot go if you can't park in a handicap. So when you're looking at things, consider how important a handicap spot is to those who are handicapped. I'd be happy to trade places anytime. So thank you Michelle Conincaid. Um [snorts] I just wanted to say a thank you to the Palmer Police Department and the Palmer Fire Department. Um we had a fire at the Valley Hotel um about 8 10 days ago and they were very quick to respond. Um, Palmer PD was there first, very quickly as they always are. And the fire department came. They did an awesome job um, securing the building, getting everybody out safely, and um, the fire, the sprinkler did an awesome job, but unfortunately sprinklers do a lot of damage. But I just want to say the Palmer PD and the fire department are just awesome. Um, I did want to talk about the parking ordinance uh, that got moved to unfinished business. Uh, I'm I'm glad to hear that it's going to be uh talked about and possibly postponed indefinitely. I I felt like um I don't understand what the rules and laws are on everything you guys do, but when it uh was proposed to have it postponed a while ago, I think back in September, and seconded, it seemed kind of odd that it wasn't carried through and voted on, seemed like some some of the pro proper pro processes weren't handled. Um, so

I'm glad to hear that you guys are talking about it. I also thought right from the get-go, the ordinance is flawed because the premise says that based on um 50 new parking spaces in Palmer and that that's just not correct. The pavilion has always been parking. Um, yes, that did get striped which made it nice and neat and tidy. Although you still see people parking, you know, their their um food trucks and stuff the other way, but that's just what people do and that's okay. But um 50 new spaces were not created and the other was where the railroad tracks were taken out at the end of the depot. But if you look at Google Earth, you can see a picture of the end of depot parking including the railroad tracks and it shows 22 cars parked there. Uh one car in the process of parking and several other empty spaces. And it just shows that the people of Palmer are resilient. Everybody knew that was parking. They didn't have a problem putting their uh tires over the railroad tracks which were covered with uh a lot of earth already. But um just I think it needs to be set straight that there are not 50 new parking spaces. Um parking spaces that always keep getting uh upgraded and in better shape. But kind of like when I paid uh behind the hotel, I didn't create new parking places. I just took it from dirt to pavement and and gave it some stripes. But um once again, thank you for all that you do and and just I wanted you to know that your Palmer PD and Police Department are awesome. Thank you.

Lori Copenberg.

Good evening, mayor and city council. My name is Lori Copenberg. I'm going to follow up with Michelle on the number of uh parking spaces. I think facts are important when you make your decisions for the city of Palmer. What I have here is I have a a um a diagram that was created by the community development director in May of 2023. It shows the same number of parking spaces in 2023 that have been created all of a sudden in 2025. I think facts are important when you make the decisions on this board. There are not any more parking spaces in the downtown core district than there were over the last probably 15 or 20 years. So when you make decisions from this council, you make them on facts and not somebody's misrepresentation to manipulate you into thinking that they're telling you the truth. Thank you,

Steve. Lawyer. Hello, mayor, city manager, and council. Um, I'm Steve Lury with the Palmer Chamber. I'm the current board president. I just wanted to give you guys a notice of our annual meeting on February 25th. So, I hope you both attend to that. It's where we just discuss where the chamber's going, voting, and any bylaw changes, but I don't think we have any. So, it's just voting and new board members. And I want to put a call out if anybody's interested in joining the Palmer Chamber board. We are looking for nominees and nominations. So, please reach out to the Palmer Chamber and we'll get you in touch with the nomination committee. And that's all I have for now. So, thank you,

Michelle Grimes.

Hello, my name is Michelle Grimes and I'm a business owner here in Palmer and I'm here to respectfully request the mayor and the city council to request a release of obligation from the FAA for the golf course parcel. I also want to say thank you and just express appreciation for the folks in city leadership that have also that have already spoken about the release and inquiring about it and uh and and expressed motivation to pursue it. So really this release of publication it's a practical and obtainable solution and it benefits the golf course, it benefits the airport and it honors what the community has been asking for across several uh city council meetings. Palmer successfully obtained a release of obligation before, both in 2015 and 2018, and Palmer can make it happen again. So, let's talk about the cost. It's true that the release of obligation may require the city to pay fair market value for the land. It's also possible that a waiver of payment could be pursued, but even if the city was required to pay fair market value for the land, the funds would go to the airport. So in that sense, the city of Palmer would be transferring money from one account to another. The money would stay in our community. Palmer can support a safe, well-maintained airport and keep a voter approved, bonded, revenue producing municipal golf course. The most reasonable and ethical way forward is clarity. It's accuracy. It's efficiency. It's not confusion or rhetoric or conflict. At times, you know, I hear folks and sometimes folks in city leadership describe barriers and roadblocks to obtaining a release of obligation. It contradicts what I've read, what I've learned about, even my own direct communication with the FAA. So, in last month, in December, I spoke with an FAA compliance specialist for the Alaska region. I shared my concerns,

my long-term concerns about the security of the Palmer Golf Course and his suggestion, what he brought up was seeking a release of obligation for that parcel. If the FAA says we can do this, we can do this. We should move forward on it. So, my respectful request is both to the mayor and the city council, please direct your staff to pursue an FAA release of obligation for the Palmer Municipal Golf Course. And until that occurs, I know that's a long process and I know there's a lot to look into. So until that occurs, please keep the golf course out of future airport expansion scenarios unless and until a documented and demonstrated aeronautical need exists. Thank you. [clears throat]

Hello, Mr. Mayor and esteemed council members and manager and um city clerk. Um okay, I have it all written down. I must preface with this. Oh, sorry. My name is Alex Wilson. Thank you. Um I must preface with this. I understand this is not an issue our city council can do much about. Um but I also follow the tenets of social justice leader Adrien Marie Brown in the idea that small is all. um what we do voice and fight for on a small scale can make widespread ripples and is representative of what can be and what is happening on a larger scale. Um furthermore, our federal leaders are blatantly lying to us these days. Um so we must drive these changes and sentiments from the bottom up. Um I'm going to start big, but I promise I have an actionable ask at the end. Um, I come here today as a current and longtime member of the Palmer community, but also as a person that grew up in South Minneapolis and it has witnessed internationally recognized atrocities that we've all seen. These are all people who many in this room would have called friends or loved ones um, had we been in the same circles. All individuals who were not doing anything to harm another soul. They were all killed by law enforcement who decided to take other people's lives into their own hands. I am lucky enough to count many immigrants among my friends. Most are documented, but some are not, or their documentation is not current due to backlogs in our defunded and struggling governmental systems. All of them are amazingly hardworking um hardworking individuals adding to their communities through education, agriculture, building, healthcare, child care, so many essential and giving careers that keep our society afloat. The thought that any of them would be targeted by underqualified and power- hungry thugs makes me livid. It makes me question the fabric of our society. It makes me want to flip tables in the rooms and houses of those that justify

the cruel behavior and rhetoric spouted from the biggest leaders in the free world that have leaked into every aspect of society. Please reassure us that the efforts of the local police department are going to not just are going to not just keeping peace but making peace to protecting us from real criminals from the citizen who's a meth manufacturer down the road and from the child abuser by the school or the folks on the inside who hide heinous crimes and I know that they are doing that and I'm very thankful. For what it's worth, there have been more deaths committed by ICE agents on American citizens this year than by immigrants. Looking at the data, one in 1 million immigrants is a murderer. One in 675 ICE agencies. What is happening behind closed doors to the undocumented is surely atrocious. After last last week's scare that ICE was in Palmer, I'm sure you all heard. Many are in need of reassurance from our leadership. Some have heard that we don't need to worry about it because it won't happen here. This is not reassuring. This is digging our burying our heads in the sand. At the very least, I and others would like to know that Palmer Police Department will not enter into a 287g agreement with DHS. At the very least, please reassure us that you and our local law enforcement will stand on the right side of history protecting those that live here, provide for our community, and love their neighbors regardless of legal status. Thank you. Hi, Mayor, council members, clerk, city manager. Um, my name's Doug Hill. Um, I'm a resident of Palmer. Um, 67 years old. I never thought I'd be

nervous about voicing my opinion in this country. These days, I am. And I'm going to address what Alex just addressed there also. So, um, [clears throat] we need immigration enforcement and border patrol, but I am in no way in favor of [clears throat] this current 45th presidential administration version of either one of those agencies. Um, something needs to be done. Um, and I'm hoping the city of Palmer is not on board with any of this type of behavior, thuggery. Um, um, you mentioned Martin Luther King. I was there that day. I've been thinking about Martin Luther King and the whole civil rights movement. I grew up. I remember all that. Um, I'm also thinking about my Finnish and Irish ancestors who were not welcome here. There were places in northeastern Minnesota and it's in um Michigan where there used to be signs that said Fins and Indians are not welcome here. So anyway, um I think I've said it all and that's enough. But thank you for this opportunity. [clears throat] Anyone else? Sebastian.

Hello, city council mayor. My name is Sebastian White and I live here in Palmer. Um I wrote some stuff down. Um, so kind of continuing on what the previous uh citizens said, um, like to say that Alaskans were fiercely independent and you know, if you pay attention to the fight for the Palmer golf course, we're not really big fans of the federal government all the time. Um, and on Friday, last Friday, um, I received a text from Matsuy School District, um, stating that they were aware that ICE has visited schools in the lower 48 and they were reaffirming that, you know, my son's safety is paramount to the school district. Um, I found that kind of odd that it came out of nowhere. I kind of felt like they were getting ahead of something. Um, and then later that day I learned that there were rumors that there was an ICE enforcement um, near Vega Blues. Um, usually I don't believe everything I hear on the internet, but that call from Matt Suburo uh, school district kind of made me think that something was up. And like others said, um I want the council and the mayor to have a plan in place to uh protect Pomeranians from, you know, any kind of state sanctioned violence and you know to keep ICE out of our uh city. And uh that's kind of what I got to say. Thanks, Mr. Wleski. Mike Molk. I live here in downtown Palmer. Uh, first an apology. Every so often equipment

ages out and uh, one of our cameras did age out tonight. So, I was able to get things going. I missed uh I missed the just the beginning of the of the session, but did pick it up as uh the fire department honored Chad and and all the rest of this. So, it's out there, but I wanted to apologize. I like to think that we are able to do it right from the get-go. Secondly, uh you know, it's January 27th, right? One of the things that happens to be is the Holocaust reme remembrance day and I know some of you know that we did some programming around it and I was reminded because I had spent about three and a half years living in Germany at one point um and had done some study uh there's a down in Munich there's a uh there's a collection of materials associated with um the 1930s essentially the development of the Nazi era. That's the f best collection of materials. And I had spent some time looking at those materials because what has been obvious [clears throat] most recently has been brought up by the last few speakers is that the slide into doing things uh that result in something like the Holocaust and maybe some of you have also visited concentration camps. I have been able to do that and the that was a distance from a small beginning uh in the early 1930s and part of what it involves is something that we've all witnessed and like to think there must be something better to do than to have someone who is masked without identification and a without a warrant stopping people

who may or may not be US citizens and intruding into their lives because they can. And I just want to add my comments to it saying this is not something that hasn't happened before unless it stops. So, thank you for listening. It's been a half hour. I don't do one more. Right. We'll do a Joel. Joel, you'll be the you'll be the last one this time. Excuse me. You'll be the you'll be the last audience participation till the next time, but please come. Go ahead.

Okay. Yeah. My name's uh Joel Stfansky. Um thank you councel, Mr. Mayor, uh for the opportunity to speak. Um obviously I've been involved since uh on the golf course issue since uh July with the uh airport advisory. I just went to last week's airport advisory. Got a bunch of good guys on that advisory. Um, obviously they're meeting every month and I highly recommend that council gets involved with uh the discussions there at the airport advisory on their master plan. Um, there's a lot of good things that happened here tonight. um the format we had with Kim here and the transportation. I highly recommend that you have a similar um presentation by FAA and so you can get educated a work study um thing with FAA come in explaining things on release of obligation so everyone gets up to speed really quick. Um so great presentation and I'd like to see that happen in the future on other subjects. Um, here are the facts about the release of obligation process the community is requesting. A fair market value lease deals with rent. How much must be charged for the use of airport land while it remains part of the airport system under FAA order chapter 17. Please look up chapter 17. council. A release of obligation deals with land use, whether the land can be removed from federal airport restrictions converted to non airport purposes under FAA order chapter 22. Please look at chapter 22. This has been mentioned before in several other meetings. These are separate processes with different legal purposes and any council member can place the release of obligation on the agenda and discuss it publicly without waiting for a fair

market value appraisal because one is not dependent on the other to begin an open on there conversation with the community. And that's been a lot of the problem here from the get-go. Um, you know, there's a lot of things that happen in the world and we a lot of outfits try to purposely pit one group against another. And I feel that that's happened here quite regularly and uh the aviation community is here to stay, the golf community is here to stay. And it's been said many times over, but I feel that um purposely there's been a division. Um and I'm sorry that that's um pretty much came out of this body and it shouldn't never have. Not saying the council, but there's been other people in the city who've u per perpet made this happen and it should have never got to this point. It's a as I said it me many times this is a great community and I want to keep it that way. We need to work together and be successful. I'm going to use that over and over and over again. We can be successful and live together. Thank you very much for your time.

Good luck. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Take a five minute break. Like to take a break. Five minutes with council please.

[clears throat and cough] Your your body tells you when to shut down. Yeah. Yeah. See, Adam. Yeah. Yeah. Just need to relax with people. Look at what I did. Every time. I know.

How are you?

Matriarchet. What's

That's right. Let's see what

like to bring us back to order, please. public hearings. We have no public hearings. Moving on to action memoranda 26013 authorizing city manager to purchase two new patrol vehicles and equipment in the amount of 154,493 and to purchase the vehicles under the governmental and proprietary procurement section of Palmer Municipal Code 3 municipal code 3.21.230 230 by attaching to the state of Alaska contract. Um, and this has is is budgeted. What's the wish of the council? Move to approve or second.

I'll just [laughter] one or the other. [clears throat] Any discussion? Any questions? Yes, sir. Uh, didn't really have any questions. So, the chief is there. This just basically everything all the equations right in the packet. It's about roughly as I scroll to it, it's about 56,000 per vehicle and another 20 grandish to to install the safety equipment with the other with the other contractor. Yes, sir. Thank you. Anybody else? Hey, Chief. Thanks. Let's take a vote, ma'am. Council member Collins. Yes. Council member Carrington,

yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Deputy Mayor Alcantra, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. It is a unanimous and approved. Thank you. Number two, action memorandum 26022 authorizing city man to spend 65,000 in pass through funds from the COSAP grant that was approved by council on December 12th, 2022. Wishes of the council. Move to approve. Second. Any comments, questions? Yes, sir.

Hey, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, just a comment or a question for the chief. Um, so uh initially approved on December 13, 2022. So, we're talking a little over three years ago. And uh and you continue to get the funds in 23, 24, 25, etc. Do we know how how long does this go out into the future? Um, so the grant was actually supposed to end in September. Uh, so because we had a significant amount of funds left within the grant, we requested an extension for one year. Um, so it will, this specific grant will end September 30th of this year.

Thank you. Any other questions, concerns, comments? Madame Clerk, Council Member Carrington. Yes. Council member Graham. Yes. Council member Collins. Yes. Deputy Mayor Alcantra. Yes. Council member Moer. Yes. And Mayor Cooper. Yes. It is unanimous and approved.

Thank you. Moving on to unfinished business. Um I'd like to move to introduce uh ordinance 25004. Um this was brought forward obviously from at the beginning. This is an ordinance of the Palmer City Council amending chapter 17.64.050 Central Business District. Do I have a second on that? Second. Thank you. Um, what I would like to do is immediately um I want to move uh make a motion to uh postpone ordinance 25004 indefinitely.

Second. Any discussion, questions? Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Uh I I just I want to agree with that. I can't let me in start by saying because it's an introduction, we can't discuss any of anything uh related to the guts, if you will, of this ordinance. Just whether or not it should be introduced. Oh,

okay. But if you have a comment, please. Uh, I don't think we have a parking problem. I think it's because the businesses have been doing what we asked them to do all along and so I agree. Yeah. Oh, yes. Sorry. I'm sorry.

Um, I just want to put a plug in on the parking issue. The Palmer parking and pedestrian access strategic plan uh draft has come out. You've likely all seen that. Um there are some recommendations in there and I would be really interested in what businesses um thoughts on some of those recommendations. So whether interacting with the group that's putting this together or um sending letters to city council like we definitely read those. And so if any change if any changes need to be made with parking, what might those be and what are your thoughts on recommendations in here? I'd be really interested in hearing what those are. I I do want to say that this presentation was given to planning and zoning here a week or so the parking by by respect. Um and from what I understand it was not uh received very well. Um so uh I think that this that that also adds fuel to the fire that we need to postpone this indefinitely. So madam clerk please take the role. Deputy Mayel Canra,

yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Collins, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Mayor Cooper, yes. So, that is a unanimous and approved. So, that's that's it. Want to know? Thank you. Um, no new business. Record of items placed on the table. We have the application from Herb the shop. All right. Thank Thank you. Now we're back on to audience participation. And I have no one on the list. So whoever Palmer Bar

Wesley Arts Palmer Bar um my partner turned in the letter. Did you guys get that? That should have been okay. Just making sure I got turned in. Um which now I don't have to read. Um, I have some questions. So, as we were sitting here, I was googling stuff. Merryillfield makes money. Lake Hood makes money. Why doesn't our airport make money? Um, I think there should be a release of obligation that you guys should really seriously pursue that. Um, I also think if once that happens, if we have to the move the golf course under parks and wreck, move it. Um, someone figure out where it's going to go. Um, cuz it shouldn't be underneath the airport once that's done. Um, also actually we I do have to say thank you. Our we are very very lucky in this community to have our such a wonderful police department and fire department. Um, I don't, even though we say it, I don't think they get the recognition that they deserve. Um, they're constantly like walking through my bar to make sure everything's good. Uh, I really appreciate that. They're constantly watching out for the community. Um, they're very involved with the community. Um, they really need to be recognized with that because most small a lot of places don't have the small town interaction that our police department and fire department have with the community. And so I I just want to let you guys know I really appreciate them and I know a lot of people do also. Um, so thank you. And I forgot what else I was going to say. Sorry.

There's always next there's always next meeting. [clears throat]

Uh Nathaniel Lance, resident of Greater Palmer. Uh additionally, I am the community development director and I'd be remiss if I didn't follow up some of the comments that have been made. Um the I appreciate it um Council Coloman Collins for mentioning the race back study. Uh it has been opened up uh for 10 more days for public um comment. Um I embarrassingly enough I went to go click on it um cuz speaking with respect last week there was one response from the public. It's been open for 30 days. One response and I figured that's weird. Something's wrong. So I went to the website the hyperlink on the news banner. You click it. It goes to the direct link. And unfortunately, the uh the page that advertises it, even wearing my glasses, I couldn't see who you're supposed to respond to. So, we quickly uh thanks for staff helping me out because I'm not that techsavvy when it comes to internet and uh building websites. We fixed it, open it up for another 10 days. It's very imperative um that the public open it, look at it, read it. violent criticisms, likes, dislikes, it is a public open comment. Period. Please respond. There's nothing we don't want to hear. This is for the city of Palmer. Additionally, I would like uh to invite the council to please read it, comment it. You can send those comments directly to me if that's allowed. Um or you can respond to the point of contact with respect. Once again, that is on the Palmer website. You can go directly to the homepage of community development. It is there. It is big, open, bold. Now, you can read exactly where it needs to go. Um, and uh I think that was it. Um,

but I appreciate it. Thank you for everything you guys do. I really appreciate you um um bringing that to the um to the public. Um so, thank you. Appreciate it. How's that knee doing?

Michelle Concade. Um, I I did read part of the study. I didn't read it all, but I since you asked, I I did want to respond a little bit. Uh, there's a lot of good stuff in the study about walkability, trails, bikes, and trails, but there's a lot of really bad information on parking. Um, it seems like they missed a whole lot on the due diligence. Um, they spent a whole lot of time doing a map about who puts up this is my parking, private parking, and you can't park here. Um, and a whole lot of talk about shared parking. But from a business aspect, you can't take on the liability of somebody else's business like uh their patrons on your property if they slip and fall becomes your responsibility. it limits what you might have for dreams and hopes of your future plans. Um they seemed uh like to business shame. One of my suggestions to them was um the people the businesses could really use some help with the sidewalk snow. Um the the businesses in Palmer collect all the sales tax. And I thought it sure would be nice. This you guys do a lot, but a business doesn't feel like what do they get that might independently help them? well, some help with the sidewalk and the snowwood. But their suggestion was to to be able to ticket us for not doing our sidewalk or or or do some type of penalty. Um, a bad idea for parking meters. We don't want to be the laughing stock of of the Alaska. Um, not only would it uh parking meters, but then you're going to have to have enforce it. Um, they talked about little quick stops in front of a business. Well, what if that business changes? How do you change that? It's a 15minute spot when the next tenant is a dentist and they they have an hour and a half procedure. Um, the

examples they use about that town in Idaho, Google it. You're going to see lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit on what they did to their parking. You're going to spend see that they spent um more than $10 million to try to rectify something. And you're going to see how the people that live in the community, which there is houses in the central business district, hated it. Who wants a parking permit on their car to to park in front of their own house? Um they they just missed the ballpark on the parking, but they came up with some other nice ideas. Um but Cedar was already happening and I'm really glad you guys are doing that. Um but but they just they just missed it. And the reason parking if you don't think it's a problem, it's because we do have some codes. Now, some of the codes aren't quite accurate, but we have codes and everybody's lived by it. And we also have means to get around the codes like the waiver permit. Anybody can apply for it. So, we already have all that stuff in the mix. Um, but I will definitely go through it and and now that they've extended the time, do some feedback. Thank you very much. Lori Copenberg. Because we have so many new council members on this board, you didn't hear a lot of my conversations and comments over the last several probably since 2017 about parking in the city of Palmer. That's when I started paying attention to what planning and zoning was doing because they started expanding the central business district into residential areas. That's called commercial creep. If you want to see the downtown Palmer die and just become a business center, that continuation of uh the central business center takes residential property typically makes it into limited general or limited commercial property. And then the next step is commercial general. You start

losing housing. You start losing residents. We start losing our town. Um I'm going to reach out to you guys and share the things that I've shared. I gave it to Colobby when she came on and everything I shared with her or the comments I made to this council about what that waste of $50,000 would do. If this council really had no intention of following through on parking permits, meters, all of the things, then really they should not have spent that $50,000. Um, and we talked about risk allocation of shared parking and that's already in code. But what it requires, it requires the property owner to put that business on their deed so it follows that business. Those are big things. I have some things on here on risk allocation and leases with shared parking. It's huge. No private property owner is going to subject themselves to lawsuits based on somebody else's financial gain. Um, so anyway, I have lots of information. I've been studying it for a very long time, almost 10 years. And I worked for attorneys. I work for judges and I am not ignorant to how to read a statute or read law. Thank you.

Anyone else?

Anyone else for audience participation? Seeing no one, I'll close it, bring it back to the council. Um, moving through item N to item O, council member comments. We'll start with Councilwoman Carrington. Um, I just want to thank everybody that comes out and speaks to us. It's it really does make a difference. Um, I did get to go to um what? Dead Horse Donuts for the the meeting and and the the conversations about the upcoming li library. And then we followed up. We went to uh the Pal Friends of the uh Palmer Library group and they've got some some exciting things that they've got planning for ground breaking and fundraising and to bring the community into it and bring businesses into it. So, I'm excited to see uh our library get get going this next year. And um and that's all I got.

Thank you, Councilwoman Moer. [clears throat] Thank you, Mr. Mr. Mayor, uh first I'd like to say uh congratulations to all the newly appointed members of our commissions and advisory boards, new chairs and vice chairs. Uh I look forward to uh working with them in the future and I wish them much success. Um and thank you to the fire and uh rescue department for the invitation to their annual awards and uh congratulations to all the award winners. That was quite a night. I think it was uh should I say it or do you want to?

And I would like to say uh congratulations to uh Officer Cole uh Graham for uh being the first recipient of the Chad Cameron firefighter of the year award. And then uh I'd also like to say it was great listening to audience participation tonight. Uh, one of the things that was suggested um was the signs and I would like uh support to refer that over to parks and recck so they can start looking at that and make recommendations. Thank you. We will do that. Councilwoman Graham, ma'am, are you ma'am? Are you are you done or do you have something else?

I have nothing else. Thank you, Councilwoman Graham.

I just want to say thank you to everybody who comes out and speaks of these things and emails us and is is very active in the community. We we see that um we read it, try and respond as often as I can via email. Um, I think with all of that being said, I would like to request council support to draft a letter or the form that we need to do to get a release of obligation for the golf course so we can start those steps while we're waiting on the fair market value and whatever else we need to do to get that completed because I know it's uh more complicated than just getting the FMV and being like, "Hey, can we buy our land back?" Um, so I would like to propose that we formally begin that process.

Yeah, I support that. Thank you. Um, per code, I would like for us to vote just because I would like to go back to that process. Um, so I do have so the motion that I have is to start the the process to pursue that letter of release of obligation. Yes. Okay. And so let's go. Um, Deputy Mayor Canra, I'm sorry. Can I ask any questions prior to the vote?

Um, so I know there's been a lot of discussion about this, but I want a questions for um our city manager. if you think now is the appropriate time to do that because it's my understanding that a having fair market value would give us then the starting point to do that. Um and so is now good timing for that or should we hold off until we've got more information?

So when we refer to the fair market value, what we're doing is we're looking at the golf course land to get an updated um non-aironautical lease rate. It's not the value of the land. If for a release of obligation, we would have to get a totally separate fair market evaluation by two independent appraisals and they have to be in a certain time frame. I don't I can't remember what the time frame is, but we'll have to put an RFP on the street for two separate um land valuation RFPs. What we're doing right now is just establishing the non-eronautical rate. If I could follow up. So would it makes because I don't know what how timing would uh go exactly both on the the application for the release of obligation and for like an RFP for the fair market value for purchase price. Um so that our timing we h we're have the fair market value within the time period required. Should we put the RFP out first before starting an application for release of obligation?

My suggestion would be to wait. I will get the um reach out to the FAA, get their clearly defined process and then because if it's a six-mon evaluation or if it's valid for a year and we start it and there's delays, I want to make sure that the timing is correct so we don't have to spend more money getting two more evaluations. So, as soon as I know kind of the time frame and what their expectations are, what type of documents that they want from the city of Palmer, then we can start that RFP process. The way the way I interpret it is that this the motion is to start the process and I think this is part of the process that we have to you know start obviously from you know not necessarily day one but we have to we have to get all this information from FAA then move forward with an RFP and then move forward you know and see what they have to say. So I think that we're beginning the process um and I think that's I think that's part of the whole the whole thing that we're doing. Deputy Mayor.

Uh thank you Mr. Mr. Mayor, I appreciate that clarification. I'm uh right there with you and I just think this process now has been going on for 7 months and anything that kind of uh expedites and lets the public know that uh we're serious about moving forward is uh is worthwhile in doing and I'm sure these can move on in parallel track so they can just move on to whatever the process system is and we can uh allocate the money um as we move forward. Thank you.

Yes. And I would also like the opportunity for the airport director and I to give a presentation on what that actually would look like for the golf course land because there are object-free areas and the runway protection zones that will still come into play that um fences will have to be moved and it's not necessarily all 144.75 acres can be released. There will be about a 100 acres that possibly could be, but we will have to move the fence to um make sure that the object-f free areas surrounding the airport are fenced in because if it no longer becomes airport property, we have to put that security fence up there. But that's something that we can bring to the council and discuss more in depth later. Councilwoman Moer,

um do is this has this been put into the budget and do we have the funding available? the this is not in the budget. No, we did not account for this. So, I would be coming for once I know final numbers are about a ballpark, I would have to come for a budget amendment. Yes, ma'am.

Um, so I this is kind of related. So there's been discussion about having kind of a workshop with the FAA representatives to be able to get information and get a get a better understanding of the process. Is that something that we could do either before or as we're doing pursuing this? I can certainly ask for their participation and their availability. Um, generally I think that they're pretty open to helping the cities with this type of process, but I just don't know their schedule or what they are allowed to do.

Any other questions, comments, concerns? Madam Clerk, [clears throat] Deputy May Canra, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Collins, yes. Council member Moer, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. It's approved. And you know, thank you. Do you have any other comments, ma'am? Uh, no. I just wanted to share my appreciation for you and the city clerk and I I'm sure the fire chief and and Chaplan Ralph for putting together that proclamation for Chad. I know that it means a lot to his family and it means a lot to the fire department.

Thank you. Yes, ma'am. You're up.

All right. Well, I had a couple thoughts written down here, but they've kind of been covered by other folks, so I won't um rehash everything there. Um I guess I did just want to mention I've also been concerned um with some of the um federal enforcement um efforts being made elsewhere in the country. And um I just want to let people know I guess that's on my radar as well and um hope that we don't see similar types of things happening in our community. Um on the release of obligation um that is something I'm really interest excuse me a [clears throat] process I'm interested in in beginning and seeing how uh things go. So, I think we need a lot more information. Um, you know, and some things we're going to need to make decisions on, of course. Um, but I'm fully in support of seeing where it goes, [laughter] seeing where we get with that. So, um, and then I guess just again on the parking, I'm really interested in our downtown area. I love our downtown area. Um, and I think it's kind of one of a kind. um certainly in Alaska and um and uh a dying type of community nationwide. And so I really am interested in um local businesses input on, you know, the parking and but the other issues as well. And um I know I listened this was before I was on the city council, but uh when the um the removing any parking restrictions or uh requirements was first proposed and I listened to a lot of the comments then and understood that communities that are currently downtown were very opposed to that. Um, but I am, like I said, I said previously, am interested though in if

there are improvements that you think can be made. Um, what those are. Um, so like I said, be interested in hearing those. I know we don't always get the opportunity to hear them here, limited time and whatnot, but um, I think we all do read letters that are sent and emails and things like that. So, um, appreciate, um, all of you and thank you,

Deputy Mayor. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, I'll start from that part about uh what's going on not just in Minneapolis, but in our nation's capital and other places around uh the US. It's uh um it's always humbling because uh you know, let's face it, I you know, my last name is Alcantra, you know, Espanol, but uh I'm a 63 250 pound white guy. you know, it's like not going to get the same uh issues and problems that uh my wife and my four children who are people of color get. And um and it's easy for me to have empathy, but to also go, are you are you serious? Are you kidding me? my wife uh came home from u Washington DC where of course there's national guard and people in the metro stops and you know doesn't look like the America that she's used to and she spent a lot of time in DC went to American University and other things but also she has a conference to go to in Minneapolis in March and she came home and asked me should I cancel the trip and I was like wow Rosetta Alcantra a person of color can't be comfortable going to Minneapolis one of our major cities in the United States. I was just like, you would take a cold glass of water and splash me in the face with it. So, I don't think she's made a decision yet, but just to know that people have to make those decisions is uh shocking and, you know, and in our country. So, uh so yeah, I don't know what to what to tell her, but I will say that people are talking about this in Palmer, Alaska. You know, it's not it's not just a uh South Minneapolis problem. [sighs] Uh the parking thing, I'm glad uh we did what we did tonight. Um you know, I think it's difficult sometimes when people get uh to a certain age. Hopefully I'll get there someday and uh you know, there's not enough handicap

spots or when they're needed, they're needed. Whether you're going to something uh funeral at a church, whether you're going to event at the Palmer Depot, whether you're coming here, you hope that nobody is, you know, hogging those few handicap spots, no matter how tempted you may get at the airport when you're driving by six empty ones and thinking, "Oh, there's nowhere to park at the Anchorage airport." Um, but I do I do think uh people just have to walk a little bit and people have to do what they do. and uh and I I just haven't ever felt like this was a huge problem to be quite frank. uh the presentation for Chief Cameron tonight. Uh thank you, Council Member Graham. Very difficult thing to have to do and you could feel the u the sadness uh in the room and I did feel uh for his family and uh you know the the flashbacks that it brings years later and uh I lost my father before I turned two years old. So sort of like uh Mrs. Zurkel's daughter. I never really knew who he was. But it doesn't matter if you know who the person is or isn't. You're going to know their legacy and their history for the rest of your lives. And I mean, even as recently as six years ago, I became a member of the Sons of American Legion. I didn't know such a thing even existed. I went to try to find somebody. They said, "Oh, she's out at American Legion now." And I said, "She's on American Legion? Oh, too bad I can't go there. I never served our country. One of my many shortcomings." They went, "Wait, what are you talking about? Your father's got an army named after him. It's called Sons of American Legion. You basically grab onto the cotells of your father or your, you know, or your mother." And then you become a member. And so now I've been a member for six years. A great organization doing a lot of good work. And it's great. But, uh, you know, my circle daughter lost her dad at seven months old. That's extremely sad. And I

hope that people out there whether they come here to testify in person are on Facebook when people sit up here somewhat free game and heavy as the head that wears the crown and I mentioned many times you pay somebody very well but not to get abused by folks and certainly not for their family to get abused. So, I hope uh I hope people uh take a little time and and show a little respect in class and don't do those kind of things that an 11-year-old daughter may have to deal with now or 5 years from now or 10 years from now. Hopefully, she'll never have to deal with having to look and find something on, you know, Facebook or Google saying uh terrible things about a fictitious uncle or about her father more importantly. So, I hope uh I hope people uh do the right thing. If you have questions um for council members or city manager, come here, do the audience participation like many of you did tonight or call up city hall, say, "I need to speak to the city manager." She's very accessible. She has been to me when I've called her. So, I mean, if you have uh questions to ask and want the truth, come ask the questions and find the truth. Thank you. Thank you, Amanda. [clears throat] Thank you tonight. I really appreciate that. I'm sure I know that the uh family did as well. Um uh we made a couple of I think couple of good decisions tonight at the council and I want to thank the council for doing that. Um you know, we're moving in the right direction. Um got a long ways to go, but we're still doing well and my body is telling me to quit talking. So with that, we're journed.