City Council - Regular Meeting

maybe never need the refrigeration, but we have it there if we need it. Um, and that would involve adding a third compressor to our two existing that we have. So, it's a big deal, but I want to just plant the seed that I think that that's um and I have a lot of people uh that are very much by this as well. So, um that is our goal and we will work on some sort of bigger funding project and things like that to you guys. But I will get it down from here now. But I just wanted uh to ask you to turn to the last page. Um and I'm just going to brag on these kids one more time that um that this photo on the back and these kids in this room with me tonight. Uh this is what it's all about and why we do what we do. We're creating a space for all everyone to become the athletes that they want to be. So whether that's somebody that is 70 that needs to get more exercise and is trying to live a longer healthier life or these sweet 10-year-olds behind me that have big dreams, the facility is for everybody and we want that to be our future. Thank you.

Does anybody have any questions of Miss Mr. Mayor? Yes, please. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh thank you, Miss Van. Exciting stuff and Congratulations. Thanks. Um, I'm I'm curious on the uh sweet handout. You know, pictures worth a thousand words, but I'm a stat guy, so I love numbers, too. Uh, the 1871 versus 1875 public skaters. So, that 1871 number, does that include the 453 neon people? It does. Yeah. I just pulled out the neon just so you guys could see because those were so many of those neon skaters had never been there before.

Okay. So, but on on to my question then because I don't have the budget in front of me, so you'll have to remind me if I'm right or wrong because I uh definitely raged against the machine when it came to uh increasing cost of public skate. So, did did we increase the cost of public skate from $5 to $8? We did. Yes. We had no impact at all. And we had the same basically the same amount of public skaters. Yep. Oh, more we had 1875 versus 1871, right? But we we are only like halfway through our way to go. Yep. Okay. And uh one more question, Mr. Mayor. Yes, please. Thank you. Um seating capacity for fans there. Is it 600 800? I mean,

you know, that's a great question. Um I meant to look. Um I forget what the bleacher count is, but that is a lot of standing room. Um, and I will tell you that I've never seen more people there than I saw during the state championship high school game.

That was my followup is during that or any feedback from uh ASA asa on uh hey we you need more seating capacity or this isn't quite big enough for these big events or was it I I didn't go I apologize I didn't go. So, was it uh I mean standing room only kind of thing, but that's somewhat to be expected in in these kind of things, but there was no feedback from ASAA on like, boy, you guys need to get a little bigger seating capacity so we can have can continue to have it here versus Menard or Brett or anywhere else.

Yeah. No, there wasn't any concern on that. Um it was actually pretty incredible because so many hockey the bleachers are always the last place to fill up because they're cold and you know your butt hurts and all that stuff. And so um this the the area around the glass fills up first. And so it was pretty incredible to see that like every single spot was filled including all the bleacher seats and the both ends of the rink. Um the only feedback we got from OSA and parents, coaches, kids, all the things was parking. Um our parking lot has one light in it. Two, forgive me. too. Uh, and they're at the far edges. And our our building has lights, but the lights don't really extend past the grass that is not even the parking lot. And as we know, in the winter time, people struggle with parking anyway. Um, so that that was the only complaint that we got was parking. And so our solution right now is to put up um traffic candlesticks like the day that the tournament starts to just help people figure out where the rows are. And then we'll see how that goes for 2027. Um, we had enough overflow parking lot into the middle school, which that was fine. Um, but definitely if people park correctly, we could probably fit twice more cars, but that's okay. That's winter in Alaska. So, um, that was the only feedback that we had that was not ultimately positive, but it was a good opportunity for us to realize that yes, that is something that we should work on. So,

thank you. Yeah, you're welcome. Thank you, Mr. Mark. Any other question? Any other questions? Yes, Mr. Mayor. Yes, please.

Um, so actually your question about the uh the capacity a number of years ago when the rink when we had the avalanche, we had the juniors team here. They required us to increase the the capacity and so they added more stands at that time. That was like 10 years ago maybe. Um I think it's a thousand people. I that number kind of sticks in my mind that they you had to be able to safely have a thousand people there to to host a junior's team. Um and I go to all the hockey tournaments and stuff and and and I just I just I mean I'm very partial to palm rink of course it's our home rink but um it gets so loud in there. extent, you know, when you compare it to like the Menard where seems everybody's sitting so far from the glass, um it's that the Palmer rank is so so much more intimate and so um when that place gets packed and there's a good game, it's a it's just a terrific environment. It's really nice. I wanted to um I actually you are in my pre-written comments uh for uh the the end of the meeting today. Um but I wanted to just commend you and your team. um you've just done a fabulous job these last couple years and um the rink has in in my view never been better as you know I spend a ton of time there I see you there all the time um so uh you know just so so happy about that it's just such a gem um for our community but but um what I wanted to say is that uh I wasn't aware of sort of your extent I knew that you had an idea for an ODR for an outdoor rink there um but I didn't know that you know you had a sort a longer term goal of potentially having more um indoor rides. I I just love that idea and uh you know, I'm I just want to support you in any way I can um when it comes to your vision for the future. So, thanks for the great work that you and your team do.

Thank you. Yeah, my pleasure. My honor. Yeah. And thank you for the the thousand sounds right to me, too. Now, I'm going to have to go over there and check for sure, but yeah. Any others? None. Alish, thank you so much. You're welcome. Thank you guys.

Madam Madam Manager, do you have do you have more? No, I'm finished. Thank you.

All right. All right. Thank you. So, sorry for interrupting before. Um my uh comments are pretty short. I've been uh out of town for a couple weeks now. Um but uh so tomorrow uh MO uh municipal planning organization, the Matu Valley Planning for Transportation are going to meet uh with with Jude. I'm not sure if anybody else is going to be there, but they're going to go over and discuss the um our projects that we had submitted and what funding source uh that they're going to use. Currently, there are two pots of money. Uh right now we have we're in one uh that we're thinking of moving into another because the initial project uh did not include uh sidewalks, curbs and gutters. And so that's typically uh what we do every time we put in a new road, pave a new road that we always put in sidewalks. So so the the conversation tomorrow will be to decide what what direction we're going to go. And I think u my idea is that we actually we want sidewalks on our streets and uh obviously curbs and gutters allow for better drainage. So, you know, that's that that's the stance I'm going to take. Um, so I received in the mail um six letters from uh the uh fifth and sixth grade class at Kellogg Field School in Palmer, which is up on off of Farm Loop, from their instructor uh Bryson Frost. and uh they were going through a lesson on climate change and uh they ended up with a letter writing to elected officials um in throughout the the burrow and I got selected and I'd like to read a couple of those letters to let you know what these 10 11 year old kids are thinking about. First one, uh there's a concern of of Palmer becoming more and more polluted.

This is why I would greatly encourage more funding to cleaning the town more. As humans dump trash all over Earth, Palmer could be a refuge, and that would be beneficial for everyone. Besides, it wouldn't even cost much if you started with volunteers and escalated from there. Maybe eventually there would be a a whole department for that. Plus, starting basic might gather recruits for the cleaning community. Please advise. Um, another and that was that was from a young lad named James. Another one from Abel. He starts out with saying, "Sup, Jim Cooper. My name is Abel. Today, I learned a lot about waste management and climate change. I think it is important to respond to climate change. People in Palmer need to stop littering. It's not nice for people to see trash in public spaces. Citizens should start a cleanup crew and clean up spaces in our town. I like I like our town. I don't like seeing it full of trash. Thank you for your service." Um, another one was, "My name is Harper. Today I learned about climate change, how it can affect people and animals. I think it is important that people notice this because animals can eat it or get caught in it. I think people in Palmer need to stop littering. Maybe you could create a rule to stop the littering. And then the last one is um, thank you for reading this letter. My class is writing to people with influence and I chose you. I think that it's important to make our city clean for the future and the present. I was wondering if you have the ability to raise awareness in other schools about climate change or encourage our community to go outside and pick up trash. Armor is so beautiful, but it could be even more if we clean up after each other. If you can't, that's okay. If you actually read all of this, thank you. That's pretty cool. Thank you for leading our city. Um, so it shows you that our that our young folks are actively involved not only in sports but in in other activities um and thoughts that are that are going to affect them

throughout the future. And I I I did write uh each and every one of these a letter uh and and tried to respond to the questions that they had or the concerns that they had. Um you know, one of them asks about a rule or a department. Obviously, we have a a department that takes care of garbage and and uh the chamber of commerce and the city, we have a city cleanup day. And in the in the code, there also are fines uh for littering. So, I did I did respond to all those folks. And lastly, uh last the Saturday on the I guess it was the 25th of March, uh the chamber had their annual auction. I want to thank uh Penny and her husband Bruce for attending uh and representing the the city there. Uh again, thank you Penny. Um I was unable to attend. I was sick. But um um next year I hope we can get out and fill our fill our table. Penny was the only one that represented us. But anyway, um thanks again Penny and Bruce. Any questions or concerns, comments?

Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. So, you mentioned the uh city cleanup day. Do we have a date yet for that? Yeah, the I I want to say it's the 25th of May, but I you know, right off the top of my head, but I just don't I'm not quite sure. So, but it typically is a Saturday. It might be it might be the first Saturday in June. I'm hearing that it's May 9th, not May 9th. All right. Okay. Awesome. Will the city be putting out more information about that? I

Yes. Yeah, we typically we post it and then you know and then we end up I know that Alish is pretty heavily involved in that as well and you know that's where we we have a barbecue or a picnic and and hand out bicycles and you know all that kind of good stuff. So yes, we will be putting out more information. Thank you. U madam clerk?

Yes, I just have a couple quick things. Um I wanted to talk about the um DEA National Drug Takeback is Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 am to 2 PM at Fred Meyers in Palmer and Fred Meyers in Wasilla. Um the burrow sent us the Sandy little flyer which I can put out on the table over there. Um, next I just did have on the agenda to introduce ordinance 260003 for public hearing on April 21st because of the new advertising restrictions. I was not able to get it in the paper in time. So, we're going to recommend it on April 28th along with ordinance dash or ordinance- 002. They'll both be on for public hearing on April 28th. Since that was the only thing on the agenda for that first meeting on April 21st, I suggest we cancel the 5:30 special meeting and just have the one at 6 for that.

Yeah, you nobody we can just you can all just agree because there's no reason to have a meeting with nothing on the agenda. So, um so yes, so we'll just have the one special meeting on April 21st. That's the joint agenda and packet for week um and then we were going to look at doing council training on the morning of May 9th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Then we can we will get back with you on a different date. So that's all I have for this for right now and I if anybody has any questions. Okay,

madam madam attorney.

Thank you Mr. Good evening or afternoon whatever it is. My name is Anna Kra. Um I am not Leslie Ne as the sign suggests though I sometimes wish I were Leslie. She is one of my colleagues and um we together with my law firm Landy Bennett Blumstein provide legal services to the city. Um just a brief update uh we are continuing to monitor the AMCO situation. Um and I will be providing reports to the manager or directly to the council whenever we have updates to provide. So thank you for that reminder. Um we are also continuing just to you know monitor and advise the city on golf course adjacent issues as they arise. You know if they are implicating other legal questions. Um we continue to work closely with public works to review leasing documents for the airport and other um properties that are managed by the city. Um we're continuing to assist with public record requests, you know, specifically reviewing documents, um advising on um public record compliance and compliance with the um city code. We are continuing to work closely with HR to answer, you know, uh any questions as they arise, especially in light of certain new positions that have been created under the city related to the golf course. And then uh together with madame clerk, we are um coordinating a time for that council training which is not now going to be on May 9th, the day before Mother's Day, but we'll hopefully be on a day soon so that we can um you know get to know the council better and provide the training that everybody has been asking for. Um and that concludes my report unless there are questions.

Mr. Mayor, yes, please, John. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. uh on the Amco piece and the golf course piece, does this uh uh is there any sort of temporary beer and wine thing or does this mean on April 29th and beyond will there be a beer and wine license at the Palmer Golf Course? Um I don't know if I understand the significance of the date, April 29th. Uh right now, uh I understand that there is something happening on the 29th at the Palmer Golf Course. Right now the the city does have a uh beer and wine license. Oh.

Um and it is the upon the recommendation of councel that given the notice of violation that the city received which is public record um that the city um basically pause the sale of beer and wine pursuant to that license until the notice of violation has been resolved. Do you have a date on that notice of violation?

I do not. Hence the the promise to continue to monitor the AMCO agendas and to um provide the manager um and the council directly with updates as they arise. And um just for for the sake of clarity when um we did respond when we responded to the notice of violation I um in sort of legal terminology entered an appearance on behalf of the city and um directed AMCO to communicate with me um on you know questions issues matter procedural matters arising in relation to that notice of violation. So AMCO is hopefully uh complying with that request.

Do you know when AMCO meets again? I believe their next meeting is in Fairbanks on June 23rd. The meeting today was in Gnome. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you. And I have a question for you. Um, pursuant to um, deputy mayor's comments, um, instead of us being uh, reactive to AMCO, is there a way that we can be proactive and ask them to make sure that we are on an agenda or or is do they ever do special meetings?

Uh, they do do special meetings, Mr. Mayor. I don't know if they uh, call special meetings at the request of uh, an entity or an organization that's issued in NOV. I can certainly reach out and make that request. Um I and I will I will commit to doing that um you know when I I mean not today because they're closed um but tomorrow when I'm back in the office. I appreciate that. Thank you. Any other questions, council member Moer? Yes.

A few months ago I a few months ago I asked um to have the ethics policy reviewed and input into municipal code. we were build for that and uh I haven't gotten any kind of response for it yet. Um I other than we're working with the city clerk and what's the status of that? Thank you for the question. So um this is the answer is going to be in sort of multiple parts. So it's my understanding, excuse me, that the uh training that the council has requested is related to a number of different issues um you know just general topics for council um you know awareness and education. One of those topics is your actual code of ethics. um we as part of our you know coming into this job had to familiarize oursel with your code of ethics just so that we could come here to these meetings and be prepared to advise on questions related to it if they arose. Um and we did that and that's likely what you saw reflected in our in our billing narratives. One of the questions that we have been considering um is like as as you point out whether to incor suggest to the council to incorporate the code of ethics and conduct as it's currently drafted into the code or whether this code of ethics and conduct needs to be revised prior to its introduction into the code. Um, and that I believe is one of the sort of agenda items or purposes of the training with the council. So, it's my understanding that as soon as we are able to get a training with the council on on a on a calendar, you know, and commit to a date that that's something that will be considered at least initially at that at that training, but then also potentially, you know, obviously um because you're, you know, a municipal entity at future meetings. So,

it's it's not, you know, um we could certainly you could just, you know, move to introduce this as an ordinance if you wanted to at this point, but I think you might want to receive some input from council during your trainings as to, you know, things that we see in this in this code of ethics and conduct that you might want to consider changing or you might want to consider adding more teeth to it to make it more enforceable just by virtue of our having, you know, reviewed other municipal codes and seeing those codes in action and helped municip municipalities apply those codes. So, um I know that it feels, you know, the I recognize that there's urgency in wanting to do this and I commend the council for wanting to imple to to get this into your ordinances and to adopt into code, but it's one of those things where if you're going to do it, you should really endeavor to do it right the first time. And that's what we're hoping to help support the council in doing.

Thank you.

Any other questions of the attorney? Seeing none, moving on to audience participation. Please sign in and state your name and it will be three minutes per person. 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 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. Again, state your name and three minutes per person. Opening the public hearing.

So, I need the sheet because I get trapped back here as to who's first. Thank you, Jason Ortiz. Can you hear me? It's off. Yep. Just the button on the bottom and then you'll see the screen light up. You have to push it till the screen lights up. I know it's awful to be the first one. You see the screen on the microphone light up. No. Now try it. How about now?

No. Yeah, that will actually bottom of the mic. Come on, Alish. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, I know. I know, right? I wish I could control it from here. Would that be nice? Okay. Right. Can you hear me now? Yes. And now I'm starting your time.

Okay. Um, Mr. Mayor and members of the council manager, thank you for the opportunity to speak today. My name is Jason Ortiz, president of the board of directors for the Alaska State Fair. We want to begin by explaining why the Alaska State Fair matters not just to Palmer, but to the massive community as a whole in the entire state of Alaska. The Alaska State Fairgrounds here in Palmer was built by 50 jobs both part-time and full-time. We host 83 events throughout the year, welcoming an estimated half a million attendees annually. Most importantly, we place we are a place that brings people together. Palmer residents access fairgrounds year round to attend a wide variety of events at no direct cost to the city. And fiscally speaking, the Alaska State Fair is a top three tax contributor to the city of Palmer alongside Fred and Fred Meyer and Cars. Last year alone, excluding vendor sales, we paid over $300,000 in city tax, a figure that continues to grow at double-digit rates due to record performance. Additionally, fair vendors pay sales tax beyond that amount. Despite all of this, we don't ask the city for anything special in return. We operate like any other business in Palmer, aside from the increased calls for service that naturally come with hosting large public events. We continue to invest in our facilities and through innovation and strong management, the fair is experiencing record growth. This leads me to the issue and the reason for my testimony today. At no point uh was a fair contacted or asked about the 1% sales tax increase uh and the effect that it would have to the Alaska State Fair. Recognizing the fair's contributions to the city, it would have been helpful to be part of the conversation as this moved forward. Consistent with the collaborative approach we value, the timing of it feels uh like it was intentionally brought forth to capture fair revenue from the fair. This 1% increase will impact the fair directly out of our out of our pocket by over $100,000 of

unbudgeted, unplanned expense um without uh any conversation. The fair is in a unique operation and our pricing is set months in advance with all taxes and fees already absorbed. Our transactions aren't structured to round easily. Beer doesn't cost $8.20. Admission is not 1967. The millions of dollars for the artists who perform at our concerts were agreed to under contract well before the idea of a tax was a topic. What is extremely important to us is what we work hard to keep the fair affordable for families. We resist raising prices whenever possible and we understand the ship has sailed with the tax uh since it's already been enacted. But a phone call or communication would have made a tremendous difference. We could have worked together on a plan. We want to let you all know that we do support the new library. We support the city of Palmer. We support the Palmer Police Department. And we believe that addressing funding challenges is best done through open dialogue rather than relying on as a fair as a stop gap revenue source. Thank you,

Kelly. Good evening, Mr. Mayor Council. Um, so Friday flinging is just 30 days away. We're excited to kick off another great season starting May 15th. The event will run every Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 600 p p.m. through August 14th. Well, but there will be no Friday fling during Colony Days, which is June 12th through the 14th. We're planning an even bigger presence that weekend with more food trucks, vendors, and special events happening in all downtown Balmer. It's shaping up to be a fabulous celebration. Um, our next coffee and connections is this Thursday at Dead Horse Donuts. This will be our final gathering at that location. Unfortunately, beginning next month's we'll be moving over to uh Leer Coffee while keeping the same schedule every third Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Palmer Cleanup Day is May 9th. Um, the chamber will be donating bikes and helmets again this year for the raffle. Thank you to Backcountry Bike and Skis and the Matsu Health Foundation for sponsoring the bikes. Um I believe a few of those bikes were already delivered to the community development department today and the rest will be there soon. We're excited for what's ahead and can't wait to see everyone in downtown Palmer this summer. Thank you, Deb Weatherhorn.

Oh, I don't know why this sounds so scary. Good evening, Mayor, council members. Um, I just have two things I want to talk about tonight. Um, first of all, a shout out to um, public works. They do a fabulous job with maintaining our streets, removing our snow winter, summer, all year long. And I just want to give them a shout out. Second is a concern that we have as citizens. walking our sidewalks, walking the bike trails that are within the city because I know the ones outside belong probably to the state. Um the dog poop, okay, it's just really it's just shameful. And I don't know that you guys have any means or any resources. I mean, I know you have bags at, you know, Friday fling and stuff like that, but I worked at the burrow building and when you go out and walk on the sidewalk and there is a pile of dog poop sitting there that I'm having to walk around, it's just like, shame on these people. Shame on it. So, I just kind of want to bring it. I don't know. Am I the only one? Do you guys not walk around Palmer, too? Okay. I mean, so, so that is what I came to just share my concerns. All right. Um, and is there a department I can call? Do I mean, is there any resources? I guess I'll give you a call, Benji, and you can point me in the right direction. Okay. Thank you very much for your time.

Lori Kramer.

Hi, everybody. She beat me to it. She's my neighbor and we came to say the same thing. I can't walk down the bike trail. I the sidewalks. Um, is there a way to find people? Anchorage has meter mates that can write a fine to an offender. Is there some way or something that can be done? And we shouldn't have to do that on cleanup day. Why? I don't understand. I just wish people would care. Yeah, that's pretty much it. But is there a way to enforce fines or is that just

we'll have to call the cler. Yeah. Or is animal control is animal control an option? Um can I know you people have way better? Right. But I just I just want to warn this isn't a question and answer period. So they're they're not going to answer. No, it's totally fine. So we're not ignoring you. Okay. I And the clerk yells at them if they engage. So, okay. Thank you all very much. But we'll we'll check on it. Okay. Thank you. Anybody else?

Uh Wesley Arts Palmer Bar. Um one of the things is cleanup day is coming around the corner. Um, one thing that I've noticed is I actually put trash can on my big green dumpster uh closers on it. Um, and to keep people from dumping my trash can, but I noticed during windtorms it should be mandatory on all the big dumpsters because during the wind storms the wind blows those lids open, but I can just close it and and it keeps my lid shut. Um and and if you're driving around during the windstorms, you're just watching trash get blown out of the trash cans, including big trash bags. Um so that is something to think about. Um maybe we do need some code enforcement in town. Um because there is a lot of electric motorcycles running around. Um, and we need to do something with like hearing the dog feces on the stuff. Um, but it's like if it'll help with some of the areas like a parking lot that's overgrown with grass that's supposed to be their primary parking, but their hotel guests actually park on the street. Um, little things like that that we need to look at on addressing. Um, also, I was looking at the agenda, there's a lot of stuff that's costing money right now, and I have not heard you guys talk about how you're going to start increasing, uh, making money. Um, you guys need to really look at it. It's the next census is right around the corner and we'll probably become the fourth largest community in the maps burough. Um, with the way Big Lake and Houston are growing, uh, we actually have to look at annexation. Um, you're putting more and more on the

local businesses. The sales tax is one of them. Um, and you guys have to look at growing to you guys are giving a lot of infrastructure. you're doing a good job locally, but you guys are doing a lot of infrastructure for the greater Palmer area and people need to start paying. Uh, perfect example, the numbers of the library. The only reason why such a small percentage of them get uh of Palmer residents are serviced by the library is because the library is going and servicing a larger area. If you look at the numbers of the greater Palmer area, that's considerably more. So Palmer has to grow. If you ain't growing, you're dying. But we got to keep Palmer. Palmer. Thank you. Hunter Richards. Um, thank you mayor and city council for letting me speak. I grew up here in Palmer. I was lucky enough to help put together bleachers for the original Palmer Ice Arena over the last 20 years. Myself, my siblings, and now my three children have all been lucky enough to play at Palmer. Two of my kids have brought home state championships in the last two years to Palmer. Uh, the Palmer Ice Arena, as it used to be called, has been a part of my life since its inception. And uh to this day it continues to be a huge part of my life. I've watched it grow from its first days. Um in the last two years uh Miss Van who reported just a few minutes ago changed that building from a building where my kids like to go play hockey to a true community center. My kids want to go to hockey, not just for their practice, but to go shoot pucks, to go spend time with their friends, to use the walking track, to be part of the community. And Miss Van greets each and

every one of them with a smile. Uh she jokes about giving them jobs, but my kiddos have gone and helped clean the glass for, you know, a piece of candy and everything else. They are owning that ice rink. Um over the last 20 years, I've loved that rink, but what Miss Van is doing is something very special. Um you've seen the numbers. The rink is growing. The amount of activities we're able to provide is growing. Her neon skates are going great. And I think uh I just wanted to come up here and lend my support to Miss Van and her plans for our future. Palmer is an amazing community. I came back here after college to raise my kids because this is I believe the best community in our state and that ice rank is a key for our kids. It's a key for our community. And so thank you so much for your support of Miss Van and the work she is doing. Thank you so much Alish for the way you have just supported our kids and uh just as a Palmer parent I am so grateful to have this uh this resource and just wanted to let you all know thank you for the work you're doing for our community.

Thank you.

Anyone else? Good evening, Mr. Mayor, council members. My name is Brian Cable, and I'm here tonight as both a parent and a coach in our community. I have had the opportunity over the years to travel extensively for youth hockey, coaching our kids, and spending time in rinks across the state. This isn't a casual exposure. We've practiced, competed, and truly experienced these facilities firsthand. And I can say with complete confidence, our rink stands above the rest. From the quality of the ice to the cleanliness of the facility overall environment, it is consistent consistently one of the best arenas we step into. That's just not my opinion. It's something we hear regularly from visiting teams, coaches, parents, opponents often comment on how much they enjoy coming here and how it compares favorably to most other places they play. That says a lot. The facilities like this don't happen by accident. They are a result of thoughtful investment, strong management, and a commitment to doing the things the right way. As someone who has seen what's out there, I can tell you we have something special. This rink is more than just a building. It is a source of pride for our community. It's a pri place where kids develop skills, build confidence, and create lifelong memories. It also represents us to every team that walks through the doors. I just want to take a moment and recognize that and to encourage you to continue supporting and investing in a facility that is clearly making a positive impact. Thank you guys for your time.

Anyone else? Mike Mleski. I live right here in downtown Palmer. I wanted to talk about the past, present, and the future. The past was recently there was a performance, two nights over at the Moose Lodge. I don't know if any one of you were there. I know the former mayor was there. Uh, and this was a historical piece about Sally Gwyn, but it was more than that. Uh, for those people who were there, it was a walk through the history, not so far back history of Palmer. Some of you may remember Wild Bill Nelson. Does that name? Yes, there are a few heads that move on. He was a very colorful character, but there was more to what was happening there and his involvement with the library, but I won't go into detail around that except that when those performances happen, it's a it's a very nice way to understand how we got to be to this place that people speak about as being such a nice location. uh present is I want to uh apologize for the beginning of the meeting not streaming properly. I had a little problem with YouTube but I did record the first part and we are and have been streaming the rest of it of video and we also have the entire stream on audio as well. So those people who might be out there wondering uh it'll all be up together. I'll stitch the two together, the first small part that was missed and and the rest of it. Looking to the future. Uh, you've made my life difficult. Um, I say this because I now have to walk around the library parking lot because today the fence went up. The

fence went up. I used to cut across to go to our home, but now I have to walk around. The good news of course is that signals yet another step forward for the building of the library. So thank you very much. I'll walk a little further.

Good evening again. I just wanted to add more clarification on cleanup week and cleanup day. Um the big difference this year is that it will be at the rink uh because of the library parking lot being closed off. So, um, the whole event will have dumpsters during the week as we have been for the past several years, noon to 6:00, Monday through Friday the 4th through the 8th. And then we will have cleanup day there, the barbecue, the bikes, and all that fun stuff at the rink. The beautiful thing about having it at the rink, one, there's no ice right now, so it's it's more accessible, but also um if the weather doesn't cooperate, which it might because I've done 18 years of cleanups for the city in one form or fashion, and there's more days that aren't like this than there are. So, we have a great indoor space to move people and have activities inside the rink um as well. So 9 to 12 on Saturday uh the 9th and then Monday through Friday is yard wastist drop off and we'll have two big dumpsters there. One for yard waist specifically. No dog feces or other feces please. They ask that we not have that. Um and then the other one is for shingles, fence panels, things that might not be where they used to be before the winter that we just had. So city residents should be having in their next utility bill. Those just got printed and put in envelopes yesterday. Um, so as city residents, you guys will all get that with your utility bill in just the next couple days and then there'll be Facebook posts and stuff from the city as well. So I just wanted to clarify that. Thanks. My name is Julie Real and um I just wanted to say you know who make great golfers is hockey players. Just wanted to put that out there and I hope I hear a lot of hope. I hear a lot of excitement for the hockey rink and I really hope that this council and this community can put that same effort into our golf course because it is a great

place for the young and old to really get out and move. So just want to encourage us all to do that. Hockey players, great.

Madam clerk, anybody else? I think we're okay. Thank you. Close audience participation. Moving on. And madam clerk, you're going to have to help me on the rest of this because I didn't take the notes on those that public hearings we have. Um we didn't move anything to public hearings. And so we're action memorandum item I. Uh what did we move to there, please? Um I I will depart from our tradition and I'll go ahead and read the action memorandums in if that's easier for you.

Thank you. So we have action memorandum number 26-038 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into a contract with Garretts Gez Construction Incorporated in an amount not to exceed 1,400 one see I'm not good with numbers 1,49,792

for the 2026 city hall interior improvements. Council Moer for the record. Uh I wasn't really involved with the budget and I would um just like to ask what um we're doing with this project and uh was it approved in the budget? Just as a reminder um for what's going to happen here. Actually, this money was budgeted and approved in 2023 and then uh we brought forward this RFP for this year and it's going to be city hall improvements including asbesus remediation that is much needed that we've known about uh for several years and so we just need to make those improvements now.

And go ahead. And will the with the asbestous removal, will there be any parts that will not be accessible um of the building? At this point, it's a very small remediation. We will um put safeguards in place for the public and staff while it's done, but it shouldn't impact any meetings, and if it does, I'll let you guys know promptly. Okay. Thank you. Anybody else have any comments about that one? Madam Clerk, next. We actually because we moved it to put this part of the agenda, we actually have to vote on every single one of these. So, we'll need a motion and a second for each.

Okay. All right. Thank you. I move uh 26-038. Second. Any discussion? Further discussion? Madam clerk. Council member Council Member Alcantra. Yes. Council member Carrington. Yes. Council member Moer. Yes. Council member Graham. Yes. Council member Collins. Yes. Council member Allen. Yes. Mayor Cooper. Yes. It is unanimous and approved.

Thank you. So, next we have action memorandum number 26-039 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into a contract with Northern Asphalt Construction Incorporated an amount not to exceed 277,991.50 for the Valley Trail Subdivision pavement rehabilitation. I move uh action memorandum 26-039. Second. Any discussion? Council member, did did Councilwoman Moer move that? No.

Oh, Alcantra moved and Alan seconded. No, no, I'm talking about Did we move that off the consent agenda to that point or Yes. Yes, that was council member Moer. Do you have any questions or comments, ma'am? Yes, I do. Um, this again is uh over $200,000 and just Um, can we is was this budgeted for and when was it budgeted? Yes, that's correct. It was budgeted passed and approved in the 2026 budget. Okay.

I just want to say that I wholeheartedly approve of this one. So, not only do I live in Valley Trails, I live on Oscar Street. Um, and one of the multiple concerns that were brought up by folks in my neighborhood when I was going around and doing um, like gathering my signatures and stuff was the condition of the road there. It is bad. Um, there are some sections where like you can tell that it is just worn through basically to dirt. So, um, I wholeheartedly support this. Um, it's going to be probably a logistical nightmare while they do it, but it's absolutely going to be worth it and I'm I'm pretty excited to have a road that's not not gravel. So, I appreciate council support on this one for sure.

Mr. Mayor, any other Yes, please. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, for the benefit of newer council members, uh maybe Mr. Bifer could come forward and talk about uh this project. I I seem to recall he's talked about the degragation of the pavement and valley trails to some of us before, but some of us might just be yourself and myself, Mr. Mayor. So maybe that'd be good. Thank you,

Mr. Mayor. Council members, Jude for public works director. Uh thank you, Council Member Okanter. You're right. Typically, we like to see at least a minimum of 2 in of asphalt on city roads. Valley Trails is one of the oldest subdivision and when we went around and did sampling and testing, most of the Valley Trails roads were less than 3/4 of an inch of asphalt, which is unfortunately we get to this situation where we will have to

we will do more work, but we will take care of that road and uh this is a great project. It came in under budget and that is very exciting. So yes, it is a much need. We are aware of the you're absolutely correct, council member Graham. Um it will be a bit of a logistical challenge how we separate the roads, but we will do so in a manner that we can allow uh through traffic there for residents in and around those various roads. Mr. Mr. Bill for a question. Um I don't remember uh reading it, but this is all the roads at Valley Trails. No, it is not all the roads. It is the main roads because we just we did not have a enough money to do it all. And had we done it all, I think we would have created even a more significant problem. So, we are doing the main roads in the Valley Trail subdivision. So, it's Oscar, uh, Anna, whatever the one in the back is, those three basically.

Yes. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have a question. That's good. Yes, please.

Um, I fully support this project, but while I've got you here in front of me, I want to ask you about a road that's right next to the to the Palmer Rink Remple. Um, it's total disaster. Um, huge potholes and it's not p it's never been paved. Um, is that on on the list? Unfortunately, Remple is not on our paving projects right now. The initial estimates to bring Remple up to code because it has been neglected for exactly as you mentioned 50 years is $1.3 million. And Rimple is a very very small road because there's never been any work done on Rimple. Do I like saying that I cannot get to it right now? Absolutely not. Um, those of you I think Mr. Alcantra has heard this. He's been here the longest. One of my goals was to try to get all of the roads in Palmer paved. We now have a total of eight road projects that have been accepted at the MO level. That's a different discussion. So, we are making some progress, but that one unfortunately is a very unique road and there are options for paving that road that I'd be happy to discuss um at a different time where the residents on the road can actually contribute to the project. It is a very good deal for the residents, but that's something that council would be involved in. But at this time, no, I do not have the funds to do rental.

Thank you, sir. I I I appreciate the very candid answer. I' I've had a few people that live on that road hit me up and I didn't know what to say. So, and and they are correct. We we will grade that road and it can be three days later and if we get some some rain, it turns it back into a mud pit again because the underlying fill of that road is horrible. Mr. Mayor. Yes, please. Uh, so real quick, I just want to clarify. So, this paving project is going to do Oscar, Beaver, Alet, and Anna. Correct.

And do you have a plan going forward to do Lloyd, Irene, and Gloria? Our plan will be, you will see that in this coming year's budget. And just I'm pretty sure I remember this from last time. This does not include sidewalks in that neighborhood. That is correct because we to do sidewalks that neighborhood does not have the proper drainage.

Um and then the only other question I had was from Oscar Street to uh Palmer Moose Drive. So like on Anna they put in the stoplight and there's a cross there. There are a lot of folks that are crossing from the Oscar side of that neighborhood across Bogard. Um, is there any sort of plan in the future for a pedestrian crossing in that area? Um, something to make that a little less sketchy because right now you got kids coming from the Oscar side that are hoing it across that road and it is not

that is being explored. The challenge is the city does not own that road, does not own Bogard. So the coordination that has to go through and the bureau has been very good about permitting with us but again it is a consideration because we don't own the road. So all that coordination needs to be done in advance. Not that it can't be right. It can but just it it adds a different dimension when you're talking about multiple agencies involved. Okay. Awesome. Thank you. Any other questions about this uh action memorandum? Thank you Mr. bill for. So I'm Madame Clerk. Okay. Um, Council Member Allen, yes.

Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Alcantra, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. And Council Member Collins, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. Thank you. It is unanimous and approved. Next, I have action memorandum number 26-040 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into a contract with Dirt Works Incorporated in the amount not to exceed 293,32980 for Evergreen Avenue Improvements.

Mr. Mayor. Yeah. Wishes the council. Yeah. Uh move action memorandum 26-040. Second. Thank you. Yes, sir. Please. Deputy Mayor. Oh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I do actually have a question. Thanks. Start the light on. Um Mr. Belfer, uh can you remind me um is this the same contractor that did the other track work on the other side? It is not. is not

this contractor lost out on the ever correction on the fireweed project but won this one. I think they sharpened their pencils. Thank you. Uh Mr. Mayor. Yes, please.

Uh just for the record, I know the owners of Dirt Works and I've never had a conversation with them about this project or any other project, but uh glad to see that they're sharpen their pencils. Thank you. And I do want to mention uh before we go to Councilwoman Moer that all of these items that we've moved are have been approved on the budget uh in the past. So ma'am uh you brought this forward please. So my question is is with the uh because of the library going in and the construction are will there be enough um signs put out and community uh involvement to know not to cross that and detours put around

there. There will very good question. So I had a meeting with H5 construction today and it will be ongoing. So H5 is the company that is doing the library. So I laid down for them where the road project will take place, when it will start, when it will stop, and we will synchronize and coordinate the construction there. I've also talked to the Chamber of Commerce regarding our closures there and with the visitor center. So when tour buses come in, in case there needs to be an alternate route, then we will take care of the tour buses. The one thing I would like to point out to people and I'll mention it here is in the past portions of Elmwood have been closed to support Friday flings. That will unfortunately not occur this year with the construction of the library and the Evergreen project going on at the same time. However, we are working through that with chamber and they've been proactive as well as the city and and I have no doubt that things will progress very smoothly.

Any other comments? Seeing none. Madam clerk, council member Alcantra. Yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Allen, yes. Council member Collins, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes.

It is unanimous and approved. Next action memorandum I have is action memorandum number 26-041 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and execute change order number two with Alaska Sure Seal Incorporated an amount not to exceed $231,14.90 for 2026 road striping crack sealing and infrar I can't say that word right now infrared thank you pothole patching of city streets and the Palmer Municipal Airport. Mr. Mayor, yes. Move action memorandum 26-041.

Second. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Madam M. Yes, please. Go ahead, sir. Uh, Mr. Biller, uh, very specific dollar amount and many, many different line items to, uh, get us to that dollar amount. So, I'm I am uh curious what I'm sure I remember from the past. Is this just uh when there's some is this specific to that project or is this when there's some money left over, we try to sure steal and seal up some of our potholes and problems and things across?

You are correct. We pinch pennies and move whatever you see one of them. We're moving $14,000 from one account and that's what we do. So, this is just a reminder. This is a contract that the council passed back in 24 and it was a contract with two renewal options and this is the second renewal option of that three-year contract and next year we'll be putting it back out to bid. But uh that's what exactly what it is. We consolidate and monies that are left over we look at each account to maximize how much we can get done. Now, there is some budgeted every year as well, but this is a great project around town and at the airport. One more, Mr. Mayor.

Yes, please. Is this 231,000, Mr. Bill, or is this uh higher, lower, same as yours past or what are we looking at? This is right about the same. It's slightly higher because we had elevated costs with oil, which raises the cost of asphalt. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yes, please. Oh, just a quick question, Mr. Bilifer. Have you guys noticed um an have there been more potholes this year with the weird uh winter that we've had with the extreme thaw freeze cycle that we've had this spring and and some of the weird ground level ground water issues that there have been. We have noticed more frost heaves.

Okay. And that's predominantly due to lack of snow cover. In terms of potholes, we haven't noticed yet, but that's because the ground is still predominantly frozen. So, and I don't even want to venture guess if we will experience more. Um, there's always that possibility, but if you ask me that question maybe the end of the month or in May, I might be able to give you a more definitive answer. Thank you. Any other any other questions about this? Seeing none. Madame clerk, council member Allen. Council member Collins,

yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Alcantra, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. Is unanimous and approved.

You Next, I have um action memorandum number 26-044 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into an agreement with HDL Engineering Consultants LLC to advance the wastewater treatment plant headworks and filtration upgrades from concept design through final design and bidding in an amount not to exceed 666,758. Move to approve. Second.

Thank you. And madam clerk who brought this forward? I was um I believe it was Moer. Okay. Ma'am, do you have a comment question? She's looking. Give her a second. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that um we haven't talked about this before because I know there um and I haven't been out to the wastewater yet, but I'll be calling you. Uh so I just kind of remind us what's what's going on with this project if you don't mind just for the public.

Certainly. Um we submitted several projects to the state SRF account and if uh those of you who were here recall we were given several loans with a very sign in insignificant fee that it was associated with this one of those loans which is fully forgivable is covering this work. So the headworks facility is where every single bit of sewage that is produced throughout the city. That's where it is gathered right before it goes into the plant. It enters the headworks facility. The headworks facility has not been upgraded in decades. So we are constantly having challenges with the screw pumps which move all that sewage into the various treatment parts. They break down. They are undized and in desperate need of upgrading. So, it's not really a sexy project because it's making bigger pumps and and screws and a system there to accept and efficiently move all the wastewater stream that is produced and that we treat then at the wastewater treatment plant.

Mr. Billford, does it do those screens that are at the headworks, are those the ones that that uh collect the tennis shoes and all that kind of other stuff that go through our um street drainage system? You name it, it gets into our our wastewater system somehow. Right. Right. The worst is b and that's an issue as well. It is it it's just a challenge at Headworks. It is a going to be a significant upgrade project, but this is for the design piece of it. Any other questions, Mr. Belfer, about this?

Madame Clerk, Council Member Collins, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Alcantra, yes. Council member Allen, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Mayor Cooper, yes. It is unanimous and approved.

Thank you. Next, we have action memorandum number 20 26-045 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into an agreement with HDL Engineering Consultants LLC to provide bid ready design documents for upgrade to the city's reservoir 1 in an amount not to exceed 718,280.

And I move to approve. Second. Did Councilwoman Moer bring this forward? I believe so. Okay, ma'am. So, can you explain where this water storage is at and tell us a little bit of background?

Certainly. This is another one of the projects that we submitted to the state revolving fund SRF and it is um fully reimburseable this project. So that's the best news going on it. Reservoir one is the city's oldest reservoir. It is a belowground reservoir which makes it challenging to do maintenance on. So reservoir one if you are at Palmer High School looking north right there just north on the other side of Bogard Road is reservoir one. Again it's below ground so you wouldn't really know it's there. So what we will do as part of this project is design a new reservoir one which will be above ground and this one currently reservoir one holds 250,000 gallons. Our goal is to change that to a significantly greater amount. Um that has many benefits throughout the water system. So this is a much needed project that uh probably should have been done about 20 years ago. But be that as it may, we are getting to it now.

Any other questions? Yes. Yes. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. So, you say reservoir one is under Valley Trails. No, it's right Nick. It's just to the west of it. So, if you're looking I should say Palmer Palmer Drive. Sorry. Okay. And it's diagonally right across the street up the little hill. Okay. I'm just making access it. You get to it by Scott Road. I was just thinking about the if we're redoing the roads and we have to tear the roads back up again. Seems kind of similar. This will not impact your roads whatsoever. Gotcha. Thank you. So Jude Jude, is this is this close or fairly close to three and four or I mean all off Scott Road, but

No. No. Reservoir 4 is down by the college. That is the city's newest and biggest. Okay. Reservoir 3 is at the far north end of the Glenn Highway, the Cedar Park area. So just before you get to, if you're going up the Glenn Highway, just before you turn onto Palmer Fish Hook, that's reservoir three that you pass up there on your left. And that's the one that does not work. Well, it inoperable or not? No, it holds water. The challenge is with the entire system, but that is a whole different discussion. Okay, perfect. Thank you. I have one last question. Yes, please.

Because the uh the talk about annexation comes up. So, when I look at the map and I can see the little cutout that is Valley Trails and you said it's access off Scott Road, but kind of like Caddy Corner up there. Does the city own the land that reservoir? Yes, they do. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Discussion. Madam clerk. Council member Moer. Yes. Council member Carrington. Yes. Council member Collins. Yes.

Council member Alcantra. Yes. Council member Graham. Yes. Council member Allen. Yes. and Mayor Cooper. Yes. Thank you. It is unanimous and approved. Next, we have action memorandum number 26-046 authorizing the city manager to negotiate and enter into an agreement with RK Ranch for the Warren Budwoods Palmer Municipal Airport infield hay contract. Madam manager. Oh, never mind. Sorry, we're looking for a approval.

Happy to speak to it if if there's any questions and John's also here to answer questions. Move to approve. Thank you. And second by Karen. All right. We'd like to bring forth the airport superintendent.

I believe I I believe this is also a council member Moer. Okay. So, when I asked for this one, I I saw that the physical cost was in the um subject line and I didn't see that it was here. But can you tell us a little bit about this contract? I know you and I talked about it, but I'm not sure the public and the the rest of the council is aware.

Uh, good evening, Mr. Mayor, members of council. Um, this is a uh this is a maintenance contract of the uh the infield of the Palmer Airport. Um, what happens, we grow, we grow broomem, a farmer harvest the broome and is able to sell the proceeds and for having that uh that ability to do that, he pays the city a nominal rate. Uh this the rate has gone out to bid last in 2018. I did go out to bid for it. The airport did go out to bid for it this year and no bids were received. And then we um we continued at the same rate with the same contractor to for another 5-year contract. Any other questions of airport superintendent? Madam manager, do you have anything you would like to add?

No, they're just this is a primarily maintenance contract like he said. So, it's really the runway protection zones and the object free areas that are always have to be maintained. So either we have someone that can make a little bit of profit by growing something or we hire someone get our own mowers and put someone out there. So let's have someone else do it. Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. Madam clerk. Council member Alicantra. Yes. Council member Moer. Yes. Council member Allen. Yes. Council member Graham. Yes. Council member Carrington. Yes. Council member Collins, yes. And Mayor Cooper,

yes. It is unanimous and approved. Next, we have action memorandum number 26-047 approving a council community grant to Palmer Museum of History and Art permit exhibit upgrade in the amount of $2,500. This was brought by council member Carrington. So I don't know if this would be better motion to Could we get a motion to approve please? Motion to approve. Second. Second. Third. Thank you. Madam Carrington.

Okay. I don't know if these would be better moved to another date. I would like to hear I mean that we have a small amount of of our community grants that we do and so uh I would like to know more about the the museum grant uh from them what they're doing for this permanent exhibit. I don't know if you guys know more about it. My office doesn't deal with the grants. That's city council and the mayor. So I don't know. um what your criteria is.

Okay. And unfortunately, I only have what they the paperwork they provided. If you want to continue it to the next meeting, I can certainly reach out and ask the um people asking for the grant to come to the meeting and and I guess I would like to I would like to know where I because we just have a small amount and I'd like us to be aware of what those things are. So, if you would like to move to continue to the next meeting. I would like to move to continue this to the next meeting on April 28th. Correct. Second. And then we'll vote on that. Well, unless you guys want to discuss it first. I uh if I may, this is Alison Collins, please.

Um just one thing I did have a question on as well. if um someone's able to provide the information at a future date uh is whether there's a requirement that the event or the thing that we're sponsoring or providing the grant for is inside city limits or within a mile of city limits which is what I saw on the application form but then like on the night courts plus it sounds like that's going to be happening at Grizzly Fitness. Um so I just didn't know if we had a strong criteria related to geographic location of the event or not. So, that's a question I would have.

Um, I can I can speak to that when we get to the night court ones if you want or I can just answer. I They did put in there I'm the one who goes through all these. I did see that they planned on utilizing the Matsu burrow gym. So, that was why I had went ahead and put it on the agenda for you guys to look at. Yeah, the the uh the Palmer Palmer Museum of History and Art permanent exhibit is uh allowing uh obviously a more permanent location for the the artifacts that are typically if you've been over there to the museum, they're stored in the basement. There's over uh I want to say 40,000 around 40,000 pictures. um they're going to have a um a way of which you can you can go through those pictures. They're also going to have more permanent uh information about how the colony was actually formed and the families that came here um as opposed to having a revolving. So, it's it's going to be upstairs. There's a a section of the uh upstairs where the visitor center is that's going to be permanently established for the u like I say the colony time frame and things that that happen during that period that that's what the funds are for.

So shall we vote first on the motion to continue and see what happens? Mr. Mayor. Yes, please.

Um yeah, I just wanted Thank you. I just wanted to make uh comments that um I think the folks that are on our agenda tonight have done their due diligence and did their uh applications correctly and they were scored. I mean, they've been they've been waiting at the museum now for two months in February 17th. Um, I don't I I understand where Council Member Carrington is coming from that maybe we should look into the future and say, "Hey, can we have some parameters on this? Can we make sure people show up to ask some question to answer some questions potentially?" But I sure hate to derail these things that uh this this especially the museum one's been waiting. I I see they asked for 5,000. were were thinking of giving them 2500. Uh they scored out pretty high on their report and I I uh I I just don't um necessarily see the value in making them wait another two weeks and I would kind of say the same for the the other two. I mean it's it's a dimminimous amount of money. I mean, obviously we've done some huge things tonight with roads and budgeted items, but this is something that's budgeted for the $12,000, and we haven't made movement on it for several months. So, I would I would hope we could do these things uh tonight and get the ball rolling for these folks that are uh potentially waiting on this uh on these many grants to to help them in their endeavors. Thank you.

Thank you. Any other comments, Mr. Mayor? Yes, please. Um, just after hearing your uh kind of summary of what is expected of the money, um, I'm going to have to agree with Mr. Alcantra here. We just blazed through over a million bucks pretty quickly and this is just seems like uh a drop of a bucket and I'd rather just uh keep them moving so these folks can do what they need to do. Thanks. Thank you. Anything else? Yes, ma'am. on.

Now it's on. Uh, after hearing your kind of synopsis of what is going into this and and also the considerations that Council Ralph Caner brought up, I would agree that that moving it along seems like it isn't necessarily in the best interest for helping our local Oh, they're fired. uh helping our local uh groups. Thank you. So, mayor, uh yes,

I agree with them. After hearing what you how you described it and that was what I was wanting some information on what they what they've got going on and why they wanted it. So, I don't see any reason to delay it. Do I would you like you could just you can ask to or you can just say you want to remove your motion to continue? I would like to withdraw my motion to continue. Perfect. in the second also withdrawn. Thank you. All right, Madam Clerk, moving on. Okay, so this is to vote on action memorandum 26-047 approving the one for Palmer Museum. Council member Alcantra, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Allen,

yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Collins, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. Approved and unanimous. Are unanimous and approved. And then next we have action memorandum number 26-048 approving a council community grant to the night courts plus in the staff recommended amount of $1,500. Mr. Mayor. Yes. We move. All right. I move action memorandum 26-048. I'll second. Thank you. Miss Collins, do you have a qu you have a question?

Uh, no. I kind of jumped again, I guess, with my comment previously, but um I'm happy to hear that there is or plan to expand into the um Palmer proper area because it sounds like a great program. Um, and I think the more we can give young people in the area to do um or with their free time, the better. So, um, I'm in favor of this particular action memorandum. That that was one of my questions as well is if it was actually going to be I must have missed the part about the burrow gym. So, that was what I was wanting to know.

Madam clerk, you're the one who brought brought that up. You were in contact or how did you determine the burge? Was that in their application? I didn't see that. I believe it was in their applic I know I'm looking now right desperately reading through but I thought it did it say utilizing the burough gym and then of course it did mention Palmer multiple times and then it's specifically the city of Palmer because it says utilizing Palmer facilities supporting local staff and volunteers. Perfect. Any other questions, concerns, comments, discussion? Madame Clerk, Council Member Alcantra, yes. Council member Allen,

yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Collins, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. And Mayor Cooper, yes. It is approved and unanimous or the other way around. And I believe right I believe that is all I had for our um under action memoranda. We're now on unfinished business and remind me and we don't have any unfinished business. Okay. I I need to uh get Mr. Mayor my

Yes, please. I just want to uh verify with the clerk that uh 26-049 went through with the consent agenda then. That is correct. I did not have that listed as one of the ones that was miss. Thank you.

Thank you. All right. So move moving on. No unfinished business. No new business. We have new business resolution number 26009. A resolution of the city of Palmer authorizing an amendment to the city of Palmer employee pay pay plan to add the positions of concession attendant facilities attend assistant facility specialist golf course assistant and golf course superintendent wishes the council

move to approve second. Is there any questions, comments, discussion? See, seeing none, Madame Clerk. Council member Allen, yes. Council member Collins, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Deputy Mayor Cantra, yes. Council member Moer, yes. Council member Graham, yes. and Mayor Cooper. Yes, it is unanimous and approved. Thank you. So,

Madam Cler, do do we have any record of items placed on the table? We don't, but we do still have one more item of under the new business. Okay. Thank you.

That was the introduction recommended for public hearing on April 28th, the regular city council meeting. Ordinance number 26-00002 repealing in part Palmer Municipal Code Title 6 animals to transfer the city's jurisdiction and authority over animal care to the Maduska Susetta Bureau on an areawide basis effective upon the bureau's acceptance of such jurisdiction authority. I'd like to take this time to remind the council that you cannot speak about the ordinance itself. This is just on for introduction and so you just can decide whether you want to introduce it to tonight for public hearing on April 28th.

It will require a motion since we moved it. I I move to put on for put this on for introduction at the next city council meeting. Republic hearing. Perfect. A public hearing. Thank you. Second by councilwoman Moer. Correct. Any other discussion? Seeing none, Madam Clerk. Council member Allen, yes. Deputy Mayor Alcantra, yes. Council member Carrington, yes. Council member Graham, yes. Council member Collins, yes. And Council Member Moer,

yes. I'm sorry. And Mayor Cooper. Yeah. Yes. It is unanimous and approved to put on for public hearing on April 28th at the regular city council meeting. Thank you. Now our records of items placed on the table. Yes, I have the handout from Alish and the sponsorship opportunity booklet from Alish, the DEA take drug takeback and I believe oh and then a pamphlet for the Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. And that's it. Thank you.

Moving on to audience participation. Again, uh sign in, state your name, three minutes per person, and I will read this again. 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 to hear the proceedings. At all times, order and decor will be maintained in keeping with the civilian 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 do not follow these guidelines will be removed. Any threats against others could result in criminal prosecution. Again, please sign and state your name in 3 minutes. Opening the public audience participation. Anyone?

Yeah. All right, madam clerk, I can't see the audience, so nobody's moving. I think we're okay. All right. All right. So, let's uh we will we will close the audience participation. Um and move on. Um we are I guess at new business, right? Looks like we already we're we're at we already we already did that. I'm sorry. I I need to I need to move the my cursor I guess for a council member comments it looks like. So, Miss Graham, please.

Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh I just want I'll make this super quick um because it's still super hot in here. Uh, I would like to encourage anybody that has family that is maybe a little bit older, their prescriptions have changed recently, or if you're going through like your old pets prescriptions, cuz those do technically count, um, to definitely take advantage of that drug takeback date on April 25th. Um, I know that the DEA usually puts out a press release afterward with how many unused and unwanted medications they collect, and it is an unbelievable amount of medications. Um, by turning it in and safely disposing of it, you can save a lot of our water table. A lot of that stuff shows up in our water gets through our water treatment plant. You don't want laying around for your kids or your dogs or anybody to get a hold of. Um, not that you should have any antibiotics laying around afterward. You should always finish all your antibiotics. But I want to congratulate all of the Palmer champions. Uh, that was a huge trophy. We are super proud of you guys. That is quite an achievement. Um, and I know that annexation has been mentioned. Um, and I believe that that conversation and that presentation is going to be coming along with our comprehensive plan as that moves through its process. So, I'm excited to see that. Um, I'm really looking forward to the golf course opening and I've seen that we have a new social media page for that. Um, if you haven't followed it, definitely do so because it's going to have the most up-to-date information. and I am super stoked that it appears to be spring outside. Um, so I look forward to the inevitable weekends of dust that we get when city crews come through and sweep up all the gravel and make our roads safer for some of our pedestrians and bikes. And that is truly the start of summer for me. So appreciate you guys for coming out and great work. Thank

you.

Thank you, Councilman Allen. Uh thank you everybody for a great meeting on this beautiful spring day. Um I just uh wanted to mention that um Easter weekend uh from Wednesday to Saturday I had the opportunity to play in the annual uh Sooie Cup that takes place every year here in Palmer. Um it kind of represents the end of the hockey season, the end of the adult hockey season. And um it was just a a just a a real success. And I I'd have to say um I participated in in this tournament for many years and it's it's the best one. This year was the best yet. And um that is a testament to Alish and her crew um and the work that they do. It just can't be said enough. Um the hockey was fantastic. Great competitive atmosphere. It was terrific. But then we we added this year there was a concert on Friday and so after our games on Friday all the hockey players we went out and laid the floor uh so the band could come out and um you know they uh they had they had beer there, they had food. It was just a just a terrific environment. Um and so then the last thing I wanted to say was that I wanted to point out um some terrific uh local talent we have here at the city of Palmer. our very own HR director, Erica Barry, was the star of her team and led them to uh play in the championship tournament. And I just thought that that should be mentioned. So, thank you.

Yeah. Thank you, Councilwoman Carrington.

Uh thank you. Uh I do want to congratulate our our champions. I appreciate you guys coming in and showing us that amazing trophy that you had. Uh, I did get a chance to go to the concert on the ice. That was an absolute blast. I took my kid my my two of my kids and my grandkids and they were on the ice and the the musicians were on the ice. It was very impressive. Uh, but it was it was set up. It was it was so much fun. Alish, you're doing an amazing job. It was all just a real real inviting event and uh I look forward to seeing more of that. Uh, I also got to stop by the golf course, the the um the clubhouse and they were painting and rearranging and it looks really amazing. So I look forward to the 29th for that celebration because it is 75 year anniversary of Palmer and I think that that's going to be a great place to have that celebration and uh celebrate all that is Palmer, celebrate the the golf course and and all that everything that's going on in our little town. So um good job Palmer. That's it. Thank you, Councilwoman Moer.

Thank you. Uh, first I want to say that all roads lead to Palmer uh fundraising event on the end of March was very fun. I actually did win a cribage board and in the cribage board it has like a little sun dial in it. So that was kind of fun. Um, but altogether they raised I I think it was $6,215 that night. And so, um, so all roads lead to Palmer. That was a great event. And I was so torn between, uh, the Matt Sussnel fundraiser at the now Palmer Sports Center, which leads me to that. Congrats to our state champions. And I also want to say I love the rebranding A-list. Very good job. And I hope to see more. So, and I know I uh when I'm at home, I always share your stuff with our neighborhood and so that the kids they can take the kids and get them out of the house. And so, and a big shout out to public works. I know I uh was in contact with the city manager and with uh Mayor Cooper. Um, our subdivision had uh some big issues with uh frozen pipes and they uh were told to continue running water in their in our area. So, uh, and when I got home over the weekend, I got another text that said the water pressure was pretty low and I said, "Do you have your water running?" And they said, "No." So, they went and turned the water on. So, um, but a big shout out to public works and, uh, have a great week. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Collins. No comments today. Thank you. I hope you recover. Thank you. Yeah, Deputy Mayor Alcantra.

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, pretty smooth considering uh yourself and Council Member Collins uh not being present today. It worked out a lot better than I I thought it would. So, good good job on that part. I do want to say I think the young students that wrote to you are on to something uh about uh being able to put trash in receptacles instead of on the ground. And uh I know Mr. Fzen used to come here and talk about uh having uh creating more places for recycling, creating more places for trash and other things rather than using Palmer Bars dumpster. Uh maybe we could uh uh look at options of how we might be able to make some of those things uh crop up in the city and uh help those not only those fifth graders that wrote into you but kind of everybody have a place to uh to put garbage and other things as we get ready for these exciting fantastic events like Friday fling and other things uh and cleanup day coming up on May 9th. Um, it'll be nice to uh at least have a have a concept of uh can we make it easier for folks to put their trash and other things in in receptacles. So, um, aligned myself with the comments of council member Carrington as yet is the diamond anniversary, the 75th anniversary of Palmer here coming up at the 29th. So look forward to uh the event at the golf course and you know trying to um to get that u back up off the ground I think is important. I think it was important today that we did a lot of fast but good work on uh roads and water wastewater. I know probably some people s they just did you know as council member Allen pointed out there over a million dollars worth of stuff and you know uh and and speed rolled through it. But that's the point of uh of city work is trying to do the things

like road repairs and making sure you provide water and sewer and other things. So I was glad to see that those things uh I know it's a lot of unanimous voting which I hope is to be expected when you're uh talking about things like that. I do want to say I appreciated the comments of uh Mr. Ortiz from Alaska State Fair earlier tonight. I know it's uh rare that uh Mr. Ortiz has been here and u as I mentioned u when we passed that ordinance uh against my judgment anyway that it was done

it was done very hastily and u you know whether the call didn't go to the fair or whether the call didn't go to other vendors uh I don't know but uh I'll be counting the days till September 30th uh 2027 when hopefully we can uh uh move things back to the way they were. um annexation. I think we all u everybody at least who ran for office in October uh whether for city council or for mayor um at least my recollection is there was wholehearted support for annexation uh from council member uh participants and mayor participants and you know now we've been 6 months and I haven't seen a lot of stuff happening and I I hope that maybe we could devise a day for council. I know we we need that training for sure, but also a day to kind of uh iron out where we want to see this annexation process uh move forward because I think it's expected and as uh Mr. Arts pointed out, we need to grow our resource base and grow our revenue and uh I think we need to um get get serious about uh how how are we going to get there because we start dealing with local boundary commission and other issues. Um it's a multi-year process. Obviously, it's not going to happen overnight. I get that. But we need to start uh pushing that uh ball down the field. So, um I want to appreciate that the Alaska Center for the Blind coming in National Telecommunicators Week. I'm embarrassed to say that uh I ran 911 in K9 burough back 30 years ago. I didn't know such a week existed. So, I don't know how long it's been going on, but uh I'm glad we're recognizing uh our dispatch center and our people that uh that help us out. And uh and I like the fact that the

Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired came here for presentations. I hope we can have you more uh more public presentations like that in the future lit so so we can know what's going on out there but also people tuning in to Big Cabbage Radio and people that are uh that are here in the audience can know what's going on with these other events. So with that uh I hope everybody has a good couple of weeks and look forward to seeing you back here on April 28th. Thank you. Oh 21st. Thank you.

Yeah. Yeah. ne next next next week, but that's okay. Um, a few comments for me. I want to congratulate the new golf course manager. I think uh we're moving in the in the right direction. I think we probably already have maybe a a pro shop person in line as well, which is good. Um, congratulations to the 10 UA guys. U, that was absolutely phenomenal. Um, it was good to give you the proclamation, but it's better to see the trophy. You guys did a a great job. And and it does amaze me when I was at the uh ice rink uh a while back. Uh literally every person that walked in, Alish knew their name. Um all the kids she could and they would they would joke with her and stuff and it was really it was really just kind of amazing. Um you know, I have a hard time remembering last week and she she knows everybody and she's just, you know, another phenomenal addition to our staff. um you know when I get back um and I've talked about this in the past that that we will set a date I want to set a date for a work session so that we can set our priorities and I think that we'd be all in agreement that our number one priority will be uh annexation u there are others obviously but it will give an opportunity for the city manager to actually have direction so she's not fighting fires but you know we can we and move forward with, you know, the priorities that that we would that we want and that we've all agreed to. Um um I wasn't there for Easter. I was down here, but I hope everyone had a good Easter. Um I know that we had some some frozen pipe problems, but you know, public works, I think, did the did a great job in getting out there and and doing all that kind of stuff and and cleaning the streets. And you know, I was uh amazed that these guys are working. you know, on the weekends I call public works director on the

weekend and you know, he responds and gets his emergency staff out to start doing work. Um, but you know, next week, uh, I guess we have our joint meeting. Um um just one quick comment about our sales tax that remember that for instead of now paying you you know instead of when you when you charge a dollar instead of making 97 cents now you're making 96 cents. Um and granted for for high volume items like $10 million that goes from 300 to 400,000 but you're still making you know you you know you're not losing money. you're actually still making money because uh you're just, you know, paying a penny difference. So anyway, other than that, you know, everybody have a good week. We'll see you next Tuesday. Thank you. With that, we're adjourned.